Lent begins

The Holy season of Lent is here.  One of our most memorable Lents would have to be 2013 (3 years ago?!?!) when we came home from Ellie's heart surgery on Mardi Gras.  Check out this throwback of family, food, fun and celebration hours after arriving and unloading our precious cargo.

This year was a wee bit simpler :).  We had lots to celebrate: Jacob achieved a milestone of altar serving at mass completely alone (there are normally five to help), Xavier's favorite team won the Super Bowl, Julia finished a school book, and Ellie gives us reason to celebrate every day!  So we feasted on Burger King at home - here's Ellie all stripped down ready to try some ketchup with her fries.  The rest of the group was washing up but she I was not going to make her wait! 

"Is all this food for me?!?!"

At Ash Wednesday mass Ellie was absolutely fascinated with the ashes on my forehead as I held her.  She stared at  me the whole way back to our seats and displayed great self control as she lifted her hand up several times but then knew she was not supposed to touch it.  She did go at hers a few times but it still stayed on for a quick smile when we got home. 

  

Julia's excitement that the pencil she used to complete her aforementioned book was worn all the way down to a nub seemed worthy of documenting.  It said "Kindergarteners are #1" on it and all there was now was "#1".  I should mention she insisted on sharpening it every single day and became a bit preoccupied with how small she could make it and still hold it.  Behold - "The tiniest pencil in the world".

 I leave you with the continuation of "What's Ellie Wearing".  As a new feature, this picture shows evidence of a new phase she's in.  I have about half a second after I say "smile" until she comes running to me to see the picture on the camera.  So....this is the best of the 10 or so I tried before making us late!

You just can't keep the girl from moving!  :)

Cost of Cleaning

When Ellie was a baby I caught our neighbor's cleaning service getting into their car and stopped them as they drove by.  I asked how much they charged as I was tempted to get some relief from toilets and mopping along with the medicines and feedings.  She said somewhere around $100 for a basic once over of the house.  As good as that sounded, I already felt like there were too many people in the house and could not take one more.

So when I want to get some cleaning done myself and I'm home alone with the kids - I find ways to keep everyone happy while I speed clean.  This weekend it happened to be that Ellie was having fun outside in the general area of some wet dirt, aka mud.  One second she was standing up around the mud while I weaved and bobbed around the corners with the vacuum...the next time I looked she was sitting down.  Right in it.

This is me knocking on the window and Ellie going "Umm, hey, is this ok?"

The price of cleaning folks.  Here it is right here.

As proof that baths are effective, here is the girl all cleaned up and ready for church with big sister.

And finally, Ellie joins the Super Bowl tradition of eating pizza before the game for the second year.  Here she is tonight handling the slice all on her own.

Here's 2015 only weeks after she started eating!

Back to tonight - the fans with the best seats in the house!