Mary Catherine Has A Beauty Treatment!

Today Mary Catherine had her 4th in a series of laser treatments (beauty treatments)to remove a birthmark from her face. She was such a big girl. We had these treatments done at the Medical University of South Carolina. Mary Catherine's doctor was Dr. Joel Cooke. Mary Catherine likes Dr. Cooke. He has really neat watches and today he had on black Croks like Mary Catherine's. She thought that was really neat. We arrived at MUSC around 8am. We waited until almost 11am for an operating room to become available. Mary Catherine was a very brave girl. Of course, she knew all of the princesses have been down to see Dr. Cooke for treatments too. We have been talking to them on the phone the last few weeks about what they did when they went to see Dr. Cooke When we got into the back holding area, the nurses were glad to see Mary Catherine again. They came in and visited with her and told her what a big girl she had become since her last treatment. Aunt Pam also came in for a quick visit. Soon the doctors came and said it was time for the princess to get in her carriage and head to the ballroom. They brought a red wagon, a crown and a princess wand. Mary Catherine hopped into the wagon, put on the crown and gave direction with the wand for Mommy to pull her. Mommy pulled her to the OR doors where Mary Catherine said, "OK, Mommie you stand outside the door and I will be right back!" The doctors said that Mary Catherine went into the OR, got up on the table by herself. Then they asked her if she wanted to look at the princess mask. She said "sure", picked up the mask, turned it the right way and put it on her nose and put herself to sleep. No tears or fussing! With in 10 minutes the nurses came out to get us. We were there when Mary Catherine woke up. She has some serious brusing around her eye and on her lip. The instructions were the same this time as last, put vaseline on it a few times a day for about a week. We will look at the results in about a month and determine if future treatments are needed. Thanks to everyone who called to check on us!

My Church turns 100 years old!

Today my church (Effingham Presbyterian Church) turned 100 years old. We had a very special celebration. We had alot of people, there were four preachers, a special lunch, we opened a time capsule and we ate ice cream and watermellon. It was so much fun. Daddy's friend Mr. Andy Putnam did the childrens message and he brought this HUGE sword. I thought it was really cool! I haven't stopped talking about it yet.

All of the McLaughlin Cousins were there: Caroline, Charlie Mac, Tucker,Jayce, Ellie and Lil Clint. When this crew gets to gether we come up with all kinds of fun things to do these days. We also got to see our newest cousin Wills Urquhart get baptised. I wasn't so sure about letting them put water on Wills head but, he didn't seem to mind too much. I think he looked pretty in his little dress.

My Mommie made me wear a big pink bow in my hair (which I do not like to do anymore since I got my hair cut.)I finally agreed to do it when she told me it was so that God could see my eyes. I am not so sure I believe her. She did let me wear the pink check dress and the cinderella slippers. They are so beautiful...they have sparkles and beads on them. I thought I looked like Cinderella. Before we went to church Mommie told me it was a very special day and that I had to behave in church. I do not like, and have never liked, going to the nursery at church. I have sat in church since I was 1 year old. Lately, I have had to be taken out of church a few times for misbehaving. Mommy and Daddy promised me that if I misbehaved today, I would have to go to the nursery and that I would not be allowed back in church until I was five. I was a Saint in church. I didn't talk the entire service even when I was talked to. By the end of the day, I was exhausted and I took at nap which lasted over 6 hours!

Bible School-Ester saves the Juice

This week Mary Catherine has been attending Vacation Bible School for the very first time. She had made a very good friend named Gracyn Richardson. Her teacher at Bible school has been Ms Courtney Molson, Mrs. McCain and Mrs. Jan Bray. Mary Catherine really loved them all. She especially enjoyed dancing and singing. She did great until the end of the week performace where she put her hands over her face and played with her shirt and wouldn't do a thing! Acts just like her Aunt Sissy did when she was this age.

Our favorite story this week has been about Queen Ester. One evening after Bible school, we got home, bathed and we about ready for bed. I sat down on the couch and attempted to put Mary Catherines pj's on. As I was getting it done, she said "Mommy did you know about that beautiful Queen Ester?" I said, "Well yes pumpkin, Mommy knows about Queen Ester." She said, "Mommy did you know she saved all the juice and they had a BIG party?" I about fell off the couch. She had heard courtney say "JEWS" in a southern accent and thought she was saying "JUICE!" I did everything I could think of to explain that Ester saved the Jews but Mary Catherine would not hear of it. I remember my Dad once telling me to pick my battles and I decided I would leave this one alone. It was a classic moment at our house!

Prince Charming & Mary Catherine Win BLUE!

This a pre-class photos of Mary Catherine and Charming and her friend Chase and his pony. They are good buds!

Mary Catherine and Prince Charming made their show ring debut at the Florence Charity Horse Show June 5th in the Tot's Lead In Class. Thank goodness for Aunt Jenny McLaughlin who helped out by leading the team to victory. Mommy no longer fits in her riding clothes since baby rawlinson is on the way. Our new ridding pants (from last fall) are getting a bit snug but we made it through this show and will have them let out before the next show in Asheville on July 9th & 10th.

Mary Catherine and Charming had their own little fan club at the show to cheer them on. Attending were: Pop Pop, Aunt Pam, Aunt Sissy, Gaga, Henry & Nevitte Swink, the entire crew of customers from Wildwood Farms, Aunt Flo & Uncle Jay Vinson, Jen Jen and Mrs. Polly Lester.

Just before the class, it started raining. It did not delay the show as it was just a light sprinkle. We got wet and thought it was really cool that Mommy let us stay outin the rain. Aunt Jenny will have to post all of the cute things we did and said to her during the class but the photographer for the show said---"Mary Catherine's expressions were just cracking me up!" She got some really great shots of she and Charming. You can go to her website www.debbush.com view or order them if you are interested.

After winning a blue, we decided it would be cute to ride out of the ring with our eyes closed. We think it was a combination of not wanting to see everyone cheering or to scare her Mother absolutely to death! We have not confirmed Mary Catherine's reasoning behind the eye closing thing yet.

Special thanks to everyone who came to watch and to everyone who helped make the day so special!