The Feast!

One of the big traditions I've married into is the celebration of New Bedford's "Feast of the Blessed Sacrament".  Now... I'm not sure WHY it's called this as I've never found it to be a particularly religious event, and it's actually sponsored by "Budweiser" and the evening "groups" that attend have in the past gotten a little "rowdy" (although I must say that this year did not seem that bad at all!) ...but during the day it's just a great gathering and something Shaun's family comes down for each year.  It's a great summer get together for friends and family and we just LOVE having everyone over with us.

We start the morning with a grand brunch.  We actually started this last year when I first came "into the picture" and now it'll be "tradition".  Everyone came in the morning and enjoyed a backyard shmorgishborg (how DO you spell that word?) of scrambled eggs, bacon, keilbasa, french toast, homemade blueberry muffins (it's blueberry season afterall) and more...

(Because I was busy cooking in the kitchen, I didn't get out to the backyard to take any pictures while everything was going on, so this is when everything is pretty much devoured.  5 dozen eggs, 5 pounds of bacon, 2 packages of Keilbasa and a ton of french toast later... this  mess is what's left... and even this ended up disappearing!)

I've found I've married into the best family!  I love Shaun like crazy, but am also super blessed to have the best sisters-in-law, who jumped right into help making coffee, scrambling eggs, cleaning the kitchen and just overall making everything so much easier for this pregnant lady! 

Thank you SO much,

 Dana...

...and Mary! I love you both!

In the morning everyone gets to the house to just hang out for a bit. 

(it's so nice to know everyone feels this comfortable!)

All the kids go with Mark to the Feast when they start getting anxious for the festivities (and the adults get some quiet time to just sit and relax with each other.)

(thank you Mark!)

Just Some of the Cousins...

Friends stop by to visit...

and later we all get up and head down to the Feast...

(Some get tired...)

 we do a little shopping...

...and cook up some good ole' "Meat on a Stick"

...while enjoying each other's company!

and head home for the day!

Shaun ("Ava Marie") & I had a wonderful time!  See you again next year!!!