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!

Our Happiness

On July 26, 2009 my parents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. They graciously took us on a trip to Disney World to celebrate so we had to come up with something pretty great to celebrate the actual date. We brainstormed quite a bit and then the kids came up with the idea of renting a limo and going on a ride. A limo would not nearly accommodate us all so we rented a VIP Limo Bus. (if anyone needs a limo go to Beverly Hills Limo - they gave us a great price and were wonderful because they knew that the occasion was so special!)

The limo picked us up at 1 p.m. at our house and the kids got to explore and help decorate. Then it was onto Grammy and Papa's to surprise them with their trip down memory lane!

Annie was immediately impressed with the limo.And our girls looked like they belonged there - notice their matching BFF necklaces! They came in the Princess Protection Program movie box and Molly could not wait to see Abby so they could wear them together.Auntie Karla did an amazing job decorating the bus.Uncle Ed only had eyes for his goddaughter and she was loving the attention.My mom shrieked when she walked out the front door and saw all of us standing in front of the limo and that was before she knew where we were going. This is the whole family - picture taken by the limo driver. I think the best thing about the day for all of us was that we were all there together with no cell phones or interruptions - it was all about being together and celebrating mom and dad - what an incredible privilege!Grammy and Papa got comfortable with the grand kids but still didn't know where we were headed! Auntie Karla provided snacks that reminded her of grammy and Papa and it soon became very clear that we are a family who enjoys food - there were snacks for each stop and there were 10!1st stop - 233 Summit Street where Grammy grew up and lived when she met Papa. It is condemned now but some of my favorite stories are of Summit Street. Backyard picnics, 7 kids squished into only a few rooms, Grammy Mack drinking a taste of beer and Grampy Mack bringing strangers home for dinner when they had no place to go! I never got to know my mom's parents and being at Summit Street always makes me feel close to them.Back in the bus for the next stop - can you guess where?211 Oxford Street - where my dad lived when he met my mom! I was lucky enough to know my grandparents on my dad's side very well and to be regaled with stories from both my dad and my grandmother on a regular basis. Later in her life when my grandfather had died my grandmother and I grew even closer and not a day goes by that I don't miss her and wish she were here to meet all of her great grandchildren and see what an incredible grandfather, father and husband her son is - not that she would be surprised!More snacks!Immaculate Conception Church - where the big day occurred! Again - growing up we heard stories about everything from Sunday mass here to my mom going to school here and, of course, the wedding day! Just a little tidbit that I came across while going through pictures - in the Immaculate Yearbook my mom got the award for "doing the most for ICS" while Auntie Kate got the award for "Class Bluffer" - I'm not sure what that means but it sort of cracks me up!Still madly in love after 40 years.Annie was getting ornery but Tyler made her feel better! She adores him!We stopped at the cemetery to see the graves our grandparents and great-grandparents. Annie found an interesting resting place but it was somehow fitting that she was so comfortable in the place where so many people that we love were laid to rest.Mom's Mother - my beautiful grandmother!Mom's grandmotherMom's dad - my grandfather!Mom's grandfatherAll of our Mack relatives, including Uncle Rick.It was a little bit melancholy leaving but very touching to be there with my mom and have her share stories about her parents with the kids. We took videos of everything so that we have a record of all of the wonderful things my parents talked about with us - sort of a recording of history!My son - the jokester!Comfy on grammy - my camera ran out of batteries - a sin, I know! I missed a few stops along the way including my other grandparents grave! Hopefully my dad will be able to post those soon!And our final stop on the tour - 58 Fox Hill drive! Trespassing - who us?Back on the bus and headed to our drop off spot in Middletown!Dinner anyone?Surprise - just immediate family for a little party to culminate our wonderful journey thus far and celebrate my parents and their amazing committment to each other.Auntie Kate, Auntie Ann and Auntie Jane came through with wonderful decorations, food and treats for everyone! It was perfect!Their first dance all over again!Auntie Ann outdid herself with the cake - as usual!Adoring godparents - how lucky is this kid?Baby playgroup!Reillyn adding some testoserone to the group!The two generations of Macks!Through the years..................The groom feeds the bride.....much better than the 1st time from what I understand!The bride......retaliates for the wedding day!The grandkids LOVE it!Here's the issue with being one of five kids - you have no idea about the proper boundaries when playing with kids who are not your siblings! Poor Reillyn got taken down and at one point so did baby Nora. Annie is turning into the sweetest little devil you have ever seen!My baby girl all dressed up - so cute!Our twins!Lizzie ready to crawl - here's hoping!

Best Friends - my mom and Auntie Kate have been best friends with Auntie Pat forever. It makes my heart fill to think of all they have gone through together and now to see them with grown children and as close as ever is just amazing!

No mystery ride could come close to demonstrating to my parents what their love for each other had been for so many people. The committment they have for each other and to our family has been an inspiration for Patrick, Ed and I for years and I feel so blessed that our children are growing up with their loving example of how God wants us to live and treat one another. I think that my parents marriage is demonstrated perfectly in the title of their wedding song - "My Happiness" because part of the joy of being the children of Peter and Eileen Harding is watching as they fill everyone's life with happiness no matter how tough the times are or how hard the road is. Our gift to my parents was actually a gift to ourselves as well because as we traveled from place to place and heard the stories of their childhoods and marriage it gave a little glimpse into what made them who they are as individuals and as a couple and what they are is beautiful, unique, respected and adored! Happy 40th Anniversary, Mom and Dad/Grammy and Papa!

"My Happiness" - Connie Francis 1959
Evening shadows make me blue , When each weary day is through, How I long to be with you -- my happiness! Every day I reminisce, Dreaming of your tender kiss, Always thinking how I miss -- my happiness! A million years it seems, Have gone by since we shared our dreams, But I'll hold you again, There'll be no blue memories then. Whether skies are gray or blue, Any place on earth will do, Just as long as I'm with you -- my happiness! Whether skies are gray or blue, Any place on earth will do, Just as long as I'm with you -- my happiness

GNM - ILY!