Happy Birthday Aunt Amanda!!! Top Ten...

Before the day gets away, let's start it off right by wishing Aunt Amanda a VERY happy birthday!!!

And, now for the Wednesday Top Ten, in honor of said birthday girl:

GREAT THINGS ABOUT AMANDA

1. She makes my little brother happy, blissfully so, I might add.



2. She loves taking naps as much as I do! Six weeks after my spine surgery, Amanda stayed at the house during the day for another six weeks (yes, and she didn't go running away from the family!). At 1, when the kids went down, so did we :-)

3. She loves my kids and they love her. See picture...we went up to her office today and delivered her bday gift and homemade cards. John Paul and Anna-Laura were SO proud of themselves. All the way home, they kept saying, "What a tweet to see Aunt 'manda."



4. She puts up with my brother. (see #1)

5. She has a cute laugh.

6. She is one of the most helpful, giving folks I know. She and Daniel live right up the road and she's always willing to help watch the kids, run an errand, wash my dishes (long story) or do just about anything else we need.

7. She's Catholic. Growing up Protestant, there were lots of things I had questions about, still do, actually. She and my hubby, Scott, are well versed in the faith and they practice it everyday.

8. She takes life as it comes. Me? I'm a Type A'er. So, this whole, "hey, let's see where the day takes us" mantra is new to me. But, Amanda is showing me that it isn't so bad...to take life and loosen the reigns a bit.

9. She's a saver. Daniel's a spender. Thank goodness he married her, or he'd be on the nearest street corner with a sign.

10. She puts up with "the family." You know, we're a tough bunch. Little (ok, a LOT) opinionated, brutally honest and very loyal. Amanda, you joined the family just a little over two years ago and we're better for it. Thanks for not turning us into the authorities. Daniel, be nice to her today.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Fun Weekend

We had a ball of time this weekend. We enjoyed some quality "honey-do" time fixing the house on Saturday morning and then headed to south Austin to spend some time with my cousins, Kam, Holly, Logan, Ellie, Orin and Karen.

Minus the dog biting incident, it was all laughs. And, if you hadn't heard, my cousin's other dog, Willie the Weiner Dog, stole the show at the Buda Weenie Dog Races, themed "Nacho Weiner." No, I'm not making this stuff up. I'm not that funny. There were like 600 weenie dogs all hyped and ready to tear it up. Willie made the finals, but got bumped in the last leg of the race. Hey, according to Fred Thompson "bumpin's racin'". Maybe next year.

Will and cousin Orin prepping Willie for the finals



Anna-Laura having a blast with the older girls



Clare with cousin Karen



And, in other news...little nephew Alex is officially a child of God! He was baptized on Sunday afternoon up in Cambridge, MA. Welcome to the family, buddy!

10 Months: April 28

Can you believe it? Our little Clare Bear is already 10 months...just two shy of her first birthday. Stop, time, stop!!!



The biggest news is her FIRST tooth made its debut this weekend. Bottom right. I'd show you a picture, but she'll bite my finger. I love you people, but not enough to draw blood. You'll have to wait.

She's got skills, too. Started to master the pincher grasp - that's a BIG shout-out to fine motor skills. Perhaps we can say bye-bye to Gerber and hello to real food. A girl's gotta hope.

She loves to: wave bye, spit her food back atcha, turn and twist like a wild woman in the highchair to get the best view of whatever craziness is going on, giggle at John Paul and take baths. She's about two shakes away from crawling. We're in major denial. She must not have gotten the Whitaker memo...we do NOT crawl at this house. And, we certainly don't do any walking before one. We'll see if she listens. Something tells me we have another John Paul on our hands.

Speaking of John Paul - it's always a story with him. This weekend was no different. We were at my cousin's house on Saturday night. They have three dogs - one of which is a little old and doesn't like to be touched - so they tied him up while we were there. John Paul obviously thought the "please don't touch Ringo" was merely a "suggestion" not a directive. After a quick pet, Ringo bit our little guy. He immediately came running over, we cleaned out the bite and put some medicine on it. Fortunately, because he and Ringo are both up-to-date on their shots, it's just a regimen of neosporin and bandaids for the next three days. Sadly, right after we left Ringo bit someone else, sending her to the ER. Sigh. We are just ever so thankful that the bite was on John Paul's knee and relatively minor. Thank YOU Guardian Angel! Sheez, that poor winged guy is getting a workout these days.

We celebrated (long distance) the baptism of nephew Alex (hooray!) and enjoyed some time with extended family this weekend. I'll have pictures tomorrow. Promise.

If you give a mouse a cookie...

For those of you that have that entire book series at your house, you'll appreciate this post.

If you take a stroll through Pottery Barn, you'll find something you have to buy.

And, if you buy it, you'll have to bring it home and see how it looks in your office.

When you do, you'll realize you need to move some pictures.

When you move the pictures, you'll see that you need to touch up the walls with paint.

After you paint, you'll notice that the paint is so stinking old, it doesn't match anymore.

So, you'll have to go to Lowe's and buy more paint, and paint the whole room again.

After you paint the room, you'll decide to move some things around.

And...when you move some things around, it will remind you that you need to take another stroll through Pottery Barn.

And, THAT is the story of our weekend :-)

Kid for sale

Ever been out with your kids when they do something, anything, that puts you in search of the nearest black hole? Well, I found myself in one such predicament this morning.

We headed off to get the kids' hair cut at the strip mall down the street. You know, the place where there's a massive HEB, wine store, Starbucks, Quizno's and a slew of other places. Always busy. Always lots of people. Remember this little tidbit as it's important in just a moment...

While we were waiting on Scott to pick us up, John Paul mentioned he needed to go potty. (mistake #1) I hear that statement at least two dozen times a day. He wasn't doing the potty dance, nor had he been repeating the potty mantra. So, I said something like, "Daddy will be here in just a minute buddy and we'll find a potty then." (mistake #2) Then, I turned to Anna-Laura who was asking me a question (mistake #3)...and then I heard a funny "watering" sound. I immediately whipped my head around to see my darling, loving, funny little boy with his underwear and shorts around his ankles PEEING ON THE SIDEWALK. Yep, for all the world to see.

What was I supposed to do? Tell him to stop peeing? I did - so smart. He started laughing. And, I so wanted to join him. But, I needed to be a parent and I would've lost all credibility and surely started a "hey, let's pee in public peeing spree". And our household does not need that. So, I tried to pull up his pants and underwear while balancing Clare on one hip and shielding his cute little hiney from the greater Round Rock area.

We had a talk after he sat in timeout and I turned the other way to get the giggles out of my system.

Bidding starts at $5...on second thought, I think we'll keep him. He is good for a lotta laughs around here.

Have a great weekend...

Happy Anniversary to Me...

Sing with me. Stand up and shout. It's been TWO years since I went from 65 to 14, degrees that is. Yup. My scoliosis surgery made me a new woman, literally and figuratively. Besides the straighter back, taller stature, better lung capacity and absence (for the most part) of back pain - I gained a new appreciation for modern medicine and a deeper relationship with those that took care of me and my family during that craziness.

BEFORE



AFTER



Two years ago today, I was in surgery, losing blood like a crazy person.

Two years ago today, my surgeon (the amazing Dr. Geck) pumped me full of plasma and kept on plugging through the grueling 9-hour surgery.

Two years ago today, my husband and parents sat patiently in the waiting room, praying for a successful surgery.

Two years ago today, I was in so much pain and felt like I would never return to my normal, happy self.

Today...I am a new person.

Words escape me (shocking, I know) to accurately describe what Scott and I went through during my 6-month recovery. Ok, really more like a 2-year recovery, but I digress. Our wedding vows certainly took on a new meaning. The fragility of life did too. I am amazed and thankful...in so many ways and for so many things. I've said it before, but it's worth repeating. It took a village to get me where I am today - YOU made it possible...

Top Ten: ???

Yep, you'll actually have to READ this post to find out what the top ten is. My thanks to those that offered some suggestions. See, I told you there were 3 people that read this blog.

Ok, so I hate to even call it "advice" because that makes me sound so "expertish" (yes that's a word). I've had the honor of hanging around some a-mazing moms. And, as I told Lisa on her blog, imitation is the highest form of flattery. I promise to give credit where credit is due.

BEST PRE-BABY ADVICE (make that TIPS)

1. Get it out of your head that "having a family" is a right, earned by every married couple. After we take those vows, seems like most of us (and yes, I'm including myself, here) assume that starting a family is as easy as...well, you know. It's when we offer up that human desire to procreate, to bring life into this world (whether the traditional way or via adoption) that we are at peace with the path God creates for us. For some, it's as easy as a candlelight dinner and a bottle of wine. For others, it's a wee bit harder. (Thank you FK)

2. Don't let others make you feel guilty for waiting, or not, to have children. As Scott and I politely told some family members when we were married 4 years with no children, "You're not on that committee." And, when others said, "Sheez, how many kids are you going to have?" Same response. Ok, I'm not that cold-hearted. But, I have learned that we all have a limit - either financial, psychological, emotional, etc. - but don't assume you know when someone has reached hers. (Thank you Pat)

3. Develop thick skin. Everyone from your mother's uncle's cousin, twice-removed, will tell you what you're doing wrong. Smile politely and do it your own way.

4. Address and stamp the birth announcements before you go into labor. Trust me, the last thing you want to do when you get home and you're so sleep deprived you fall asleep everytime you sit down, is address announcements. (Thank you Janet)

5. Be flexible. Everything from a birthing plan (I believe mine was "Epidural, please?") to nursing to disciplining - you may have THE PLAN written down, but as I've learned with four children - it's all subject to change. (Thank you Carla E.)

6. When people offer to help, LET THEM. Jot down a few things that would be helpful after you get home from the hospital - cooking meals, mowing your lawn, running to the grocery store, playdates with your other kids, taking the dry cleaning - and then let them choose what they can do. (Thank you AnneMarie)

7. Stock the freezer. Before Will was born, I didn't do this but I lucked out. The gals at church brought meals for 8 weeks after he was born. With John Paul, my mom and I cooked like crazy people and it paid off. With the girls, we finally got smart and went to The Studio Kitchen (if you're in Austin, you know what I'm talking about). It's something we still do!! (Thank you MOM)

8. Don't feel guilty when you return or exchange a baby gift. Some people can't live without it, but you can. Get something that you'll use or, I promise, it will just end up in your next garage sale :-)

9. Find a GREAT pediatrician. She is golden. When the 104 fever isn't breaking, when WEBmd doesn't make you feel better, when breathing is labored, when the EKG isn't normal, when surgery is your only option - you want someone that loves your kiddo as much as you do.

10. Pray. I came across this book "When Mothers Pray" and I found myself reading it while I nursed. I've had some moments when I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit, but none quite as powerful as those. It was in those precious moments, when the shades were drawn, the room was quiet and my kids were nursing, that I feel closest to God. And, no doubt, we offered up many more while I was prego. (Thank you Holy Spirit)

Mom of the Year

Ever have one of those days? Yeah, me neither. I'm just speaking (hypothetically of course) that if I were to have a day that resembled just a teensy weensy bit of the place down under, it might have happened yesterday. Ok, it wasn't really THAT bad. But, we had our moments.

These were the good.





You don't want to see the bad. I'm exaggerating a little bit. But, I have to be honest with the 3 of you that read this - momhood is hard. Still, with 4 kids under belt, I still have some of the same questions we did with 1. Why is Clare still waking up at 4AM? Do my kids need their hearing checked...because they still can't hear me when I ask them to pick up their rooms. When do we start table food again? Where is that box with the one cute outfit I remember Anna-Laura wearing?? Oh, and where did I leave my brain? It's evidently still in the L&D room.

Until tomorrow. Any ideas for a top ten??

Softly call the Muster...

TODAY is a GREAT day to be an AGGIE. Well, actually every day is, but today is especially sweet. Not only is it San Jacinto Day (thank you Mom!) but it's the day Aggies around the globe celebrate our most cherished tradition, Aggie Muster. For you non-Aggies (or any 2%ers out there), I'll give you a brief 101. Aggies "muster" each year on April 21 to eat a little, drink a little and talk about our days at A&M. But, our primary purpose is to honor those Ags who have died in the previous year. Each A&M Club is given a roster of those in their area that have passed on, his/her name is read, a candle is lit and an Aggie answers "here." It's moving stuff. And, it reminds me of some precious time spent at the campus Muster. Reason #12 to be an Aggie :-)

And, big props to my hubby tonight. He's the Muster speaker for the Marble Falls A&M Club. He shared this website with me - who knew it existed? - and it made me smile. I hope it does the same for you...and perhaps even gives you yet another Aggie joke to share with friends.

Photo courtesy of the Association of Former Students at www.aggienetwork.com

Diggin' some dirt

It's finally a reality...St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School held its ground breaking ceremony today. I had to drag the kids to the car, but once we got there, they realized they could play in the dirt - and all was well with the universe :-) I say it all the time, but it's worth repeating. My husband is a masterful fundraiser. So, when our kids hit the doors of ninth grade at St. Dominic's I'll be proud to tell them that their dad is a big reason why it's there.

And...we spent some quality time watching CNN this evening (you won't hear me say that often!) We said goodbye to B16 and prayed for his safe travels home. What a phenomenal week. What an amazing priest. What a great time to be Catholic.

Snapshots: Bluebonnets!

Finally. We have proof that we live in Central Texas. Today, we enjoyed a leisurely day just north of Austin. Scott's been running 90 to nuthin' and we really needed a family day just hanging out, but not in front of the TV. Plus, it was picture postcard bee-utiful today. Thank you God for such a pretty day and for such precious time with the fam.





They can be funny.



And a little bit sassy.

Happy Baptismal Anniversary John Paul!

UPDATED!
Lest we forget about today's MOST important story...the baptismal anniversary of John Paul! It was four short years ago that he went from heathen to a child of God. What a great day that was...surrounded by family and two wonderful Godparents. So, when you get a moment, offer up a prayer of thanksgiving for John Paul and his two Godparents, Gachia and Vince. He is the funny man, bundle of energy, love bunny and life of the party at our house.


Click here to see who's in the news! That would be Clare's Godfather. What an honor he has coming up this weekend. Travel safe, Fr. Richard!

Top Ten: Best Papal Memories

First things first - Happy 81st Birthday Pope Benedict! (I'm sure he's reading this blog in his spare time...)

What a perfect day to reflect on my close encounters of the Papal kind. Scott and I have been blessed to be in the presence of the Holy Father about a dozen times. Many times were deeply spiritual, a few were just downright exciting. It's hard to describe, really. Being in his presence. He just evokes this excitement and you can feel the Holy Spirit. Really, you can. Gives me goosebumps. Hold on to your zuchetto's, here goes this week's top ten, in chronological order:

BEST PAPAL MEMORIES
(Disclaimer: these are all of JP2, as we haven't had the honor of seeing B16 in person yet...)

1. 2000, St. Peter's Square. This was our first general audience, held in St. Peter's Square in Rome. When he came out in the open-air Popemobile (which I have to say, I chuckled when I first heard that!), it was crazy to see people practically stepping (um, ACTUALLY stepping) on other people to get a glimpse. I just kinda hung back with my big, fat telephoto lens and enjoyed the view as I stood on my chair. I wanted to scream - "Hey people, if you'll just relax we can ALL see him." But, these are Italians. They don't know orderly lines. I do remember him speaking, but it was pretty tough to understand, even when he spoke in English.

Scott and I, just after the audience. About a week later, we renewed our wedding vows here!



2. 2000, Eucharistic Procession, St. John the Lateran to St. Mary Major. Rome has 4 major basilicas (St. Peter's being the biggest and most famous). Each year on the Feast of Corpus Christi, the Pope travels from St. John to St. Mary, via the Popemobile, as he kneels in front of the Eucharist. Mostly he prays. So, when we stood along the street we were simply expecting to see the Pope praying...albeit he would only be about 10 feet away. But, he had this connection with teenagers. And, sure enough, just as he approached our group, he opened his eyes and looked at all 30 of us in our group. The kids went nuts, I clicked a few photos and almost dropped my camera. I have never looked into the eyes of someone that Holy. It was intense. Even for this convert who was slow to warm up to him.

3. 2000, right after the procession. His car zoomed by us as we were making our way to dinner. The lights were flashing, we heard a honk and off he sped. That one was exciting.

4. 2000, Sunday Angelus. Each Sunday afternoon, the Pope briefly addresses the crowd at St. Peter's and prays the Angelus, usually in Italian, from his apartment window. This was about the time that his health was starting to decline, but I remember closing my eyes and really focusing on what he was saying. That's when I wished I knew Italian.

5. 2002, Canonization of Padre Pio, St. Peter's Square. Our youth group and half a million (seriously) of our closest friends descended upon Rome for this historic canonization when an ordinary priest officially became a saint. (Padre Pio is a whole other post) Remember how I said it was like 150 degrees? Well, this day it was 200. No lie. We baked. But, we made history while we baked. At the time I don't remember thinking this was a cool, spiritual thing to do. I just wanted water, a fan and a clean bathroom. But, looking back 6 years later, what a moment. What a day.

6. 2002, Pope Paul VI Hall. Yep, this one was definitely an answer to prayer. If you've ever been to Rome in June, it's kinda like south Texas in August - so dad gum hot you can fry eggs on the concrete. Our youth group had been talking all morning about how cool it would be if the audience was indoors, not out, so we wouldn't have to bake in the sun, again. But, that usually only happens if it's raining, so we didn't have much stock in that...until we arrived at the Square and the Swiss Guards started diverting us into the Hall. OH MY. Without a doubt, this was my favorite audience with the Pope. #1: It was air-conditioned. #2: JP2 just seemed more energetic. In the middle of his English address (he typically does the same one in 4-5 languages), a guy in the back of the hall yells out, "JP2, we love you!" The place went nuts. He just smiled a little and kept on going. Oh, how I wish I could've seen him in his youth - with his energy and charisma at 100%.

7. 2002, Sunday Angelus. This one broke my heart. JP2 could hardly speak, he sounded so weak. And, truly, I thought this might be the last time we ever saw/heard him. That was an emotional audience for me and all those in the square that day.

8/9. 2002, World Youth Day, Toronto, Canada. What a difference a teenager makes! This was just one month after we saw him in Rome. Truly? A different man arrived at World Youth Day. He was invigorated, funny and completely engaged. Amazing. We took 700 (yes, you read that correctly) of our teenagers from the Diocese of Lafayette to WYD. We were right along the ropeline for the Popemobile. And, once again, he looked right at our teens. What a spiritual moment. To be in the presence of holiness. We celebrated Mass the following morning and it was almost entirely in English. A real rarity and it was awesome.

10. 2003, Papal Audience. Scott and I returned to Rome for a Stewardship Conference. This was where we actually had a public audience with the Pope (which means you're in the general vicinity!!) We were on the steps of St. Peter's for this audience and could really see his expressions, his struggles to speak, his humanness. He was drooling so badly, the Cardinal sitting next to him kept wiping his mouth. I will never forget seeing how a human being could carry the cross of suffering with such dignity. Today, in our society, we cast off people like that - shutter them in a nursing home. But, he suffered before the world and gained its respect. Perhaps even taught us that in dying, we live through Christ. It was at this audience I was pregnant with our own little John Paul - but, we didn't find out until we arrived home. So, now you know the "rest of the story."

I'm 3rd from left, Scott is about 7 more people over.



My apologies for a long post. Thanks for hanging in there with me today :-) Oh, and if you just can't get enough Pope news, check out this blog for even more!

March 28: 9 Month Update

YES, I realize it's now April 15. I do, really. But with the bug in our house and many late nights for both Scott and I, Clare's doctor visit just didn't happen when it was supposed to. But, today we made it to Dr. Enders (YEA!) for Clare's 9-month well check. Man, what a happy kid.

She's waving bye (which she totally loves), playing pat-a-cake (classic), smiling, eating baby food (although not her favorite), sitting, trying to crawl (she's certainly showing more promise than any of her brothers or sister), SLEEPING, a little more smiling and spending lots of time in the car seat :-)

She weighed in at 19.2 pounds, so that 20-pound threshold at one year is almost here and we can FINALLY turn that carseat around in about 2 more months (give me another YEA). She's pretty much right in the 50th-percentile for height and weight and the 25th for her head. What a sweet, cute, dainty brain she has.

Our only concerns were her dry skin, which turned out to be a mild form of eczema, and her teething. She's got her first four teeth about to break free and we're hearing all about it. Well, us and the neighbors. Can't remember if we shared that she's allergic to amoxicillin - fun, fun. So, we're going to go slow on the table food introduction, steering clear of eggs, dairy and citrus until after a year.

So, bottom line is she's one happy, healthy, thriving 9-month-old. We certainly can't ask for a better report than that. Clare is definitely the rock star of the family, stealing most of the attention. The older ones don't seem to mind and they really enjoy "helping" her do most things. I even put Will on diaper duty the other day and he said to me, "Mom, that was kinda fun." Buckle up, buttercup, I'm sending more your way!!

Give it up for a fantastic 9-months...I just can't believe Clare has been out of my belly longer than she was in it...where did the time go?

We love you Clare Bear!

The Vocation of Motherhood

I don't know about you, but finding time for prayer is like finding the matching sock for my toddler's sock drawer. Most days, it 'ain't happenin.

During bedtime tonight, as I was nursing Clare, I was reminded of some wise words from a very wise priest. I was complaining to Fr. David that I just never have time for prayer. And, then I got even more frustrated that I didn't make time for it and so the cycle goes. He looked at me dead on and said, (these words I will NEVER forget) "Kathryn, your vocation is motherhood, not religious life. So, pray like a a mom, not like a nun!" Duh. Thank you Fr. David. He was right.

I do my best to find a few moments (nursing Miss Clare is when I do it most these days) during the day to say short prayers. Like, when I put on my wedding ring, I pray that my marriage to Scott will continue to be one of love and fidelity. And, that we may witness that to our children. Or, when I wash the dishes, or do the ironing, or fold the laundry...in thankfulness that our house is an abode of abundance and not scarcity.

I've had this "Parent's Prayer" on my wall for a long time...not sure of the source, but I thought it was worth sharing with you.

A PARENT'S PRAYER

O Heavenly Father, make me a better parent. Teach me to understand my children, to listen patiently to what they have to say, and to answer all their questions kindly. Keep me from interrupting them or contradicting them. Make me as courteous to them as I would have them be to me.

Forbid that I should ever laugh at their mistakes or resort to shame or ridicule when they displease me. May I never punish them for my own selfish satisfaction or to show my power.

Let me not tempt my children to lie or steal. And guide me hour by hour that I may demonstrate by all that I say and do that honesty produces happiness.

When I'm out of sorts, help me, O Lord, to hold my tongue. May I ever be mindful that my children are children and I should not expect of them the judgments of adults. Let me not rob them of the opportunity to wait on themselves and to make decisions.

Bless me with the bigness to grant them all their reasonable requests and the courage to deny them privileges I know will do them harm. Make me fair and just and kind and fit, O Lord, to be loved and respected and imitated by my children.

Amen.

Whew...I have lots of work to do. Better get to it...

He's coming, he's coming!

Yes, the Holy Father arrives in just two short days!! As a Catholic, it's very exciting. But, I'll even go so far to say that for all Christians, it's exciting. And I'll tell you why.

When I was dating Scott and thinking about the remote possibility of converting to Catholicism, I wasn't too sure about that Pope guy. What did he do, anyway? Didn't Catholics just worship him, along with Mary and the plethora of so-called "saints"? I guess you could say I tolerated him - even through my entrance into the church. It really wasn't until our first pilgrimage to Italy that I begin to understand what a faith-filled man he was. Fr. Kevin had us do a trip report - focus on an area of our trip - that we were to be the "expert" on and deliver a report when we arrived at that particular destination/person's birthplace. My report was Vatican City. I read a ton and in reading about the Vatican, you can't help but stumble upon anecdotes and such about the Holy Father. So, I guess you could say I was warming up to him.

Then, we entered St. Peter's Square for our first Papal audience and there was this electricity. (No, not quite like the static at the Barry Manilow concert I attended in middle school.) You could just feel that we were in the presence of someone holy...dare I say, saint-like? Pope John Paul II had a presence about him, but I know that it was the Holy Spirit focusing him on his job at hand - to bring millions closer to Christ - that was the true electricity. Sometimes you're in the presence, or you see someone through the media, that you just KNOW has dedicated his/her life to Christ. Mother Teresa. Bishop Fulton Sheen. Pope John Paul II. Pope Benedict XVI.



I often marvel at the effect the Holy Father has on so many people. Yeah, I know there are lots 'o Popestalkers out there, c-r-a-z-y Catholics that are a wee bit over the top. But, I urge you to look at the faces of his youngest fans...teenagers. JPII and B16 are different, but the same. One an actor, the other a quiet theologian. But, both want us Christians worldwide to live our faith - to unite, not divide.

So, as we prepare for the visit of B16 let's all take heed to what will likely be his message. To focus on the sanctity of life, the end of war and a re-birth of moral values in America. Last time I checked CNN does NOT have the market on morality...even though the nightly news tells us differently. Hollywood is not Jerusaleum. Entertainment Tonight is the not the Bible. And, LA is not heaven.

(photos courtesy of CNS)

Jury Duty

I was surprised (and admittedly, a little excited) about what I found in the mailbox yesterday...a jury summons! I guess that's what voting will get you, right? I perused the listing of qualifications and chuckled at some of the "check boxes", for example:

I am of sound mind. (that is negotiable in my current state)
I can read and write. (um, if I can't tell me how I could even read this summons????)
I am 18 or older. (sadly, yes)

But, because I have kiddos under 10 that would be "unsafely unsupervised" if I left them at home without me (perhaps they wouldn't notice if I left Dora the Explorer on TV and some snacks on the coffee table?), I'm officially excused. Did it all online. But, it does make me wonder...is this a demographic that the courts could use? Pardon me a moment while I step up on my soapbox. Seems to me like stay-at-home moms and dads have a unique perspective to offer any jury.

1. We can spot a liar a mile away. Just ask my kids.
2. We demand sincere apologies. If they don't happen, you lose privileges.
3. We don't have much patience for wasting time. We've got a schedule to keep, people. Next case?
4. We work all day at getting our kids to make "good choices" and walk them through ways to make those choices when they screw up. Forget community service, send those delinquents to my house for an afternoon and we'll whip them in shape.

Ok, I'm done. Maybe I'll get called again, maybe not. But, it was fun to think about what "could've been." :-)

The Godfather

On our trip to Indy a few weeks ago, there was one Godparent a missing...but God led him and his family to our neck of the woods this week! We met in historic Gruene for a great dinner at the Grist Mill. Vince, Carmen & Gabriella - THANK YOU, THANK YOU for making the trek from San Antone to spend an evening with Casa Crazy. We loved the time together.

John Paul and Vince. We're sure after spending the evening with his Godson that Vince will be offering up even more prayers for our little Energizer Bunny.





How cute are they?



Anna-Laura made a new friend in sweet little Gabriella. Notice the HUGE shiner on ALG's forehead? Yes, it just wouldn't be a true outing without a shove off the bench from an unnamed brother. Repeat after me, "Thank you Guardian Angel!"

Top Ten: Best Things about Spring

I don't know about you, but spring is LONG overdue here in Central Texas. Yes, I know, we haven't been freezing our hineys off like folks in the Midwest or back East, but we're acclimated and we're Texans. It's been cold. For Texas. Hooray for spring, my favorite season.

BEST THINGS ABOUT SPRING

1. Bluebonnet pictures. You're just not a Texan in these parts if you don't have a bluebonnet picture of yourself, your dog, your kids, your whatever. I love that you can drive down MoPac and see half a dozen cars with their flashers on, shuttling their kids up the side of the embankment to get THE bluebonnet picture. Makes me laugh (and smile) everytime. Um, NO, we haven't done ours yet...this weekend. I promise.

now isn't that a picture of cuteness? the boys back in '05...



2. Flip-flops and sandals. This is good and bad. I'm thrilled that I no longer have to hunt down 4 pairs of socks for the kids, but it's a reminder that I really need to get a pedicure. Think Scott will buy that?

3. Sunroofs. Yes, our minivan has one. I don't feel quite as hip as if I were driving a Mini Cooper or a convertible, but you take what you can get.

4. Drinks at Sonic just taste better. They do, don't they? Especially when paired with a sunroof. See #3.

5. Flowers. Scott won't let me touch any other part of the yard, but the pots up front and the hanging baskets in back are all mine. Thanks honey. Now, if I could just remember to water them...

6. The Garden! We've been on this organic kick lately (blame it on Austin) and I must say, I'm liking it, just not the sticker shock. But, the garden out back lets us teach the kids about agriculture - that $40K in college education is paying off - and we get to eat fresh veggies from the garden. If you ever drop by for dinner, we have plenty of caprese salad, salsa and spinach. Ok, not necessarily all together, but, well...

7. Summer plans. We're already making them and I'm already excited. Sleeping past 6am, longer days, shorts, no uniforms to iron, water fun in the sprinklers...ah, I can't wait.

8. Attitude. Is it me or do people seem a little nicer when the weather is prettier outside? The guy at the 4-way stop waves you through (he probably has his sunroof down, too), the lady with the HUGE cart of food at the store waves you ahead or the telemarketer apologizes for calling during dinner. Ok, well, maybe not. But, at least people are smiling more these days.

9. The gas bill goes down! Yes, the electricity and water bills shoot sky high, but at least one's going down, right?

10. Going to Mass on Saturday night. I love it. Not sure why. Maybe it's because the kids seem to behave better, or it's not dark when we come home or that you can sit and chat with friends after it's over. I dunno. But, whatever it is, I'm lovin it.

Factory Fun

I was browsing the web today (man, can that be the black abyss, or what?) and found this website. You can click on any state and find the factory tours near you. I've always been a fan of Blue Bell, but never really considered it a factory tour...just a really awesome place to get ice cream. But, after checking out this site, there are some really cool places that the kids (and Scott and I, for that matter) would love to check out. Number 1 on the list? Jardines in Buda.

Just a few housekeeping items...first and foremost, SCOTT COMES HOME TOMORROW!!!! He's been at a retreat since Sunday. I'm sure the kids are even more excited than me. Tonight, before bed, the boys started chanting, "Dad is great, he feeds us chocolate cake!" (thank you Bill Cosby) And, I have NOT forgotten about Miss Clare's 9-month milestone. With the ear infection and the massive upchucking around here, we have not gotten her in for her well check. That's next Tuesday. Hang tight buckaroos, I'll give you the full report 15 April.

Night!

Best years of our life?

It seems like I keep hearing that phrase from random people - people at the grocery store, moms at school, teachers, the book I just finished reading (Queen Bee Moms and Kingpin Dads) - everywhere. At first I have to think...are you CRAZY? I'm so sleep deprived I put Windex on the kids' clothes instead of Shout. My checkbook hasn't been balanced in forever; I'm relying on the bank's statements (gasp, I know). I haven't been shopping for a new shirt/shoes/pants/younameit in months. Everytime I think about it, I find something way cuter for the kids, especially the girls. I've done more loads of laundry than I care to think about in the past three weeks. The vomiting has got to stop. Scott and I haven't had a weekend alone in over a year. At first glance, or even second for that matter, that doesn't sound glamorous and the "best" of anything, now does it?

And then I see this...



And God reminds me that life comes in chapters. You can't just sit down and read the whole book in one sitting. It doesn't work that way. As a couple, I feel like our life has three parts, before children, giving life to children and "thank God they can do things by themselves" children. Life with kids is messy, and tiring. But, it's also soul-searching, in a good way. I'm trying hard to let some of the little things go. Hey, don't knock it. For an OCD, Type A, Reformed Queen Bee Mom like myself - it's hard.

After some reflection, I do agree with all those people mentioned above. These are the best years of our life. We still have energy, I can still outrun my children, things may not look as great as they did in the mirror at 20, but that's ok. And, hey, my kids still think I'm cool.

Seriously?

Seriously? Will got the stomach bug yesterday. I had a trash can handy by the couch - good thing. Please, please, please stomach virus LEAVE OUR HOUSE!!!

Know any priests that do exorcisms? Seriously.

Snapshots: Friday Fun

K'nex. If you don't have 'em, man are you missing out.





Will was "Superstar" (knee down, hands in the air) this week at school. Which, when you're in first grade, definitely falls in the cool category. You get to go first in line - lunch being the most notable, have show 'n tell everyday, special guests eat lunch with you (mom and dad still fall in this category!) and have someone come read a book on Friday afternoon before dismissal. Will gave me that honor today and it was a riot. We read Dr. Seuss' "Clam-I-Am" and the kids had a million questions. Note to self: never ask 22 first-graders if they've ever been to a beach before. Will's teacher had to jump in and save me so we could start the book. Thanks for the lifering Mrs. F.

We ended the week with a Happy Hour run to Sonic while Dad held down the fort at home. What a fun week. Give it up for Mr. Superstar.

Miss Manners

This year, I decided it was time for Master Will to pony up and write his own thank-you notes. Before he got started, we had Thank You Note 101. Surprised? You shouldn't be.

So, we went over the rules:

1. Say thank you for XXX.
2. Tell them how you will/are using the gift.
3. Thank them again.

He did manage to get them all done. I was very proud. After he hit the sack, I did a cursory editor's review and immediately started laughing. Here's why...

"Dear Ben,

Thank you for the Zoingo Boingo. I have been hoping like a frog.

Your friend,
Will"

Now, that should make you smile :-)

Top Ten: Why the Glass is Half Full

Ha, bet you thought I forgot about you? It's been one of those weeks. I just thought Sunday was the end. It went from bad to worse. Clare got a double ear infection so we got her into the doctor and on antibiotics, only to find out she's allergic to amoxicillin. Lovely. I started running a fever last night...yadda, yadda, yadda...and we're all better today (ever see that Seinfeld episode?)

But, enough "woe is me." That really was going to be the topic for today's top ten. Something along the lines of what a rough week it had been. And then I got an email (I'll explain below) this morning and thought to myself, life 'ain't so bad. So, in honor of that perspective shift, here's this week's...

TOP TEN REASONS THE GLASS IS HALF FULL

1. I'm a stay-at-home mom (SAHM). Yea, granted, there are days (like Monday) where you seriously want to call in sick, jump in the tub and turn up Neil Diamond (uh oh, did I say that out loud?) But, when the kids were all screaming, they wanted to sit in my lap. And, even though you're covered in throw-up, spit-up, squished bananas, crushed cheerios, leftover breakfast juice and a stinky sock up your nose - you know you're loved. And, really, what says love more than a two-day-old sock?

2. I have a washing machine and dryer. Yes, and they do great work. Except fold the clothes. And put them up. But, I'm not shlepping to the backyard to wash the clothes over the washboard or pinning them up on the clothesline to dry. Let's face it, if that were the case, we'd wear the same clothes all year or go naked.

3. My house is lived in. Translated...there is crap all over the place. Hey, I mean it people. Martha Stewart has left the building and has been replaced by Roseanne. I finally cleaned the dishes that have been sitting in my sink for 3 days. And, that load of laundry my mother-in-law put in there on Saturday, finally got folded TODAY.

4. We have DVR. My sister-in-law was right. It is a gateway drug. While I was feeling like I was in the seventh ring of hell on Saturday, at least I could watch some Young & the Restless I recorded last week.

5. My husband knows his way around the grocery store. Ladies, I did marry the perfect man (don't tell Scott). He loves going to the store. I mean it. His dad owned and operated a small chain in north Texas for many years and he grew up in the grocery business. So, he was kind enough to go for me last night. Downside? He just has a hard time leaving without all sorts of new products to try out. Shoot, this is supposed to be positive. Ok, try again. Upside? I didn't have to go.

6. My kids keep on laughing. Amidst the chaos this week, we still laughed, a lot. Mostly due to them. I love having four children. More people should try it. Really.

7. Mother's Day Out. Had it not been for that, you could have looked me up in the crazy pages on Tuesday. Anna-Laura and John Paul had a blast and I finally found that stack of bills I've been meaning to pay for like, 3 weeks. Sheez, the office looks like a train wreck, but I'm pacing myself. You know, not to get too organized too fast.

8. For modern medicine. Yes, even though we spent over an hour waiting on our doctor Monday morning, we have one. Even though the diagnosis was EXACTLY what I suspected (double ear infection), we were able to fill the prescription and get Clare on the path to healing. Even though the pharmacy lost our scrip from the pediatrician, at least we have ready / cheap access to meds. What children are healed from in days in the states, they die from in other countries. We're blessed and we don't even realize it.

9. Good friends. Several of them heard me vent. Big ups to Halle, Melanie, Angela, the lady at Walgreen's, the nurses - maybe it was TMI? And, a shout out to Mary Ann. She's the mom of a son who has autism. She shows me that we all have crosses. But, God gave us our children at this moment. You just gotta do the best you can.

10. I have no problem speaking my mind. Oh, wow, I maybe should've warned you? That's incredibly mindblowing to many, I know... I find solace and peace in knowing that God gave me an independent nature (a trait my kids are developing quite nicely, thankyouverymuch). I'm learning to stop worrying about what other people think (read: what other parents think about how we live our life and raise our children). Perfect Parent World does not exist. And, just because we do it differently doesn't mean that we think your way is wrong. Our way is just right...for us.

April Fool's!

For me, this is one of the great American holidays. Where else can you play a joke on somebody, anybody, of small or massive proportions and get away with it? It's always been one of my favorite days, but admittedly, the past few years I've been a slacker. Sorry. I do remember one joke in particular that I thought was hilarious. My dad? Notsomuch. It went something like this...

I was a sophomore in college. Before leaving for school, my parents got me a sweet '91 Ford Probe. Remember folks, this was 1992. I loved that car. We even sprung for a covered parking spot in the campus garage. That morning, I decided to call my dad and tell him someone had backed into my car and hadn't left a note. It was funny to a college student, but as I quickly learned, parents don't dig that kind of stuff. Anyhoo, I called him up and told him we needed to talk. He was so excited to hear my voice, he put me on speaker phone (which I didn't know about). I relayed what had "happened". Dad immediately started going through the checklist of things to do.

ME: Hey, Dad, um I have something to tell you.

DAD: What's that?

ME: April Fool's!!!!! (laughing hysterically)

DAD:

DAD:

DAD:

OTHER MAN IN THE ROOM: Um, Kathryn, you should see how red your dad's face is right now (laughing nervously).

Needless to say, Dad doesn't put me on speaker phone anymore. And, I don't joke about things like that anymore. So, we're even.

Happy April Fool's!