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!