Some Travel Sights

In true Tommy fashion, we made the most of our trip home from Vermont.  We stopped at some sights on the way home.  First stop was in Whitehall, New York.  Apparently, in the middle of land with no water in sight is the Birthplace of the US Navy. 

 

Next stop was Steamtown, Pennsylvania!  There is a really cool museum there with an actual Round House, with a turn table.

 

 

The kids loved all the train cars to explore.  Lucy even found an interesting elevator to go down without anyone else.  Thankfully, there was no one else in the building so we were able to find her quickly. 

 

 

 

Everyone rang the bell on an old steam train,

we could have stayed a very long time in the different parts of the museum.  But, we were traveling and needed to get back on the road, so we enjoyed the highlights.

 

Next stop: HERSHEY!

 

We went on the free ride of how Chocolate is made, and enjoyed some samples and goodies.

 

When you ask the kids what their favorite part was, they all said Hershey.  I think we sweetened that deal with the chocolate bribes. 

 

Be Sealed With the Holy Spirit

Our First Confirmation!  My Patrick Dominic is confirmed!

 

 He chose my Godson, Michael to be his Sponsor.

 This is Patrick and my parents, and his Godfather (would you add a prayer for him?  He's got some health issues that we are praying for good news.  Thank you!).

 This is our AWESOME new bishop.  Bishop Burbidge set up the Confirmation to have a Mass (YES!) and he came and did 2 nights in a row at our parish. 

 

And of course, we had our priests there as well! 

Go Big and Go to Vermont

What is 33 feet long, hangs out in Wal-Mart parking lots at odd hours, and carries 8 people to Vermont from Virginia?

 

But of course!



Our family made a trip with my Mom to the beautiful (but rainy) state of Vermont. My brother, his wife and 6 daughters live there, and our goddaughter was to make her First Holy Communion.  My wonderful Tommy drove and my mom came along with us. 

It was a whirlwind trip, but Lucy loved being with "all those girls" and we were so happy to be together.  The wind was a factor when we arrived in Vermont, and there was no power when we arrived.  All part of our adventure, including the overnights in the Wal-Mart parking lots.  Tommy cooked breakfast for all 16 of us in the RV, and we had real Vermont Maple Syrup with our breakfast.

It was such a joy to be there, and I was even able to sing with my Mom and brother for Mass.  Panis Angelicus in 4 part harmony to make my mother's heart happy.

 

It's hard to capture the joy and fun the kids had in photos, but here's a little bit.

 

 

 

It was too short!  The kids all asked when Mary Kathryn is receiving her Confirmation so we can come back. 



 

I wanted to have a fancy Easter post...

But, in true form of this year,

we

were

sick.

Another holiday. 

Stomach bug.  It was a doozy.  It started with poor Lucy who didn't understand why she was sick all night long. But it was about a whole week per person.  Stomach issues all week.  The poor children.  It was awful.

Tommy took the older 2 to my favorite liturgy, the Easter Vigil.  I went to Mass in the morning all alone.  I was so tired, and so overwhelmed, that I sat in my car and cried and cried after Mass.  It was the second big Holy Day that I went to Mass on my own.  Some mothers would relish the time alone, and I am just weird I guess.

But, in true shutterbug form, I made them pose for pictures before they hunted for eggs. It wasn't the worst day of the bug for them, so they did all hunt.

And the Easter candy lasted a lot longer in the house this year.