Knock, knock, Georg heard and looked up from his desk. "Maria, you're home, did you and Eleanor have a good day in town?" He came to her for a kiss.

"Yes and Georg, Eleanor tells me we need to be more social."

"And just what did she mean?"

"She thought we should have a party."

"No, no, no Maria, the last party was a disaster; people disrespected my flag and you ran away."

"Georg, this wouldn't be anything like that; come let's have some tea and talk about it." She took his hand and nudged him to the kitchen.

"Are you both ready for your afternoon tea?"

"Yes, Frau Katia, Georg and I need to discuss having a party. What smells so good?"

"Your favorite cookies, Maria, hot out of the oven. Want some?"

"Of course, thank you." Maria answered as they sat at the small table there in the kitchen.

"Did I hear you say something about a party?"

"Yes, but Georg's worried it would turn out like the last one."

"Would it be as large, Maria?"

"Not at all. What I have in mind would be a lot of fun."

"Go on Maria."

"The Church calendar gives us a reason to have a party. The Tuesday before Lent begins, is a party day; for some it's called Mardi Gras, others Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday. It's a party to dress up in costumes, dance and eat; old and young, with just a few friends."

She looked at Georg to see his response; his eyes sparkled and his mouth showed a hint of a smile. "Is that a yes, Georg?"

"Have I ever been able to say no to your ideas?"

She reached over the table and gave him a kiss. "We'll have a wonderful time!"

"If you say so, Maria."

"So Maria, what kind of food where you planning?"

"Nothing fancy, Frau Katia, I want everyone to party with us."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

That evening, Maria told the children. "Your Father and I are planning a party."

"Correction, your Mother is planning a party."

The children saw the smile they shared between them and laughed. "Father you don't like the idea?" Kurt asked.

"Let your Mother tell you."

"It's a costume party, children. You will all need to dress up. The party is next Tuesday; you will need to work fast."

"Why on a Tuesday?"

"Liesl, it's the day before the forty days of preparation before Easter as proclaimed by the Church."

"Do we need to do anything special?"

"Some may fast; or study; or do something for others. Each person needs to decide."

"What are you going to do Mother?"

"Well, I plan not to eat Frau Katia's cookies and to do something for the children at the orphanage."

"And you Father?"

"I'm not sure, children, this is all new to me."

The children dispersed to their rooms to discuss their costumes. They started to rifle through all the toy boxes and Marta's boxes of dress up clothes. Everyone found things to use; they took them to their own rooms. Over the next few days they completed their costumes.

"Georg, you are going to dress up?"

"If you insist."

"Where's that large box of things you collected on your trips around the world? I'm sure we can both find things in there."

The couple took a trip into the attic. "Georg, there's so much up here."

"Some of it was left by the previous owners; so I'm not sure what is in some of the boxes."

They were up there a long time. They each found things for their costume. Georg told the housestaff they were welcome to look up there as well.

Frau Katia made lots of goodies for the party; all kind of drinks would be available. They had invited, Harold and Eleanor, Franz and Isabel Isenhart and Georg's navy friends, Ralph and Audrey Bittinger and their children if they wanted to come.

The party started at eight; there were sailors, pirates, fashion models, soccer players; ladies in kimonos. The music played and played, they danced and ate and ate some more. The clock in the hall chimed at midnight; a signal to all that it was over. They wished each other well; the guests departed. And some sleepy children barely made it up the stairs to their beds.

"Georg, did you have fun?"

"Yes, darling, it was a lot of fun and now this sailor is taking this Japanese lady to his bedroom."

"I can't believe you could still wear your first sailor suit." He smiled and patted his torso.

"How do you get out of this Maria?"

"You start right here and just twirl it off of me." Georg took fill advantage of undressing his wife and drowning her in affection; equally returned by Maria.

They used the next six weeks to draw closer as a family. They read together, from the Bible to the classics. The children did things with the orphans from the Abbey school. Maria sewed for the.; Georg and Baron Ebersol took them on several outings.

One day shortly after one of the outings with the orphans, Louisa came up to her mother and asked. "Can the orphans spend Easter with us?"

"Louisa, that's a wonderful idea. I'll check with the administrator of the orphanage."

Later that night she and Georg discussed it. "Georg, I'm sure they will be children who have no place to go for Easter, they could spend the night with us."

Georg was surprised but totally in agreement. The Saturday before Easter the von Trapp home grew by seven children. When Maria had made the arrangements, she was pleased to learn that no children would remain in the orphanage for Easter.

The others stood waiting in the circle. Maria over heard their talking. One said, "I'm glad we have a big home for them to stay in." And another, "This is going to be lots of fun."

Liesl came and put her arm around her mother, "This was a wonderful idea, I'm so glad Louisa suggested it." She gave her mother a little squeeze.

"Me, too," returning the affection with a kiss on her cheek.

Stefan and Phillip had set up tables in the courtyard. All the supplies were ready for the children to color their eggs. Georg had friends who were experts. Since their eggs being all finished, they were more than willing to help the children.

Blankets and pillows were on the floor in each bedroom, the children actually fought over who was going to sleep on the floor. Liesl was the only one to keep her bed; her brothers and sisters were all on the floor. It took forever but they finally went to sleep. They would be up before daylight to attend the first service of Easter.

It was still cold when they walked to their family church, and dark. Georg had brought two lanterns; Friedrich carried one; Stefan and Phillip brought up the rear with two more. As they approached the Church they turned them off.

The first light was an ancient tradition of manually starting a fire by rubbing two sticks together. As the fire flared, the people walked by and lit their candles; they entered the church, first to somber music and prayer and then to joy as the service of Easter began.

Every family brought some food items to be blessed so that the fast could be broken. The enlarged family returned home. They ate breakfast in the courtyard. The passageways to the garden were guarded by Phillip and Stefan.

The baskets were distributed and into the gardens the children went, in search of the hidden eggs, especially the "golden" egg. The day was full of games and songs. All the children were sad when their new friends had to return to the Abbey. They became fast friends who would play together many more times during the year.

A/N: I know my stories aren't traditional. I enjoy this family, especially Georg and Maria; I do what I call "peep into their lives and see what they are doing." I try to show their love for each other and the children and do it with humor and reality. I hope if you enjoy them you will leave me a comment.