Long Lost Portraits

Okay, so they're not really long lost portraits but I couldn't skip putting these here.  Because I have to have it all on this blog of mine.  And these I adore.  How could I not let you see them all?



I didn't take these. They were done by Matthew J Wagner. And he did an amazing job capturing my girl.









Finally, I have them all around my house. It sure took me a while. But it feels complete in this little house of mine with portraits like these in my hallway.



These portraits are the first things I see when I come down the stairs in the morning.





And exactly what you can see when you walk in my front door.



Yes, this one of Anna has been waiting for her match for four long years.



More in the family room







And the Living Room (viola room)



This desk that I sit at every single morning at 4:20 has this folded up inside right next to their (now dried) flower crowns.



After they were all up and hung I thought, complete.  Two beautiful First Holy Communions.  My precious girls.  What a gift the Sacraments are to our family.  So blessed to have all of these reminders all around me.

Someday I'll have to take you on a tour of Anna's portraits around our home.  I told Scott "I could look at these forever."  He smiled, I'm sure thinking, well, that's the idea.  Forever.  I love memories, thoughts, photography, moments captured.  I suppose that's why I still blog after all this time.  I just can't let go of the thoughts, words, moments.

Raise em Up

This song made me think of this picture.

I found it on Scott's phone.  I had no idea it was there until yesterday.  And then I saw it.

He snapped it just as we were about to walk into our church on this most amazing day in May.  Her First Holy Communion.

I'm so glad he did.

I took about nine thousand, six hundred photos that day.  And I had her photos 'professionally' taken but this one.  This one snapped with his iphone.  Yup, it's the very best one.



Maybe it's because I've held her hand and walked across this parking lot, crossed the street and into our church every single Sunday her whole entire life. I'm not quite sure, really what it is. It just is my absolute favorite picture of this amazing day.

And I'll hold her hand and walk across this parking lot and cross this street to our church every single Sunday until the day she wears a white gown again many years from then.  And then she'll find her own parish and do the same thing with her babies.

Just This... Her First Communion Present from Mommy and Daddy

If it doesn't play on the blog, try here.

Anna's First Communion video present is here...

First Communion... the end of the photos

So we spent the afternoon in our backyard.

Celebrating the beautiful Sacrament of First Communion.  

We had trays and trays of the most delicious Italian food from Hartford. Amazing!



My Mother on Mother's Day with her three. (tommy, trent, and tara)



Cousins were up to their happy business of just being together.



This is Abigail with her cousin, Ian. He and Anna are the same age. Just two weeks apart. Abigail has always, always, always adored him... which makes me happy. (same hair color... love that too)



I was beaming all day.




He's the one that let me make all my 'first communion dreams' come true. He never asked questions as the boxes and brown packages arrived day after day in April. But then again he always makes my dreams come true.



Abigail with Uncle Trent.





Anna was my helper that day and leading up to. She doted on Abigail in a way I'd never seen. She ironed all of the napkins and she left me encouraging, destressing notes on my pillow each night.



We had dessert inside. And this just might be my favorite picture of the day.  I think she sort of looks like the lamb here.



She is delicate, petite, and the lamb cake was just perfect for her.













She opened sweet gifts.









And okay, I'm not okay with this. The party had to end.



There were bare feet all dirty on the bottom, hair all askew, missing parts of her after dress, and favors being handed out as they drove away.

In other words. It was perfect.

So my little girl let me take a few last photos of her.



With her banner from church.







I snapped and thought of the day.



Of the Catholic Church that I love with my whole heart. And of the blessing of being her mama.





'Let the little children come to me...' matthew 19:14

First Communion... Back at our House

I love these two and their happy, relaxed, 'the way they always are, not stiff for the camera' photo of them.



And I am beyond grateful for this.



And this. That's my brother Trent, and his beautiful family.



Cousins are the best! And we are so happy there is a still a 'baby' cousin in our family!






And then we all stepped into our backyard (through the gate)  Gifts for all of the Mothers on their place settings (it was Mothers Day)







Abigail, your daddy looked so handsome on your special day.





I am so blessed!







Be Still My Heart



Oh, and I love this photo of Scott's Mom (Grandma Bee.. like the buzzing bee because of 'Baker') (and ooooh her dress here... swoon)



And this is my oldest brother, Tommy.



Although I wanted her to wear her dress until dark I knew that it was going to be a hot day so I let Grandma help her change.



Into this dress which was much cooler.



So she could run and play.



And sit in the grass with cousins.  And swing.



(and eat chocolate cake... more coming tomorrow)







It was a grand day.  So relaxing.  I loved being outside and in our backyard.  Sometimes the backyard can feel more elegant than the finest restaurant.  

More coming soon...