I have to tell you that you might want to come back to my blog... let's say.. in June.  You might just get tired of the black skirts and white blouses (although this is a new concert blouse... thanks Mom) that are all about our spring and lots of concerts.  But I have to put them here because I'll forget how they made my heart swell.  So if you need a great recipe, ideas on how to decorate your home, or just a place to make you feel better after reading, you'll have to visit my friend, Billie Jo who will have all of that (and more) for you.  For now I have to keep up with what's up around here...

(little hand in daddy's... that's heart swelling enough for me... who needs the concert?)

(and can I add that little ankle lace socks and patten leathers make me happy... these are a few of my favorite things... I know I'm stretching it with an almost eleven year old... don't tell her that she's getting too old for them okay?)



Last Saturday night Anna played her viola at the Bushnell.



 She played with her school ensemble (other fifth graders who play strings)  It was a for a cocktail party/benefit.  The tickets were waaaay to expensive for Scott and I and we really just wanted to hear her play.  But we (even Abigail) got all dressed up to sneak in the back behind all of the black tie people to hear her group play and to hear our hearts swell just a little bit more.

(her concentrating face) 


We were proud... and she was relieved it was over.

The Important Stuff... Faith, Family & Food

I wish I could do the post that I really want to. The one I saw at 10:14 on Easter morning in downtown Hartford. But I can't. Here's why... I love my camera and it's like another arm to me but there are sometimes I get wigged out to take it out. Like at Mass. And that is why I don't have the photos to do the post I really want to do. So I'll try to do it with my words instead. (yes, photos would be better but just bear with me, k?)

We go to the oldest Catholic church in Connecticut. It's awesome. It's beautiful. It's out 'home parish' even though it's not the parish down the street. It's mostly our home parish because it's the one Scott and I 'tried out' the first Sunday we were home from our honeymoon. Here was the order of business for me back then. (to do list, circa 1996)

1. Get married (check)
2. Go on loooong (you waited forever for this) honeymoon (check)
3. Come home and move in that new (okay, really old... but it was darling, romantic, and sweet... looked just like, just like my childhood dollhouse) house together (check)
4. Find a parish to call home (check)

The moment we stepped in we knew we were home. That was 18 years ago (this summer in case you need the details) and we've never left.



Okay, so there's the history for us and our church.  But here's the post I really wanted to do (minus the photos)

Our awesome pastor like to include the children as much as he can.  He started with Baptisms.  He'd invite all of the children to come up and sit on the floor in front of the alter and watch each Baptism (our baby Baptisms are during the Mass and not separate)  And then it just grew from there.

This Easter he had the children come up and sit around him for their own special homily.  Wonderful.  But then... (here's the part that blows me away) Instead of after the homily was over going back to your parents he invited the children to walk up on to the alter and STAY with him (yes, stay with him up on that holy alter) for the entire consecration and through the entire Mass.  I had tears in my eyes the whole time.  And I so wanted to be up in the choir loft to get a shot looking down at the alter and our pastor surrounded by children as he blessed the bread and wine.  Breathtaking moments....

But I was too chicken to leave my seat, walk all the way down the aisle, up the choir loft stars and take the shot I really wanted.  So I got this crummy one instead.



If you're looking for Anna and Abigail, they're not in the photo since they were on the other side of the alter.  Didn't they know that this camera mama would really have appreciated them walking around near me?  Ha!

Anyway, there's my story and I do love my church.

And here are the rest of the photos from the day...



Pre church





A quick stop by a park





Grandma and Grandpas

The Bunny Is Real... And I Can Prove It

Proof Positive



Look, he left the room with like a magical glow. It feels like the bunny was just there!







Remember, remember, remember... how the first thing she grabbed out of her basket was a chocolate bunny bank.



Wasn't that just so smart of the Easter bunny to give Abigail all things chocolate without giving her allergic chocolate? Proof positive again!  Isn't that just the perfect thing for her bunny themed room?



We couldn't figure out what this was for the longest time until Anna shouted out, "it's chocolate Easter soap!!!"





And the capes, how they loved the silk capes. Only the bunny would know the she still loves to pretend!









And this book he brought was just so beautiful... about a bunny that met Jesus on that first Easter.





And he knew that Anna just had to have a sweet real chocolate bunny since Abigail got that chocolate bunny bank!



"Mommy, I thought we had outgrown getting Calico Critters but I love them so much!"







Oh, and this one was beautiful about how the robin got his red breast from a drop of Jesus' blood.



And thank you Easter bunny for the sweet old fashioned bunny family paper dolls. How I'll love playing these with Abigail.





And to go with this that Santa brought waaaay back in December, now she gets to make more owls for her owl house.



And the hunting began...





I was just thrilled that he didn't leave any bunny poop on my dining room table... phew!



Sneeky bunny... eggs in with the egg lights!





And what was in all those eggs? Oh he's real for sure! No allergic... and the gum they love!



So there you go... Easter bunny magic.  It made for a wonderful, happy, remember it forever morning.  Just another childhood holiday morning... oh how I love them so!