Easter 2026!

He is Risen.

He is Risen, indeed!

HALLELUJAH!

What a glorious Easter weekend--at home, for once, which is super rare for our crew! And perhaps because of that rarity...we did it up, right.

It’s been quite some time since we've had a picture-palooza opportunity with our crew color-coordinated and sitting down for a staged, place-setting dining event!

Like, a long, long time.

Which gives me pause for a moment of reflection, because, once upon a time, all those things were my JAM:

Pictures?? HECK YES!

Coordinated clothing palette?? BE STILL, MY HEART!

Celebratory place settings?? THE MORE FESTIVE THE BETTER!

But, truly, all those things have fallen by the wayside in our current family life-stage.

The kiddos are older and less photo-cooperate. 

The kiddos are older and more clothing self-conscious (translation: we give up and let them wear whatever-the-heck they want).

And—you guessed it—the kiddos are older, life is crazier, and nobody has time to cook or bake something with intention, let alone set a nice, decorative table.

I miss the occasion of it all...even as I recognize is not possible on a regular basis.

Which made this Easter all the more fun!

(I feel like now is a good time to insert the hysterical stylized photo we created, ha.)

And, just because I know you're wondering...here's the original pic:

I like the silly one, even better than reality this time, ha. Probably because it's all pastel-y and Easter appropriate--much like our whole vibe!

Now, back to logistics...

As mentioned in my previous post, we're almost always in Tulsa with family for Easter, so staying home this year was unique and gave us the opportunity to really lean in to celebrating and trying to do a few photo-worthy things.

I'm proud to report we did it up right (again; SO rare, these days) and enjoyed a beautiful church service (alongside a school buddy of Chica's!) with incredible music, a beautiful family meal, an egg hunt (indoor, boo rain!) and a scavenger hunt that led to Easter baskets.

It was all so lovely and special for the time we devoted to making it fun.

And, now...I'm TIRED.

I may or may not have snapped my toilet bowl brush clean in half as I was rage-cleaning bathrooms, mopping floors, churning through the laundry and generally re-setting our lives to head into this INTENSE push that is April/May, but our crew if feeling steadier this Monday evening for it. So...yay!

Okay...picture palooza, now!

Happy post-Easter, peeps! (tehe...PEEPS, get it???).

More, soon!

Over and out.

Reading Mood Boost!

Okay, peeps.

Amen, Hallelujah--not only to Holy Week, but the fact that we're spending it in San Antonio, for once!

It’s rare for us to be home for Easter, which might be contributing to our feelings of stolen “free” time. :)

For years, it’s been tradition for us to trek to Tulsa and celebrate with all of our family over the holiday weekend, and we adore that tradition, but it’s no secret we’ve been tapped out, of late.

Not to mention the fact that last weekend was super-busy and a bit angsty for our crew.

So we made the decision quite some time ago to stay put this year, and after the chaos and stress of last weekend, I'm so glad we did.

It's felt so nice. And right. And hasn't been weighed down with FOMO and sadness, which just reinforces our decision. 

Nothing but good vibes. 

All that said...I know there are many reasons our collective familial mood might feel a bit lighter this week. But, Chica, in particular, has been in a better mood than usual, and I think it’s partly due to…

READING!

She’s been so limited in terms of “free” time this school year, that it’s been quite awhile since she's had the mental capacity to dive into a book series.

As luck would have it, she was instructed to bring games or books along to a lengthy Regional Choir Audition last Saturday, and grabbed a new book from her TBR (to be read) shelf on the way out the door.

I was thrilled to learn she actually cracked opened the book during her audition wait, and got invested. 

And even more thrilled when she launched last week with her nose still in the book, happily filling me in on plot and character details whenever she popped up for air.

It has been a JOY, I tell you, to see her enjoying that beautiful escape of getting lost in a story.

A fantastic mood boost, if ever there was one!

Another fantastic mood boost that was made possible by staying in town for the weekend?

A happy no-school Friday of a theater showing (Mario, of course), followed Easter dress shopping and pedicures. Woohoo!

We actually tried a new nail spa that just opened around the corner from our house, and it was fantastic. Will be our new place, for sure! We were long overdue for a little nail TLC. The girlies and I actually haven't been for pedicures together since Chicklet's birthday--LAST JUNE. Wild.

Anywho...all this to say that I'm incredibly grateful for a more stable mood among our crew, and I'm particular grateful for the role reading has played in all of it.

We're gearing up for a FESTIVE Easter tomorrow, and I can't wait to enjoy some food, fun and family time. Again--it's much needed.

More mañana, peeps!

Until then...over and out. :)

Chicklet's 12th Birthday!

Okay, peeps.

It was a doozy of a weekend. 

Chicklet's 12th birthday weekend, to be exact!

We had ups, downs, and so much running around! Beyond regularly-scheduled events for Little Man and Chica, we catered to the Queen Bee's Birthday demands, including, but not limited to:

Decorations...

Presents...

A mini Yes Day...

A friend sleeping over...

And...a ZOO excursion!

So on brand, for our animal-loving middle born.

Also on brand?

A sign I noticed at the reptile house that read: 

Covered with sharp, pointy horns and tough armor-like scales, this little lizard is very well protected from its enemies.

And I thought: how applicable to both lizards--and twelve-year-old girls.

(If you know, you know.)

This age is no picnic, and this weekend wasn't either. In fact, our girl was so in her feels (high, low and everywhere in between) that I risked very few pictures.

(Again, if you know, you know.)

Instead, I rejoiced in this overpriced, official Zoo Pic, taken by staff who incurred the wrath (not me!)--and wept with joy when it captured our mercurial tween actually smiling. :)

Chicklet was particularly excited to visit the zoo--our first excursion there since last May--to check out a new gorilla exhibit that's been in the works for some time.

And I gotta say: I thought it was pretty freaking awesome. It's also ginormous, which makes me super happy for said gorillas. They've got lots of room to run and play. :)

I'm grateful for the temperate weather, the calm safe-space, like-minded, longtime buddy who tagged along as Chicklet's plus one, and the ability to end the weekend on a high, after so many roller-coaster vibes.

Twelve is such a tough age--for so many reasons. But mostly, it's an age that's renowned for being one foot in, one foot out of early childhood. 

And age when kiddos are trying to grow up--often because they feel like they need to--while still clinging to some of those beautiful, playful, imaginative tendencies.

I've actually been overjoyed this past week or two, as Chicklet has randomly pulled out some of her stuffed animal friends that have long been put away.

Don't get me wrong: they've never all been put away, but her room has certainly become more streamlined and tween-y in the past year.

So imagine my surprise when I walked into her bedroom last week, to find about a dozen put-away friends back out and placed in playful positions throughout her room.

Honestly...it felt right. And homey. Safe and cozy.

It also seemed right that Chicklet ended her zoo excursion with the purchase of a giant hippo (that she named Jelly Bean), and her friend and siblings all purchase stuffed animals, too. 

It's been wonderful to see that lingering sign that the kid inside is still hanging in there--even when the world tells her to grow up and cast aside such playful things.

I really hope we can keep some of that levity and joy in the tough months and years ahead. We're certainly in the throws of it and Forest Gump-ing our way through (like that immortal box of chocolates; we never know what mood we're going to get).

But we'll keep loving and supporting and celebrating as Chicklet will tolerate--until the days level back out, again. 

Okay, a few more of the few pics I managed. I love how Chicklet is so familiar with this buddy of hers that she never even bothered to get dressed for the afternoon/evening before the sleepover, ha. 

Onward and upward, my girl! It levels out, I promise!

More soon, peeps.

Until then...over and out.