Godmommy Visits

David was able to meet one of his godparents when his godmommy came through town and stayed over Saturday day and night: what a lovely, surprise visit!

David grabbing at her holy crucifix already

We were due for a family visit to Confession, which seemed even more fitting on a day Godmommy was visiting, so off we went to church.

Then the children played Duck, Duck, Goose on the lawn outside . . .

. . . and even Godmommy joined in!

Then we went to Freedom Park to play at the playground (no pics) and then to dinner to try the new restaurant Smash Burger. It was delicious but extremely expensive, so probably not a place we will visit again--unless Chris takes me there on a date for one of their fancy-looking milkshakes! It should have been a clue that this gourmet burger joint did not have any prices listed on its menu.

My girls wanted to pray for the repose of the soul of Grampa Neil.

On Sunday, we headed to Greenville for a day with the grandparents. Since Godmommy was headed that way too, she drove her own car and joined us for the noon Latin Mass at Prince of Peace.

I spotted Godmommy leading the children in prayer at a statue of Our Lady.

It was a lovely visit and we look forward also to when David can meet his godfather!

Godmommy visits

We enjoyed such a special overnight visit from the children's godmother!

Godmommy and I got to go to breakfast by ourselves--thanks, Chris!

This was Joseph's first time being old enough to be aware of knowing his godmother and he took such a shine to her! He calls her "Godmommy" and when she and I were departing for breakfast, he ran to her saying, "Godmommy, kiss me!"

Godmommy and godchildren

Catholic Homeschooling Conference 2012

On Friday we travelled to Atlanta for the annual Catholic Homeschooling Conference which I've attended yearly since John was a lap baby, except for last year when Margaret a couple of weeks old. This time, three of our friends from Charlotte also travelled to the conference, so we got to visit with them, making it that much more fun.

Stopping for lunch on the drive to Atlanta 

John is now old enough to entertain the baby and Margaret is now old enough to be entertained, at least sometimes. The first three hours of the drive to Atlanta were blissful; the last hour, the baby screamed.

A silver lining to Chris traveling for business so often is that we have many hotel points to use for free personal travel!

We started Saturday with Mass as a family. I resort to tying my chapel veil under my chin like a Russian babushka, an awkward fashion "statement" that results from no other reason than that I always have a baby yanking off my veil. But little Mary, who started wearing a veil some months ago, knows no better, so she requests, "Please tie my veil under my chin." So sweet!

My friend S.'s baby is about six weeks younger than Margaret. The two of them entertained each other well during one of the sessions, which was a nice break from chasing Margaret around.

At the end of the fantastic day, whose sessions and shopping left me excited and rearin' to go for next year, Margaret and I were tuckered out. (Chris had spent the day with the kids, Grandmom and Pop-Pops, and Uncle Mike: playing at the playground, eating lunch out, and not one, but two!, sessions swimming at the hotel pool.)

Chris is the one who suggested I blog about this humorous turn of events or I wouldn't have done it: Mary got food all over her dress at lunch, so Chris dug through the suitcase and found a clean dress for her. He showed up with the kids to take all of us to dinner after the conference and I took one look at Mary (who wears size 4 and 5 dresses) and asked, "Why is she wearing Margaret's dress?" This is a dress I sewed for Mary about two years ago. Chris actually thought it fit her. I had giggle fits throughout dinner looking at Mary.

This is what the dress looks like fitting a sweet 13-month-old baby.

On our way out of town, we enjoyed a delightful visit with the children's godparents. God-daddy even walked John down to the lake where John reported breathlessly that snakes live, but he didn't see any.

The drive home was far less than ideal. Starting from the far side of Atlanta, it took us five hours, during which Margaret screamed for several hours. Finally she fell asleep and only a few minutes later, Mary woke up with a night terror (which happens on nights she is seriously overtired from travel) and she screamed inconsolably and unawares for about half an hour . . . which, of course, woke up the baby and started her going again. We got home after eleven at night, so glad to be home!

Baptism of Margaret Anne

For days, John has been excited about Margaret's upcoming baptism . . . except that he kept confusing "being baptized" with "being born," so he'd say, "Margaret is going to be born in a few days!" Of course, there is some theological truth to his error, which made it all the sweeter. On the morning of the baptism, we showed the kids photos from John's and Mary's baptisms. The children's godmother helped me dress Margaret.

The baptism begins in the narthex

We process into the church

Father had a talk with our young man about praying for his littlest sister.

Father consecrated Margaret to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Like the baptism, the Churching of Women also begins in the narthex and proceeds into the church.

My mama's heart felt so good and light knowing that my newest blessing is now baptized!

Our family with the grandparents and the godparents

This hand-decorated onesie was one of Margaret's many precious gifts. Really, I was overwhelmed at the thoughtfulness put into the gifts she received.

It took three baptisms for me to figure out how to have a lovely baptismal reception: ask somebody else to do it for me! When John was baptized, I was so stressed out with new motherhood that it never even occurred to me to plan any kind of reception. A thoughtful and understanding lady at our parish showed up with a cake and set up a little reception for us. Then when Mary was baptized, I knew to organize a reception and did it myself--which was stressful for a mama three weeks postpartum trying to manage a little baby who needed to nurse frequently. This time Chris had the (I admit it now) brilliant idea to ask a particular young lady at our parish who has a real knack for this kind of hostessing to do it for us. She was gracious, she did a fabulous job, I was completely relaxed, and I'll be giving her some sewing lessons in return for her work.

I took this photo principally to show Mary's shoes beneath the table (although it is also nice to see the lovely table). Mary takes off her shoes everywhere all day long!

Hugs and kisses back at the house

At the end of our long day, we went out to dinner with Grandmom and Pop-Pops.