AXIOS

We don't know what that word actually means...but it's something good because we heard it several hundred times this weekend in Canada at Uncle Tom's ordination to the deaconate in the Ukrainian Catholic Church. We did a quick trip this time - gone for less than 48 hours! But it was still great to see Annette and Tom and Annette's little baby belly. She's already 18 weeks!

Claire, Sarah's cousin, and John, Sarah's brother, made the trip with us...they kind of knew what to expect because they babysit for the girls during the week when Sarah is at the office or United Way working. They held up PRETTY well despite all of Vivian's attempts to make sure John DID NOT sleep the entire way to Toronto by kicking the back of his head. And Felicity would only eat food from Claire's plate, even though she had the same options on her own plate. Troopers.

The hotel was nice - the indoor pool really helped wear them (AKA ALL of us) out - but didn't have complementary breakfast...who does that? It's a convenience we took for granted and won't overlook in the future. So we made a trip to Panera in our pajamas first thing in the morning. We were the first customers in the door so our scrubiness wasn't soooo horrible. However, the staff put our orders in to-go bags probably hoping we weren't staying. But then we did and had to go back to the counter five times to get all the silverware and plates they didn't give us the first go round so that we could actually eat.

Then it was off to Divine Liturgy and the deaconate ordination...2 hours long and the girls did pretty well. By the end it was getting bleak, but we made it through without screaming or having to take anyone out of church. This is a new, very sought after milestone for us. There was a huge bribe on the line: a trip to Chuck E. Cheese. They've never been and don't really know what this bribe means but it may have a had something to do with it.

We made a stop at IKEA before leaving town. Felicity lost it by the end of the store and it was so long Great White North.

Please thaw out before we come back. And many prayers for Tom as he begins his new ministry!

Fairy Tales

We, as a family, saw Cinderella last night and there are PLENTY of people who posted already about the movie - they write thoughtfully and eloquently about all the things (aka everything) Disney did right this time. This movie is beautiful, majestic, fun, sad, romantic. It says kindness, goodness, and love win. Charity has value. Parents and children can have lovely relationships. Strength comes from within, attitude makes all the difference.

It is a fairy tale. But its morals are something we believe in at this house. Its magic, we buy into. Because love and charity are not always easy; life isn't a cake walk. Not everyone is kind. But being good, believing in truth, and being generous with people can overcome and make us resilient. This inner fortitude, a strong internal compass that always points due north is Cinderella's guide. 

This wasn't a religious movie by any means, but for our home it will be. We want our girls to have that Guide, the Holy Spirit, as a close friend whose gentle nudges they can feel throughout their lives. We want them to measure themselves not based on the measuring stick of the world, but on the measuring stick of a Princess of Heaven, God's own daughters. We would be so proud if Cinderella's motto was their own: have courage and be kind. Can you imagine Jesus saying those words? How many times in the Bible did He say, "Be not afraid?" Weren't the Beatitudes a call to charity?

We cannot wait until it comes out on video so we can watch it over and over again and be inspired to love more.

Thinking about a solo flight

Mommy is clearly NOT ready for this...Miriam is prepping for kindergarten. (PLEASE NO!) She begins in August and we've started filling out registration forms and doing all the medical appointments. She had her first round of shots on Friday LIKE A CHAMP. She barely flinched when they poked her and was super tough. By bedtime her legs were so sore she was limping and needed pain reliever to sleep, but this morning she's back to herself.

Five years ago, Sarah was taking pictures of her at the doctor's office - entertained during the wait by emptying and refilling her Mommy's purse.

Now she's BIG - 95th percentile! - and entertained by two younger sisters during the wait.

She's so excited for her "real" school debut and we know she's ready, but can't she be little forever?

Firsts

This week we had a couple of firsts...Vivian got her picture in the weather section of the local paper. Super proud!

We had our first family meal in the new house! Daddy's been spending lots of evenings there hanging blinds and installing dimmers and whatever tinkering he can think to do. So we decided to join him! We took our casserole (chicken-etti) and pineapple (of course) over and savored the new home and our family time.

 Mommy was even so generous to bring along juice boxes. HUGE deal.

Another first: movie in the new house! The girls watched The Wizard of Oz and cuddled under a quilt and new homemade pillows. If that's not a blessed childhood...then we give up!

The house with TWO playrooms

We built a playroom on the first floor of the house, but it's already becoming evident that the basement is going to be much more popular. Mommy took the girls' bikes over to the new house yesterday and the girls played and sang at the top of their lungs and put on a "bike show". They were in their own little heaven - did NOT want to leave when the time came!

This home is going to be such a fun place for our family to live and for our girls to grow up in. Cannot wait for the driveway to be poured so we can move in!

Today...

Today Daddy got the trash pick up, electricity, and sewer put in our name for the new house. Sorry, no picture of him on the phone.

Today Mommy has a new haircut. She tried to take a selfie of it, but that was a mistake. So Vivian helped. 

Today Miriam picked out her own outfit and is working it.

Today Vivian is obsessed (in the healthiest way) with taking care of her little bear who is always sleeping. Thus we must all be quiet so he doesn't wake up. He even sleeps while he eats.

Today Felicity is telling us when she has to use the toilet. This is fabulous, though sometimes the information comes after the act. But she's doing pretty well trying to potty train completely unprompted. Because there is no way we're putting her in a pair of underwear while we're showing our current home and moving to a new one. Also, if you can climb onto your changing table without breaking a sweat and say, "BABY!", you're probably not a baby anymore.

Today, the house looks like this inside:

Every time Mommy sees it, she wants to act like Gus Gus from Cinderella when he says, "OHHHH. PRETTYPRETTYPRETTYPRETTY! VERY PRETTY!" Still waiting for the replacement pendant to arrive for over the island, paint on the exterior, and a driveway...and some other things that will have to wait for the ground to thaw. But we can move in anytime we want now!