Ash Wednesday + Kids + Mass = Always Interesting

This evening, we attended our parish’s Ash Wednesday Mass.

BP was to go with us, but unfortunately, he was in bed and sick, sick, sick.

The Mommy Show was on.

Frack led us straight to the very front row, which actually helps the boys pay a bit more attention.

As I genuflected and crossed myself, I said a desperate silent prayer that  these lively, precious boys would behave, pray and be non-squirmy in that very front row, with the congregation behind us.

Each boy knelt with their hands folded and angelic faces looking to the crucifix.

Frog was most precious in this pose.

After his prayer, he did his version of the sign of the cross.

So cute.

During communion, Frog was transfixed.

In the front row at our church, you must sit in your seat and not kneel after receiving The Eucharist, as people are receiving the sacrament right in front of you.

So there sat Frog watching all the people walk by and take communion.

And then he pipes up,

“Hey!  Hey guy!” (he was referring to the Eucharistic Minister) “I want some!”

I gently whisper to him that he must make the sacrament and will when he is 8.

Silence.

Moments pass.

“Ok.  I 8 now.  Gimme some.”

_____

The boys were perfect.  And pious.  And especially precious.

What a sight it is to see your child looking to God in the most reverent way with his hands folded.

I may have teared up a little.

Sigh.

Happy 7th Birthday!

Our lovable Frack turns 7 today!

It seems like just yesterday he was brought home…a newborn welcomed home by his 15 month old brother.

And now that newborn is 7!

Frack continues to teach me how to be the best parent, teacher, and friend I can be.

He has truly blessed our lives and added tons of laughter to it.

Happy Birthday to you, my favorite SEVEN year old!

Sweet Boy

Unseasonably warm weather calls for outside play.

This little one enjoyed the swings the most:

A full day of swinging leads to an impromptu nap on the couch just before dinner:

Gotta love the sunshine.

A Frog Update

While reading those precious blog books,

I realized my life has become so very busy and I am not as good at writing down the things the boys are doing.

 I love reading back over our lives, remembering each post as if I wrote it yesterday.

I have not written solely on Frog in some time other than his third birthday.

He’s growing up fast, building his vocabulary and has matured so much.

It’s due time to catch you up on our “little” Frog.

He is a funny, loving guy .

Some Frog-isms include:

*(while putting his hands on your face) “Ahhh…I wuv you too!” –and that is said even without my saying “I love you” to him.

**”Wet’s hug kiss Mom!” or “I need hug kiss!!”

**”Mom, I need sicky cup from frig-ig-ger”

**”I need hug kiss my boys!” (He is referring to his brothers, and sometimes he says “my guys”.  That collective term often includes me as well.)

**”Mom.  You da pwincess.  I da good guy.  I save you.”

**”C’I have a awful?”  (Can I have a waffle?)

**”I go to school to see my fwends?”

**When Frog wakes at any point either in the morning or after nap, he calls out, “He-wo!  I here!!!  Come get me!!”  He’s in a toddler bed where he can get out by himself yet he still calls out to us.

**He sings all.the.time.  He also loves to dance.  Anytime a song comes on that he recognizes, he proclaims, “My SONG!!  It’s my SONG!!”  Then he dances and sings along.  I keep trying to catch him on video, but I am usually driving when it occurs.  Filming that guy while driving is not such a grand idea.

**He loves cars, Legos and Star Wars.  He skipped over toddler toys–he had no interest in Thomas the Train (which was big for his brothers) and went straight into “his boys” or “his guys” interests.  It was bitter sweet to skip that stage of toddlerhood, but I suppose that’s all part of the game when you have older ones at home.

He’s pretty much into anything Frick and Frack have in their hands.

With a dash of potty humor and a smidgen of wrestling.

Best Gift of 2012

I started writing …life’s about a dream  today in 2008.

Five years of journaling our lives.

For Christmas this year, BP made the blog into hardback books for me.

It was a precious and priceless gift, and one I have thoroughly enjoyed reading.

Here’s a link the the background information post.

 It’s one I usually wrote for this blog anniversary day.

I’m off to smile, laugh, reminisce, and cry while reading my blog books.

Christmas Card 2012

This year for our card, we tried very hard to recreate the awesomeness of Frog’s first Christmas card photo in 2009:

The photos were even taken in the same park!

While the children tremendously enjoyed tackling one another, a pesky three year old would not cooperate and preferred doing things HIS way.

The closest we could get to the original was this:

Regardless of the three year old’s antics, it still turned out pretty cute.

They are some handsome little boys, full of life, confidence, and spunk.

And who love to wrestle and tackle.

______________________________

May you have the gift of faith,

the blessing of hope

and the peace of His love at Christmas

and always.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

Reprising the Roles

The Christmas season is underway and full of the usual craziness.

This year, we once again reprised our roles as Mary and Joseph in a live nativity at the church down the street.

BP and I were  in the scene called “The Journey”.  The first year we were in this scene, I was 7 months pregnant with Frack, which was perfect.

Now I just wear a pillow under my robe.

BP and I are beginning to realize that we may be getting a tad old for this role.  After all, we are pushing 40 and Mary and Joseph were in their teens.

Sigh.

On the fourth night of the event, the boys joined us in The Village, making their first Bethlehem appearance.

Check out the post below from a past Bethlehem excursion, which pretty much sums up the last 6 years we have participated.

Always tons of fun.

Mary and Joseph Revisited