Looks like we have an emergency!

There is one toy that my girls have never gotten tired of:  the medical cart.  They each love this thing and have played with it non-stop for years.  You can't really see the cart in this picture, but you can see the medical tools that came with it.  I am always walking into an emergency operation on one of my kids, a baby or one of their stuffed animals.  

A present for Poop

Last night as Zoe was perusing her books for a bed time story, she got very excited as she spotted just the right one.  "Look mommy, let's read Poop and Tubble with carrot!"

It took me a few moments to recover from a good belly laugh as I saw the book she was referring to.  Surely you all know the Holly Hobbie characters Toot and Puddle?  They are two pigs who are best friends and live together in Woodcock Pocket, a cozy little home in the woods. Well  Zoe charmingly refers to them as Poop and Tubble.  The books are so great and the illustrations are wonderful.  

Anyhow, the story that Zoe was referring to is called "A present for Toot".  Puddle spends the entire book looking for the perfect present for his dear friend and finally settles on a parrot.  And yes, you guessed it, Zoe calls this bird a carrot.  I've tried to phonetically explain the difference between a p, p, parrot and a c, c, carrot, but it's like asking a two year old to say y, y, yellow and they say y, y, lellow.    

If you've never had the good fortune of reading about Toot and Puddle, the next time your at a book store, pop over and have a look through these books.  They will bring a smile to your face.

Forgive me

On this Forgiveness Sunday, I humbly ask each of you to please forgive me.  

May you all have a fruitful and blessed fast!

Matushka Michelle

Recess please!

Some of the times things just collide.  Katya doesn't feel like doing math, Thea wants something to do, she just doesn't know what, and Zoe won't take a nap.  That's when we throw everything aside and pull out the fun stuff. 

Play dough is a huge hit at our house.  Even Katherine, at the age of seven, still loves it as much as the little's-thankfully.  

If that doesn't sound good, we pull out the craft boxes.  We have about four boxes filled with everything three little girls could want to glue together or put glitter on.  Your can't go wrong with crafts.

Bake bread with Papa.  The girls know how to bake bread better than I do.  

Throw them out in the garden with Papa.  (Notice Zoe's dirt caked smile.)  My kids love dirt.  I am so thankful that we have a yard to root around in.  

Of course, it goes without saying that painting is always a big hit.  Although, painting is a little dangerous with Zoe.  She's very, very creative with paint.  

The pics here are of Zoe's gardening face.

Zoe making a play dough bed for her horse.

Thea practicing flipping pancakes with play dough.  

Katherine and Zoe helping with bread.

The girls doing crafts.

The Angel Cried

This morning after breakfast, Fr. Justin read the daily scripture reading for us all.  Today's reading is Mark 15:22-25, 33-41.  This scripture recounts the death of Jesus.  The girls listened quietly as Papa read.  After a moment of reflection, Katherine joyfully said:  "And then they all started singing "Shine shine to Mary, so that she wouldn't be so sad!"

For those of you who know this song, a big smile has just crossed your face because you have felt the joy of singing this very song to the Lord's Mother.  

To truly enter into the joy of this glorious prophetic and precious song, you must hear it sung by a church that has just gone through lent in preparation for the glorious event of the rising of our Lord.  More importantly, you must hear a church full of children belt out this song during the Paschal season.  I believe it is truly one of the greatest sounds you'll ever hear.

Everyone loves this song.  It is sung with varying melodies, depending on which church you belong to, but the words are all essentially the same.  It is a festive song, which means it's sung with a more upbeat tempo than the hymns sung during lent.  

The next time you run into an Orthodox Christian, ask if they know the song.  They will more than likely smile and say, "Oh, I love that song!  It's one of my favorite Paschal hymns!"  And if your lucky enough, they'll just start belting it out right there on the spot for you, just like my godmother did right after I became Orthodox and was about to experience my first Pascha in the Church.  It was great, and still is.

Oh, I can't resist, here let me sing for you!

The angel cried to the Lady full of grace,

rejoice, rejoice O pure Virgin.

Again, I say rejoice Thy Son has risen from His three days in the tomb.

With Himself he has raised all the dead.

Rejoice, rejoice all ye people.

Shine, Shine O New Jerusalem,

The glory of the Lord has shone on thee.

Exalt now exalt and be glad O Zion.

Be radiant O pure Theotokos in the resurrection, the resurrection of Thy Son!

Holy Men of Romania

Go here to see several conversations with holy men of Romania:

www.youtube.com/user/ioancasian

Glory to God for these precious holy men and women!

Dinner talk with Thea

Tonight at dinner, while we were eating a delicious mixed bean soup, Thea, 4, says: "Mommy, can I have some molasses in my soup?"  

Me:  "No dear."

Thea:  "How about some honey?"

M.:  "No dear, no honey."

T.:  "How about some brown sugar?"

M.:  "No, Thea, you may not have any sugar.  We are having soup this evening.  We don't typically add sugar to soup. If your soup tastes a little bland, then add some salt or pepper."

T.:  "Well, isn't Red River soup?  We put sugar in our Red River."

M.:  "No, it's a cereal."

T.:  "What's the difference?"

M.:  "Red River is typically a breakfast food, soup is usually served after breakfast some time."

T.:  "But I thought you said we shouldn't have sugar for breakfast (meaning cookies and other such goodies.")

M.: " Thea, honey, can you eat your dinner please?"

T.:  "Yes, mom."