The Senior Prom (s)

This month Will and Elizabeth had her prom and his prom.  She goes to the all girl school and Will attends the all boy school across the parking lot.  They each have their own prom.

First up was Elizabeth's prom...  I want to preface these gorgeous photos by saying it had been a ROUGH week.  Houston flooded badly and Elizabeth's family's property flooded so badly that she was taking a boat to get to a road to get to school.  Then the boat was stolen!  One of their animals drowned in the flooding.  It was awful.  She also got sick and had pink eye in these photos.  All that to say that I think she looks fabulous but I know that she had a very difficult week and was not feeling great. I felt really bad for her.

I was really hoping to get a good photo when Will handed Elizabeth her bouquet.  I made the bouquet for her and was hoping she loved it.  She did love it but I did not get a good photo.

Elizabeth and her Mom.

Will's best friends are baseball players (but Will is not).  Unfortunately, the baseball players had a game the night of BOTH proms. So, we don't have big group photos of Will's closest friends.

But for Liz's prom they did get a small group together for dinner at a restaurant and some photos...













You can see more photos of this prom here.

Two weeks later was Will's prom.  Again his friends had a baseball game and so they (the players) arrived late at Prom.  Will made reservations for a nice restaurant for he and Elizabeth and they met up with their group at Prom and the after party.  Thankfully, it was a beautiful week and everyone was doing much better.

Once again I decided to make Elizabeth's bouquet.  I was Mother's Day weekend so I tried to get the flowers a day or two early.  I was so worried they would not last but they did beautifully in the refrigerator.

A friend asked me to help make flowers for her sons' dates too.

I took a lot of photos because it was a gorgeous evening and we had lots of time.



I typically pin the boutonniere.  It was very sad to me that this is likely the last one I'll pin on Will (maybe until his wedding?)

(blurry phone photo)

They had a great time at prom.  In fact, Will has had a lot of fun with all of the end of year festivities.

As I type this blog post, Will is getting his cap and gown and rehearsing for graduation and baccalaureate mass. I have so many feelings y'all.  Happy, sad, proud, scared.  I know this is the place we work so hard to get our kids to.  Will is a great kid. He is graduating with high honors. He has really grown into a kind and accomplished young man.  If I cry tears, they are not tears of sadness...they are tears of a mix of emotions.  I just cannot believe that we are at this point.  It is surreal.

I have told you all on the blog before that it was a private little joke between me and Dave that when Will was a baby, every day Dave would walk in from work say something like "Did Will fill out his college applications yet?"  Or I would be ready to share some accomplishment (like his first smile or rolling over) and I would say, "Guess what Will did today?"  And Dave always replied "Apply to college?"

And now that time is here.  It is just so hard to believe it. It will be quite a weekend for us.  I am sure I will post some photos on IG.  And I'll be back next week with more posts.

P.S.  Harry was my photography assistant.  He took some shots and helped me a lot.  He has gotten really into photography and I love sharing that hobby with him.

Family News

I will post Christmas 2015 photos this week.  I have never skipped blogging about a Christmas and I can't start now.

Let's see what is new at our house...

Will has heard back from all of the colleges he applied to. He applied to 8 schools. He was admitted to all of them and got academic scholarships at 7/8. The only school that did not award a scholarship was Texas A & M (it is a GREAT school but it was his safety school as it is close and extremely reasonably priced).  It is too big for him though.

He has narrowed his options down to four schools and is visiting some this month.  I think he will have a decision by the end of February. Let's hope.

I have started gathering a few things for him for college as I see them... towels, a travel bag, etc... little by little. I think starting to get some things ready is helping me deal with reality. I know it might seem silly but it helps me.  I plan to make him a supplement/medicine box.  I keep all sorts of natural supplements and vitamins here and the kids always come to me asking...Mom, what can I take for XYZ?  So, I am going to make him one with all our regulars to take to school.

I am happy/sad about this phase. I know this is what we work so hard for as parents.  He is an amazing kid with great values and awesome options.  He is stepping out into adulthood.  It is still really hard to start letting go.

Will just finished up varsity swim season and has moved right into water polo.  It is weird knowing this is the last time he will be in organized sports like this as he will not swim in college.  He is leading two weekend retreats this month (confirmation and Kairos) and I am so proud of him.  That is where Will really excels and it is what he loves doing.  I hope he finds opportunities for Spiritual Leadership in college.  God gave him a gift for that.

Will and Elizabeth went to her Winter Formal this month.  I did not get good photos. It was dark and rainy that evening and I got a new camera and ended up returning it as it would not focus. Anyway...here are some shots.  They looked fabulous.  Elizabeth is really a beautiful person.

I began this blog 9 years ago on January 7, 2007.  Can you believe that?  I have 9 years of family memories on this site.  Thank you for hanging around that long.  I know a lot of people have probably stopped checking in as I don't write that frequently anymore.  But I am so grateful for the friendships I have made from the adoption community and the blogging community.

Kate is busy working on gymnastics, crafting, knitting and her science fair project.  She is looking at the difference between tap water and alkaline water on cut flowers.  Let me just say now...I loathe the science fair at this age.  I think that participating in ONE science fair in 5th grade or higher is a great idea. At her school it is mandatory in 3, 4 and 5th grades.  That is too much.  Kate LOVES science but this is killing it for her.

She is making sweet little hand made boxes for Valentine's Day for each kid in her class.  Then we will fill them with something.

Here are a few phone pictures of Kate..

{At a fun Spa birthday party}

Kate knitted this blanket for herself over Christmas break and Scout loved it.

So being the sweet thoughtful girl that she is...she knit Scout her own little blanket...

These are the Valentine boxes she is making completely by hand.... I think she has 20 more still to make!

Harry is doing well.  He is as entrepreneurial as ever. I don't think I am allowed to post about this businesses here though. He is currently playing lacrosse at his high school but he is not loving it right now.  We will see if he continues or finds something else to do in high school.  I do strongly encourage my kids to play a sport or be involved in their school community but I also want them to be happy so I don't "force" them to do something if it is not right for them.  He will find his thing.  It may be lacrosse and it may not be.

Harry got his driver's learning permit this month too...



I simply cannot believe how quickly these kids are growing up!

I spoke at a women's retreat this month on marriage.  I was dreading it as the retreat was right after Christmas and I was pressed for time to prepare.  But it ended up being such a blessing and honor to have the opportunity to share with these women.  God has made His calling so clear to me as I love getting to do what I do for a living. When I am speaking or working with clients, it never feel like work. It always feels like I am right where God wants me to be. And trust me there are many times in other areas of my life that I don't feel that way.

Life is really busy in our house right now.  Three kids, three sports, senior year activities, two working parents.  It is a good busy.  A full and blessed life.  I know it is all going to shift a bit in the next 6-8 months so I am trying to be fully present in the here and now.

The Nutcracker, Thanksgiving and Minted Winners etc.

So much has been going on.  It was our 20th wedding anniversary, Harry's 15th birthday.  I had a little surgery.  Everyday, I think I will post but between work and family and life, it does not happen as often as I'd like.  So, I will try to catch up.

First, Thanksgiving….

Harry did (at the very last minute) organize his annual neighborhood/friend Turkey Bowl.  I was not 100% sure he was doing it and he overslept a tad.  Anyway, he went and had fun.  Dave brought the kids kolaches and doughnuts but I stayed home this year (so no photos).  I caught up with my sister and Mom on the phone and cooked for Thanksgiving instead.

We always spend Thanksgiving with Dave's brother and sister and their families.  Sometimes it is in Houston and sometimes it is in Galveston at the bay/beach.  This year we went to Galveston.

When we arrived the turkey was cooking and my nephew decided to take all the "kids" on a Sunset cruise on the boat.  My niece and nephew are in their mid twenties and they are AWESOME with my kids.  They always have been.  I am really close to them too.  So, Auntie Kim went on the cruise with the "kids."  The legal girls all had mimosas so we called it a mimosa cruise.  Our boat captain and the kids had water and San Pellegrino.

Harry, Will, Cousin Jamie, Cousin Olivia, Brittany (Jamie's long time girlfriend), Kate

Of course Auntie Kim needed some photos on our boat ride.



Kate was not amused.







Me and some of my favorite gals.

Dinner was fabulous.  Dave's brother and sister both have homes in Galveston so they do the turkey and big sides.  We bring a few sides and desserts.  It was delicious and it is was fun spending time with everyone.  We played some games (Apples to Apples, etc).

The next day, we drove back home and put out tree up in a matter of about an hour or two.

I had other things decorated but we typically wait until after Thanksgiving to put up the tree. We take turns every other year with what goes on our tree.  The even years EVERYTHING (like 7 bins) of ornaments and family memories go on.  That takes a ton of time and no one really helps me (except Kate).  The odd years, we just do sliver, clear and white and that goes MUCH faster.  I love our tree this year.

Thanksgiving weekend, Kate and I go to The Nutcracker at the Houston Ballet.  This was our fifth year to attend.  (You can see past years here).  This was the last year for this particular production/rendition of the Nutcracker.  Next year, the Houston Ballet will have all new sets, costumes and choreography.  So we tried to really soak in every detail.  We absolutely LOVE this Mommy-daughter tradition each year.  Kate adores the music and the dancing.  I was not sure she would when she was so young but she always has.

Kate's dress (same brand, very similar style)

My beautiful sugar plum fairy who was so sick of photos:)

I always love to have photos before we go.  Most of the year, I am behind the camera but around the holidays I try to get into photos with my kids and husband so they will have them down the road. I actually drive them ALL crazy because I am so picky with my camera and settings and stuff but hopefully they take it in stride.

Kate and I get to the theatre and then we reserve our intermission snack and table.  We pre-order our drinks and a little treat for her (a salted caramel cupcake this year) and they are all ready for us at a reserved table at intermission.

Cutest little date there is.

This was at the theatre.  They have a giant tree and a giant gingerbread house.



Onto other things...Will was accepted this week at another school.  He got into SMU and was awarded The Founder's Scholarship.  We are so incredibly proud of him.  Will is smart but he is also extremely involved in school.  He is captain of water polo and swim team, president of the young conservatives, a retreat leader and much much more.  He has made great choices in high school and it is awesome to sit back and watch these opportunities come his way.  He is still waiting to hear from three more schools but so far he has been accepted everywhere he has heard from.



My boys were tour guides at the Open House at their high school last week.  I thought they looked so handsome.  They both LOVE their high school.


And MINTED chose the three winners of the $100 gift card contest last week.  They emailed the winners directly.  But the winners are

Alyson R
Leigh B (who introduced herself to me via email this week)
Stephanie S

Thanks for entering.  I am thrilled for you.

I am off to Mass but plan to work on a few blog posts later today on Christmas caroling, gingerbread houses and Harry's birthday and the Teddy Bear tea! Happy Sunday!