Sweet sibling moments!

I guess every mother thinks their kids are amazing but sometimes I am just blown away by the beauty and love in the ordinary moments of our lives. When you have 5 kids alot of time is spent just hanging around - changing diapers, cooking meals and mediating fights. At the same time those times spent just hanging around give me the chance to really watch my children and their personalities and how they interact with each other. Molly recently informed me that she hoped I was enjoying our special time together because her friend at school told her that once you get to be 10 it is NOT cool to like to hang around with your mother anymore! Already this is happening? We went to a different mass than we normally do this weekend and there was someone that we didn't know sitting behind us. She pulled me aside after mass and told me that she felt like she had the most special seat in the church this weekend watching Bob and I with the kids. Her direct quote was "They're a handful - don't get me wrong - but it is so obvious how happy you and your husband are to be parents and how much you enjoy your children." She told me to enjoy the time we have now because in a flash I will be crying as I drop them off at college. It was very kind of her to not mention the cheerios on her shoes or the endless stream of binkies that she had to pick up for us and I always appreciate when someone takes the time to introduce themselves to us - and, naturally - I love to hear how beautiful my kids are! It made me think about how lucky Bob and I are to be in a position to truly embrace this time in our lives - we have just enough money, just enough time, our cozy house, oodles of family who support us and the experience of being raised to know that these times are irreplaceable and need to be treasured! We are so blessed!Sisters Bonding!The other day it snowed and Bob had to go out to work so we decided to go out and shovel the walk for Daddy. In reality we did very little shoveling and a whole lot of playing. Annie loved being outside and could have cared less about the freezing cold wind!That face says it all - she was so thrilled to be out there!Big brother - Pete kept asking me to go inside so he could take care of Annie. My baby girl's footprint!Peter loves to snowboard and is incredibly coordinated when he does it!My handsome boy taking a breather! He stays out for hours at a time!My angle makes a snow angle - too cute!Our rose - still there even in the snow!Peter even got Ann to try snowboarding.Throwing snowballs at Mama.Molly wasn't sure if she wanted to come out and play but she relented once Peter started throwing snoballs at the front window to get her attention. The big kids having fun in the snow!I love this picture of Peter but he look so old!Molly going for a ride on the sled! She loves anything FAST!Sisters having fun sledding!I love this picture of Annie licking a snowflake - how sweet is this baby?Lizzie was sick this week so we let her come into bed with us one morning - she took the whole bed but boy did she look adorable!Another day Ellie fell asleep in my arms all swaddled in a blanket like when she was a baby - I had trouble putting her down but I had to cook dinner! Peter's Auntie Renee came over for dinner on Wednesday. It was great to get to know her better and Peter loved intorducing her to Grammy and papa. Auntie Ann heard Aunt Renee was coming and made lasagna, salad and bread for us to serve a homecooked meal - rather than the pizza I would have served! She also took Molly, Peter and Annie out to lunch and shopping on their day off this week - she has more energy than I do - amazing!Daddy and his sleepy sick girls all snuggled up on the couch - this makes my heart melt!Baby Tubby Time!Annie BooLizzie BugEllie BeanLizzie took a dive but they had a blast!Annie's big girl room - she has yet to sleep in there except at nap time!The pretty bins I found for organizing toys and clothes!Auntie Ann got Annie these great butterflies that hang over her bed and I gave in to the Dora fetish and got her a comforter and wall decals of Dora - ugggggg!Naked baby pictures - Ellie loves being naked!I love those piggies!Baby butts! Ellie was looking at me like the what the heck are you doing Mama - I am buck naked!Beautiful girl - I love her perfect skin!Naked baby pictures of Lizzie - she refused to sit still so this is what we got!Crazy hair!I love this picture of Lizzie - that smile could make me do anything, I think!Only 8 days until BOb and I go away for our anniversary. We are so lucky that we have family who, not only offer to take the kids so that we can get away for an overnight but act like we are doing them a favor. The kids are all getting split up so that they can get some attention without their siblings. Grammy and Papa are taking Annie, Karla and Pat are taking Molly, Peter is going to his best buddy Lucas's house (with Auntie Lisa and Uncle Paul), Ellie is going with KK and Lizzie is going to be spoiled by her godmother and Uncle Tim. My kids are so unbelievably lucky to be so loved by their family! I can't wait to reciprocate - how soon can Meg leave the twins with me???? Karla and Pat - weekend away??? Lisa and Paul - we have no life - free for sleepovers! Anyways - thanks to all of our family and friends who are making this possible for us!

I made a reservations at the Dutch Iris Inn(see above). We have a room with a king size bed and fireplace, dinner at a romantic restaurant and a sleigh ride - not bad for our 5 year anniversary! Once again - it is always amazing how very blessed Bob and I are to be surrounded by people who care for and love us and the kids so much!

GNM - ILY!

2010 is going to be a great year!

Beth and I were reminiscing about the year that I spent New Year's with her in New York when she was in law school and we braved Times Square. We got corralled into the gates at 5 p.m. with no food, bathrooms, or room to move and waited for the ball to drop. It was a great experience but we both agreed that we just don't get the point! Strangers were kissing us at midnight and the streets were like a sewage pit! So naturally my thoughts moved to how much much our lives have changed - the last several New Year's Eve's we have spent together playing games and loving on the kids!

Papa and Lizzie enjoying the New Year's Eve feast!
Auntie Beth gave Auntie Meg a great Christmas present by flying Xtina to CT for a few days. It was even better because Xtina was here to learn the big TWIN news in person! Obviously it was hard to talk about anything but the twins on New Year's!

The kids waiting for Mommy to read the direction for our game!

Is there anything better on New Year's then gathering the people you love and playing games together until midnight (which was actually 9:30)?

Our rousing game of Pictionary! The kids had a blast!

I loved Peter's drawing of a mayor!

Even Annie got in on the action!

The best part of the evening had to be the fondue - chocolate with fruit, pretzels and graham crackers to dip in it! The kids had a blast and I think the adults enjoyed it too!

Annie loved the chocolate and strawberries.

Tyler and Abby called our New Year's Eve party "Fancy and Fun!" It was so noce to have them here with us to celebrate the new year.

Our TOAST with sparkling cider!

Annie ringing in the new year!

Happy 2010, Elizabeth Mack.

If you wondering why Ellie is in none of the pictures - she fell asleep as the party was starting at 7 p.m. and woke up in 2010 the next morning! Even the noise of our raucus toast didn't wake her up!

The whole gang posing for a picture - BTW - it was a pajama party!

I love this picture and I love that my family was so willing to come and celebrate with us in the only way we can with five kids! We also realized that this is pretty much how Meg and Tim's New Years are going to be from here on out - although I did offer to babysit for the twins next NYE! I have to find a way to get some time with them!

Happy 2010!

Lizzie celebrating the first day of 2010 with chocolate donuts!

Does life get any better than this?

Our little angel sleeping on New Year's Day - what a beautiful little angel!

Bob is off shoveling and the kids and I are watching a Christmas movie - they can't get enough of them and we had a few taped that we hadn't watched yet - don't judge! Auntie Meg brought donuts over this morning so everyone is sugared up and we are hoping to get the babies to bed and go play in the snow for a while to work off some energy!

Happy 2010 to all of our friends and family - we love you!