Finding a happy medium is almost impossible. The past 6 months have been a harrowing adventure of family time, crazy work schedules and constant reminders that our sweet babies are getting older. This is a sacred fact of life, but one that can be challenging for a parent. Let me catch you up!
Christmas and New Year's
We had a family fun adventure. We stayed in California for Christmas and New Year's. We got to spend time with Beth's extended family and did video calls with Casey's family!
New Year's we spent with Beth's immediate family and had a lot of fun, although Beth didn't quite make it to midnight. Ann and Casey were the troopers from the Collins Clan and stayed up until Midnight!!
Thea's Birthday and Epiphany
Thea turned one year old on January 3rd! We celebrated on January 5th with the rest of Beth's brothers and sisters during the Epiphany Celebration! We went bowling all together and opened a lot of fun, and some surprisingly disturbing presents (see Benjamin's two horse head masks...).
Lent 2014
The Collins' celebrated Lent this year by giving up various things. Beth gave up Starbucks and Facebook on Fridays. Casey gave up going out for lunch. The kids learned about why we make sacrifices during Lent and tried to give up little things, although it was challenging for them.
Casey took Holy Thursday and Good Friday off of work to spend it with the rest of the family in preparation for Easter. Beth, Casey and Beth's Mom sang in the Choir on Holy Thursday, and everyone went to confession on Good Friday. They also watched the entirety of the movie, 'Jesus of Nazareth' over the course of Holy Week.
Good Friday was spent abstaining from electronics until after 3:00, including TV. We prayed the Stations of the Cross at 3:00 at home and answered questions that Ann had about the Passion and Death of Jesus. Holy Saturday we made resurrection rolls and died eggs for the Easter Celebration.
Easter 2014
Beth and Casey were honored to sing the Paschal Proclamation at the Easter Vigil Mass. It is a 7 minute (short form) Gregorian Chant chronicling the Paschal Mystery, it is also considered the ringing in of the Easter Season. The kids also came to the Easter Vigil and were relatively good throughout the 2.5 hour mass!
On Easter, we all went and celebrated with Beth's Grammy and Aunt Karen and Uncle Donovan. We had a wonderfully delicious 'Thanksgiving Style' dinner that blew everyone away! We also celebrated Beth's Mom's Birthday which was on Easter Monday!
Beth's Mom's Birthday!
In honor of her 53rd Birthday, the whole family watched 'Herbie The Love Bug' (whose number is 53). We also had 'The Habit' for dinner, her Mom's favorite burger joint!
Well, that should get you all caught up! May will bring a variety of fun things including Ann's Baptismal Feast, Mother's Day, Memorial Day and the end of the year performance of Ann's School!
May God Bless You!
Christmas and New Year's
We had a family fun adventure. We stayed in California for Christmas and New Year's. We got to spend time with Beth's extended family and did video calls with Casey's family!
New Year's we spent with Beth's immediate family and had a lot of fun, although Beth didn't quite make it to midnight. Ann and Casey were the troopers from the Collins Clan and stayed up until Midnight!!
Thea's Birthday and Epiphany
Thea turned one year old on January 3rd! We celebrated on January 5th with the rest of Beth's brothers and sisters during the Epiphany Celebration! We went bowling all together and opened a lot of fun, and some surprisingly disturbing presents (see Benjamin's two horse head masks...).
Lent 2014
The Collins' celebrated Lent this year by giving up various things. Beth gave up Starbucks and Facebook on Fridays. Casey gave up going out for lunch. The kids learned about why we make sacrifices during Lent and tried to give up little things, although it was challenging for them.
Casey took Holy Thursday and Good Friday off of work to spend it with the rest of the family in preparation for Easter. Beth, Casey and Beth's Mom sang in the Choir on Holy Thursday, and everyone went to confession on Good Friday. They also watched the entirety of the movie, 'Jesus of Nazareth' over the course of Holy Week.
Good Friday was spent abstaining from electronics until after 3:00, including TV. We prayed the Stations of the Cross at 3:00 at home and answered questions that Ann had about the Passion and Death of Jesus. Holy Saturday we made resurrection rolls and died eggs for the Easter Celebration.
Easter 2014
Beth and Casey were honored to sing the Paschal Proclamation at the Easter Vigil Mass. It is a 7 minute (short form) Gregorian Chant chronicling the Paschal Mystery, it is also considered the ringing in of the Easter Season. The kids also came to the Easter Vigil and were relatively good throughout the 2.5 hour mass!
On Easter, we all went and celebrated with Beth's Grammy and Aunt Karen and Uncle Donovan. We had a wonderfully delicious 'Thanksgiving Style' dinner that blew everyone away! We also celebrated Beth's Mom's Birthday which was on Easter Monday!
Beth's Mom's Birthday!
In honor of her 53rd Birthday, the whole family watched 'Herbie The Love Bug' (whose number is 53). We also had 'The Habit' for dinner, her Mom's favorite burger joint!
Well, that should get you all caught up! May will bring a variety of fun things including Ann's Baptismal Feast, Mother's Day, Memorial Day and the end of the year performance of Ann's School!
May God Bless You!