Welcome Jillian Mary

Introducing our new niece - Jillian Mary Russell!

My cousin Todd's wife Michelle gave birth to this gorgeous creature today!

She weighed in at 6 pounds 9 ounces and is 19 inches.

Mom and Baby are doing well! I'm sure there will be more pictures to steal from Facebook tomorrow but for now - Congratulations to Todd, Michelle and Big Sister, Cassie!

What is a perfect weekend in the Harding - Wheeler house? A trip to the beach to stay overnight with Grammy and Papa. The icing on the cake - Auntie Meg stayed, too! It was a rainy and cold weekend but we made the best of it with movies, board games and FOOD! The kids loved being at the beach and especially having their grandparents and auntie all to themselves! I love being spoiled by my mom, too - I must admit it! With the kids already out of school our summer started very early. Right now we are counting down to Newport and then to Auntie Meg's babies being born! It is going to be a cool summer!Annie loves to paint - and we do give her paper!The best seat in the house - on Papa's lap! They all fight for position there and luckily he has enough room for everyone!Ellie - loving on Brendan and Lila!My two big strong men - too cute! Auntie Meg and Molly giggling!You know how I know Tim loves me - he finally started smiling for me! My gorgeous girl!Grammy and her girl - Molly can not get enough of Grammy!Ellie looked so cute in her little dress!Ladybug in her big sweatshirt - it was cold at the beach!Papa and Peter snuggle with Annie.Silly girl!Mommy and her big kids! I love snuggles from the two big kids because these days they are few and far between. My pretty girl in her pink dress. Tubby time - Lizzie loves her beach tubbies!Papa asked and asked for a bite but Lizzie was not budging!Ellie Bean loving her donut! Yes - we did get Soundview donuts!Annie loved the donuts!My baby girl in her tutu bathing suit!Random shot after a marathon board game session!Who has the best Daddy?I just can't take my eyes off of Molly - what a sweet little beauty she is turning into!Sisters!And then there is Ann - my little clown with a face that melts my heart!Auntie Meg is continually trying to get a good picture with her goddaughter - Elizabeth is simply not cooperative!The whole family! Not the best picture but at least all seven of us are all accounted for!My wonderful parents - these two are so cute!Auntie Meg, Uncle Pete and Brendan and LilaAnnie "taking care of Ellie"Chocolate cupcakes for dessert!With Christmas sprinkles added!

My handsome boy loved the cupcakes! He also loved decorating them with the oodles of sprinkles that Auntie Ann makes sure we have - what could be more fun? Molly refused a picture - she had to go the bathroom and make sure her face was clean first! So our first weekend of summer vacation is on the books and we all fared pretty well. I think Tiffany (our babysitter) is ready to kill us after a long day with the five kids but we have lots of camps and other exciting things planned for the kids so we'll make sure she gets her breaks! BTW - I think we have another blog fan - twice I have been with Auntie Kake - yes - Auntie Kake who could not turn on the computer last time I checked - and she has commented on a picture on the blog! Props to Auntie Kake for joining the 21st century - now we just have to get her to read her e-mail and we are all set! GNM - ILY!

Did you ever have one of the moments in life when you just know that you are where you are supposed to be - that all of the pieces are fitting together exactly as they should and you have listened to God and followed the path that he lead you to? 5 years ago I thought the kids needed a different kind of education than they could get in Rocky Hill. I was so convinced that there was something else out there that I visited 12 magnet schools and sent in the applications for Peter and Molly to attend three of them. Noah Webster was our third choice but in the end the faculty and principal were so warm and inviting that it was the school we chose for the kids. When we arrived there on the first day of kindergarten for Peter and pre-K for Molly I began to doubt our decision - and then we met Mrs. Nelson and Mrs. Carrerro and my heart soared with this wonderful opportunity for our children. Noah Webster has been a blessing for our family in so many ways that I can't even count them. I miss knowing everyone in the school like I would have if we were in Rocky Hill and sometimes I feel bad for the kids because their friends don't live around the corner and can't come over all the time but when I think about our family and the particular needs of it I feel so lucky to have found this amazing place for our kids to learn and grow in. School ends in 2 days and we wanted to celebrate with the kids and their 2 classes so we planned a little get together at Bounce U in Rocky Hill. But 1st I attended the Final Concert at Noah Webster on Thursday where Molly belted out her songs and Peter looked as though he wanted to be swallowed up by the ground when his class did their song! They both were adorable and I love being able to see them with their classes.

My handsome son!
Molly - with her class ready to sing!

Peter with his class!

Friday morning Bob and I made the mistake of leaving everyone alone so we could get ready for work - this is what was happening when we were done! Annie has fled the scene of the crime but she is the one who opened the refrigerator and got all of the supplies out!

Our party at Bounce U - Annie wanted to come and party like a big girl!

Annie and Daddy

Annie loved being with the big kids!

Annie and her little boyfriend, Troy! They were so cute together!

Ready to move to another room for some more fun!

Miss Kelley (Molly's teacher), Mrs. M (Molly's aide in her room), Mr. Parisi (Peter's teacher) and Mrs. Schley (the aide in Peter's room - pronounced sly)

We are so grateful for the wonderful teachers who take care of our beautiful kids every single day!

Peter and Jaelyn

My handsome son!

Peter trying to beat Mr. parisi at b-ball!

Peter's classmate TofiqueMolly's BFF - RayjaMrs. M and my little friend Tierney

Miss Kelley gets a turn with Tierney - she needs to get herself one of these!

Table pictures

How awesome is KK? Awesome enough to come right from school to hang with the kids and meet their teachers and friends. Oh Wait - all the teachers already knew Kk from the times when she shows up at the school to pick up or show support for the kids! Peter and Mr. Parisi - his wonderful third grade teacher who is now moving up with his class to 4th grade - how lucky did we get? Miss Kelley and Molly - Miss Kelley is moving up to 3rd grade next year so both kids get to keep their amazing teachers - I can't wait for next year!Molly with Chad and Chelsea - they are twins and one or the other of them have been in her class every year since we got to NW.Buggy needed to try some cake when we got home - how cute is she?

So we had a wonderful time. The kids teachers stayed the entire time and made the kids feel unbelievably special. KK came to help Bob and I keep everything under control and best of all - the kids all had a blast. They were sweet, happy, polite and we enjoyed having each adn every one of them there! The party was a big success and Peter and Molly were so grateful before they went up to bed - they hugged and kissed Bob and I and told us it was the best night of their lives!

GNM - ILY!