Trick or Treat?!

It was a good Halloween in the McLean household today. (Not sure Halloween could ever be "great" because it's my least favorite festivity, but nonetheless it was successful). Despite Morgan's 101 degree fever, she worked up enough energy and excitement to hit the neighbors up for some candy. She got a big hug from the old lady, Sally, at the end of the block...she's 98 years old. And one of the neighbors across the street had to bend so low to give her the candy, he fell over on her...Daddy to the rescue! And Morgan was a doctor for Halloween...so she and Daddy made sure he was okay.

Thankfully, Maddie was asleep for all this excitement. She was pretty active today as she is most days, though she still doesn't do many tricks...besides talking....all she does is blabber...kind of like her sister!! :)

All in all, it was a good day. Hoping Morgan gets over this bug soon...can't take much more...she REALLY needs to go to school. Hopefully no more fevers.

Go Irish! I'm not staying up for you, but would really appreciate not hearing any yelps from the first floor!!

Here are some picts of the girls from today!

Fevers, colds, and movies

Well that pretty much sums up my days right now...not very exciting...lots of Phineas and Ferb...too much!! Morgan continues to fight this nasty cold and after her h1n1 shot today developed a fever (which they say is unrelated to the shot/mist), of 102. So, no school again tomorow. :0(

Maddie's hanging in there...doing my best to keep them separate. I have made Morgan so sad because she needs to give Maddie space, but she's getting better. Maddie continues to have no "tricks." She is trying to roll over, but can't quite get her fat self there...her arm seems to be in the way. But, she is talking quite a bit...which makes me quite nervous because we already have one talker in the family. Every family has one...don't know what will happen if there are two!! She's also grabbing things and reaching out for things unbelievably well...great hand/eye coordination. That's about all she has going for her, so we'll take it! She's getting good at sitting up, but usually ends in a face plant, and refused to take part in tummy time...she just likes to lie down and suck on her thumb. Lazy!!

I have a couple picts of Maddie to upload. I was trying to show you how far she was getting rolling over, but she was distracted by the camera, so I just got some face shots...and chubby cheek shots.

Well just trying to make it to Halloween at this point. Hoping Morgan will be able to get out of this house soon!!!

2 sick girls and a mom in a pear tree...

Well, as of today I have a much larger appreciation for parents of two plus kids when they are both under the weather. It's a great balancing act between Maddie and Morgan, but thankfully their nap schedules today have made it a bit easier. They both went to down for naps this afternoon (after the doctors), one after the other, and Maddie woke up after a couple of hours while Morgan continued to sleep. Then when Maddie was getting tired, Morgan woke up and I put Maddie down. Thanks girls!

Meanwhile, inbetween naps, Maddie ate, and then runs all over her new pj's and needed a bath. When she got out of the bath and was getting dressed into her other pj's, she spit up all over. Then, Morgan woke up in a sweat and all she wants to do is cuddle and watch tv. She supposed to have her H1N1 nasal spray tomorrow and as long as she is fever free, she will. And then I will feel much relief. REALLY don't want this hitting our house, but feel it could be inevitable with two in school (Kevin and Morgan). Kevin is just getting the flu shot tomorrow and we're both not eligible for the H1N1 shot until the end of November. Bummer. Really don't want Maddie getting it...makes me nervous with her being so young. But, nonetheless, if it happens, today has prepared me a little more...let's hope tomorrow is better.

As a Mom, today is one of those days where it's just one day at a time.

Oatmeal again!

So, Maddie loves oatmeal after all. It's her second or third day with the yummy stuff, and she will lean into the spoon and chew on it. Her tongue continues to get in the way, but that hasn't stopped the BIG girl from having her fill! She's a little congested right now and seems to definitely be working on teeth, but she's happy as a clam! (Assuming that clams are very happy...maybe a whale would be more appropriate...they're more her size!!?!)

Morgan has Halloween at gymnastics tomorrow, so she gets to be a doctor gymnast. So, hopefully I'll be able to grab a few picts...

Morgan's dream...

So Morgan woke up this morning exhausted, sad and grumpy and about fifteen minutes later, I learned why...

She said, "I was at my friends house and going to get married and you and Maddie were there and Daddy wasn't. I couldn't find him anywhere, and I'm really sad because Daddy wasn't at my married."

Love it!

Play Dates for all

Well, another rainy weekend here in Boston. Every weekend in October it has rained! Morgan has missed quite a bit of soccer mostly due to weather, but we made up for it with play dates! Luckily, a play date with Peyton and she never realized it was missed!

Yesterday was Maddie's first play date with Amelia and Billy. Poor Billy was outnumbered, so he decided to sleep through most of it rather than deal with the girls. I'm not sure who had a better time, the kids or the grown-ups. A little pizza, wine, and some delicious (and healthy) cake by Liz...it was a great way to spend the afternoon!

Here are some picts from the day on Friday and from Morgan and Peyton's play date!

Amelia, Liz's little angel!
Lynne and Maddie
Billy and his bottle!
Maddie and Amelia sharing toys!

New video...

For whatever reason, the blog is taking forever to upload (and probably won't do it at this point) a new video of Morgan and Maddie laughing. And for whatever reason, facebook uploads it with no problem, so please, check it out!!

Check-up!

Morgan had her 4 year old check up yesterday. She had a great check-up, despite all the drama around her shot. Thank God it was only 1...I don't think myself or the nurses could have survived any more.

But, she weighs in at 37 lbs. and 41.25" tall. That puts her in the 70% for weight and 80% for height. They even took her BMI, which is 15. She had another eye test and hearing test too! She's a healthy girl!!

Another find day here. Maddie and I went to Gamma's to have her babysit for Maddie while I studied for the MTEL test...very discouraging...it's like learning all the subjects in elementary school again...LOTS of info!!!

Maddie had a great time..slept almost the whole time and gave Gamma lots of smiles. Morgan had a great day at school...I am looking forward to dinner out tomorrow night with the ladies!!

At night with Madeline...

Maddie hanging out on the couch before bed.
She's giving you raspberries!!
You're going to put the thermometer where?!
Changing the channel before she leaves for bed!
You might not be able to tell, but that would be snow...in October!!

Here is Maddie's giggle again. She had an UNBELIEVABLE one earlier, but Gamma blew it! She's learning how to work our new camera. Nevertheless, Maddie's laugh is contagious!! And adorable!

Oops...birthday pictures!

These picts are totally out of order...apparently I haven't mastered the order in which they appear on the blog...but nonetheless...here they are!Rylan, Maeve and Miles working off their cake...or should I say frosting?
Poor Colin (but cute!)
Playing on the slide

The end of the party...and there's one tired birthday girl...
A festive house to greet the guests...
The cake...
Before everyone arrived...

Michael jammin' and Peyton video taping (pretending, at least!)...

Katya and Morgan playing with the balloons....
And Maddie hanging out with Erin.

Morgan's 4th Bday PARTY!!

It was quite an event here at the McLean household. The weathermen and women had promised rain earlier than planned, so we cancelled the playground festivities and planned for the party at the house. Of course, since we changed the venue, the rain held off, though it was quite cool. But, the kids did get to play outside after cake to work off the sugar, and everything went quite smoothly! Here is a video and a few picts from the day! We all slept well last night!!

Morgan's 4th Birthday picts as promised. The one on the bottom is the "birthday morning." Next comes "birthday afternoon," getting ready for lunch in Boston, and the ones at the top are "birthday dinner/night." As I said before Maddie was not feeling so hot, so limited picts. Hopefully more to come at her party!!

Morgan's 4th Birthday! Oh what a day!

It was a complete whirlwind and I'm feeling like the worlds worst mother, but we survived the day, which is most excellent. It was a busy day...

beginning with a special donut for Morgan (from Daddy), a workout with Mommy, and getting ready for lunch in Boston. Special thanks to Uma and Upa for the pretty birthday outfit. It was a huge success and it was a perfect excuse so that we didn't have to take the train on this cold day!

Lunch in Boston was great...sort of crazy, but great, nonetheless. Morgan showed off her knowledge of letters on the wallpaper at the restaurant, and she loved going into Boston, saying it was "very far, but we didn't spend a long time there."

After our eventful lunch we went home for a "rest," at least for some. Since Maddie slept on the way home, she was awake and very unhappy when we got home. Morgan had a nice rest time, watching Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Maddie stayed up and was very fussy.

As soon as the movie was over, it was time to get ready for Irish Step Dancing. We went to class, where Morgan was so happy to wear her "Birthday Girl" shirt so that everyone would know! She had a great class and then we were off for home where birthday presents and ice cream cake were waiting.

We had dinner, put Maddie to bed, and opened presents. Ice cream cake was delicious and if you're in the area and want to stop by for some, there is plenty leftover. Especially since more cake will be coming for her party on Saturday with a few friends. The weather is predicted to be about 48 degrees and cloudy...so it may be a quick and cold birthday party...but she's excited!! And after the crazy day today...she'll be ready for it!!

Unfortunately because of the craziness, few pictures were had, at least by me. So, here are a few...promise lots more at her party on Saturday! Hopefully the rain will hold off!! :)

Actually Maddie is up now, so pictures will wait for tomorrow!!

HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY, MORGAN!!

It's going to be a crazy day!! We've decided that Morgan's not going to take the train to Boston today because a) too cold! and b) she wants to wear her new outfit from Uma and Upa which she LOVES, so in order to wear it we're going to have to drive (wink, wink!!)! Works out well for all of us!!

Can't wait for lunch!! Will post pictures later, if I'm not collapsed after her big day!!

Morgan's School Birthday!

Four years ago today, I was in labor with Morgan...arriving tonight/tomorrow morning at 2:46am, weighing in at 8lbs. 15 oz. (And I thought SHE was big!!).

She had a GREAT school birthday today...our cupcakes were a success (as if they couldn't be), and Mommy read "Goldilicious" to her class, which they have all read before and LOVED! Even the boys! Her teachers (all three!!) are really great and it was fun to see everyone in the school setting. The best benefit of being unemployed!!

She really was very excited and it was fun to meet all her friends, though her teachers did mention that "this was not the Morgan they see at school." She was a little attention-seeking, shall we say, and quiet...at least for a little bit. If you've been around Morgan recently you'll definitely know she's anything but quiet! Kind of like Auntie Annie used to be (and some might say still is -- we love you Auntie Annie!!), but with Kevin's volume. So, when you combine the constant talking with Kevin's volume, you have.... (insert your own thought here).....

Tomorrow the plan is to get ourselves together and have a fun morning, and prepare to go into Boston to have lunch with Papa and Auntie Annie, with Gamma helping us to and fro, of course! Because an adventure into Boston would not be as exciting in a car, so we're going to take the train...and it's going to be cold...so we should have lots of fun stories tomorrow!!

After that, Morgan has Irish Step Dancing, and then home for dinner and ice cream cake, which she requested. Here are some picts from today! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MORGAN KENNEDY MCLEAN!!!

One more day and counting!!

It started out very abruptly and crazy this morning, as Morgan came and woke me up at 7 am. You see, I awake with a sick little Maddie around 5 am, and did not have a restful evening since Maddie was stirring all through the night. When she woke up at 5, she was coughing enough for me to take her to the doctors today, of which we learned...it's a virus!!! Nothing to do, no medicine to take, but.....Maddie lost a pound!!! The poor thing!! So, she's now 20.1, down from 21 lbs. She's thinning out!!! Just like Mommy!! (ha,ha,ha!!). After Maddie's doctors appointment we raced (and were late) to gymnastics, but Morgan had a fine time and it went by very quickly when you show up late!!

It's almost only one more day until Morgan turns 4!! Today was my due date with her four years ago!! Who knew 4 years ago we were going to have a beautiful, firey red-headed daughter?!! I just realized today that I have no cake for her, and she asked for an ice cream cake, so I cannot bake that! And since I just did 24 cupcakes, I'm going to Friendly's for a delicious ice cream cake. And I know that is 5 points!!

We went and picked out the story I'm going to read for her tomorrow to her class at school. It's Fancy Nancy!! A cute and fun book for a 4 year old girl...sorry the boys in Morgan's class! We also purchased Goldilicious...another one for the girls!! What can I say, Daddy is surrounded!!

It's a late night for Daddy at work, as yet another faculty meeting is in session. But, a sleeping Maddie, and tired Morgan, should be an okay night for Mommy. I am frosting the cupcakes with a nice glass of "Mommy juice" and hopefully shows a little later. But not much later, as my bed is already calling me!!

At dinner tonight...

we were discussing what Morgan was most looking forward to doing for her birthday, and she was saying her party and playing with her friends. So, we were talking about her friends at school and she said she loved playing with Katya and Annabel.

I said, "what about any boys. Do you have any friends who are boys?"

Morgan said, "No."

I said "Why not?"

She said, "The boys just stare at me."

Love it!! Too funny!!

Columbus Day Weekend

It's been a great long weekend. Still haven't quite tackled all of the things I wanted to accomplish, but unfortunately in this family, that's usually the case. Kevin mowed the lawn, we got the AC's out of the windows, the pile of laundry is much smaller, etc.

But, we had a great weekend with the girls. Lots of great moments with Morgan...including lunch and a movie with both Mommy and Daddy. A nice pre-birthday treat. We went to the new Legacy Place movie theater which was so great...it's so nice...we saw "Chichen Meatballs" otherwise known to most, as "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs." It really was a great kids movie.

We also carved what I would like to call, a beautfiul haunted house pumpkin, of which we have included some picts. And we baked Morgan's cupcakes for school. Frosting will most likely happen tomorrow, but at least they're baked. Morgan was able to sample one, and gave the thumbs up. It took all the will in the world not to have one...I suffered with a weight watchers chocolate chip cookie instead. They really can't compare. I'm saving my points for birthday cake..I've already calculated how many points a piece of cake is...6 points. Do you think that could include ice cream with it?! Ha, Ha!

Morgan was showing me today her "tree" pose (from yoga on the wii). She also does nice hula hoop motions, as well as her Irish Step Dancing. She cannot get enough. She puts on her black patent leather shoes and dances all over the house. We don't have enough music to keep her going...she's like the IRISH STEP DANCING ENERGIZER BUNNY!!

Maddie has had a bit of a "rough" weekend. Daddy wasn't quite aware of her schedule and the fact that she is no longer allowed to fall asleep to the bottle (where has he been?!!!), so he tried to do that Sat and Sun., and then got the clue that this just can't happen anymore. Once I helped him get to know her schedule, she seems back on track today, though she's had an on/off low grade fever all weekend, and super red cheeks. I can't feel any teeth through yet, but I'm hoping that's the culprit. She has a bit of a cough/congestion in her chest/throat, but seems happy, so I'm hoping it will soon pass. She still sleeps like "sleeping beauty" so no complaints here!

Pre K picture day

Morgan has pre k picture day today, so this is a little preview. She was so excited to get ready and put "big socks" on. I must say, I still love the fact that she calls her tights, "big socks." Some things, I'm just not ready to correct her on!

Pictures!!

Here are a few picts from the past week. Maddie had a little accident and in the midst of changing her, Daddy thought it was necessary to make sure we captured all the "rolls" on camera! Again!!