Easter 2022

 Happy Easter! Ours was lovely and spent well. My parents and brother came down for a visit.

My brother "babysat" (hung out at my house while my kids slept) so Husband and I could go on a little Easter Vigil Date. 

We had a lovely time on Easter morning. My favorite music team gave their swan song and I cried only a little. I love Easter so much! 

We decorated Eggs. They were just as much fun this year as last! Even my parents and brother who haven't colored eggs in years thought it was a hoot! 

We also made our traditional Bunny Butt Cookies. Because traditions. 

And we had a marvelous time. Happy Easter!

And Just Like That It's Holy Week

 

We has a busy weekend, Husband's Grammy turned 90! on Saturday so we went to visit and attend her big party. 

Here is Grammy, all her 4 kids, all her 11 grandkids, a few spouses and most of the 26 great-grands. (21 were there.)

We headed home Saturday evening to get ready for Holy Week. I am sponsoring an RCIA Candidate and so Palm Sunday was spent on a retreat. 

We were given a half hour to go journal and pray alone, I headed directly to the sanctuary. I sat near with the baptism font flowing behind me and Jesus in front of me. How thankful I am for the sacraments the holy water and tabernacle represent. 

I admit, I rather reluctantly entered into Lent. So focusing on Holy Week has been really good. I have been meeting with a small group of friends doing a Lent study and we capped off our time together with Adoration last night. So so good. Perfect for this week. 

Enjoy the Triduum and I will see you in the Easter season my friends! 

Wrap Up the Week

 This week felt busy. 

We had Matt Maher on Tuesday which was excellent. I didn't write about my purple cider. 

It's an Ube (hence the purple) Coconut Cake hard cider and it was delightful! 

Wednesday was a BIG day. Husband's work's big food show, the first one Post COVID. I am not articulating all the issues he had, first moving the show from October to April, then navigating all the normal things that come up when planning a big event. Another site had their show last week and the numbers of attendees were dismal. 

But it was SO good. They beat their 2019 numbers even! And for the first time we took the kids out of school to go see what Dad actually does. 

It was so great to both let them see how hard he works, but also to meet so many people who all told them how great their dad is. We are so truly lucky to have him. We are SO proud of him! 

The kids truly enjoyed ALL the samples. 

Oh we ALSO had the class pet this week. In first grade each kid gets to pick one little animal and take it home in a little carrier. Then the student journals about their adventures. 

This is Carol Corn. She enjoyed the food show, especially this big cheeseburger. 

Carol also went shopping, made pasta, and slept in a bed next to Veronica. (The American Girl doll.)

She went to mass, and saw some other first grade friends and went to lunch at Portillo's. 

Carol also joined us for Matt Maher. So it was a fun week. (And I am not even a little sad that the week is over, it's a lot of pressure coming up with some fun things for a stuffed animal to do.) 

Anyway, that's what was up with us. This next Holy Week will be busy too, but also good. 

Lord, I Need You

Last night we were so blessed to support our friend's charity as well as attend a fantastic concert with none other than Matt Maher. 

It was amazing. I am 90% sure Matt was looking right at me. (So would say everyone sitting near me I think.) But truly, we had phenomenal seats and he was directly in my sight line, I just got to stare straight ahead the whole night. 

The only thing he didn't sing that I wished he would have was "Hope For Everyone" which, being an Advent song, I wasn't actually expecting anyway. 

See, whether he was at the piano or standing... he was just right there. 

It was lovely. And hearing my kids sing along to Matt's powerful words was the best. 

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.