5.02.2026

April 2026

Highlights of the month include: jazz festival & percussion ensemble for Shelby, Brady started flag football, more tennis, Easter, Shelby's orchestra banquet, and chicks hatching at school!

We had some extra wood, and I had a hankering for an additional bench to be added in our garage near the door where we put on/take off shoes each day. So Brady & Derek got straight to work! It was a perfect little project, and it's something we use every single day!













{basketball on the driveway before school one morning}

{Shelby played the piano in a percussion ensemble that performed at UTSA one Saturday in April. We have seen our fair share of musical performances over the past several years, but we've never seen anything quite like this! It was so cool!}

After Shelby's performance, we swung by MM to see our chicks. Every spring we hatch chicken eggs at our school. The perk of their mom being the teacher is that Hadley & Brady get to play with them every day before/after school. They were excited to show them off to Shelby!





{a delightful afternoon--Hadley and I were reading poolside after school one day while Brady searched for bugs and lizards}



{Shelby's orchestra banquet--the theme was Phantom of the Opera}

Now, it's time for all the fun that May brings! Bring on summer!

5.01.2026

March 2026

Highlights of March: our Disney Cruise & visit to Disney World for Spring Break, Hadley's 13th birthday, our MM Art Show, and Hadley started tennis!


We won a new whittling set in an auction at our school's Art Show. Hadley & Brady have loved putting it to good use!




{Art Show Day!}








{the most thoughtful card & gift Hadley sent to a friend}

{Brady's newest handwork skill}

4.11.2026

Hadley's 13th Birthday!

I don't know how we're already here, but we celebrated Hadley's thirteenth birthday last month! And now, we officially have two teenagers in the house! This was Hadley's last night going to bed as a twelve year old:


She had her day all planned out!


The birthday girl requested to start her day with chocolate chip muffins & then we were off to school!


After school, we headed to La Cantera for lunch at Chick-Fil-A and Claire's so Hadley could get her long awaited third piercing!


Then one more stop at Cold Stone before heading home for the afternoon!


{the perfect way to spend your birthday!!}

She requested "favorite dinner" at home--hot dogs, mac & cheese, and peas--followed by gifts & cake!







{cake decorate by the birthday girl herself!}

And because the weather was picture-perfect, we squeezed in an evening walk, too!




The weekend after her birthday Hadley picked for us to go to Cheesecake Factory for dinner! We were very happy to oblige. :)


And this past weekend, Hadley and I had our annual one-on-one birthday trip to Barnes & Noble. We also added in lunch & a little shopping!




This girl is so easy to celebrate! She loves all things jewelry-making, handwork, nails, makeup, and always, always, always has a book or her Kindle in hand. We love you, Hadley Mae!!