--- 1 ---

I am realizing, more and more, that the big fancy camera I requested last year is mainly sitting in its case on the shelf. I know it will be nice when we go on vacation and it was AWESOME for taking passport photos (side business?) but otherwise, not my most well-thought-out request.

--- 2 ---

I am so enjoying the 40 minutes of silence I have after the crazy morning/afternoon we just had. Some days, I like to see just how far I can push things to see whether or not everything will fall apart. My expectations are not high and if it falls apart, it's all my doing. Still, when I hear that someone DH works with took their three kids, 7 and under, to Disney and spent 3 days, dawn-to-dusk with nothing but joy and laughter and good times, I feel like we have no stamina. Ahh, there's Mr. G...time for the fish fry. A 30-minute nap should be more than sufficient, right???

--- 3 ---

I really, really need to get some orders in for food and cakes for the "firsts" weekend which is only 3 weeks away. Yikes! I thought Christmas babies were troublesome but it turns out that Easter babies are much, much worse (not the babies, the logistics that come along with the babies).

--- 4 ---

Today is the last fish fry of the season. I am so thankful sad about that. Dragging 5 sleep-deprived kids (because we go at the end of nap time) to the cafeteria, depending on their good-will to sit still while I get the food (DH usually shows up just as I've put down the last platter ;0) ), paying a not so small amount of cash (Sonic has two fish sandwiches for $3.95 today) and running out the door before the chaos descends at 5:30 is not my idea of a fun Friday night. You may guess that "attend the fish fry each week for fellowship and good cheer" will never be one of my Lenten goals.

--- 5 ---

We (the five little people and I) went to stations this afternoon (see #2). I love stations. We're going to living stations on Sunday and maybe again during the week. Is that too much? I don't think so. It is such a beautiful opportunity to see and feel the passion and the kids sit almost as still as they do at Adoration (which is not totally still - they're tiny, people!) but it's clear that there is something beyond this world that has them transfixed. Today, just as the priest announced, "Jesus is crucified", Mr. G let out the biggest wail. I was pleased because it was timed to perfection and it hid my not entirely tiny whimper (am I the only one who sobs at stations?).

--- 6 ---

Next week is Holy Week! I am so thankful that we've reached the point where we can split the "big events" (Chrism Mass/Holy Thursday/Good Friday) to take one of the older kids to see and gather as a family for basket blessings on Saturday and EARLY morning Mass on Easter (I also love that it's EMPTY then!)

Just a disclaimer before we go...my nearly 6-year-old asked if the Easter Bunny was real today and I had to say no (so you may want to keep your kids away if you don't want this coming out. I told him not to tell anyone but, you know.). Anyway, he asked point-blank and I just can't lie. We talked again about how Santa comes from St. Nicholas but I am unaware that there is a bunny Saint hopping around Heaven somewhere (Please, do give me a clue if you know of a connection). It wasn't all me, anyway, since the nearly 8-year-old started in immediately about how "that is for people who don't know the real meaning of the day which is the Resurrection of Our Lord, Jesus Christ". I am pleased we were in the car and not the candy shoppe at that point. Have a blessed Easter everyone!

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