~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~
Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
{pretty}
We did the whole Triduum with the kids, which was lovely… and hard. But lovely. I do love the vigil. Just one favorite liturgical moment of the year after another. The Exultet! The ringing of the bells at the Gloria! The baptisms! (I always cry at baptisms, and there were over a dozen at our parish this year.) “The Mass is ended, go in peace; Alleluia! Alleluia!” “Thanks be to God, Alleluia! Alleluia!”
That really is my favorite.
We went back to church on Sunday afternoon to have Easter dinner at the rectory along with a few other families and single folks from the parish. After who knows how many hours of Holy Week liturgies and duties, our priest hosted us all for quite a feast — much of which he prepared himself. (Not quite sure how he managed it all.)
When I asked him what we should bring, he suggested a chicken dish — “perhaps a specialty?” So we brought kebabs, which came out mighty well, though I do say so myself. And also two desserts, because we can't leave well enough alone.
The ba'lawa (Egyptian baklava) is an Easter must for me; the carrot cake was my husband's request. As I was frosting it, I was complaining to him about how I need a cake plate “Like this size and shape, except without the stand. I've wanted one for years, but I can't ever find one!”
He pointed out that the movers had actually helpfully turned this very cake stand into a cake plate and coordinating… thingie on our first move, and I had painstakingly glued them back together. “Don't worry, we'll move again soon and you'll have another chance,” he reminded me.
{happy}
Pippo was very excited to decorate his first Easter eggs — we used markers on some and tissue paper and Mod Podge on the others (the others in this bowl are from when I first tried this technique a few years ago).
Father had goodie bags full of exciting little toys and games ready for all the kids, and an Easter egg hunt between the drizzles. So much fun.
{funny}
Natasha sent this cute little Easter bunny LEGO set for Pippo's basket, which was very well received. He's been playing with it ever since. Yesterday, while he was studying the box yet again, and realized that in the picture on the box, the bunny was outside.
He couldn't rest until the bunny was in his proper habitat.
(Today I suggested he bring the bunny in; he told me we needed to wait until it was getting dark. Shows how much I know.)
(That bunny was joined by another today — Pippo made the hat with the ears during storytime at the library, and was not even a little bit interested in wearing it himself, so we foisted it off on the baby.)
{real}
Ok, so I'm also claiming this one for {pretty}, because they're adorable and I couldn't love them more. But their Easter poses ranged from solemn to pained, and this was the closest thing to a smile I got out of either of them.
(Note: it's not very close.)
Nothing like keeping your kids up late four nights in a row and then feeding them lots of candy, amIright?
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Leane says
Very lovely! It looks like your Easter weather cooperated well for some outdoor activities! Such wonderful pictures! May you have a Blessed rest of the Easter Week!
Becky says
So much cute!!! I love it! And, I always cry at baptisms as well. 🙂 Those kabobs look soooo yummy!
Melissa Diskin says
I use a charger from Rebecca Wood as my showstopping (yet practical) cake plate.
It’s $50 but I use it for EVERYTHING. If you go to “Set the Table” and scroll down, you can see the depth and prettiness of the glazes. Trust me, they are all gorgeous. I have several pieces, large and small, that I collected every birthday and at their annual sale. And I have 3 little kids, and nothing has broken yet! 🙂
My charger is in the “blueberry” color — it shows off frosting so well! I love the blues and reds. And the mini bowls work well for dips, olives and other little snacky things.
Rosie says
Those do look pretty!
Beautiful photos – all of them! The food made my mouth water…
Oh Rosie, they are adorable and it looks like such a beautiful Easter! I also cried at the Baptism’s this year, the whole Vigil was amazing!
Your kebabs made my mouth water! And the pysanky are GORGEOUS.
I can never get enough of Easter Vigil, either. Blessings!
I love the lego bunny! Great Easter idea for a little boy; same with the marker eggs. What little boy wants pink pastels? Primary color markers all the way!
What fun! Those eggs! Did you paint them? The lego bunny is adorable, and don’t worry, you’re not the only one who couldn’t coax a smile out of your kids on Easter. I think mine were too preoccupied with candy!
They’re psanky! Deirdre’s the real expert in our family, and posted about it a few years ago here:
http://www.likemotherlikedaughter.org/2010/02/inspiration-for-easter-craft-early-or/
Hers are works of art!
These four on my sideboard represent my absolute best efforts, and one of them (the one in the front with the tree) might actually be one of Deirdre’s that she gave to me. I don’t remember for sure!
I feel like you have something here that would work as a cake plate! You know that there are dishes of yours here, right?
🙂
Do I really have a cake plate there? Hmm… need to move closer!
Looks like a wonderful Easter. I got pretty worked up during Holy Week this year too- it was especially moving for me for some reason.
I just switched to using a cake plate as opposed to my cake stand for Easter this year, and I have to say I am a fan. Mine is a depression glass one from my husband’s nana. I bet you could find something great at a thrift store. It really is nice to have both (especially for those occasions when you might have two cakes!).
I actually have two cake stands, both of which I do love! But I’d like a cake plate, too. 🙂
They might not be smiling, but LOOK at the rolls on Molly’s arms! You are keeping that baby girl very well fed 🙂
I know – she is so delightfully chubby!
I love your eggs! Next year I’d like to try something a bit more elaborate than just dipping them in dye. 🙂 I learned a bit about doing psanky during grade 8 at school but haven’t done it since.
Your Easter photos of the kids are much like ours. Trying to get everyone to look in the same general direction and smile just wasn’t going to happen this year. They still look adorable!
Those chicken kebabs look incredible!
Those eggs are beautiful up top, and now I really want chicken kabobs! My opportunities are endless now that we can eat meat again – yum! Do you have a marinade recipe that you like to use?
Does he look like his father, or what?
Does he look like his father, or what?
What beautiful pysanky! I haven’t written any for a few years, but I think my eldest son might be up for it next year. Happy Easter!
All the pictures are great! I just wanted to share that at the Mass we attended, one little guy added his own ending after the “Thanks be to God, Alleluia! Alleluia!” Just after we all responded to Father, a young child sang out, “E-I-E-I-O!”
Hahahaha that is hilarious!!
The pysanky are gorgeous, the kabobs look yummy (I think your recipe will have to be the next post) but the pic of the two littles in the yard from a distance–my fav. I love those little moments like that and those usually turn out to be my favorite photos. The things I won’t remember because they aren’t “anything” really happening–they just are. Yet, I want to remember because they are the sweetness of life!
Those eggs are fantastic! I’ve never thought of some of those coloring materials. We just used regular egg dye and my 1 year old toddler proceeded to crush as many eggs as possible by either chucking them into the mugs with dye, or smashing them in his hands. Ah well. It was still fun to watch 🙂
Beautiful pysanky! Beautiful babies (the way the older brother holds his baby sister, so sweet)! And lovely kabobs! (Your priest sounds like such a nice man. To prepare all that food and the goodies for the kids, just so nice!)
The food looks delicious and the kids are adorable! Pippo is an awesome big brother!