Tuesday, December 6, 2011

The Birthday Girl!

Monday was a big day in the Harding - Wheeler house - Ellie turned three and started preschool all on the same day! I think Ellie initially misunderstood and thought she was going to school with Peter and Molly so at first she was very upset when they left. Once she realized she was still going she got excited and couldn't wait for the bus to get here!
Good Morning, Birthday Girl!

Once all the kids were up Ellie got to open her presents.

Just a little help from her sisters opening her presents.

Ellie got some ponies which she loved!

Our beautiful Birthday Girl!

Lizzie was not happy that this was not a joint birthday - she had gotten used to sharing in the present opening! Ellie was very sweet letting Lizzie open a present because she wanted her to stop crying!



Ellie's new baby!

Sister love!

Kk came over to see Ellie on her birthday and got to help us put her on the bus and wave goodbye on her first day of school. Everytime we asked Ellie what she wanted for her birthday she responded with "Tay Tay"! She got her wish!

Since it was her birthday Ellie was a little bit bejeweled for her first day!

Ellie posing in front of the picture tree!

When did she get so grown up?

Our little princess is ready for school - hopefully Miss Newman and Mrs. Donovan are ready for her!


Proud Mama, Daddy and sister loving on Ellie!

Special kisses for Mommy before she leaves for school.

A little pep talk from KK!

This is what Lizzie did the entire time we were taking pictures and watching Ellie get on the bus!

Looking for some reassurance - Ellie hangs onto KK!


Her smile melts my heart!

In her big girl seat on the bus! She is ready to go!

Bye Bye Mama and Daddy!

Okay already - lets get this show on the road!

Ellie's first day of school was a huge success! She came home excited and anxious to tell us, in her own way, what happened at school! The kids inundated her with questions about what she did and who she played with. It was nice because a friend of ours has a son, Noah, and he is in Ellie's class. They have known each other for a long time so Ellie had at least one person in her class that she already knew!Papa picked Ellie up at the end of her first day and she made his day when she sprinted into his arms!

The girls and Daddy started a gingerbread house while I was out for a while on Saturday but they needed some help finishing up when I came home. I was secretly excited that they didn't do all the fun stuff while I was gone - I really don't like to miss anything! The girls ate so much of the candy beforehand that I had to replace it with chocolate chips and peppermints.


Lizzie was the biggest culprit - even the chocolate chips started to disappear!

Our gorgeous girl with the sun shining on her perfect little face!

Tiny little hands decorating the house!

Very cool gingerbread house! The girls did a great job and we have another one to make next weekend!
On Sunday Molly, Annie and I went with Auntie Ann, Sister Anne to Mercy for the Catherine McCauley play. We got to have mass at Mercy then share brunch with "the nuns", as Annie called them and then stay for the play. Annie was still recovering from her double ear infections so she was quiet but she loved the play and she and Molly were both terrific!

Lizzie fell asleep on me the other day and Bob thought it was adorable so he actually took a picture!

Snuggle Bugs!

Annie Bananie had a rough week. She still has ear infections in both ears but we are having trouble finding an antibiotic that works. We were back at the doctor for the third time with no luck. The great thing is that Annie is a trooper and each time we go back we think her ear infections are gone because she never complains. We are hoping that we are on the right track now but who knows - this poor little thing just wants her tummy to go back to normal after all of these medications!
GNM - ILY!

Friday, December 2, 2011

Happiness is Being a Twin!

We finally got around to having a birthday party for our baby girls - the last 2 birthdays of the year for the Harding - Wheelers! We had a great time and the house was actually clean for about 4 minutes!
Lizzie and Bob checking out the beautiful cakes that Auntie Ann made.

Lizzie was so excited for her princess cake!

Patrick loved the table lifted up for easier access.

The gorgeous princess cakes that Auntie Ann made for the girls.



Grammy and Macklin - he is such a good baby! He lets anyone hold him and smiles all the time.

Macklin!

Grandma Betty and Sister Anne.

KK, Auntie Kake and Papa

Miss Sue, Auntie Ann and Aunt Renee

We cut Miss Sue out of this one!

Uncle Chris and timmy spent lots of time outside playing. It was a gorgeous day so the kids were able to play outside most of the afternoon!

Reillyn loves the playhouse - he plays in it for hours everytime he comes over.

Ellie Bean!


Auntie Eileen and Uncle Jeff

Lizzie had to get in on the action!

Uncle Chris and Aunt Randi.

Our baby girls ready for their cakes!


Cake time - we made all the kids come in for a few minutes!


Katie is waiting for cake.

Our girls - Ellie loves when everyone sings to her and Lizzie hates it! Go figure!

Macklin and Annie

Happy Brithday Lizzie and Ellie!

Ellie never stops smiling when we sing Happy Birthday to anyone! She especially loves when we sing Happy Birthday to her!


Lizzie turns her head when we sing to her - could they be more different?

Lizzie does love to blow out the candles!

Ellie's turn.

Sisters holding hands!

One of the Birthday girls!

Is it time for Cake yet?


Uncle B and KK!

Uncle B helped Lizzie open her presents!

Kk was in charge of helping Ellie open her presents - it was a little chaotic but we managed!


Auntie Kara and Reillyn


Uncle B and his beautiful goddaughter!

Ellie Bean loving opening her presents.






Paper fight!


Ellie and her godfather!

Macklin again - I just can't get enough of this kid - he is so cute!

Annie and Katie playing with the new toys!

Lizzie and Auntie Meg - could she be happier than to be sitting with her godmother?

Lizzie Bug and her godparents!

Kisses and a lollipop!


Molly and Ellie hugging!

Sisters!

Our beautiful birthday girl!

As Ellie's birthday approaches I can't help but think about they day she came home to us! Bob and I had gone out to lunch while Meg watched Annie and Lizzie for us (I was still on maternity leave). All through lunch Bob and I talked about how we just didn't feel like our family was complete. We love having a  big family and thought maybe we could handle it getting bigger. No sooner had we finished our meal when God answered our questions for us - a social worker from DCF called and told us that Ellie was 5 weeks old and in need of a home - were we up for it? We asked if we could take a day to think about it and then hugged each other, laughed about the craziness of having newborns less than three weeks apart and called the social worker back 3 minutes later - Please, please, please could we get her today. A social worker dropped Ellie off the next morning at 8am - Peter got to kiss her first and Molly got to hold her first. I felt like no one would believe us so I packed Ellie into Lizzie's seat and headed to my parents. When I walked in my Mom was on the phone and she got very excited thinking that I had brought Elizabeth for a visit - I then turned the seat around so she could see who was in the seat and she let out a shriek! My Dad was on the phone and I believe her words were, "You need to come home, NOW!" Once my parents got over the shock we immediately sent out a picture of Ellie to all of the aunts, uncles and cousins. Thank goodness Kk kept the picture on her phone because it is such a great memory of all of the messages that started coming in. Meg was the first one to figure out that Ellie was resting on a blanket that Lizzie was often wrapped in so she must be at our house - she was there within an hour and everyone else followed to meet our newest bundle of joy! What a wonderful day filled with memories of all of the love and support we get on a consistent basis!
Happy Birthday to our Twins! We love you more than you can imagine!
GNM - ILY!