Beginnings + Endings . . .

 

Our daily lives are so full these days and I'm not complaining. I know this is the season we are in and someday we will miss the craziness of running to practices and games and and making quick dinners and hurrying out the door. But lately it has really hit me all the new beginnings and a couple endings - sliding into our every day routines.

Molly is finishing up what could be her final week ever of basketball as her 8th grade CYO team is playing in the championship B team game this coming weekend. She is also currently learning to drive and often getting behind the wheel when we go anywhere these days. It is a surreal feeling to see your oldest get behind the wheel for the first time. A little like watching them take off on their bike when they were 5 years old - a sense of independence in them and pride as a parent, but also a little nostalgic that it is all just going so fast. She also enrolled this week in her high school classes at St. James Academy - another big step! She recently decided she wants to run track this Spring for the first time, in addition to her year around tennis play. With volunteering, babysitting and her social life - her plate is very full!

Kate is serving weekend masses for the first time, and although she is nervous - she is doing great. She is also going out for Spring Flag Football for the first time - and wants to practice throwing the football and running plays with us every chance she gets. She was selected to play Mary in the living stations production at Cure' of Ars this Lent. Another brave move for our youngest who has typically stayed away from the spotlight. 

They are eager to try new things and their bravery is inspiring. It's so surreal as a parent to feel so proud and also nostalgic at the same time . . . 

Kate's recent chalk art . . . Spring is coming!

2nd to last game for Molly . . .

2nd to last game for Kate . . . 

Molly's first Drivers Ed lesson - 

I feel like my heart is beating OUTSIDE of my chest - there she goes!

Thank God I can track her phone. 

A beautiful Saturday bike ride with Kate - love the 1:1 time. 

Football all.the.time - she throws a great spiral!

Kelly is 50!!

My dear friend, Kelly Wells, celebrated her big 50 this past weekend with a fun party! SO many memories we share together over the last 28 years! We met at just 22 years old with our very first jobs out of college!  It was so good to see her parents and many of her KU friends we hung out with in our 20's!

Love her like family!

Billy, Kelly, Me, Jenny (flew in from Chicago!) 

Just missing Shane and Megan - and that was our crew for many weekend nights out in our 20's! We had SO MUCH FUN!

Her husband, Adam, made this hilarious cupcakes with pix of Kelly through the years . . .

My favorite one - 

Shortly after we met . . . 

Pool parties at my apartment complex - Gramps always stopped by!

Went to many Dave Matthews concerts together!

{Me, Sarah, Gretchen, Kelly}

So many happy hours after work . . .

Lots of work trips together

Vail - circa 2002?

Sports events - Nascar races with the Pettys

Chicago trips . . . 

Royals games . . . 

Kellys' 30th Birthday Party!

Kelly's Bachelorette Party in Chicago!

4th of July in our 30's . . . 

Then - we both were blessed with little girls!

{Elizabeth, Molly, Maggie, Kate}

So grateful for our friendship! Cheers to another 28 years!

A Little "Snow Day" Project.

 

In January, when we had our 3rd Snow Day in a week - I started literally peeling wallpaper off the walls. To be more specific, off our mudroom walls - a project that I've been itching to do since we moved in over 9 years ago. The wallpaper was dated and I knew that a fresh coat of paint would really make the laundry room/mud room feel clean and updated. 

First, a few "before" pix so you can see the transformation.

This room is literally our "dumping ground" of homework, school/work bags, coats, swimsuits, beach towels, etc. My hope is that by sprucing it up we can also organize it a little better to keep it more clean.

Once I started peeling, I knew I was in way over my head. What started as a quick snow day project - quickly turned into a multi-week project.

Finally, a neighbor loaned me her big steamer - a huge help!

This was NOT coming off!

SO messy!

Finally time to mud the walls, sand and prime!

Of course, I somehow loosened some ceiling tape so had to look up how to fix corner tape in sheet rock - and how to replace it - I learned a LOT on this project!

Finally, ready to be done! It's not perfect, but it looks much better! 

We added new faucet for the sink as our old one had broken and I also added new hardware to the cabinets. 

Bear loves it!

I really like the gold hardware against the green cabinets-

Love all the natural light that this room gets . . . 

Bear saw me taking pix and he walked in and "posed."