C Cuts Her Hair

On the Tuesday after she made her First Holy Communion, C decided it was time to get her hair cut. Daddy started the tradition (with a small "t") of letting the girls decide if they want short hair after they've made their First Holy Communion. This way they still look like a little girl on such an important day. He figured they are old enough at the age of reason to start taking a shower and washing their own hair, if they decide to have it cut. C had Grammy, who is a beautician, cut her hair before she left to go back up north. Grammy cut off about 12 inches of hair. C will be sending it away this week to the Locks of Love organization that makes wigs for kids who've lost their own hair through either cancer treatments or the disease Alopecia.

I think it made Daddy a little sad to see her cut off all her hair. I'll admit I really haven't gotten used to the new look, yet. However, knowing that her hair is going to be used to make a little boy or girl very happy, is a consolation. C looks so grown up now with her new hair cut. I thought she'd regret it, but she still says she loves it.

C's First Holy Communion

T used his Mass Kit and pretended to celebrate Mass on Saturday, so that C could practice for her First Holy Communion on Sunday. Grammy and Paw-Paw also attended and joined in singing and role playing. I think it helped C to better prepare for the big day.

C and the two boys who also received their First Holy Communion. Don't they look so cute and excited. This was right before Mass began.

Just after Mass, C poses with Jesus in the tabernacle and in her heart. She was so happy! My mom captured a rare picture of all of us after Mass, and surprisingly, everyone is looking at the camera.

This is the cake on which I used fondant and gum paste to create stalks of wheat and three-dimensional grapes. I was very blessed to have found a chalice cake topper that fit very well and was inexpensive. It made the cake look so much better.

This is the chocolate cake that C helped to decorate with real roses she cut from our rose bush. This chocolate cake was the first to go. It was made with the King Aurthur Flour chocolate cake mix a friend gave me. It was, by far, the best cake I've ever made. I was told this my nearly everyone in attendance who devoured it. I also made some cupcakes for the little kids to enjoy. I found the "host" idea on http://www.catholicicing.blogspot.com/; it uses the end of a large marshmallow. Her blog has the directions, though she used the idea on cookies.

We were so blessed to have family and "church family" celebrate with us on this special day. Some of our special guests included two of the priests we see most often, Fr. M and Fr. J. C was so happy they both were able to stop by and visit for awhile. It made the day even more special. Fr. M was even able to bless many of C's First Holy Communion gifts after playing a friendly game or two of euchre.

Yogurt and Water Fun

E made quite the mess eating his yogurt the other day. He enjoyed eating like a big boy, all my himself, though I think he ended up wearing more than he ate.

The kids were so grateful that it had gotten warm enough to play in the sprinkler. E wasn't so sure about the falling water, but he had a great time splashing and pouring water in a large bowl with R.

E liked just running around half naked on the deck, too. Look at that smile!

E is quite the little man now and acting more and more grown up all the time. He'll make a great big brother when our newest blessing arrives in August.

Latest Happenings

Playdough fun with the cake making kit.

Green Eggs and Ham to go with our Dr. Seuss story.

A family friend made her First Holy Communion this past Sunday. Her mom did an excellent job on the cake!

A mole the girls found in the yard. It has been so wet that this little guy couldn't even stay underground. He was very active and fun to watch.

Easter at Ma and Pa's House

Easter baskets and candy from Ma and Pa, inside Easter egg hunt due to the rain, and finally some outdoor fun when there was a pause in the storms. R took the time to draw a lovely picture in between all the fun. I think she did remarkably well for a three-year old. She even included the teeth and fingers. She was so proud of her creation.

Easter Morning Celebrations

Bright and early (before 6am!), I heard the older five kids getting into their Easter baskets. They were all so delighted with what the "Easter Bunny" had brought them. I laid there in bed listening to them shouting things like, "Wow, look what I got!", "A Holy Heroes T-shirt!!!", "Cool, a chocolate bunny!", and "Look at all those jelly beans!".

I couldn't stand it any longer. I knew I had to get up and share in their Easter joy (as well as, be the candy police!). The song, "Arise, Come Sing in the Morning!" kept running through my head anyway. I knew there was no way I'd be going back to sleep. So I made my way to the kitchen, saw what they were getting into, and proceeded to make pancakes and sausage for breakfast. After all, it was Easter. Why not make this morning even more special with a large breakfast?

The kids dressed up with their baskets before heading off to Easter Sunday Mass. E had already lost his tie at this point.

Our usual Easter pictures of each of the kids in front of a bush at Church. Hubby and I had M take a picture of us together because it was also our 12th wedding anniversary that day. (Wow, who would have thought that 12 years into our marriage we'd have six beautiful children and one on the way?)