A Weekend of Firsts and Lasts

We went back to NEPA for a visit with the family this weekend. It was bitter sweet. We had a great time staying at Grammy Betty and Pops' house. We got in late Friday night and he was just too excited to go right to bed. And Grammy was too excited to let him ;) Saturday was jam packed with visiting Grandma, Great-grandma Joan and Grandpop, and then Gadgie.

Then we ended the night with a movie. MP3's first one and it was a good one. We saw Toy Story 3 in the Drive-In! He had a BLAST! He met the cutest little girl and shared the rocks that he found on the ground with her. They were just too cute! Then he was a bit confused as to why the sound was coming from the front of the car from the radio, but we were supposed to look out the back of the car at the screen. But he quickly got the hang of it once the movie started and he saw his buddy Buzz! He was so into it and giving his own commentary on what was happening. Mike thought it was so funny that when he took him for a walk around the car, he saw the light from the projector, pointed at it and exclaimed, "Cool!" That was about half way through when he lost interest until he got tired and tried to fall asleep. What a great time all three of us had!!! What a perfect way to watch a movie with a little one that can stay up late like that. We now know he would never make it in a theater yet. We will HAVE to go back again!

Then Sunday came, had a big breakfast with Grammy Betty and Pops, played around a bit then got ready for church. It was a beautiful ceremony but certainly sad. It was the last mass in St. Mary's Church in Wanamie. It was the church that I grew up in and it was a big part of my life until I moved out of the area. It was nice to see some people that I haven't seen in a long time! This was the church that I received all my sacraments in (including marriage.) One highlight for MP3 was the incense. When he looked up at the altar when it was burning he shouted, "Wow! Look at that!" Then when I told him what it was called, he just kept looking at Mike and saying, "Look! Incense!" One touching moment, though, was when the eldest member of the parish locked the doors for the last time. Mike was holding him and totally unprompted he just said, "Bye-bye church." How sweet and observant is he?!

He did shock Ciochi Joanie when he was sitting next to her at the dinner following. While the history of the church was being read he was giving his commentary (as usual). At one point she leans over to me and says, "It sounds like he is saying Lady Gaga." Yep, he probably is.