Easter Traditions

We celebrated Easter yesterday.  Seems a little late, but, that's how we Orthodox people roll.  We also appreciate the half price Easter candy.  I'm sure half priced Easter candy is a HUGE factor to consider when deciding which Sunday will be Orthodox Easter.

One of our Easter traditions is dying Easter eggs.  Colorful Easter eggs are really pretty.  Our eggs are dyed all one color.  Red.  The red color represents the blood of Christ while the egg represents rebirth.

Growing up. I remember my Mom and my Grandmother dying Easter Eggs.  It was a big ordeal.  My Mom would dye dozens and dozens of eggs.  Giving them to various family members and friends.  This was something my Mom liked to do alone.  I did get to watch her whole process but never really participated.

My Mom is in a home now.  She hasn't dyed Easter eggs in years.  For the last five or six years, I have been the one in charge of dying the eggs.  Making sure to hard boil before coloring.  I have the packets of Greek red dye.  I have enlisted the help of my daughter.  I don't want the tradition to just die.  It would be nice if it continues with my children.

Every year that I do this, I feel a little sad.  Easter has always been a big deal in my family.  We would go to my grandparents house.  It was a time to see all of my Aunts, Uncles, cousins and, of course, eat lots of food.  Good food.  Everyone was happy (probably because they knew they were going to eat a lot of good food).  Lots of laughter.  And, lots of jokes.  Especially from my Dad.  My Dad, Uncles and my Grandfather would start cooking the lamb at 6:00am.  With the whole cooking process, they would drink quite a bit of wine.  In fact, I think drinking wine was required when cooking the Easter lamb.  My Uncle George would walk around with a platter of lamb, making sure everyone got a sample.  When the lamb was done, so was all of the rest of the food that my grandmother and Aunt had prepared.  Once their job of cooking the lamb was done, my Dad, Uncles and Grandfather retired to the family room to "watch" golf (yea.... golf) through their closed eyelids, of course.

Unfortunately, many of my relatives have passed away.  My cousins now celebrate with their own families, so, our Easter celebration is now just my immediate family, my brothers and their families.

I hope to keep this tradition going with my children.  I hope they have as many good memories about these traditions and family get togethers and continue them with their children.

TV

I'm sure you remember many posts back, I talked about our free TV and how it was starting to go.  The TV eventually died and we had to purchase a new one.

We have been trying to properly dispose of the old television.  You can't just throw it in the garbage.  You have to take it to one of the town's recycling events.  Our town holds a recycling event on one Saturday of every month.   It's usually in the morning hours.

For some reason, we have missed the last 5 of these recycling events.  I know some of these events (probably only one) we had something going on that day.  The others just slipped by...unnoticed.

The TV is still in the family room.  RT and I joke that we are going to end up moving the TV with us because we will keep forgetting to recycle it.  I suggested turning it into something useful.

A picture frame?

A vase?

A paperweight?

We have marked next month's recycling event on the calendar.  I'm hoping we remember this time.

I'll keep you posted.

Purse

I know that everyone was worried sick about my purse situation.  You can relax now.  I found a new purse.  I have been using it daily for the last month and I still like it!

I am starting my next purse search now.  I know I just purchased this one, but, I figure it's going to be a long process to find the next one.

Prayers are welcome.

Funny Search Results

It's been awhile since we've taken a look at the search results.  I like to see what people enter into their search engine to bring them to my blog.

I get the usual searches for Girl Scouts.  Along with those normal searches, I get the odd, unusual searches.  I like to look at them every once in awhile to see how I get visitors.  They're great for a laugh or two.

Here we go:

Father daughter hoe down

I'm assuming this one is for my Daddy Daughter dance posts.  I don't remember talking about a hoe down.  Maybe I should somehow incorporate that in the future?


Clean up on aisle 13 we were no where near aisle 13

I love it!  Someone else must like the movie, "Mr. Mom"


My Frightening journey

Well...scary journey...frightening journey....same thing.  I'm living this journey and I'm frightened all of the time.


I guess I'm going to have to expand my weird topics so I can reach more of these people.

Door Bell

Most houses have a door bell by their front door.  I say "most houses" because I've visited houses where they did not have a door bell.

Our house has a door bell.  The chime is obnoxious  different every time someone rings it.  It is also very loud, so you can hear it everywhere in the house (well, not so much in the laundry room).

We don't get tons of unannounced visitors.  Usually we know if one of the kids is having a friend over.  Lately, tho, the friend stands on our front stoop and texts our child to let them know that they are here.  I've busted a few.  I told them they can ring the door bell and that it doesn't bite.

When someone does ring the door bell, RT and I go through this ritual every time.

(door bell rings)

RT:  Who's that?

Me:  I don't know.

RT:  Who would come over at this time?

(it could be any time of day or night and we say this line)

Me:  I don't know.  Did you invite someone over?

RT:  No.

Then, we do what any normal person does in this type of situation.  We ignore it.

What?  Are we supposed to do something else?

If the person really wants or needs to see us, they will ring the bell again.  We might even move around during the second ring.

Oh, and a little heads up if you plan on dropping by.  We will definitely answer the door on the third or fourth time you ring our door bell.

Dance Mom

Bella had another Dance Competition.  This is our second competition, so, I should be a pro at being a Dance Mom.

I'm amazed at the number of Mom's backstage that are getting their daughter(s) ready.  One asked me if I had a sewing kit she could borrow (Note to self:  Bring my sewing basket with me next time.).

I'm pretty good at holding a mirror (Bella insists on doing her own makeup and hair).  I'm also good with a few pointers (that usually get ignored).  I can also spray a fierce line of hair spray, when needed.  Oh, and I've got the healthy snack options down.

I haven't mastered the bossiness and the constant trivial criticism.  Or being quick tempered and snapping at my child for being (a child) herself.

I also haven't broken down and purchased a glittery "Dance Mom" shirt.

I've come so far on this Dance Mom journey, but, I still have such a long road ahead.

My Weird Dog

Apparently, Pippen has decided that he is now sharing our bedroom.  He likes to be invited up to bed.  Once in our room, he takes his spot on the carpet on my side of the bed (he's still a Momma's boy).

If we decided to go to bed and he missed his invitation to our room, he will stand at the bottom of the stairs and let out this  God awful  dog cry.  I don't usually notice his crying right away.  The kids usually hear it before I do (you can hear them telling him to be quiet).  When I do finally hear him, I think, maybe he will stop.  You know, how babies cry it out?  They eventually fall asleep?  Unfortunately, my fur baby dog doesn't give in easily.  So, there I am, calling him to come up stairs.

RT calls him a spoiled Momma's boy.

And...he is probably right.