Jan 2018 ~ 12 days of Christmas, Aunt Les' birthday, RED-C Family Retreat, basketball game with Uncle Steve, Mega playdate and COCO

Well ya'll.... here goes nothing! I'm trying to re-boot the blog!  Sadly, I am still stuck on not being able to find a handy way to transfer images from instagram to blogger... apparently there are some widgety things that let you do it.  But the car line calls to me!

I'd love to get back to High Five Fridays....and Seven Quick Takes.  Man.  Those were the good old bloggy days!  Bear with me????

In the meantime, here are my instagram - transplanted memories that may be edited later (or not). Gotta start somewhere when you're starting from the bottom again! ;)  #blessmyheart

Summer 2017 - Camps, Trips, Retreats, Service, Celebrations, Trainings, Visitors and more!

Retreats

I served as a team member on my first women's ACTS retreat and it was a glorious 4 days spent with beautiful women desiring to grow in holiness. This was one of the sunsets God painted for us during our time away from the hustle and bustle of life!

We were also so blessed to attend another Mariapolis retreat, and this time my parents attended! I can not imagine making it through a summer without this retreat. It has become so essential to the balance and direction of our family life. 

Celebrations

Bronius and I celebrated 14 years of marriage! We had a fun evening out at Village Cafe, being foodies and attempting to salsa dance! I am blessed that the man who lives life beside me is my very best friend. God has blessed me beyond measure.

Our Dominic became a 12 year old! We celebrated him "tiki style" with his guys, pizza and snow cones by the pool!

Visitors

One of my very first best friends when I moved from Florida to Texas was Miss Jamie Bell. We have been through the ups and downs, the joys and disappointments of life together. We roomed all through college and were pretty much inseparable. The only thing that could break us apart were our husbands...whom we married one month apart!

Every summer we get together with our MESS of boys and have a "happy birthday to everyone" party day. And we treasure this tradition with our sweet friends whom we love so dearly! I thank God for this blessing.

And speaking of blessings. Having my parents come for a sleepover ain't too shabby either. 

Camps

Dominic attended his first ettiquette camp this summer where he experienced the art of conversation, table manners and dance. When I told him he was going to this camp, he said "I'm NOT putting on that suit and asking girls to dance."  Ha ha ha ha - what do you know???? He did it and he loved it and he was GREAT at it. I was so proud of him! It was a double blessing to share this rite of passage with our dear friends, the Purcells!!!!!!

Jonas attended a drama kids "mystery" improv camp, again with our friends the Purcells <3 a="" and="" build="" children="" confidence="" for="" great="" happy="" him="" his="" is="" it="" light="" lines="" p="" parts.="" public="" see="" so="" speaking="" to="" truly="" up="" way="" we="" were="" with="">

Dominic enjoyed his first ever cooking camp with the incredible Mr. Theo Burns, the Dine-in-Dude, who happens to be married to our phenomenal violin teacher, Natalie Burns. Dynamic duo much??? WE LOVE THEM and they can NEVER leave town! 

Milo enjoyed basketball camp with his buddy Mark and Jonas finished his last round of swim lessons!

Also. This happened! We have a safe sitter in the houzz!!!! I'm so glad someone knows first aid around here because I still don't....

These hippie boys loved their time at the Purple Turtle Art camp this summer. I love that our boys love to do art & music. 

Jonas and Milo experienced their first theatre camp together as they put on a production of Trolls at Pure Energy.  I was at the women's retreat and I missed it, but I heard it was FULL house! :)

Training

I completed my Les Mills Body Flow training and I am now fully certified to teach at Gold's Gyms. I have grown to love this program!

Trips

Can't make it more than a few months without seeing Bonnie, one of my other very best and very first Texan friends (though she's originally from Michigan!) I'm so glad Scott is part of the package too because no one can make us laugh quite as hard as he can. Plus, he feeds us delicious things.  We love our Bonnie and Scott!

Speaking of more food and friends! Bronius and I enjoyed a few days in Austin (our first get away since I was expecting Jonas 7 years ago!) We danced at an adorable motown club, ate tapas and finally saw Wonder Woman!

And I got to spend time with my Kate, a friend of 30 odd years who I grew up with in Florida and now lives with her husband, precious son and entire immediate family in Austin! I still have to pinch myself when I realize that this happened. We spent the day at the Blanton Museum (and I had my own personal guide!) and enjoyed lunch at her fave vegan spot. We missed you on this day, Karen!

Service

We made a few trips to the Brazos Valley Food Bank with friends! We began this tradition last summer and I hope we can continue.  It is an honor to serve our community!

Eclipse

These are the glasses we purchased in Oregon. The only official souvenirs we brought home with us! Our friends the Guldes even joined us for the show! 

                                                               

This summer was the summer of all summers. I can not believe all that we were able to do. Really, and truly - it exceeded all of our dreams. With that being said... THIS happened, too!

The POOL

Growing up in Florida, having a pool in the backyard was just life. Families spend the weekends by the pool in Florida, children literally LIVE in the water.  We have family video footage of me and my siblings spending an entire Saturday in the pool, making up goofy games. I so much wanted this to be part of our children's childhood, too. I have been trying to convince Bronius for YEARS to allow this madness....and he finally caved in. I thank him every time I think of it! We are loving our pool and my heart is full of joy when I think of the many family memories to come. 

Summer 2017.... thank you for every thing!

Milo's birthday and Mother's day 2017

                           

       

Happy 9th birthday to our Milo!!!! We enjoyed a special family birthday breakfast (EARLY EARLY!!!) ;) and a fun friend celebration at Jumping World!!! Jonas and Dominic enjoyed having some time with their buds too. I'm so grateful for these sweet boys in our boys lives!!! 

                       

                                 

I was invited to come in for a special Mother's day tea in Jonas' class this year. I treasured every moment! I hopped out to the field afterwards to cheer Milo's class on for relay day! May is always so BUSY! :)

When the weekend came, we hopped down to Houston to celebrate more with Mom and the Mendonca crew! I love you, Mama!

And happy Mother's Day to our dear Senele whom we dearly love! We owe so much to these two women.

MORE of May 2017 - Art show, orchestra concert, piano recitals, solo and ensemble, talent show, U2 concert, Hot Shots, Mother's Day notes

Oh my goodness. So much happens in May. And I have video footage to add still. Hoping I can get that done here too, but for now, some pictures to help me remember the blur which is May each year!

                                                          Donuts with Dad - Kinder 2017
                                                           (Check out the hand made tie!)

Mom and Dad's Texas Master Chorale Spring Concert "I'll Make Music." We are so proud of them!

Dominic's Spring orchestra concert

The boys spring piano recital, plus another Milo!

Milo won the award of Super Kid for his 3rd grade class!

Dominic earned a superior rating for Solo & Ensemble, and gives all the credit to his "practice cat." 

Talent show at South Knoll, Spring 2017. Jonas sang "In Summer" as Olaf.

Milo played a duet with his friend, Milo. "The Toreador Song." 

Milo's third grade musical "It's Saturday."    

           

   

I fulfilled a lifetime dream of mine with a dear friend to see U2 in concert, my favorite band of all time!

Jonas had his last session of Hot Shots soccer! We have had at least one boy in Hot Shots consistently since 2008!

                                              

The Focolare held a lemonade stand to raise funds to support families going on the Mariapolis retreat. It was a beautiful work of unity to see the kids hand squeezing the lemonade and working together to help sell!

                                                    

And for posterity, my sweet Mother's day notes from this year.

And the awesome fair trade elephant pants Bronius got for me for Mother's Day!!!! I love them!