Bri's First Communion

I know I said I would talk about Easter and some other things when I got back to blogging, but I just have to talk first about Briana's First Communion.

I'm so proud of her. She was so beautiful this past Saturday...

Bri and I went looking for a communion dress several weeks ago. She picked the first one she tried on. She looked like an angel...

My parents were in attendance as well as my sister, brother-in-law and my nephew N1. My other brother-in-law (Doug's brother) and my sister-in-law flew in from CO for the special occasion. I also invited a couple of very close friends. I say "friends," but they really are more like family. Doug and I wanted to keep the guest list small and intimate - it was just perfect...

My parents with Briana...

The three of us...

Before bringing Briana to the room where the kids were asked to gather before the ceremony, I stopped in the church to take a few pictures first. Briana ran into her sweet friend Sophie as soon as we walked in. Photo opp of course...

This is another sweet girl that was in Bri's class. I don't know her name unfortunately...

This particular ceremony was for the kids that attended PSR classes on Wednesday evenings. The kids that attend PSR on Sundays will have their communion this upcoming Sat...

We all took our seats and when the children filed in, the Knights of Columbus held swords for the kids to walk through. Briana thought it was pretty neat. I love this look on her face...

She was so pretty walking into the church...

Deacon Stephen said the homily and he was wonderful. He talks to the kids so amazingly well...

Then it was time for the Eucharist (given by Father Manuel)...

Deacon Stephen and Briana...

Then the children sang a song...

The whole ceremony took about an hour and then it was time to leave...

I had to pick up Bri from the school gym. A professional photo was taken of the kids...

She received her certificate and rosary beads...

After the ceremony, we all headed back to my house for lunch...

And some cake...

And some gift opening...

She did it!!!!

A celebratory drink for a special little girl...

Briana prepared very hard this year for her special day. I'm so very proud of my sweet girl.

Stopping In For A Minute

We had a wonderful Easter weekend and I am super busy this week getting ready for out of town guests that are coming for a visit. :)

I want to blog about everything - including "Floyd" coming to visit. Floyd is Briana's class stuffed bear. Bri wrote about our weekend in the class journal.

I'll be back next week. Just have a million and one things to do!

Have a great week!

Happy Easter/Happy Passover

Happy Easter to all who celebrate Easter! Hope you have a wonderful day.

Happy Passover to those who celebrate Passover! (Passover actually started on Monday evening).

Though I am a practicing Catholic, I feel blessed that I was able to grow up learning about, understanding and respecting two very different religions (my mom is Catholic and my dad is Jewish).

 Hope everyone has a blessed day!

Back To School Week

Briana finally went back to school on Monday. Spring break was the last long stretch of vacation we will have until summer break. And that happens at the end of May. Basically, we have a little over a month until summer break. I can't believe it.

I got back into my routine. I had two lunch dates with two very good friends.

Briana was super excited because on Tuesday afternoon, I picked up her and her friend Taylor from school so they could have a play date...

The girls are just so sweet together.

Briana and I decorated our Easter eggs (we chose a sparkle and sequins kit) on Wednesday afternoon...

All week, Briana was soooo excited because she knew that she was able to bring the class stuffed animal home on Friday for the weekend. This is Floyd. Bri put him in a special bed before going to sleep last night...

And right before we went on spring break, Briana won a little contest in her Venture class.

The kids had to use a piece of paper, tape and scissors to make the tallest and/or most creative paper tower - and it had to be able to stand up.

Briana won for tallest tower!

She was actually going for most creative (she was trying to make a Rapunzel type tower), but when she put the spire on top - she won for tallest!

It reminded me of the New World Trade Center...

I'm so proud because as you all know, Bri really struggled with Venture when she first started. Now she has a "BFF" in her class and she seems to be enjoying it. I still think she prefers her regular class, but she isn't crying anymore on Wednesdays - so I'll take it! LOL!

So that was our return to school this past week. I have to be honest though - over the last few weeks, I have been struggling just a little bit with Bri. She has been kind of huffy and throwing some attitude around lately. She never full out argues with me, but she does huff under her breath at me at times and sometimes won't do things I ask her to do. I reprimand her of course, but she still is doing it. I am hoping it is just a phase (we've been through these phases before). She really is a good girl, but she is definitely testing me a bit. Man - I am dreading the tween years!!!