Happy Easter

 Now since you are celebrating the holy Pascha, you should know, brethren, what the Pascha is. Pascha means the crossing-over, and so the Festival is called by this name. For it was on this day that the Children of Israel crossed over out of Egypt, and the Son of God crossed over from this world to His Father. What gain is it to celebrate unless you imitate Him Whom you worship; that is, unless you cross over from Egypt, that is, from the darkness of evildoing to the light of virtue, from the love of this world to the love of your heavenly home?"
St. Ambrose of Milan

 Getting ready for the Easter Vigil.  We started it at 10:30 pm and went until 1:30 am or so... then had a celebration in the church hall. Bedtime was 3:30 am. 

 Totally forgot to get a family Easter picture after Sunday Mass so this will have to do!

 Easter Vigil starts on Holy Saturday, enveloped in darkness (mostly)

 It was very windy and very cold.

 Entering into the church, all that can be seen is the light of the Easter Candle

 Lighting of Candles

 Reading of Lessons and singing of antiphons

Blessing of the Easter Waters

 At the Gloria all the lights went on.

 We woke up on Easter Sunday morning (bitterly cold) to a new calf. I'm calling him Paschal, but I heard that they will come up with some other kind of name (let's call it a nickname) that suits his personality ...

 Very happy healthy little guy.  But very cold as he was still very wet. 

 Family size pans of bacon and sausage while the stuffed french toast bakes.  Oh. Yum.

 The oldest 6 children hid baskets for the youngest, each had a name and they made up their own clues, etc... it was awesome, but much to my surprise, they put one together for us, too. A great bag filled with goodies!

 Kili is into little "army men" so this is a bucket of medieval army men. (and nutella... yuck)

 We had a High Mass for Easter Sunday as well. It's great to have our beautiful statues back.

 I found these jelly beans that I couldn't resist picking up for Frodo....

 NO JOKE!!! Absolutely horrible flavors... and... he tried them... it was a rather comical time.

 I found this cute little pedal scooter thing at St. Vincent's, just for some indoor funsies.

 Hello?! Think Spring!.... HARDER!