Zoo Trip

Bob had alot to do this weekend so I roped Meg into coming to Forest Park Zoo with us today. We were all up at the crack of dawn this morning so I needed to keep busy or fall asleep. Peter stayed home with Daddy and Lucas came over to hang out with the boys. Ellie hasn't been feeling good so we let her stay home and nap and relax and get some one on one with Daddy. Turned out to be the right decision as she napped for four hours and loved swinging on the swings with Daddy! We think Ellie might have allergies so she is having a really hard time adjusting to the spring flowers and grass - poor baby can't stop sneezing and can't wait for her naps in the afternoons!

Annie Bananie got to take a tubby in the sink and I think it is amazing that she can still "swim" in the big kitchen sink!

The girls were So excited to go in the sprinkler that they actually posed for me! I love this picture - my beautiful girls loving on each other!

Sprinkler fun!

Lizzie Bug was thrilled when it was warm enough to hook up the sprinkler for some fun last week!

My pretty girl!

Lizzie Bug

Running to get wet!

Running to get dry!

Lizzie Bug loving the sprinkler!

Daddy and his girl - all warmed up!

Lizzie Bug hanging out with Mommy while she gets warmed up.

Once you spend hours outside in the sprinkler the next step is always a little nap!

For everyone!

Annie Bananie with a pretty flower in her hair for Auntie Beth - she was so excited to have her Auntie come home that she put a special flower in her hair.

Time for some fun at the zoo!

Annie loved the monkeys!

Elizabeth showing me the monkeys!

Molly Girl just takes my breath away sometimes - she is so beautiful!

When Meg told me she was pregnant I dreamed of doing things like going to the zoo with our kids and taking little day trips - it was so much fun having all the kids together!

My handsome boy! Not sure why he looks so serious!

Lila checking out the monkeys!

Annie Bananie loving the zoo - she is SO her Daddy's girls!

I had to look at this picture twice because I thought it was Annie - they looked so much alike today that even I could not tell them apart!

Checking out the turtle.

Auntie Meg showing Brendan the animals.

Handsome boy!

Annie showing Lila the animals.

Brendan tried to get into the animal pen - he just about made it before we caught him!

Lila looked adorable with her little limbs all hanging out in her babydoll outfit!

Check out Brendan climbing the fence - he is all boy!

Brendan loved the Camel and the Camel loved him right back.

Love this picture of the girls walking and holding hands!

All of the kids loved the baby chicks!

Look at their happy faces watching the baby chicks jump around!

The goats loved us - they licked everyone's hands!

Brendan was so excited that the goat kept licking him!

I love this picture of Annie holding Lila's hand and showing her the pigs!

Look at Brendan's tiny little fingers hanging onto the fence looking at the animals.

Lila sneered at Auntie's attempt to take a picture.

Face painting - Annie loved her flower!

Our little cookie monster had to have something blue!

Lila got a petite little heart! So cute!

Brendan got the same blue star as Lizzie to match his eyes!

Silly boy!

This was supposed to be a smile for Auntie.

Lila loved sticking her head in the animal bodies.

Annie was a tiger!

Molly adn the twins having fun - for some reason the kids love this sign!

Lizzie wanted no part of this because there were peacocks walking around near us - she was securely in her godmother's arms!

Look at Brendan and Lila trying to squeeze their heads in one hole.

I love these pictures but they look so grown up!

They aren't babies anymore!

My two oldest girls - love them!

Brendan and the girls heading off to find the kangeroos.

Lila and Mommy

Brendan is climbing - AGAIN!

Fun in the outback!

HOw cute are these three little faces!

That lasted a few seconds - poor Lila.

We could not stop going back to these tiny little lambs - they were born 5 days ago!

We came back to the lambs a few times!

Sweet Brendan faces.

Annie could not wait to ride the train.

Lila was more interested in climbing around but once we got going she loved the wind on her face.

Molly girl was such a big helper all day!

The seven of us riding the training!

Molly held Lila the whole trip.

Auntie had Brendan and her goddaughter.

Brendan and his Mama.

Molly and Lila - they both have scowls on their faces - I have no idea why!

My sweet Lizzie Bug - she loved the train - especially the bumps.

We had a great day at the zoo and it was cool enough so that we had fun but were not sweltering. Molly was a huge help to us and she loved every minute of being the big sister and the big cousin! We were home early enough to get yard work done and get out to mass at 4pm. It was a perfect Saturday but we missed Ellie and our boys! Sunday is a family day - even if we just hang out in the backyard.

GNM - ILY!

Just a little update on the munchkins! Last week was really long but we made it through and Annie now has shiny new teeth to show for it!

Auntie Ann packed a bag for Annie to take to the hospital. It had this cute fairy hat, books, coloring books, crayons and a pair of pajamas to wear home from the hospital.

Auntie Ann put everything into this cute little bad which Annie loved bringing to the hospital - she insisted on carrying it herself and keeping it with her!

Hugs from her sister! Molly was very anxious about not being with Annie for her surgery but she came right after school and took good care of her.

Playing with Daddy while we waited for our OR time. Poor Annie didn't go in until 12:30 but she couldn't eat so she was a little hungry!

In the pre-op room coloring in her books from Auntie Ann.

Annie loved her hospital pajamas - she was such a good sport about everything!

Only one parent could go with Annie to the OR and when they asked Annie if she wanted to drive a powerwheels to the OR she responded - "No, Thanks, I'll just ride my Mommy to the OR!" She was getting a little nervous at this point but she did great. I got to go in and hold her while they put her under anesthesia. I gave her a few kisses, whispered in her ear that I loved her and then had to leave. I can honestly say that it was one of the worst things I have done with the kids - watching Annie go under anesthesia and then having to leave her in that room by herself felt terrible and, Yes, I broke down crying the second I walked out! Grammy and Papa had come to the hospital to be with us and to cheer Annie on so it was a really nice distraction. Annie was in surgery for three hours so we went to the cafeteria and talked and hung out until it neared the time for her to be out of surgery. We were only back in the waiting room for a half hour when they came to tell us she was waking up in the recovery room and we could go be with her. She woke up screaming and in pain. It was horrible. She was inconsolable until I begged for a full dose of pain medication. ONce that was on board we got a few smiles and Annie seemed to perk up and eat a few slushies! Once she kept food down and had been out of surgery for two hours we were ready to head home.

Papa and Grammy were so excited to see Annie when she came out of surgery.

The first thing Annie did after surgery was cry for Papa. Unfortunately, only two people were allowed in the recovery room so it was hard to get everyone in!

Poor Annie was swollen and groggy but loved having the big kids there! She really was such a sweet little trooper through everything.

Everyone wanted to be near Annie while she laid in her princess bed on the couch.

KK, Auntie Karla and Katie, Auntie Meg, Auntie Kate and lots of other people came over to see Annie and check out her new silver teeth!

Look at those new chompers!

Sleepy girl trying to wake up again!

All in all the surgery was a huge success and ANnie did great. The next pictures are just some random pictures taken by Auntie Eileen last week!

Thank you to everyone who prayed for Annie and called to check on her - we so appreciate all of the love and support!

GNM - ILY!

A Little dose of the Lawrence Twins!

I got to spend some time with Lila and Brendan the other day and took the opportunity to snap a few pictures of my gorgeous niece and nephew! I have given up on getting them to pose for me so I just snap candid shots all day long!

Lila was being a sweetie pie all morning - she loves being on the big girl swings with her cousins but Auntie almost had heart failure when she kept moving her hands and letting go of one side. She may have fallen once and gotten her pretty blue dress dirty but she got right back up!

My happy girl - she loves being a big girl on the swings!

This was her "More" laugh! She wanted to go higher!

Brendan loves the swings but not as much as soccer with Auntie!

He's a natural!

I love this one of the two of them heading into the playhouse!

On this day Brendan was the one running away from Auntie and her camera.

We tried to put Lila to work moving stuff for us!

My girl found the dandelions and could not get enough of them - she sniffed them so hard that her nose kept turning yellow!

Two at a time! I love her tiny little fingers!

Lila even picked some flowers for Auntie! Love my girl!

Hugs for her brother!

I finally caught Brendan sitting still!

I had a great morning with Lila and Brendan but not as much fun as Lizzie and Annie - they love being with their cousins!

Lizzie Bug loved spending the morning with Lila and Brendan - especially when we can go outside and have fun!

Annie needed one more day off from school due to a little fever - plus she got to hang out with Lila and Brendan.

Annie pushing Brendan on the swings!

Checking to see how her little cousin is doing on the swing.

You can't see Brendan's face but he is cracking up at Annie!

Buggie smelling her Dandelions!

Annie Bananie always finds interesting ways to have fun out in the yard!

I love being home with the kids and having Lila and Brendan come hang with us! I can't wait for the summer - we are going to have so much fun!

GNM - ILY!