My Thanksgiving!

... I spent the entire day giving thanks for my beautiful children so Thanksgiving seems a more appropriate name for today than 'Mother's Day'.

I love Mother's Day. Seriously I LOVE it... I feel like a four year old on Christmas morning. It's silly that there has to be a designated day to feel like this. I think it's just that life is so busy. It can be hard work raising three children! It is so nice to have a day when I don't have to worry about cooking, cleaning, school projects, appointments, etc. The ONLY thing I have to do is soak them up.

I feel so humbled when I think about what an incredible blessing my family is. I am so lucky to have each of these precious children and my wonderful husband. Truly... a day of thanksgiving.

Here are a few pictures of our lovely day and my little gifts from God.


Kirsten wore her communion dress to church again today for the May crowing and community mass. This is my little ones and I after mass.


The rest of the day was spent enjoying the beautiful weather and each other.

Lots of giggles...


...And lots of dimples :)


...Some smiles...


...Some stinky fish...


...And lots of time together!

Exhausting but perfect.

Kirsten's First Communion

Kirsten celebrated her first Holy Communion last Sunday! It was such a wonderful day. The church service was really, really nice. They did a great job of making it really special for the children and their families. Unfortunatley there were no pictures allowed during the mass... but we more than made up for it during the rest of the day!



Kirsten was thrilled with her new dress and shoes (which her Godparents Aunt Maureen and Grandpa generously bought her)! ...And I was thrilled that she wore part of the veil I wore at my wedding. I told Kirsten on Sunday that she is the daughter I've dreamed of since I was a little girl. She is truly the answer to a prayer and my living, breathing blessing.


Kirsten and her Godmother, Aunt Maureen. Maureen and Ryan brought little Luke for his first trip to St. Pete. We were SO excited that they all came!


Each family was asked to make a banner to decorate the church. Our banner-making expereince was a little stressful. We brought the banner with us to the craft store to measure and managed to lose it there. I had to swallow my pride and go back to the church to ask for another one... (this was due the day of Greg's wedding... that's my excuse.) There was some late-night banner making in the Taylor household! Then the morning of the retreat I was at the doctor with the twins so Grammy took Kirsten up to the church and they FORGOT the banner! So I had to swallow my pride AGAIN during the week and drag the kids up to the church office to turn it in late. Ugh. But isn't it pretty?




My mom was nice enough to host the communion after-party (Thanks again!). The celebrants included Brian's parents, Jeff, Sarah, Aunt Mary Ann and Uncle Jimmy, my parents, Maureen, Ryan, and Luke. We had a great time.

Here are all the cousins together for the first time.


Everyone is in love with little Luke.


Look at those eyes!! Isn't his sweater vest the cutest thing ever? I am so in love with that baby!

Me and my girl


This is what happened at the end of the day when I tried to steal a quiet moment alone with Brian. Obviously there is no such thing as a "quiet moment alone" anymore. I wouldn't trade it for the world! We are so incredibly blessed. (If Brian looks a little stressed it's probably because the ENTIRE family is sitting on his lap!)