Long Awaited Weekend Away!

Bob and I are headed out for our long awaited weekend away. We haven't been away from the kids for a few years now and I am defintely looking forward to spending some time with Bob. The kids made fun of us when they saw that I had packed Skipbo cards, regular cards, two books for each of us and a few Courant articles that I cut out to read at some other point when I had time. Sounds romantic right?
Bob and I both abide by the theory that we didn't have five kids so that we could spend the next 20 years alone - we love our Saturday nights at home and planning fun family activities for the weekends but................................I also treasure the conversations that seem to happen when Bob and I are alone for a few hours together - the things I still have to learn about Bob and the dreams that we have to share with each other. I miss the kids so much I ache for them when I am not with them but I also know that they are better for the time that Bob and I spend cherishing our relationship as a couple.
That being said - the process of packing for five kids who at some point will all be in different places is a difficult one - toothbrushes, medicines for each one and appropriate clothing for whatever weather happens. The kids are so excited to spend time with their aunties and uncles. Peter, Molly and Annie will divide time between Auntie Karla and Uncle Pat's house and Papa and grammy's house. Lizzie is going with Auntie Meg and Uncle Tim or more importantly Lila and Brendan! Ellie is going with KK and is beside herself with excitement.

Bob and I are headed for the Westport Inn which is located near one of my favorite towns in CT - Norwalk! I worked there for five years running a program for CHC so I know all the best restaurants and hang outs but my hope is that we spend a great deal of time in what looks like a comfy bed - sleeping and reading! This is defintely a recovery weekend from the colds and sleep deprived nights we have experienced over the last few weeks!

This morning we were sitting around talking about manners, and being polite and all of those Mommy things you hope your kids do when you are not with them. Annie all of a sudden busts out with, "You are going to be in trouble with Auntie Beth." Uh - Oh - what did I do now I kept thinking to myself. "How come Auntie Beth doesn't get a kid for the weekend - she always wants a kid to stay with her and have a sleepover - she is going to be mad!" I politely explain to Annie that Auntie Beth is 3,000 miles away and busy with taxes - and that everyone is actually doing us a favor by caring for our children and it is not a big priveledge. She promptly says - "Okay but when Auntie Beth calls and misses me because I'm not staying with her I am not going to answer the phone!" Apparently it is totally over her head! Annie is missing Auntie Beth like crazy - she told her teacher that she is going to California next month - not true at all! May can not come soon enough for the Harding - Wheeler kids!
I am so excited for the kids to spend time with some of their favorite people on earth. Hopefully while Bob and I are aay we are going to find a really really really cheap little getaway for the family while the kids are on vacation next month!
GNM - ILY!

Weekend Fun

We had a great weekend with the Harding kids this weekend! Pat and Karla got a much needed vacation away and we got to enjoy our nieces and nephews all weekend. It was kind of low key - not a whole lot going on and not enough room in the mini-van to go anywere so we walked to the park, had lots of baking sessions and watched the UCONN games. The Harding kids were incredibly good for us - they knew we were seriously outnumbered and Grammy and Papa took turns having kids over at their house. It was a great weekend!

This is our two boys getting ready to head out to Grammy and Papa's for a sleepover!

These boys could not have been happier to get out of the house and away from all of their sisters! Grammy and Papa said they were perfect and I would have to believe it because they were angels when they were here!

Molly and Abby had dance from 6-7:30 so we dropped them off and then stopped for ice cream on the way home. These girls are best friends and don't need anything but their voices to entertain them - they literally sing ALL the time!

Annie and Katie are adorable together. It gets a little hard when Ellie and Lizzie want to join in the fun but these two girls took care of their babies like perfect little Mamas all weekend.

Lizzie and Bob made cupcakes and the girls loved decorating them with frosting and shots!

My sweet Katie loving her Valentine's Day cupcakes.

Lizzie is trying out MOlly's hat while eating her "pupcake"! I make her say that word 20 times because I think it is so cute!

Annie Bananie - she started feeling a bit under the weather on Saturday but she was a trooper!

We ended up taking her into the doctor today and she has pnemonia and two ear infections. You would never know it because she never complains but the doctor said she is a pretty sick little munchkin! We have 24 hours to see some change in her fever and symptoms and then we need to head in to the hospital because she is not filling up her little lungs with air. The doctor said she would have sent anyone else to the hospital today but since we are so experienced and such good parents we could wait and see if there is a change - I should feel good about that but I don't - my baby is just laying on the couch - too weak to move or eat! We did a family prayer circle around her tonight so here's hoping that she starts healing very soon!

My Ellie Bean - she is such a happy girl - especially when she is included in all of the fun stuff that the big kids are doing!

Silly girls ready for bed! Katie was so great - we thought she might be nervous or miss her parents but she didn't want to leave when the weekend was over.

Annie adores Katie - I hope they stay as close as they are!

So we have a full size bed, a twin bed on top and a trundle underneath for guests but guess where everyone ended up sleeping - in the trundle twin bed that we set up for Katie! It was actually really cute - everyone brushed their teeth and then ran into the bed so we couldn't say no!

Katie was so happy to be sleeping over in the bed that was designated for her from the moment we got our new bunk beds!

I'm not sure but I think Annie was having fun at her sleepover! Bob was in the room with them for an hour telling stories - I thought it was really sweet until Katie informed me that most of them had to do with poop and gas! Typical man getting laughs any way he can!

Ellie Bean - we made room for her on the trundle but she wanted no part of it - she loves her bunk bed and being right where she is every single night.

My beautiful baby girl - I could eat her up with that sly little smile!

Annie had a birthday party on Saturday for her friend Helena. It was a princess party so she dressed up in her Belle costume. She was very quiet at the party and it turns out that she was not feeling well at all! Poor baby did her best but she really struggled!

Annie and her princess friends!

Annie after her princess makeover - this girl melts my heart!

Helena's mom is Kara Sundlin from Channel 3 - Better Connecticut. For the weeks leading up to Helena's party she had all sorts of people on her show that could teach her cool things to do for the princess party! This was the chocolate make-up snacks - the girls thought they were great!

Hopefully Annie is on the mend because this weekend is Bob and my turn to go away for the weekend. Pat and Karla came back feeling refreshed because there is very little to do where they stayed - we are staying in the same place so hopefully Bob and I will get some reading done and come back equally as relaxed!

GNM - ILY!