Weekend Update!

Yeah! Easter Weekend! Not sure why I don't have any better pictures of our whole weekend... but I think it might have something to do with THINKING my Dad took pictures so I didn't have to! He DID just get a really cool camera, so here's hoping! Anyways, here's our lovely family... Thank you to Carly, for WEARING the hat, because it's so cute! And hey, she SAID she'd wear a hat if I bought one, and then, of course said, "oh no I'm not..." well, you see the hat, right?!?! She didn't even complain about it, so at least it turned out ok in the end. Also, doesn't Ben look all grown up?!?!! Aggghhhhh! and he really is that tall.

We spent the day at Grammy's House, enjoying Dean, Tracy, and Torrey in addition to my parents and brother! Those kids had so much fun playing, playing, playing all weekend long.

Before Gram's, we went to church and enjoyed a huge celebration!!! Love Easter. And here's our little man, ELI! Isn't he darling?!?! Carly thinks she's his big sister, and she does a really good job with him. Thank you, Aunt Rochel for having a baby for Carly.

And THANK YOU to Auntie Tracy for bringing the cascarones! Real eggs emptied out and filled with confetti that you crack over someone's head. Hilarious! Especially hilarious would be Ben and Torrey holding Carly down to crack them on her head, while she giggled and giggled. I was STILL picking confetti out of her hair after her shower last night! Oh boy!

... the Father's Love

How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
And make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon his cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Don't you LOVE this Phillips Craig and Dean song??!?!

Happy Easter!

Happy BIRTHday!!

We are excited to welcome a NEW NEPHEW to our family!

Matthias Terrance McGregor

6 pounds, 14 ounces

20 inches long

*pictures of the BABY coming soon!

(special thanks to Miggy, Elfy, and Cassidy for singing for our video!)

Planning some Fun for Dean

Dean and Tracy and Torrey are coming this week for a little Easter Fun! We are all very excited! I've been trying to find some REALLY fun things that I know Dean will enjoy... so far, our local Sam's Club is having some festivities on Saturday... Yipee!

Happy Girls

Well... Grammy's back! My parents safely returned from Israel, after living in Jerusalem for 3 months! We are so happy they are home. However, THIS picture was taken BEFORE they announced they were going back for 2 months, in September. Grrrrrrr.... We are happy to get to spend time with them again, and very happy that they are healthy and ambitious enough to travel and serve God all over the world. WELCOME HOME! I presume you want all your stuff back, huh?

One more thing...

One more thing regarding our Orlando Fun: I neglected to mention that since we had "tire issues", we were late getting to the game, and had no time to stop for a "Real Dinner". Stellar Parenting Moment #1: the kids ate popcorn for dinner. Stellar Parenting Moment #2 came 4 hours later when we took them out for dinner at IHOP at 11pm at night. In Orlando. While we were driving there, I said to Ryan, "It's official. WE are the 'Bad Parents' we've been criticizing every time we used to come to Orlando, who keep their little kids out until midnight, eating dinner, and wandering the streets!!" So, while we were waiting for our food to be delivered to our table, in walks another little family with kids and BEN says, "Hey look! You guys aren't the ONLY bad parents here tonight!" I was too mortified to look over to see if they heard our suddenly VERY LOUD SON. Needless to say, we tried to pass it off as a "fun adventure" to the kids, after that. Whatever. Yup, Carly was so tired, she was in tears by the time her pancakes arrived!

Random Magic

Another McGregor Weekend of Fun... Friday night we took off for Orlando to catch an Orlando Magic basketball game. YES, we are BASEBALL fans, but the Magic get Ryan through the dreaded "off season". He is a fan of our HOMETOWN teams, and Tampa doesn't have a basketball team, so we cheer for the Orlando Magic. This is the fourth year in a row we've been able to catch a game, and it is always fun for all of us! Here's what we really LOVE about the Magic:

#12... Dwight Howard! Nice kid, and VERY fun to watch. Last year he won the Slam Dunk contest. Yup, he's good at that. Check out my VERY FUN canon camera with CRAZY zoom! We were sitting 3 rows down from the ceiling... same seats we got when we went with YOU, Tracy! HA! Dwight was way down on the court, you know, because he was playing basketball, not hanging out with the McGregor's.

Here's how our trip TO Orlando started... Flat tire on I-4. Ever been on that road? Ugh. ANYWAYS.... Extra special THANKS to the not-so-Random Road Ranger who pulled up to help just as our car fell OFF the jack and onto Ryan's hand. His left hand was resting on the flat tire, and the car came crashing down. I saw the whole thing and yes, screamed just as loud as Ryan did. We believe his wedding band saved his ring finger from the extreme damage it SHOULD have received... the ring is REALLY strong and now sports a very deep gouge in it. The Ranger finished changing our tire using the industrial jack that is so much better than the little tiny, ineffective one that came with our car. He arrived "Just In Time" and needless to say, we were so happy to have his help.

Here's Ryan's swollen hand, which is now QUITE bruised. Pretty minor injury, considering... He's a little sad about not getting to be the "Infamous Eight Fingered Piano Player". Only Ryan. The final portion of the tale is that we had just bought the tire in November and it was covered by the warranty and the very kind people at Tire Kingdom took care of replacing it for free.

And last, but certainly not least, our little Princess learned a new skill this weekend! Ryan hooked her up with VACUUMING (note the "shortened" vacuum, he removed an extender for her!) and she loved it! Remember when she was so scared of the vacuum cleaner, Mom? And you used to put it out in your room when you didn't want her wandering in there?!?!! HA! Now... look closely behind her: Ryan's been saving for months and finally got his new Sony HDTV! Actually $300 off at Sam's so he was REALLY happy about that!