LOOK UMA AND UPA!

IT'S MORGAN'S "WEE ENCHANTED GARDEN!"

This was a birthday or Christmas present from you last year that we just pulled out and put together...a perfect age for this activity! Morgan painted the sides and we planted grass and bean seeds in this enchanted garden. There are shells, a frog and a mouse, along with a house! Morgan LOVES it, and it's the perfect size for the window sill. Not sure how long it will be able to be there for, thanks to Maddie, but it's so fun!!

Thank you, Uma and Upa!

Happy Birthday, Ethan!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ETHAN! WE LOVE YOU AND HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY!

So not much is going on here in our neck-of-the-woods this week. Morgan is doing well at school - having a ball and Maddie is learning new things and just ALL OVER the place! Into everything..including her nose!We were at the docs again yesterday for her umpteenth ear infection. Still hoping to make it through the season before we jump to tubes. I pretty much blame the teeth. I seriously think there is no other baby in the world with gums as thick as hers. These two teeth up top having been coming in for about a month and a half. And just last night, THEY FINALLY BROKE THROUGH!! So, hopefully we can all move forward, get a normal nights sleep again, and get back to not only a routine, but a happy Maddie!

Have I mentioned before that Morgan is the best big sister? Always helping Maddie not get into trouble (I think she tells her "no" more than me!) and always has a gentle touch....

he,he,he!

Learning new tricks!

Well, at least one of us has....Maddie has recently (as of yesterday) learned how to drink out of a sippy cup. Very exciting considering I never thought it would happen. Though, I'm very sad that my baby girl is now in toddler-hood. Giving up the bottle might still prove to be tough as she loves to cuddle and have her bottle, but this is progress, I suppose.

And here's a sideways video of her first few sips (of pear juice and water)!

And here's a few of Morgan and Maddie playing in the kitchen. They love pretending to eat the food. Well, Maddie does really chew it, and Morgan sometimes does too!

LOVE the hair in this pict of Maddie! (She looks so tired b/c she doesn't sleep anymore! Darn teeth!)

And here's a pict of Morgan and Daddy doing their "math homework!" Daddy bought Morgan a math workbook and they had their first "lesson" today. So cute!

Interview with a Marathon Runner

Boston's Marathon Team Orange Crush - Boylston St.

Boston's Marathon Team Orange Crush - Mile 14

A Marathon of a Weekend

CONGRATULATIONS TO RYAN, JAY, AND ADAM! They did it....ran the Boston Marathon in 4 hours, 33 minutes. The winner ran it in 2 hours, 5 minutes...but he was 21 years old, so he had a HUGE advantage! he,he,he! We're so proud of you fellas!

Everyone had a great weekend, though it was quite similar to a marathon. Since Kevin threw his back out working out Friday morning (thank you, Eero!), the weekend was all mine! We went to Milton after Maddie's nap on Saturday and spent some time with Ryan, Ali,Luke, Gamma and Papa. [We missed you Bob and hope you are feeling better!] Then we came home for "rests" while Mommy (Daddy got his back "ready") got organized and ready to meet the adults in the North End for a carb-fest for Ryan...a delicious Italian meal at Saraceno's and a great birthday dinner for Ali!

Sunday everyone came over for an indoor BBQ (due to weather) at the McLean household, including the Sinis Family. It went smoothly, I thought...thanks for all the help and patience everyone! A couple hours of rest before we all went to dinner with kiddos. Morgan was so great, and Maddie who had woken up from her pm nap at 200, was able to make it all the way to 815pm before bedtime. A trooper indeed. Though, I think the medal for "trooper of the weekend" went to Luke! He is incredible!

Marathon Monday was the day we were all waiting for! Ryan was due to meet a bus at 630am. His leg of the race began at 10am. We all met here to drive in together to Wellesley which was about the 14th mile. I have video of this wonderful viewing but need to learn a little about iMovie so I can download it on the blog. Thanks to Aunt Pegge we had an update that they were on their way. The Orange Crush team stopped, gave hugs and kisses and had a picture taken and continued the race! We dropped off Kevin and Morgan (the babysitter called and said Maddie wouldn't stop crying!! Poor thing) and continued our own way (by car) into Boston. We parked and found a great spot (thanks, Dad) to watch the rest of marathon. And the Orange Crush team was able to see us at the turn onto Boylston Street! A few moments later, they were done: 4 hours, 33 minutes and lots of stories to tell! Familiar faces along the way and an incredible energy helped them along!

So very proud of Ryan and the boys, though I must say, I felt like I too ran a marathon that day! I collapsed when I got home, laid around the house with the girls and possibly even had a 15 minute nap on the couch. I called it (as I had all week) an early night for bed, read a little Evanovich that Kev got me, and fell fast asleep, wondering who will be running next year?! [to the tune of Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer] Will it Bobby or Brendan? Caitlin or Annie? Or do you recall, the most famous runner of all?! [Ryan!!]

McGolf Treat

So, we needed a break from the monotony of the week and decided on the sunny (but a little cool) and beautiful day, to take a walk to McGolf and get an ice cream treat. You see how the exercise is rewarded with ice cream? Morgan enjoyed her usual black raspberry with chocolate sprinkles. I had a nice mint chocolate chip.

Here are some picts from the day. (I did include on video, which I thought was going to be a pict. I can't rotate it b/c it is a video but it's too good not to put on here.)

The girls before we left.
A very happy (and silly) Morgan.
Watching the golfers with that cute pony tail!
Wondering why she didn't get ice cream!

A house full of antibiotics!

Yes we are. Morgan just began amoxicillin for strep last night. Maddie's continuing her non-amoxicillin (since she's allergic) for a double ear infection. Mommy's continuing her "medication therapy" for my sinus problems. Really, the only person not on antibiotics is Daddy. He might want to get on a program though before he comes down with something.

For those visiting us soon - no worries. The house is getting a full cleaning on Friday - inside and out!

Franklin Park Zoo

Lions, tigers and giraffes, oh my!! We saw them all today plus some zebra, gorillas, sheep, swans, and yes, much to my dislike - snakes!

We took Morgan's friend, Katya, with us. It was wild (ha, ha - get it - we went to the zoo!) and fun....and exhausting!! Where those girls get their energy from, I will never know! But, they had a blast...lots of great conversation and good memories!!

Riding on the train at the zoo.
Ready to go see the animals!
Checking out the gorillas.

Mama and Baby Giraffe
Silly on the choo-choo!
Stopping to smell the flowers!

Below - saying Goodbye to the Zoo! So sad!

Poor Maddie. So ready for a nap - but an amazing sport!

Dragon's Pizzeria

"Hello. This is Dragon's Pizzeria. This is Spike. What would you like?"

Quote from Morgan and Katya playing in the "way" back on our ride home from the zoo.

More Morganisms...

Morgan and I had a great morning together. Maddie was sleeping when I woke up (I got to sleep in - yeah!!!) and so Daddy suggested we go get breakfast! What did I do to deserve this??! I did not ask, but I was excited.

So we were on our way and talking about how Gamma and Papa were still on Martha's Vineyard.

Morgan said, "I wish we had a house like Martha's Vineyard."

"Me too," I said.

"Mommy, someday I'm going to buy that house on Martha's Vineyard."

"That's great!"

"But, Mommy, how do you move a house when you buy it?!"

And at breakfast I was moving her hair out of her face so her food wouldn't get in it. She kept moving it back so it was in her face. I asked her why she kept moving her hair into her face, and Morgan said,

"If you do that [move her hair off her face] then I won't look like Morgan anymore."

Morgan's nose...

is yellow. I was laughing so hard, I couldn't find the camera. She just came in from playing outside in the front yard where I could see her. She had on her "pinkt" gardening gloves with her "pinkt" gardening tools from outside. She was so proud of herself for bringing me in some "flowers" (dandelions) from the garden, and her nose was so bright yellow!!! While all of this was occurring, she says, "Oh, Mommy, don't you just love these flowers I brought for you. I'm sorry about not being a listener."

Oh my!!! She's a character...able to melt your heart and make you laugh all at the same moment!

Off to the docs for Maddie to see if her ears are infected! And then to Irish Step Dancing!!!

Moments in pictures

I'm exhausted still but there will be more to come. It was a wonderful weekend. So many memories and so many pictures - if only I could put them all on here. I'm reminded by the song by the Samples, "Nothing Lasts for Long:"

"Nothing last forever, not the mountains or the sea. But the times we've had together, they will always be with me."