March part 3- Palm Sunday, Fraternus Knighting

 And now the rest of March.  :)  I am going to try to keep this blog up monthly.  The children love it so much, and so do I.  

Palm Sunday has always been one of  my favorite Sundays of year, even before I was Catholic.  I just love the entrance of Holy Week.  This year it was exceptionally beautiful.  

Our new Bishop has brought a Polish tradition where he knocks on the door of the church with his staff three times saying "Lift up your heads, o ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in."  

Monday of Holy Week, Marc was made a knight of Fraternus.  It's like the "Eagle Scout" of Fraternus.  The boys have to participate for years, go to summer ranch, and excursions.  The year they want to become a knight they have special prayers and fasting they complete.  The knighting ceremony begins outside the church where the mother gives her son over in the idea that he is growing up and ready to take his place among the men.  

The knights-

One of Julia's favorite things this year has been joining drama.  She is one of the Lumina Players at our cover school, and she absolutely LOVES it!    They are putting on a play next weekend that is a 40s radio show.  Julia will be playing the piano all throughout the show as the interlude music, and she has several speaking parts as well.  We are excited to watch!

The group gest professional photos every year-

I took a few pics of them rehearsing-

Before our big trip to the Grand Canyon in April, we made a big push the get the house all clean and flowers planted.  I enjoy it all so much.  

A special birthday for my dear friend.  

March Part 2- Spring Break Trip to Florida

March Part 2-

Big Grandpa was turning 80 in March, so we took our Spring Break week and drove down to celebrate him!  It was such a wonderful, wonderful trip.  Here we are hitting the road- the children are glad that Anastasia will wear headphones so we can listen to the radio while she watching her baby shows. :)

We split the trip up and spend the night half way.  Annie is so good about sleeping ANYWHERE- a large closet, laundry room, bathroom- as long as she has her sound machine and lovies she goes right to sleep!  :)  

Hanging out while we pack up the next day.  Yes, she still has a bottle in the mornings.  :)

We got to their house Sunday evening.  The boys loved playing pool.  

I loved seeing old pictures around the house of Marc-

This is Zaza's mother- Annie's great-grandmother.   Looks like Annie's hairstyle goes way back.  

Marc is on the far right-

We also went for a family walk-

On Monday we went to Bok Tower Gardens, one of the most beautiful sites in Florida-

Monday evening we celebrated Big Grandpa's birthday with a party with all his closest friends at a restaurant on the water.  It was wonderful!  

Marc and Tim gave great speeches-

 

On Tuesday, I drove to Vero Beach to see one of my best college friends, Jen!  She homeschools her five children, and it was such a treat to see her and go to lunch!

While I did that, the boys went with Grandpa to the shooting range in their neighborhood.  Zaza, Julia and Anastasia stayed home for naptime.  

Even Julia got a chance to try later on-

Annie loved their "Elefun" game-

We don't watch a lot of TV in our house, so the children thought it was such a treat to watch America's Funniest Home Videos and The Carbonaro Effect at Zaza and Grandpa's.  Zaza also cut the children's hair, as always!  :)

On Wednesday we spent the day at Legoland with Zaza.  It was such a fun time.  We walked FOREVER!  

We enjoyed the 3D movie with falling snow and wind-

The boys played this ball toss game.  

Charlie actually WON!  He won this GIANT dog that he really loved.  There was a mother in line who had been trying to win the dog for her special needs child- she had tried six times.  She asked if Charlie could "play for her" so her child could win, but the people wouldn't let him.  He decided to give the dog to the child.  It was such a precious moment.

We had a firetruck race against the children- they won.

After the long day at the park, we said goodbye to Zaza and headed to Amber's house.

Little Annie was wiped out-

We got to Amber and Tim's and they served us supper and then we talked on the porch overlooking the pool for a long time.  The next day we got up and went to the park on their street, while the guys and Marky went to the gym.

We always try to stop to visit my grandparents on the way home from Florida.  It's such a precious time- oh how they would have loved my children.  They sure did love me so well.  We brought them new flowers-

Such a wonderful trip!  So grateful to be able to spend such good time with the family in sunny Florida!