Finally

I've been informed that I haven't posted in almost two weeks. However, I have also noticed that many bloggers seem to have gone into dormancy over Lent. My silence hasn't been intentional; rather, I gave up reading blogs during the day throughout Lent. This soon turned into an overall apathy toward blog reading at anytime of day as well as a reluctance to post anything of my own.
It's sort of been nice.
I've been a lot more present to those within my own home as well as not as easily sucked into the comparison-with-other-moms vortex.
I considered a public service announcement: See ya at Easter; but, I decided against that. So, here I am with not much to say.

Jacob and Hannah are making their First Reconciliation on Saturday - where did the time go? They turn 8 on Sunday and in Jacob's words, "We'll be all clean and fresh for our birthday." Jacob has built up this latest birthday tremendously. Lists of possible gifts and schedules for the day have appeared on the fridge and under my bedroom door scratched in a hasty almost-eight-year-old scrawl. One schedule included a trip to Ottawa, special time with parents, a party, a special celebration at every meal and a trip to a swimming pool - all packed into one day. I am tired even writing it down.
So, I have been working on lowering the birthday expectations over the last month. Hopefully, all will go well and no tears of disappointment will be shed on Sunday.

Speaking of Sunday: Palm Sunday and the twins birthday coincide this year. The last time their birthday fell during Holy Week was the day that they were born - Holy Thursday. When Jacob found out that Jesus would be hailed as a king as he rode into Jerusalem on the twins' eighth birthday, he said, "Wow. They really want to celebrate me and Hannah, don't they?" Good thing that First Confession is the day before. (Hopefully the aforementioned possibility of birthday disappointment won't follow the Holy Week narrative.)

First Communion, I imagine, is sometime in June but the date has yet to be set. Jacob's outfit has been purchased (khakis and a blue blazer) and my mother is making a tiered dress for Hannah. The making of the dress has required lots of internet consultations as well as the sending of various bodices via Canada Post. Complicated.
Yesterday, Hannah asked if she could try on my wedding veil to see if it would work for her First Communion. So, we went down to the basement and pulled out the veil (which was much too long).

But then she saw The Dress (my wedding dress) and implored me to try it on. So, I did. And I am happy to say that, five babies later, that dress still fits like a glove - although the glove is slightly uncomfortable around the middle.
I then put on my veil and we went to the big mirror in the basement bathroom to take a look.

By this point all the kids were in the basement and I was holding Isaac on my hip. Jacob was gushing that I looked like a princess, Hannah was asking to try on the dress herself and suggesting that maybe I "could wear it to a party or something", Joseph was confused and Benjamin was crying about wanting to sleep in the same bed with me. So, the newest wedding shot was of me holding a seven month old baby surrounded by four little kids - the very real fruit of those vows almost 9 years ago.

It was great; and, I thought, "Gee whiz. I wish I could get married again." Still to Dave.
But we both look better now - more comfortable in our own skin and my hair is long (which, stupidly, it wasn't for our wedding). Maybe we'll get some new wedding shots done with all the kids.
Maybe we'll find some time hiding under the couch.

So, that's it. I'll try and post more. So much goes on in my head - some of it half-decent for a post about something slightly thought worthy; but, then someone cries or needs a wipe and I have to make supper.
I'll try harder. Elena