Food, family, and real butter...

This weekend I got a chance to spend some time with my family.  It's always so much fun to get together and this weekend we were celebrating Madelyn's Confirmation.  From my previous post you know that my family loves to tell stories and that is something we definitely did this weekend.  This got me thinking-we need to record these stories and really make them a part of our family history.  My Aunt Theresa recently saved part of our family history by rescuing some old family pictures my grandfather was planning on taking to the dump (he loves the dump by the way).  Everyone is so glad she did and we had fun talking about the pictures and telling some of the stories that went along with them.  So yet another resolution of mine is going to be to begin recording these stories so they can be forever a part of our lives.  There are soooo many great stories and to make sure I do them justice I will need the help of my family members especially Gram and Pop who have so many memories and can tell stories better than anyone I know!  I am looking forward to hearing some of these stories again and possibly hearing some new ones in this process.  All of this is part of my history and has made me the person I am today as well as little Clarence!  I want him/her to know all of these stories and enjoy them as much as I have over the years.  Here are some of the family pictures thanks to my Aunt Theresa:

Pop (isn't he handsome!?) with my mom (on his lap) and Aunt Theresa

My beautiful Gram with Uncle Joe (Joesph James O'Malley III).  This was her 3rd baby and she was only 22!!!  

This may be a glimpse of what Clarence may look like...my mom as a baby..in a basket!

My mom and Aunt Theresa

Love this picture...I don't think Uncle Joe likes his Easter outfit much!  Mu mom is in the middle and then my Aunt Theresa.  

Man our family is good looking...from the top left:  Pop O'Malley (Joseph James O'Malley Sr., my great-grandfather), Kathleen O'Malley (my great aunt-Pop's sister), Pop (Joseph James O'Malley Jr., my grandfather), Ronnie Martel, GG (my great grandmother Doris O'Malley, pop's mom), Elaine Reese (my mom), Dorie Martel (my great aunt and Pop's sister), Theresa Caldwell (My Aunt Theresa-she's so beautiful!). From bottom left:  Lori Gude (Lori Martel-my moms cousin), Patrick O'Malley (my uncle),  Joe O'Malley (Uncle Joe and the III Joseph James O'Malley), Gram, and Kelly McDowell (Aunt Kelly-my namesake!)

 And here's me...I think I was about 3 or 4 in this picture...so it was about 1985/6

And now let's jump back to the present. Here are some of my favorite shots from Madelyn's party...

 James, Joseph Caldwell, and Kyle

 Kerri, James, Joesph, Kyle, and Colleen

 The twins!  Claire and Colleen

 Madelyn-Congratulations!

 Piping hot!

 Gotta have Sugarbakers! 

 Mads and Gram

 Three (four) generations, Kelly Elaine, Elaine, and Elaine

 Pop...having seven children and 27 grandchildren has worn him out!

 Gram

 My dad and I at 34 weeks!  I think Dad's having a ham

 Waiting for the baby!

Family's are wonderful and mine is no exception! I think it's fitting to end this post with an Irish Family Blessing:

We believe in living deeply,
Laughing often and loving always.
We believe we were brought together
To support and care for each other.
We believe that everyone's feelings count,
And that the uniqueness of each of us
Strengthens all of us.
We believe in the power of Forgiving to heal
And the power of love to carry us through.
We believe in one another,
In this family,
In this house.
Failte!