Christmas Eve 2010

St. Mary's is always so beautiful for Christmas. We can hardly wait to see it each year. On Friday evening 12/24/10, it seemed even more spectacular than ever. This year the church has been restoring the murals at the front of the church and the center Assumption painting was just completed and put back in it's place this week! It looks so much brighter and there were details we had never seen before. Unfortunately, we didn't get a picture of it, but here's an article from our local paper that talks about it.

Here's a panoramic video sweep of the amazing decorations:



And a nice family shot in front of the altar:

And we just love the manger scene and enjoy the procession at the beginning of mass where Father Leo carries the baby in high above his head and lays him in the manger. Advent is over, the waiting is over, Jesus is here! Here are Daddy and Isa looking at the scene:

Xia joins in:

It's beautiful:

Okay girls, let's get a shot in front of the manger:



Trying to get them to pose...

That's better:

Okay Isa, we're home, you can take your coat off now (hmmmm, looks familiar: that's Xia Christmas 2008)

Hey, Isa, what's the name of the guy in red who's coming tonight? Oh, why won't she say it? It's so cute the way she says "Santa". You catch it just once here:



Hey Isa, let me get one more shot of you in that dress (Xia conked out on the way home from mass, so no more pics of her):

Hmmm, that dress looks familiar too. But here's the thing. Xia wore it at 11 months old and Isa is wearing it at almost 21 months old!

She does seem to enjoy twirling in it as she sings "Jingle Bells":



Okay, let's all get to bed so Santa can come!!

St. Mary's Block Party

We didn't get many photos this year at St. Mary's Block Party on Sunday 8/29/10 like we did in past years. It's always a great time singing for the neighbors of our church. So here's the one photo from the evening. A great picture of Xia's face painting:

St. Mary's Yearly Picnic

Oh, how we love St' Mary's Yearly Picnic. This year's was held on Sunday 6/6/10. Unfortunately, Mommy forgot to bring her camera, so she had to use her OLD cell phone, but these are better than nothing.

A big thumbs up to Maria for organizing some great toddler games (and to her helpers). Here's Xia playing spoon out an animal cracker from one bucket and run down the court to put it in another bucket:



Then there was pass the ball over your head and through your legs. Here she's thinking, "what am I supposed to do?"

And then drive the car down and around the cone and back. She loves these cars!

One of the newly catechized members was doing free caricatures. We only had time to get one for Xia and we weren't sure Isa would sit still for one...

And a shot of Daddy and Isa before we had to go:

Another great picnic with our wonderful, blessed, church family.

Happy Easter 2010!

Boy the years go by so fast... We had yet another blessed Easter on Sunday 4/4/10. Our Easter pattern doesn't change much as you can see from 2007, 2008 and 2009.

First, up and at the baskets:



Isa really got involved this year...

Xia sported her bunny ears as she searched for eggs...

Dressed for mass:

It seems the church gets more beautiful every year:

Isa's God family, the Volpes. Yes, their family is about to grow any day now...

After church it was off to Willow Valley for MomMom's yearly gathering. Here are all of the great grandchildren, Claire, Brigid, Nora, Allie, Isa and Xia (minus Katelyn who had to work):

HI!

Pat gives kisses for the grandkids:

Xia plays us some tunes:



Nora tells Claire all about it:

Then it was off to hunt for MORE eggs. Xia is ready with basket in hand:





He is risen, Alleluia - blessings to all this Easter season!