It was a very busy and highly emotional weekend. We are all glad to be home.

Saturday morning, Fritz made his first Reconciliation. It was nice. But, as usual for me, I struggled to rein in those tears that always come when he, my oldest, meets a milestone. I cried when I packed away those 0-3 month sized clothes when he was a few weeks old. I cried when he cut his first tooth. I cried when he lost his first tooth. And now here he is, examining his conscience and doing his penance. He diligently wrote down his sins on Friday, recounting them to his father and I with every confidence of our continuing love (of course, we knew everything). I had him go to the elderly priest who baptized Peter. He gave Fritz a beautiful prayer card with Mary on it when Fritz was done. It was a wonderful morning.

Then home as it’s starting to rain. Pack up the car and off to New Jersey to visit old friends. As we neared Monica’s house where we stayed, we made a slight detour to pass St. Greg’s and swing through our old neighborhood. Billy started to cry about missing NJ, but my words of comfort were no help since I was crying too. Bill just smiled and shook his head and squeezed my hand. Pitiful.

Sunday began with mass and standing in the vestibule talking. Then brunch with Bill’s parents, then over to Lena’s house and then on to Kathy’s house for her huge Superbowl party (and the reason we made the trip). Oh how I miss these women. Where else can I stand around the kitchen talking apologetics? Back to Monica’s house and a relaxing Monday morning talking about homeschooling and politics and religion.

This was better than a trip to a spa.

Not that I’ve ever been to a spa.

But better.

After lunch, we headed to another friend’s house that was on the way home and had dinner. We got home really late last night, but the kids all transitioned into their beds with no fuss.

And today is clean up and organize day. The kids will be happy to have another day off from school. It’s an administrative holiday.