What luxury. Ryan and Heather (expecting!) and James showed up last week to celebrate Magdelina and Emily's B-days and help us manage the chaos for 4 days. They were here not an hour before Ryan had a broom in hand. Turns out the guy knows his way around the kitchen too. The kids spent piles of time outside playing with the dads and apparently mauling Uncle Ryan for sunflower seeds as seen above.

The luxuries never cease-Emily enjoying ice cream while Auntie Heather straightens her hair.

Uncle Ryan disciplining Tom?

Awwww...

Lunching with my sister whom I love to pieces.

Last chance to hold her before you guys leave :(

But wait! Surely if we let them sit on boxes the boys will let us get a quick pose in before you go! Ferries rarely run exactly on time anyway.

Scenes from Emily's B-day...

( Not just any) Cupcakes from sweet Auntie Heather
Uncle Ryan carried in the 10lb ice cream cake and led us in a joyful happy b-day chorus

A tiger in a ring of fire for the future tiger trainer.

Happy 10th Birthday to a magical little girl soon to become a fascinating young lady.

Girl B-day Party 2009
Well, perhaps not too soon, but soon enough.

SCIENCE FAIR 2009

Emily's passion for animals provided the inspiration for

night after night of working to make a gratifying display for the fair. Her focus had very little to do with winning the chance to spend an afternoon with her display in the mall and everything to do with the fun of making her dreamy mini-environments come alive! Not only did she make it to the mall, but she made it to the livingrooms across the Island on our local TV station!

MORE Beautiful Blankies for Mag-doll! WOW, thanks Great-Grandma and Great Auntie Jeanne!!!

My dear friend Natalie -mom of 3 and master crocheter of the luxurious baby blanket seen here-bravely offered to take our kids while Steve got some sleep after the night of Magdelina's birth. She is beautiful with our boys and to date the only human other than their parents who has ever taken care of them for any real stretch of time. Brave, and very very kind. She even called me in the hospital to make sure I knew the boys were having a fantastic day and not giving her a hard time at all. Thanks SO much again "Auntie Nat"!

Ang's sister Krystle came out for a couple of days.

Thanks for all the help!

More pics of sweety pie.

More pictures for the sake of photos...

We're home! Thanks all for chiming in with joyful comments! To prove I survived another childbirth, a pic. Actually the first pic of the new *sisters* a few moments after babe's arrival.

(sorry, all these pics have been compromised by crap software. luckily they are safe in the camera until our other computer works, blah blah).

Anyway, I promise to put on a shirt and take lots of pics now that we're home.

P.S. Don't tell Steve but he mispelled Magdelina... :) I'll edit it when I have time for perfect. Seriously, wouldn't it be awesome if he kept up with the blogging for me along with all the millions of other things he's doing?

Little Maggie will surely be loved!!! More pictures will come soon....

Stevo.

(including one of my lovely wife, upon approval)

Born on Wedsnesday, March 4th at 1:42 am. She weighs in at 8 lbs and 6 oz. I didn't get her measurements yet, we were too out of it. I haven't slept yet and now I'm looking after the boys till we can go visit the baby after Emmy's school day is done. She doesn't really cry, she just makes cute little squeaking noises. She seems really content so far. So far...

We'll phone you all really soon once we get some shut-eye.

Poor Angie is doing well, she just needs some rest.

Magdelina Ruth Plett. What a cutie!!!