New Blog

Hey Everyone!

I realized if you don't follow me on instagram or if you missed the post about me going private, then you might have wondered where I went for the past month. 

I have started a new blog in order to accommodate the privacy settings I wanted. You do have to sign up to read, but it just takes a few minutes and here is how you do it:

My new space is called 'Kate Tells Stories' and is hosted on Wordpress.

To access the WP site, you can click on this link:https://katetellsstories.wordpress.com/

and if you don't have a wordpress account, then you will need to click 'register' at the bottom of the page. 

From there, you will create a user name and password and then it will ask you to create a blog. You DO NOT need to do this! Just look to the right and you will see a link option to continue with only a user name. (It is easiest to do from a tablet or laptop- the mobile site doesn't allow you to skip this step)

 Once you submit that, I will receive an email and will grant you permanent access to my blog.

The best way to follow is via email so you receive notice that a new post is up. 

Thanks for sticking with me! Leave a comment if you have any issues.

Important Update

After a little deliberation, Kev and I have decide the best thing for the blog right now, as the boys get older and the internet gets weirder, is to make it private. 

If you would like to continue reading, you will need to leave me your email address and I can send you an invitation to view the link from now on!.

It will be going private in the next day or two, so please pass your info along as soon as possible. 

Thanks for understanding!

It's Never Too Early To Think Homecoming

Since we found out about Kev's deployment late last year, there has been one little day-dream that keeps me going in the rough moments, and that is the idea of Homecoming photos. 

You see, during Kev's first deployment, we were emailing everyday but not 'officially' together, so I was not present for his initial coming home. A week later, after I returned from a college graduation trip to Hawaii with my Great Aunt, I jumped on a plane to Savannah and knew immediately that Kev was the man of my dreams. 

We didn't get a true Homecoming picture, but this was the first picture we took together that weekend.

Fast forward through that year to an engagement, wedding and another deployment later, I was anxiously awaiting Homecoming pictures Part 2 after over almost 15 months of separation. 

I flew into Kansas City, met up with another wife who I didn't know too well, drove to the middle of Kansas, got dressed up, and then waited. And waited. And waited. 

And that cute outfit from 2pm eventually turned into disrupted sleep until 3am when Kev's team finally rolled in. I was still in my pretty dress, but it was late, and the other wife and I got lost trying to navigate an unfamiliar post and by the time we found them, exhaustion and happiness was greater than getting a picture.

 So instead of an awesome homecoming picture, we took a really tired one the next morning at the hotel restaurant.

But this time around, I really want those pictures. I want to be able to see my boys greet their dad. I want to see the picture of me embracing my amazing husband. 

And what do these photos need? 

A perfect dress, obviously. 

I don't own a lot of red, but this dress from eShakti just seems right for a little patriotic homecoming. 

I had the boys get dressed up in some of their best red, white and blue (obviously unable to get B out of his ovies) and we snapped a few practice pics at The Farm this weekend.

 I assume the boys will be much more excited when the real time comes. 

 

Thanks to eShakti for introducing me to your amazing line of dresses- I love this one and am so excited that those Homecoming photos that aren't too far away now. 

Stay safe Honey, we will take pictures with you soon enough! 

*I was given this dress to review for free, but I picked the style, length and inclusion of pockets myself- I can't recommend eShakti enough!*

Hey Look, My Real Camera!

 After several weeks away, the boys and I decided it would be a good weekend to visit The Farm. It was the first weekend of crisp, cool weather and there is no better place than there to enjoy it. 

we have a full time walker now!

We left Friday afternoon after to school for the trip and first thing Saturday morning, the boys got to work doing all the things they do. 

 Bennett found these ovies in Wells' closet (he refused to wear them last year) and didn't take them off all weekend. 

It was actually a lot cooler out than I packed for, but luckily Marme was already knitting some winter hats.

Lately, I have succumbed to the convenience of my iphone over using my DSLR, but this weekend I was definitely re-inspired to capture those little moments in a big way 

(and please excuse the watermark situation, I didn't change the preset in lightroom and I am too lazy to go re-export the pictures with my normal watermark). 

 My Oma was out there this weekend too and by Saturday afternoon, we had Wells looking at her and saying "Ohhhhhhhhh-MA" which of course had her completely tickled. 

 Joan had just enough pumpkins to make a patch for 3 boys (and an Uncle Tommy and a Chelsie), and Fritz of course had to make his own version of a hayride. 

I wish I knew what the secret was...

 Uncle Tommy and Bennett matched all day. B loved it.

Great-Grandpa Ray and Zigfried keeping a careful watch over everyone.

 And later that night, we spent some time in the rocks and playing baseball before having dinner and watching the Auburn game.

Sunday morning, I left early to head back to DC for a photoshoot while Tommy and Chelsie were going to bring the kids back in for me a few hours later when they came back in. Apparently, my boys convinced them that 'Lunchtime' was actually 5pm Sunday night. So not only did I get  my shoot done and half the pictures edited already, but I went to the commissary alone, cleaned the whole house and made a big pot of chili for everyone (and some friends!) for dinner.  We wrapped up a great weekend with our friend Shawn, her baby girl and 3 boys, Tommy, Chelsie, me and the boys for dinner and basement sports. 

And then all my boys slept for 12 hours last night. 

Can you blame them?

Thanks for a wonderful weekend Marme, Papa, Oma, Grandma, G-pa Ray, Tommy and Chelsie!

An Entertaining Way to Waste a Few Minutes

It's Friday and whether you are at home with your littles or at work, chances are you are counting down the minutes until 5 oclock? 

AmIright? 

So what is a better way to pass the time then to watch cute videos of my kids?

***

We are so blessed to have access to FaceTime while Kev is deployed but the boys really aren't great with it. 

Cullen has a tendency to make faces at himself in the upper screen, while Bennett everytime asks Kev where he is and if he is coming home tomorrow, and poor Wells just wants to eat the phone and starts to cry when I won't let him eat the phone and it ends in disaster. So we ultimately decided to limited the boys' calls and go for quality over quantity. 

Instead, Kev calls me from their call center (and 2-3 times a week via facetime) while the littles are sleeping and Cullen is at school, and once we pick C up, we all talk about Daddy's day. This way, Kev and I get the essential communication we need as husband and wife, and the boys get the benefit of knowing what is happening with their Dad. 

The missing link however is that Kev likes being able to see the boys. 

The solution: I send Kev videos from/of the boys at the end of most days (plus blogging) to help him feel connected to their craziness in between the times they talk.

Our new big screen TV for Daddy- If you don't watch any others, you have to see this one, it is so funny.

Is it hilarious to be tackled by your big brother at the bottom of a slide? Of course it is.

Dance Party anyone? (Truth be told, this was for Alysa's bachlorette party that I wasn't able to attend, but I loved that several of her friends told me at the wedding how much they laughed at my boys' dance skillzzzz)

 

Wells has mastered the gesture for 'No' and likes to tell his own little jokes using it.

Things that are funny: throwing a rubber band at each other

I didn't realize what a tradition our videos had become until the other night when I was putting Wells to bed, I came down to find that the boys took my phone and were recording videos for Kev. Bennett has been dealing with a cold this week and is so pathetic but Cullen pushed him through.

This video also technically wasn't for Kev, but for Uncle Bummy who we've been missing since he moved to Nashville. We were trying to show him how Wells can walk now, but W wasn't having it and Cullen's giggle is absolutely infectious.

Oh you know, just a 13 month old pushing a preschooler out of the way so he can go down the slide head first. Normal.

****

Today is my Opa's birthday. 

He passed away in February and not a day goes by that we don't think about him, pray for him and wish he was still here with us. Everyday, I am so overwhelmingly grateful that he was able to know my boys.

We love you Opa and miss you so much. 

1,000.

This post is the 1,000th one I have published.

1,000!

Four years ago, I had no idea what a part of my this little space of the internet would become. 

What started as an idea to share my home decor inspiration, 

eventually turned into a 'Mom Blog' about Cullen and our life in Winston-Salem,

then onto life about two boys,

and a move to Monterey,

then all the fun things we did while stationed there.

There was the arrival of our third boy,

adventures of living in DC,

the past five months dealing with Kev's deployment,

and so many simple daily thoughts in between. 

***

Learning to use my camera and posting pictures of the boys led to people asking me to take their family pictures and has now turned into a side business that allows me to help our mostly single- income family to have some extra money for tuition payments, traveling and gifts.
***
I love that I can go back and reminisce on any exact moment in time over the past several years and enjoy stories I might have otherwise forgotten in the busyness of of lives. Plus, the boys love it when I tell them a story and can find the post to go along with it. They are fascinated by their little selves.
***
I've had blog friends turn to In Real Life Friends and have blog friends whom I have never met but often text and email and feel like a true part of their lives.
And of course, I have Real Life Friends who I have reconnected with via the blog and so many people who love of family because they read daily and feel connected to us.
***

Best of all, I've been able to document our family in way that is special, sweet, frustrating, loving, funny and very, very real. It is no secret that I really love this life that I am living, so being able to tell its story whenever I am moved to is really something I am grateful for.

Thanks to all of you for being part of the journey.
I truly appreciate every one of you who takes a few minutes of your day to read and pass along your encouragement.

And because of that, we will have a little giveaway action now: Leave a comment here and/or on the link on facebook and I will pick two winners at random and send you something fun!

Cheers to 1,000 more!

The Benefit of Brothers

As we continue tackle the second half of this deployment, knowing that the end is in sight, there has been one thing in particular that I have been grateful for lately: 

that the boys have each other. 

It might be because school has started and C and B miss each other during the day, or that Bennett has assumed more of a 'big brother' role with C gone all day, or now that Wells is walking he is more into playing with his brothers, but it just makes my heart so happy that they have so much fun in each other's company while they are missing their Daddy's. 

Not only did they sneak into my bed before I came up, but then I found them sleeping in the exact same position. So sweet (and back to their own beds they were carried).

Wells learned to tackled- Welcome to the family Buddy. 

Excited for another flip of the calendar and one month closer to Kev rejoining this chaos. 

The (Other) Wedding Post

Just a week after my brother's amazing wedding, my dancing shoes were back on this weekend to celebrate our dear friends Alysa and Anthony. This wedding was such a special one because not only are they some of my best friends, but because they first starting dating our freshman year of high school. Alysa with the first person I ever knew to fall in love, and being there this weekend to watch them say 'I Do' was indeed a cherished moment.

The other great thing about it was that I was kid-free for two nights (thanks Nana and Pop!!!) and it was a big high school reunion for all of us.

 My date Laura and I obnoxiously  obviously decided we should wear matching dresses (from Rent the Runway).

Could Lys look any prettier?

 After a beautiful Mass and ceremony, we were off to the picture perfect reception.

And from that point on, there was a lot of drinking, eating and dancing, while catching up and reconnecting with old friends, and having a blast with the friends who have been an essential part of my life for the last 15 years. 

Michelle came all the way home from Africa for this event! So good to see you Meesh!

 Dancing the night away with some of my absolute favorite people in the world.

Unlike Joey and Caitlin's wedding, I did not accidently send my phone home early with the babysitter... so I was actually able to get so many fun dance floor pics.

I missed Kev like crazy, but was so appreciative of everyone who said they were thinking about and praying for him. By the time our next wedding rolls around, he will be back. What a great feeling!

 Love this pic I snapped of the Alysa's and Ant's Moms- everyone was having so much fun!

Lys and Ant, we are so happy for you.

 Thank you for being such wonderful friends to Kev and me, and role models of true love for our boys. 

Enjoy every second of your well deserved honeymoon!

Yatchzee!

Things I Never Expect to Say/Hear- Part 10

As we dive into another edition of the crazy talk that is worth noting around here, I also must point out how the boys have matured (poop jokes withstanding) since the first time I shared these.
Pretty soon, they are going to out smart me, I can feel it.

******
Cullen's Corner

Me: Boys. I need you not to need me for five minutes okay?
Cullen: Okay....hey Mommy? Can you get me some juice and then throw the football?
Me: Cullen. What did I just say?
Cullen: Well, I don't need you to do those things, I just really want you to... right now. 

If they days are shorter now, do we need to buy a new clock with less hours on it?

So do the sun and the clouds have skin in them and give you new skin when your dry skin falls off?

Did Marme borned you, but grandma borned her, and you borned me, and Bubs and Wellsie? Because I was thinking that is a lot of things that happened to get us.


{In a letter to dictated to Kev}
Tell Daddy that we told Wells to draw a picture, but he only knows how to eat crayons, not draw with them. We checked first, don't worry.


Do you think animals go to heaven? I know Frankie will, but what about snakes and bugs and other animals that don't have a family who love them?

If we don't take a bath tonight, will we die from sweaty? 

Me: You have to get buckled properly.
Bennett: Whhhhhhyyyyyyyy?
Me: Because I could get arrested for not taking care of you and making sure you were in your seat right and then who would take care of you when I'm in jail?
Cullen: Eh, Marme and Papa got it.

******

Bennett Babble:

I'm going to sleep like a parrott tonight. I hope I don't fly away in my sleeping.


I the weather man at school and today I said it was snowy and my teacher says I should look again, so I went to the window and said it was 'pretend snowy.'

{After showing them a pic of my friend in her wedding dress} Why she have a sheet on hers head?


 Can I take my pants off and go nakie-pee-pee to the PX?
{No}

Can you finish my legos? 

 I can stay up and have a drink and a snack with Mommy and hang out...or you gave give me back my Na {paci} and I'll go straight to sleep. Those are your choices. Whadda want?

No Na (or snacks or hanging out). Sorry Bubs.

B: I smell somethin'.
Me: I bought a new candle that smells like Fall today.
B: No, I think it's just Wellsie poops.

******

Never a dull moment around here friends. 

The Wedding Post

Last Friday, my older brother and his finance Caitlin (also know around here as Fifi) tied the knot. The wedding was so much fun that I am finally recovered enough to blog about it...so we will call that a success.

My parents put on an awesome rehearsal dinner/pre-party on Thursday night at the Fish Market in Old Town. It was the perfect combination of classy and casual and everyone had a great time, especially when they surprised FiFi with a beautiful ring, symbolic of the birth of she and Joey's new family. 

Friday morning, the men were off to golf and the ladies got together at the hotel for hair and make up. A huge thanks to my in-laws and my Uncle Paul and Aunt Stephanie for handling the little humans at home so I could be there to spend time with Caitlin and the other bridesmaids before the ceremony! 

Fifi's photographer wasn't there yet, so I was snapping away on my camera to make sure she was able to remember these moments too. She was definitely the calmest bride ever, and we spent the next few hours getting fancy, drinking champagne and learning the ins and out of Tinder (not from the bride, obviously).

 After The Bride left with her mom, sisters and niece to finish getting ready at the house, the rest of us met up on the bus with the groomsmen to head to the ceremony... all iphone pics from here!

My 3 brothers and me, plus Joey's friend Luke creeping to the left. 

The Bridesmaids (minus Caitlin's two sisters). 

Our dresses were from BHLDN- very flattering and comfortable.

At ceremony time, Bennett opted out of walking down the aisle, but Cullen and Sam rocked it. I don't have any other ceremony pics right now, but I promise that it was really was beautiful, and neat to see my brother all giddy and excited throughout the whole thing. 

 Afterwards, we were off to Army-Navy Country Club for the gorgeous reception. Everything was planned perfectly and we had a blast.

My grandma with my mom, aunts and uncles

Our honorary groomsman Kev was even able to dial in on facetime as we were introduced into the reception. He hated so much not being here, but was glad to have a little part.

My awesome babysitter picked up Wells at 7:30 to bring him home and put him to bed, then my in laws took one for the team and brought my big boys home around 9:45 so I could let loose for the rest of the reception.

Look how good Joan and Friz look!

We danced and sang the night away and then went out in Old town afterwards for a bit too. 

 Over all, it was a wonderful celebration of love and I can't wait to see the professional pics.

Although this one is pretty epic until then..

 We are so happy for you JoJo and Fifi! 

Photo courtesy of  Deb Lindsay Photography