Uncle Mark's Graduation

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Thursday night we drove up for Mark's graduation from University of California at Davis. He earned his PhD nine months ago (after a mere nine years) but the ceremony was yesterday. Mark and a friend Chris rented out an Indian restaurant for a crowd to celebrate their official doctoral status. Claire told a funny story about Mark at three years old inquisitively asking, "Mom... what's smalla dan a peck a dust?" or translated "What's smaller than a speck of dust?" Congrats Mark!

Francie and Isabel in matching bubble suits with Daddy 1 and Daddy 2

I love this picture... these girls sure can dish it out but they seriously LOVE each other!

Heff has double duty

Kissin' Cousins!

You think Francie is worn out?

Heffs heading home... (sporting our UC Davis colors!)

The other Heffs driving home to LA tonight... Francie and Isabel ending their week long cousin extravaganza!

Do we have to call you this now Uncle Mark?

A Week with Cousin Isabel

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We've had a busy week with my sister-in-law Andrea visiting with baby Isabel! It's been fun to watch the girls play together... they give each other kisses (or smacks) and share toys (or take them from each other!) I can't believe it's already Thursday, we've been going non-stop since Monday! A few pictures from the week...

Monday we had lunch with Auntie Baby Ann and her boyfriend Matt before they headed off for a camping trip up the coast of CA and OR. They asked us two hours before they were leaving if they could borrow sleeping bags or "camping stuff." UMMM... good planning Pisser. Heff came home from work to load them up with so much camping gear they might as well have been on a REI shopping spree. He also gave them strict instructions that they were only allowed to camp places with paved roads and a ranger. I'm taking bets on the ratio of number of nights spent camping to number of nights spent in B&B's....

Francie says "You better not be sending me camping with them Mom!"

Monday night we walked downtown Palo Alto for dinner at iTapas with Katherine and Donald... Francie recommends their mashed sweet potatoes that come with the halibut. Thanks for dinner Donald :)

Tuesday we ventured down to Valley Fair Mall since they have better baby shopping than Stanford Shopping Center. Emmy met us there and was a HUGE help with the little monsters. We took some portraits at the mall too... Isabel's first time! Francie says "Not this place again Mom."

Couldn't have pulled off six hours of shopping without you Em (that mall SUCKS you in like a Vegas casino!) We were so tired by the end we even let the girls play in the germ-infested "indoor mall playground" where they schooled a set of 17 month old twin boys... Isabel pushed right through the tunnel when they were too slow to go on in themselves!

Wednesday had a playdate at Burgess Park and Pool! Andrea's college roommate, Anna, lives in the East Bay and has a 4 month old baby Vivian. She came over before lunch and we all walked to the deli for sandwiches and had a picnic in the park before the pool opened for baby swim (it's our city rec pool). I hadn't been to this pool since I swam there 38 weeks pregnant trying to get a baby to flip from the breech position! My friend Lindsey and baby Isaac and her friend Alana and baby Case met us for the afternoon too (Francie LOVED the splashing from that giant mushroom thing!)

I love that even the babies had to wear wristbands to get in... Isabel says, "Where is the beer garden Francie?"

Isabel, Andrea, Vivian and Anna

Me and Lindsey with the babes

Francie loving the water!

We'll miss you Isabel and Andrea! Until the next cousin vacation! :)

Welcome Stella Ann Stonebarger

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My good friend Janna (one of the infamous Mariani girls:) had her THIRD baby last week and it was a girl!! Stella Ann was born June 2 at 7 pounds 2 ounces and she is little sister to my god-son James, four years old, and Wil, two years old. They make an adorable family! I am excited for Stella and Francie to grow up together, it's going to take me awhile to catch up to Janna's flock ;) Monday afternoon I went over to Brentwood to meet Baby Stella and hang out with Janna and the boys. We had fun and James told me that when he is a "little more grown up" and Heff and I want to go out to dinner, if we have no one to watch Francie he will babysit her. :) They are too cute.

Big brothers Wil (2) and James (4) (when I showed James this picture on the LCD screen, which BTW is the only way to get good pictures of kids I'm convinced, James said "Hey... I look little and Wil looks big!")

Stella sleeping on her mom

James and Francie playing at the table with Janna and the new baby watching from the background

It's crazy in the Stonebarger household!

Wil, James and Francie

James was very good with Francie and helped take care of her while Wil shared ALL his pretzels with her :)

So sleepy... I miss that stage!

Family portrait (plus one;) Congrats Janna, Erick, James and Wil!!

The Stonebargers (once we got Francie out of there:) I love the cute pot their neighbor made them as a welcome home for Stella gift!

More Sunset and Sun on Sunday

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I forgot to download pictures from my other camera... here are some more pictures from the Sunset Magazine Food and Wine Festival and cooling off with the babies in the playpit!

Oma with Isabel and Jannie with Francie in the shade by the free food booths :)

My Dad and Heff going through those 6 ounce beer testers pretty darn quick

Bethy, Jill, Francie and Mare... waiting for James and Em to bring back the corn dogs (my favorite:)

Back at our house we tried to cool off in the playpit with a new "pool" I bought for Francie. It was more of a fish-shaped plastic mat and when you attach a hose the outter ring fills with water and is supposed to spray little streams of water out all around it. We couldn't figure out why it wasn't very impressive spray but the girls had fun anyway. (I realized when everyone left and I was cleaning up we never plugged the drain underneath!! no wonder :)

Dad trying to fix it...

We emptied the wine and beer buckets from the party just in time for the girls to take a dip in the leftover warm water that had been sitting in the sun all day... they were mini hot tubs for babies!

A race for the turtle. The girls would "fight" over a toy and once they got it from the other one throw it back like "Ok, I won. Now you get it so I can steal it again."

And back for a dip in the buckets...

Francie and Isabel

Oooops!

Time to get out and dry off... snuggling with Mom in her "Mary Frances" towel from Aunt Tricia!

Later Sunday night after the Heffs had all hit the road for home we went over to the Carters for "Sunday Night Carter-Simo" dinner like we used to do when we were little. Beth and Jill love in San Diego now but were home for a cousin's graduation and their flight didn't leave until 9pm so we had just enough time for some wine, dinner and ladder golf!

Jannie brought Francie down in the Pram (she kidnapped her for a few hours while Heff and I worked on organizing the garage and new shed for a little while Sunday afternoon). Francie may not have many more naps in the Pram as she is sure to pull herself up and over the edge if she wakes up now but Jannie has rigged an "alarm system" bell to the top so we hear her if she stirs :) (and we watch her closely... don't go calling CPS:)

Jerry and Georgia Carter cooking up some dinner

James and Em...

But I like this picture of them better ;)

Bethy bought Francie her first "Pretty Pink TuTu"...

Francie says "What are you guys doing to me now? Bethy... Dad says this was stolen goods. PLEASE."

"Now you're going to want me to dance aren't you? Where is my camo?"

Mom with her Pretty Princess :)

"OOOO" face

Twirl Francie!

Jillers and the Doodle

Beth and Jill making the most of the last few minutes before the airport

Jerry and Ruby the dog

Thanks for the Princess TuTu Bethy!

"Oh my" says Francie, "This is polyester.... what will my friends think!"

Sunday at Sunset

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Saturday night Heffernans came over for dinner and some playtime in the playpit of course :) Then Sunday the crowd came over for breakfast and we all walked down the street to Sunset magazine campus for their food and wine festival. It was HOT all of the sudden but the girls kept cool with sips of our lemonade and tastes of ice cream :)

The girls in the playpit Saturday afternoon

Dog bowl for a hat... Isabel is a crack up!

Francie LOVES watching airplanes with her dad...

she sees them before we do now!

Isabel standing on her own AND clapping!

Furrowed brow Francie=pants

Cousin Isabel likes beer bottles just as much as Francie does

And we all fall down! :)

Cousins crawling everywhere

These girls wear each other out

The girls in matching PJ's ready for bedtime stories

"You're sillY cousin Isabel"

Sunday at Sunset (yes we let the cheesy photographer take a "courtesy photo" of us to find online later:)

We met up with the Carter girls and the Johnets at the even too! It was SO HOT we had to find shade and camp out before we walked home for naps...

Claire's Graduation

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Saturday morning Claire Elise graduated from High School from St. Francis Central Coast. We all went down to Aptos for the ceremony at 10am. Claire was Valedictorian and gave a great speech... she is off to Boston College next year!

I was a very proud 6th grader 18 years ago when Mimi asked me to be Claire's godmother! What a lucky girl I am to have such a beautiful, talented and smart god-daughter. We are proud of you Claire-bear.

Daddy and his little girl... only 18 years until you'll be at her graduation Dad!

How big is Francie!?... SO BIG!

Crawling around on the grass getting into trouble

Francie and Mom

John & Linda.... Emmy waking Francie-Doo

Claire's Aunts on both sides of the family... Sue Forst (Hi Sue!) and Jan

Aunt Marge and Carmen showing Francie Marmar's old bear :)

Cute Caroline

The Forst girls! (Uncle Andy's sister and her girls Nikki and Jacki)

Pretty in Pink... Nikki and Tony with Caroline (and they are expecting a new baby in October too!)

Jannie and Francie

Claire's god-parents.... Uncle Jack and Mare

The WHOLE family!

Aunt Mimi (proud mom) with Claire and I

Claire with her Aunts and Great-Aunt Marge

Joking around with her Uncle Jerry and Great Uncle Bob... (on a side note, we are SO PROUD of Uncle Jerry for winning a huge Poker Tournament to the tune of $19K and using $10K of it to enter THE World Series of Poker next month in Vegas!! Good Luck Uncle-Money-Maker Jerry!!!)

Optical Illusion? Uncle Jerry and Uncle Edward

That's more like it... with Aunt Marge

Ann and Matt

Emmy and her entourage

Cute girls Abby, Kelly and Mika

Jerry, James and Jack watching the races

Babies and kids LOVE EMMERS!

It was a beautiful sunny day at the beach for a "lawn party!"

Francie got to play with the big girls in the Ultimate playroom :)

and she found a friend in the yard...

Janelle & Brad BBQ

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Friday Night Heff and I threw a wedding shower BBQ for a few couples from my office in honor of Janelle & Brad who are getting married at the end of the month. Janelle is the Director of Academic Trainers and has worked for me for three years. She runs everything over there and is the reason I can stay home and spend so much time with Francie :) We love Janelle and are very happy for her and Brad!

Alicia (one of our "fav" tutors:) and Scott

Janelle and Brad with Heidi (the Assistant Director at AT) and Rashelle (The "Janelle" of Brilliant Babies!)

Sarah's (another best of AT tutor!) husband Thero with their son Tre (2 years) and Francie

Janelle and Brad's wedding colors are pink and orange so the theme of the BBQ was pink & orange... right down to Francie-pants outfit of course!

We had to move dinner inside as it was chilly Friday night! Janelle playing with her buddy Tre and as Tre calls her "Ba-by Fran-cie!"

We had a fun dinner... socializing outside of the office!

BBQ-man Heff with the little Monkeys

Francie giving away those kisses!

Opening gifts... everybody stayed and hung out until almost midnight!

Scott and Heff

ROUND TWO... Ann, Matt, James and Bethy came over at the end of the party to help finish off the opened alcohol bottles :)

Ann and the B.F. Matt

Bathy and Uncle James showing Francie her photo on his phone... he loves his god-daughter!

Family Fun Weekend

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The Heffernans all rolled into town this weekend! Andrea was playing in a Masters Water Polo Tournament in the East Bay so she and Craig came up from LA with Isabel and Claire and Tom drove down from Red Bluff for the weekend too. Mark and Sarah postponed their Honeymoon weekend to hang out and Aunt Kat was here for most of the weekend too. Baby Ann's boyfriend from Chicago, Matt is visiting for a week (his first time West of Denver!) and my god-daughter/cousin Claire Elise (also my Mother-in-laws name!) graduated from High School. It was a jam-packed family fun weekend for sure!

Jannie and Andrea feeding Francie and Isabel in their new chairs

"What are you looking at?"

Isabel says "MORE OMA! MORE!" (the girls in matching JanKnit bibs!)

Swinging Cousins

Andrea and her baby girl Isa-Bisa

Bathtime for Babies

"We're seriously going to get you for taking naked pictures of us Mom."

Splish-splashing away

Double trouble... Grandmoms, Moms and Babes

Playdate in the Park

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This afternoon we met a bunch of moms at a park in Palo Alto to play. It is a group who used to met at Cafe Baronne's on Thursday for "Blanket Babies" with pre-crawlers. We graduated to the park where they can be a little more active and cause some trouble. We saw some of our old friends and met some new ones. Melanie and Noah (Francie's FIRST playdate:) from our Bradley Childbirth class were there and we hadn't seen them since the babies were brand new so it was fun to see how big Noah is now. The weather even cooperated today, but it is supposed to get a little cooler this weekend. Where is the hot summer bubble suit weather?! Francie has some clothes to get at least one wear out of before she grows out of them ;)

Baby Noah

Hummm... lunch or my hand?

Elijah in a banana shirt chowing on a banana

The babies loved the mini-bubbles!

and any toy that is not their own.

3 Years

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Heff and I went to dinner tonight with Francie to celebrate the three year anniversary of the night we met (yes, we are that cheesy). Our first date, which was a few nights after we first met, was at Sundance Mine Company in Palo Alto so we decided that would be a good spot for our date night/family dinner. We BIKED over there (yes we got bikes!) complete with our 7 flashing LED lights, 2 headlights and reflectors... safety first :) We had a great dinner and the little Doodle behaved herself very well for a night out with mom and dad.

Our bikes and the Chariot...
(Mine is blue with a polka dot seat and Heff's says "MP" supposedly for a Military Police bike but I think it is really for "Menlo Park." That's where we roll :)

"You mean when we come home it's going to be dark out!?"

Francie ready for a ride (she falls asleep in a few minutes riding in this thing)

Yesterday Heff had a lunch date with Francie so I could get some work done. He took her on the bike to the Palo Alto Children's Zoo (which he swears is just a glorified animal shelter since they boast a "Raccoon Exhibit" and have a one-eyed owl and coyotes). After the zoo they went to lunch all by themselves at Palo Alto Creamery and as Heff was riding up to the restaurant in front of all the outdoor diners the Chariot hit a bump and Francie sleeping off to one side of it threw the whole thing over on it's side in motion!! (Wasn't there a Jackass skit like this?) Needless to say Heff freaked out along with all the other people watching but she was in 5 point restraints and had her little chicken helmet on so she was just fine) At least we can laugh about it afterwards :) She doesn't have her helmet on in the pictures... we have to shove it on her head seconds before Heff takes off so she doesn't scream the entire ride. It's gettin better.

Sitting with Dad at the dinner table

Jerry's Birthday Dinner

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Last night we had dinner at Izzy's Steak House with the whole fam to celebrate my brother Jerry's 26th Birthday. His real birthday in June 6 but he and Allison are going on vacation this weekend for her quota trip so we celebrated a little early. We missed the surprise bowling party she threw for Jerry last weekend but heard it was a lot of fun and Jer had 45 friends bowling in costumed/themed teams there to sing him happy birthday (good job Allison, just what he always wanted! ;) HAPPY BIRTHDAY JERRY!

The whole gang

Francie wore her cupcake birthday bubble suit and pink bow for Uncle Jerry! (Jannie still hates the bow)

James and Em

Jannie, Ginny (her college roommate visting this week!) and John

Francie and Dad

Baby Ann, Allison and the birthday boy Gerald

Francie getting passed around the table

Grandpa John hiding behind those "chubby legs" (that is what he always told us.. good thing we don't have a complex)

This is usually the looks she gives me when she has paper/dirt/rocks/dog food in her mouth... what did Uncle James sneak her?

Laughing with Auntie Em when Auntie Baby Ann says "No, No, No Doggie!"

and with the Birthday Boy

Yum-Yum... ribs. (Francie in another new JanKnit Original Bib:)

"OOOO! That's some good Izzy's steak."

Thirsty girl

All done... Have fun on your trip Jerry and Allison!

Kate Turns 3

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Happy Birthday Kate!

Sunday we all hung out around the house in Stinson Beach and played with the babies. It was Heff's neice Kate's 3rd birthday (June 1) and a sunny day to spend a little more time with the whole family before everyone braved the windy road home.

Ant Maureen and Oma reading the Farm book to all the girls

Aunt Kat dressing Isabel for the day ~ Donald and Ellie

Francie pants ~ stealing Kate's Binky

Isabel and her reflection

Francie gave up interest in HER binkys a couple months ago but Kate's binky was a lot more interesting :)

The big girls "helping" Kate open her presents

And helping to play with them of course

Kate's favorite pose for a camera

Mark and Sarah... married now!

Proof. Witnesses for the Marriage License looking oh-so-serious

BUSTED. Any good juice on "Moriah's Secret Wedding" Heff?

Hanging out around the guacamole

Tournament Ladder Golf... the boys and Andrea

Uncle Mark must have taught Francie how to get down on one knee

Fun around the fountain

Feet on the floor Francie!

Dad's got her :)

Mark & Sarah's Wedding PARTY! (Saturday)

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Back to the main house to celebrate... Lots of drinks and appetizers, fresh oysters and a Cracked Crab dinner!

Everybody helping out. Andrea and Jackie

The Teters working on artichokes and oyster fixings

Dan and Donald shucking raw FRESH oysters

This is how Mark and Sarah spent the first hour+ of THEIR wedding reception... reading to the kids! No wonder the kids all love Aunt Sarah and Uncle Mark :)

Heff playing around with the Doodle

YUMM. Fresh crab ready for the pot.

The bog girls check them out too

More shucking...

A lot of hard work for 72 oysters, they were gobbled up fast.

The groom... still reading.

Craig and Andrea

Getting killed in Ladder Golf

Almost ready for dinner

Kat making her famous salads

We used a lot of pots for this dinner

Here come the troops

The Newlyweds!

And Homemade Pies for dessert!

Andrea and Craig brought Hungarian Dessert Wine for a toast

Don't leave home without your case of Ikea $0.25 champagne flutes

Cheers!

Out for the count

The little girls (Kate prefers to go naked) made a game out of taking everyone's shows off under the table and hiding them... it made for interesting walks home when a few went missing

At the end of the night we watched a video Claire made for Mark and Sarah on the projector

Mark & Sarah's Wedding Ceremony (Saturday)

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Saturday morning we had a big breakfast and the crowd dispersed for beach walks/runs/hikes/naps during the day. I heard someone ask Sarah when the ceremony was going to be and she said "Whenever people get back from the hike." Talk about an easy bride :) The whole group stayed in three houses for the weekend. The Heffernans were in the big/main house where we did all the meals but the ceremony was on the beach at the Cahill (Claire's twin sisters family's) house on the water. It was beautiful and the sun came out right as we all convened on the sand.

Dad dressed up with the Doodle

Aunt Kat pushing precious cargo... Champagne for the wedding toast!

Jackie looking pretty by our favorite fish doors

Everybody walking over to the beach house for the wedding (we must have looked a little silly all dressed up:)

Heff (still coming up with his toast?:) with Francie at the beach house

Everybody heading out to the sand...

The girls (Maggie and Ellie) lead the way...

Everyone waiting for the bride and groom!

"I think I see Aunt Sarah coming!"

Kat and Donald

Sarah's parents Nora and Bill waiting for their only daughter to tie the knot

Here Comes The Bride! And Groom!

Bill Cahill (Heff's cousin) preformed the ceremony and read vows Mark & Sarah wrote...

with a little of his own humor thrown in :)

The sun came out and the weather was perfect for the ceremony

Mark was a dashing groom and Sarah looked beautiful (as always)

The Teters

Time for the rings...

And the Kiss!

The kids find more interest in the sand

Pronounced man and wife. Congratulations Mark and Sarah!

Family photo on the sand dunes

and time for some bubbly!

Heff started the toasts... he included an Irish blessing he said was one of his favorites that I had never heard and thought was very appropriate, "May you live as long as you want and not want as long as you live."

Cheers! (Francie got a little upset at all the clapping:)

Mark and Sarah are all smiles

Isabel checking out the kite surfers

Sarah's brother Dan gave another really nice toast to his sister and Mark

As did most of the siblings and Sarah's Mom

"That was the easiest wedding I've ever been to! Why'd you make me go to all those long ones Mom and Dad?!"

Andrea took over the camera for awhile until it hurt her wrists to carry the thing around:)

The happy couple

Mark gave a nice toast to his bride...

And Sarah to her groom and the whole family

We're all very happy for them!

Fun with champagne bottles

Nothing like Saltwater Sandals on the beach

One baby down for the count

Sippy cups and champagne bottles in Uncle Craig's hands

Proud Daddy

Craig and Andrea

Ready to party!

Ellie (as the oldest Heffernan granddaughter, we have a lot in common;) was the first one out and the last one in.

I forgot my green dress ;) The girls in green... Maureen, Andrea and Katherine

All the gals

And the guys

Mom with Francie

The Teter Family

The Cahill Family

and the Heffernan flock

We all love you Mark & Sarah!

... more celebration reception pics to come!

Mark & Sarah's Wedding Weekend (Friday)

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This weekend we were up in Stinson Beach with all the Heffernans and the Teters (Sarah's family) for Mark and Sarah's long awaited wedding! Mark is Brian's younger brother (number 2 of 5) and he and Sarah have been dating for 8 years. They met on a kayaking trip to Baja California and have lived in Davis most of the 8 years while Mark was finishing his PhD at UC Davis and Sarah worked at bio-tech firm. The moved to Menlo Park (across the street from my parents!) last year when Mark finally graduated from his PhD program and got a job at Google. We love seeing so much of them and enjoying their gourmet cooking. Their wedding was very mellow... just family so 24 adults and 7 kids, and we all had a relaxing time with family and to celebrate Mark and Sarah's big day!

The girls in their shirts Mark & Sarah bought everyone for the Mexican Fiesta Friday night. Sarah, (bride!), Margaret (Heff's cousin), Andrea (Craig's wife), Katherine (youngest sister/twin) and Anne (cousin, married to Bill)

Oma and Francie-pants getting the house set up when we arrived

Kate and Ellie immediately found the spa (the kids spent so much time in the hot tub, it was a little green and yellow and stinkty by the time we left the house:)

Everyone pitched in to set-up, cook, entertain and make this a family event... Sarah's Dad Bill and her brother Jacob set up the main dining room table.

Francie loved the ride-on toy the babies were all fighting over all weekend!

Craig (youngest Heffernan brother/Katherine's twin for those who need a family member refresher:) and Isabel taking videos

Oma and Megan (Sarah's sister-in-law who is due with her first baby Sept 8!) busy in the kitchen

Aly (aka Alistair, 2 yrs) with his mom Anne and Maureen (Heff's sister) due with number 3 Sept 18) with Francie. LOTS of babies around here!!

Even Francie got her own shirt from Uncle Mark and Aunt Sarah to wear Friday night!

Donald (Katherine's boyfriend) making a HUGE bowl of guacamole (after he gave a little out to the baby moms to feed the little ones first:)

"UM-UM. Auntie Maureen is feeding my blueberries!"

Andrea (Craig's wife) and Jackie (Jackie is a sophomore at Santa Clara, she was Claire Heffernan's student in 5th grade and now lives at the Heffernan's when she isn't in school.)

Dan (Sarah's younger brother) helping out

Jacob (Sarah's youngest brother) making drinks

Father-of-the-groom OPA (Tom) supervising the troops

Mark and Sarah being good sports posing for pictures for me :)

Sarah and her Dad Bill... the father-of-the-bride!

Lots of cooks in the kitchen!

The Mothers... Sarah's mom Nora with Claire

The Dad's and the babies... Heff with Francie and Craig with Isabel (10 months this week)

What's so funny?!

Kat and Donald playing some ladder golf (it was a little overcast Friday evening but made for a dramatic background with the fog!)

The stressed out groom

Dan and Megan

Our little family :)

Jacob and Bill played bartenders for the weekend... they made some mean drinks.

All the kids LOVE Mark and Sarah who spent a lot of their wedding weekend on the floor entertaining them

This is as close as we came to a picture of the three babies all weekend

Most shots looked more like this... they are all crawling machines

The big girls were a little more cooperative. Maggie, Ellie and Kate.

Mary-everything-goes-in-my-mouth-Frances

She caught on quick... unless she learned to crawl AND carry the toy it would be quickly stolen away by another baby!

A group photo! As Mark called them the "Heffer-Teters"

Bride and Groom with their parents

Sarah playing ladder golf with the kids

And the babies take over...

Francie and her mom

Heff checking out the girls and their art projects

Tom, Heff and Francie hanging out before dinner is served

almost ready for a home-made Mexican Feast!

The Twins... Cathleen and Claire

Check out that bar! (and remember this was for 24 adults and 2 nights)

Coordinating Craig Heffernans

Anne and Aly

Brian and Francie

"I'm turning 3 tomorrow!" Kate

We brought the tables from the patio inside to seat everyone for dinners...

Plates are cleared.. ready for dessert!