A little bit of Christmas...

We began the season of Christmas with Auntie Annie's Christmas party last week...
And before we knew it, Christmas Eve Day was here. Off to the Boston Pops!

Getting ready to go!!

Arriving early worked out well for us all...a little bit to eat and drink before the show started! And, of course, posing for pictures too!
Uncle Ryan, Auntie Ali and Luke!
Morgan and Auntie Ali pass the time with a little coloring

Well, at least Daddy was looking at the camera!!

Morgan LOVED the Pops!

Christmas morning was great. The girls were hilarious! We have more video than pictures though!!

And Christmas Day at Gamma and Papa's house. Maddie loves her new bathrobe and her megablocks.

which Morgan loves too! But no one loves anything more than Morgan LOVES Pirates of Penzance!!!

Oh, yeah! And did I mention there was a blizzard. Well I guess technically it couldn't be called a blizzard, but yeah - I'd say about 14" of snow in about 24 hours would just about do it!

A white Christmas AND a fabulous time with family! Happy and Healthy New Year to all!!

Merry Christmas!!!

Santa was very good to everyone in the McLean household! He spoiled us rotten and the kids have been great opening up presents. Too bad Maddie didn't sleep in for us, but Morgan got up around 715, we started opening around 730 and were done by 830. We have pictures to come, but Kevin just got me this flip video, and I had so much fun with it this morning!!! Merry Christmas to all!!! Hugs and kisses!!!

Taffy, The Elf on the Shelf

Morgan: "Mommy, I think Taffy is seeing how nice I am wrapping these presents, and he will go tell Santa!"

On another day...Morgan is singing Santa Claus is coming to Town!

She came over and whispered in my ear (with a giggle)... "Mom, I think Taffy is going to tell Santa that I was singing his song!"

LOVE this age!!!

BTW - Maddie calls "Taffy"... "Fatty!" Gotta love that too!!!

The Christmas Caboose

St. Catherine's, Mommy's school, had their big fundraiser today - The Christmas Caboose. It's like the Polar Express, without the North Pole (though depending on the day - Morgan might tell you we were there!).

We boarded the train and were greeted with Christmas music, the Conductor and a train full of decorations...tinsel, sticky window decorations and things hanging from the ceiling - very festive! We found our seats, and prepared to go for a ride!!! Maddie didn't budge from my lap (which isn't so spacious these days!). Between the music, the conductor's microphone issues, and the noise, she stayed very close by. Morgan moved from sitting with Kevin and I (and Maddie) to sitting with Papa, and she must have been quite comfortable!! She LOVED looking out the window to see where we were going ("did we get to the ice?!" and tears at the end because she thought she missed the North Pole!). But we sang carols, listened to the Conductor read The Polar Express and had some hot chocolate and cookies. She even wrote a note to Santa on our ride, who collected the letter himself!! We even got a silver bell and a candy cane!! Morgan LOVED every minute and didn't even mind Santa, Rudolph, and Frosty who walked by to say hello!

It was quite an experience (a hot one...it was 54 degrees today and they had the heat on the train) and so happy we did it! Morgan had a fantastic time with Papa, Gamma and Auntie Annie who joined us for the trip, and probably will skip next year!!!

(Ignore my big round belly! All I need is the white beard, hair and eyebrows and I could have been Santa this year!!)

December so far...

Well, I may not be Martha Stewart, but Morgan thought I did "an awesome job" with the frosting! And as you may be able to tell, she enjoyed it more than the Gingerbread House!


During happier days, Maddie snuggles with Daddy.

And she loves hats!

For Thanksgiving at school - this was Morgan's turkey feather.

Fever, Rashes, Oh my!

Yes, that would be Maddie! She's been sick since Sunday beginning with a fever of 103.5 and she's been home and miserable since. Monday was relatively okay with Mommy. She had the high fever, but was pretty happy and playing. Tuesday was an okay day with Daddy - no fever and relatively happy. We thought Wednesday she'd be back in school but woke up with a 102.5 fever and then proceeded to breakout in an enormous rash all over her body - with blisters! The nurse on the phone thought "chicken pox" but Gamma (who came to the rescue so we could go to work) knew better and diagnosed correctly with a hives blister rash. No matter what you call it, it's been miserable, as is Maddie. Fussy, temper tantrums and screaming one minute and completely happy and playing the next. Makes one mother go mad. The hardest part is trying to figure out what she wants and why she's having this huge fit. Reminds me how grateful I am for communication and the ability to talk!!! But, here's hoping she's on the mend...a little motrin an benadryl - perhaps she'll sleep LOTS today! :)

Morgan's been great through all of it - she's been flexible with her schedule and allowing Maddie to "rule the roost" for a few days. And she's been reading/memorizing "Scat, Cat" one of her I Can Read Books. She read the whole book to Gamma last night! It's so exciting to see and makes me so proud!!

So, I'll be home today - taking care of Maddie and perhaps (hopefully) doing a few things around the house!