First fishing adventure of 2014

This past weekend, we made it out to the lake for the first time this year.  And, as always, fun was had by all!  Lots of bites, a few fish caught, 2 dozen worms gone, bugs swarming all around us, smiles, giggles and memories made of family love and bonding time.  My sweet husband, maybe, got his pole in a few times.  It's a big job putting worms on the hooks, helping little ones reel in their catch, untangling stuck lines, etc...  And, my clumsy self, wore some slip-on shoes and slipped and took a little fall when untangling one of those lines - doh!  It's always a great time to ...s...l...o...w... down and take time to enjoy the outdoors and each other on beautiful nights like that.

Isn't this cheesy smile from our sweet Rose just the cutest ever??

Never tire of seeing her smile like that!!  

Always love fishing with my sweet sister, her husband, and sweet boys!!  

++Thank you, God, for family, fishing, 

fun and beautiful weather!!!++

Easter 2014

We were blessed to celebrate Easter with both sides of our family this year, and it's always a get-together of food, fun, faith and family!!  Can't get much better than that!!!

In lieu of time and my blogging "catch-up" today and multiple posts, I am just sharing this post "in pictures".  I will let you do all the matching up and figuring out who is who!!  Have fun!!!

++May God continue to love and bless you 

and your family this Easter season!!!++

Good Friday - 2014

Although Good Friday is a "down day" in our house in remembrance of the sacrifice Our Lord made for us, there are two things we always do and look forward to as a family - our Good Friday tea and Good Friday service at our church (the only day with no Mass).

Each food item below tells the story of Christ's Passion.  Here are pictures from our faith-filled Good Friday tea...

**The Water Bowl**

**The King's Crown**

**Out of Envy**

**Purple Cloak**

**The Crown of Thorns**

**The Seamless Garment**

**The Two Robbers**

**Vinegar To Drink**

**The Temple Curtain**

**Roman Centurion**

**Laid In The Tomb**

Thanks to Alice at Cottage Blessings for creating this tea idea and for Jessica at Shower of Roses for always inspiring me as a mother how to build our own domestic church.  Jessica made the printable signs for each food item - they can be found here.  My link from 2012 can be found here with more details on what each food item was.

MAY the FOURTH be with you!!!

Melody's FHC trip back in 2012, posing with a life size Lego creation of Darth Vader

 Max making his first Light Saber at Disney in 2013


We are a Star Wars family, that is no doubt!!!  And, in a family where Star Wars is a favorite, we can not let a day like this go by without celebrating.

First off, we started the morning with watching the first Star Wars movie  (notice the cute kiddos in jammies!).  Then they watched #4 in the afternoon, and will probably watch the new Yoda Chronicles sometime this evening. All enough to make for plenty of happy kids to get to watch this much tv in one day, which is definitely not a norm in our house.  But special days require special exceptions, eh?

And, of course, we had to work in FOOD FUN!!!  We used a lot of the same food items for lunch that we used back in February for Max's Star Wars themed birthday party...

Luke Skywalking Taco's

Hans Rolo's

Leia Buns (honey buns)

Dark Side chocolate pudding

Darth Vadorade (red gatorade)

Star Wars fruit snacks (will save these for one of the movies)

We also have a couple favorite Star Wars videos that we had to watch as well.  Enjoy!!!!

"Cello Wars" by The Piano Guys

"Let the Saga Begin" by Weird Al

Star Wars Christmas special (although it is not a favorite, and is known as the WORST Star Wars video out there.  Neil said George Lucas asked for it to be destroyed because it was that bad!)

What fun it is a family to have silly traditions like this to grow and bond together!!!  

Have a blessed day and 

MAY the FOURTH be with you!!!