Definitely A Lion

Oh hey there end of March. How is it possible? January/February were 17 years long and all of sudden tomorrow is April and Easter is in 17 days?! WHAT? 

Remember when we weren't exactly sure if March came in like a lion or a lamb. Well the dusting of SNOW on the ground this morning very clearly suggests that the one nice day we had before the tornado means that was a "lamb" day. Snow is definitely lion-y. Not surprising but still in the negative lion category. 

Enough about the weather. What's going on with me/us you should ask? Well the truth is, still not much. 

I got to go see a play with my friend. We had a very nice time out together. Seriously, life is too short. Call up your friends and invite them to do things with you. This was a show I had to see for work, but the company was 100%. 

Okay, apparently not enough about the weather. There was one glorious 70 something day and M was a huge fan. This gal has been DYING to wear shorts. Anyway, we went to the party store because we were planning a Hawaiian Luau. 

Real story: our couples group was going to be meeting on a Friday and I didn't want to rush our Family Movie Night. So in order to move the Family Movie Night from Friday to Saturday, I made it a big party, with a theme. We watched Lilo and Stitch, had Hawaiian Punch, Pina Colada fruit dip and made it a party. And we had fun! 

C is starting track. He loves to run and is pretty good at it to be honest. He's been excited for this track program since last spring and it finally starts this weekend. Here is his warm up suit and his new running shoes. 

We took the kids to the track at the elementary school to build up stamina. (Soccer season for M starts soon too.) I took no pictures of them running but I did of them swinging. 

In other news, C got to be the lector for the reading at school Mass yesterday. It was a pretty big deal. All the other kids went up to the Ambo in groups. (Psalm, Prayers of the Faithful, Pre-Mass Explanation of the Gospel.) But my dude was all by himself and while I wasn't able to go, both Husband and M said he was awesome. 

And here's the whole class: 

In other news my work ducks, Betty and Neuman came back. 

And that makes me so happy. Sometimes it's the little things you know? 

Happy Thursday! Happy end of March! 

It's Been A While

 It's been a while since I popped in over here, but never fear, we were just real life-ing. No illnesses or anything bad. Just also no real news, updates or even great photos to share. 

This past week the kids have been on spring break. Which has mostly meant that the kids have been playing and having a ball for 5 days now. It's been mostly gorgeous all week so lots of outside and dirty gross kids. It's raining today, and I don't even mind much because this means they won't need to be hosed down before Family Movie Night. 

We adjusted okay to Daylight Savings and I look forward to the House passing the bill the Senate already has getting rid of the change forever. Only 2 changes left if it passes! And is signed. I don't know why it wouldn't. Be the on the right side of history politicians!  

I always said if I ran for office my platform would be no more time changes. Guess I am good to stay out of politics now. (I have no political ambitions so this is good news.) 

We celebrated St. Patrick's Day in a very low key fashion. Wearing green. The kids made a trap and even added a light this year to entice the leprechaun. Alas, he's too tricky. Also please ignore the toy cupboard disaster. It's nearly time for one of my clean outs. 

Leprechaun mischief included spilling Lucky charms all over, pulling out all the green m&ms. Hanging washi tape from the ceiling fan, light fixtures and the walls and of course changing the lights green in the living room. 

This girl got a whole half an apple in her Happy Meal apple slices this week. Crazy. 

And in this month's episode of things that make me laugh:

This is out my window at work. Look at how the shadow of the building PERFECTLY lines up with the remaining dust of snow? (It's long gone now, but this perfect line lasted for 3 days and it made me chuckle the whole time.) Sometimes when the ambient temps aren't high enough, you really need the sun. 

Anyway, Happy Friday!! 

Normal!!

 Oh my friends. My heart is so full today. Yesterday, for the first time in nearly two years we had what one would consider a normal Mass. 

We sat it "our" pew again. Because our section has been every/other for 2 years and it's been off limits. We've been sitting in front of our spot because it's what we could do. But to sit where we like was such a gift for my heart. And unmasked as well. 

We've been wearing masks simply because we like our spot even when they weren't required in other sections. 

That maybe sounds like we put a lot of emphasis on our spot, and that's not the point of Mass. You're correct. But C thrives with structure, routine and familiarity. While I certainly help him practice flexibility where I can, Mass is one area where it is within our control to provide him with the consistency that helps him thrive. Plus, we can see the altar and I think sitting in the front where kids can see is key to helping them grow in faith and understanding. So that's why we like our section and spot. 

But then we had a group singing, (Husband included!) instead of just one or two cantors. And the gifts were presented again. And the blood of Christ was offered again. 

Which means C received the blood of Christ for the first time yesterday. He did SO well and was almost giddy with excitement after. I was so proud and honestly had to choke back the sobbing. 

It was normal again. And I missed it so much. 

And Here Comes Lent

 And just like that, Ordinary Time has taken a pause and we usher in Lent. 

I do like the purple. For whatever that's worth. 

I feel woefully unprepared this time around. I am not really sure why. It's not that I can't think of things to strip away or to add into my life that would help me grow closer in my personal relationship with Jesus. 

My friend sent this out today in a group text. 

So I am going to dig in this Lent and see where the journey takes me. 

Twisty Hair Towels

 My salon had a post about these hair wrap towels they had for sale. I thought they were pretty neat but also it was $40 so... no. 

But I went on Amazon and found a 2 pack for $9.99. That's more my speed and there's two of us in the house who don't like our pajama shirts to get wet from our hair after a shower. 

M approved! And truthfully, they were handy. Our hair is fine and there's a lot of it. It takes forever to air dry or blow dry really. I don't honestly think that this dried my hair significantly more than air drying would have but on Saturday I was able to walk around for an hour or so without a wet shirt or drippy hair before drying it, and at that point it went quickly. Definitely worth it. 

The end of February is here. Which is okay by me. March isn't my favorite month either but at least it comes with SPRING!  

Twos-Day

 Maybe it's no big deal to you that today is Twos-day. That's fine. But I think it's so neat that today is 2-22-22 on a Tuesday! School is celebrating by letting the kids be out of uniform if they can relate their outfit to the number 2. 

We understood the assignment.

M was so excited to wear a tutu and her socks even have 2 stripes. So much fun!! 

In other things we've been up to... we took the kids to see the same play C and I saw as a Valentine's present. 

We had a very nice time! And the kids thought it was funny. (C even for the second time. And he loved to be an expert on the whole situation.)

There's really not a whole lot more to tell with us. But that's okay! Regular life is good. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

 Hello and Happy Valentine's Day! 

Here are the school valentines we came up with this year. 

The poem reads: Roses are red, violets are blue, Happy Valentine's Day, Here's a fidget for you. 

M's are the pink and purple, C's are the blue and green. 

They're not our fanciest valentine cards but they are homemade and not candy which is my big thing. (There's NOTHING wrong with candy. They just get so much of it that I like to mix it up a bit!)  Honestly, the day kind of got lost in the shuffle of late January and being out all quarantined and isolated didn't help matters much. 

My brother sent the kids a Toad and Toadette for Valentine's Day and they like them very much. Today is out of uniform if they wear Valentine's colors. 

We enjoyed the Super Bowl. We didn't have many preferences but rooted for the Rams because it seemed like everyone for some reason that is unclear to me wanted the Bengals to win? I guess because they were underdogs. But, given that everyone was hoping for their win doesn't that in theory make the Rams the underdogs? 

Plus, I like blue better. Oh, and there's a player on the Rams who actually went to my kid's school when he was a kid. So there you go, my entire "why I rooted for the Rams" explanation. It was clearly very important and I was deeply invested. (I was not.) 

I decided next Halloween I am going as an NFL coach. 

It just cracks me up so much when they get all sneaky. Are there actually people who sit around and watch the mouths of the other coaches to try and figure out what's going on? Seems like a wasted resource to me. 

Anyway, Happy Monday and Happy Valentine's Day!