top ten albums of 2011.

i was just looking at my "top ten albums" posts of the last 3 years. each year i say this is one of my favorite posts to share, so i suppose i'll say it again: "this is one of my favorite posts to share." truth. i love critiquing music. i love analyzing music. the chord structure, the lyrics, the movement of the bass, the harmonies, and so on. i do not claim to be an expert. however, i do claim to know a few things about music...i would sure hope so (insert $$$$ for music degree here).

typically, it is difficult for me to narrow a plethora of adored albums into a "top ten." this year was no different. so, without further rambling of sorts, here are my top ten albums of 2011, in no particular order:

1. Wilco - The Whole Love
2. My Morning Jacket - Ciruital
3. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
4. Feist - Metals
5. Radiohead - King of Limbs
6. Ivan and Aloysha - Fathers Be Kind
7. The Civil Wars
8. Wye Oak - Civilian
9. Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto
10. Explosions in the Sky - Take Care, Take Care, Take Care

honorable mentions to:

--The Waiting Kind (ok, it's my husband's band so i can't put them in my top ten, right? they really are in my top ten...i just didn't want to be that wife)
--Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
--David Bazan - Strange Negotiations (his albums are usually on my top ten - and i love this one)
--St. Vincent - Strange Mercy (that Annie is ridiculously talented)
--James Vincent McMorrow - Early in the Morning (this record was released in 2010, but i didn't start listening until this year - otherwise it would have been in my top ten)
--Adele - 21 (i realize this album should be in my top ten. the truth is, i have only listened to it a few times. it's good. real good. i just didn't have time to fall in love with it, yet)

white and serene.

I would like to live here...



...and frolic here...



...and make a snow angel here.




via: depositphotos.com, brightnepenthe.blogspot.com, and blog.thomaslaupstad.com

from classy to zombie.

well, the last two years of Halloween costumes couldn't be more different. i really do enjoy dressing up for Halloween...the mister, not so much - BUT, i have successfully gotten him to dress up for two years now! good job me!

Halloween 2010, we decided on Mad Men. we absolutely love the show so it just made sense. we were going to go as Don and Betty Draper but it ended up being more like Betty Draper and her beatnik boyfriend. plus, we didn't really have to dress up that much - we wear these clothes anyway....cheating, i know.





...cut to Halloween 2011. what costume can you come up with in a matter of a few hours? why, hipster zombies of course.


here we are in our hipster zombie glory.


some wonderful friends and myself Halloween partyin' on Harrison Boulevard.


got home and realized i should have been Beetle Juice...maybe next year...

what a busy, lovely life.

hellllooooooo. the Henbests have had such a fun month. gosh it's been busy, but i wouldn't change a thing. i thought i would share some of the things we have been up to...pictures via Instagram.




a few weeks back we headed to my family's cabin. love that place more than words, srsly.



we inherited this incredible dining set from our great aunt Rae. it is gorgeous. she has had it since the 1940's. WINNING.



well, you see, m'man and i have this little folk side project we have been working on for the past few months. we were supposed to play a show as A Humble Tumble (our folk side project's name) for the first time - and then something came up for the man. soooooooo, i played by myself. me and guitar. by myself. with a guitar. ok, i've played guitar for about 7 years now - but playing in my classroom and every once in a while in a worship set or a show doesn't really count as being a good "guitarist" - so naturally, i was scared to death. i practiced until my calluses had calluses. thankfully, it went really well! phew. also, it was fun to play a few Humble Tumble songs. can't wait to play out more - WITH MY HUZ (that yelling is for him to read).



keeping my family close as i headed to Flying M to play. grandma's shoes. skirt made by my little sis.



i had my first program! i am SO proud of my 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders - they performed so well. i know i've said it a million times but honestly, i love my job.



my husband's band, The Waiting Kind, played at Fall to Worship. they did an amazing job!



our friend Nathan had a birthday! these pretty gals could dance every day all day.



our friend Jeremy Coverdale had a birthday!



Anniversary celebration day! Big City Coffee/Urban/Anthro/Bookstores/Chapala. m'huz bought me some lovely things at Anthropologie. it was a wonderful day.



3 years! i didn't know it was possible to love someone as much as i love him.



neon socks. that's fun.



teaching my 1st graders about this genius.




listening. love these records. Radiohead/Lotus Flower and My Morning Jacket/Circuital.





got my new 70's inspired geometry dress from Red Velvet Shop! can't wait to wear it.



Uncle D and Rhett and some serious Lego time.

new.

Well, as always, I am thee worst blogger. but, I'm blogging tonight and that is all the matters, right? right.

I meant to write a blog a few months back about leaving my last school (Rolling Hills Public Charter School) of 3 years, but never got around to it. It was a really tough decision but I did what was in my (and m'man's) best interest. That is not to say I won't miss the administration, teachers, and kids - I will and already do! The last day of school in May was full of hugs and tears. Rolling Hills will always be a place of fond memories. It really was a great 3 years.

My new adventure is at Legacy Charter School. I started teaching last week! I know, school already?! This school is on a modified year round schedule so the dates are a bit different than other schools. I am loving it, to say the least. I couldn't feel more blessed to be a part of this team. I can already tell I am going to love working here!

Obviously, teaching at a new school means I have a new classroom! This was very exciting to me. I tried to take a few pictures of the process of putting my room together -- from the first time I walked in the doors of my room, to hauling all of my stuff in (mass chaos, anyone?), to putting up my vinyls. Disclaimer: I think it is hard to decorate a music room without being super cheesy! I tried to keep some of my style in it - I didn't really have a say in the essentials that were put in the room but I'm grateful to have the essentials (that is for darn sure). I'm sure the room will be constantly changing throughout the year. Cheers to another great year of teaching music - I love my job!

Greater stronger (acoustic) - The Waiting Kind

after one of my husband's shows the other night, the bass player and i took this video of one of the songs that is going to be on The Waiting Kind's new record - coming out this fall! it's an acoustic version so obviously the one on the album will be different - but it's pretty great nonetheless. you should watch, ok? ok!

#katiesshoez. from Instagram.

teal socks. grandma's shoes.



K for Katie.



shoes c/o Modcloth.



military boots. the coolest classroom carpet.



polka dot tights. my mister and I in UO boots.


yellow tights. UO boots.


white legs. white shoes.


theme park feet. California Adventure.

Hollow-Wood.

So, there are these great kids: Adam Jones, Hayden Jensen, and Lyndsay Wright. I guess they aren't really kids, but I call everyone a kid. Adam just graduated from high school. Hayden has one more year in high school. Lyndsay is starting her first year of college this fall. These kids are talented. I mean, really talented. I'm not positive when they first started playing together but I believe it was in the last year and a half. They have all played music for quite some time now but they formed a band together in recent years. They were playing under the name Adam Stip Music but just recently switched to Hollow-Wood. They recorded a new song, Love Has Found Me, in the gym at their church. I love the raw acoustics. The song is simple, yet beautiful. Lovely harmonies and blending. And of course I love the words...which is really just one phrase. I think it is the best thing they have written yet. The first time I heard it, m'huz turned up the volume and said, "who does this remind you of?" Within 20 seconds I gave my two answers - "The Fleet Foxes and The Head and the Heart" - both bands that I love. What is super cool (do people even say that anymore?) is this: Priscilla Ahn posted this video on her facebook page a few days ago! WHAT?! I have been a big fan of Priscilla for some time now and she doesn't post many videos on her page. What a promotion! All this to say, I am so proud of these Boise kids - just you wait, they are going places. Enjoy!!!

a best friend. an incredible opportunity.

maybe i'm losing interest in blogging. i'm not sure at this very moment. i mostly want to direct you to the blogs of others who are far more clever than i. and that is exactly what this post is about. one of my very best friends on this planet, Jolleen Quimba, is going to change the world. she has been passionately learning about human trafficking for the past 5 years and has had the opportunity to teach at some pretty incredible conferences because of her wealth of knowledge on this topic! i have known Jo Jo for the past 10 years and am not exaggerating one bit when i say that she is one of thee most passionate people i know. passionate about the Lord. passionate about education. passionate about fighting this nightmare called human trafficking. this passion has led Jolleen to be brought on board with International Justice Mission this fall! it is truly an incredible opportunity and i could not be more proud of her! i won't share all of the details - i want you to hear them from her.

i would love it if you would go to her blog - http://abirdnamedbea.blogspot.com/ - and read about how you can help her in this journey! she is worth it. the cause she is working for is worth it. just remember that i said it first - Jolleen Quimba is going to change the world.

i love you Jo Jo. i am so proud of you!

read this blog.

so, my dashing husband writes blogs from time to time on his band's website. he's been writing about the fear of failure as of late and i think his thoughts are pretty great. not only because he is m'man...i truly can relate to what he has been writing about. take a moment to read if you get a chance...


new post: "if only they would listen"
www.thewaitingkind.com

i hope it encourages you!

i miss them.

i am talking about my grandparents. i said i would write about them one day and i am finally prepared to do just that. they deserve a novel really. what extraordinary people!

my grandmother, Shirley Joyce Durr, passed away on November 1, 2010. my grams had been battling a rare type of oral cancer for about 3 years. a few months before she passed, the doctor told us nothing could be done. though we all knew this, it was still a bit of a shock when she passed away. we thought we at least had a year, or so we were told. the night before she passed, i was supposed to be somewhere else but had a "funny" feeling i needed to go and see grams. so i dropped everything and spent the night with my mom and my aunt by my grandma's bedside. we cried and laughed and teased grandma. she was asleep the entire time i was there, but i am sure i saw her smirk when i told her she was going to be "one sexy angel." grams went to be with her Savior the next afternoon.

my grandfather, Lewis Arthur Durr, passed away on November 13, 2010. my grandpa had dementia for a few years and was in a memory care unit for a few months before he passed away. the interesting thing is that he was incredibly healthy! he had zero problems with his heart and body...his mind was the problem. dementia is such a scary disease. he really started going downhill fast when my grams started going down. it was like there was a string attached between the two of them. when grandpa would have a rough day in the unit, grams would have a rough day at home and vice versa. he was a tough old guy. i am serious about that! he even took out a couple of male nurses one day at the memory care unit but that is a different story (you can laugh...it is hilarious to think of an 80 year old man taking out a couple of male nurses). a few days before grandpa passed, my family and i went to say our goodbyes. i can honestly say it was one of the hardest things i have ever had to do. i will forever remember watching my sister say her goodbye...she kissed my grandpa's forehead, held his hand, layed on his chest, and wept. what a sweet moment filled with sorrow.

my grandpa died almost exactly two weeks after my grandma. i am telling you, there was a string connected between their souls. their 60th wedding anniversary was the first one they had ever spent apart from each other. and now they are in Heaven, with the Maker of the universe. that is truly an amazing thought!

i will miss my grandma's hugs and "i love you Kates." her tuna sandwiches and chocolate chip cookies (which is the recipe i make and people love...good job grams). her sweet spirit and steadfastness. her encouragement and support - always, always, always. her little tiny fist she would shake at you if you teased her. her fiesty-ness (i don't think that is a word...still, it describes her perfectly)...she was 5'1 and weighed about 105 pounds. tiny, but feisty! her sweet smelling candles. her cards. her love. gosh i miss her.

i will miss my grandpa's hugs!...the best hugs in the world. his constant teasing. his love for everyone. his love for his family. his protective nature. his full head of beautiful white Elvis shaped hair. his beautiful smile that charmed the ladies. his bickering with grams - hilarious i tell you. him sneaking more dessert when grams wasn't watching. his tattoo that said "Shirley." his hard working hands. his love. gosh i miss him.

i had the privilege of having these two incredible people in my life for 28 years...10 of which were spent as my parents next door neighbors. many people don't get this chance - i am very grateful to have had it. they have impacted my life beyond words. i miss them every single day. thank you, grams and gramps, for the memories but most of all, for the love.

A Poem

"I asked the Lord if I must wait
For greater things to do
"My child" he said, "you're doing now
The work I want you to."

"But Lord," I cried, "'tis not enough.
I'd like to do much more."
"But child," He said, "you're doing now
The task I want you for."

Some day my child you'll understand
Why you must wait so long
For the things you want to do
For me, will never be what's wrong.

There's a job in waiting for you child
I'm sorry it must be
But the task that I have in store for thee
Calls for faith and waiting patiently.

--Joyce Durr

you completed your task grandma! you ran the race. you too gramps! and what a race the two of you ran. i will see you both in that great and glorious place one day. know that i love you both. until then...

boring.

the thing is, i have a lot to say but no time to right what i want to say. so, here is my boring, i-got-this-new-dress-in-the-mail-and-cannot-wait-to-wear-it post. i hope your week has been absolutely lovely so far!

*the dress is from www.modcloth.com - one of my favorites*

weekending and love.

perks of being a teacher: sometimes you get 3 or 4 day weekends (and the whole summer, but that is not that point :)). well, this last weekend i had a 3-day weekend but only because i took a personal day. my husband's band, The Waiting Kind, had a show in American Falls on Sunday night and i wanted to go. this gal doesn't get to go on tour with them so i was excited to be able to travel with them to this show. they played at a high school auditorium which was super hip. about 500 peeps showed up. the set of Annie was on stage so Luke Caldwell arranged it to make for a pretty sweet concert set. both Esterlyn and The Waiting Kind did a fantastic job. the crowd was very responsive. i love listening to people sing the songs my husband has written. God has truly gifted that man. it was a fantastic show. oh! AND, the green room they had us in had a huge wardrobe full of costumes for their theatre productions. so what did we do? of course we tried stuff on! which was very fun, until i came out of said giant closet in this incredible fur coat (pictured below) with a sweet sword dating back to Medieval times... aaaaand a guy who worked there was standing in the room. that was a bit awkward. both m'huz and me wanted to take home half of the clothes in the wardrobe. what does that say about us? not really sure yet. but i am sure that i am now on the hunt for a huge faux fur coat similar to the one i tried on...i may have already found it.

we got back in to town around 3:00 a.m. on Monday morning and i slept in...until 9:00. hey, that's good for me. i surprised my adorable niece and took her and my sis to lunch for V-day. after that i went home to my dashing man and we had a dance party, ate artichoke dip and chocolate, and watched Breaking Bad (so now we have Mad Men and Breaking Bad to love). what an amazing Valentines Day.

i love music and love and weekends and chocolate.