We don't disappoint...

So we got Carly a karaoke machine for her Birthday. All I can say is.... We're McGregor's. We don't disappoint. Watch and be completely entertained.

Clean your room!!!

So, on the way home from Rochel's house last night at around 6pm, "words were spoken" that Little Miss immediately regretted. If I tell you that it was BEFORE dinner, and you've ever eaten a meal with us, you are well aware that it had to do with someone not liking what was for dinner. Constant battle. And Ryan and I have completely NO patience for this. Not after 7 years of it. We used to have a sign posted in our kitchen that said, "Anyone who complains about dinner, gets (plain) bread!!!" had to add in the "plain" after they got all excited about getting bread and butter! Had to erase the sign after Grammy complained about the sign... what do you have to eat for complaining about the sign? Hmmmm, have to work on that one. BACK TO THE STORY.... so when we finally get to sit down and eat dinner, Carly comes downstairs with this letter for me. Much appreciated.

Well, there's more... much more. Today, I decide to clean her room up a little bit (complete disaster area!) mostly because I wanted to make her bed, which contained about 45 books, 6 beanie babies, 4 webkins, markers, dirty socks, school uniforms, water bottle, portable dvd player, and I think perhaps Elfie. How does she sleep like this?!?! Ah, and there it was. Rough Draft. SCORE!! I will have to type it out for you, it was in pencil, and didn't photograph:

"I just wasn't ready to tell you yet that's y I said NO!!! (bubble letters) P.S. I met to say I am not ready yet. Please forgive me. Love, your doter CAROLINE (more bubble letters)"

and this one, in sharpie: (turn your head to the left)

Good thing she signed her middle and last names, I would HATE to confuse her with that other kid.

My other favorite part of this scenario would be when I told her and Ben that since they insist on complaining about dinner so much, they can just make their OWN dinner from now on! (stellar parenting moment)... and she burst into tears!... then said, "The only thing I know how to make is macaroni and cheese and I'm going to get really tired of that!!!"

I've decided it's well worth it to clean Carly's room once in a while:)

$2.24 well spent

Found the perfect shirt for Carly! It would have only been MORE perfect if it had said "Millie Motor Mouth"...

It's Sparkly, and even says "Little Miss" which we've called her since she was a baby... and of course, the obvious! Yup, she loves it!

Click on the picture for a close up view of her wonky front tooth... I couldn't be more excited that it's NOVEMBER and BOTH her front teeth are about to fall out! And YES I frequently say to her "wiggle those teeth! Don't you want the Tooth Fairy to come??!?!?!" Stay tuned for a video clip of her singing "All I want of Christmas..." complete with teeth-missing-lisp! I can't wait!

Our newest little Love

We've had a pretty big week... in case you haven't heard, Ryan's sister, Rochel, gave birth to her first baby on Monday! Ben and Carly are THRILLED to finally meet their newest cousin. We've had a great time loving on Eli. So, WELCOME to the world Eli! We are so happy you are here!!! Want to meet him, too??!?! MEET ELI and hear all about his first few days... isn't he BEAUTIFUL??!?! Now begins our quest to find his "McGregor Parts"... he looks so much like his dad, which isn't a BAD thing, it's just not a McGregor-thing:) So far we have located a dimple that is from Grandma, and possibly a chin from Isaiah and Julean. Our search continues... regardless, he's a keeper! It's so crazy how much we love him already! I swear I thought Ryan was going to inhale him last night. Congratulations Edgar and Rochel... good work:)

Rescue Operation

Last Saturday afternoon, Ryan had to run 20 miles for his marathon training (GO RYAN!!) and LAST year when he did this run, he ran from my parents house to our house and loved it. Well, seeing how he didn't really want to run to Israel, he ran from OUR house to my parents OLD/limbo house, in Wesley Chapel... 20 miles. When he does these runs, the kids and I try to cheer him on every few miles and give him gatorade, snacks, pep talks... you get the idea. So, the last 3 miles he was running, we waited him out at Camp Limbo. Drove right past their house since it was dark and we've NEVER been over there when the lights were all out. Ben was in the back seat and yells out in his COMPLETELY APPALLED voice, "You passed their house!!!!! GO BACK! GO BACK!" fortunately no one was behind me and we were able to go in reverse. Anyhoo... In we went, and made ourselves right at home. You said to do that, right, Mom?? Kids got the TV going and I made them some popcorn (apparently snacks weren't invited to the Promised Land). Speaking of which, POPCORN is the ONE THING you SHOULD have taken... how many Sunday School lessons have Ryan and I taught about "manna" and turned the hot air popper on with the lid off and had "white stuff" going all over the room!!! But, I digress...

So, it occurs to me, PERHAPS there are OTHER items that were LEFT BEHIND (no pun intended) that might be of use to me... and LOOK what I found!

I know you would LOVE for me to borrow your fancy purse, and I promise to take GREAT care of it... and yes, I knew EXACTLY where it was located and did NOT try to find the Christmas presents that might be hidden somewhere. I already know what you got me anyways. Also,

the Lovely as a Tree stamp set from StampinUp!... I'm not even sure WHY you have this as I have yet to see you use a stamp, so I was thinking you have it so your favorite crafter can create something for you... same rule applies, you know, I steal - but it's ok because I'm making you some, too. You good with that?

Other items that MAY have left your house Saturday night are some books (trust me, it wasn't lost on me that you actually have a book in your house called "Letters from a Nut"... but it looks like a fun read) and perhaps a few more snacks. I did NOT, i repeat, DID NOT use your coffee maker... it seemed like a mean thing to do to you while you are missing it so much. Well, actually, it was 8pm and a little late for coffee.

Oh! The rescue operation! Ryan is just fine! The Rescue-ing was for the items we brought home! THANKS FOR SHARING!!!!!

The Great Communicator

When your brother has Asperger's Syndrome, communication can be challenging at best. Always looking for ways to get her VERY IMPORTANT point across, Carly gets creative. She came in from school yesterday and was whining... "Ben won't play with me!!!! He won't!" I said, "Carly, did you ASK him to play, he can't read your mind, Sweets". For real, she rolled her eyes and said, "I wrote him a note in the car (she sits 2 inches away from him), and he wrote back, 'no'!!". (A few points here for me for keeping a straight face) Ben made it quite clear (by yelling down the stairs) that he was busy "writing a book", which, is true. To comfort my poor, friendless girl, we hunkered down to make a few cards. More points for being the mom with an endless supply of paper, glitter, markers, and stickers!

Quick Words from Carly... before Swim Team

a quick little video for Grammy and Papoo... kids were on their way out the door for swim team:)

Gypsy Princess

So last Christmas Ryan's mom made Caroline this very colorful, shimmery dressup costume. She loves it. It comes out frequently. Halloween was no exception. We decided that she was a Gypsy Princess, but that evolved into a CAT gypsy princess by the time we got to our church's fall festival-jamboree and she talked the face painting lady into making her a cat.

Mostly we think she LOVED the makeup I put on her... yes, we decided very quickly that we are in BIG trouble when she hits 21 and is actually allowed to wear makeup for real. Someone's Baby Blues don't need any help. Here's hoping she ALWAYS wants to add on the CAT makeup, something tells me MOST BOYS won't find that so attractive when she's 21. ANYWAYS, both kids had a blast at the party.

It stinks to be a McGregor

.... a well known mantra amongst our friends... It's something we frequently say to Ben and Carly when they want to do one thing, and we, another... these poor kids! I mean, really, they only get to travel all over the country (and Mexico and Canada), have been on a cruise, went to a World Series game, get to visit all the state capitols in our country... rough life. Well, Cassidy has joined in their battle cries. He brought this on himself by trying to escape this morning. (see my crafty blog, Happy Halloween entry... www.inspiredbymrsmcgregor.blogspot.com) we are pretty certain he keeps a prison log something like this:

Day 1007 of my confinement: In my attempt to crawl out the screen today, I was captured by the Feeder Woman who proceeded to shout jibberish into my delicate ears. I was then forced to wear this witch hat on my head while they flashed bright lights in my eyes. Their days are numbered here...