Freddy's First Communion

 After three years of catechism, Freddy had his first communion this Sunday in Cascais.

There was a professional photographer hired for the mass, which is a good thing because this is the best shot I got as Freddy walked in at the beginning. He was out of view for the rest of the ceremony. 

Traditional Portuguese guitars plus teenagers singing beautifully made exceptional music throughout the mass. Priests are pretty much all the same to me, and I tend to just tune out the many masses that I have sat through since marrying Pai, but I actually liked and listened to this priest. He also did Zita's first communion and I remembered him straight away. He is funny, brief (can I get a hallelujah?), and engages the children throughout.  

 I don't know the technical term, but Freddy was a "collector, " looking cute as can be. Mooj laughed that he always volunteered to collect too when he was younger so he could get up and walk around. Smart boys.

Lunch was arroz de marisco from Mar do Guincho and two big tubs of Santini for dessert. That has become our formula for formal entertaining as one can just not go wrong with that combo. 

I forgot all about making a cake until just before church so I quickly whipped up a lemon cake and frosted it with our go-to white frosting and strawberries when we got home from church. 

Our glassware and china casualties were lower than usual with only one wine glass and one Visa Alegre plate broken. 

The last family members trickled out around 4:30 and the big kids followed right behind them for a swim until early evening. 

The professional photos are not up on their site yet, but I'll post them as soon as I have them. 

First Family Photo Since Christmas

Any photo is a good photo when the following criteria are met:

a) I am not in bed wearing pajamas
b) everyone is looking at the camera smiling

I finally got my hands on Sebby's baptism photos and there are quite a few framers in there that I can't wait to order.

Sebby's Baptism

I only have the photos taken by various small children in bad light, but I wanted to share a few until I get my hands on the real photos. As for Easter, I took around 5 photos and they all came out blurry. How I can sometimes take 48 pictures of a cake baking session, and then none on Easter is beyond me. I think it all has to do with whether or not I have a squirmy little baby in my arms or not.

 Moojie is the go-to reader for any church related ceremony in our family. It's great public speaking experience.

 Freddy had a great laugh that Sebby was wearing a "dress," and continually mentioned it until Zita pointed out that he had worn the same one as a baby. Sorry boys- tradition rules. As much as I'm not one for dressing boys is lace and the like, he did look quite angelic.

Waiting for Word on the New Pope

TV ban lifted for tonight. This is the television equivalent of the Catholic superbowl.

First Communion Professional Shots

Update on the Pilgrimage- She's Going

It turns out they drive in a bus most of the way, and only get out and walk for the last bit. It will be her first day of Summer, and if that's how she wants to spend it, great. If it's a disaster, then we'll know not to sign up for next year.

I wish we had a cheapy little camera to send to her with because I'm just so curious what this is all about.

Pilgrimage Anyone?

  Zita came home from catechism today begging to go on a pilgrimage to Fátima with "all of her friends." This essentially means walking from Cascais to Fátima with a large group of families. If 10 people had to describe Zita, at least 9 of those would say that she hates to walk. I don't mean big long hike-type walks,  I mean that she'll do anything at all do avoid walking even a block. She'll bike or play tennis for hours, but there's something about walkin' that just doesn't please our girl.  There are walkers, and there are non-walkers. There's no shame is being part of the latter category. So other than the fact that I find it very alien that a 9 year old is so enthused about a pilgrimage, I just know it's not a good idea. How can I approach this without appearing to be stamping out her religious expression?


So while most mothers have challenges with daughters wanting tattoos, too much freedom, and tarty clothes, my current challenge is pilgrimage dissuasion. Just when I think I've anticipated all of the parenting issues that will come my way, something throws me for a loop.

First Communion

Our wonderful and cherished sweet Zita had her first communion this weekend.

I'll spare the blow by blow details, and share the photos. It was held in a small modern church that didn't make for the best photos, but the rest of the day was absolutely perfect.

After arriving at the church

I sat right behind her during the mass. She came up with this hairstly after many drawings and practice sesssions.

She spoke clearly and with confidence as she narrated the offering of a candle and bread.

and finally, the culmination of 3 years of catechism, and the moment she's been waiting for.

We zoomed back to the house for a seafood lunch and cold drinks

These flowers were the extent of the house preparations.

I decided to make her first communion cake the night before, and left the frosting out of the fridge by mistake. By morning is was spoiled and stank, so I had to pull together a new batch and quickly get it frosted.

An official photographer was there taking pictures throughout the ceremony so as soon as I have copies, I'll share them.

More on the Dress

The other photo I posted was taken by the ipad in bad light and I had lots of follow-up questions (ok, like 3, but that's a lot, right?) on what the dress actually looks like. It's a crisp clean white, in contrast to most of the other dresses that were some shade of cream, and many even had colorful accents like a pink flower here and there. No thanks to those colorful accents.

There is a very subtle teeny tiny bit of lace around the square collar. She is extremely bothered by the elastic on the sleeves, but was so authoritative when she proclaimed that it wasn't a problem because they would be easy to alter. Too bad my skills stop at buttons.

 This was the first runner up. It's cream and the waist band kept spreading out and looking funny, as seen below.

The whole experience felt straight out of TLC's Say Yes to The Dress. El Corte Ingles is the place we love to hate, but it does have very good service. They sure know how to make a little girl feel like she is the only person on earth to ever have a first communion. It didn't hurt that many people stopped to admire her and tell her what a princessa she is.

If anyone is worried that it's all about the dress- don't be. All the religious stuff is covered too :)