Nerf Ball or Easter Egg??

I am working on uploading a few pictures from our Easter Egg hunt, but thought I'd share this one with you in the meantime... I thought that was a pretty clever spot to hide an egg! (Hubby hid all the eggs, and the Easter egg is in the middle between 2 green Nerf balls.) Rascal was the one to notice the oval shape and find the egg.

Happy Birthday, Holy Father!

Today is the 82nd birthday of our beloved Pope Benedict XVI!



Here is what we did last year to celebrate... Today we will read Joseph and Chico: The Life of Pope Benedict XVI as Told By a Cat, say extra prayers for our Holy Father, have Popecakes for a snack, and eat German Brats at the boys Baseball Game. Yum!!

Today is also my parents 32nd Anniversary!! Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad!!!

Book Review: Olivia and the Little Way

I just had the privilege of reading, for review, a lovely book titled Olivia and the Little Way by Nancy Carabio Belanger. It is a beautiful story, and even though it is written for children ages 8-13, I found it very engaging... Once I started reading, I had a hard time putting it down!

This story is about a ten-year-old girl, Olivia Thomas, who is having a hard time fitting in with the kids at her new school, St. Michael's. Her devout grandmother (who reminded me so much of my own grandmother who passed away when I was 13), introduces Olivia to St. Thérèse of Lisieux and her "Little Way."

Throughout the book, Olivia develops a special devotion to St. Thérèse, who is constantly inspiring her towards holiness, and ends up becoming her best friend, despite the fact that St. Thérèse is taking so long to send Olivia a rose! (I found that so interesting since I had recently blogged about the same thing, "Love's Delay.")

I love how the author begins each chapter with beautiful quotes from St. Thérèse, and has woven so much information about this great saint into Olivia and the Little Way. She does an excellent job of encouraging readers, both young and old, to grow in holiness through Olivia's example. At times I felt as though St. Therese was speaking directly to me through some of Olivia's trials...

While reading this book, I was particularly inspired to learn more about the St. Thérèse Chaplet. (Why was I not surprised when, just after finishing the book, I logged into Google Reader, and the first unread post I clicked on directed me to Kimberlee's new items, at Bead's of Mercy, where I found a beautiful "Shower of Roses" St. Thérèse Chaplet.)

As soon as my children are just a bit older, I'll be reading this book to them. I also think it would be great to read and discuss, a chapter at a time, at our Little Flower Meetings! (Nancy was kind enough to include discussion questions with the copy she sent me!!!)

If you'd like, you can visit the website and read a few excerpts of Olivia and the Little Way. You can also order a copy directly from Nancy, on the website, as well as from many online sources including: Amazon, Sacred Heart Books and Gifts, and the Catholic Company.

O Little Thérèse of the Child Jesus, please pick for me a rose from the heavenly gardens and send it to me as a message of love. O Little Flower of Jesus, ask God today to grant the favors I now place with confidence in your hands …(Mention specific requests)... St. Thérèse, help me to always believe as you did, in God’s great love for me, so that I might imitate your “Little Way” each day. Amen.

St. Thérèse ~ Pray for Us!

Shower of Photos 2009 :: Day 14

Another Rose...

...even after the shower downpour of roses I received last week?!?

I can't tell you how thrilled I was to find this beautiful set of roses, included with a gorgeous "Shower of Roses" St. Therese Chaplet I had ordered, from Kimberlee early last week. Thank you so very much Kimberlee! I didn't know what the package could possibly be when my boys handed it to me, and all I saw was my address next to a rose sticker... I couldn't believe it when I opened the box to find it packed full of roses (for my little ones to use while praying the rosary) along with the chaplet! Aren't they just perfect?!?

On Easter Day ~ At Home

After arriving home from brunch at my parents, we continued our Easter celebration!

Easter Lilies

Only two of our lilies bloomed in time for Easter Sunday, but there are still about 6 more that will be blooming soon! So pretty!

Some of our Easter Books and our Resurrection Set

My children were so excited!

Easter Baskets

There was not that much candy in the baskets (that was to come in just a bit during their Easter Egg Hunt), but my kiddos loved all their goodies. My boys were especially thrilled with their camouflage baskets and awesome nightlights! (Thanks for the recommendation Suzanne!)

Easter Dinner

It was a rather simple meal, but SO delicious!!
Tri-Tip ~ Asparagus ~ Roasted Red Potatoes ~ Dinner Rolls ~ Sparkling Cider
I never did have an opportunity to make a dessert, but there was plenty of candy to be found!

Our Easter Candle

I decorated it around 1:00 am Easter morning, and it shows... At least it's finished!

It was such a nice relaxing Easter Sunday! We even had an opportunity to watch a movie after our children were in bed... We still have plenty of time to bake a cake and decorate eggs, right?!

On Easter Day ~ Brunch at My Parents

On Easter morning we were up bright and early to attend the first Mass of the day at our local parish. After Mass we headed out to my parents home for Brunch. My mom made a delicious Ham and Egg breakfast, with stir-fried vegetables, fruit, pancakes, and toast. It was delicious!

Even though only 4 of my siblings were home (the youngest 4, who still live at home), it was still really nice. One of my mom's sisters also came for Easter, with her husband and one of her daughters, and one other friend of my parents from Church. Two more of my brothers were headed out for dinner, but we had left by the time they arrived.

My sister Mary and I with Twinkle Toes and Chiquita

From Left to Right: My sister JoAnn & Twinkle Toes ~ My brother Kevin
My brother David (the youngest of my siblings, and also my Godson)



Eating Breakfast


My Mom and Aunt Alice

Playing in "the Woods"

Riding on the Golf Cart with Uncle Kevin

Snuggles with his Grandpa

To be continued... I'll be back to post more pictures from Easter soon!

Shower of Photos 2009 :: Day 13

Snuggles loves hats. At least this one is not one of his sisters. ;)

Shower of Photos 2009 :: Day 12

Our Jesus Tree ~ On Easter Morning

The Way of the Cross

The other night, my boys told me that they wanted to show me something, and to bring my camera...

A Lenten Tea on Good Friday

Before I start posting more about our Easter, I wanted to share a couple more things from Holy Week... For a very late (and light) dinner on Good Friday (after Stations, The Veneration of the Cross, and my boys first baseball game of the season), my children were so excited to try another Liturgical Tea.

Here is what was included in the menu:

~ The King's Crown ~

The "Scoops" made by Tostitos worked out wonderfully, and were very easy.

"And Pilate asked Him, 'Are you the King of the Jews?' And He answered him, 'You have said so.'" Mark 15: 2

~ Out of Envy ~

The Guacamole was so yummy on the chips!

"[H]e perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered Him up." Mark 15: 10

~ The Purple Cloak ~

I knew there was a reason I really wanted to buy that box of Fruit Leather from Costco a couple weeks ago, but since I didn't I choose some Purplish Blueberry Applesauce from our local market.

"And they clothed Him in a purple cloak . . . ." Mark 15: 17

~ The Crown of Thorns ~

". . . and, plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on him." Mark 15: 17

~ Golgotha Eggs ~

I did a horrible job drawing skulls on the eggs, and then to make them worse the ink ran! Twinkle Toes was scared of them!

"And they brought Him to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of the skull)" Mark 15: 22

~ The Seamless Garment ~

My children all loved these, and they were very simple to make using Alice's suggestions.

"But the tunic was without seam, woven from top to bottom; so they said to one another, 'Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.'" John 19: 23-24

~ The Two Robbers ~

I also forgot to purchase Basil, so we substituted with Spinach.

And with Him they crucified two robbers, one on His right and one on His left." Mark 15: 27

~ Vinegar to Drink ~

"And one ran and, filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying 'Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take Him down.'" Mark 15: 36

~ The Roman Centurion ~

I opted to cut 50 tomatoes in half, since I only bought one pint, to represent the 100 Roman Centurion.

"And when the centurion, who stood facing Him, saw that He thus breathed His last, he said, 'Truly this man was the Son of God.'" Mark 15: 39

~ Laid in the Tomb ~

I thought about using some of the Hot Cross Buns I had made in the morning, but instead baked a batch of muffins and inserted strawberry into the middle. They almost tasted too delicious after a day of Fasting.

"And he brought a linen shroud, and taking Him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb."

If you'd like, you can visit Cottage Blessings for the Bible readings, recipes and shopping list!

Our family really enjoyed Alice's teas this Lent, and I am sure I will be serving them again in the future.