Quinquagesima vibes

I leave the baby for a few short minutes now, and he backs himself under the couch, where he is incapable of freeing himself without someone's help. The giggles this elicits from his older siblings, I fear, will further his desire to trap himself on a regular basis.

I tend to think of this photo as a symbolic representation of our February. We experienced an aggressive stomach flu, coupled with a chimney fire -- while Patrick was out of town, naturally -- and a suspected (but thankfully ruled out) case of carbon monoxide poisoning for the kids. Thus, we
backed ourselves further and further into the abyss until it became actually laughable how "stuck" we were.

Like innocent babies jammed under an IKEA couch.

We're through the worst of it, though, and are regaining our equilibrium. The big kids are back at school, and Anna is back to vacillating between wanting to "help" me with everything (like gift-wrapping the potatoes for the oven, one of her favourite chores) and pleading with me to "take me shopping, really, just take me anywhere!" Like her mother, she needs to get. out. of. the. house. And we have all been way too cooped up lately.

Meanwhile, Isaiah has grown up so much. Usually, within a few months or so of my children's birthdays, they start seeming to be more their upcoming age than their current age. Now missing three whole teeth, and engaging in conversations in a whole new way, Isaiah has turned "six" in my mind, even though his birthday isn't until May. On Sunday he saw me walking upstairs with the mop and asked if he could help me wash the floors. I agreed, and was delighted and amazed to see that he scoured the entire upstairs in record time. I told him "the floors are practically sparkling! You're like a miracle!" And he smiled demurely and said, "no, I'm not a miracle. I'm just an average boy who knows how to work hard, and likes to do it, too." My dear Farmer Boy, such an attitude will take you far in life.

A few weeks ago, before Deadly February began, Noah participated in the school's talent show. He insisted on lipsynching to "The Misty Mountains Cold" from "The Hobbit." Believe me, I tried, gently, to persuade him to pick a less dirgelike and curious song, but he was just so excited to sing his favourite song for the whole school. In the end, I decided I had to take a step back and just let him be himself, despite sweating and fretting for his sake for days in advance.

It went pretty well, actually. I'm sure the kids watching were beyond puzzled by his selection, but he was pleased with his own performance, and was warmly received by the audience, a testament to the kindness of the kids at his little school.

Family Day: they decided to mix some baking soda and vinegar together to watch it fizz. Noah's expression is not staged.

I've been on a praise and worship kick lately at home. Perhaps because we get to glory in Palestrina sung at Mass, I feel free to let the praise music rip at home. They can learn to give God glory in both dialects.

I keep playing this song, because I just love it so much, but I never watch the video, because I find the young hipsters demonstratively singing and waving their arms so... demonstrative. Anyway, Anna was in the kitchen while this was playing and said, "why do they do that?" in regards to the arm-waving. I replied, "they're praising God!"

So the next day when the same song came on, she closed her eyes, raised her arms in the air and declared "I'm praising for a new teddy bear! A pink one!"

Um...ahem. Preschooler health & wealth Gospel.

Lent is almost upon us, and I am so looking forward to it. Why? Because February will be over!
But in all seriousness, my hatred of February and SAD always seemed to go berzerk when Lent began, because I really didn't know how much penance to add to life when just making it through such a hard month was... hard.

But the weather is getting milder, the snow is melting a bit.

This year, I can be pretty confident it will actually be nice out by Easter time. We may very well have our very first egg hunt outdoors! Let's hear it for Canadian liturgical year victories!