Family Retreat

Adriana and James on the grounds of the Little Sisters

Our family has not taken a family retreat for the first time in 2 years. We love our retreat house with the Little Sisters of St. Francis in Danville, NH. The sisters are beautiful. The sisters love the children. We decided that with Adriana preparing for her First Communion and because it was lent we would spend time retreating without family. We arrived around 8 pm on Friday evening and went over to convent for a moment to say "hello" to our Lord during adoration. Then shortly after our arrival we went to bed but not without trouble for from the middle child. He has trouble falling asleep in strange placesL.

The bed we slept in while in the two room cottage!

Saturday was quite an adventure. We woke up to head out to mass at St. Michael's in Exeter, NH. We came home with a tired whiny boy who stayed up late and woke up early. We made snacks, prepared crafts and then went on a short adventure. We hiked to about 1 mile to a swamp were Daddy skipped rocks. We also saw a tadpole, turtle, died bird, and ducks. On our hike we collected rocks for one of our art projects.

  

The family climbing on down tree limbs on the trail behind the sisters.  On of the families favorite activities while hiking.  



Heading out on our adventure

Turtle we saw on our hiking adventure

Daddy finding fun creatures to pet.  A tadpole that had already grown it's legs, fun!

 Shortly after we returned from our hike we our visitors, Anne, Joseph and Issac Dooley, joined us. The children went outside to play in the beautiful weather. Adriana and Joseph came in to do their first art project a monstrance. After a failed sleep drive for Issac and James, Anne and Mama took all the children on a second shorter hike to find a few more items for their second project was a crucifix with Jesus make out of clothes pins. Jesus' wounds are creatively added using baby pine cones. Daddy, Cioci Anne and the children said the stations of the cross in the outdoor stations garden.



Adriana and Joseph making the Monstrance craft - a great First communion craft!

Hiking to find baby pine cones for their next art craft. 



Adriana and Mama finishing up her natural crucifix.  

 

After dinner and the long day the Dooley's took up their long journey home while the Niall's enjoyed homemade popcorn and a movie.

The little boys started to watch a movie early because they were super tired and refused to nap!  Cioci Anne took Issac and James for a sleepy drive and the boys talked, snacked, and refused to nap, UGH!

On Sunday we woke up early to get ready for mass. After mass we went to Hampton Beach for a short walk on the beach. We went back to our cottage to clean up and get ready for our journey to visit G-Nana then home.

Said attempt at a family picture! 

  



The weekend was just enough time to rest our family. Thank you to the Little Sisters of St. Francis.