Last weekend Andrew made his First Communion. This is a big deal for me…I love First Communion. Here he is in his finery…I let him pick his tie out (not as fun as the girls are with the dresses and flowers and hair and all but I try!).
We also celebrated Matthew’s 13th birthday. (And smart girl that I am I combined those two parties into one compressed one, without ever looking at ideas on Pinterest but keeping everything really really simple knowing that for me right now, that is the best way to go. Actually for me, forever, that is the best way to go.)
So I officially have THREE teenagers living in my house. I can do this right? RIGHT???
On to the next event…Isaac is graduating in a matter of weeks! Wowzerrs!
I am not only handing over mother of the year award to you, but I am giving you the crown and bowing down to you. I have NO idea how you did it. lol. Amazing.
I think I am more freaked out by the mice in your freezer than you are of the snake. HA ha. I can totally relate to your fear though. Sick!
P.S. I have 6 children. I know what fun it is to have a big family. I am the oldest of 8 and my husband is the 11th of 15. Yup. You read that right. My mother in law should've also get mother of the year award.
Anyway…reading this post warmed my heart. EVERY day is a PARTY when you belong to a large family. Congrats to everyone on their birthdays and milestones. Good luck with the graduation next. FUN! FUN! FUN!
Congratulations to Andrew. He looks so handsome and your pictures are beautiful. I agree…you absolutely are 'Mother of the Year'. I too am terrified of snakes, don't even like to look at them in books. Ahhh the things we do for our children…haha.
Congratulations to Andrew and Happy Birthday to Matt. I think the simple parties are the ones most remembered. Yes, you definitely win Mother of the Year award for allowing a snake in the house. I was willing to do hermit crabs and hamsters (we have dogs now), but snakes were out of the question. Good thing, I have two girls who despise them as much as i do so it was never an issue!
You are a brave, brave woman. Snakes totally freak me out, the the bitty green garter snakes.
Sarah, I don't know what happened! I held you in such high esteem and now you have a pet snake living in your house and mice in the freezer??? You officially cracked with the pressure! I'm only kidding, but seriously can't believe you have a snake! They totally freak me out too. Good luck with that and with the upcoming graduation!!
Now that is a good Mom, I just could not do it. You are far braver then I!
I love seeing the cakes! They were simple, classic and beautiful.
OK…I am ignoring the mice and snake because I am scared, and jumping straight to…
CONGRATS ON FIRST HOLY COMMUNION!!!!
And I am SO GLAD you make it a BIG DEAL because it is!!!!!!!!!!
My little girl Annie made her Communion, too,last Saturday…I have yet to post many pictures, as I am still recovering! My heart has been BURSTING all week from that day.
GOD BLESS your handsome boy, he will be in my prayers today…praying that he stays close to Jesus all his life! What an awesome git it is to receive Jesus!
also…I HAVE A GIVE AWAY…a BEAUTIFUL necklace of MARY for Mother's Day!!!! You should stop by…I think you would love it..even your girl would love it!!! I think my blog might have a few "too snarky and brutally honest moments" for you to read regularly…but I promise you, I am a blessed and awesome Mother who puts God first every single day!!!! Come and win that necklace!
Can't believe you have allowed a snake in the house!!!!!!
I know just how you feel with a big family there is always some celebration or family gathering. We just go from one birthday to the next – its seems like every weekend there is something. I must say these days I am very happy to be having some of the functions at the children's houses for a change.
Congratulations on such wonderful events this year! The party looks like it was lots of fun.
I was just reading about the pythons in the Everglades…people let them loose and now the small animal population is disappearing. Good Luck!
Just reading about having a snake in your house sent shivers up and down my spine. In case you ever invite me over for coffee, I'm sorry I won't be able to now knowing you have a python living in your house. I'm part of the loathing snakes club for sure!
Hi Sarah- Your communion pictures are so nice. What a special day.
Welcome to the world of snakes. I have a nature lover too and we started with a snake. Now we have a 5 scorpions, 2 lizards, 2 cockroaches (NOT in the house)and a toad. So watch out! Ha!
Simple is beautiful and less stress. I am with you there. Yummy looking cakes.
You now have two of my greatest fears living in your house; snakes and mice. I'm not sure I could sleep at night. What a mom!
Love the comment that you don't even know what the snake looks like. I once saw a rabbit behind teh air conditioner while I was mowing and it jumped right in my path. For weeks I mowed that area with my eyes closed.
First time commenter, long time reader.
I totally get the fear of snakes. The idea of them give me heart palpitations, always has. Even as a very young child I had the same reaction. I can't even look at the fake ones. My sister once threw a fake one at me and I nearly passed out. I cried hysterically.
Funny story about the snake. You're very brave.
When one of my sons was an older teenager he wanted a python and got it. He faithfully took care of and fed it with live mice. He had to go away, or maybe it was he graduated and moved away, can't remember. Anyway, snake stayed in my house and I had to feed it with live mice.
I'm not a very squeamish person, but that grossed me out. I bravely got as far as dropping the mouse into the tank, then I slammed the lid down, closed my eyes and ran like crazy.
Needless to say, that didn't last too long. The snake was soon gone and I can't even remember where it went. And I didn't feel one iota of remorse!
The First Communion looks lovely. I was just in D.C. and went to Mass at the National Cathedral (Episcopalian) and it was gorgeous. LOVED the music, the oregon, the solemnity, everything.
Congrats on the bittersweet birthday milestones. And, I had to laugh when you said "mother of the year award." I was in D.C. for the National Convention of American Mothers (I met Shawni! Woot! And told her you are also one of my favorite bloggers)… and all the Young Mothers of the Year were joking that they can't use that joke anymore when they goof something up. It was SO fun to be there (my sis-in-law is Oregon's YM)… I loved seeing a couple of my favorite bloggers in person. Now, just gotta figure out how to meet YOU. 😉
I am in awe of your bravery; I laughed out loud when I saw the freezer picture. You are definitely Mother of the Year in my book. Good luck!
(I love the First Communion pictures; our neighborhood was filled with little girl 'brides' this weekend and my daughter was entranced : ))
Congrats and bday wishes to Matthew! I love the processional. I'm sure I told you how they eliminated it at our Churhc….argh….but I can't get started on that….
Our parish does group 1st Communions and individual and a little boy made his during Mass last wkd. The priest introduced him and then had him sit on the altar steps while he turned to the boy and addressed his homily to him. The boy was soooo cute and had such a smile on his face! So precious!
Snake? You've lost it!!!
I just want to say that I SO feel your pain on the snake issue. My son wants one, and while I haven't said yes to that yet, I did say yes to him getting a tarantula.
Sigh.
And I regularly go to the pet store to buy live crickets for his gecko.
I don't love the animals, but I do love him. 😉
Brave mama for letting a snake in your home. I'm not sure I'd be too excited about that either!
Congrats to Andrew on his 1st Communion. My little girl, and the first of my children, will make hers next year! I am super excited!
Oh man, I thought a hamster was bad. But a snake is a whole new bad.
Smart to do the frozen mice. My nephew used to feed his LIVE mice!!!
Oh I could puke just thinking about it.
Definitely mother of the year award Sarah!!! I don't think I could do it!
Hope you'e feeling good :))
I love, love your blog. – and congrats to your boys! One thing really troubles me, though: The trampoline. With multiple kids in it simultaneously. Our pediatrics practice has taken a very strong stand against all trampoline use at homes, corresponding to the views of the American Acadeny of Pediatrics. Ofen, people get their home owner's insurance cancelled if the insurer finds out a trampoline has been installed – too much liability.
Please, please reconsider the use of a home trampoline, and showing photos of such use. At least, research the topic online – it takes seconds to find out just how dangerous they are. It's not worth concussions, broken bones or (rare) fatalities. Our church had to have ours removed because insurance was going to be cancelled! And one of our congregant's sons got a broken arm.
I am freaking out over that snake right now. I will never be that mom. B/c I would have to move out. You are mom of the year. I hope he knows!
Our friends had a snake growing up. The mom was an ex state pageant queen. Had almost become Miss America to boot. She was the belle of all belles. In her interview she even referred to her boyfriends as beaus. I mean I worshiped this woman growing up. Let's just be clear.
She had boys. All boys all the time. They had a snake. She made her husband build a small house under the play-set for the snake. Smartest thing I believe a mom ever came up with!
I can't wait til First Communion in our house. It's years away. But, the white dress and veil…..I just can't wait!
congrats Andrew!! Isaac just cannot be graduating!! NO!!!
You are so the mother of the year my friend 🙂
I have 4 teenagers and 2 younger boys…if I can handle it – you can! And there is no way on God's green earth that I would let a snake in my house!!!
I love your blog…short shorts, trampolines and all! 😉 Thanks for being such an inspiration!
Congratulations to Andrew! He looked wonderful and I love the delight on his face as he and his friends compare their "big guy" outfits for the day. (And happy birthday to Nature Boy too!)
Three teenagers and a baby–rock on!
My 21-year old brother has been breeding ball pythons for the last few years. I threatened to move out when my parents first let him have one, which didn't seem to affect their decision (did they see through my empty threat?) and since he has had up 20 snakes all at once…it has gradually stopped bothering me, and he even convinces me to hold one every once in a while.
He has made quite the business out of it- custom builds enclosures, consults on other peoples' breeding plans, sells the baby snakes, and helps local kids get set up with pythons. If you ever have a python question, he'd be happy to help you out.
your boy looks adorable for his first communion! And I love that the girls wear veils. From what I've seen in our parish the girls don't wear veils anymore and I'm already sad about that eventhough we're a few years off. I'm thinking I'll put my girls in them anyway because that's how I grew up!
you have a lovely family!
Corrie:)
your boy looks adorable for his first communion! And I love that the girls wear veils. From what I've seen in our parish the girls don't wear veils anymore and I'm already sad about that eventhough we're a few years off. I'm thinking I'll put my girls in them anyway because that's how I grew up!
you have a lovely family!
Corrie:)
I will have to go back through your old posts and see if you have covered this before, but I am not Catholic and I would love it if you posted a expatiation of First Communion and what Mass is like, what your Sunday and weekly church responsibilities are, etc. Thanks.
Yes, you are Mother of the Year! Oh, and I love the picture of Andrew in front of the church with his hands in his pockets…. ADORABLE!
Congratulations on First Holy Communion. I am so happy for you and your family.
What I wanted to say was "an explanation of First Communion", not an expatiation. Sorry about that!
Congratulations Andrew. You look very handsome in your Sunday best.
Let me just say this about snakes AND I make no apologies. I am convinced that Satan put snakes on this earth. I go out of my way to kill them if I see them. I was driving the other day and I saw something in the road. When I got closer, I slowed down and saw that it was a snake slithering across the road. I threw the car into reverse and ran ove rit. One less snake in the world to worry about.