Rabbits and Spring Attitude and other Easter things

Earlier this afternoon, Jim and I were talking about raising rabbits for food.  Kaden overheard us, and then asked his Nana- "why would they do that? Grow up a bunny and then shoot it and eat it?  Bunnies are sooo cute!"

This evening, I overheard this conversation:
Kaden:  Let's shoot the bunnies.
Jim:  No.
Kaden:  Why did you say no?
Jim:  I don't like to shoot bunnies.
Kaden:  But you said you like to EAT bunnies...

***
Kaden's favorite phrase lately is delivered while he looks you straight in the eye, and deadpans "I don't know what you're talking about."

***
Also earlier today, Jim asked Kaden to tell Nana we'd be leaving in 10 minutes or so.  Kaden happily skipped off, and a few minutes later I heard Nana rushing around, so I shouted back "We're not leaving too soon."  Nana said to Kaden, "why would you DO that to me" and then Kaden started laughing hysterically.  It turns out that he had told her we were leaving "right now" and that if she didn't hurry and get her shoes on, we'd leave her behind.

May I remind you this child is only 4 years old?

***

Also, Grandma had all the grandkids who were around up to dye easter eggs today. Kaden was very excited- and did 4.  Then went off to play.  No decoration, just two blue, a green and an orange.  Hey, that's Florida colors :)  I just realized that.

***
I'm looking forward to the Easter season this year for a few reasons... one, I'm so ready for warm weather.  Two, I'm ready for some hope and joy and resurrection.   We went to Good Friday services- and I always forget how much it's like a funeral.  Sigh.  Here's hoping tomorrow's Mass will be joyful... while the resident 4 year old has it in spades, I could use a little divine inspiration these days :)

Happy Easter to one and all!

A long time ago... and right now too

The pictures in this post are from a while ago. We took Kaden to his first real "carnival" - a local night time fair with expensive rides and crazy eats and new! things! everywhere! We went with some friends (his age and ours!) and had a blast. He was totally blown away by every ride, and only a little apprehensive at times. Otherwise, a real pro at adapting his reality to this new, fast and furious life.



So tonight, some relatives arrived for a visit. As I type, there's six kids sleeping all over the floor in one bedroom, 2 parentals with a one year old babe in the other, and Jim snoring on the air mattress. We have plans to go to the beach, to church, to find wild alligators. I imagine this weekend will be just like that fair: a lot of noise, a lot of excitement, a lot of fun, and passing by in a blur, over way too soon.



And isn't that Holy Week, too? Things that aren't that different somehow seem exciting because of the light we shine on them, the attention we give to symbol and detail, the way we dive to the bottom of our own personal and communal suffering barrels... all to have it end in a mad rush of excitement and celebration on Sunday. It's a blur, but it only feels right, makes any sense or is any fun if our friends are nearby. And then we go back to normal life, except sometimes we have to adjust 'normal' to somehow include an understanding of this latest stuff.

But maybe that's not it at all, and maybe it's just where my head is right now. A very close friend of ours lost her mom last week. I can't stop praying for her. Thinking about everything- palm sunday, old fair visits- and trying to make it fit her new reality. How the life of our relationships are stretched and gathered and let loose... it may be that everyone else has or will someday go through this... but we are caught up in the newness of it all, along for the ride in the dark of night, looking for friends to help us through the apprehension.

Fire Trucks, Treasure Maps and Puppet Shows

Today was a good day. Fridays tend to be my favorite days, mostly because I rarely work on Friday. Sometimes I plan on cleaning or running fun errands, but some days we just play. We had lots to play with today. Earlier this week, Grandma and Pop sent Kaden an awesome little fire truck. It's loud, but not annoyingly so :)


Then yesterday we came home to a package on the doorstep. "For meeeeeee?" Kaden asked? Yup, it's all yours little man. Turns out a cool uncle and his family sent a great envelope stuffed with kaden's favorite things: superheros, pirates, coloring and stickers!

There was one very intricate drawing from our nephew with lots of pirates on a boat. First, our boy ran for his sword and tried to find his 'pirate hat' (a bandanna). Then, he studied his cousin's creation for a while, before declaring it his treasure map. It was awesome, as he pointed out who was who (here's Tali, and here's me and here's you Mommy).


We had another fun playdate today, with 3 friends coming over. I had bought some cute foam-y Easter crafts last night, when I realized I hadn't prepared any cool recycling ones :) There were stick puppets, which resulted in hilarious "shows" - one or more kids hiding behind the chair, shouting somewhat recognizable phrases and then falling down laughing. They were pretty good at taking turns, and I think the 20 second actual show time helped!!

Oh, and here's Sir Kaden, knight of all Florida and Pennsylvania too. You can see his knight hat, his sword, his trusty steed who is apparently named "My Turtle" and his maniacal laugh and he rides to rescue someone.

Here the 4 kids are crafting nicely. Hey, maybe I should plan ahead for when the 6 cousins all come to stay, too :)

Loo-ya!

HappEEEEE'ster!

Kaden had his first "egg scramble" at a local church.

The eggs were spread out all over the ground, the bell rang and

all the other kids took off running.

Kaden and his friend looked at each other.

Then he looked at us.

Then at the other kids now-filled-baskets.

Then in his own-empty-basket.

Then back at us.

Fun times.

At our house, he got the concept a little quicker,

and enjoyed finding eggs and candy and small gifts:

LOOK!

Oooh!



Wow!


And on the way to church, we practiced shouting "Alleluia".
Which came out at "loo-ya"
At the top of his lungs.
All day long.

!

Fun times, indeed.
!



Click here for a link to the egg hunt at Nana's house:

You'll see he picked up the idea quite nicely,
but is still easily distracted by his excited friend!

!!!!!!!


Happy Easter x7, my friends.

May your lives be filled with JOY and PEACE.

Happy Easter!

"That's the man in charge of Easter" -overheard at church, when a woman tried to bribe her grand kids into behaving.... she was alluding to Jim, our youth minister extraordinaire, who coordinates the Children's Mass AND the Easter Egg fun afterward... but I think we all know the man really in charge of Easter, yes? May Jesus continue to rise in our hearts, bringing new life where we need it most!



That's an appropriate prayer for me after the craziness of Lent/Holy Week/Easter. I was somewhat disappointed that we wouldn't have a "normal" family Easter, since I was working the Vigil Sat. night and Jim worked Easter morning. But during the rehearsal with our candidates & Elect (those coming into the church that night), the Spirit nudged me into a better mood and I was able to embrace the weekend.

One thing that especially struck me was the differences between the Vigil (many symbols like fire and light, readings of how God has acted throughout history, baptisms and professions of faith- 2.5 hours total) and the Children's Mass (balloons, theater seating, short readings by soft spoken kids, background "kiddie" noises the whole time- 45 minutes total). Complete opposites in terms of style... and yet I was struck how the evident the Spirit was in both. Holding the two up as great examples of an Easter Mass... not choosing one as "better"... that is the best of our Church, I think.

and so Kaden's first Easter was a bit of Mass, a bit of eating, and a lot of visiting. We wound up "making the rounds" and visiting three different families.

It was great to see them all, and especially nice to share the table with a friend who's recovering from surgery and her aunt. Keep Jenny in your prayers for healing, please!

As I type, I'm realizing we forgot to dye some eggs--- but if the Church can celebrate Easter for six weeks, so can we!