the many happenings of November and December

Silas turned 3! We celebrated with a family party and a trip to the zoo. He was a happy boy.

My Mom and brother Steven visited for Thanksgiving. We braved Washington D.C. and Annapolis in verrrrry coooold walking weather, and cooked a lot of comfort food. This was one of my favorite Thanksgivings so far: the boys were up early rolling out pie dough with Ricky and me, and that set the stage for a peaceful day of cooking. We even had time to walk by the lake while the turkey roasted.  

My brother Luke came home from Italy and stopped by our place for a few days. He was all traveled out, so we enjoyed a lot of cozy at-home time. He brought really good wine, and we made good food to go with it. We did venture out to see The Hobbit 2 in Imax 3-D, which very much exceeded my expectations visually. Luke, being one of those people who actually read the book, of course had some qualms about the adaptation.

Ricky's family came for Christmas (we started a new tradition a few years ago of alternating cities, and this was our turn) and we rented a big house in Annapolis so we could all stay together. It had an enormous kitchen, a fireplace, huge windows, and many other fun details--the boys' favorite being the electric fireplace in their room. 

 The grandparents stayed a few extra days, and we ventured out to see the big tree in D.C., and took Nicky ice skating at the National Sculpture Garden. It's one of my favorite spots in the city: Nicky used to take naps there when he was a toddler and we lived here for a summer, and it has an enormous fountain that doubles as a skating rink in the winter.

Ricky and I even got to take a little getaway to Philadelphia, which was truly special. We saw the Pennsylvania Ballet Company perform The Nutcracker on its final night, and visited the touristy things like Independence Hall, the "Rocky steps" at the Philadelphia Art Museum, and the Eastern State Penitentiary. And of course we sampled some cheesesteaks.

We made it back home for a quiet New Year's Eve with good food and drink, and one last night with Abuela and Yoko (there's a story behind the name; let's just say Nicky couldn't quite say Abuelo when he was little) and a farewell to them on New Year's Day.

Whoosh! We're tired but happy, and right now enjoying a big-for-us snowfall from last night. I may wrap my head around a routine again sometime soon. I hope your holidays were lovely; I don't think ours have ever been this jam-packed before! We were rich in visitors, which is really quite special when you've moved thousands of miles and don't see family too often.

On to 2014!

Halloween 2013

Earlier this week, after I explained the concept of trick-or-treating to Silas and he shouted that's a GREAT idea!!! It really didn't take much explanation, come to think of it. Put on your costume, walk around, get candy. Got it.

We've never done trick or treating with the kids before, because our church always did a big, fun Harvest Party. That was fun, and I did miss it. But this was fun too, and simple. Simple can be really nice. What's more, we met some neighbors. Halloween is the perfect holiday for neighborhood newcomers.

My favorite stop was a house that boasted a carved watermelon and spaghetti squash, as well as a tray of grown up candy. Truffles for the win.

We carved pumpkins the night before. Aimee didn't participate because it was just too late for her. Sister was done.

Ricky cleaned and roasted the seeds. Yum.

The kids all went as ninjas.(Is the plural ninja? ninjas? I don't know.) Sometimes, when you're a ninja, you wear a sparkly tutu.  

Aimee discovered candy. The crinkly wrappers! The sugar! She was so happy and chocolate-y. Well, they all were.

I'm letting them enjoy their candy today, and tomorrow it will mysteriously disappear. That's the plan.

Happy Halloween!

Easter 2013

If you realize at the last minute that you only have one Easter basket (because you grabbed it from the Target dollar section weeks ago), but find a preponderance of fake Easter grass from last year in the garage,

 then "Easter nests" are a good option. And seriously, if you're having jelly beans for breakfast, nobody minds the lack of baskets.

Similarly, a mixing bowl and sand bucket work splendidly for collecting eggs.

Little Miss wore her first dressy dress. I didn't realize how fun that would be. Here she is practicing her clapping skills. I'm utterly in love with her.

This picture is brought to you by Penny's ears and Silas' swagger-walk.

We went to church (me and the kids for the early service, Ricky played guitar for all three), I made a big lunch, Nicky and Silas painted sun-catchers and played with the Resurrection Eggs set, we napped, had a backyard egg hunt plus an indoor egg hunt because Nicky really wanted his Papa to hunt eggs with him, and then, you know, basically collapsed while the kids ran around. Same as last year :) I love Easter.

meditations for Easter

Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!

Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!

Lo! the Sun’s eclipse is over, Alleluia!

Lo! He sets in blood no more, Alleluia!

Vain the stone, the watch, the seal, Alleluia!

Christ hath burst the gates of hell, Alleluia!

Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia!

Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!

Christ the Lord is Risen Today, full lyrics here. 

But I'll still believe
though there's cracks you'll see
when I'm on my knees I'll still believe
and when I've hit the ground
neither lost nor found
If you'll believe in me
I'll still believe

Mumford & Sons, Holland Road

The other gods were strong; but thou wast weak;

They rode, but thou didst stumble to a throne;

But to our wounds only God's wounds can speak,

And not a God has wounds, but thou alone.

-Edward Shilito, Jesus of the Scars

And, if you’re lucky, someone in the car will recognize the bravery of the act. If you’re lucky, there will be a moment of holy silence before someone wonders out loud if such a question might put a damper on Easter brunch.

But if you’re not—if the question gets answered too quickly or if the silence goes on too long—please know you are not alone.

There are other people signing words to hymns they’re not sure they believe today, other people digging out dresses from the backs of their closets today, other people ruining Easter brunch today, other people just showing up today.

And sometimes, just showing up - burial spices in hand - is all it takes to witness a miracle.

-Rachel Held Evans, Holy Week for Doubters

               He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast, which a woman took and hid in a bushel of wheat flour until the yeast had worked its way through all the dough.”

-Matthew 13:33, Common English Version

He speaks desperation. He dies his body. But he is pregnant

with mystery: he gathers the cosmic collection of every hopeless

sigh, every loss, every hatred formed against another,

every embittered soul, every unloved and unlover.

-Micha Boyett, Daughters of Jerusalem

O God, who made this most holy night to shine with the glory of the Lord’s resurrection: Stir up in your Church that Spirit of adoption which is given to us in Baptism, that we, being renewed both in body and mind, may worship you in sincerity and truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

-a Collect for Easter, Book of Common Prayer

winter break

It's been such a restful winter break, even with all the sickness we've been battling. It's wonderful to be home and cozy when that's really all you feel like doing! (And really, that's all I've felt like doing.) I scheduled time off and Ricky was able to stay home quite a bit too. Usually I'm crawling out of my skin if the kids and I aren't dressed and ready by mid-morning, but there were several days when I stayed happily jammied all day. It seems like we all really needed rest, and I'm grateful to have had it! Here are some pictures I found while cleaning out my phone this morning.

Tomorrow it's back to reality: school, routine, lessons, appointments, visits, work and such. I'm working on being ready.