Shin Guards and Tutus

September is always a month of transition for us. We spend the month getting into our new school year routines, homework, after school activities and juggling nap schedules (or lack thereof).

The girls are both playing soccer - Madison intramural at UMS, Barclay on the YMCA team. They both enjoy it - and soccer games beat ballet recitals, hands down.

Madison started the year at a new ballet studio - Mobile Ballet. This is pretty serious stuff, as it entails a uniform based on level and will culminate with an appearance as a mouse in the Nutcracker. (No recital - hollah!)

Barclay, upon visiting Madison's first ballet class, decided that she might like to take ballet after all. Her level wears this lovely pink uniform - which she loves. On the first day, however, we were a bit scared, so, in typical fashion, I bribed her to stick it out. Here she is post-ballet class, collecting the goods. I will point out that she has since gone to ballet every day with a smile on her face and a hitch in her giddyup.

... Mac is not taking ballet. He still wanted to say "cheese."

Barclay's soccer uniform is more of a tunic/shirt dress on her. She is showing some promise as a soccer player - and even endured a double header last Saturday in the sweltering heat!

She is so cool.

Mac dresses out for Barclay's soccer games as well. He has is own ball, cleats and shin guards - also shorts that we roll down 6 times. He is so very proud.

I took this picture on the day of the Alabama-Arkansas game. Mac and Martha agreed to disagree on the subject. After all, he is her baby-Daddy. (Unfortunately, the football game did not go so well for the Hogs, but we'll get 'em next year.)

I am aware that this picture has nothing to do with this post - but poor Bear. Oh, the hours I spent dressing up Cinnamon and Kittle Lou when I was a kid. Bear has the exact same look of humiliation. The girls were so proud, they insisted that I snap a picture.

MTV Cribs - McGinley Edition

When I came in to wake Mac up from his nap the other day, this is what I found. That would be diaper cream covering his face, neck and torso. You will notice that we had to take off the sheet, the bumpers and anything remotely comfortable, days prior. He tossed his Bacon, Monkey and Whale Pillow voluntarily. This child will be the death of me.

Yesterday, I gave in and removed the side of Mac's crib, replacing it with the toddler bed conversion panel that I have somehow managed to keep for over 7 years (as we have never used it before). So far, so good. He isn't crawling out without permission (yet) and feels pretty awesome in his new "big boy bed." Rainy day projects - Love 'em like Lizards!!

Summer Fun and Dive Meet UPDATE!!

Well, technically, the "dive meet update" part will come first. As it turns out, Madison actually WON the dive meet on Saturday! She won the 1 meter and the three meter and was the high point winner - which meant a medal. Pretty good stuff. She is quite the proud child!

As for the rest of our summer, we have been involved in a lot of potty training and a good bit of spontaneous dancing. Sometimes those two events collide in a most unusual way.

(please note, Mac's underwear atop Barclay's head)

We also made a trip up to school to take care of some general business. All three kids had to hop on top of the bulldog in the office and insisted on having their picture taken!

This week, the girls are going to gymnastics camp - and got some new (to them) duds to wear. After they got home, all three of them put on a "show" for us. It was mostly a very LOUD screaming rock and roll performance (all three were lead singer and on lead guitar). Also, please note Mac's "microphone".

I have been promising Ashley a picture of one of the new beds we planted around our back patio this summer - so here's a teaser!

Dive Meet

Today, Madison participated in her first dive meet. I am completely impressed. She had never (to my knowledge) been off a high dive before, due to the fact that our club doesn't have one, but when they asked her if she wanted to compete in the high dive division also - she (literally) jumped right in. She did a front dive and a front dive with a half twist (the later without even so much as an attempt during warm ups). Man, am I impressed. She is braver than I am!

I will have to admit to some bribery here ... Mac was pretty bored after the first hour of warm ups and low board - so I resorted to ice cream.

Pretty cool back dive too (yet another dive that is not in my bag). It seems that 7 is a big year for Madison.

What form!

Growing Up

This is my handsome boy on the 4th of July. He is getting too big, too fast. He's gonna be a heart breaker - watch out ladies!

I will try and get some more 4th pictures and some from our trip to Nashville (where we saw the Villere clan) posted soon. We had the tummy bug for the 4th weekend, so no beach - just a lot of yard work!

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

Today Mac pooped on the potty.  This is a day that I have been looking forward to for quite some time now.  To reward this momentous occasion, the McGinley family traditionally throws a "Poo Poo Parade" (so named due to the fact that our first two little people were potty trained during Mardi Gras).  We are planning said parade as we speak.  But first, the bribe.  I am not above them.  In fact, I am way, way below them.  I told Mac that if he pooped on the potty, he could have a Cranky the Crane.  Alas, the train store (aka Books-A-Million) was fresh out of Crankies, so we had to settle for self-propelled James and lights and sounds Thomas.  Not a bad trade, all in all.  Even a lovely shiner and busted lip couldn't dampen our spirits today!

Traffic Jams, Fudgecicles, Monkey and John Deere

Spring has sprung and we are taking advantage of the excess Vitamin D to be had outside! Barclay got home from school to a very excited Mac - waiting for his big sister.  (Madison had Creating with Clay after school today).  He donned his finest attire for the event and they got to playing.  He on his tractor, she on her bike - if only he knew how to put on the brakes!

It was time for a snack - and Daddy's fudgecicles were just what the doctor ordered.  We have learned that eating fudgecicles is best accomplished in the buff (boots and diaper excepted).

Mac went for a little walk with Monkey, enjoying their taste of afternoon freedom and no doubt entertaining our entire neighborhood!  (We are a proud combination of Arkansan and Alabamian rednecks.)

All of this excitement completely exhausted Monkey - who decided to take a siesta in the bed of the tractor.

Madison finally got home and managed to squeeze in a chapter of her newly selected Leprechaun book before the sun got too low.  A good day all around.

Something New

I have just created a blog... we'll see if I am good about using it or not.  My husband has been wanting me to create a family website for a while now, and this seemed like the more appropriate format for what he wanted to accomplish.  I was inspired to actually do it today because it's a very rainy day in Mobile and Mac decided that the giant lake in our backyard was just what the doctor ordered after being cooped up inside all day (followed by a not-so-glamorous trip to Wal-Mart).  I took some pictures of him splashing through Lake McGinley and thought that they should be shared somewhere - what a happy baby!  Now, let's cross our fingers and see if I can download the accompanying photos!