For Peter love is a game of "31" with his Dad! These two could play all day and they get very competetive. I love to be just out of the room so Bob and Peter think they are alone - that way I hear the "guy" talk and silliness but don't cramp their style.
Peter also thinks that love is having all seven of us home and watching TV( his true first love!) in the living room and knowing that no one has anywhere to be. That's our little homebody!
For Molly love is a day alone at Grammy and Papa's. She spends Mondays with Grammy doing her homework after school and has learned to appreciate the quiet and attention. She also loves how Grammy smells - "even her breath is sweet!" Wait till Grammy hears that one!
Molly also loves craft days when it snows - that's when she feels like a good big sister who can show off how old she is and how much she loves her sisters! This picture is a typical Saturday morning in our house - Molly has her easel out, Annie is coloring or drawing and the boys are playing cards.
Annie feels the most love when she gets her Mommy-Daddy group hug in the morning. She feels loved when Grammy counts her freckles, when Molly puts her make-up on and when Uncle Pat calls her cutie - pie! Annie was surprisingly in tune to what I was asking her - she feels loved when she sleeps at her BFF's (no name needed anymore - it's KK!) and our house would be perfect if Lila and Brendan could live here!
Lizzie and Ellie did not participate in our little project about love but, as you can clearly see, they LOVE being on Daddy's lap! They also love each other and any game that involves building forts or getting dirty! Lizzie and Ellie love their older siblings - especially when they are getting extra attention from one of them. It doesn't take much!
Daddy's girls!
For me - love is these bright, beautiful faces posing for a picture before we all head off to church together. Love is looking over at the kids during mass and finding Ellie and Annie holding hands and Molly sitting with Lizzie on her lap. Love is Bob looking over at me and laughing during mass when the priest asks what we are going to do with that free fifteen minutes at the end of the day today! He wants us to pray for peace - we're pretty sure we'd fall asleep. Love is knowing that at the end of each day I fall into bed, exhausted and spent with a man who thinks that I am more beautiful each day and more worth the trouble I can cause each minute we spend together!
Love is Annie's tiny hand holding mine while we read a story. Love is Molly wondering if I ever feel bad for people who don't have a house as beautiful as ours as we trudge through dirty clothes and toys to get to the kitchen. Love is listening to all five kids squeal with joy when we announce donuts for breakfast on a Sunday morning. Love is Peter running back into the house when he forgets to kiss me goodbye, Lizzie begging for just one more hug before bed, Ellie yelling "I dove you" ten times to us before she goes to bed. Love is Molly and Annie making cards before bed and placing them gently on our pillows so we will find them when we go to bed at night!
Love is never having a sister but getting to watch my four girls form the lasting bonds that only sisters can possess. Love is hearing Molly tell people that the best thing about being a big sister is that her little sisters want to do everything she does all the time.
Love is dance costumes, frilly skirts, hair bows, dresses, ribbons, tights, party shoes, Someone Special dances, butterflies, flowers, hearts and peace signs. Love is being a mom to four amazing daughters!
Love is the friendship between Peter and Molly that is finally developing after 9 years. Love is the secrets they share and the laughter we hear filter down the stairs late into the night.
Love is when the big kids plot against us to get something! Love is knowing that Peter will protect Molly from anything and that that they will always have each other - no matter what!
Love is the smiles! Knowing that no matter how hard things get or how much we struggle - at the end of the day we can laugh, smile and know that we all belong right here in this home with each other.
Love is 7 people knowing they are cared for, cherished and adored by each other!
This post is a little hokey but it's true! We are so lucky - so blessed to be together and what better day to celebrate that than Valentine's Day! There will be flowers and candy and even a special breakfast of heart shaped pancakes but in the end it's just another reason to say I love you!
GNM - ILY!
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