Ahhhhh...Vera

Nate came to me last night with my bottle of Vera Wang..."What's this Mommy?" he asks. "It's perfume for mommies," I respond. And before I have the chance to say another thing he is spraying himself all over with it! And he still smells heavenly today! I just may start spraying both of the kids in the mornings.....

Grocery bill scare!

Is anyone else out there now paying enormous amounts of money at the grocery store? I can't get over how much more expensive things are now! I mean, seriously, it seems that I am paying almost a 1/3 more than I used to! Have you noticed an increase where you shop? I want to hear!

Pete and I watched a great HBO movie last night about the whole Al Gore and G.W. Bush fiasco in 2000. I am still shocked at the truth about what happened then. It still shocks me that Bush was elected AGAIN!!!! He now has the LOWEST approval rating of any US president EVER!!! Does this seriously come as a surprise to anyone? I won't rant and rave about it like I wish I could...let's just hope that things turn out much differently with this next election....I'll step off of my pulpit now.....

Welcome summer

Summer is Here! I spent the morning blowing up a HUGE inflatable pool for the kids...(yes, I could have gone and bought an air pump and made my life a lot easier, but I was on a mission!). So, we spent the last few hours paddling around a foot and a half of water (remember Jules is on a mission of her own- to stay as far away from mommy's hands as possible). It was great though, and I am hugely relieved to have something fun (and cool) to entertain the kids with this summer!

We may be putting our house on the market soon! We are not yet sure where we will buy another one, but we are in some major need of MORE space! It is exciting and scary at the same time! I have been busting butt for several weeks now to re-organize and touch up colored on walls to get it in gear- just in case. Our plan is to make a decision this weekend.

I am starting to feel immensely guilty about not having done any writing in so long now. Of course, I have been doing loads of writing for school, but I haven't worked on my novel for many, many, many months. I need to some motivation! Anyone have any to offer?

At the beach- Memorial Day Savannah, GA

Being cool- just like daddy!

Sweet sun-kissed baby!

Jules LOVED playing in the sand!

Even in 75 degree water, little boys still get the chills and need big daddy hugs!

Refreshed!

What an incredible weekend! I am so lucky to have a husband who has apparently REALLY been listening to me for the past few months when I've vented about how much I really needed a break! As I mentioned in my previous post- Pete surprised me this past weekend with a getaway to Charleston to celebrate our fifth wedding anniversary! We also had the opportunity to see "Monkey- Journey to the West" (http://www.monkeyjourneytothewest.com/) an unbelivable musical theater experience about a monkey in search of his enlightenment. The all Chinese cast was phenominal down to the martial arts, the acrobatic performances while hanging from wires in the air, to the singing. It was truley a spectacular event!

And the other highlight for us was dinner at High Cotton, one of the more exclusive restaurants in town (which of course was a bit too pricy for a young college girl like me all the years ago I lived in Charleston!) Dinner was fabulous and our bill proved it!

We drove back to Savannah with the top down (we traded cars with krista so she could have the SUV for the kids while we took her BMW convertible) and went to the beach with the kids and Krista at Tybee Island yesterday. What an awesome getaway! It was difficult to come back to Dublin......but life also needs to be lived in addition to being enjoyed!

I feel refreshed and re-energized!

SWEPT OFF MY FEET!

Yup, it's official, I really did marry well! Right now, I am sitting in a fabulous hotel room....in Charleston, S.C.! My husband has secretly been planning a romantic getaway for our wedding anniversary, and surprised me with it yesterday afternoon! It also happens to be the start of the amazing Spoleto festival and we have tickets to see a great show tonight!


This is the first time I have been away from the kids like this, so it has been both wonderful, and a bit sad...okay, mostly wonderful! So, on that note, I am off to wake up my napping hubby and get ready for a great night out on the town!!!!

Cheers to Pete!

Venturing out!

We;'re off to Savannah for the weekend to celebrate our fifth wedding anniversary! Crazy, because it doesn't feel like that is a very long time considering all that we have done and accomplished in that amount of time. But wow, it sure has flown by fast! Pete is surprising me with a few things, so I am really excited about that. I have been told that he is wearing a sport coat out on Friday evening and that I should dress accordingly with that in mind....interesting.

Krista will watch the kids for us too, so it will be great to have a little Pete and Kate time! We are also going to the beach on Saturday and then out for drinks on Saturday evening. It almost feels like a mini vacation away from home! I know the kids will have a blast too, especially at the beach.

We actually left the house today fro the first time in FIVE days...yes it's been a tough week with sick kids. But they were feeling better today, so we ventured out to find Nate a pool (the promised treat for learning to have a bowel movement in the potty!) and to get an ice cream cone. The ice cream was just a flash of what I thought to be genius and empathetic toward two children who've been stuck at home with nothing to do, but play with each other and the new fort we constructed in the living room. And they were excited, mostly. Nate was more interested in the slide at the ice cream place and Juliana was exhausted by our small trip across town and the fact that she was already late for her nap. And then, and then, the ice cream took a tumble into the mulch....Fabulous idea Kate, just fabulous! Oh well, it was worth the try, and wow, I can't believe how much better I feel after getting out and about for even two small hours!

Love, Kate

I'm a big kid too!

Jules: I am one of the big kids! I'm going in whether you like it or not!

Jules: See, I told you I could hang!

Kamilah finding shade

The Never Ending Clean

This has been a tough week for the kids, both are sick and we've been house bound since Sunday. I am starting to feel a little closed in! I feel like all I do lately is clean, clean, organize and clean! Clean to get rid of germy germs from poor sick children, clean to make my husband happy, and clean to get the house ready for you know what. Does the insanity ever stop? I can't wait until my children are a few years older and they can start chipping in here and there with the incessant chore list!

I have been an ardent reader of Rachel Balducci's blog for a few months and love her take on motherhood (she has five, that's right, I said FIVE, boys), spirituality, marriage, and life in general. But I just found the coolest blog called thepioneerwoman.com....you have to check it out! If anyone is out there daring to partake in the reading of all things KATE, tell me about your blog favorites. Do Share, please don't be shy!

Happy Birthday to MACKENZIE!!!!

Happy Birthday to one of my favorite little girls!!!! Mackenzie, we miss you sooooo much and wish we could be there to help you blow out your candles!!!! I hope all of your wishes come true this year and that you have a wonderful, wonderful day!!!!!!

All our love, Aunt Kate, Uncle Pete, Nate and Jules

Happy Monday!

Well, I'm not sure where to start today...this is the first week that I don't have a single place to be, unless of course I want to! Both Nate and I are finished with school and wow, what a great feeling it is not to have to get up and go somewhere, or think about having to be somewhere until 11:00 tonight (Statesboro)!

So, I woke up feeling motivated. Maybe we'll do preschool at home this summer too. Or maybe we'll just play. How fun. If you've got kids at home this summer, I would love to hear how you plan to entertain them and or keep their learning in gear.

On a different note, my dear friend Mary, up in New York, just had her first baby last week, a little boy named Liam. I am so thrilled for her and her husband, Jay, as I know they will both make wonderful parents. Please keep them in your prayers as they encounter the ups (many) and downs (hopefully few) of the first few weeks of new parenthood.

I'll be back later!

Nate loves me because.....

So, I walk Nate into his classroom at school today and his teacher hands me the gift he made for Mother's Day...It is a beautiful picture with a photo of Nate. In one corner it says "I love my mom because...She gives me lollipops!"

He 's probably only had two lollipops in his lifetime! And this is why he loves me so much!!!? I see where his emotional ties lie...in dessert!

YIPPPPPEEEE FOR ME!!!!!!

So, on the off chance that someone out there will actually read this blog, I wanted to shout out a big congratulations to MYSELF!!!!!!!! I have just officially finished my last graduate level paper and have printed it out to hand in. Strangely enough, my two children are asleep...Jules has slept a good deal longer than her normal nap and Nate feel asleep on my bed while reading some books a little while ago.... I actually finished the paper with clear thoughts and no interruptions, which is a very rare thing for me to do. So thank you God for allowing my last few moments of grad school work to be so clear, and focused.....

I AM DONE!!!!!!!!!!!

What A Weekend!!!!

Well, the wedding was incredible! Krista was the most amazingly beautiful bride many of us have ever had the pleasure of seeing! The day and most of the weekend was fairly glitch free with the exception of the groom leaving part of his tux at home and Pete forgetting to bring my toast to the reception for me! Even Nate walked smoothly down the aisle, hand in hand with beautiful Talia, the flower girl. We were all a little concerned about this, as the Rehersal, the day before, had proved a bit challenging for him as he continually bonked poor Talia on the head with the ring pillow!

But wow....it was wonderful. We all had a blast at the reception (some of us had a little too much fun) but it was so great!!!! Fort Jackson was the most unique place to have a wedding reception- there were people impersonating civil war soilders, cannon firings and a blacksmith presentation! The lowcountry boil was a real treat too....it was really something else.

On Sunday we all gathered at Krista and Michael's home to spend some more time together over a backyard picnic luncheon.

One of the greatest aspects of the weekend was the presence of my 94-year-old grandmother- who flew in from Washington State. It was so meaningful for everyone to have her there. In addition, we also got to spend some great time visiting with Pete's dad and step mom, who came down from Western New York! It was quite a special thing to have them there.

But now we are home again, and the past few weeks feel like a whirlwind! I am finishing my last paper for school and will officially be done with graduate classes wednesday night!!!! I am beyond thrilled!

It was so much to be in a city where sooo much is going on and so much is offered. I really miss that. I also really miss being close to family...any family!!!!! I want my children to be exposed to more culture and more diversity, it makes me sad living somewhere where that isn't really an option.

But we will make the best of whatever life brings our way, why? Because life is too short not to.

Congratulations Krista and Michael... we wish for you all of the love and happiness that you deserve!