Easter!

Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!
We have had a wonderfully Holy Triduum and am resting for much of the afternoon; listening to the sounds of rain pouring outside.
Paul was gone for the week, so the kids and I celebrated Holy Week pretty much around home. I've learned much in the last 16 years...mainly peace in the home is the most important thing, not dragging kids out and being frustrated by Kimberly, whose disposition keeps me from hearing anything during Mass 9 times out of 10. Thankfully she is #6, so her behavior really doesn't bother me most of the time!
On Friday we gathered for a simple stations of the cross. I invested in some kid friendly booklets years ago for our hs group in Shreveport as we used to gather during Lent to celebrate this wonderful tradition...I still have them and now have enough kids to use almost all of them. We lit a blessed candle of the Sacred Heart and all went around the circle with each station. We prepared pretzels and each child had one piece of cheese pizza after various prayers, Bible readings and items to ponder. We then had a quiet, peaceful evening of no computer or tv. We tried no phone, but it was ringing off the hook...guess we're the only ones in the neighborhood who have a solemn Good Friday!!!
Paul came home late Friday night/early Saturday, so I finally got out to shop in preparation for Easter dinner. We had to have our feasts prepared by noon so we could take the basket up for a blessing at St. John's. It was part in Polish, so it was an experience for the kids...Paul not comfortable with the whole thing, took Kimberly out. The afternoon was spent cleaning out the garage and then shopping again with Becca for her birthday. She chose to eat out at a steak place and had a quiet evening with mom. She got an aquarium and some drawing books for her birthday. Her grandparents gave her a bit of cash and I think she plans to go out tomorrow and get some fish to put in the aquarium with her money!
Sunday we made Mass...and everyone was dressed with shoes on (double checking Lauren as usual) and then raced home for a family brunch. We'd assumed Paul's brother's family was out of town since we'd not heard from them, but only found out later that their schedule just didn't seem to include us. We invited neighbors over so the kids wouldn't be disappointed and then seemed to all have a good time. We had 11 kids and six adults over...and the house was somewhat peaceful! We also managed an Easter Egg hunt before the weather turned bad. It was a very good Easter...now I need to get off so we can open my mom's all-kid birthday present...
Love and blessings to all!