Signs of Summer

Despite the tail end of Erin and my illnesses, we got to spend a lot of time outside this weekend. We were able to clean up the Trailblazer and the Lancer and George started prepping the Lumina for sale. The tomatoes were planted and a flower pot with marigold seeds was planted for the girls. I got to drive "The Bus" as we headed out for ice cream at Country Cones and tested out our new GPS. I set up the fish tank in Erin's room again (in a more stable location) and she got to go to the pet store to pick out some new fish. We all enjoyed the beautiful weather and have been sleeping with the windows open! I love the smell of fresh spring air!

Sick Days

I started with a sore throat Tuesday morning and Erin starting running high fever Tuesday evening. I stayed home with Erin Wednesday. George stayed home with her Thursday while I headed to work to wrap up some projects that were due despite how crappy I felt! I left as soon as I was done and came home to take a nap with Erin. (Pictured above) I stayed home with Erin again on Friday. She seemed to be feeling better, but I was definitely worse. At least she ate breakfast and lunch and played a little. I'm crossing my fingers that this will all pass soon!!

Time to Recover?

I wish we could have had some time to recover from Easter, but life must go on! After work on Monday, I took the kids to that All Kids Sale in Sugarcreek. It was HUGE and chaotic. I got a bunch of summer clothes for Erin, but Sammie's sizes were all pretty picked through. The find of the day was a pair of Heelys that were Sammie's size. She has been wanting these shoes for a very, very long time and was bursting with excitement when we found them. She hugged them the rest of the time there and most of the way home. After a little cleaning, they looked brand new! Not bad for $5! This was the girls first trip to Amish Country and they were interested in the horse drawn buggies and the clothes that the Amish and Mennonite were wearing. Overall, a very good trip!

Our House is Now a Bus Garage

Daddy's new ride, known lovingly as "The Bus"!

Pascha (Easter)

We woke up Easter morning around 10am and had just enough time to let the kids get into their Easter baskets before heading to the Agape service. I love this service. It's simple yet profound. They basically read the scripture declaring that Christ has risen in as many languages as possible so that all of the world will know! There's always a special visitor for the kids after the service is over as well. After church, we went home to hunt for Easter eggs and to organize the Easter explosion that had happened in our house before heading to Cleveland. (I think the girls got more candy for Easter than they did at Halloween!) We had a wonderful time visiting family in Cleveland. It's a shame we don't see them more often! The food was delicious as always and the girls had so much fun playing with all of their cousins. Thanks to all of our family in Cleveland for always invinting us and making us feel so welcome!

Holy Saturday

After a basketball game, swim lessons and a birthday party, we headed home to prepare for Easter. The kids played outside, George went for a bike ride and I baked and decorated a couple cakes. After dinner, we all got cleaned up and then settled into the living to watch movies until it was time to go to church. We got there a little before 11pm. The service started about 11:20 and Erin was out cold by 11:30, which worked out great. She even took communion in her sleep for the second year in a row. Sammie stayed awake through the whole service for the first time, but Nicholas wasn't as lucky! The service was over about 2am, and then we headed to Rena's for a beautiful Easter feast! We got home around 4am and then George and I hid baskets and Easter eggs as the birds started to sing! It was a beautiful and blessed evening/night/morning and we were so happy to share this experience with our family!

Christos Anesti! Christ is Risen!

Holy Thursday and Friday

Thursday: As the priest carried Jesus on the cross around the church in remembrance of His passion, Erin became very worried and yelled several times (loudly) "Is Jesus coming back!?" Yes Erin, in three days. . .

Friday: We followed the epitaphio containing th icon of Jesus around the church singing hymns and the went under it on the way back into church to pray for healing. If you ask Erin what we did, she'll tell you we went under Jesus.

Holy Wednesday

The service on Holy Wednesday evening is referred to as Holy Unction. During the service, oil is blessed by the Holy Spirit so that it will heal all those who receive it. The priest uses a brush to make oil crosses on your forehead, cheeks, chin, top of both hand and the palms of both hands. Tons of people come to church to receive this special blessing. Since so many are in attendance, it can be a little hectic. We sat up front and were some of first parishioners in line. George held Erin up so Father Nick could bless her with the oil and then he put her down to walk to me while he was blessed. I wish had a camera to capture the expression on Erin's face! She was mortified and ran up to me screaming that she was all messy. We sometimes forget how much Erin does not like to be dirty!

Holy Week

We are celebrating Holy Week this week. For Palm Sunday, we celebrated "American" Easter with my family. We had a delicious lunch and then went to visit Grandpa at Woodlawn for dessert. Sammie helped me make and decorate the cake and was so proud of the chicks she made! She did a great job!! Monday night we went to church and the Bishop was there! Erin passed out towards the end of the service and when I went up at the end to venerate the icon of Jesus and the Cross, the Bishop leaned over to kiss Erin on the forehead! Our Bishop is so loving of the children and I felt honored that he took a moment to kiss her. Although I did have to giggle to myself since Erin was snoring!! After the service Tuesday night, Father Nick complimented the choir on their singing saying that was the best Holy Tuesday service he has ever heard! He was right! They sounded beautiful!! Tonight is Holy Wednesday and Holy Unction. I will try to post the pictures I have after church.

Click here to learn more about Holy Week in the Orthodox Faith

Kids Stuff Sale

I heard about this sale from a co-worker. It's like a giant garage sale with only kids clothes and toys. It's located in Sugarcreek and is next week. Click here to visit their website for more information. I've also added a link to their website in my Sites to Check Out section.

Out of the Ordinary

Since we didn't have swim lessons Saturday morning, we decided to take the girls to open swim after dinner. Erin was really excited to be able to swim with me again and Sammie just loves to swim any chance she gets! I had Erin in the little pool while George played with Sammie and some other kids in the big pool. They had a cannon ball competition and had a lot of fun! Sammie said several times on Sunday that she had a lot of fun swimming with her dad! Erin made some big steps in her swimming. She started jumping into the pool without someone holding her hands from the start. She got the biggest kick out of jumping in and going under, especially with her goggles on. She had been lunging at me head first so I was standing back a little ways. One jump went straight up and in and I had to lunge to grab her. She of course took in a lot of water but after resting for a minute decided to jump in again. After a couple more jumps, I told her to rest and she told me she was going to throw up. She wasn't coughing or showing any of her other symptoms, so I told her she was fine. A small burp. A big burp. Open swim in the little pool ended early. . . I should have listened!!

Kids Say the Darndest Things!

Erin and Samantha were getting out of the car and were arguing about something (no surprise there!) Erin turns to Sammie points her finger in her face and says very seriously, "I will kick your butt if you do that again!" The statement took us all by surprise and we're still trying to figure out where she would have heard that. Maybe at school, but I hope not!!