I want to remember this..

Someone asked me recently in a professional setting about whether I thought all the social media (facebook, instagram, twitter, blogging) was making our youth more narcissistic.  That was a tough one to answer because narcissism is a mental disorder and I am not sure that social media will change a person in that way.  However, I do think everyone has gotten more "self-promotive."  And that is not completely a good thing in my opinion.  But I do see the positives of social media too.  The blogging community has been very kind to our family.  Sharing can be good.

Anyway, I am constantly asking myself (and I have written about this before) "Am I using the time I have to do the work God intended for me to do on earth?  Am I helping others?"

I don't want to spend 2 hours a day on Facebook and realize that I could have been a good listener to a friend in need at that time or played outside with my kids or volunteered in my community.  I am SO NOT perfect and neither is my family.  And we never will be. I've let go of that.  But I am always striving to become better.  So, I often ask myself if blogging is a good use of my time.

I love having the family memories to look back on and that was why I started. I have used my own archives to remember health issues with kids, prove to one child when he lost his first tooth and when he rode a bike without training wheels.  I love having all of that and so much more documented in one place.  But is that too self centered?  I have been wondering.

Then today, I got an email from a long time reader.  It is funny.  I do not get many of these but they always seem to come just as I am thinking about giving up blogging.  I will not share the details as they are private but basically the person shared with me how an innocent post here had a really positive trickle effect on her family's life.  I am never setting out to do that here and I am so surprised and happy when it happens.

I am going to keep blogging as long as it feels like the right thing to be doing... and as usual I have a  lot of catching up to do...

But let me share these cute little things I want to remember about Kate...

We are sending her to summer camp in a little over a week.  It will be her first time away from our family. She is going to another state without knowing anyone and she is SO excited.  She has watched the boys go to camp for years and she has been begging to go.  The only week that she could go was June 1st so she will be at camp on her birthday.  I did not intend to schedule her at that time but when she found out what they do to celebrate birthdays at camp, she BEGGED me to let her go that week.  Little did she know I had already accidentally enrolled her that week as it was the only one open;)  We will celebrate her birthday just before she leaves and that will be fine.

So, the camp my kids go to is a non-denominational Christian Camp.  They have worship and praise and devotionals throughout the day and they make it really fun for the kids. I remember the time we visited seeing my kids singing praise songs so boldly.  The Catholic church is not quite like that so it was new for us.  Anyway on the camp packing list is a Bible.  Kate only had little "baby" bibles.  They are more like Bible storybooks.  So, I began the search for a "big girl" Bible for her.

It came in yesterday and Kate's excitement was priceless.  Honestly, she has never been so thrilled with a gift in all her life. She loves it.

Look at that smile!  She had just returned home from gymnastics.

 She was dying to read it, so we read a little of my favorite book, Ephesians. When we got to Ephesian 4:29

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Kate asked me what that means. I explained that it meant we should not talk badly about anyone and only say things that will help people and make them better.  She said, "Oh I need a pen.  I need to underline that, Mama.  That is something I need to work on."  She ran and grabbed a pen and I just smiled to myself thinking ---we ALL need to work on that one honey!  I was also surprised because I rarely hear Kate say anything bad about anyone. And when I do it is usually about someone who was being mean to other people.

Anyway, she went on to tell me that sometimes at the lunch table someone will say, "raise your hand if you don't like "Rosie" (made up name). " And although she never initiates it, she admitted that she sometimes raises her hand and that is not the right thing to do.  She asked my advice on what she should do tomorrow if it happens at lunch.  I told her she had a lot of choices...she could change the subject to something else more kind.  She could not raise her hand.  She could say, "we shouldn't talk badly about other people." She could even say something kind about "Rosie."  It depends on how brave she feels. I told her that she knows now God doesn't want her to do that (although she likely knew it before too;) and she has to find her own way to stop.  She said, "Oh Mama that is so hard when everyone else is doing it too!"

I told her that I know what she means.  That it is tempting to talk negatively about other people but it really is not what we are supposed to do.  And we will feel so much better inside if we avoid the temptation and "lift one another up."

I just LOVE the conversations we have had last night and this morning from reading one chapter of the Bible together.  Kate underlined and  quite  a few passages that she wants "to work on " (just like I do)!

She asked me if the counselors at camp will help her read her Bible if it is too hard for her at camp.  I am just so thrilled to see my daughter love the word of God.

The other little phrase I want to remember is this... A few weeks ago Kate asked me something and I did not know the answer.  I said "I don't know Kate."  And she said, "Just google it up, Mama!"

I laughed so hard.  We all "Google it up" around here now.


This is the Bible (a few people asked on Instagram).

a date with kate

We had a lovely Spring Break and I have posts about the rodeo and Go Texan Day and the beach to put up here.  But I had a really special (and unexpected) day with Kate today and I want to write about it while it is so fresh in my mind.

During Mass this morning, Kate was looking at a book about Angels and Saints that I bought her for Christmas.  She still gets a little bored during Mass and although she pays attention pretty well, she likes to have a spiritual book or two to glance through if things get long.  As she looked at the art in the Saint book, she whispered to me "Mama, can we go to the Art Museum today to see some of the religious paintings?"

Truthfully, it was kind of the last thing I wanted to do today.  Kate and I have been pretty inseparable for the last week.  We have spent loads of quality time together.  And while I thoroughly enjoyed every second, I had grocery shopping and laundry and ironing and other things to get caught up on.  I actually like getting caught up on Sunday afternoons.  It makes the week start off smoothly.

Anyway, I started thinking about my boys and how they really love museums (all kinds).  And so many people tell me that their kids do not.  We have spent a lot of time in museums as a family.  Our kids have gone since they were infants and so they have a real appreciation for art. And honestly, I think it is a learned appreciation.  The peanuts know how to behave in a museum and they actually get a lot out of them.

So, I decided that I needed to take Kate today.  She LOVES art and I want to continually expose her to culture.

I looked on the web and learned that the MFA had a family day today which means they have "family activities."  Today was a lesson on John Singer Sargent, Italian watercolorist.  They also had "pop-up" concerts by Rice University Shepherd School of Music students playing the violin and cello.  So, it seemed like a greta day to go...

The azaleas have all just bloomed here and so it was gorgeous all around. (all I-phone photos)

Yes, Kate wore her beret to the Museum.  She cracks me up!

When we were standing in line to get it, Kate could see something "sparkly" off to the side and she told me that she wanted to go look at it first.  So, that is what we did!


It was a really cool installation by a modern artist from India and made completely from stainless steel.

After that we stumbled onto Art of China and Art of Japan.  Kate was fascinated.  

Many of the pieces were B.C. and she loved reading the history.

Kate said the funniest thing in the Japan exhibit.  There was a Buddhist sculpture and she said, "he looks like he is medicating."  I know she meant meditating but I had a good giggle.  She says things like that all the time.

Next we went to the hands on part where Kate could learn about and paint like John Singer Sargent.



This docent was so fabulous.  She spent so much time teaching Kate all about the artist and his techniques and life.  Kate loved it and I loved watching her.





John Singer Sargent used to sit outside under a white umbrella and sketch and they had little areas set up for the kids to do so as well.

After that, we went over to the other building for the religious paintings and the "pop-up" concerts.

This is the underground tunnel to the other building.  It changes colors.



We found the musicians right away.  They were quite good but they were quite loud for Kate.  She really enjoyed the music but she actually covered her ears.  People looked at her and smiled sweetly.  I think they thought she did not like the music but she really did. Ever since she got tubes in her ears (years ago), her hearing is very sensitive and she does not like anything loud.  That was a shame because I could have listened to them all day.  And Kate plays violin so she would have liked to listen longer too.






Since it was too loud for Kate, we went and looked at some impressionist paintings and the religious art.



And finally, we went to another station to create some more John Singer Sargent art.
 At this station, the lesson was about vanishing points.








 Smartypants Kate already knew about vanishing points and got right to creating a Venice scene.
I however got quite lost and messed up my vanishing point badly.  I am not artisitcally inclined.
 But Kate is.



It was such a delightful afternoon (much better than laundry and ironing) and I got such joy out of just being with Kate.  She is the sweetest little being. I wish you all could get to know her scrumptious little personality.  I am so blessed that she is our daughter.


  Today reminded me of a Sunday date I had with Will 5 years ago at the museum.

Dave and I are off to the airport to pick up Harry now. I can't wait to see him!! It sounds like he had an amazing trip. Sadly, two girls in his travel group were injured in a car accident yesterday in Barcelona.  One girl broke her knee and the other girl is more seriously injured. Please keep them in your prayers.

Update Grande

It has been so long that I don't even know where to start.  I have come to not really like the word "busy."  We are all busy.  I guess I had no idea how my office business was going to shift around everything else in my life.  I have always worked a bit here and there speaking, coaching, and teaching classes.  But I completely underestimated how expanding my business would change everything. Time slips right through my fingers every single day.

My first priorities have always been God, marriage and children.  I've been able to manage that okay over the last 15 years. I sifted in volunteering, blogging, managing our home and various health issues, Bible studies, socializing etc as I could.  But sifting in a huge increase in public speaking, seeing clients and developing The Nurtured Home has really rocked my world. I feel so blessed that things are going well.  I feel so honored that clients choose me to help them with their families and marriages and relationships.  And although I sometimes wonder if I have taken on too much, I really LOVE everything I am doing. I am just trying to figure out our new normal.

So, I have done this by trying to be ultra intentional with my time.  As two of the peanuts schools asked me to be on the PTO boards next year, I politely declined.  But I did say yes to being a mentor mom at Will's school and working in the school store with Harry once a week.  I am trying to chose the things that will mean most to my family and that I can actually do.  It is hard.  I am learning to say no every day.  I have so much empathy for single moms (Dave has been traveling a lot) and other moms who work full time.  It seems impossible to do it all well.

Blogging fell by the wayside.  I LOVE blogging. I love having my family memories here.  I love connecting with other people here.  I love the creative outlet.  I won't stop blogging.  I just think that it might be  kind of sporadic until I figure out how to manage my time better.

So, to catch y'all up on Miss Kate...

She has lost her 2 front teeth!!!  I am going to take some photos of her "toothless" look tomorrow or this weekend and I will post them soon.  I have not really used my good camera much.  I lost Photoshop when my computer crashed last December and I am so frustrated that I cannot make simple edits on my photos (like brightening or contrast).  Also I got a new phone and I instagram a lot.

Also, Kate did join the competition team at our gym. I am so proud of her.  We are taking a break from violin so that she can manage the commitment.  She works really hard and she is so focused.  She was moved up from Level 1 to Level 2 within a few weeks.  She amazes me because she only started recreational gymnastics last fall and I almost did not let her do it because of ballet.  I did not want her over-scheduled.  Now at level 2 she practices 3 hours a day MWF and she never complains.   She loves every second of it. In fact this was our conversation the other day...

KATE: You did gymnastics when you were little, right?
ME: Well, yes Kate but it was so different back then and I was not really on a team.

KATE: Mama, I think you should get a job as a coach at my gym.
ME: Well Kate, I already have a job and I love what I do.  Why do you think I should be a coach?

KATE: Well, you get a really nice black t-shirt with the name of the gym on it.  And if you were a coach, I could go everyday!  But there is already a coach Kim, so you would have to change your name!

Here I thought she wanted more time with me but really she wants more time at the gym!!!

Switching gears here....

I also want to do a little update about Kate's academic progress.  Last year, I really agonized about whether Kate should do an encore presentation of kindergarten.  I just want share with you (in case anyone is contemplating it).  It was the BEST decision!!!!  Everything clicked this year both socially and academically.  And while she was not terribly behind in any one thing, her confidence is just so much better this year.  She is a leader.  And even though she was diagnosed with dyslexia in the Fall, she is reading at a GREAT level now (near the top of the class). We have worked really hard with her and it all just clicked this year.  I really cannot emphasize how happy I am that we gave her an extra year.  It is like things came into focus for her this year.

Also, last week (or 2?) was our annual trip to the rodeo...  We had a very nice time.  I think this might be the last time our whole family goes together.  Will is almost 16 and next year...he will be almost 17 and I think he will opt for going with his friends.  The only reason he went with us this year is that he was working when his friends went.

The boys wanted to wander around a little bit together so we split up.  I had the camera so there are lots more pics of Kate:)

In the petting zoo....

Lots of the animals chew on your clothes.
They did eat some holes in her tank top that was under this pink shirt:(

Kate was brushing this little guy while holding her nose from the stench:)

Kate really wanted a caramel apple.  Last year, she did not get to have one because she did not eat her dinner the night before.  She came up with a very creative solution last year and brought a regular apple and a stick to the rodeo.  This year though...she got that caramel apple right away.  And she was a big goof with it!

We met back up with the boys and Harry rode the big slide with Kate.
 I  just love that they held hands:)

Harry and Will are phenomenal big brothers!









The first time we took Will to the Livestock Show and Rodeo, he was a toddler and he LOVED the tractors. He basically spent the whole time sitting and pretending to drive them.



And now, in a few months, he will have his license.  This time, Will sat in all the real cars and trucks.
 I tell ya.
It really does go by in the blink of an eye!!!



Speaking of cars, the bumper cars are always a favorite with the peanuts.
Harry was kind enough to go on the little kid ones with Kate...






I just noticed that Kate matched her car perfectly!!
I wonder if she did that on purpose?

After that it was onto the big bumper cars.
 For years and years, Harry had to ride with Will because he could not reach the pedals and that always bothered him.
I was very glad that he could go solo this year:)









I love their facial expressions.  Will is serious.  Harry is having a blast!





Here they are about to slam into each other!









We also went to the carnival at Will's school where Harry won 2 goldfish (much to my dismay).
He gave them to Kate.  One died within a week (Goldie).
But the other one (Silvery) is still going strong.
 Like I needed one more thing to take care of!!




One more little update on Will.
He is playing water polo for his high school and it is going really well.
He loves it and he scored his first goal last week!  It is a tough sport y'all!



I really do promise to get back to a regular blog routine.  Thanks for being patient with me as I figure it all out.  And thank you to those who reached out to check and see if we were all okay:)

A Christmas Party

Dave and I decided to take a year off from hosting our big Christmas party and I am so glad we did.  I honestly cannot imagine if I had added one more thing to my plate this week.  However, my friend and neighbor decided to have a party this year and it was last night.  We had a great time.  It was nice to be the guest and not the hostess.  I was not planning on buying a dress (trying to save money and all) but I fell in love with this dress at the last minute. It screamed Jackie O or Audrey Hepburn to me.  I had the perfect very pointy black satin heels and a fun ivory cocktail  ring.  I was feeling very 1960 and very "Chicago-ish."

{Dave wore a navy blue blazer to the party but did not have it on for the photos}

When we got home, I peeked in on Kate to see if she was asleep. She said,  "Mama, did your friend say anything?"  I said, "Say anything about what Kate?"  She said, "Like did she tell you how beautiful your dress and coat were?"  I replied, "Oh yes, sweetie she did."  Then she asked, "Mama, were you the most beautiful girl at the party?"  I could not really answer that as everyone looked beautiful but Kate sure made me feel like the most beautiful mama at that moment in time.