Our Little Human!

This is Peter wearing Daddy's t-shirt during the superbowl. He was so excited and both kids, who went to bed about 10 minutes into the game, woke up cheering the Patriots. Their Daddy had them assuming the game would be won by his favorite team and both ended up with crestfallen looks on their faces when Bob broke the news that they had lost. Luckily, though a huge fan of the Patriots, Bob is pretty easy going about wins and losses - he sulked for a few hours after the game but got over it in time to be very positive with the kids about the loss.

So we took the kids out to dinner last night - well, if you can call Friendlies going out to dinner. Right before out food came Peter spilled a huge glass of water all over the place - Annie was in the unfortunate position of being at the end of the table in her car seat and got soaked from head to toe. Her hair was wet, her car seat was soaked and by the time I reached the bathroom to change her she was shivering from the ice cube trapped between her body and mine. I quickly changed her in order to get back to the table and assess the damage and keep Bob from making Peter feel too bad about the spill, considering he had told him at least 20 times to sit down and stop flailing his arm at the table. Just as I walk over to the table Peter hugs me, kisses Ann and looks up at me with his big brown eyes, "Mommy, I'm sorry I drenched your daughter!" I couldn't help smiling and hugging him - he certainly knows how to get to me!

A little while later we were eating our dinners - Grilled Cheese for everyone because it was a Friday in Lent, and I quietly slipped Annie a french fry. (I know she's a little young but keep in mind she is a 3rd child - we know the Hiemlich and have used it many times before) Peter looks over at Annie eating the fry and lets out a yelp. "Mommy, get that away from her - she can't eat that - its HUMAN food." Now I'm not exactly sure which species my son believes his sister to be. I mean anyone who has seen her sneeze with a mouthful of cereal might question that but he had everyone around us in hysterics and couldn't figure out why. Did I mention how much I LOVE being Peter's mother!!!!!

She's A Girl!

I didn't realize that you couldn't see Ann's hair in the last picture I posted so here is the new hair-do. Grammy used creative license to chop off all the wispy little ends and baby hairs leaving her looking very mature......and yes, you guessed it, like a boy!

We gaze into the big blue eyes and see that sweet baby smile and see only our beautiful baby girl! Others look, as a woman in Friendlies did, and say "Oh - have you ever seen such a pretty little boy - he almost looks like a girl he's so cute!" I didn't stand on a chair and shout at the feeble minded woman that SHE IS A GIRL! instead I laughed as my other equally beautiful daughter did it! Molly was not standing for anyone saying that Annie looked anything but gorgeous so she got her point across in her own way! I chastised her for not handling it in a big girl way but secretly I was as proud as when Molly counted to 100!

You also have to check out the adorable little jeans that Auntie Karla gave Annie for Christmas - she looked like such a big girl. Annie had her 1st visit to Mercy High School this week - time for Daddy and I to start saving the big bucks for our two girls!

Play That Funky Music

I almost didn't post this video - check out the dead roses on the counter and the crap hanging on the bulletin board - Oh Well - I did say that this was our family warts and all so there you have it - one of my warts is my housekeeping abilities - although.....let's get real - it isn't about my ABILITY to do housekeeping - it's about my housekeeping being a priority! How could it ever be with these cutie pies??

SO.................... Annie is in her high chair babbling away at her two siblings dancing like fools to amuse her!

At one point in his babyhood I thought Pete might have some rythm - he loves to dance and sing and just generally move. And he has some good moves once in a while.This video is not a great demonstration of those abilities. I have managed in 7 short years to remove any genetic predisposition to rythm that my poor son had. He has been to one too many family parties and learned one to many moves from his father to retain any existing tendancy toward staying on beat while moving.

Molly - well............ she never had a shot - the poor kid is biologically related to me and incredibly happy to imitate her Daddy. Sure they both yell for us to stop singing in the car and stop dancing in the kitchen(especially on the occasions when we slow dance and throw in a kiss just to gross them out!) but they have picked up more of our moves than is healthy for anyone! Just take a look at the video.

My love of the video stems more from their eagerness to make Annie happy then my need to preserve these things to show the prom dates later. They would stand on their heads (and they have) to make her laugh or even look at them. Last night Ann had gotten her 1st haircut and had her 1st biter biscuit. WOW - what a night in our house - it does not get any better than that!

I got to work in Molly's classroom today - always a treat. I love to watch her interact on a whole other level. She is kind and a bit on the shy side at school but she is smart and loving and I am so proud to be her Mom. My chest literally inflates when I walk through the doors to Mrs. Nelson's classroom and see my tiny little princess engaged in anothe experience that enriches her learning - and trust me - no one is better at those experiences then Mrs. Nelson. Today was the 100 day Party - they made glasses and trailmix and colored pictures and brought collections of 100. Molly brought hair stuff for her collection - ribbons and bows and elastics - I love how girlie that child is!

Peter had a rough day at school - some trouble in one of his classes and on the grumpy side upon seeing me in the hallway. He loves to have his Daddy pick him up at school. He's a man's man - loves to talk with his Daddy about the events of the day and to get the great big bear hugs that Bob is so good at. Peter is anything but reserved at school. He is outspoken and bold in everything he does - Mrs. Greenberg embraces his boldness and nurtures his need for empowerment in learning. We are very fotunate that our kids are in a school with teachers that we love and a learning environment that is healthy, safe and busy!

And not to forget the little one - she got to spend time with her namesake today. Auntie Ann showed her off to anyone who would stop and look. Annie is very content - watching and smiling at anyone!

So life is good today - as it is everyday that we are all healthy and together!

Annie's 1st haircut!

So Annie Bananie got her 1st haircut today. Grammy and Papa took the wispy flyaway hair situation into their own hands and chopped it all off - with my blessing, of course. Her big blue eyes look bluer then ever and brighter without the crazy Don King hair-do to draw attention away. She looks too cute - makes a mommy's heart swell!

Peter was the "Music Star" yesterday - nothing cuter in the world then hearing Peter sing his Martin Luther King song at the top of his lungs - proudly and loudly because, after all, he is the MUSIC STAR! Peter has had some difficulties in music - he sometimes goes into overload when there is too much singing, banging or noise - so this music star award is hard earned. And in the Harding - Wheeler house we celebrate these things. How do you celebrate a "Music Star" award, you ask - naturally with singing and dancing and acting like fools followed by pudding and whipped cream.

Molly wasn't the music star but does anyone know what tomorrow is??? - the 100th day of school! A huge, gigantic deal in kindergarten! There are sunglasses to be made, 100 thing collections to be presented and lots and lots of counting. Last year when Pete learned to count to 100 Auntie Kake thoughtfully presented him with a Curious George book "Curious George Counts from 1 - 100". He LOVES that book - probably more because of who it is from than how riveting it is but trust me when I tell you that I know the book by heart. And tonight Peter wrote Molly's name in it next to his and told her that since she was in kindergarten and knew how to count to 100 she could bring it to her class tomorrow and it can be her book now. AHHHHH a moment of bliss in a world of fighting, nagging, slapping, hitting and name calling. Does a mother's heart good to once in a while!

So dinner in the Harding - Wheeler house tonight consisted of smushed cookie dust all over Annie's face, singing of MLK songs and lots of counting to 100 - I LOVE dinner time!