Easter

Bishop Loverde celebrated Easter Sunday Mass at our church this year, and he patiently agreed to pose for a family shot.

Happy Easter everyone!

Seder

The seder meal was delicious, and somber, and quick; I think we did justice to the essence of the meal. We found ourselves running out of time before 7pm Holy Thursday Mass, so we were a little rushed, but we began with this prayer for priests, passed around a glass of red wine (a sip for everyone), and dug in to hard boiled eggs, bitter herbs (parsley), homemade matzoh, and amazing roasted lamb. I hope we can make this a tradition; the meal was a good organic conversation-starter for the kids about the Last Supper, the initiation of the priesthood, and the Eucharist among many other topics. 

And now we have a solemn fast day. What are your Good Friday traditions?

Spring days and Preparing for the Triduum

Hanging out with some friends. 

Our little guy will be getting strabismus surgery on both eyes April 25- prayers appreciated!

April showers bring May flowers... but what about April deluges? 

Lola's cinnamon rolls make a great birthday cake! Our big two-year old.

Saying good-bye to some dear friends.

The first 2 year old to actually blow her candles out herself! Bravo Rose.

Donning coats again. Spring, where did you go??

One of my favorite spring blooms: viburnum. Smells heavenly.



We'll be doing a passover seder meal tomorrow night, which will be a first for us. It's hard to get into the spirit of Holy Thursday with the little ones, so I'm hoping that sharing the meal Jesus celebrated the night before He died will kick off the Triduum in a more tangible way. Here's an explanation of the symbolism behind the seder I found interesting.  I don't think we'll be doing a full-fledged seder (e.g. downing four cups of wine through the course of the meal- Rose is crazy enough at dinner time), but we'll try to get a choice few of the major symbolic pieces of the meal in there.

Anyone ever participated in one? What were your impressions?

Goings on

Complimentary tickets to a Wizards game. We're sitting right next to the team!

Our little mummy.

Visit from Dave's college roommate Paul

The crew cuddling.


It's snowing right now.
It will be April day after tomorrow.
A good day to remind us faithful that we need to persevere in joy.
Happy Laetare Sunday!

Men at work

These guys can change tires, kill bugs, remove rodents, protect the house, lift heavy items, and perhaps most importantly of all: make breakfast.

Life this Lent

A few snapshots of the precious quiet times that gently settle in the house, usually in the morning, when children happily entertain themselves. David and Rose are each other's treasured playmates (and worst foes, at times, but we'll focus on the positive). I love these tranquil times of day. Francesca is listening, quite appropriately, to The Long Winter (Laura Ingalls Wilder). She's gone through many an audio book these past frigid months. Teresa prefers to withdraw into a looking at books, drawing, play-acting, and building legos rather than listening to something. And frequently David and Rose can be found on the floor, ear to the ground, vrooming their toy cars and trucks together. Rose has quite naturally picked up a lot of David's boyish interests. 

The poor crocuses and daffodils are in for another winter storm this Tuesday, it seems. Is anyone else dreaming about frolicking in warm Spring grass sparsely clad?! In the most innocent possible way of course, and with shoes on, to avoid bee stings. Extended winter can make one, shall we say, a little coo-coo. On the bright side, the delayed warmth and flowery goodness will make Easter all the more meaningful this year.

Happy Birthday, My Beautiful Wife

On the portico of the Main Building at Notre Dame, there are benches that overlook the "God Quad", meticulously landscaped and with views of the Basilica and all the other original buildings on campus.  On nice evenings in the Fall and Spring, Cara and I used to spend hours sitting on those benches - talking about our dreams, our goals, family, friends, faith, sports, music, everything.  Our conversations were always effortless, from the very first one we had.  Afterwards, we would head over to the student center where we would study philosophy while eating gummy worms.  She was my best friend from the very first day we set foot on campus, and now she's everything I could want in a wife.  I love you, Cara!