The fascinating and smelly results of our expedition

We went on our first ever tadpole hunting mission today in a nearby creek with friends today. We captured 4 minnows and 2 tadpoles. It will be fascinating (and smelly) to watch them transform, and exciting to release them back into the world!

End of year moments

Jonas applausing Milo's classmates at their "Enchanted Europe" end of year show. 

The elementary children did a Vienese waltz! I'm still waiting on footage from B of Milo dancing and singing. Coming soon....

Love my little guy. Sometimes we sit in the car a little bit during tennis for a snack and some reading.  That smile lights me up!

Saying goodbye to Ms. Dolan on the last day of school

Saying goodbye to Ms. Banerjee on the last day. He was sad about leaving. Good thing we're coming back for a week of pioneer camp! :)

I came to help out at Dominic's field day at school. I got to moderate the bounce house. I felt right at home ;)

Last morning with Mrs. Hahn.  Oh how we will miss her!

Here's the photo with my Aunt Evita from her whirlwind tour of College Station. We had such a blessed visit with her!

Have you ever seen a rolling dogpile before? Me neither. This is what it looks like.

Good friends invited us for a end of year pizza party, it was such a fun and relaxing evening for the whole family to enjoy together!

This is how I usually feel by the end of the school year. :)  So ready for the summer season of enjoying my boys to myself for a little while!  Good job boys, we're so proud of all your hard work, your learning and your growing this year! We love you so much.

Five Favorites: Hello Summer edition. Teacher bouquets, zig zag swimdress, Tazo iced green tea, kids summer reading & Japanese animation

Linking up with Hallie Lord's blog this week to share my 5 Faves, thanks for hosting! Sending your family prayers for good health, Hallie!

~1~ A bouquet of thanks

A blooming good idea from Pinterest, putting flowers in a mason jar with a note that says "thanks a bunch for helping me learn and grow this year!" The kids said they brought bright smiles to the special teachers in our lives this year. I hope it made them feel loved and appreciated!

~2~ Swim dress. 

I got this swim cover up at HEB for $11.  It matches the suit I bought last year and the zig zags are fun! 

~3~ Tazo Iced Green Tea. 

A healthier, more refreshing source of caffeine. 

                                                    

~4~ The Life of Pope John Paul II Comic Book 

I found this at the library in the kids biographies section (which is fantastic, by the way, never knew it existed). I'm not generally a fan of graphic novels, but this is an exception. Not gonna lie, I'll probably read it first, because I never quite made it through JPII's REAL biography myself. I love learning along with our children. I'm trying to build a summer reading read aloud list for the boys, but it's a short list so far.  We've got the Phantom Tollboth, My Father's Dragon, Treasure Island, some Jules Verne and some Choose Your Own Adventures to begin. I love our little summer book club, we curl up with blankets during Jonas' naptime together. :)  I've got to savor these moments while I can!

~5~ Spirited Away

I used to think Japanese Animation was just plain weird (and I usually prefer independent and art films), Then my eyes were opened to the work of Hayao Miyazaki by a dear old friend, particularly Spirited Away. When Bronius and I first watched, we were just drawn in. We couldn't wait until our kids were old enough so we could show it to them also. Miyazaki just has a way of inspiring curiosity and imagination, at every age. It might be described as the Eastern version of Alice in Wonderland, so prepare yourself for certain bizarre elements. If this draws you in, you will have to check out some of his other work! 

I'd love to know what books and films you treasure to share with your families! Happy Summer!

Family boasting: degrees, awards, presentations...and then somereading, coffee, Gene Kelly and what I wrote.

Here's my unofficial 7QT for this week. Might you permit me a little bragging this week? A couple of exciting things are happening in my family this week and I feel so proud of them all! :)   

~1~  My sister Lesley carried the torch faithfully and graduated with her Master's degree in Counseling.  I am tremendously proud of the time, dedication and hard work she has poured into this degree. She has always had a healing spirit, and she will be a faithful, gifted worker in the vineyard of the Lord. Please keep her in prayer as she looks for a position! In other news, it was amazing to be reunited with my parents and siblings for a weekend. It's a gift to be able to spend time with my younger siblings before they get snatched up and married, and an even rarer gift to be with my eldest sister all the way from Oregon. The whole world just melts away when I'm with these people. A big thanks to my wonderful husband and mother in law for taking the helm while I was gone!

~2~ Dominic received the Golden Gator award for the first time at his elementary school, for demonstrating hard work, helpfulness and good citizenship. He was beaming!

~3~ My Aunt Evita is visiting Texas from India to give a talk to researchers at Baylor University about natural childbirth positions. She is an ObGyn who owns her own Catholic hospital in Hyderabad (which has been passed down to her by her mother who was the owner and lead ObGyn before her).  This is exciting on multiple levels, since research shows a strong indication that the squatting position during childbirth can prevent injuries and complications (not to mention that labor has been done like this since the beginning of time). It would be amazing if we could get Western medicine to pay more close attention to women's health and the injuries we can try to prevent during childbirth.

                                                                     Dr. Evita Fernandez

Dad grew up in Bombay, but talks about how when a baby was due in his family, his mother would take the train to Hyderabad to be with her family since her sister Lourdes (Evita's mother) was an ObGyn and most of the women in her family were obstetricians for one of the royal families (who had many, many children).  My Dad and his siblings were all born in his grandparents home. I'm so proud of this family history. My Grandmother Adelaide's family also owned a homeopathic pharmaceutical company in Hyderabad. As a result, I've grown up trusting a great many natural remedies. :) 

                                 

~4~ Perfect Iced Coffee by Pioneer Woman.  I am trying to master this recipe so that I stop buying the McDonald's iced coffee - which is magically delicious, which means it has to be bad for me.  Also hoping to master the art of the Vietnamese iced coffee, unless someone intervenes and tells me really it would be better if I'd consider some healthy green smoothies instead. :) 

                                                                              photo credit: The Pioneer Woman

5) The I've Got Rhythm scene from An American in Paris.  Have you ever seen this movie?  It's a childhood favorite. It's completely captivating. Watch this particular dance sequence with the kids, dance is contagious!

~6~ A spiritual memoir, My Sisters the Saints, written by Colleen Carroll Campbell. Our book club is reading it this month and it has definitely inspired me to look for more connections in my life to the challenges which the saints have overcome with Christ. I think we have a tendency to think we don't have things in common with the saints, but we do! I love this author. I feel like we are good friends. 

And what I wrote for Austin Catholic New Media this week, 5 Secrets of a Happy Summer at Home.  I would love to hear your thoughts.  Thanks for visiting!

Fun

  Can I keep him, Mom?

 Really, we'll take them for walks and stuff. 

Just love this picture in all its blurry glory.

   Water squirting firefighters.

Our twin friends "half birthday" fractions playdate. The kids are decorating two halves of a pizza with equal ingredients. Only Ms. Marcy could make math so fun!

Hopeful musicians?

The sprink-oline, our latest invention!

Come on Summer, we're so ready.

Five Favorites - green grass, dance, handmade cards, chicken cordonbleu and an evening in Paris

~1~ The grass is greener where you water it. I love this expression. It gets me through many moments where I wonder if everything is JUST right in my life.  Helps me to remember things are sometimes NOT going to be just right and it's okay. We pray, we trust, we do our best and must, must, must surrender to God the rest.

~2~ So You Think You Can Dance (((dance dance dance)))

So, I actually can't dance. I mean I'm not Elaine Beniz, at least. I took classes in college in swing and ballroom - best. semester. ever. I also took Drawing and French the same semester. Apparently I forgot that I was supposed to take some electives before graduating? (face palm). 

I love watching the dancers adapt to new genres, and some of the pieces are so exquisite, powerful, moving that I will show them to the boys the next day. Watching this show makes me feel like I could fly.  I'm not going to try it, don't worry. (But I do have a cape just in case)

~3~  Ruby Tree

I pulled out the Ruby Tree Design supplies. A few years ago as I was transitioning to being at home full time as a Mom, I had a nervous energy (which is unlike me - I'm waaaaay more a Mary than a Martha).  But I was used to being productive and I needed to channel that energy. I was debating whether I should get my Master's in Counseling or start a handmade card business. So I picked cards for the time being (the grad school bug bit me again later). Now I only pull out the materials for special occasions.  I love the gift of words together with paper craft, I hope to return to more card making in the future!

 

~4~  Chicken Cordon bleu recipe

This was a scrumptious and fun dinner, the kids gave me a round of applause.  No, really!

                       

~5~ An evening in Paris

Amazing women put together a lovely French inspired birthday for two sweet sisters. I got to share in the candlelit celebration, complete with fine French wine and cheeses, a flourless chocolate torte, cafe style music and homemade marshmallows in the shape of a Fleur de Leis. I know, right? Don't even get me started on the gorgeous eiffel tower display! What a celebration of friendship and all things beautiful!




Mama said there'd be days like this....


And lastly, an illustration that hit home. It was some strange combination of laughter and tears when I read this book to the boys this week and came to the page where the kids go to the Dad's office, which so aptly depicts our little family right now.  A patient Daddy who is working very hard and is grace under fire. Three exuberant boys who love him and barge into his office now and then because they miss him and want him to play. And the Mom who is desperate for some back up ;) (that's me). Yes, there are rough days and even rough seasons of our life. But God always brings us through! :)

Warts and all, I love them.

Such an ill-fitting introduction for such important people in my life and no, they don't have any real warts to my knowledge.  However if they did, I'd still think they were the best.  And they'd say to me, "please be gentle with us when you write your memoirs one day," given that I'm known for creative embellishments.

I love you, Mom & Dad!

Happy Mother's Day 2013

"The love of a mother is the veil of a softer light 

between the heart and the heavenly 

Father."

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

A sweet fragrant bouquet from Our Lady's brunch at church. 

My Mom came up from Houston this year to attend, what a treat!

Sunday Mass, our annual picture with Mary. 

I have wet hair and Jonas is wearing crocs, but we made it!

And sunset shenanagins on the trampoline with my wild boys. 

I'm counting on them to keep me young! :)

Thinking of all mothers today, in heaven and on earth, and all women who nurture our world with their gifts and love, in various callings. I'm so blessed to know so many inspiring women, and thankful to be counted among them!