'Ohana Jeffries: Welcome Home McGough Family!

(Yes, this happen over the summer, I'm finally getting caught up!!)

As I have written before, I think that houses have feelings. So much happens in a house, how can some of that not rub off on lathe and plaster? I grew up in a house that was constantly being re-stored. It all happen with care and consideration, I got to watch the house take shape as I grew up, too – so I suppose it was almost a sibling J

In the two years in our house, we have kept in touch with some of the seven kids who grew up in this house. Kathleen, Melon (Mary Ellen), Patricia, James Jr., Michael, Daniel, and Kevin. James managed his mother’s estate, and was kind enough to show up at the closing so my parents got some good stories there. Since growing up in Crystal Lake, the McGough Kids have settled all over from West ‘burbs of Chicago, to New York, to Berlin. But this summer, I got an email from Kathleen – the McGough’s were coming to town for a wedding and could they come visit the house. I couldn’t respond fast enough; YES!

We were so excited when the day came, they said they would only stay for about an hour but we had prepped, beverages and some nibbles. Five McGoughs walked up the walk, we all said “Welcome Home!” and hugged like we were old friends.

As soon as they walked in the front door and saw the rattan living room furniture, the stories began; They wound up staying for three hours and left only because they had to get ready for the wedding – I would have gladly had them longer.

Here are just a few of the stories we heard that day:

Living room furniture: Apparently they had rattan furniture that we do. Here I thought we were so original to have a tropical look in the Mid-West, but apparently, their mom had the same notion.

Screened in Porch: The order of the kids went three girls were the oldest and then four boys were the youngest. At times, the girls were assigned to watch the boys, so what did they do? Lock the boys on the front porch, and went about doing whatever they wanted to do.

Where did they all sleep? This is often a question we are asked. WHERE in the two bedroom house, did seven kids sleep. There were 14 years between the oldest and youngest and I suppose it was handy that all the girls came first and then all the boys. When they moved into the house, Kathleen was 5 and James was about a year old. All the girls were in Mary’s room until they left for school – that’s easy. The boys were a better story. There is a little room right at the top of our stairs, we have boxes and old baby clothes piled in it. It’s about 8’x8’ (which doesn’t sound so bad), but it was shaped like an “L” so remove a ¼ of the room, also subtract some ceiling space because we have a slanted ceilings because of the roof. Essentially, an adult could stand in approx. 8’x2’, however three young boy slept in here, a bed, a trundle and a crib. When the fourth boy (seventh and youngest McGough) was old enough to move out of the parents room, then two boys moved to the “music room” downstairs and the other two boys stayed in the little room upstairs.

Breakfast for 9: We’re told that Dr. McGough made much better oatmeal than Ellie. Also that breakfasts usually were a full spread of eggs, bacon and toast…for nine! There was one story I loved about old Mr. Bohl, from out on Bohl’s farm, I remember this farm on the edge of town growing up and now it’s a Target, Barnes & Noble and Chili’s. Apparently he was a character, old, dirty, and carrying a bucket of eggs with his hook where he was missing a hand. I love the story of the three girls sitting at the breakfast table in their nightgowns startled out of their wits as old Mr. Bohl walks in the backdoor carrying eggs with his hook, “Need some eggs!?”

The Music Room: What we are now re-doing as a reading room/guest room, is where Ellie had her piano, they called this the Music Room. When the room was then needed for the boy’s room, the piano was moved. I always wanted to learn to play the piano and I love thinking that there was an instrument in the house.

The Stump in the front yard: We have a large stump in the front yard, Mary uses it as her stage and does a little tap-dance on the stump. It is also used as a launch pad where we all take turns to see how far we can “JUMP!” The boys told us that this used to be a biiiiiiig silver maple that used to turn magnificent colors in the fall. They would play baseball in the summer and the boys would try to hit the ball over the tree. I’m glad to hear that no one was able to do it because I can only imagine the windows that would have been broken across the street.

Overall, we had such a nice time with them. I feel like they are extended family – which I suppose is true since we have a family member in common – our sweet house. They are welcome back any time.