Harper Takes Grammy's

Harper, while a very worldly girl, had yet to visit her Grammy & Grandpap Rosella's house in Pittsburgh.  Nor had she met the "Rosella Cousins."  So off we went to Pittsburgh, stomach flu that decimated the family in the days preceding our departure be damned!

Luke and Harper made themselves right at home.

Harper spent much of her time pushing this chair ALL OVER THE HOUSE










Luke loves Grandpap.
 

He especially loved flying Uncle Joe's helicopter with Grandpap (rated "best part of the trip")

Luke, Simon, and Chloe had a blast together and were generally noisy


Harper and Chloe took care of the baby


 We did our best to get a picture of "all 4 grandkids" for Grammy
It started out well enough...

Harper Casey: 24 lbs of Attitude

Devolving quickly


Harper's all "Whatever, I'm outtie. I'm going to go and touch all of their toys."

 

Grammy was surprised with a birthday cake and a serenade from the kids
...and she cried

 

 Sure am sad we left that megaphone at Grammy's...

 

LOVE.
 

Harper's "bunny face"


Harper ate A LOT

 

Which made Grandpap proud

NOM

 

St. Patrick's Day: Westchester Style

Well, Ossining doesn't have Hoboken's St. Patrick's Day parade (oh, wait, neither does Hoboken anymore...), but we made our own fun on a gorgeous day. 


Harper played rock star


Not much baby left in her - look at that kid

 

Luke LOVES playing baseball in the backyard


Harper returned calls

 

I swear this wasn't staged - spontaneous sibling affection.  Harper was saying "awwww" and patting Luke's back
 

Luke insisted on pulling weeds?
 

Harps worked on her footwork
 

Toddlering is thirsty work
 

 

She saw Daddy leaning and joined him
 

Harper wanted to wear the hard hat, too

Baby's First Bergdorf's

Uncle Lenny bought Harper a Very Special Dress for her first birthday - a lovely Marc Jacobs number from Bergdorf Goodman.  It just about fits her now, and Mom plans to get as much mileage out of this number as possible. 

(For the record, Harper owns more Marc Jacobs than Mama)

Harper accessorized with some banana while she waited for Aunt Tanya to arrive for brunch.

 

One of the 5 minutes during which she kept the barrette in her hair.

Harper flashes the Rosella Glare (tm) when I don't make with more banana fast enough.

That banana, up there, Mama. 

Harper's interpretation of the sign for "more." 

Thank you, Uncle Lenny!

Ahoy! Happy 4th Birthday, Luke!

We're not quite sure how Luke went and got to be 4, but get to 4 he did.  After suggesting myriad party ideas (soccer?), themes (astronauts?), and activities (Stew Leonard's?), he stopped us cold with "I want a PIRATE PARTY at OUR HOUSE with JACOB AND RONAN.  And that's it." 

And so...

Paul made another theme cake - a pirate flag

Luke was properly outfitted - complete with a "moosetasche"

And bling

Ronan modeled the eye patch and sword selection

SWORD FIGHT!

SWORD AND BALLOON FIGHT!

Among the happiest days of his 4 years on Earth

Harper donned an outfit of Luke's choosing.  Well, mom didn't pair the dress with the overalls Luke originally selected...

Harper LOVED watching the big kids

Luke and Ronan licking their chops in anticipation

Black icing makes for ZOMBIE MOUTH

Luke enjoying the spoils of his plundering

Harper made quick work of her cake, then worked the room

The boys then took a Phineaus and Ferb break (which Luke TiVo'd for them ahead of the party - he was the host with the most)

Someone was pooped