Peach Coglo

First Communion

I can't believe my two middle babies just celebrated their First Communion.  Where has the time gone?!  It was a wonderful celebration.  Helena and Elijah knew what was happening too thanks to those many Meditations held by the religious education director.  We talked about many things during those programs-forgiveness, kindness, open hearts and minds, seeing God/Spirit as a woman, compassion.  I could go on.  It was a very positive experience in which the children had a firm hand.  I love that Fr.  Tom had the children sit up on the altar steps with him for the majority of mass.

We had a wonderful and raucous lunch with my parents and brother after the service.  So now I am beat.  I didn't realize how worked up I was during this whole process.  But as quick as a flash it's over, and now onto the rest of the busyness of May.

How was your weekend?

Weekending~April 29, 2012

Joining Amanda for weekending . . . .

What is with the funky movies?  I seem to be picking some interesting ones lately.  We saw Frogs and Toads.  It is a movie from the Netherlands.  It is very interesting seeing other countries' kid movies.  The kids look like actual kids.

Saturday was a marathon day at church.  The kids were at First Communion prep (a retreat) from 9am to 5pm.  We left early.  I must admit I had to do some attitude adjusting because the schedule just felt overwhelming even though it was planned with love and good intentions and everything worked out.  The kiddos are pretty excited and I think they understand a lot about the sacrament.  They participated whole-heartedly in the mass.  Something I never would have done, and probably wouldn't do now being the introvert that I am.

The kids made bread during the retreat, practiced looking reverential while processing, and talked about the banners they made for First Communion.  We go to a very welcoming and open church so it's nice to see the kiddos actually enjoy and understand the process.

Sunday was all ours. We cleaned, had some donuts.  The adults drank coffee because we were pretty tired.

Doran helped mow the lawn while I tended seedlings that are reticent to sprout.  Luckily our garlic is coming up and it was fascinating.  I've never seen garlic sprout before now.

Part of the day Greg spent baking-making pizza for our pizza-crazy Doran, pull-apart cinnamon bread, and a couple of loaves of regular bread, one of which we bestowed on our neighbor.

Then Greg and Eden folded basket after basket of clothes.

I went to the hobby store in search of some fun figurines for my terrariums.

Elijah's First Communion outfit is mostly complete.  He decided he wanted to wear a tie; orange was one of the colors he thought he would like, so orange it is.

Our lovely neighbor borrowed our rototiller and came back with 4 half-gallons of ice cream.  Then later he came with homemade fried rice, Chinese sausage and fried wonton.  Hmm we need to have him borrow more garden implements.  Thanks to our neighbor we had a very tasty dinner.

And that was our weekend.  How was yours?

Weekending~February 5, 2012

Joining Amanda for weekending . . . .

This one was a doozy.  I am a homebody at heart, even more so after kids.  I usually try to keep activities spread out and to a minimum.  However, this past weekend we spent much of our time away-kind of a perfect storm.

Friday blasted off with a birthday celebration for Eden.  Things got a bit off schedule due to an unexpected child pick up at school but the day was beautiful and a birthday girl with a cold.  Poor thing. 

I still cannot believe my baby is three.  Eden kept wishing everyone else "Happy Birthday" and there was nothing we could do to convince her that we were only celebrating her birthday.

She picked out yellow tulips for her birthday flowers, and we all enjoyed a set of grandparents for the party and accompanying southern fish fry (Eden's dinner request; she also asked for 'yellowey' cake with chocolate frosting).  The pinata was a hit and Greg was injured only once.

Saturday was another special day.  I finally finished Eden's penguin-a big deal for me.  Elijah and Helena participated in their first Reconciliation, a super big deal for them and the whole family.  Confession is so much gentler these days-more like sharing and an understanding shoulder to lean upon when troubled-much better and more humane.  It's not like the old days when I was wracked with guilt and fear.  I actually made things up for confession.  The kiddos spent the morning at the Reconciliation retreat where they got to play games, make things, and eat.  Then we spent part of the afternoon at our Reconciliation service-a long, but sweet day indeed.   After all of that church time, we made some birthday playdough for Eden when we got home.  She requested yellow.  This is by far the best recipe I have ever tried-the best.

That evening Greg and I went out alone to my friend Darlene's first annual fundraiser.  It was a blast even though I was scooped on my bid at the silent auction.  I really did want that Tibetan singing bowl and the prayer beads.  Then Greg completely missed a cool item-a plane ride for three.  Someone got for $70.  Better luck next year.

Sunday Elijah and I were back at church for CCD.  Our class took an intimate tour of the church.  There really are all kinds of cool symbols and art all over the place.  Of course, Elijah spotted St. Lucy, a rather gruesome statue.  Maybe it was the eyeballs on the plate she was holding.  At any rate, Elijah and I were able to discuss perspectives, social justice and the world family in depth.  That was very nice.  After mass, we made lunches and decorated lunch bags for people who are hungry.

Yeah we kind of used the rolling pin to break the pinata.

Then the whole family took off to see a ginormous and free train display.   We definitely got our miniature-enjoying nerd on that afternoon.  That was great fun.  Elijah is now convinced he wants to build and fly a model helicopter.

While Elijah took off for tennis, I am not sure what I did.  I think it involved watching sick kids.  Helena became ill later in the day and Eden continued on with her cold. 

Then it was family meeting time and dinner.  The evening finished off with weaving in ends of some finished knits.  Hmm on to something new!

Here's to being grateful for our full times and true appreciation for our slower times.

How was your weekend?  I hope it was truly lovely.

Weekending~January 8, 2012

I am joining Amanda at the habit of being for her weekending series.

This weekend was a thoughtful one.

On Friday, I learned that a dear friend of our family lost her husband quite suddenly.   Death is a part of life, but it feels so foreign and even unfair when it comes, especially without warning.  Many of my thoughts were with her and her family over these past few days.  I want to make her some food.  If any of you know of some recipes that travel and keep well, would you share them?  Thanks, I really appreciate it.

We watched The Billion Dollar Hobo Friday night.  These old 70's movies are a hoot, and the kids look forward to anything with Tim Conway in it.

There was a bit of time in my studio.  The first in months.  What a relief and I realize again how much I need time and space to collect my thoughts, plot and plan and create.  I have to get back to this.  I feel much more human when I get that time.

Saturday night brought more planning of projects and intentions for the coming year.  I looked over a few different patterns for knitted hearts and saw a few ideas for dolls.  Eden's birthday is coming soon.  It was a luxury to sit down with Ravelry and stacks of craft books and make my lists.  I admit my lists are a bit redundant, but I have ideas fleshed out and written down instead of amorphous,  floating and crashing about in my head.  This is a big step for me to keep the act of creating a natural and everyday thing.

I usually resist schedules, but with so much happening, I am feeling the need to at least demarcate blocks of time so the day and my intentions don't get away from me.  If I want my intentions to take actual form then it takes a bit of me arranging my time so I can be open to them.

This weekend the Christmas tree and the decorations came down.  We held onto this holiday as long as we could.  I want the joy and the mindfulness and the creativity to remain.  On that note, the kiddos and I are going to start some wax crayon hearts on Wednesday and turn our thoughts to Valentine's Day and Eden's third birthday.

The children began their journey towards First Communion.  I began the trip to CCD rather relluctantly, the morning always seems to roll around to quickly for me.  However, all was better as we worked on our giving star, thinking of ways we could give to our home, friends, family, strangers and community.  After that we talked about reconciliation, how we show we are truly sorry (without qualification-I'm sorry if you were hurt . . .), how to make things right, how to forgive and move on.  Those were some nice lessons for everyone, not just the seven-year olds.

Sunday night finished with the weekly ritual of hanging out with a friend, but this time we had wings and Corona.

On to the week and all it holds . . . .

How was your weekend?

 

Blessings and Epiphany

When we had our marathon morning at church on Sunday, our priest gave us information on blessing our houses for the Feast of Epiphany.  I am all for a good ritual, and this one sounded like something I wanted to do.  I have heard of people 'smudging' their houses in the tradition of many First Nation cultures.  I have never tried it though.  Have you?

Like a lot of folks, we could use all the blessings, good feelings and wishes we can get.  Yesterday after dinner, we blessed the house like so . . .

 

Helena didn't get the letters written like she wanted at first.  This was actually our second try.  Elijah was supposed to go first but got scared on Dad's shoulders.  Helena then went, but couldn't get chalk to wall due to the same fears.  Doran got the ball rolling.

 
Sorry for the blur.  There was a whole lot of movement and excitement during the entire process.

 
Doran got the 'C' and 'M' initials of two of the Magi up.  Helena wrote the 'B'.

 
Helena and Elijah decided they would write the year.

 

 

 
Eden is not one to be left out of the mix.  I don't know why I am continually surprised by her desire to take part in everything.  Perhaps it's because Doran was not very "involved" with the world in a typical way when he was her age.  In addition, Helena and Elijah were mainly interested in each other.  Eden is into everything.  She only opts out of activities when she is asleep, and that is rather involuntary.

 

Who knew writing on the wall would cause such excitement?

 

 
Auggh, no jumping on the doggone couch!  Like I said; there was a lot of excitement.  This is one reason I like rituals and finding special meanings in little everyday moments-it just makes life more interesting and full.

After writing the blessing, Helena and Elijah got into a big discussion about stars- stars in general, the Christmas star, the Star of David, etc.  They then asked for permission to draw a star blessing on a wall in each of their rooms.   You know I almost said 'no'.  Why?  Because we don't draw on the walls with chalk- except we just had.  I then remembered it's just chalk, and asked myself what was the harm really.  It's interesting how reflexive saying no can be.  Talk about a personal epiphany that I seem to keep having repeatedly.  You're supposed to learn the first time right?  Well maybe not.

 
Helena's star-deliberately smudged.

 
Elijah's star.

How about you?  Have you had any epiphanies lately?  Have you added rituals to your life or celebrations?

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!  It looks like the snow dance worked and we are expecting more snow today-yay!

First Weekend

I hope everyone had a wonderful First Weekend.  I can't believe the holidays are pretty much over (we celebrate Christmas until the Epiphany so things are still a little festive around here).  It was so hard to send the kids off to school this morning.  Of course, we have had our share of "squabbles" but the break really felt too short.

Saturday we went to my parents' house for the traditional New Year's Day dinner; you know black-eyed peas, collards, mac and cheese, bread pudding, peach cobbler, red velvet cake-all of those Southern delights.

 
 

My mom collects Nativities from all over.  As with the Santas, she has the best luck finding interesting ones.

On Sunday Elijah, Helena and I headed to CCD class.  We participate in the Family Program; that means we go to class and mass for a total time of four hours on the first Sunday of the month.  At first that seemed pretty daunting due to the whole four-hour situation, but I have found it quite enjoyable and the time fairly flies.  I was surprised to discover I preferred this program to the once a week class.  Also, because we attend class as a family, we all seem to get more out of it.  At the least the children are much better behaved.  If any of you have attended a CCD class or two during your lifetime you know what I mean about the behavior. 

So this Sunday the class had a scavenger hunt in the church.  Boy am I becoming more ignorant as I age. ;-)  I had completely forgotten about the alb (the priest's robe), Reredos (back of the altar decorated with wood or shrines), and ambry (where the sacramental oils are kept).  Oops.  After the hunt, and mass,  the families made sandwhiches for The House of Bread, an organization that provides food, shelter, support programs and housing for those in need.  It felt great to spend that time in service to others.

 

 

 
The San Damiano Crucifix

 
It was really neat to do the scavenger hunt while the choir practiced.  I had no idea they did all kinds of body stretching and exercise before singing.

 
Thankfully I remembered what the baptismal font was.

 
 

 

 

 

We also decorated bags for the sandwhiches, and write special notes for the recipients to go inside the bags with the lunches.

 

 

 
It was a busy but very satisfying weekend.  Slowing down for most of the holiday season did so much for my nerves and I think everyone else's nerves too.  We were able to enjoy each other more and I didn't have thoughts of sending the kiddos back to school so I could get some quiet.  I am so excited about the coming year.  I don't quite know why, but I am so I am going to run with it!

How did you spend the first couple of days of the year?  What sort of hopes do you have for 2011?

Happy New Year! 

 

Anticipation

 

Every year I promise that I will slow down during the Christmas and Advent season.   I want to be able to luxuriate in the excitment and anticipation while resisting the commercialism and funky expectations that seem to drive the season.  I know.  I sound like Charlie Brown.  There is so much that I want to make and do that slowing down can be a little difficult.  I think we are doing pretty well so far in this first week of Advent.  The children have gotten older so it is a bit easier to talk to them about all of the different meanings of the season and how people around the world celebrate different holidays during the month of December.  I think that respect and understanding can go a long way in curing the world's ills and the best place to start is with myself, my family and at home.

In line with exploring traditions and finding ones that fit in our lives, I made an Advent Wreath with the kiddos after mass last week.  I always seem to forget or miss the time period or something has inevitably come up.  Not this time.  I slowed down so I was able to see the wreath-making opportunity coming down the pike.  I am so glad we did it.  Lighting the evergreen wreath each night at dinner has made for more mindful and slow evenings.  I am able to take the time to contemplate with the children what this season means to each of us.  The lights are dimmed, the candles are lit and the atmosphere changes even though we eat with candlelight every night.  This development is interesting and frankly unexpected, a pleasant consequence of slowing our pace.

 

Each year at this time I find myself thinking about the different religious traditions and how every one seems to involve light and hope, and a whole lot of good food.  It is a wonderful feeling.  It's my favorite time of year.

 

 

Regardless of whether you celebrate one holiday, many holidays simultaneously or none, what special things do you notice about this time of year?   

 

 

Have a lovely and relaxing weekend.

 

Tree Hunting

For several years now we have cut our tree at a family tree farm.  There is something about cutting our own, or rather Greg cutting our own.  We also enjoy being at the tree farm itself.  The family is very friendly.  They have great trees and take care of their land very well.  We usually get our tree a day or two after Thanksgiving, the day after if we can.  I am really big on getting started with the celebration as soon as possible because I absolutely adore Christmas decorations.  I remember how magical the whole operation felt to me as a child and I love watching the kids have the same experience.  Our tree is usually up when Advent begins and we take it down on the Epiphany or the day after.  I like to celebrate the season of anticipation, as well as the twelve days of Christmas.  This is change for me culturally, as in the South many people followed the tradition of having the tree out of the house by New Year's.  If you failed to get the tree out of the house by the deadline, you would supposedly have bad luck.  ;-)

But back to the tree hunting, unfortunately for Greg, the ground is usually wet from rain or snow every year.  Being the sweetie he is, he still cuts the tree even though it usually means getting a coating of cold, wet mud on himself.  This year he thought he saw the perfect tree two feet from where we parked the car.  Poor Daddy, little did he know that the Perfect Tree was down the steep hill a ways. 

So now we have our tree and it's on to the decorating.  I used to be able to decorate the tree in one session; we managed to do so last year.  For some reason though it seems to take at least two days most years.  The trees usually aren't that big.  It seems that we have to always stop decorating for one reason or another and then pick up again.  I have to seriously rein in my perfectionist tendencies.  Does this happen to anyone else? 

 
On the way to find and cut the 2010 Christmas tree, Eden broke out into "song".

 

 
Much to everyone's delight and entertainment, Eden enjoys making funny faces-camera or no camera.

We found it!

After allowing the tree to acclimate on the back porch, we brought it inside.  It was time for the lights.  Greg continually laughs at me because I am forever wrapping branches with lights and I never seem to get enough of them. 

 
Doran loves the lights too!  He is completely blissed out here looking at a tree that only has lights on it.  Many times during the Christmas season, we find him in such a state watching the lights and resting.  I am trying to provide a nice atmosphere for the family this year by adding votives candles and lowering the lights in the room.  Of course we are extra careful with Eden around as she thinks every decoration is for handling.  It does seem that Helena and Elijah are feeling the same way this year.  So far the P in our stocking holders has been knocked off the mantel twice in twenty minutes and there have been two broken ornaments.  This is why I put my grandmother's ornaments and other precious decorations waayyyy out of reach.  Well I am off to do some more decorating.  I figure if I want to keep the glass globes, I had better put them up when most of the kiddos are at school.  I think our decorating process will go on for a few days, as we have planned to make some new handmade garland for the tree.

Happy Chanukah and Happy Wednesday!

 

 

Dia de los Muertos

 
Helena's drawing on her Haunted Dog House reminds me of the Day of the Dead skeletons.

This Halloween I had a lot more spirit than usual.  I loved the holiday as a child.  Somehow Halloween candy always tasted better than regular candy even if it was the same Snickers bar.  I think that is still true today.   On past Halloweens, we have simply taken the kiddos trick or treating or to a party.  Before this year, especially pre-children and post-college, I tolerated Halloween.  The scene was much like this, "Here's your candy.  Now git!"  I blame law school for my poor attitude.  ;-)

Anyway, I am reformed, kind of like a Halloween Grinch (okay it was never that bad, but you get my drift).  I am getting more into the spirit and meaning behind the holiday.  This holiday, we did some crafting and I spent some time enjoying my kids, and the sights. 

So I am happy to have adjusted my Halloweenittude and enjoy myself.  We are already thinking of new decorating ideas for next year.  Lifelogia provided some great decorating resources and links.  I love the cut-outs!  There will be more Beasties and possibly an attempt at popcorn balls.

 
 

 
Clay spiders

 

 
Helena's Haunted Dog House

 

 
Helena's Crazy Hand

 

 
 

 

 
I found the ghost-making tutorial from Shivaya Naturals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three little ghostesses

Sitting on postesses

Eating buttered toastesses

Greasing their fistesses

Up to their wristesses

Oh, what beastesses

To make such feastesses!

 

Have a lovely day!

 

Shaker Village ~ Part Two

In an earlier post, I shared some of our favorite moments at Hancock Shaker Village.  It really was quite a lovely and inspiring visit.  At home, we have started learning more about the Shakers by checking out a few books from the library.  The children are very interested in them.  This is quite timely since we are in the throes of planting our Spring garden.  Those Shakers had some incredible skills and techniques for getting the most out of your garden and putting the most back into the Earth, but that's for another post.  They were ahead of the curve.

We spent a lot of time with the animals (in and out of that pristine round barn) and in the discovery section of the Village.  We also had a little time to take a walk on the nature trail.  We didn't make it into most of the finely preserved buildings.  I'm excited just thinking about what we will discover there next.  I do believe that as a family we get the most out of slow, mindful visits.  If we only make it into one or two buildings or even none, then so be it. I really want the kids to learn to take their time while exploring.  I also want to slow down myself instead of rushing from place to place in my futile attempt to make sure we "get it all in".  We are truly lucky and privileged to have the Village so close by and to be able to make multiple trips.

So here are a few more moments from our Spring trip. . . .

You can see the great beginnings of their Spring medicinal garden.  I had no idea there were so many uses for common plants like thyme, golden hop, rose and feverfew.  The Shakers grew patches of dandelions on purpose to treat gout, stomach troubles and other ailments.  Incredible.  It turns out that medicines they formulated were widely sought out by those from the "outside world".  The Shakers were also known for making exquisite wooden and stone paths.  I wish I had a miniature version of this in our little garden- perhaps one day.

The Forest was enchanting.  Moss was growing everywhere on rocks and fallen trees.  Trillium and Fiddleheads were just starting to peek out of the ground.  I look forward to experiencing the feel of this forest when these old trees have leafed out completely.
 

 
I just love the muted and earthy colors the Shakers chose for their buildings.  We may try using the old-fashioned (and healthier) milk paints on some projects at our house.

 

A thresher - Just look at the delicate decoration on this workhorse of a machine.

 

 

Doran examining the indoor beehive.

 

Elijah doing the same.  He really likes beekeeping and says he might be a beekeeper when he grows up.
 

 

Helena was enthralled with the rag dolls she found- simply enthralled.  I was so happy that she loved these cloth dolls with drawn-on faces.  She seemed to feel quite connected to this simple old-fashioned toy.  We have plans to make a rag doll this summer when the push and pull of school schedules let up for a bit.

 

  

 

 

 

 

Well, I thought I could share all that I needed to share with you in a couple of posts.  Upon reflection, however, I realize that this sharing is shaping up to reflect our visit to Shaker Village-slow and mindful.  So until our next installment, here is one more prized moment.

  Happy boy . . . .

 

Tomorrow we'll show you some Treasures from MeMa.