Spring Break '09 Part 1

For Spring Break 2009 we rented a house for the week on Fort Morgan Road (thanks to Boot and Susu) and had our own pool and beach out front - it was the perfect spring break location!

After a nice Palm Sunday nap, Mac and I left to meet Rob and the girls at the beach.  He was still feeling pretty sleepy, but I promised him that he had a whole week with his sisters ahead of him - so he was happy with that news!

As I unpacked Mac's bags, he unpacked his trains.  You can never have too many trains.  (Also, for anyone with train obsessed boys, I highly recommend this traveling Thomas the train table that converts into a carrying case.)

Day one started out a bit breezy - so the girls got creative and threw their pants on under their swim skirts.  Definitely feeling cute!

Ann Louise came over from Ono Island for a swim with us on Monday.  It was freezing in that pool - but they were not to be deterred from getting their spring break on.

Barclay tried to hang in there with the big kids but she was FREEZING.  So she headed straight for the warm bath tub.

And was soon joined by Ann Louise and Madison!

Day 2 was sunny but a bit too cold for the beach or the pool - so we put on our shades and headed to the outlets.  Susu and Mommy were proud of our three shoppers - they lasted longer than expected, thanks to an on-site play ground, a merry-go-round and some 75 cent kiddie rides along the way.  Mom took some pics from the mall so hopefully I can get some downloaded from her.  

Waving Palm Branches

We got gussied up for Palm Sunday because Madison was singing in church and all three children were going to be carrying palm branches in the processional.  Susu made every one of these outfits.  Pretty snazzy.  (Insert appropriate amount of gushing here.)

Clearly, something didn't smell so good at DWUMC - that or my children were doing their best impersonations of Carolyn Gray (Mehlburger joke).

Madi carried her branch high and proud.  After all, she would be singing today!

See that little girl in front of Mac, well, just after this photo was taken, he took to whacking her over the head with his frond.  Good times.

This was the last moment of pleasantness for Mac all morning - he proceeded to melt down about 45 seconds later, just as Madison began singing.

From what I hear, Madison sang beautifully.  Mac and I, however, were standing outside by that point.  Gotta love 2.  Thank goodness for video!  We came home and immediately packed and left for the beach - and not a moment too soon!

Lookin' For 8

When Daddy works as much as he has been lately, there is a bit more excitement associated with welcoming him home from the office.  His evening greeting usually looks something like a pile on (which he loves).  

Mac then requests some "tickle time" on "Daddy's bed."  The other day they all piled on Dad for a ride after their respective tickles.

Madison didn't quite win a buckle this time!  We love you Daddy!!!

With All the Frills Upon It

Barclay's Easter parade was a raging success.  She chose hydrangeas for her bonnet and wore a lovely smocked blue linen ensemble that her grandmother Susu made for Madison when she was 2 or 3.  Barclay is closing in on 6 and it fit like a charm.  She was so proud to finally be the McGinley girl in the UMS Easter parade!  

This is Barclay's K4 teacher, Lee Pipkins.  She rocks.  I have been hiding Mac from her in an attempt to sneak him into her class in two years without her finding out that he is the devil's spawn. There has never been, nor will there ever be, a better K4 teacher.  I kid you not.  

Barclay with her grandmothers.  Susu and Boot saved the day!  I had Mac and came roaring in to UMS in true form, at the last possible second.  Fortunately, these lovely ladies only had eyes for Barclay and made it there with time to spare.  Whew.  They then proceeded to chase Mac while I photographed and filmed like a woman possessed.  Thank you Susu and Boot.

Mac likes to visit Barclay's classroom for one reason, and one reason only.  He knows where Mrs. Pipkins keeps the matchbox cars.  For some reason he feels the need to line up like items in perfect little rows.  I canNOT imagine where he gets that from...

Barclay's class had an Easter Egg Hunt after the parade.  When you are Barclay, real live bunnies beat out eggs every time.  No contest.

Mac was home sick from school - so he got to pile into our bed to watch Thomas until Barclay came home ...

As it turns out, she was sick too, so he lay down next to her while she watched tv, and he watched her.  Mac loves him some Barc-way.

Madison, on the other hand, was not sick.  She was so happy that it wasn't raining (at last) that she danced for joy!  Madison feels the dance from deep down within her soul and she is a very happy child.  Can't you just tell?

Entertainment 101

Entertaining kids after 20 consecutive rainy days can pose a bit of a challenge.  When in doubt, combining a project with a snack is a sure bet.  On Tuesday, we decided to make "blue" rice crispy treats (after covering ourselves in stickers).  We melted marshmallows, stirred in rice crispies and dropped in some blue food coloring (get it, three kids, three steps - everyone gets a turn).  I must admit that it had been so long since we last made them that I had to look up the butter/marshmallow/rice crispy ratio for the recipe. Pitiful.  I made these things with Ashley and Mary Sterling every day after tennis for about 10 straight years as a kid.  Truly pathetic.  It is, however, why I thought to make them - tennis was rained out.

 

Barclay examines her yummy bite (I don't believe in waiting for treats to cool in a pan before eating - they are much better fresh - and I feel it's my maternal duty to pass this technique along to my offspring).

Madison preferred the squeeze and shove method of eating them...

... while Mac smeared them all over his face, then went about shoveling sticky morsels into his mouth.

Despite the rain, I decided to bid farewell to March with some fresh flowers.  I am going to try and keep some in my house throughout April - rain or shine, it makes us feel a little less gloomy.

Mac Will Rock You

Did I mention that I LOVE my husband?  I do - I do, I do, I do.  If it weren't for his brilliant, fabulous, wonderful, loving, skinny self I would not have had a video camera at the ready when I walked by Mac's room this morning.  You can see (or hear anyway) what transpired here.  I am sorry that the picture quality is not good (it was dark and I was afraid that I would lose Mac if I tried to turn on the light).  Rob, I love you.  Please remind me of this the next time I find your socks balled up at the end of the couch!

Hippity Hop Y'all

Easter has officially arrived at the McGinleys.  Barclay has made her bonnet (parade to be held on Friday - pictures to follow), eggs are being dyed, and we attended our first egg hunt of the year on Sunday.  Our church has an annual egg hunt/jumpy castle/petting zoo/face painting/butterfly release every year and this year it was at the Ronald McDonald House - which is pretty gorgeous if you ask me.  The kids wore their matching Easter duds that we forgot about last year (whew, glad Mom always buys a size too big).

One of the kids' favorite things to stumble across in Mobile is an Azalea Trail Maid or two.  Mac loves their fun skirts and the girls think they are beautiful.  A very Mobile-ish thing.  They were the ones getting the bad press in the Obama inaugural parade for being reminiscent of slavery and "Gone With The Wind".  Whatever.  Our kids didn't seem to care.

Did I mention that Mac loves petting zoos?  He does - and he was feeling particularly brave around this bunny.  I love him.

This is Madison holding her butterfly, pre-release.  She was so excited.  I was scared to death that it would not survive until the release, but...

...these were some fairly hearty butterflies and Alleluia! he spread his wings and took flight! Hooray!  I love Easter and Spring and Sunny weather.  I love my kids running around and playing outside barefoot.  I love the beach.  Good thing next week is Spring Break - we are ready!