We've caved!

Two things that I swore would never enter our home have arrived. Be sure and bring your earplugs if you come to visit.

Day trip to the coast

The kids and I went down to Port Aransas yesterday. Our sweet friends, the Rohde's, graciously allowed us to share one day of their vacation with them. The ocean was the bluest we have ever seen it, and although is was over 100 degrees, the breeze and canopy by the water made it a very comfortable. No one wanted to come home.

The kids were catching little fish and putting them in this bottle.

Kristyn and I have been friends for 15+ years.

Mark Rohde and his "flair hair."

It was also a good day for catching hermit crabs - big ones.

We love the coast!

Three dancing princesses

We rented "Barbie and the 12 Dancing Princesses," and for the last few days we've had ballerinas twirling around our house.

Our little peanut is 2!

She's enjoying her favorite meal of spaghetti and broccoli.

Elizabeth plopped down to read one of her new books.

I think her older brothers and sisters enjoyed her new toy more than she did.

Last day of school, and we love summer!

Rebecca graduated from Kindergarten.

Abby's hanging around with some of her friends.

Time to relax for a while.

School's out for summer ! (name that band)

We started off our summer break with a trip to the nearby coastal town of Rockport.

And we were lucky enough to have BOTH grandmas join us.

Be there or be square

SURPRISE IN OUR GARAGE

Recently we were all out in the yard, and our then 4 year old, Leah, exclaimed, "Look, there's a baby bunny in the garage." Knowing that we were having a problem with mice, I quickly dismissed the comment. However, I went to get a look at the mouse, and this is what I found.







We played with him for a while and then let him go in the woods behind our house to let nature take it's course.

Tax Day Tea Party at the Alamo

Some snapshots of our entertaining protest of big government.

Don't know these ladies but got a kick out of their tea bags.

Don't know him either - but very patriotic.

ALLELUIA! HE IS RISEN

We spent a lovely Easter weekend at the Ranch with my Mom, Dad, Kim and Nathan.

Easter Triduum

We sang a song to this melody at the "Spy Wednesday" Mass yesterday (the day we recall Judas' betrayal of Jesus). I knew I recognized the tune, but it took me a while to realize that it is a song from one of our favorite movies and soundtracks, "Master and Commander."

Take a few minutes to listen and meditate on the next few days. It is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful and moving pieces of music ever written.

There can be no Easter Sunday without a Good Friday.

New Dresses

John's sweet aunt Anna made these dresses for the girls for Christmas. Since our camera broke during that time I didn't have authentic Christmas poses of them. They wore the dresses to Mass today for the last official feast of Christmas - The Baptism of Jesus.

Please overlook the condition of my house in the background - sigh.

Poor Leah's been sick with fever for days. She really tried to smile.

Treasure hunt

Anyone who knows me well is aware of what a garage sale/Goodwill/Salvation Army fanatic I am. I just love hunting for bargains and can't bear to pay retail for anything. Yesterday I was looking for bunk beds for 2 of my boys and didn't find them but found these pretty winter dishes. I've been using plain white for several years now - boring but practical. I'm so excited to have found 8 place settings for $0.79 each piece. They're not too Christmas-y so I can use them through winter. It was such fun to set the table tonight.