On Saturday I got to spend time with my family and the boys had a blast playing with their cousin, Gabby.
We gave day of rest new meaning on Sunday. Bliss.
Last Monday Mikey received the Sacrament of Penance and gave his first confession. The priest tried valiantly to keep a straight face while Mikey spoke earnestly and passionately. There were hand motions, some gesticulating, and a shoulder shrug and head nod to the priest that all but screamed, “You know how it is, Father.” Indeed! Shortly after I took this picture, the priest gave up all pretenses and laughed. I’ve been on the receiving end of Mikey’s rhetoric for 7 years now, and I can assure you the priest didn’t stand a chance at maintaining his composure. When I asked him later what the priest found so funny, Mikey just gave me a look and said, “Mom, you know it’s supposed to be private.” Then he thought about it and, no doubt feeling magnanimous after his religious experience, decided to toss me a bone. “I think he was laughing when I said I like to wrestle with Nico and roll him like a bowling ball.”
I spent Tuesday talking about books with an intelligent group of women. It’s a wonderful feeling to know the people who read your blog are people you would like to hang out with in real life.
On Wednesday no one threw up.
Tiffany called me on Thursday. We spent an hour on the phone talking about The Hunger Games (reading them over the weekend was her idea), the most disturbing things we’ve ever read (mine is a short story by Anton Chekhov), ex-boyfriends, movies, and how catching yourself in the mirror wearing only undergarments can be a bit of a shock if you aren’t prepared.
Friday is girls night! It’s Helena‘s 40th birthday next week, and we’re going to party it up. That prediction assumes a loose definition of the phrase “party it up.”
I love it!
And a fabulous night to you girls!
Oh, this picture brought back memories from 2006 when my daughter made her First Communion and we had reconciliation. It was exactly like Mikey on the altar. I was unprepared with camera (you were so smart), but a friend snapped my daughter’s pic and it is in her “Jesus” book–more on that later. Here’s my point, we were all giggling over the fact we were taking pics of something so serious and private when we grew up. We couldn’t get too close, lest we hear their “sins”. Really, imagine photographing confession! We sort of felt like paparazzi. Boy have times changed. The “Jesus” book was a scrapbook project with required entries about family, life, baptism, what reconciliation means, love, etc. Some of us went all Creative Memories on it and others less crafty kept it very simple. I am so glad we did it! It is a big scrapbook of wonderful memories, notes and pictures, culminating in the main event of First Communion. It contains a wonderful handwritten note from my husband (not particularly religious though raised Catholic) about forgiveness that I hope my daughter will revisit as she gets older. They abandoned this project at school since parents thought it was overwhelming and too much work for the kids, and basically them. It’s a shame since for us it created a wonderful keepsake and she looks at it often. I digress and revisit a sweet and happy time. Now it’s 8th gr and the start of independence. Treasure the moments–they fly by in a blink. (and then you look in the mirror in your underwear and think good gracious what is happening here??!!).
I know! It’s so different these days! In my day, you went into a dark room and spoke to a priest behind a screen. These days we invite our priest to birthday parties and text with him before Mass.
Your Friday posts always make me happy too! And bless the priest’s for trying so hard. I used to have to turn my back on Emily so she wouldn’t see me laughing at things that should have been serious. What a treasure Mikey is – and you for sharing him with us. Have a great weekend and birthday celebration. (In our bedroom the mirror is in a place where it’s not possible to accidentally walk by – much safer that way!)
And yay for no-throw-up days!!
BTW – I LOVE a child who feels on equal conversational footing with a grown-up (while still being polite, respectful, etc.) and is truly engaged in the discussion. And a grown-up who appreciates that. This picture shows clearly that is the case here.
Yes, we adore this priest and so does Mikey. He leads the children’s choir and is very good with people over all.
I think the most disturbing thing I’ve ever read was also a Chekhov short story. Now I’m curious–which one are you thinking of?
The one where the knives carve the punishment into your back. It’s either by Chekhov or it’s Kafka’s In the Penal Colony. I’ve read Penal Colony just recently to double check, but it’s not exactly the story I remember. It’s possible I’ve confused two stories in my head.
I was wondering what short story you were referring to as well! I think one of my more disturbing ones is Faulkner’s A Rose for Emily.
Totally read that one, know which one you’re talking about!!!
Hah, I just ruined my mascara. Mikey is a hoot and so is his Mommy!
So sweet! My son made his first reconciliation during a thunderstorm. At the exact time he stood up for his turn, there was a huge clap of thunder. LOL
Hahahahaha!!!!
Yes, I’m glad we read The Hunger Games. Your comments about it were so hyper-intelligent that I had to call you to dumb things down a bit. I talked to my sister-in-law who saw the movie at the midnight showing (really?) and also said that Peeta looks shorter than Katniss at times in the movie. Poor wee Peeta.
I’m glad that someone is turning 40 before me, though I’m right around the corner. How did it creep up so fast? I wonder if it will be like my 30th birthday where I swear I woke up to a new wrinkle. I wonder what the mirror has in store for me on my 40th? Dorian Gray is not seeming so awful suddenly.
Your stories about Mikey just never cease to amuse and delight. I hope one day my husband and I have kids that are half as entertaining as your boys. (And I love the look on the priest’s face in the photo. Mikey’s just so earnest, and that sweet-looking priest is too. Love it.)
I really am enjoying your stories about your son Mikey, he sounds like a character. Wish I too could have heard what he was saying to the Priest. Ahh, kids… nothing better on planet earth than kid quotes to put a smile on one’s face.
I’m on the last book of the Hunger Games. Read the first two within a week before the movie came out. To say they are compelling is a gross understatement.