Where to begin.....life is busy, hectic, crazy and wonderful. Annie has fully embraced the terrible twos but, boy, is she an amazing kid! She's quirky but so loving and affectionate - I forgot how much I love this stage where every day they learn something totally brand new and are amazed by everything. Ann watched an ant walk around outside for 20 minutes this morning!

I don't like to write too much about myself on the blog because the intention is for it to be a journal for the kids to know about our lives when they grow up....and, yes, I also know that most people could care less about me and really read this for the chickies and all of their amazingly wonderful feats! I'm giving myself a pass to talk about me today because it is my birthday and it was wonderful and perfect - just what I wanted in all its simplicity. I fielded 20 phone calls from family and friends who love me, got to visit with my parents and was treated to a pretty normal, yet special day by Bob and the kids. I woke up at 9 - no, that's not a misprint, 9 a.m. without interuption! I was awakened by Molly, Annie and Peter jumping in my bed and kissing me and singing to me, followed by Bob wishing me a happy birthday and letting me know that both babies were sleeping and now would be a great time ot make my way to the kitchen for breakfast! Bob and the kids made french toast with whipped cream and fruit on top. The babies got me beautiful flowers and Peter and Molly got me a gift card to take Daddy our for dinner. Bob got me my Lovely perfume that I absolutely love. We hung out in pajamas before a while and then Bob cleaned out the refrigerator - my least favorite job in the entire world - the best gift ever! I took a little nap, did some housework and then got the kids all to myself when Bob went to Brendan's 30th birthday party and then on to work for a few hours. We watched the new ICarly movie and had popcorn on the couch - the perfect end to a lazy birthday. And I am now about to indulge in a big Friendlies sundae that Bob got for me in between party and work - the heck with Weight Watchers tonight - I'm giving myself a pass! So enough of me - on to the important things - the kids!

Annie decorated herself with stickers and then fell asleep on my bed!Abby sitting in front of the fan!Annie could not get enough of Abby!And could not get close enough to her.Abby is always a good sport about things!Ellie sitting up! YEAH - ELLIE!Ellie works with a physical therapist once a month to strengthen her muscles and work on her devleopmental skills. Kk got her hair done by the girls!Auntie Beth and her beautiful goddaughter!Abby wanted in on the love, too!Auntie Meg and Molly in their tank tops!Lizzie loving her raisins!We threw a girls slumber party for Auntie Beth last Saturday down at the beach house. All the girls were coming to sleep over and do girlie things while we celebrate Auntie Beth - and then she got sick! YUCK! So we had the party without her! Molly and Abby fresh from the shower and ready to party!We found a new birthmark on Molly's back!KK gave manicures!Auntie Meg and Auntie Karla snuggled with the girls while we watched a movie!Another outdoor shower for Abby!Grammy made us the most amazing (and pretty) waffles the next morning for breakfast and Papa took the girls out for donuts so this was after sleeping late!Checking out the blogs!Bob brought the boys and babies down later in the day to hang out with us!Papa and Peter - how cute!Babies on the beach!My gorgeous girls!Lizzie was much more cooperative than Ellie when it came to picture taking!Trying to get a picture of the kids on the beach - not the best but they were trying!Auntie Meg and Lizzie!Ellie getting lots of attention!Once the rain came we decided to go bowling - how cute do they look in their bowling shoes?Even Ellie enjoyed it!Uncle B had his hands full when we went up to celebrate Meg's birthday!Annie loves Uncle Colin's rocking chair!Only a godparent is allowed to put Yankees hats on my kids!Auntie Kake lets Annie do dishes!It's a good think that Uncle Tim already snagged Auntie Meg because he doesn't look so manly reading the "New Bride's Cookbook". I love this picture of Auntie Meg and Lizzie!Not sure how Ann ended up naked but she did - here she is with Auntie Meg's magic bullet!Cake Time!Lizzie got her fingers in the frosting!Annie giving her baby a bath in the dishwasher.Things went downhill quickly!Molly tried my wedding dress on while Auntie Meg tried hers on the other day! Lizzie looking cute all naked!

Fun times on the baby blankie! GNM - ILY!

More Newport Pictures!

I'm posting a few more rounds of Newport pictures and then I should be caught up and can start posting the August birthday pictures! Bear with me!

Snug as a bug in a rug with daddy.
We finally blew up the boat for the kids to take down to the pool.

Peter relaxing in the boat.

Tyler gets his chance to go for a boat ride.

Katie was not so sure about the boat!

My gorgeous goddaughter did some sunbathing instead of swimming - it was too cold for her.

Papa and the babies relaxing on the floor.

Baby love - Lizzie does not look happy!

The three youngest H-W kids - how cute are they?

The 2 Peters!

Annie gets a ride out of the water!

My princess shows her muscles!

Just beautiful - those eyes - ahhhhhh!I love this picture of Ann with her godparents.The little girls playing outside!Our models!Peekaboo with Auntie Karla.Lizzie found a comfy spot!That big pie hole is about the cutest thing I have ever seen - I love how she opens her mouth wide every time she smiles!Sisters!Lizzie was playing and just koncked out! How cute is this bag of bones?Posing!Only Auntie Jane would come to Newport with glitter for the girls hair.Fruite salad made with love by Grammy and Papa for Molly girl. We left Newport at arounf 7 p.m. and Kk was going to meet us at our house at around 9 for some baby time and to help us unpack etc. Thank goodness these arrangements were in place because by the time we got home Molly - who had been plagued by chronic stomach pain the entire time we were away was writhing in pain and crying out everytime we touched her belly. She was throwing up for the 4th time in a week and when I called the pediatrician they said to get her into Children's Medical Center right away. KK agreed to stay with our wide awake clan so that Bob and I could be with Molly. After several hours at CCMC and many tests of which Molly complained little and took like a trooper we discovered that Molly had a small blockage in her colon due to chronic constipation. They were able to take care of it so that could go home and addressed with us medications that Molly would have to take and changes to her diet that would be imperative for us to make quickly. We are still working our way through follow up testing and getting Molly feeling better - a colon can take up to 6 months to go back to normal after something like this! The final tests came back negative for bacterial infection so we are grateful for that but it was quite a few days.Saint John's in Middletown had a mass for Sister Ancie and then dedicated the window in the day chapel to the Sisters of Mercy. It was the morning fo my parents big anniversary celebration so we had a busy day but it was worth it.Sister Ancie flipping the switch to turn on the window!Sister's of Mercy with the window dedicated to them. The nun in teal is Sister Marietta who was a teacher at Mercy when I was in high school - she is one of the sweetest people I know and I love to be around her - there is something very peaceful about her!

Sister Ancie and her gorgeous window! It really is beautiful!

So now I am caught up from a month ago and its on to August birthdays! Stay tuned!

GNM - ILY!