Ruth's Confirmation! (mostly)

We have a had a whirlwind couple of weeks since Easter and I sort of feel like I can breathe now, except that we've reached the part of the school year during which you get the impression you're rolling ever faster down a hill and things won't settle till summer is upon us. And probably not then. There are spring programs and birthdays (mine, for one!) and camp sign ups and on and on and on. Also, the breathing is being hindered at the moment by a lingering head cold that I cannot wait to be rid of. Ugh. I don't get sick often, so I'll try not to be overly whiny, but yuck. I hate snot.

A very quick catch up, most of which you'll already have seen on instagram:

Easter was wonderful and lovely and the photos were a wreck, as usual, due to the glorious sun. You'd think one of these years I'd just have them all face a different direction, right? This was not that year.

The following weekend we made a quick roadtrip to southeast Kansas to celebrate my grandma's 80th birthday. It was a little crazy, all that time in the car for so little at our destination, but I'm glad we did it (even if I do blame Grandma for the cold I'm getting over). The party was planned by my aunt Carolyn and cousin Cari, and it turned out beautifully. The dazzling array of cupcakes didn't hurt!

Isn't my grandma lovely? You'd never know she was suffering a nasty cold in this photo. Now that I know first hand how badly she must have wished she could go home to bed, I'm in awe of what a trooper she was! Love you, Grandma!

We got home late Sunday, and my attention switched immediately to Confirmation. I only have a few photos of the party, but you can check out Renee's blog for those. She really did all the hard work of planning and decorating for the event. She left me to handle my preferred portion - the food. I baked a swirled vanilla and red velvet cake - a  large layer cake for the main event, along with a few jumbo cupcakes for the folks celebrating their birthdays on or near the day of confirmation. Lunch was fairly simple - egg salad and chicken salad sandwiches, veggies, chips, etc. Having swings and teeter totters in the building gave it more of a picnic feel than one might hope for at an indoor venue! (Originally the party was slated to be outside at Renee's, but low temps and high winds were cause for a last minute shift).

All that is jumping the gun, though! First, we got our girl confirmed!

Ruth commented after the retreat day, at which they rehearsed for the mass, that she was walking up with William and was glad of it. I said, "Because you walked together to First Communion, too?" She replied, "No. Not that. Because he's my cousin, so it's not weird. I wouldn't want to have to walk up the aisle with any other boys in my class!" I mean, eeeeewwww, no. Who would?! Love it.

Ellen is her sponsor and St. Joan of Arc her new patron saint. I think it was an inspired choice, on both counts. Bishop Emeritus Bruskewitz performed the confirmation ceremony. Ruth is looking downright shiny-headed in that last picture from the chrism rubbing she received.

THEN to the party!

Despite a kid or two getting bowled over, the swings provided huge amounts of entertainment!

Cake! And lots of it!

We were honored to have Bishop Conley make a cameo at the party and give us his blessing. He even thought to suggest a group photo, for which I am very grateful since I failed to take any other family pictures that day. 

(My mom and dad were both in attendance as well, but my mom was taking photos with one camera and my dad was... missing. Huh. But you see the rest of us there! I joked that this photo will be prominently featured when Peter is ordained.)

My sweet Ruth Lauren Joan, opening her cards and gifts. I gave her little fleur de lis earrings for the occasion, since Joan of Arc had the fleur de lis on her banner. We are exceptionally proud of the young woman Ruth is growing into. "I am not afraid... I was born to do this" seems a wonderful, fitting quote for Ruth's approach to life. St. Joan of Arc, pray for her!

And while that would be a good end to the post, I must also include this amazing photo of the great use the kids put the party hats to while the adults were cleaning up.