Easter 2015

Today was Easter.  It was the first holiday in a long time that we spent at home, just the six of us.  It was glorious.  This was not the original plan.  A well-timed illness (read: middle of the night), kept us from going out the next morning, even to church.  We'd read The Story of Easter by Aileen Fisher the day before.  At least we had covered what Easter is about.  By mid morning it seemed everyone was feeling alright, but we didn't want to risk infecting anyone, so we enjoyed the day at home.

The kids found their Easter Basket.  As usual, the kids got books to go with their candy.  This year it was several Miffy books, Knuffle Bunny Too, The Secret Garden and Pontius Pilot.  Nova read to her sisters. We played games together, mostly Chess and Go.  We had a leisurely breakfast.  We set up an egg hunt.  We hung around and did nothing for hours.  We never get to do nothing.



Don't get me wrong.  I enjoy spending holidays with extended family.  We look forward to many more.  But between church and music lessons, dance class and birthday parties, most of our weekends are busier than our weeks.  It can be a little ridiculous, but I haven't found a way around it.  So many things happen on the weekend or not at all.

 

Charlotte enjoyed building with her balancing blocks.  Ariadne combined birthday and Easter gifts, giving Miffy a ride on Twilight Sparkle.   

The girls still felt like dressing up, so we let them.  Here I am going out to hide Easter eggs.  

And they're off!  As of last year, each child is only allowed to hunt for the eggs the same color as their Easter basket, except for the golden egg, which is up for grabs (and contains something other than candy).

It was a spirited hunt, and everyone found their own eggs without too many hints.  The golden egg was much harder, partly because it was really more brown than gold.  I gave a hint.  Still no luck.   The discovery of the golden egg was almost (but not quite) captured on film.  Inspired by the candid writing of Knausgaard (a new favorite author of Chuck's), I will tell it like it happened.  

Charles stood poised with the camera.  Just as I was about to give the second hint, Solomon saw the egg and dove for it with enthusiasm, punctuating his action with an excited yell. Ariadne, who had been right behind him, was knocked to the ground.  Crushed by the disappointment of not finding the golden egg, Charlotte ran off crying.  Solomon gave Ariadne the egg to make up for accidentally knocking her over.  It turns out he was really just excited about finding the egg, not the prize inside.  Nova just stood there.  For a few moments it seemed the afternoon had dissolved into disaster.  I suggested doing away with the golden egg. 'No!' they all yelled. 

A Care Package and A Sewing Project

Right around New Years, someone we care about got quite sick.  Distance kept us from being there in person, so we sent a care package instead.  The kids helped me make molasses candy (high iron content for anemia) and a microwavable hot pack.  Here's a little how-to.  While we were at it, we made one for ourselves as. 

(Couldn't resist adding this picture of Ariadne--Solomon thinks it should be accompanied by the music from 2001: A Space Odyssey.  Now on to making hot packs.)

First combined some rice and lavender essential oil, allowing them to sit together in a plastic bag overnight.  A little measuring and sewing gave us an inner and outer bag.  The outer bag is flannel, to make it extra soft and cozy.  The inner one is muslin (existing mainly so that the outer bag can be washed).

We filled the rice a little past half way, so that it would not be stuffed tight once it was done.

In order to keep the rice from spilling while we sewed, we pinned a 'seam' to keep it to one side. I did the sewing at this step.   

 

 Dad played a very important roll at this point, making sure everyone got enough cuddles and stayed happy.

Velcro closure was the finishing step.  

Nova was very into pop up cards and drawing horses at this point, so she made a get well card that incorporated both.  

A Smattering of Christmas 2014

I've enjoyed reading chapter books aloud to the kids over the years.  Charles has gotten in on the action too.  At Christmas we finished up one of my favorite books from childhood, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle.  I'm aware that it might be the last book I read to all the kids.  Not a bad finish, if that's how it turns out.  They all liked it.  I thought the same with the book we read before this one--Peter Pan.  Only time will tell.  

Christmas pageant photos, 'backstage.'  This year we had an angel and a wise one.  

We did a lot of reading this Christmas.  Here Nova is devouring one of the graphic novels from the Avatar series.  

One of our Christmas presents to the kids was a play space in the basement.  The 'wood' floor is actually thick foam, so they can tumble to their hearts' content.

Solomon playing magic with his cousin Connor.  

Ariadne showing me her snowflake from the ornament exchange.

One of the nice things about marrying a high school sweetheart is that family holidays often happen in the same town.  We arrived on Christmas Eve and stayed several days, switching from one set of grandparents to the other in between.  On the first night, Granne and the Girls had an impromptu tea party.  

Brynn making ebelskivers Christmas morning.

Frozen memory with Grandma Roberta.

A flower girl dress for ME? Marianne and Sylvan asked all the kids to be in their wedding over the holiday.  We will have two flower girls, a junior bride's maid and a ring bearer. 

The middle generation of Midwinter siblings.

Making magic in the kitchen.

The day after Christmas was Barry's 60th birthday.

My parents hosted my mom's side this year, which hovers around thirty guests for most holidays.  Here we are opening gifts.  

Cooper enjoying wrapping paper, and Conor, Ginger, and Michael enjoying his delight.

Michael and Solomon caught a game of chess. Later on Charlotte and Ariadne explored the game with Aunt Brynn.