Mr. and Mrs. Cootiehog (and CootieGirl) thank you all for wishing us the best on our upcoming birth and being there to share a special day with us. Thanks to everyone for making this a HAPPY surprise for Jane and for all your thoughtful gifts. CootieGirl is going to be the best dressed kid on the block — and we’ll be plenty protected when she dribbles with all the burping diapers we have.
Here are a few pics from this afternoon’s fun. Wish we had more of the crowd to share. Many of you took snapshots; send them our way so we can take a look and post the best. Of course you’re all invited to CootieGirl’s “coming out” party after she arrives. Don’t know when that is, but 47 days and counting until the little one is supposed to make her appearance. We’re so excited!
Wait! Was the shower moved up a week? I thought it was on the 15th.
Looks like fun. I see some familiar and loved faces in those pics. Can’t wait to see the stuff you got…
Jen, they opted to throw a “surprise” shower for me a week earlier than anticipated. However, the surprise was ruined by about 20 seconds when we were walking to the back of the restaurant and I overheard a waitress say, “There’s a baby shower in the back.” *lol* But it was still a lot of fun!
great pics. thanks for sharing those. looks like you had a great time. and congratulations!
Oh, how fun! It looks like Baby CootieGirl scored some sweet loot! Only ~47 days to go, and then you’re eligible to celebrate Mother’s/Father’s Day! Yowza!!!
What fun! So glad the surprise held until the end – almost. Want to see more pics. Was that New York cheesecake? Yummmm…
Hello Gladys! Good to see you among the group of guests! Where’s MareBear?
We had a great time and the pictures showed it. Great shots by Ray I would guess. Anne is working on the date for the next Game night!!
Yes, it was real NY cheesecake. And Gladys was not just a guest, but a hostess. She and Tara did a great job.
Gladys picked up the cake at a VENIERO’S BAKERY, a great old-time bakery on East 11th St. in Manhattan. We have to take you there one day. Gladys said, if Jane hadn’t given up chocolate for Lent she would have gotten a wonderful chocolate cake from there instead. We’ll have to have another baby, outside of Lent this time.
Game Night! Whoo Hoo!!!!!! Yes, Ray took most of those shots. That’s mine of the cake. Ted and Anne, thanks for everything! Can’t wait for Baby Game Night.
HAPPPYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
D., how did you manage since you said you had given up all sweets not just chocolate???
Looking forward to real NY cheesecake.
Heard there is fish and chips shop next to Tea and Sympathy now – same owners. Sound likes a day of eating in the city is called for. 😉
There is some debate as to whether or not Sundays are included in the Lent calendar. I’ve read so many different things about Lent observances, I’m not sure what to believe.
I would love to have some real fish and chips. Like you said, sounds like a day of eating in Manhattan when you come up next month. Jaynee, is there anything you’d like us to bring back for you and CootieGirl? *lol*
Mmmm, don’t think I have ever heard about a special dispensation for Sundays. 😉
Mom, Mare-Bear confirmed that she heard about the special dispensation this past weekend at her boyfriend’s parents house. Apparently he and his family grew up with Sundays as “non-fast days” in their particular diocese. Mare-Bear, however, grew up in Ireland with NO days off from fast.
So I think it’s a regional/denominational thing – some keep Sundays, some don’t.
I read this online today, and it makes sense to me.
The highlight of the year for Christians is Easter, the day when our Lord rose from the dead. Lent is a forty-day season of preparation for Easter. Lent always begins on a Wednesday, called Ash Wednesday.
Why 40 days? Because, Jesus fasted and was tempted in the wilderness for 40 days. Lent, then, is our time of fasting, prayer, temptation and repentance. Lent is not required anywhere in scriptures, but it has been a custom, which Christians have practiced for most of the last two thousand years.
In many languages, the word “Lent” actually means “fast.” This is where the custom of giving up something for Lent originated.
However, just to confuse things, Lent is actually 46 days rather than 40 days. Why? Because the 40 days of Lent are supposed to be days of fasting, which means days of discipline and self-restraint. But Sunday, the Lord’s Day, should never be a day of fasting, but a day of celebration! So each Sunday we suspend our Lenten disciplines and celebrate. Lent is 40 “fasting” days spread out over a total of 46 days beginning on Ash Wednesday.
The focus of Lent was always threefold:
– It was a time to prepare new converts for baptism through intensive classes and instruction.
– It was a time for long-standing Christians to review their lives and renew their commitment to Jesus Christ.
– It was a time for backsliders to be restored to the faith.
I was aware of all the customs except the Lord’s Day never being a day of fasting. Potato chips can return to my pantry! Thanks, D.
Glad I could be of service. I’ve read many contradictory things on my Lent search. Not sure who the definitive source is on this. As that web site points out, “Lent is not required anywhere in scriptures” so I’m not sure where you’ll get that definitive answer.
Interesting info on Lent. I’ll add my $0.02, of course. Heh.
I believe Lent was “created” in the Catholic church, which has “created” many other observances that are not spoken of in the Bible. But that’s another debate for another day. 😉