Philly Recap!

After a week of no internet I am back with a really long Philly installment! Bear with me but the kids were adorable and I just kept snapping away!

My favorite picture of the vacation - Daddy and Annie sleeping peacefully! How cute are they?My girls at 7 a.m. one morning - how cute!I love Molly's sparkling eyes!The almost birthday girl!Give Lizzie a little bit of freedom and she takes off.Annie and Ellie hanging out.The tourists who kept taking our pictures.Molly was so excited to show Miss Kelly the liberty bell. My assessment is that it is pretty small and boring but the kids thought it was great!The tourists asking for more pictures with our family!The Consititution Center - thought this was a great magazine cover!Molly in front of the US Capitol.Mary Catherine Harding - Wheeler taking the oath of office - check out George Bush and Obama behind her!Peter Westley Harding - Wheeler taking the oath of office - much less excited about it.My little supreme court justice!I think they look perfect in these robes - maybe they will both follow in Auntie Beth's footsteps and become lawyers who move all the way up to the Supreme Court.Molly thought these statues of the "signers of the Constitution" were fun!Molly with the first replication of the Constitution.My 6 favorite people in front of the flag that overlooks the city. The Constitution Center was my favorite part of the trip - it was educational and had an amazing show called "We the People" that was about our road to freedom and made my cry because it was so poignant. It didn't hurt seeing my kids dressed as supreme court justices and taking the oath of office. Gives a Mommy chills.We had lunch at Reading Terminal - a large Fanuiel Hall and then got dessert to eat in the park outside.Philly has a 1% Public Art Law - any building that receives any governement funding has to spend 1% of the total budget on public art. The result is tons of murals, statues, and sculptures - it is amazing and the kids loved running around in all of the outdoor art demonstrations.Peter looks like a teenager taking in all of the sites.Annie running around.Ellie belly - taking in everything!The Please Touch MuseumPeter showing off his veins from working out.The girls in the race car.The prettiest Statue of Liberty.Lizzie loves running around.Ellie found the butterflies and we could not get her away from it.Annie loved the swan.Molly is so good with the babies - she took Lizzie on the slide about 100 times.Indoor carosel - the kids loved it.I love these things - Molly was so excited.Peter not so much.Annie could barely reach but she was having fun.Annie loved the life size piano.Molly in wonderland.Tea party time.Lizzie driving the boat!Ellie getting some TLC from Daddy in the forest.My little doctor - how cute is she?Annie flung her baby in the carriage and went about grocery shopping.This is why it's nice to have Peter around -look how organized the veggies are?Babies ready to go home and relax.Sister snuggles.Some of my favorite Annie faces.Molly thought Annie was so cute that she had Daddy take a picture while I was out presenting.Ben Franklin's grave - Molly loved the graves - I have no idea why!Betsey Ross's grave.The kids outside of the Betsey Ross House.And on to the Melting Pot for FONDUE!Annie hogging all of the chips!The H-W family having a blast dipping everyting in cheese and chocolate.Peekaboo Lizzie!Ellie looks hapy in Daddy's arms.The big kids not fighting - it's a miracle.Happy Birthday, Elizabeth!More public art fun!We bought these sweaters for the three little ones at The Woodstock Fair and they have come in really handy - we also get lots of complements on how cute they look in them.Lizzie and Daddy. Annie Bananie having some fun with the big kids!


Sitting on Mary Dwyer's lap - we have no idea who she is but the kids loved this statue.

Happy Naked girl - love that smile.You can see her tonsils!Sleepy girl!Look how gorgeous my girl is.My sleepy baby just before she woke up on her birthday!Presents!Big brother taking care of the babies.We were lucky enough to attend a ceremony for African American Veterans. It was very touching and the kids learned alot from the soldiers. This is one vet in particular who told the kids lots of stories and took pictures with us.A platoon of black veterans! The kids and I got to shake hands and thank them after the ceremony. Bob and the big kids with the Ben Franklin statue.

The human heart exhibit - very cool!

You could walk through the inside of the heart.Trying to get a picture of the 5 kids. VERY UNSUCCESSFUL!All seven us at the Science Museum. Lizzie exploring.Ellie exploring.We could not get Annie out of the race cars.My little athlete climbing the wall.Molly saluting on top of the lighthouse.Annie loved the water table and building dams!She may have loved it a bit too much - she was soaked!Moly girl loving her outfit from KK.Annie has her drink and her purse and is ready for the pool.Daddy and the kids swimming.Auntie Meg met us at home where she gave Lizzie an Elmo cupcake! She was not happy that we took her goddaughter away for her birthday!Frosting Face!

Molly girl looking gorgeous. We came home to find that our little Grammy and Papa elves had put a new kitchen floor in, cleaned and organized the kitchen and raked the yard and cleared everything for us! KK and Auntie Meg came over to see me......okay - and the kids! It's nice to be home but it already feels as though we never left - the kids are back in school, Irish Step Dancing is tonight followed by Family Faith Festival and then tomorrow is basketball and cleaning the room for Annie. Ahh - real life again! GNM - ILY!