This past weekend was a crazy and bitter-sweet one. We traveled out to western MA, where I am from, about 2.5 hours away, because my God-Daughter was making her First Holy Communion, at the same time as our niece>my brother’s and his wife’s daughter! Same morning, separate churches, separate towns. Don’t you love it when 2 all-important events are to happen simultaneously, and you have to choose which one to miss? We are so joyful for both of these beautiful little girls who we love so much, but I knew I would be where I was obligated to be, with my God-Daughter, and I was honored to be present as well. I cried too much, from sheer joy. Seeing her make this beautiful and fulfilling sacrament really moved me. But it was still sad to miss our niece receive her sacrament as well.
This is my precious, freckle-faced God-Daughter on her special day….
I really love those freckles, and she knows it. But I love her more.
She is as sweet as can be, so well mannered, and just full of love. 
The little gold cross necklace she is wearing, I gave her for her Baptism.
After celebrating with her and her family for awhile, we headed over to my brother’s to see our niece as well, for her own special day. Most everybody was still there celebrating, which was great. Of course, we didn’t get to see her in her dress, so I don’t have any photos of her. I wouldn’t have been able to post them anyway, because her mother doesn’t allow photos of her and her brother online. But she (her mother) did show me a few photos of her in her dress and veil in their camera, and she was just beautiful of course. We are so happy for her too. She’s a doll.
I did take photos of their chickens and rooster though. lol. I just had to. I hope it’s o.k. to post them! lol They haven’t had the chickens that long….or at least not since before we were there last, so our kids were quite amused watching them and ‘playing’ with them through the fence. They were actually getting a little carried away and we had to make them chill a little. (Our kids, not the chickens. lol). But the chickens are pretty funny to watch…..I was enjoying them myself.
I just had to take some photos of them, but, I have to tell you, it’s not easy trying to photograph constantly moving subjects through a chain link fence, and get them in focus! I sure can’t do it. So this is the best I got. Check out their lone rooster though. I’m telling you, he is in command of his ‘chicks’! His name is Rodney, but I think Fonzie would have been more fitting.
: ) HEYYYYYYYYYY.
He has beautiful coloring, and I always love the fancy tail.
{O} was pretty impressed that one hen laid an egg while we were there. She held it for the longest time, and it was still warm. lol
I took a few other random photos of our kids, before I put the camera away. They always have so much fun when they see their cousins. Everyone is growing up so fast. But I didn’t take photos of them all together. There are always lots of fun things to do though, too. I was SO tired that day. I/We hardly slept the night before, staying at my parents house. We were comfortable, as always, but just not being in our own beds, and knowing we had to wake up and get ready EARLY the next morning, was too much pressure to fall asleep for me! So I was basically sleep walking on Saturday.
Oh….the other photos……
They always have the quads out. At a lot of occasions, my brother uses his big quad and pulls a trailer full of hay, and gives all of the kids countless hay rides on the trials through the woods. They LOVE that. No hay rides this time…but the quads were still out.
A mini trampoline….
Piggy back rides from Daddy are always available, too…..
We stayed pretty late, ordered and ate some pizzas, had some really hardy laughs, and let the cousins be together for awhile more. Then we traveled home in the dark and light rain, so we could be home on Sunday. It was nice to see everyone, but it is always nice to go home!
Be on the lookout for the next blog post….it’s a pretty good one in my book. : ) We’ve actually got lots of great stuff coming up that I am so excited about, but I always open my mouth before I should, so…..<locking mouth>. …for now.
Hope you all are having a wonderful week!
COCK-A-DOODLE-DOOOOOO!
Beautiful photos! I love seeing first communion pictures…I can’t wait until my oldest is ready to receive in 2 yrs. Our diocese has changed things though, the kids receive 1st reconcilliation/communion/confirmation all in the same year (grade 2). Is it the same way for you? Or is confirmation when the children are older?
Really Samantha?? Your Catholic diocese?? NO….it’s not like that here….they make confirmation in 10th grade, which honestly, I have always felt is too young too….just a very confusing and distracting time for many teenagers to commit themselves seriously to the Catholic faith. Many are just plain not ready, but just do it because their parents said so. Not all of course. But in second grade? How can a child that age make such an important life decision? That blows me away. I don’t/won’t like that at all. Our trio make their 1st Reconciliation and Holy First Communion next year >>> and I’ll be praying they don’t make that change in our diocese before then. YIKES!!
Wow, I have never heard of such a thing either, that is REALLY young to make confirmation in 2nd Grade, I can’t imagine!
Anyway, I love the pic of the little trampoline jumper in mid-air! That is so cool! Your family get together sounds a lot like ours, atvs and animals! Did I tell you we have chickens and goats in our near future? Raising them I mean!
Awwww…..there’s my baby! She is thrilled to have a special spot on your blog! Looks like you guys had fun at your brother’s. I had no idea they had a chicken farm going! LOL Well thanks for everything, especially the beautiful photo shots of J. She looked like an angel that day. I was so sorry to see you leave, but I do appreciate that you could stay as long as you did. I hope you had a good time, and the kids didn’t get any funny growths or rashes from playing with all those critters in my brook. LOL. Love to all!! Rene
Lol Rene…no, no funny growths or rashes. They sure did love those salamanders, and everything about the brook! Can’t blame them. They had a blast. It was a great gathering and visit with everyone. Love back at y’all!!