Holy Week Through The Kids' Eyes

Celebrating the holiest week of the year is quite different when you have little ones around.  No more watching The Passion of Christ movie, attending the lengthy Easter Vigil, staying late for Tenebrae, or spending extra time in Adoration.    Although I really miss these aspects of the Triduum, being a parent teaches us to see our faith through the eyes of our children, which can increase our faith as well!  Here is a quick view of some of the ways we celebrated the Triduum and Easter this year.

For Good Friday, we did an activity of hammering nails into the cross with some friends.

Then at home that evening, we made a tomb for Jesus out of a shoe box. Then we started the Chaplet of Divine Mercy Novena.  While we prayed, Raymond colored a picture of Jesus on the cross.  Next, we helped him cut Jesus out, "taking him down from the cross."  Raymond then wrapped his picture of Jesus in a cloth- and placed him in the tomb and closed the door with a large (cardboard, really) stone.  We went to church that evening and venerated the cross. 

Saturday was one of the first days Kenny got a break from work in a LONG while, so he got a few errands done, including replacing the brakes on his truck.  Raymond got to help him, of course.  

Then Sunday, the kids woke up Easter morning and found that Jesus was no longer in the tomb, but that He is Risen!  They found the door to the tomb they made open and there were some Easter goodies inside! Our friend Amanda joined us for the whole day, so that was a special treat, too. After mass,we were able to spend the day relaxing, cooking, and enjoying the beautiful day outside!  

 Here is the tomb with the door open and the Easter baskets.  Inside, they found: some saint dolls, some laminated holy cards on key rings, a duck and bunny, some toys from Granddaddy Bill, some school workbooks for Mond, some Religious worksheets to trace and color, some bubbles in an egg shape to enjoy outside in the new Spring weather. and a piece of chocolate!  

 Amanda brought the kids these cute, silly bunny ears.  

 She also treated them to this huge yellow ball.

And, of course, our attempt at a family picture. 

...And he's back

Hey Grandmas and Grandpas, Aunts and Uncles!  Thanks for your prayers for the little man.  Poor little buddy has been under the weather for four days now, but he is finally feeling better and back to himself as you can see:  building train tracks.  He wants everyone to see the awesome bridge he designed.  He says it took forever to build.  

Daddy got to work from home on Friday since we were all sick.  

Here he was asleep on the floor.  So not my little man!

And ALL BETTER!

Good Morning!

A little video of Raymond making some music with water glasses.

Videos

Homemade train

I've been trying to encourage Raymond to use his imagination more lately.  He seems so much more interested in computers lately and I don't want use of technology to take up his whole day!  So you can imagine how proud I was of him for constructing this homemade train out of the recycling bin!  Yes, beer bottles was his choice of freight.