What I Wore Sunday

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Yesterday we had absolutely beautiful weather, but I woke up today to blustery winds and cold temps.  It called for a warm, comfy sweater!

This weekend has been nice because we haven't had any real plans.  Yesterday we did some garage sailing and worked in the yard.  Today we watched Enchanted with the kids...mostly because Cole and I love that movie.  We pretty much crack up the whole time...and we love busting out in song..."That's how you knoooow you love her! (that's how you know that you love her!)" ha!

Sweater:  Forever 21

Jeans:  JC Penney

Earrings:  One of my friend's fundraisers

Ring:  Garage Sale

(Sorry for the bad photos...for some reason my phone just wouldn't focus)

Check out more WIWS at Fine Lien and Purple

Today I am also linking up with Answer Me This

1. Do you hate happy clappy church music?

I wouldn't go so far as to say I hate it, but sometimes it is hard to take it seriously.  It doesn't help that I have a habit during the closing hymn every Sunday of "interpreting" the song through dance.  It is probably one of my husbands favorite things that I do...gets him laughing every time!  Seriously though, one of my favorite ways to worship is through song.  My favorite songs are the typical Praise and Worship...you know, the Matt Maher type!

2. What is your priority: eating or sleeping?

Sleeping, hands down.  Don't get me wrong, I love food, but I neeeeed sleep.  If I'm tired, there is very few things I would rather do then sleep!  I'm not the rallying type.  I don't always like this about myself, but it is just hard for me to enjoy much of anything or function happily without sleep.  This is why being a mom isn't always easy...especially on the sleep deprived days! (hmm, which days aren't sleep deprived?!) 

3. What type of milk do you drink in your house?

I'm not a huge milk drinker unless it is in cereal. Felicity has never been willing to drink any milk other then breast milk.  Cole and Tavian drink 1%.  Beckett loooves milk from his momma!

4. What is a book that changed your perspective on something?

I absolutely love to read and there are so many books that have impacted me. 

 Left to Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza is one of the most amazing books.  I highly recommend it!  It put life in general into perspective for me.  Life is a gift, I am blessed beyond measure, others have suffered so horribly, and Immaculee reminds me that faith and trust and hope in God can help get you through even the most horrendous situations.  Her story of surviving the Rwandan Holocaust is truly inspirational!

5. Who is your favorite saint?

In High School I discovered Saint Philomena.

Her story impacted me and I fell in love with her :)  Philomena is even on our list of girls names!

And, as of today, Saint John Paul II is now also on the top of my list.  I mean,I LOVE him!  He has made such a lasting impact on the Catholic Church and the world in general.  His holiness was truly palpable...even just videos of him can move me to tears!  I got to go to World Youth Day in Denver in 1993, and although I was super little, I am forever grateful to have had that experience. Unfortunately he passed away just before I would have seen him again at World Youth Day in 2005 in Germany...but it was ok because seeing Pope Benedict XVI was still incredible. 

Watch this amazing video!!

6. Introvert or extrovert?

This is a bit tricky.  I definitely have characteristics of an extrovert, and I can start to feel down if I am alone for too long.  But, since having kids (and therefore being around others all.the.time!), I find myself more and more really enjoying retreating to my room by myself.  I have to have time to bounce back.  On busy evenings sometimes I decide to stay up extra late just so I can end the day with a little down time by myself!

Well, I thanks for reading!  Check out more at Catholic All Year

More Easter Photos

Fair warning that this post will consist almost entirely of just pictures!

 

On Easter morning Tavian came into our room and immediately said he wanted to go downstairs because he wanted to see the Easter Bunny.  To be honest, we don't make that big of a deal out of the Easter Bunny so I was actually surprised that he was even thinking about it.  We told him we were all going to go downstairs as a family when Felicity woke up.  Suddenly he ran to the window and said, "I'm going to see if he is outside."  When there was no bunny to be seen in the backyard his face lit up and he exclaimed, "I know!  He must be in the front!"

 

Lol, that silly boy always knows how to make us smile!

 

Directly after Mass we all went to the back of the church to get some family photos.  We truly are blessed with a church that has a great backdrop!  I think the pictures turned out great :)

 

 

I got Felicity's dress at Children's Place and the boys are wearing hand me downs from their cousins.  I couldn't resist those hats for Felicity and Tavian.  They were in the $1 section at Target.  Too stinking cute :)

 

 

I love that Tavian and Felicity are holding hands!

 

My sister, Sarah, and her beautiful family

 

Connor, Dylan, Teagan, Aiden, and McKenzie

My sister, Sarah, with her youngest, Teagan

My sister, Ellen, and her beautiful family!

Ariana, Jackson, Addison, and Emily



 

 

Can you even believe we got all of the cousins to take a picture together?  Of course these aren't all the cousins on this side.  We are still missing my sister Andrea's family, and my brother Sean's family.  Maybe one day we will get a picture with all 19 grandkids!  Still, 12 smiling kiddos is pretty darn impressive!

Apparently it was too bright out for Beckett!

 

 

We were also able to get some cute pictures at Sarah's house after church.

Tavian took Addy for a spin.  They were cracking us up!

 



 





This was one of the best parts because Tavian just started driving in circles and eventually just let go of the wheel and enjoyed the ride!

Ellen and her little man

My Dad giving Emily some loves

My Aunt Barb is the best!  She was soaking in all the baby time :)

What I Wore Sunday

Happy Easter!!

 

Today we had the most beautiful weather.  I feel like most years Easter is pretty chilly and it was so refreshing getting to spend time outside in the sunshine.  We went to 8am Mass and then had a delicious brunch at my sister Sarah's house.  There was delicious french toast, breakfast burritos, coffee cake, scones, fruit, and a yogurt bar.  Are you drooling yet?!?  I ate so much and loved every minute of it!

 

We headed back over there in the afternoon for desserts with a lot of my extended family that was visiting from out of town.  Overall we had a great day...(minus the kids acting crazy after getting into all the candy and treats!)

 

 

I actually bought this dress the day I found out I was pregnant with Beckett...and this is the first time I wore it!!!  I bought it thinking it might conceal a growing tummy but I hadn't anticipated my belly would pop so quickly!  Easter ended up being a great occasion to pull it out of the closet.

 

Dress: Ross

Shoes: NY and Company

Earrings: Claire's

 

I talked this handsome guy into smiling for the camera with me.  I'm a lucky lady! :)

 

Happy First Easter, sweet Beckett!

 

Hope you all had a wonderful day celebrating Easter.

 

He is Risen, Alleluia! 

 

Check out more WIWS at Fine Linen and Purple

 

(I have family pictures that were taken on my sisters camera.  I'll have to post them later)

What I Wore Sunday

 

Happy Palm Sunday!

 

I really enjoyed mass today.  The older two were in the nursery like usual and Cole, Beckett and I went to the cry room so that it would be easier for me to nurse him.  I was able to follow along with the readings on my phone and it was very helpful.  The second reading was from PHIL2:6-11.  The following excerpt made an impact on me. 

 

Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
something to be grasped.
Rather, he emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness;
and found human in appearance,
he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.

 

It really struck me how now Jesus comes in the form of bread and wine, and with the appearance of bread and wine through the Eucharist.  Once again he is making himself available to us.  We are so blessed!  I really enjoyed pondering the correlation between the reading and how we receive Jesus in the Eucharist.

 

Notice anything out of place?   Why is it snowing in mid-April?!?  Yesterday we had absolutely
beautiful weather, and then back to freezing cold today.  That is Colorado for you!

Sweater:  T.J. Maxx

Pants:  Clothing swap with friends

Shoes:  Clothing swap with friends

 

 

Posing with my handsome boy who recently got a hair cut!  It is very convenient that Cole can
cut Tavian's hair.  Tave is holding the Palms that we got at Church.

  Check out more WIWS at Fine Linen and Purple

 

 

Lucky us...Deacon Nathan (soon to be Father Nathan!!) joined us at Panera today after Mass! 

He and Beckett got to have some bonding time! :)

Beckett's Baptism

Today is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad!

Beckett was Baptized at the end of March.  It was a very small ceremony at SEAS and everything was wonderful.  The kids, of course, were being crazy.  Thankfully Father Brian is understanding :)  The kids outnumbered the adults so that always makes for an interesting time...haha.



Can't you just tell they are ready to cause trouble??

Getting ready to start.  My sister, Sarah, and her husband, Chris, are Beckett's Godparents.

This is obviously the third time I have had a child Baptized, but this time I felt particularly moved by the prayers.  I bolded parts of some of the prayers that really made an impact on me.

The God of power and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has freed you from sin and brought you to new life through water and the Holy Spirit. He now anoints you with the chrism of salvation, so that, united with his people, you may remain for ever a member of Christ who is Priest, Prophet and King



 

 

 

Parents and godparents, this light is entrusted to you to be kept burning brightly. This child of yours has been enlightened by Christ. He is to walk always as a child of the light. May he keep the flame of faith alive in his heart. When the Lord comes, may he go out to meet him with all the saints in the heavenly kingdom.

Uncle Chris lighting Beckett's Baptismal Candle

 

The Lord Jesus made the deaf hear and the dumb speak. May he soon touch your ears to receive his word, and your mouth to proclaim his faith, to the praise and glory of God the Father.

 

I am in love with this picture!  Such a beautiful moment!

Blessing of the Mother

God the Father, through his Son, the Virgin Mary’s child, has brought joy to all Christian mothers, as they see the hope of eternal life shine on their children. May He bless the mother of this child. She now thanks God for the gift of her child. May she be one with him in thanking Him forever in heaven, in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Blessing of the Father

God is the giver of all life, human and divine. May He bless the father of this child. He and his wife will be the first teachers of their child in the ways of faith. May they be also the best of teachers, bearing witness to the faith by what they say and do, in Christ Jesus our Lord.



  

  

 

One of my favorite things about Baptism is how amazing they smell afterwards.  The chrism that they are anointed with makes them smell like Heaven.  Seriously, if Heaven had a smell, that would be it!  I made sure we gave Beckett a bath beforehand so I wouldn't have to wash off the yumminess for a long time :)

Beckett is lucky to have Aunt Sarah and Uncle Chris as his Godparents!

I love this one!



Despite what it looks like, I actually don't think Beckett was crying!  He is a pretty mellow baby!  Ryler snuck in the picture last minute ...adds to the cuteness! :)

This is such a great picture of Beckett with his Grammy and Aunt Angie!

Somebody was ready to be done...she is so cute, but such a stinker!

 

 

Look, he is glowing!! :)



 

So happy to have Father Brian and Deacon Nathan help celebrate with us.  And so blessed to have our little boy Baptized into the Catholic Church!  God is so very good!