Our 2015 Journey to Easter

With our crazy busy schedules, I wasn't able to do as much Lenten and Easter preparation at home as I did last year.  Even so, we still found time to make sure the kiddos were amply ready to partake in the joys of the Easter season.

Ash Wednesday fell during the big ice storm, so we missed going to Mass but were able to receive the ashes on Sunday instead.  We made a big show of burying the "Alleluia" until Easter and started coloring our squares on our countdown to Easter.

Can you tell who colored this nicely and in the lines? 

And who colored this one?
(He decided that purple wasn't good enough and also didn't want to get past the 36th day of Lent.)

We went to the Stations of the Cross at church a few times and used our Montessori-esque kits.  Xavier, especially, was really empathetic to Jesus' boo-boos when he fell and was so sad to hear of the people who wanted to hurt Jesus.   

During Holy Week, we used the Resurrection Eggs that Lissie made in school to learn the story of the Passion.  Both kids were very interested in this and were particularly intrigued that there were people who would put a crown of thorns on Jesus' head, whip him, and gamble for his clothes.  As Xavier said, "They were not nice.  Not nice at all."  They were excited, though, to know that on Easter Sunday the tomb was empty because He rose from the dead.  They could not wait to celebrate.

Learning the Resurrection story with our Resurrection Eggs.

We also made unleavened (or as Lissie thinks, "eleven") bread when we learned about the Last Supper, and Lissie went to church with Lolo and Lola on Good Friday to kiss the cross.  

Making unleavened bread.

Unleavened bread, grapes, and asparagus soup.

And, of course, there were egg hunts galore.  At church, at the zoo, at school, and at home.

At church

At church

Annual Eggstravaganzoo with friends.  With game faces on, ready to hunt eggs.

Xavier didn't want to get many eggs after he realized they were empty.
(You turn in the eggs at the end for your goody bag.)

Rockin' their zoo shades.

After nap, we went on an Easter Nature hunt with our baskets.

And had our own Easter egg hunt after painting eggs.

On Easter Sunday, we woke the kids up singing "Alleluia!" and the kids were humming it throughout the day.  They were so excited to be able to say that special word again.  They enjoyed their Easter baskets, going to Mass (where Lissie was curious as to why Jesus was still on the cross if He rose from the dead), and playing at the park and having a picnic lunch before nap.  Since Justin was working and the place we typically have Easter brunch was not having it this year, we opted instead for a special Easter dinner at Maggiano's.  Yum!

The best pic I took of the kids at church.

Oh, yeah, I made her Easter dress and my skirt.

Happy Easter!  He is Risen, Alleluia!

Dear Xavier - 2.75

Dear Xavier,

Yes, buddy, you are a "big boy."  You want to be a big kid so badly - you took to potty training in a snap, insist on dressing yourself, refuse pull-ups and fight them at nap and bedtime.  Several times a day you look at me and say proudly, "I AM a big kid now."  And then you get sad because it still means that you can't join Lissie in the "big kid" preschool room at the Y.  Don't worry, kiddo - in three short months, you'll be that "big kid" three year old.  And mommy will be holding back her tears at how far you've come.

You are my goofy, social, fearless child.  You are a jokester who likes to test your boundaries.  You can throw an awesome tantrum and you can give the best squeezy hugs.

I'm amazed at the language explosion that's occurred these last few months. And, boy, do you know what you want and have an opinion about everything.

Keep growing well, kiddo.  Age 3 will be here in the blink of an eye.

I love you.

Love,
Mommy

Likes:
* Hot chocolate
* Anything Lissie does
* Reading
* Most things food
* Playing outside

Dislikes:
* Dried strawberries
* Pull-ups
* Singing
* Being frustrated
* The stroller

The helicopter can make an X for Xavier!

My St. Patrick's Day leprechaun

Our special hot chocolate treat on Y days

Spring Break 2015

We may not have gone out of town or do anything particularly crazy or exciting this year for Spring Break, but it sure was nice to spend LOTS of time outdoors and seeing friends who we haven't seen in a while because school and life in general has been getting in the way.

Pretty much every available weather-cooperating moment was spent outside - at a park or playground or the zoo for a friend's birthday party.  Lissie's brand new bike and Xavier's still-too-big-for-the-little-dude trike both got lots of use.  We also enjoyed lots of picnic lunches in between all the play.

We celebrated St. Patrick's Day, practiced running for our respective upcoming big races, trekked to the Discovery Center one last time before our membership expires, had a special daddy-daughter (bounce house)/mommy-son (Monkey's Treehouse) date, went to another friend's birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese.

Oh, and I made Lissie's Easter dress.

Whew.  Busy, busy fun week!

St. Patrick's Day 2015

Such a fun day we had!  Our theme for the day was green - we spied all things green and ate (almost) all things green!

We started the day off with a breakfast of green milk, a sort of green banana, and lucky charms cereal.

Afterwards, we went to the park for a fun playdate with a friend to ride our bikes and trikes and play.  The kids had made fun St. Patrick's themed art projects in school, and Lissie was more than ready to use her leprechaun spying binoculars to try and catch those sneaky leprechauns!  Xavier had made a fun leprechaun hat in art camp, and he was more than willing to play his part!

They snacked on green grapes and lunched on green apples with shamrock shaped peanut butter and jelly "quesadillas."  

After naps, the kids came with me to the Y where they did St. Patrick's day art projects, got shamrock tattooed, and I gave them a dinner of green mashed potatoes, cabbage, and (not so festive) chicken nuggets.  And a special green lollipop for a treat!

We talked about the Trinity and St. Patrick and just enjoyed a super fun day.

Oh, and I finished a fun dress that just happened to have green sleeves so it fit the theme of the day :-)

Lissie's Fourth Birthday Recap

Lissie is four!  Like last year, we opted for a low-key celebration.

The weekend before, we enjoyed our birthday tradition of mommy and me manicures and lunch.  Super cute and super fun!  I hadn't seen Lissie so excited before - she was ready to go right after breakfast, and she kept asking "Are we there yet?" the entire drive to the salon.  Silly, sweet goose.  And, without planning, we picked the same shade of pink nail polish!

We lunched at Jason's Deli afterwards, which was perfect because we enjoyed the free ice cream cone after our tasty meal!

We also went to Barnes & Noble for her to choose a few birthday books, courtesy of her Ninong Chris!

I wouldn't have expected her to choose anything different.  Haha.

On Lissie's big day, we woke her up with four birthday balloons.

We enjoyed a special birthday breakfast: at her request, it was cookie cereal, banana, and milk.

Daddy had to go to work that morning, but she wanted to open up her birthday presents right away.

Birthday dollar for a dollar store treat!

A new arts and crafts kit!

We spent the morning at the new local library for storytime and a playdate with a friend.  Afterwards, we went to the dollar store to redeem her birthday money for a treat and then popped into church to say our special thanksgiving birthday prayers.  

We had to eat our noodles (ramen) for lunch, per another birthday tradition.  And after nap, we played with some of our new birthday goodies while we waiting for daddy and the grandparents to come celebrate the day with the birthday girl.

Xavier wants to make sure we know he's still 2

A new bike from Lolo and Lola!

Per the birthday girl's request, dinner was Jet's Pizza followed by Frozen cupcakes for dessert.

Rolling up her sleeves, ready to dig in.

"Thanks, Lissie, for having a birthday so I can enjoy yummy food!"

Frozen rings from the Frozen cupcakes

Also, per the birthday girl's request, we ended the night with a Frozen dance party where we all danced to Frozen songs.

It was a wonderful birthday for a wonderful birthday girl!

Sidenote: Xavier had a hard time dealing with the attention his sister was receiving.  He was jealous of all of her treats and presents.  Little does he know that in just three short months, it'll be his turn.  Celebrated Washington, DC style!

Dear Lissie - Four Years

Dear Lissie, 

It's hard for me to admit that you're a four-year-old now.  For some reason it seems so....well, old.  Definitely no longer a "baby."  Arguably no longer a "little kid."  

The "threenager" year actually wasn't as terrible as I had anticipated.  Sure, you've had your moments, but generally you have always been easy to please and extremely silly and happy.  You are a huge perfectionist and rule follower, which causes you to be super timid when attempting new things.  You are still very shy, but once you come out of your shell - watch out because a crazy goofball is in there!

Likes:

* All things Frozen (now that we finally let you watch the movie)
* Singing (usually all things Frozen)
* Riding your trike

* Running

* Reading

* All things art related

* Franklin the turtle books and DVDs

* Practicing reading

* Food, food, food

Dislikes:

* Needing help

* When Xavier doesn't share

* Snow

You are an excellent big sister and are growing into a beautiful person both inside and out.

Sweet Lissie, I love you very much.

Love,
Mommy

Here's your Interview with a Four Year Old:

And a few pictures:

Such a silly goof.

You and Xavier love to read together when you wake up.

You also make sure he knows that you're still bigger.

You want to be a cooker when you grow up.