McGuffie Family

Monday, March 7, 2011

Updates, a New Year and a New Home!

A lot has happened in our lives in the past few months! Morgan got an ear infection, Halloween, another ear infection, Thanksgiving, Trip to Boston, New York City trip to see friends from England, Riley had a Christmas play, home to Texas for Christmas, Morgan turns 1, Morgan sick with pneumonia on Christmas day, Riley stomach bug then pink eye, Daddy sick with horrible stomach bug and unable to make our flight back to Newport, finally back to Newport and preparing for our move to Virginia, Morgan sick again with an ear infection, Morgan learns to walk, pack up our home, say goodbye to Newport, and the girls, Mimi and I head to Virginia (Daddy had to finish 4 more weeks of school). Riley became sick on the way down (flu), stayed one night in DC with Susan, arrived to our new (& beautiful!) empty home, Mimi flies back to TX, Boo flies in, Boo gets sick with flu (Riley still sick), Movers arrive a few days later to unload, Morgan sick (again) with ear infection, unpacking boxes, Boo leaves, unpacking boxes, Daddy flies home on weekends, Valentines weekend, unpacking boxes, playing outside on our swing set, unpacking boxes, Daddy graduates from Newport and drives to Virginia, kids finally healthy and happy, Morgan learns to self-soothe herself to sleep, Riley gets to play with friends she hasn't seen in awhile, and Daddy started work in Virginia Beach.

So, I'm sure I've left out other eventful things but for the most part that is what the McGuffie family have been up to for the last 3 months! PHEW! I've hardly had time to do online banking, much less fill in blog posting. I really really want to be better about this (I know I've said this before!) but I'm hoping to keep up on it. We love love love our home here in VB and are really enjoying being back in the "south" and a warmer area. We enjoyed Newport so much, but those cold wintry days were starting to take a toll on my skin! I don't think my knuckles will ever quite heal from all the dry skin.

The girls are great. Riley is getting so big and continues to amaze us each day with her funny and sassy personality. She loves to put on a show and be the center of attention. Morgan is changing so much and still our sweet little monkey. She is so shy and reserved, but don't let her fool you. She is one tough cookie!! She doesn't let her big sister push her around at all. Things that used to make Riley cry at this age Morgan just shrugs off and moves along. She is so little though, and strange to see her walking. It's so much fun watching these two girls grow together daily. I love my job!!! Even on the harder days! Time passes by so quickly so I'm trying to cherish each and every moment. Daddy finally finished shore duty and is now back to sea duty. I know it's going to be a shock to us after having him home (for the most part) these past 3 1/2 years. But we have been so blessed and lucky to have this time with him! I'm excited to watch him in his job on the ship and also excited for the girls to see Daddy on a ship. Not looking forward to the moments away, but we will get through it. Thankfully we have such wonderful friends and family to help us! We are so proud of him and all he is doing.

We have a beautiful home with plenty of room and would love visitors anytime! We should be here a little longer, so come on out!

Love,

Kelly

Riley, Boo and Pops in Texas at Christmas

Riley & Mimi in TX at Christmas

Me and the girls on the Staten Island Ferry heading into NYC (Statue of Lib behind us)

Riley and her best friend/birth buddy, Ruby, from the UK. They were born 5 days apart!

Me and the girls at the Presidio La Bahia in Goliad before Mimi's Christmas concert

Morgan and Josephine (cousins) born 12/23 and 12/24 2009. One year birthday party!

Morgan and I at my brother's house on Christmas Eve

Daddy reading "Night Before Christmas" to Riley

the girls on Christmas day (Morgan goes to hospital later this day for pneumonia!)

What a life...I grew up probably fishing in the exact same spot on the same lake...so happy she gets to do the same. Love our Texas visits!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes and Pumpkin Carving!

This weekend we went to the Schratner farm pumpkin patch to get a pumpkin for Riley. It was a really great family farm and their corn maze was AWESOME! Took us quite some time to find our way out and every time we hit a dead end Riley would say, "oh no Daddy, we'll never find our way out now!" Morgan enjoyed it in the sling on my back and would occasionally grab corn stalks within her reach. We left the farm with a 10 pound pumpkin that Daddy and Riley carved the next day. This time of year in New England is just beautiful and we are loving every second!

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

New England Adventures

We headed off to Maine for the long holiday weekend and had the best time! The leaves are changing and it's beautiful up there. We stopped in Boston on our way up to see some friends then pushed onwards to Lobster headquarters! We visited Freeport and the LLBean Flagship store, which I might add was fantastic! We outfitted Riley and Morgan for the upcoming winter in snow gear and Daddy bought Mommy some new hiking boots. The next day we drove to Bridgton, ME, where Daddy went to prep school. Bridgton Academy was so neat and Mommy was so glad to finally see the place that holds so many fond memories for Daddy! We watched them win a football game (Riley spent the game running on the baseball field next door...playing in the dirt and running the bases). Mommy was excited to see Riley seem so at home on the diamond! One day she'll be hitting base hits and playing softball...exciting :)

On our way back we stayed the night in Portsmouth, NH, with our good friends who are stationed there. We took the kids to a Pumpkin patch and Apple orchard and picked apples. It was the prettiest day and a great way to end our long weekend. It's cold in New England now and we're enjoying the fall weather. Apple cider, pumpkin lattes and hot chocolate are in full force in our household...love it!

Hello little monkey!

Our pretty little flower :)

In front of the big boot at LLBean!

Riley on the baseball field in Bridgton, Maine

(one of many pictures mommy hopes to get of her in the years to come on the diamond!)

You looking at me?

Sister love

Baby in the sky!

Mommy and her big girl

Enjoying the fall leaves in New England

Daddy and Riley in Bridgton

Overlooking a lake near Bridgton, ME

Daddy & his little girl #1

I love this picture of her!

Friends

Riley and Jamie in the pumpkin patch

Family shot in the Apple Orchard

Riley picking an apple

Daddy & Riley on an old farm tractor

Look at all those punkins!

The kiddos in the pumpkins

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

It's Been Awhile!!

Well, first I have to say that I have been a horrible blogger. Yep, thought I would be able to keep on top of it but in the few moments that I have to myself I enjoy spending them relaxing and not sitting in front of the computer! I apologize and hope that I can keep on top of this better. Our lives are busy but so exciting. In the past 4 months we have: enjoyed summer in New England, visited Cape Cod, had visits from Mimi, Boo & Pops, seen 2 fireworks shows, potty trained a toddler, vacationed to Texas for a month, bought a new family car, drove the car back to New England from TX, stopped in Dollywood for a visit, attended a wedding and realized Morgan has no problem feeding from a bottle (unlike her sister!), Riley started school, visited good friends in Portsmouth, NH, drove (just me & the girls) to DC for a visit to see Austin & Laura and Susan and catch a Navy football game, drove back (long trip!), Riley turned 3, went to Boston for the day, and in between all of that Morgan had a trip to the ER (uti infection) and we've all had a cold somewhere in there too! PHEW!

The girls change daily and I'm having so much fun spending my days with them and being their Mommy. Morgan is just about crawling (9 months) and I think she would rather walk than crawl! I caught her pulling herself up to a standing position in her crib. I've realized that the 3 inches I dropped the crib to should have been about 9 inches now! They grow so fast. She has 6 teeth and is working on 2 more on the bottom. She LOVES, let me repeat, LOVES to eat food. Anything and everything. We are having so much fun actually feeding a baby! Riley refused baby food and I have video to prove it at 9 months! Haha. To this day Riley has to inspect every piece of food that enters her mouth, whereas Morgan is happy to open up and let you shovel it in! Amazing how different they can be.

Riley started preschool twice a week and is enjoying it. We had a few rough days of her crying and not wanting to go, but I think she really enjoys it. I think it was initially tough on her having a routine of being away from me. She's never really spent time away from me or a family member, so this was all new! She looks so cute each day in her uniform. There is never a day that goes by where Riley doesn't shock me in some form or fashion. She really is such a smart girl and I've even caught her trying to write letters on her writing board. I could make out a C and an A! Amazing. She is very excited about Halloween and likes to go to the candy bowl and tell me that a piece of candy in there has her name on it. Cheeky girl! haha.

Mitch is busy with school but we have enjoyed so much having him home every day. It's spoiling us and we are afraid to let ourselves get used to it!! Ahead in the future (soon) sea duty looms...but we don't worry about that right now. Just enjoy each day! He's doing very well at school.

I'm still loving being a stay at home Mommy. No job I'd love more! I do admit there are hard days, but they are few and far between and the good days completely make up for the harder ones! I'd take the hardest day being a Mommy over the best day sitting in an office...hands down! These years are going by so fast (I wish they would slow down) and I know I'll never regret spending these days with the girls.

I'll post a few pictures of the last few months. Hopefully I can keep up on a regular basis now! I hope everyone is doing well. Newport was amazing in the summer and the Fall has finally arrived and I love it. My favorite time of year!

Morgan 9 Months old