Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

I Corinthians 13:4-8

Lots of pictures to share today and lots of fun weekend moments. Molly has taken to calling Ellie her little "Brownie". My first inclinaion was to tell her that the nickname was not appropriate but, in all honesty, Molly does not see color the way we do as adults so it is an innocent nickname born out of love and affection for Ellie - who am I to question that?

We had a wonderful Valentine's Day but first Bob and I started the weekend getting to go out to dinner Friday night. Karla and Patrick came over last night and watched all of the babies (including Katie) for us so that Bob and I could take a few hours to ourselves. KK took all of the big kid cousins to the Marriott to go swimming in the pool. They had a blast and came back exhausted - I don't have pictures because I was not there! You have to use your imagination to pictures Tyler, Peter, Abby and Molly crawling all over Kk and Jamison in the pool and then taking their pruny little bodies up to the room for showers, movies and chocolate in bed (Yes, Jamison, we heard all about it!). Bob and I went to Chile's for dinner (great black bean veggie burger) and then over to Border's to spend my Christmas present from my brother, Ed! I got lots of good deals on books and a few Valentine's treats for the kids!

My wonderful, thoughtful husband went and got Molly a red rose for Valentine's day. It was waiting at her spot at the table when she woke up this morning. With all of the craziness in our house Molly has really stepped up and been mature and loving with the babies and very patient with her tired parents. Bob thought this was a nice way to make her feel special and, although I thought the note was corny, Molly beamed when she woke up and read it!

Molly also loved the book and candy waiting for her! She went in her room and read half of her book before 9 a.m.
Annie got a Dora potty book. It as a little flusher and everything - she LOVED it!

Each of the kids got a heart filled with chocolate and I, being the mother who would soon go take an hour nap, decided to let them all dig in for breakfast. Annie was all too happy to indulge!

Chocolate bliss!

All 4 candies were gone within 2 minutes!

Molly loved her chocolates even though she was feeling pretty gross all day - she had a fever of 102 all day and just felt awful!

Now that's what I call sticky fingers!

Peter and Molly give each other a Valentine's hug!

Mommy with her hands full - what a lucky Mom!

Annie Bananie being a ham!

Uncle Pat meets Cassidy. Todd and Michelle came from San Diego and stopped over last night to introduce us all to Cassidy.

Michelle got to meet Lizzie and Ellie - she had the magic touch with Ellie and got her right to sleep.

Uncle Bob and Cassie - I was hoping the nickname CJ would stick but what Mom and Dad say - goes!

Cassidy Jane - 3 months old!

KK has the kids and is ready to go get Abby and Tyler and go swimming!

Peter and the babies!

Peter loving on Lizzie!

An aide who works in Peter's classroom knows how much he loves wrestling (although he is still not allowed to watch it!) and she brought him in this shirt - needless to say he has been wearing it all weekend!

My beautiful girl with the sun in her face eating lunch with Papa!

Lizzie looking comfy on Grammy!

Papa and Annie having lunch together on Friday.

Elizabeth!

Our happy girl!

Molly sharing a quiet moment with Lizzie before school yesterday - she is such a natural with the babies!

Auntie Ann and Elizabeth hanging out together!

KK put Ellie in the Baby Bjorn - she loved it. I have trouble using it because my chest is so big but Kk thought it was comfortable.

Silly Annie faces!

Ellie with her cute little hat on - I love this picture!

Auntie Ann and Sister Anne had been over to see Ellie and help us out with all sorts of things but Sister Ancie had not been able to meet her yet so we brought her out for a visit to High Street last weekend!

Auntie Ann and Ellie!

Ellie looks very comfortable on Sister Ancie.

I just can't get enough of these girls - Molly always favors Lizzie because everyone tells her that they look so much alike!

Annie has been influenced by Molly quite a bit - here she is with some boots a friend gave us - she added the rest of the ensemble - just like Molly always does.

Our pretty girl adjusting her tiara!

And then we moved on to just the boots - what a sweet baby.

She takes my breath away - Annie is just pure happiness and light - she makes me smile just thinking about her.

I don't know if I posted these or not but Julia came over one day before school and the kids were all lines up at the door waiting for the bud. Annie was crying because she couldn't go with them.

I got chocolate covered strawberries, flowers and a nap for Valentine's Day on top of being showered in hugs, kisses and raspberries from 5 of the most beautiful, amazing kids ever.

At church today an older woman who sits near us came over to meet Ellie - Bob and Molly and Lizzie had stayed home because Molly was still sick. this friend from church has known me since I was young and was the first person to hold Peter during a mass - she told me that she just wanted me to know what a gift my family was to her each week - that she looks at us and the joy we get from our kids and the support we have from my brother's family and my parents and she feels that she is witnessing God's love right in front of her. She complimented me for my gentleness and love with the kids and spoke at great length about Bob and his tenderness with the kids and his obvious love for me. She brought tears to my eyes with her kind words and it reminded me about the importance of telling people how you feel - they just might be in desperate need of a shot in the arm. She didn't have to come over and talk to me and anyone who sits near us at mass certainly sees the dysfunction in our little family - the noise level, the stern looks and the embarrassing moments - but through all of that this friend can also see the beauty of our family and she went out of her way to let me know that despite the times when I feel as though we are a complete disruption to everyone we try hard and have the love and support of our parish family. Most masses are followed by a period of exasperation on my part - today I just smiled!

GNM - ILY!