Happy Anniversary my love!

Today is our 10th wedding anniversary! I only have one regret marrying him...that I didn't do it sooner!

Pictured are Fr. Justin, Katherine, 4, Thea, 2 and Zoe 1 month.

Our little choir

The other evening we had Vespers at the church and there was neither a reader nor a choir. So, the girls and I took the positions.

It brought back such sweet memories of when we started this mission. Katya was three months old and I was the choir and reader at an occasional week day service. I'd wrap Katya on my chest and away we'd go.

The girls were thrilled when Fr. said they could sing. I had to grab the camera and snap a picture of the trio. I pray they grow up singing together in church!

Have you read this book?

I have been reading this book upon the recommendation of a local area priest. I am loving it. So much great wisdom.

Go here to order.

"Our Thoughts Determine our Lives"
The life and teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica
Translated by Ana Smiljanic

A day on the lake

Last weekend we went to a crawfish boil fundraiser for our local area women's monastery "The Nativity of our Lord". It was great fun and the setting was beautiful. The couple who hosted the fundraiser held it at their house on Lake Tawakoni, out in East Texas.

The girls ate hot dogs, swam in the lake and in the hot tub, went for boat rides, jumped in the lake off the pier. It was a fun day for them.

I grew up on Lake Texoma, a very large and beautiful lake in North Texas. Being on the lake brought back such sweet memories of my childhood. During the summer we would camp every single weekend. And through the week, while my dad was working, my mom would load up the neighborhood kids and take us all to the lake. (I'm not sure I would have the nerve to take all the neighborhood kids to the lake myself, but she seemed happy to do it.)

Anyhow, a great time was had by all.

I took a few pics of the boat ride, Katherine jumping off the pier and Thea loving floating around in the lake and a happy wet Zoe.

(I shan't mention that lake Tawakoni is known for it's unusually large population of water mocassin snakes. Did you just shudder? I did.)

A glimpse of things to come...

We're painting!

Thea and I finally came to a compromise on the pink walls in the playroom. Whew! That was no easy task. She wanted really, really dark pink and, well, I wanted a pink so pale it looked white. Anyhow, I think her color will work just fine.

Katherine picked a turquoise called "Spa".

I'll keep you posted on the progress.

Can someone please answer a question for me?

Where does time go?

This is my Zoe, who, by the way, will turn FOUR on Elevation of the Cross. I kid you not, it seems like I had her last week. Oh, the precious memories we've made here in this house.

As excited as I am to move, it will be bittersweet. This place is home to all of us. Fr. and I were married in 2000 and we moved up here when Katya was three months old in April of 2002.

Can you tell I'm cleaning and getting ready for a move? Stay tuned for some emotional posts, a few tears and some great pictures of boxes headed to the thrift store. Soon, you'll be saying "All right already! Enough!"

Nah, not you all.

A blessed week to you all!

Make your own pizza night

Last night we made pizzas. We've been making our own pizzas for years and they are so delicious. Fr. Justin has the crust down to perfection (from the Dad's cookbook I mentioned in an earlier post).

We did things a little different last night and let the girls make their own mini pizzas. It was a hit. Even though they all like the same toppings, they had a blast preparing their very own pies. Katherine finished her's off by putting her initial on the top. (Oh, and if you look close enough you can seeing the anchovies too. Yep, the girls love anchovies. Ack!)

Making pizzas, and cooking in general, is one of our favorite ways to spend time together as a family. We are really fortunate in that Fr. Justin loves to cook and so he is usually in the kitchen when I make dinner. Of course the girls love helping in the kitchen. I prepare the meals mostly these days, but he can always be found hovering around, adding spices and tasting as I go along. (This is a good thing for everyone since I cook out of necessity and he cooks out of love).

A blessed weekend to you all!