Family Advice 1#: Just Plain Sick

Of all the family 'memories' we have had that are most vivid and that come to mind on certain occasions, is the times when we have been confined to the futon, or the "Cozy Chair" and are swathed in crocheted afghans, or wool blankets. I guess since it is probably exiting having nothing to do for the first days, sitting around being a sick person and sleeping. There are some people who love to be sick due to their busy to-do days, the boring, low-rated paperwork, or even just doing what their business evens up to, all people need rest and real relaxation. We have been having a very sudden attack of a fever, sniffle, couch, and perpetual drip all in one with all the kids. We are recovering bit by bit, and are a little slower and dazed in the morning. I find that just laying in your bed thinking you have to get up since the daddy-is-going-to-wake-you-up feeling is the worst when you've had a terrible night. I GAVE IT ALL I HAD THIS MORNING. Here are just some things that you can do to distract the kids when they are complaining about fevers, coughs, and more. 1. Books on tape are fun to listen to, and put me to sleep along with a few others. We listened to The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe and The Fairy Of the Snows. 2. Listening to Old time Radio shows like The Lone Ranger, Laurel and Hardy, and The Zucchini Brothers provide hours of fun for us. 3. Read-alouds 4. Board games. 5. Bath time, totally. 6. Mom made us smoothies every morning for breakfast. They help lower the fever on account of frozen berries and bananas. 7.We also saw the british TV show, Peppa Pig which Hetty loves! It helped the kids to laugh easily.

What Our Easter Looks Like

Christ is Risen! He has Risen Indeed! For Easter, there was a scramble on Holy Saturday to get to the Easter Vigil on time and "alive". This time, since friends were getting baptized, we went all the way to OR City to St. Philip Benisi Catholic Church. What a beautiful moment to reflect on when someone is getting baptized! When the family of the Church welcomes another child in, When another person can join in with us in the mystery of the Body and Blood of Christ, when you are officially made a Catholic, when you have found the true Home, the Church, Oh, I could name thousands of reasons to become a Catholic for those that are seeking. We got home at about 1:45 in the morning, and got at least some sleep in before the Easter fun. Mom and Dad hid our baskets around the house which caused surprise as well as a whoop. Easter isn’t just the eggs to us, thank God, but it is really fun to think about them, isn’t it. Last year we had an overdose on little Easter presents, more an overdose than even the candy we got in the Easter eggs. This year was simpler, and surprisingly, I had more happy memories than the last. I received a Mary Englebright pen, and you know how she can really cheer things up on a gloomy day. I got what I thought the most amazing pen I’ve ever seen! It is so cheery and cozy, it makes you actually enjoy the eternal rain of Oregon. We experimented on Google video call with our Grandpa up in Ontario, where there is 10ft of snow covering the ground. It is even better than skype we think since you can actually feel comfortable in talking, once one is at ease. When I am on skype, I am just staring at the person on the screen, hardly talking at all, which you might think is strange since we have so many relatives to talk to who are in other parts. They have a special effects corner where you can make yourself have a viking look, a clown look, a biker, a dog, cat, king, and a birthday person, along with sound effects. I could go on and on, since we had so much fun but there is a lot to tell to you about our Easter doings. Oh, I must tell you that we saw one of the seven wonders of the world, at least no has seen it before. We saw a tiny little ant with a candy crumb in its antenna, just so happy and exited. Dad took a picture on his phone since our camera is broken but it did not turn out very good, due to the afternoon sun that was weakening in its bright splendor. Dad laughed and laughed with us kids about it, since the ant was so happy over such a little bearing. Isn’t that a modal example of thankfulness? What if we had found just a tiny crumb like that, would we be happy and overjoyed as the ant was? I’m sure I’d be a pill. We had quite a few tantrums from our one-year-old baby brother(Abe)who gorged himself on the chocolate candies and jelly beans. Our bean jar was full to the brim, even if we didn’t finishes half of it with kidney beans. That goes to show how parents can really spoil children nowadays, can’t it? Hetty has been toting around an Easter basket all day with hardly anything in it. I’m so glad Easter comes but once a year, and that we have 50 days to enjoy it. Another one of my gifts was two balls of blue yarn which I am going to make new creations, so stay tuned. I also received paper roses, markers with some scented, and Mom bought nail stencils to do our nails. We could expect the results since the pack was ninety-nine cents at Grocery Outlet. Can you trust anything you buy in the stores to play a perfect role? I suppose you can at the UGM Of Salem. Abe got a book, candy, and a windup fluffy white rabbit which at first he was scared of. He’s getting better, though still he backs up and runs to make it stop. He’s one of a kind. We spent Easter evening at the farm where the Egg hunt took place, and had a wonderful time. God couldn’t have made a better time to Rise from the dead. Alleluia! -Avi (P.S. I've been real newsy in the last posts. Goodness, you guys really need a rest from all this!)Above is us and the cousins at the original mission cross in Ventura, CA. Its over 100 years old. Did I mention that?

Just A Blogpost

In this post, I shall include a full account of the happenings here on Stoneway Dr. Somehow, all our news get leaked out one way or another, and it happens that I am a very newsy person, so I am partly to blame. First matter of business is that you are about to get acquainted to a very friendly, lovable, adorable dog who is the newest member of our happy big family. Karol Kili, our new yorkshire/rat terrier. We received him last week on Tuesday, when our grandparents brought him and his sister over. It is the first time we have had a family dog and so as you can guess it was quite an occasion to remember. And about his name, really it has quite a meaning. Karol for Pope John Paul who is going to be canonized soon, and Kili, for Kili the dwarf in the Hobbit which, as you can see is all the rage since the movie came out. Second order of business, The Mittwoch Weekly has been released and all who are interested can ask questions, and order an issue, which we are giving out for free since this is our first "newspaper" experience. Third, we are back from CA. I still am tired and am sleeping later than usual, and I am trying hard not to overdo our busyness. It has been a very happy week for us nd we are deep in preparing for Easter. Didn't Lent go so fast? And it was supposed to be one of the longest Lents in years. Perhaps it is because I am growing older.

Me and Eph holding Karol Kili. Doesn't he look like Benji? He is very sweet. Cioa for now, Avimar

The Very Latest In Crochet

The apple is really half a granny square, with a leaf and stem added on. Its really easy and simple and takes minutes to crochet! I used a multi colored wool, but you can always use red to make it realistic. I loved every minute of the crocheting. Its a lot of fun! Avi

California Diary

You are probably wondering where I have been, since I haven't written a post lately. Well, we are spending a lovely and hot vacation in Ventura CA. We're visiting with the cousins so you can imagine that we are having a lot of fun. Been here ever since Saturday and staying until next Sunday which means quality cousin time! I will give you a full account of our stay in this post, the events that I've most remembered and cherished and the fun family jokes throughout our stay. I shall start with the latest, if you don't mind. Today: Went to a small but charming museum with only three exhibits. Its was extremely fun, for they had an art section, a row of glass cases filled with american heroes that are really dolls that are beautifully done, and an indian room where the cousins went crazy over the stuffed coyote and Island fox. After we went to the Dog Park to give Duke(the poodle) a good run and play on the playground, have a picnic lunch, and use up our energy that came from this mornings cereal. We went to a hippy art place where they had bins of junk, recycled of course, and crafters makings all over from jewelry to murals in the making. It was truly a crafters dream. Yesterday: All the big girls went out to watch FROZAN at the theater to have a mothers/daughters night which turned out great. We saw it in 3D, my first time and it quite took me by surprise. I got to keep the glasses! We went to the original mission cross which is over 100 years old and looked over Ventura. We stopped by RocketFizz, the ultimate favorite soda pop/candy shop around downtown CA. Went to a beach park and played for a while and had a nice lunch with seagulls flying close as they dared to our picnic table. On Sunday: We went to Mass, and had lunch at Peking Inn, where I ordered Sweet and Sour pork with a few egg rolls and Egg Flower soup. I love chinese food, don't you? We went swimming in the pool and had hot sauna showers afterwards. Last Saturday: We just rested up, unpacked, and made ourselves at home, and went to a vigil. We had a very classy Romanian lunch, and so for dinner we had ice-creamy smoothies. Altogether it has been one of the loveliest vacations this year! We've had so much fun and 5 more days are left. What could be more heavenly? Avi P.S. Above: Me in front of Ventura's RocketFizz, holding my chocolate soda.