Sweet Caroline - Farewell to Summer Charms

We spent our last weekend of the summer at the beach with our cousins, the Michaels. We were fortunate enough to witness baby Caroline's first beach steps in the sand. She is such a happy baby, I could watch her all day long!

Mary, Chris and Caroline are very happy to be at the beach (and out of the car from Little Rock)!

Aunt Mary took the girls out to the ice cream boat to get some cool treats on a hot day!

All five cousins got into burying Madison in the sand. (And whacking her on the head with a body board as she was a particularly immobile target).

But ultimately Mac gave Madison some sweet, sandy love.

Beautiful sisters - covered in sand and sunscreen!

... and the moment's gone. Mac decided to dig up Barclay, much to her dismay.

Simple solution: bury the evildoer!

My boys.

Madison and Susu had a happy time.

I swear, I will have a picture of him that looks just like this in 16 years. I could literally gobble him up. He's such a little man.

FYI - I am planning to start a new, ongoing series on "Macisms". Mac is constantly coming up with the darnedest little words and phrases. This weekend, he met a little boy at the pool who asked him if he had been to the Battleship (he had not). Mac, of course, said "yes". The boy then asked him when he went. Without missing a beat, Mac responded, "Tuesday". The little boy then started talking about his recent trip. Again, Mac was having none of it and tells the kid, "I've been two times, I've been on one day AND on Tuesday." Can't make this stuff up, people.

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!

Happy Camper

Madison went to sleep away camp for the first time last weekend (just after her 7th birthday!). She went to Camp Beckwith over the Bay for three days.

Mama and her beautiful girls - Barclay REALLY missed Madison and decided that she definitely wants to go to camp too (good thing, since she has no choice in the matter - but don't tell her I said that).

My Babies

Barclay and Mac had a lot of fun exploring the camp grounds.

Daddy with Madison and Mac - still checking out the camp. It is absolutely beautiful and right on Weeks Bay, which is at the mouth of Mobile Bay.

Not surprisingly, Madison chose a top bunk. Good thing, too, since her bunk mate managed to throw up the second night. Barclay really thought the bunk beds were cool. Madison's assistant counselor, Kate, braided her hair which added to her particularly precious campy look.

Maddie missed her Daddy and her Daddy missed her. A lot. Seven is very, very grown up. Beware, seven.

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!