A busy and sleep deprived week for the Clevs this week just past. Last weekend we started ‘sprucing’ the house for Luis’ communion. Our landlord has given us kind permission to paint and after a minor plumbing emergency earlier this week (which involved sections of wall being removed in the living room and kitchen) we hopped right to it. Goodbye crayon on walls, hello washable paint.
Tuesday we were honoured to see Luis participating in the sacrament of reconciliation (first confession) at our local church. There had been a bit of worry beforehand that it would be in the confessional box, in which case Luis was debating putting on an accent as the priest would know it was him otherwise with his nice soouf loondan accent! But in the end it was up on the alter with the proud parents watching (but not listening thanks to the music playing) from the pews.
The whole event was splendid and I have to admit to feeling very peaceful and ‘zen’ like afterwards. Luis said he was truly sorry for some of his previous actions, and I really do feel has a good grip on what is just plain stupid decision making and what is an actual sin. We went home and celebrated Shrove Tuesday/Pancake Day with about as much peace and zen like quiet as a stampede (think one frazzled mum with one pancake pan on the go, and 5 small children helping themselves to syrup, sauce, and sugar)
Pancakes! yum!! we have pancakes on a Saturday morning for breakfast at least twice a month, but I always do American style ones
(Martha Stewart to be precise) with syrup, fruit, or nutella. So tonight at Mr Clevs request we had the traditional ‘english’ style flat pancakes (Flour, Egg, Milk) with sugar and lemon. 4 children and 1 daddy consumed somewhere in the region of 21 pancakes, I had three, I should have stopped after 1 but I have zero self restraint and zero clothes that fit me properly.
As you may know, Ash Wednesday follows Shrove Tuesday, so it was back to church to receive ashes. We were talking on Skype to someone shortly after this photo and they were really concerned about the bruise on Cora’s head, not a bruise, I promise – its ash! So that marked the start of Lent, after quite a bit of discussion around the kitchen table the Clevs decided on giving AND taking up something for the next 40 days and nights.
Mummy = Giving up Shouting and Digestives. Taking up 1 hour of quiet time with the kids a day (no tv, but time to play a quiet game, read or talk)
Daddy = Giving up Shouting, taking up weekly ‘boys dates’
Luis = Giving up chocolate and Xbox, taking up cleaning the table after every meal
Maxi = Giving up Xbox, taking up making his, Luis and Amelies beds every day.
The girls are too young but I did suggest the following,
Amelie = Giving up tea, taking up sleeping through the night
Vivienne = Giving up poking, taking up sleeping through the night
Cora = Giving up the 3 night feeds, taking up sleeping through the night.
Which brings us to Friday. We are abstaining from meat on a Friday during Lent, and I am only eating one meal. Fridays Fishy Feast (see what I did there!) was salmon veggie pasta bake. Salmon, par boiled pasta, red pepper, fresh tomatoes and spinach baked in a cream sauce. I have to make my cream sauce from scratch because Mr Clev does not like cheese and jarred varieties are deemed ‘too creamy’.
So there you have it, that is what we are doing during Lent. I might make Friday a dedicated ‘fishy friday feast’ day and post what we are having and a recipe, but I shall see how we go.
Our weekend was low key again, football football and more football, oh and rain too. What is everyone else doing during Lent?
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