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.  

Little River Canyon, etc.

On Friday, the four oldest children and I went with our homeschool group to Little River Canyon National Preserve.  We had a wonderful day- the weather was perfect and the teachers were excellent. 

We broke up into groups and had classes taught by park rangers.  This one was on carnivorous plants.
 

He opened up the leaf of this pitcher plants and there were dead bugs inside!

We learned a lot about the history of the Cherokee Indians in Alabama.  Ft. Payne was part of the Trail of Tears.    The cabin seen here is an actual cabin used by a Cherokee family before they were forcibly removed. 

They had a conquistador costume-

 

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There was a huge football game during lunch break-

Then we went on a long hike to see the canyon and water falls.  There has been a drought so the falls were not as big as usual. 

 Charlie found a million bugs while we hiked.  We kept having to tell him to "put the bug down and come on."  :)

 

 Some of our group-

It was a beautiful day! 

Saturday was the last day of church-league flag football.  They had the Dads join the older boys in their game.  It was a lot of fun!

 

Marc was recently trained to be an MC at church (Master of Ceremonies).  It was so sweet to see the three boys up there at Mass on Sunday. 

Weekend to be continued....  :)