Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Easter Our Way. Peeps Were Harmed.

Happy Easter!

For the second year in a row, we have welcomed a good friend into full communion with the Catholic Church.  This meant our entire family once again went to the Easter Vigil on Saturday night.

For those who are not Catholic, the Easter Vigil doesn't begin until sundown, which is 8:00 here in Indianapolis.  It is a Mass which can last up to three hours.  Those two reasons alone explain the absence of many families at this Mass.  For years, I refused to take our kids.  I would go alone, and enjoy the peace and quiet and beauty that is the Easter Vigil, then go to Mass again with the family on Easter morning.

Our friends becoming Catholic changed that routine.  We wanted the kids to be a part of these special nights.  This year, three of our kids were servers during the Mass.  (To be a part, but also to make sure they stayed awake.)  The other three were door holders/greeters as people entered the church.

I am so glad we overcame our hesitancy and brought the kids, especially the little ones.  I have stored up so many wonderful memories.  I took charge of Cuckoo most of Mass, and he had so many great questions throughout.  As each person had water poured over his head, we talked about baptism.  Cuckoo really wanted to be baptized and was quite perturbed to hear he was baptized as a baby and couldn't remember it.  He got to be a big, responsible boy and carry a lit candle from the fire outside aaaaaallll the way to the front pew where we were sitting.  It took him about 5 minutes at the pace he was going, but he was so proud of himself.  Both little boys stayed awake, and actually behaved very well.

To wrap up the Easter weekend and have some semblance of order for the miniature photo dump about to occur, I'm linking up with Kendra at Catholic All Year.  Each week she does an "Answer Me This" linkup, and this week is (almost) all about Easter.

1. What did you and your family wear to Mass on Easter Sunday?

I do believe we are the only family who did not take an Easter photo and post it on Facebook.  Bryan had two boys on the north side of Indy for soccer games and actually met the rest of us at church for the vigil.
I didn't see the boys until they were in their albs, but I hear Giant had black dress shoes, brown dress socks, and his khaki school shorts.  Note to self:  Don't forget to check exactly what the kids put in their bags when I tell them to pack clothes for church.

I have never, ever purchased special attire for Easter.  I have 5 boys.  They wear khaki pants and dress shirts.  Buttercup wears a dress already in her closet.  Same for me.

2. Easter Bunny: thumbs up or thumbs down?

Thumbs up, but barely.  We don't get photos taken on the Easter Bunny's lap.  We don't talk too much about him, but we do...

decorate eggs


and score Easter baskets from the Bunny.



3. Do you prefer to celebrate holidays at your own house or at someone else's house?

Easter is the one and only holiday we spend at home.  It is just us, celebrating any way we choose.  Regardless of which Mass we attend, there is always monkey bread and Easter eggs for breakfast.

This year, the weather was perfectly perfect in every way.

We celebrated God's gifts by getting our garden started.  Potatoes, onions, garlic, spinach, and carrot seeds were placed in their perfect rows.  We even had some grass clippings to put around them.  Some people may see gardening as work on this special Sunday.  We see it as a prayer of thanks.


Easter at our house always includes a bonfire and Peep roast.  Peep s'mores are optional.



If you ever try this with your kids, make sure they don't eat the Peeps as soon as they come off the fire.  The sugar caramelizes and gets really hot.  Wait a minute before shoving the Peep in your mouth.




Later, after the kids gorged themselves on creme bruPeep, they headed out to the corn field for some redneck fun.

Giant in the corn stalk/dirt clump toss

Buttercup in the old, dry weed javelin.

He found some corn.

Shorts and winter boots...He knows what weather in Indy is like!  Changes on a dime, I tell ya!

4. What is your favorite kind of candy?

Butterfingers.  All the way.  At Halloween, I don't even have to ask anymore.  The kids hand over every one of their Butterfingers.  When I asked them a few days ago if they would be sharing any Butterfingers they get in their baskets, Buttercup replied, "I'm sure the bunny will leave any extras for you.  *wink*"

She was right!  There is almost a full bag in the cupboard!

5. Do you like video games?

Mostly, I can't stand them.  My kids are severely limited on the amount of time they get to play.  However, on Easter, the entire family had a great time getting our groove on and working up a sweat by doing some Just Dance on the Wii.

6. Do you speak another language?

No habla Espanol, but...

My dad made us kids learn how to count to 10 in German.  Most parents would have their kids play a piano or sing for dinner guests.  My dad had kids who knew "eins, zwei, drei" (Side note, I did not know how to spell those numbers.  I just now looked them up.) and could tell you who Sisyphus was.

I also took some sign language classes when I was a preteen.  I can sign the alphabet, the words "kids" and "french fries".  When I was in fifth grade, our class signed a song for an all-school Mass, so I also know how to sign every word of "You Light Up My Life".

Does any of that count?

Feel free to head over to Kendra's to read some more or link up your own.

For my non-blogging readers, I'd ask you to answer the questions in the comments, but you never talk to me.  :)

Have a lovely day!




23 comments:

  1. ACK! This whole piece reads like an "I hate Jak" post!

    ...

    Okay, okay... maybe just #5 :-) But, honestly, I haven't been playing many video games, even though I just got a new system. It's good you let them dabble now and again. That dancing, as I'm sure you found out, can be quit the exercise!

    Sounds like you had a great Easter weekend! I've never seen or been to an Easter Vigil. I found it odd it is so late in the evening, and can understand why it would kind of exclude many families. It's great you could have the entire family there, and that they all behaved themselves.

    My number 1 would be: Same thing as last night, Sucka! This could be due to not sleeping, or laziness, or both :-)

    Looks like the kids enjoyed their Olympic-esque games. I'm a fan of the javelin throw, but maybe using for stocks? Really, though, corn fields, when... in season? fully blossomed? Ha... scare the hell out of me.

    Not a huge fan of marshmallows, but I love them roasted over a camp fire or stove. Peeps haven't ever been high on my snack radar, but it sounds like that may be an interesting way to eat them. Not sure why I never encountered this when growing up.

    Hmm you seem to be doing a handful of different blog hops/challenges I'm unfamiliar with. The questions on this particular one started off more uniform and then it veered off the reservation on the later ones.

    Glad you and the family had a great weekend! Don't eat those Butterfingers too fast or you may find yourself playing more video games sooner than later!

    Jak at The Cryton Chronicles & Dreams in the Shade of Ink

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. :) You know that's not true.

      Oh, just 20 minutes of that dancing about does me in! It is a workout, especially for someone as out of shape as me.

      We did. It is only that late because it has to be after sunset. It's completely worth the lateness, though.

      We don't go near the cornfield when it is planted. Children of the Corn did me in forever.

      I don't eat marshmallows myself, unless they come in some Lucky Charms. :)

      We did have a great weekend, thanks. It is good to see you out and about the internet again.

      Delete
  2. Sounds like a great family weekend. Those rock and then some.

    You and I both love butterfingers. Have you tried the butterfingers ice cream? Heaven I tell you. If you haven't tried it, please do give it a try.

    Have a fabulous day. ☺

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    1. They are awesome, for sure.

      I have not had the butterfinger ice cream, but I do get a butterfinger blizzard from dairy queen every chance I get. I'm guessing it would be cheaper to simply buy the ice cream. Thank you for the tip!

      Delete
  3. my favorite candy bar is Butterfingers also. I do not play video games. Do not speak a second language.
    Your blog is one of my favorites to visit. Enjoy hearing about activities involving the kids. Good luck with
    the garden.........

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    Replies
    1. You talked to me!! Yay!! Thank you. :)

      What is not to love about a butterfinger?

      Thank you for reading. I'm glad you like it.

      Delete
  4. We had a lovely Easter...yes the kids and me each got a new outfit - I had great coupons from Old Navy. We had a lovely early dinner with my family at a restaurant( not my choice ...but my sisters decided this...next year we opt out.) Afterwards we went to my sister's house for dessert and the Easter egg hunt, yes my children both got an Easter basket - this year I used a collapsible hamper I got at Dollar Tree they can use it in their room to pick up their clothes. I fill it with some candy and lots of books - and one toy each - my son did get an video game (oops - his time is so limited too) I would love having everyone at my house but lately (blame the winter )I am not that motivated. My favorite candy is dark chocolate, m&m's, mounds, twizzlers and dark chocolate! - BTW I made a Baklava to bring to my sister's - yummy. It occurred to me that I used to speak Italian - I just realized the other day that I need to freshen up my language skills - a few years ago I taught myself Russian and believed I knew 40 words - well enough to communicate to my children. I plan on getting some tapes from the library to practice speaking and reading Italian...hey preparation is the key for when opportunity knocks and invites me to Italy!!! LOL!

    Your pictures of your children are adorable - enjoy your week!!!
    Marisa

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    Replies
    1. Sounds like you had a fun-filled Easter. In new duds, no less. Coupons for Old Navy are great, seeing as how Old Navy isn't too expensive to begin with.
      Don't apologize for getting your son a video game. We are the ones that gave our kids the games to begin with, too.

      I'm not such a fan of dark chocolate. Twizzlers are mighty tasty, though.

      My dad learned how to make a delicious Baklava, so it is at many of our family get-togethers, too.

      It occurred to you that you speak Italian? That made me smile. As forgetful as I am, I can't imagine I'd forget that I can speak a different language. :) Be prepared, I always say. That knock very well could happen!

      Thank you!

      Delete
  5. Sounds like a gorgeous weekend. Good for you for getting started on that garden!

    Easter Vigil sounds long, but I'm glad y'all found it so wonderful.

    Butterfingers. Ick. Prefer Mr Toms.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Does the hubby know you nibble on Mr Toms?!

      Delete
    2. I am ridiculously excited about the garden.

      It is long, but I don't even notice it. There are so many lovely things happening throughout the Mass.

      Ack, Butterfingers are the bomb.

      Jak...Behave yourself! :)

      Delete
  6. Agree w lizzi on the candybar....

    Went to many an Easter vigil....right up there w midnight mass at Christmas...

    Cant wait for the garden...new chicks went out yesterday....they seem to be enjoying themselves!

    Crem bru peep...awesome!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Not you, too!

      Oh, so glad the chicks are doing well.

      Delete
  7. Roasted Peeps. You just blew my mind.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You have my eldest to thank for them. He thought to do it several years ago.

      Delete
  8. totally love the concept of 'roasted peeps'… (it works on so many levels)

    the Easter gardening makes sense to me*.
    Like the dead plant olympics… growing up we used to have a cornfield down the road, they were fun all year 'round, in different ways, of course. (running through the fully grown field is the main memory… the thrill of 'finding my way out' and discovering that I was only about 6 feet away from where I entered the field (and ran for like 15 minutes) lol**

    *sorry not trying to impugn the traditions out there in the heartland at chez coop
    ** clarks have extraordinary sense(s) of direction

    ReplyDelete
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    1. As my daughter said, "Roasting these makes them taste so much better!"

      Ha! We don't go near the cornfield when it's planted. For one, Children of the Corn. For two, rows are planted so much closer these days. There is barely room to walk through.

      Delete
    2. For three, spider webs with great, big, disgusting spiders in them, between the stalks.

      Delete
  9. I can sign the alphabet too! We had to learn a second language for nursing and since I knew French (well just enough to point you to the shitter cause accidents can happen when you don't speak the native tongue) so I chose that. It actually came in handy. I felt awesome describing a medical procedure by painfully spelling out each word...then I realized they could read. Fail.
    Peeps: word.
    Butterfingers: diarrhea
    I had no idea that Easter vigil started at 8. Goes to show you how Catholic I am. Ooops.

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    1. Ha! Really, knowing the alphabet isn't very handy at all. :)

      No! Not another Butterfinger hater!

      Don't worry. Not many people know about the vigil time. They stop caring once they hear that it is over 2 hours long. :)

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  10. I can't tell you when is the last time I had a butterfinger. They are dangerously good and I think I don't get them for my own good - because I don't know how to act. ;-) As you know I have just one boy and he wears the same black pants every Sunday. I get them (the uniform pants) from Old Navy. When it gets super hot, I'll iron the heck out of some khaki shorts but he doesn't like wearing those with church shoes. He'd rather burn up in black pants. No Easter bunny here. I've said from the get go, "Mommy makes your basket so it's special." And we dye eggs too. Just threw six eggs away a couple days ago. Yikes. My dad ate three, Christopher ate one and I used two for potato salad.

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  11. My thumb is black. I may not have mentioned that my only summer flowers are ummmm artificial. I'm a concrete kinda gal...what can I say?!? ;)

    Peep s'mores....now that is something I am thankful my boys never knew about. Hahaha!

    Easter vigil sounds like a wonderful and peaceful time spent with family and friends. Warms my heart. <3

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  12. While I am intrigued by the roasted Peeps and would like to try them (plain, no s'more for me), the best, best, BEST part of this post is that you can sign "You Light Up My Life."

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