We got home from Washington at 1a.m. on the morning of Ellie's birthday. Normally we wake the kids up with breakfast, signs, balloons and gifts but we decided to not do that for Ellie and instead wait until she went in for her afternoon nap and do the festivities. unfortunately she woke up feeling less than terrific but she muttled through gifts before collapsing onto my chest and going back to sleep.
Ellie is the 5th child and opens gifts very slowly - you can imagine how patient her siblings are with this process.
Ellie loves Horses so we got her some "pet horses" as Annie called them. She sleeps with one of them at night.
Our princess got some shoes and dress up clothes because in this house - dress up clothes are a must!
Wrapping paperfight.
Sister loving each other!
Our little princess!
Happy Birthday, Ellie Bean! You complete us!
The kids actually loved decorating the Christmas tree this year. It was so much fun!
Even Annie got in on the fun - and Yes, I let her stand on a chair broken arm and all.
The kids LOVED decorating the tree but as usual, Elizabeth refused to get in the picture.
When I go to Whole Foods one of my favorite parts is running into Uncle B's friend Jackie. She is a doll and we all love her. She had heard that Annie broke her arm so she sent me home with flowers for Annie and the other kids. Annie was so exctied to get her won flowers that she brought them out to show everyone who would look at them. She says good night to the little rose plant every single night!
Smelling her flowers!
Attempting a tubby before our doctor's appointment. The cast got soaked!
Dr. Webber cutting off the old cast.
My girl's beautiful arm for the last time for a few weeks.
Annie was amazingly patient and good while they held her arm up and put the real cast on. It was clearly painful when they moved her arm but she never cried or complained. The doctor chuckled when I took my camera out!
Her purple cast earned her a lunch out with Mommy and Daddy alone. We went to Chili's and had a blast with our little princess. She showed everyone her new cast and got extra treats and ice cream from the waitresses and a lollipop from an old lady who stopped to talk to us.
It was a long tiring day!
I was trying to get a picture of Annie's new cast but we realized that her clothes can now fit over the cast so you can't even see it. These are some of the pajamas that Auntie Ann brought for her when she broke her arm. She loves how soft they are.
Annie missed her Chrismas party at Irish Step Dancing because her arm was hurting from getting the real cast on and having them move it aorund so much. She got to come with me to Molly's dance so she could still see Santa. Miss Marybeth loved the color Annie had picked for her cast - it is her favorite too!
Looking beautiful in the dress that Auntie Meg bought her!
I get chills watching Molly dance. It never gets old for me! She loves it and she is so good at it!
Waiting for Santa.
Step Dancing Santa - not bad!
So poised and graceful!
Waiting with her friends to see Santa and tell him what they want for Christmas.
Molly and Santa!
Working hard with her hard shoes!
When we can home Annie fell asleep all curled up.
With her plumbers crack showing!
Brendan lazing around on his cousins!
My little man putting on a show for Auntie Kasey after his bath!
Lila loves the fire - she sits in front of it for hours and yes - this auntie makes a fire no matter how warm so that Lila can look at it and play in front of it!
Peter and Lila bonding!
I think that catches us up on all of our pictures just in time for the 300 we will have after Christmas. I have to say this Christmas has been wonderful so far and I am so excited for the time we will get with our family this year. The kids are all filled with wonder and awe and the babies are so much fun right now. The twins ask about Santa every morning when they wake up - I can't wait to see their faces on Christmas morning! We are so blessed!GNM - ILY!
