Riley is becoming quite artistic lately. Her latest and greatest... her own self portrait.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Happy "Mommy, I throwed up" Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving, a time for looking back, remembering the year past and things one should be thankful for, right? Not at the McGoverns. Wednesday morning at 6:30 am Riley calls us into her room. Blaugh- "Sorry, Mommy. . . I throwed up." We run to the bathroom where the ritual continues of throw up and words of encouragement. Tim calls the clinic and gets us an appointment.
8:45am Riley, Natalie and I arrive at the clinic which is the most crowded it has ever been in any of our visits. The room is full of weary parents and all of the other children with the same Thanksgiving tradition, the day before a major holiday sickness that sneaks up unsuspecting families.
We are quickly escorted to see Dr. Carroll only to have the misfortune of being officially diagnosed with "THE CRUD." High fevers, occasional vomiting and a promise to make the rounds through the entire family during the holiday. I myself am currently fighting back the nausea.
The good news is that today, Riley is symptom free and no signs of Natalie coming down with anything. We hope each and everyone we knows had a great Thanksgiving.
8:45am Riley, Natalie and I arrive at the clinic which is the most crowded it has ever been in any of our visits. The room is full of weary parents and all of the other children with the same Thanksgiving tradition, the day before a major holiday sickness that sneaks up unsuspecting families.
We are quickly escorted to see Dr. Carroll only to have the misfortune of being officially diagnosed with "THE CRUD." High fevers, occasional vomiting and a promise to make the rounds through the entire family during the holiday. I myself am currently fighting back the nausea.
The good news is that today, Riley is symptom free and no signs of Natalie coming down with anything. We hope each and everyone we knows had a great Thanksgiving.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
A C T U A L L Y
Actually. Riley's favorite new word. The most recent and best use Riley had was telling her 21 month old sister why Daddy was in the hospital (he was discharged today). "Natalie, Daddy is in the hospital because he has kidney stones. Actually, his kidney stones are wiggling and that makes them hurt a lot.. . I saw him throw up in Mommy's new flowerbed. He said, 'Honey, don't watch Daddy.' But I watcheded anyway."
You tell Riley its time to go to bed. "Actually, I have to brush my teeth and I think I'm hungry." Her growing vocabulary contines to amaze me.
You tell Riley its time to go to bed. "Actually, I have to brush my teeth and I think I'm hungry." Her growing vocabulary contines to amaze me.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Don't Drink the Water
It has lately come to my attention that drinking water among my friends and family is dangerous. No, you won't die. You will not become poisoned. It is a far more dangerous fate. See, if you drink the water and know me. . .you will find out that you are pregnant. Worse, I may find out that I am pregnant. In the past 7 days one sister-in-law has given birth to a beautiful baby boy (she is 42), my other sister-in- law found out that vasectomies are not guaranteed to work, followed by a dear friend (who's youngest child is 14) who discovered the blessed news of her future being turned upside down with one approaching their driver's license and the newest addition in diapers, a high school friend and his wife are expecting triplets (yes, you read that correctly), another friend found out 2 days ago that 4 is a great number of children to have- even if you will be turning the big 40 this year, and now. . . my cousin and his wife found out that their son of 5 months will have a sibling in about 8 months or so. Hence the fear of drinking the water.
This fear is further reinforced by my precious 4 year old daughter Riley. Every night since Natalie was born, Riley has faithfully prayed and asked God to please put her baby brother Jack in her Mommy's tummy. This scares me the most- because as we all know the little children have God's ear.
This fear is further reinforced by my precious 4 year old daughter Riley. Every night since Natalie was born, Riley has faithfully prayed and asked God to please put her baby brother Jack in her Mommy's tummy. This scares me the most- because as we all know the little children have God's ear.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Happy Halloween
Tonight was the big night. Costumes, candy, and of course trick or treating. The night went rather smoothly, which is good because after the morning we had I was afraid for the rest of the day.
This year Riley's daycare opted to not allow the children to wear their halloween costumes, instead they were to come dressed as a storybook character. This was further restricted with a statement somewhere along the lines of "please do not let your child wear anything that might be troublesome to deal with or is a costume." Now, try explaining to your four year old that they cannot wear their butterfly costume to school, but that they need to dress up as a storybook character. As you can imagine, the idea was not well received. To add to the mix, dance class (which asked for costumes to be worn- a great compromise) was canceled after bedtime.
Riley awoke in her normal fashion, head buried under anything that will keep the light away with communication being downgraded to grunts and grumbling. I gently told her that she would not have dance class today; immediate tears ensued. Every idea I pitched to her for a character was shot down. "No, those are real clothes--not a costume." It was a calgon moment, I wanted to be taken away. I went to the guest bedroom closet hoping to find a compromise. I opened the door and like the lights shining down from heaven there it hung. Riley's red dog sweater, the snyapses started firing and the idea came quickly. "Riley, what about going as Emily Elizabeth and you carry your puppy as Clifford the Big Red Dog?" I hit pay dirt. Hallelujah! One red sweater, one blue skirt, and a comprimise of a pink sequin shirt and voila! Emily Elizabeth went to school.
This year Riley's daycare opted to not allow the children to wear their halloween costumes, instead they were to come dressed as a storybook character. This was further restricted with a statement somewhere along the lines of "please do not let your child wear anything that might be troublesome to deal with or is a costume." Now, try explaining to your four year old that they cannot wear their butterfly costume to school, but that they need to dress up as a storybook character. As you can imagine, the idea was not well received. To add to the mix, dance class (which asked for costumes to be worn- a great compromise) was canceled after bedtime.
Riley awoke in her normal fashion, head buried under anything that will keep the light away with communication being downgraded to grunts and grumbling. I gently told her that she would not have dance class today; immediate tears ensued. Every idea I pitched to her for a character was shot down. "No, those are real clothes--not a costume." It was a calgon moment, I wanted to be taken away. I went to the guest bedroom closet hoping to find a compromise. I opened the door and like the lights shining down from heaven there it hung. Riley's red dog sweater, the snyapses started firing and the idea came quickly. "Riley, what about going as Emily Elizabeth and you carry your puppy as Clifford the Big Red Dog?" I hit pay dirt. Hallelujah! One red sweater, one blue skirt, and a comprimise of a pink sequin shirt and voila! Emily Elizabeth went to school.
Following a long day of work, Tim and I met at home to execute "Operation Trick or Treat." By 6:45 pm both girls were fed and suited up. Tim had his Halloween Trick or Treating cigar and I was in these ridiculous purple wings Riley asked me to wear. Around the block we went. Trick or Treat!
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Nat Nat Kitty Kat
Today we got a present from Natalie's cargiver Denise. An adorable picture of Natalie in her Kitty Kat Costume.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Girls at Work
A few days ago a unique box arrived on our front porch. Hmmmm....
Tim said something about ordering Halloween decorations and looking for packages to arrive. The outside of the box was black and orange with a white handle on the top. The front panel displayed a picture of a giant inflatable globe. Inside there were bats flying and a ghost shaking its appendages. What to do, what to do. . . wait for Tim to get back.
I was speaking with Shelley and discussing the awesome Hobby Lobby 40% coupons on line and she mentioned purchasing a Halloween Globe from Michael's with a similar coupon. She raved of its awesomeness and how easy it was to install. Okay, if Shelley says its easy I know I can do it - we think a like in a lot of ways.
Sunday, Riley and I venture outside to do a little yardwork. We trim the sage hedge-(big mistake, I think I found the source of some of my major allergy problem.) Then Riley asks for the unteenth time for me to put up the globe. I think that if I get into the middle of this and it takes hours I am going to scream and wish that I waited for Tim to come home. 10 minutes later. . . PRESTO!
Tim said something about ordering Halloween decorations and looking for packages to arrive. The outside of the box was black and orange with a white handle on the top. The front panel displayed a picture of a giant inflatable globe. Inside there were bats flying and a ghost shaking its appendages. What to do, what to do. . . wait for Tim to get back.
I was speaking with Shelley and discussing the awesome Hobby Lobby 40% coupons on line and she mentioned purchasing a Halloween Globe from Michael's with a similar coupon. She raved of its awesomeness and how easy it was to install. Okay, if Shelley says its easy I know I can do it - we think a like in a lot of ways.
Sunday, Riley and I venture outside to do a little yardwork. We trim the sage hedge-(big mistake, I think I found the source of some of my major allergy problem.) Then Riley asks for the unteenth time for me to put up the globe. I think that if I get into the middle of this and it takes hours I am going to scream and wish that I waited for Tim to come home. 10 minutes later. . . PRESTO!
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Dinner and a Movie
The first weekend in October Tim and I decided to take some "relationship building time" aka Tim's and my first night out of this house without children in who knows when. It seemed to be the perfect plan. Dinner and a movie on Saturday night . Simple? Who would of thought?
We decided to try the new Olive Garden. Yes, Olive Garden is a new and fascinating concept here in our quaint, yet remote West Texas town. Unfortunately, the 1 hour wait did not fit our schedule. Instead we opted for Outback Steakhouse.
Before we went to dinner we decided to swing by Tinsletown and pick up our movie tickets. That way we won't back out of the movie. This is one of those unique rationales parents of young children create so that even though we are dead tired- we will use ALL of our precious time away from our children.
Outback is a wonderful place to eat and enjoy each others company. I love those Walaby Darns, I loved 2 of them as a matter of fact. Tim enjoyed that our table was next to the bar and he could continue watching college football and still be on a "date" with his wife.
The movie we purchased tickets for did not begin until 10:10 (according to the tickets); this did not include the wait for the understaffed crew to clean the theater from the previous show. So, we formed a line and waited, and waited, and waited. . .until finally the gate was opened with an extreme sense of urgency to make it to our seats (especially since the movie began on time whether the theater was finished being cleaned or not!). We chose "The Guardian" with Ashton Kutcher and Kevin Costner. Great movie- except being 3 HOURS!!!!! We left the theater at 1:20AM. Yes, you read correctly 1:20 AM.
And to think, in the morning we were driving to Fredericksburg, Texas for Oktoberfest with the kids.
We decided to try the new Olive Garden. Yes, Olive Garden is a new and fascinating concept here in our quaint, yet remote West Texas town. Unfortunately, the 1 hour wait did not fit our schedule. Instead we opted for Outback Steakhouse.
Before we went to dinner we decided to swing by Tinsletown and pick up our movie tickets. That way we won't back out of the movie. This is one of those unique rationales parents of young children create so that even though we are dead tired- we will use ALL of our precious time away from our children.
Outback is a wonderful place to eat and enjoy each others company. I love those Walaby Darns, I loved 2 of them as a matter of fact. Tim enjoyed that our table was next to the bar and he could continue watching college football and still be on a "date" with his wife.
The movie we purchased tickets for did not begin until 10:10 (according to the tickets); this did not include the wait for the understaffed crew to clean the theater from the previous show. So, we formed a line and waited, and waited, and waited. . .until finally the gate was opened with an extreme sense of urgency to make it to our seats (especially since the movie began on time whether the theater was finished being cleaned or not!). We chose "The Guardian" with Ashton Kutcher and Kevin Costner. Great movie- except being 3 HOURS!!!!! We left the theater at 1:20AM. Yes, you read correctly 1:20 AM.
And to think, in the morning we were driving to Fredericksburg, Texas for Oktoberfest with the kids.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Well I finally did it!
Yes, I have succumbed to creating a family blog. Forget the long Christmas Letter (like I did that anyway), emailing of pictures. No. A blog a simple blog to share a family joys and trials with all our friends and family.
So, welcome. Welcome to the unique world of McGovernLand.
So, welcome. Welcome to the unique world of McGovernLand.
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