Anyway, my words will have to suffice... and you will have to just picture it yourself.
Easter Mass. I set out the "nice clothes" for the boys to wear. Thing Two - no problem. He's still at the age where he'll put on whatever I grab. Love that. He looked handsome in his light blue short sleeve polo, tan/white/lt. blue striped sweater vest and khakis. I had tan pants and a black T and a (God FORBID) button down shirt for Thing One. AAAAAACCCCCCCCKKKKKKKK... NNOOOOOOOOOO... he was suffering a slow, painful death when I informed him that was what he was wearing to church. We talked to him about the other young men who were his friends who would be dressed up for Mass. Oh yeah, he says, John always wears a tie. Hey - I have a tie! And he runs upstairs to grab it to wear.
Mind you - this tie is one I bought for him when he was 2-3 years old and NEVER wore because he refused to do so. It's one that's already tied and has a velcro strap to wrap around the neck. So he puts on his button down shirt, leaving it unbuttoned enough to see the black t-shirt and then slides the tie around his neck and drapes it over his shirt and is declared "ready to go."
This is the tough part. Do I support his efforts at being dressed up and praise him? Or do I inform him about the appropriate way to wear a tie so he doesn't embarrass himself? We showed him how Dad was wearing his tie to Mass. Thing One says, Nope, I like it this way. Ok then, off we go. (remember the start of this post... yes, at this point we are just trying to get out of the door so we can at least sit INSIDE the church for the Mass)
He made lots of people smile with his best-dressedness (just made that word up I think). And yes, John was there with his shirt and tie (worn the traditional way). He was proud and I guess in a way I was too.
Thing Two also created lots of smiles himself. The kids were invited up during the presentation of the gifts to bring up their creations for Jesus. Things One and Two walked hand in hand with theirs toward the altar when halfway there, Thing Two broke free and ran up the aisle screaming, Jesus, I made something for you!!! Look at what I made Jesus! I'm pretty sure he thought Father Pat was Jesus. Thing Two also altered some other child's diorama by removing the "rock" in front of the tomb. Thankfully, Father Pat smiled and announced that Jesus had officially risen. I had to walk up to the front to make sure Thing Two realized this was not his show and that it was time to return to his seat. Pretty darn sweet though.
As far as Special K in an Easter dress, she's about as ready for that as her Maba usually is. I have yet to buy an Easter dress for myself. I usually at the last minute am scrounging through my closet for something spring-like, of which I have nothing. I was doing the same for her. If this girl is going to have an Easter dress, it'll likely have to come from an Auntie or Grammy. But she still looked beautiful, the sweet ol' blue eyes that she is. Hard to believe last year at this time I was not going to church or doing much of anything except hoping for her to stay inside and be ok.
We had a wonderful day with my family. Bumpa was home from the nursing home for the day. Nonny came over (this is my grandma who refuses to allow anyone to know her age though her bday is Sept. 29, 1911 - you do the math) and she complained about not being able to do aerobics because her rotator cuff had been torn from lifting weights, but she is still doing her leg work-out. (Whatever Nonny, you work out more than me). Grammy let us do all the cooking and just provided the space where my boys were able to run around in the backyard like I used to and Special K rolled around the living room floor. Auntie Lynn was awesome by being a "monster" with the boys and played forever with them. And we ate ham and horseradish and a bunch of other goodness - yum yum.
I'm praying this Easter helps me to be a bit more re-born in helping my kids to enjoy their faith as much as I enjoy mine. And to take more pictures.
