A Christmas Gift

Alexa got a new apron for Christmas.  I made it for her.  I guess you could say I cheated.  Okay, I cheated, bigtime.  It was an already sewn, denim apron.  I just "customized" it for her, but she appreciates it like I sewed every stitch myself.

 She couldn't wait to try it out.  So for the Feast of Saint Agnes, she and I made a vanilla cake together. 

Nevermind that it was from a box.  She still cracked the eggs (which was hysterical to watch because she was so grossed out by the "gook" inside), and measured the oil and water.  She mixed it all up with the beater and  helped me pour it into the pan. 

We went a little "fancy" with the bundt cake pan.  It turned out to be a pretty, tasty cake. 

We made a glaze from scratch using vanilla, milk and powdered sugar.  We kinda guessed with the measurements on that.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~Some snowflake sprinkles were added for a finishing touch.

 I thought that was the finishing touch, but apparently Alexa decided it needed some color and pizzazz and glammed it up a bit with green sugar sprinkles when my back was turned.  "Now it's finished!" she declared. 

It was almost gone by the end of our Teatime.  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

We managed to save some for Taylor.

I've missed these relaxing Afternoon Teas.  And so have the kids, apparently.  Of course who am I kidding?  They are crazy for cake.  They like hearing an interesting story or two about a Saint, but everything is better with cake.

We didn't do a craft with this Teatime.  I was trying to keep it low key.  I was pleasantly surprised by how much Evan remembered about Saint Agnes.  I have been reading to him every day....one Bible Story and one Saint Story, but I wasn't sure just how much he was retaining (or even paying attention).  The girls each knew a bit about her, too, so we discussed her heroic life during the Caketime.....I mean, Teatime.  ;)

Alexa's handmade (....ahem....) apron held up very well, and she can't wait till we bake again!

Have a pleasant week, everyone!
TTFN
~Tina

Easter 2011

Our Easter weekend was....

special

(Evan's drawing of Jesus on the cross)

memorable

(Easter morning, Evan discovered that, because of his good deeds, his crown of thorns was transformed into a flowering wreath!)

fun

(Nanny and PapPap playing with Evan and Alexa)

beautiful

happy

silly

playful

colorful

joyful

delicious

(Taylor's homemade strawberry ice cream~~yummy!)

relaxing

(Alexa and I chillin' on the front porch)

peaceful

We made memories together.....

coloring eggs

and hunting for eggs in the yard.

We had days full of.....

beautiful weather

and lots of smiles

(The kids with Grandma Jo after Easter Mass)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was an awesome weekend

and we were so happy to share it with my mom and John's parents.

Hope your Easter was special, too!

TTFN

~Tina

Christ is Risen!

Hope you had a blessed Easter, everyone!

Good Friday

"O my people, what have I done to thee? or wherein have I afflicted thee? Answer me."

~Improperia (the Reproaches) of Christ

Spontaneous Prayer

This is the first year that I've really made an effort to get Evan to understand, on whatever level he is capable of, what Jesus did for us and why Lent and Easter are so important.

He's responding well overall, especially for his age.

There are quite a few activities and books out there that really touch children at this age......more than I realized and I'm pleasantly surprised.

I hope to compile a list of what we have been reading and doing this year, and share it with you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After reading this story to Evan, we went to the desk to do some Lent activities. I was flipping through some holy cards and he saw this one and grabbed it. He looked at it for a second and said, "OH, poor Jesus!"

Then he set it down and did this. He stayed that way for 5 or 10 seconds. I almost felt bad taking a picture, because prayer is a personal thing, but I wanted to capture that moment with something more than my failing memory.

He didn't seem to mind. And we went on to discuss the picture some more.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sometimes I feel like I'm beating my head against a brick wall when I try to pass on my faith to my children. But I can never give up.

The battle is too important, and it's not just me in the ring.

God is right there with me, reaching out to my kids in powerful, and sometimes unexpected ways.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Have a wonderful weekend!

TTFN

~Tina

Making Lent Meaningful For Young Children

This is an activity/craft that we started last year. It takes a few simple, inexpensive items from the craft store.

• toothpicks
• a 10 inch foam wreath
• foam block
• a wooden cross
• brown acrylic paint

This is pretty inexpensive, but very visual and meaningful to children.
You begin by painting the wreath brown. Let it dry, then poke holes in it with either a small nail or some other thin, sharp object. I made this little makeshift gadget and it worked okay. It's just a large, bent paperclip with tape around the "handle" so it's more comfortable to use.

Poke holes in the wreath all over in no particular pattern. Then fill those holes with toothpicks that have been broken in half. Put them in with the "pokey" side facing out.

This resembles or at least reminds us of the Crown of Thorns that Jesus wore. It is a physical reminder of His suffering and sacrifice.

I put this on our family altar, now that Evan is almost 5. When he was younger, I had to put it up higher for safety.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How it works:

Very simply, I read this story to Evan

and explained, as gently as I could, what Lent and Easter are all about. And how Jesus loves us so much He died for us. And because He did that, and rose again, we can enter Heaven when we die. And that we do still make mistakes and make wrong choices sometimes, but as long as we're sorry, we will be forgiven.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Then:

I showed him the crown of thorns which he recognized from the story. I explained that our sins are hurtful to Jesus, but in the same respect, our good actions (sharing, helping, cooperating, etc) make Jesus happy. So every time he does an especially good deed, he gets to take a thorn out (and throw it away promptly, so it doesn't end up in someone's foot).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On Easter:

He awakens to find all the holes that originally held "thorns" now hold flowers and in the center is a cross that says "Alleluia", sitting atop a flowery base. It's a very recognizable change from the cold, harsh crown of thorns.

Evan is doing well with his good deeds and sacrifices. And when he does an especially good deed, he asks to take a thorn out, then says, "There ya go, Jesus!" :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hope your Lent is bringing you and those you love closer to Jesus.

TTFN

~Tina

Divine Mercy Sunday

I am offering people a vessel with which they are to keep coming for graces to the fountain of mercy. That vessel is this image with the signature "Jesus, I trust in You". (Diary 327)

What a blessing!

Look at that beautiful forecast! We have had consistantly cold Easters for as long as we've been in this house, which is at least 5 or 6 years. No winter coat over a summer dress this Easter! Yes!

Hope you are expecting wonderful weather, too, for your Easter! Have a blessed Holy Week and joyful Easter!
TTFN
~Tina