Luca's Baptism/Memorial Day Weekend

It was the perfect weather last weekend to enjoy the holiday, ring in summer, start another pool

season, and to have Luca's baptism celebration.  It was great fun having Mike's brother Charlie come visit us, along with his wife Hilde and their two daughters Amelia (8yrs old) and Melina (6 yrs old).... Vince and Zoë don't have many of their cousins come and visit, so it was a special treat to have them around!!   I think Amelia and Melina are going to be bugging their parents to come back and visit soon so they can swim in our pool too.  Amelia was like a fish all weekend, they had to pull her out to get back to New York!  And Melina would have stayed to take care of baby Luca, she's an adorable little girl who just wants to be a mommy... she watched over Luca all weekend for us.  I worked on Saturday to help out on low staffing, but was able to come home early enough.  Here's what I found when I came home!  Hilde had set the kids up outside at a little art station.  Everyone was having fun making pictures, and running back and forth to and from the pool. 

 

Everyone had fun in the pool all weekend!  Zoë got to go skinny dipping most of the weekend, and received personal swim lessons from awesome Aunt Hilde!

Luca sat on watch to Lifeguard

 Pop-Pop got in some good visiting with some of his grandchildren.... and don't forget Maxie!

And Melina lost her tooth at our house!

And now on to Luca's baptism!  Both Mike and I come from more traditional religious backgrounds.  Mike grew up Catholic and I grew up going to Lutheran Church.  Although I still enjoy and partake in the Lutheran beliefs, Mike and I have found a church in Braintree that we really feel reflects our ideals and has like minded members.  So we decided to have Luca's baptism at our Unitarian Universalist Church in Braintree.  

 I purchased a simple little christening outfit for Luca.  Love the little white bowtie and hat!

 

It was a very warm and heartfelt ceremony, leaving all of us in tears-literally.  See, I was a bit worried about what Mike's father would think about the church, seeing as he attends a traditional Catholic Church at home in New York.  In fact, I was ready to have him blaming me for bringing his son to some 'cultish' church (when actually Mike was the one to really want this church!).  Anyway, I feel like we witnessed a miracle during the church service, as Mike's father got up to speak during our "joys and concerns" part.  He got up and made a very touching speech about how warm and welcome he felt at our church, and how he really understands why we attend this church now.  Indeed, everyone in the family was moved by hearing Joe make such loving and touching comments.  It really just made Mike's entire weekend, and everyone's weekend.  

 Luca's Godparents Charlie and Hilde

We even learned about how you get Universalist Holy Water: you boil the hell out of it!