It started like any other Monday. Laundry. Sibling rivalry. A quick breakfast. Us being late. We scurried off to the kids' bi-annual dentist visit. The kids got glowing reports, minus that chipped tooth of John Paul's courtesy of his big brother. But before I was able to really give those two a good talking to, we had to jet home to grab the cooler and swimsuits for swim lessons. I was set to head to Brownwood right after we finished ...

Because I still have one million photos to edit, here's a sneak peek. You get the full Parisian report next week!

Charleston, South Carolina, might just be one of the best vacations we ever took. A couple of years ago, just before I got pregnant with Gianna, the Mr. and I jetted off to all things deep fried and southern around Easter. If you want to read about the whole trip, dive in here. We still dream of she-crab soup. True story. I'm beyond excited that I'll be traveling back to Charleston, July 10-12, for the Edel Gathering, a weekend that celebrates ...

[Technically the birthday girl celebrated her big day on June 28, but were enjoying a fun-filled day with cousins for a sweet niece's baptism. I'm still drunk on chrism.] My sweet Clare Bear. Boy, have you earned that name. Eight years ago you entered our life a month early, technically a preemie, and with much fanfare, smack dab in the middle of Vacation Bible School. While I was in labor, I drove myself to the hospital (long story) and a ...

I was chatting with a friend a few days ago and I caught myself saying the same thing over and over... "Yeah, it's been a good week. Busy, but good." And I stopped myself. Everyone's life is busy. I want ours to be more than that. I want it to be fun and adventurous and full of lots of holy leisure (quoting you, Lisa!), rather than just a string of "busy." Here's a short bit about our FUN this summer. ...

Sister love. It's a real thing. Here in Central Texas we are quite blessed to have Dominican sisters around the corner. Like, really, right around the corner. Many moons ago, before I became Catholic, I had zero idea that they made sisters who were as young and cool as these. Indeed they do. I think the thing that has drawn me to them most, besides those habits (!), is their pure and total joy for their vocations. That's a love ...