Celebrating All the Things!

Molly and I went to the Freshman Orientation Night at St. James this week and it made her even more excited to start in just a few months there!  She learned the school song, cheer and we met the tennis coach and learned more about summer reading, math assignments. 

She also received this sign to put in our yard!

Her friend, Vivian, is attending there too this fall!

Pix taken in front of Overleases house . . .

These girls have been friends since they were babies (when their moms were in MOYC together) so it's fun that they will know someone at their new school they have known their whole lives!

Kate helped Ruby celebrate her 11th birthday at our neighborhood park!

Scavenger Hunt style . . .

Kate's Team

{Nora, Kate, Lottie, Ruby}

Molly threw a "Taylor Swift TTPD Launch Party" Sleepover Thursday night for 5 of her friends! (No school Friday, luckily!)

We made popcorn . . .

And Kate helped me make "Lavender Haze" drinks to surprise them with while they stayed up to listen to the launch at midnight!

Molly had her 2nd track meet of the season and she ran the 800 (half mile) for the first time. So incredibly proud of her for trying such a tough race in her 2nd meet. 

Kate celebrated Isabel's 11th birthday with a swim and karaoke party at her house! Of course, Kate was at the mic the entire night, she said. 

First Royals game of the season!

They lost, but it was still a beautiful day to see our boys in blue!

My bulbs have bloomed just in time for  the month of May and Mary.

Spring is Here!

 

Molly's first track meet ever! So proud of her for trying out a new sport this year - 

and she's having fun doing it with friends!  

She ran the 60, 100, 200 and did Long Jump.

I made 64 energy balls for her first meet to share with friends! It was a BEAUTIFUL sunshine filled 75 degree day - great day to hang out at the track!

The 8th grade class spent a day helping make beds for those without them through the program, "Sleep in Heavenly Peace." 

Hard work, for such a good cause.

We celebrate Ella Hennes First Holy Communion and got to 

see cousins and Aunt Jan, Uncle Charlie!

Kate had a Saturday night flag football game at St. James . . .

I got to have a playdate with my Goddaughter, Cecilia!

She was making "angels" in the dirt!  Love her!

Our Week in Pix!

The tulips are up! (Bear wanted to be in the pix too)

Molly was awarded a scholarship next year at St. James Academy! We are so darn proud of her! She works so hard and also has such great time management skills, fitting in tennis, track, basketball, volleyball, homework, babysitting and of course - social!  

3 other kids from Cure' of Ars received scholarships at the St. James ceremony this week - 

{Molly, Vivian, Georgia}

They told us there are 266 kids enrolled for next year at St. James (with a waiting list of over 100!) so proud of her for getting the Administrative Recognition Award!

Several years ago, I bought my Mom and Dad their own mugs to use whenever they visit us in KC. Sometimes when I miss my Mom extra (this week) I drink out of her "J" mug and pretend she is in my kitchen with me. I'm sure she is. :) 

Kate had her very first Flag Football game ever on Saturday morning!

And we bought an SUV! A 2024 Kia Telluride! We had been borrowing my Dad's truck the last 3 weeks since our Honda Pilot of almost 15 years broke on the side of the road driving home from Spring Break in Colorado.  Bear was so excited to have a  car to ride in again! He loves taking the kids to/from school with me!

The girls "giving him a tour"

I made my first lemon cheesecake of the season 

for Dinner Club Saturday night!

Molly had her final driver's ed lesson! She is finished! We have a driver!

{She still has to drive with a parent until she is 16, but at 15 (November) she can drive to work/school}

She is such a good driver already - so aware of her surroundings and calm!

On Sunday, Kate gave Grandpa's truck a good wash to thank him for letting us borrow it when we were car-less for a few weeks!

Daddy/Daughter Dance!

 

It was a beautiful Spring night for the last Cure' of Ars Daddy/Daughter dance for Molly! 

Love these 3 so very much!

Molly and her 8th grade friends!

Kate and her 5th grade friends in the booth!

Before the dance, Kate had a pre-dinner with a few friends, dads and younger sisters . . . 

6 fifth graders and their younger siblings!

Easter Weekend!

 

A beautiful Easter Weekend in KC and Omaha! We went to the Easter Vigil on Saturday night, which is one of my all-time FAVORITE Catholic traditions. Smells of candles and chrism oils fill the candle-lit church, while the Litany of Saints is sung so beautifully. It is beautiful and you feel God's love in such a profound way as we help welcome the newest members of our faith into the Cure' of Ars community.  

I brought one of my favorite purses I inherited from my Mama . . .

she was with me at that mass, I know it.

The Easter Bunny came - and to Bear too!

We left for Omaha after breakfast, bringing 

these cute cookies from Dolce with us!

The drive offered us Spring views that looked like Easter eggs in the fields . . .

We arrived in time for brunch out with the McGinnis Crew

Kate and Patrick playing trivia games . . . 

Grandma + Grandpa Pat with 3 of their 5 Grands!

The Crew, minus Adam, Jeff, Charlotte and Vaughn! 

Easter Egg Hunt time!

After Mike hit eggs from them, they spent 

another 2 hours hiding eggs from each other . . .

Kate and I squirreling around with my phone features. . .

Happy Easter everyone!!

He is Risen!