Easter Streaker

The last professional photograph we had taken of our family was over 3 years ago and it was for our parish directory.  Pumpkin was about 3 months old and Sweet Potato was 6 years old.  Go ahead.  Do the math.  That would be six Love Bugs in six years.  No, we were not crazy and yes, we do understand how that happened.

Sorry, I digress.

A few years ago, while we were at my sister's house for Easter, my mom suggested that we take a few family photos since we were all dressed up.  The stairway seemed to be the best place for all of us, and thus a new family tradition was established:  Easter family photos on the steps.

Some years, the kids cooperate with ease.  However, there have been other years where we have experienced tears and tantrums.  There was even one year where one of the kids was in the "potty-training" stage and had an accident.  Not wanting her to be the only one in jeans, we forced her to sit for the photo-shoot, wet dress and all.

Each year, after Easter Sunday Mass, in the van on the way to my sisters, the kids get lectured about taking this family picture.  I explain how I expect them to sit still and smile nicely.  I beg them to refrain from giving their siblings bunny ears and to keep their hands to themselves.  I am ashamed to admit that in the past we have stooped to bribery.  I may even guilt them by saying, "this is the one chance to have a nice picture of all of us.  Remember, it will hang on our wall for a whole year!"

This year was no exception.  I was busy lecturing and the kids were busy tuning me out.  To really drive my picture taking points home, I said;

Me:  I don't care what is going on around you, please keep your eyes on the camera.  Even if Uncle Buddy walks by naked, DO NOT TURN YOUR ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE CAMERA!  

Yes, in hindsight, it was a total parental faux pas.

Conversational chaos ensued.

Gummi:  Ew!  I do not want to see Uncle Buddy naked.
Sweet Pea: (laughing)  Uncle Buddy naked.  That's so funny!
Pumpkin:  Yeah.  Uncle Buddy is going to be naked.
Sweet Potato:  Wait.  Uncle Buddy will be naked?  I don't think that's o.k.
Me:  No, no.  I'm just saying. . .
Cucumber:  Will anyone else be naked?
Me:  No.  No one will be naked.  My point is to just focus on getting our picture taken.
Gummi:  Well I'm leaving if he's naked.

We arrived at my sisters and proceeded to our places on the steps.  While my nephew and niece were snapping pictures of us, Uncle Buddy walked by, fully clothed and completely unaware of the conversation that had preceded.

That is, until, Pumpkin ran up to her uncle, busting us all by asking, "Uncle Buddy?  Why you wearing clothes?  Mom said you would be naked."

Life with kids.  It's a humbling experience.

Holy Week Review

Well, Lent has come and gone and we have now entered into the Easter season.  I feel as if the last week was a bit of a whirl wind.  I made a personal commitment to attend Mass everyday until Easter Sunday.  There are so many distractions in my life and I desired to give my attention to Jesus and His Passion.  Mass helped me to focus each and everyday on what Holy Week is all about.  We began with Palm Sunday.

Gummi and Miss Jessica weaving palm branches after Mass.

Another project during the day was creating this "tomb."  

Monday and Tuesday the kids still had school.  Each day began with Mass, which I had the opportunity to attend.  I love going to the school Masses.  I am always moved by the beautiful faith of our young people.

On Wednesday, the daily Mass was celebrated at our local nursing home.  It was a lovely sunny and "warmer-than-it-has-been" day, so the Love Bugs and I decided to walk.  We gathered in a small room with five of the residents, two volunteers, Father, Grandma and the 7 of us.  The Gospel that day was from Matthew and told of Judas Iscariot.  In his homily, Father shared that we look at Judas as selling out Jesus.  30 pieces of silver would be equivalent to about $800 today.  That is not a huge sum of money, so why did Judas really betray Jesus?  Father asked us to reflect on our own lives.  How do we "sell" Jesus out?  What are we hungry for?  What are we searching for?  Shouldn't Jesus be enough?

The start of the Triduum was Holy Thursday.  When I woke up that morning, this is what I found.

Our tomb had sprouts.  

During the day, the girls made Easter symbols out of salt dough.

Thursday evening we traveled back to the church affiliated with the kids school.  The Liturgy, the music, the symbolism, the Tradition;  I loved it all.

We attended Good Friday Service at Silly's church, where she and her husband sing in the choir (the music was gorgeous!).  It was a two hour service and I was really proud of how well the Love Bugs handled it.  On the way home, the boys rode with Monkey Toes and I had the girls in the van.  Our conversation went as follows:

Gummi:  Did you like church tonight Mom?
Me:  I loved it.  I even cried a few times.
Gummi:  I cried too.
Me:  At what part?
Gummi:  When we kissed the cross.  When did you cry?
Me:  At the very beginning when Father and the Deacon laid prostrate and then again when we venerated the cross.
Cucumber:  I cried when we read the Gospel and Jesus died.
Sweet Pea:  I didn't cry.
Me:  That's O.K.  Sweet Pea.  You don't have to cry at church.
Pumpkin:  Well I cried.
 
At her remark, we all gushed over the thought of Pumpkin being so moved by the service.

Me:  At what part did you cry Pumpkin?
Pumpkin:  When church got too long!

Saturday we celebrated Easter with Monkey's side of the family.  It was a fun get-together with good food and great company.  Grandma and I attended the Easter Vigil that night.  It has been more than a few years since I have attended the Vigil.  I forgot just how rich and layered with meaning it is.  We began in complete darkness, hearing the account of creation.  We heard of Abraham's faith and complete trust in God and continued to hear of Moses and the Israelites escaping from Egypt.  We read from Romans and the promise that we shall be united with Christ in His Resurrection; death has no power over us.  And finally, the Resurrection account was proclaimed from the Gospel of Luke.  We sang Alleluia for the first time in 46 days.

On Easter Sunday, the first thing I did was to check on the "tomb."

Look at that grass!  The kids were completely amazed.

Mass was simply joyful!  The colors, the flowers, the music filled with rejoicing - it was truly a celebration!

Next, we were off to my sisters to spend the day with my side of the family.

Here, Auntie is giving instructions to the Amazing Race scavenger hunt.  The kids had to complete certain tasks/skills in order to get clues to where the treats were hidden.

Our annual Easter Family Picture - always taken on these steps.

I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to immerse myself into the recollections and celebrations of Holy Week.  Each day brought a time of reflection and a renewed sense of hope.  I awaited Easter in great anticipation.  And now, in the Resurrection, we are a changed people.  For me, this Easter Season challenges me to be a witness to those I meet, if not through word, then definitely through action and example.  

Brothers and sisters:
Do you not know that a little yeast leavens all the dough?
Clear out the old yeast,
so that you may become a fresh batch of dough, 
inasmuch as you are unleavened.
For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed.
Therefore, let us celebrate the feast, 
not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, 
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.                                                      1 Corinthians 5:6-8

I Can't Hear My Own Thoughts

Right now, I am sitting in the living room while Pumpkin is putting on a puppet show for her dolls, Cucumber, Gummi and Sweet Pea are bouncing ping pong balls with paddles on the laminate floor, Sweet Potato is talking about the history of rock and roll (he's not talking to anyone in particular - he's just talking), and Honey Bunches is playing the tambourine and singing.  It is loud.  It is chaotic.  It is extremely entertaining.

Tonight during supper:

Sweet Potato:  Today in school we learned about the British invasion.
Gummi Bear:  You mean the Red Coats?
Sweet Potato:  No.  The Beatles.

Palm Sunday

Today we celebrate Palm (or Passion) Sunday, marking the beginning of Holy Week; the pinnacle of our faith.  Mass was very moving to me today.  I shed more than a few tears.  Even Honey Bunches said on the way home, "I loved Mass."

We read,

"So they brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks over the colt, and helped Jesus to mount.
As he rode along, the people were spreading their cloaks on the road; and now as he was approaching the slope of the Mount of Olives,  the whole multitude of his disciples began to praise God aloud with joy for all the mighty deeds they had seen. They proclaimed: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.”   Luke 19:28-40

As Father explained, a man held in high esteem would have ridden a war horse, dressed in armor or expensive clothes, wielding a sword.  Yet Jesus, the Son of God, rode into Jerusalem on a farm animal, unarmed, in complete humility and simplicity.

Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God,

did not regard equality with God

something to be grasped.

Rather, he emptied himself,

taking the form of a slave,

coming in human likeness;

and found human in appearance,

he humbled himself,

becoming obedient to the point of death,

even death on a cross.

Because of this, God greatly exalted him

and bestowed on him the name

which is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus

every knee should bend,

of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue confess that

Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:6-11

We then listened to the Gospel of Luke and the retelling of the Passion.  I have heard this story since I was a small child.  I have read it myself countless times and still,  there is a piece of me that hopes that the story will have a different outcome.  That somehow, Jesus will not have to endure the pain and suffering.  That somehow, the people will see Jesus for who He truly is.  That somehow, Jesus will save us and the whole world without having to hang on that cross.  But the story never changes.

Father shared such beautiful words of wisdom  in his homily.  He said that we experience the passion in our lives everyday.   Everyday we die and we rise with Christ.  Some of us have small crosses to carry, while others have heavier crosses to bear.  But whatever journey we walk with Christ, it is important to realize that it is Christ who journeys with us.  Not the other way around.

Mass concluded with the symbol of Holy Thursday, a basin and pitcher, brought forward and placed at the foot of the altar.  We left in silence with the piano playing "Were You There."

This week, a week like no other in our calendar year, is meant to change us.  We are called to be present and to be active participants in the suffering, death and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  We come out changed people; more loving, more compassionate, more actively serving Christ through our service to others.  We, the Body of Christ, pay homage to our King and give glory to God our Father.

A Visit To Children's

One week ago today, Cucumber had an appointment at the Children's Hospital and Clinic in Minneapolis.  She has had a couple of UTIs, and due to her age and the frequency of these infections, she was referred to the "experts" for further testing.  Monkey was out of town on business, so Silly graciously took the day off of work to accompany us.  Although I was confident that all would turn out fine, this visit brought back memories of when Cucumber was only 5 weeks old and was hospitalized at Children's for RSV.  I was very grateful and thankful for Silly's moral support during this trip.

Cucumber awaiting the ultrasound

Her prize from the ultrasound

Cucumber had a total of three appointments throughout the day.

Here, Cucumber is prepping her mask for the next procedure.  She picked cotton candy flavored lip balm, which she smeared on the inside of her mask.

The lovely hospital gown and robe

Cucumber was a champ during the procedure.  I was thankful that I could stay in the room with her.

Her prize for doing so well

Next was lunch.

Cucumber had been fasting since 6 AM, so she was definitely ready to eat by this time.

Silly brought a movie for Cucumber to watch while we waited

Up next was the consult.  Cucumber and her new buddies had their blood pressure checked.

Cucumber and the doctor are looking at her scans

One of the many pieces of artwork at the hospital.  Cucumber loved this one!

All of Cucumber's tests came out well.  We were sent home with a very do-able plan to keep her healthy.  I also want to comment on what a remarkable place Children's Hospital is and what a blessing they are to kids and their families.  The minute we walked through the door, I felt at peace.  From the first person that greeted us, to the nurses and doctors, all were very friendly and they love kids.  I was impressed with how the employees talked with Cucumber - often times first before greeting me.  They explained things to her at six years old, in a very concise and clear way.  She wasn't scared.  That, in and of itself, was very encouraging to me.

I am thankful that we have a facility such as this so close to home.  I am thankful that so many of the men and women who work there have answered God's call for their lives in serving in the medical field and more specifically, working with children.  And I am thankful for the health of my own children.  It is certainly a gift to be treasured.

Latin, Grammar, and You've Got To Be Kidding Me!

Sunday marked the half-way point of Lent, also known as Laetare Sunday.  Laetare is Latin for, "Rejoice!". The entrance antiphon for the Mass begins, "Laetare Jerusalem (Rejoice O Jerusalem)", Isaiah 66:10-11.

During this penitential season of Lent, Laetare Sunday offers us a glimpse of joy and hope.  The Gospel reading was the Prodigal Son (Luke 15), a parable filled with hope, joy, forgiveness and love.  It serves as a beautiful example of the importance of our relationship with God and with community.  I left Mass feeling renewed and refreshed and eager to face these last weeks of Lent, in preparation for Easter.  Add in Daylight Savings and I feel like a new person!  Tonight after supper, instead of the kids winding down for the evening, they played outside taking full advantage of the longer day.  It was great!




A few nights ago as we were eating supper, Cucumber was trying to tell a story about Sweet Potato.  Sweet Potato did not want this story told and shouted at Cucumber to stop.  This outrage hurt Cucumber's feelings and she began to cry.  Seated next to her is Pumpkin, who leaned over, put an arm around Cucumber's shoulders and then whispered, "It's o.k. Cucumber.  Did he break your heart?"

After school one day last week:

Me:  Me and the little girls drove to the cities today to visit Dad at work.
Sweet Potato:  Why don't you say that sentence again and this time be grammatically correct?

Saturday morning the boys uncle was picking them up to spend a few hours with them.  When he arrived, he told Honey Bunches to put on some socks.  Apparently Honey was having difficulty in finding some clean socks.  After being reminded again to find some socks, Honey Bunches replied, "the laundry service isn't too good here."

A Couple of "Cutesies"

Last fall I purchased a small white board for our kitchen.  I've always wanted a large black board, but for now, this white board will have to do.  My intentions with the board is to post the days happenings, such as the date, the Saint of the Day, the supper menu, and any other pertinent information.  On mornings when I am a bit rushed, one of the kids usually asks to complete the board.   On this particular day, I simply could not pass up the opportunity to take a picture of Cucumber's handiwork.

Please allow me to translate:
Monday, February 18, 2012
Happy President's Day
Supper:  Apple Pie
St. John the Second

Just to set the record straight, it's 2013 and we actually had pasta for supper and the pie for dessert.  Also, the saint of the day wasn't St. John II (I actually have no idea who that is).  When I asked Cucumber which saint that was, she responded, "I don't know.  That's the only name I know how to spell."  Clearly.

In other happenings:

This past Wednesday night the kids and I were getting ready to watch American Idol.  Sweet Potato was instructing his younger siblings to complete a multitude of tasks.  I simply kept quiet, wanting to watch this interaction.

Cucumber:  Sweet Potato, why do you get to boss everyone around tonight?
Sweet Potato:  Because I'm practicing being an adult.

I choked a little on the water I was drinking.

Cucumber:  You are NOT an adult.  You're only 10 and you have to be 13 to be an adult.
Sweet Potato:  Yeah, I know and that's only 2 1/2 years away.
Cucumber:  Oh boy!