October House

I try to make the holidays fun around here. Just a little effort goes a long way with little kids. The girls get so excited about everything. The Halloween tree was so simple and it is their very favorite decoration. I just picked up a manzanita branch from the local flower stand and stuck it in floral foam in my white pitcher. So simple. I then found the pumpkin lanterns and had Jon help me hang them up. At night when we turn the hall lights on they light up. It's pretty cute to see how something so simple can be soo fun for the girls. Just 8 more days until all the fun begins...but who's counting?

Ducky Elle

This is Elle on my shoulder Halloween 2005. She is the exact same age that Lily is now. I think I am going to have Lily give this costume a second-run this Halloween. It is just too darn cute. This is still how I picture Ellers in my mind. On my shoulder and sucking her thumb. They really do grow up too fast.

Ladybug Boots

Gwen heard the UPS truck pull up to our house this morning and started screaming... screaming with excitement. I ordered her a pair of ladybug rain boots and a ladybug umbrella last week when we had so much rain. I showed her the picture of them online and told her they would be delivered to our doorstep. I kid you not she has asked me 3 times a day for the last week if she could check our porch for them. Today was the day! She put them on and then ran upstairs to get her outfit for preschool to match them. The ladybug umbrella is on backorder and we are still anxiously waiting for its arrival. The excitement over these boots however, has made the wait for the umbrella bearable. Here she is counting the polk-a-dots. And in case you're wondering, there are "forty-four-five" polk-a-dots. That's a lot.

Pie-pie

I really can't believe how much I love my Lily-pie. We've actually just started calling her Pie-pie as of late. I think it's pretty cute. She is still struggling to walk on her own but loves to push the shopping cart around the house. I successfully got her to stop using a bottle. Oh how she loved those bottles. It was a (really) rough two days but I made myself just throw them away so that I wouldn't be tempted in a moment of weakness to give in to her. I stayed strong and she is now quite happy with her sippy-cups.

In fact, she was holding her sippy cup right before I took this picture (below). Gwen swooped in and snatched it from her. Did I mention my Pie-pie has a temper? She does. Can you see those clenched fists? She wanted that sippy-cup back STAT.

Don't mess with the Sippy.

Princess Gwendolyn Agee

Gwen went to Disneyland for her friend, Malia's 4th Birthday. Malia's mom had the girls lined up for hair appointments at the "princess hair store" (that's what gwen called it). Glitter, hot pink and purple hair extensions, braids and her very own princess comb and brush. To say Gwen was excited would be an understatement. When she arrived home she was sound asleep. Jon carried her to her bed and we slipped her into her nightgown but were careful not to touch her hair. I took these photos of her right as she woke up. Her hair extensions still in tact and glitter covering her pillow proved that all the fun she had the night before was not just a dream. She was adorable telling me all about her fun night with her friend. She called her self Princess Gwendolyn Agee (that's how she pronounces mcgee). I told her she could leave her hair just like that for preschool. A few more squirts of hairspray and a bobby pin and it was as good as new. I love this little princess.

Jump!

There's nothing like cousins. Here my girls are with my sister Megan's two girls, Hayden and Quinn. I really wish my sisters lived closer. My cute nephew Charlie (josie's little boy) was actually just out of the picture frame. We begged him to get in but he said there were "too many girls". I don't blame him.

Elle and Gwen

I love this picture. Cute Gwen with her "bug-catcher" box and chocolate cookie covered face and my sweet Ellers with her freckles and in her very favorite flower t-shirt.

Flying High

The day after the funeral we met up with my family once again for some kite flying on the cliffs in Palos Verdes. It was a beautiful day. Grampie Dune and Nana supplied the kites and we each supplied our own picnic lunches. Jon helped Elle and Gwen get their kites up in the air. I love him. He even looks manly with a princess kite. It was so much fun. I always love going to Palos Verdes. It will always be "home" to me.

Bobbi's Funeral

Bobbi's funeral was beautiful. A funny word to use when describing a funeral but that is how I felt about it. It was amazing to be in a room filled with so much love. Everyone that was there was there because they loved my grandma...their grandma, their mom, their aunt, their sister, their friend. I was so happy to have my girls with me. I was worried they would be afraid at the viewing but I explained in detail everything about the day before we arrived. It was actually a great experience for them. The room was filled with so much love. I whispered to Elle and Gwen to look all around them. I then told them that they were related to everyone in the room. Their eyes got big and they both smiled. My cousin Casey said a few nice words and offered a prayer and then Chief was able to say his last good-bye before they closed the casket. That part had everyone in the room in tears. As a family we all walked into the Chapel for the funeral. My dad and his two sisters spoke and all of the grandchildren and great grandchildren sang a song. 16 Grandchildren and 37 Great Grandchildren. Amazing. My brother-in-law Ben worked through the night to letterpress all of the funeral programs. They were beautiful.

We then drove to the cemetery where Bobbi's grave sits right next to her mother and father's. The 7 grandsons including my brother, Jake were the pallbearers. My Uncle Craig said a prayer and dedicated her gravesite. Gwen and Elle stood on either side of chief during that part of the service. Sweet little Gwen was so worried about Chief. She didn't take her eyes off of him and kept patting his hand. It was really a special day. I had a renewed love for my grandma. Her whole life revolved around the importance of family. I miss her so much already but am grateful for the knowledge that Families really are Forever and that I will see her again.

Bobbi

Here's a picture of my Grandma, Bobbi from years ago. I love it.

My very own jack-o-lantern

A few nights ago I woke elle up in the middle of the night and we had our "cheerios date" once again. She was soo excited as I carried her down the stairs in the dark. We talked about how first grade was going. She loves her teacher and she loves school. I am so, so happy. I told her how much I loved her and gave her a big kiss and hug. She told me that she loved me so much that "bunnies and fireworks were exploding out of her heart." It was a serious moment but I just busted out laughing. Bunnies and Fireworks? She then started laughing too. It was really funny. I then told her that we didn't need to get any pumpkins this year to carve jack-o-lanterns. She kind of looked sad and asked me why. I then told her to go look in the mirror and give herself a big smile. She got it and we both laughed some more and then I carried her back upstairs and tucked her into her bed. I love this girl more than anything. Even more than bunnies and fireworks.

Bobbi

My sweet grandma who we have always called, Bobbi, passed away yesterday. I miss her already. Last week I got a phone call from my dad that she had a stroke and was in the hospital. It was very unexpected. I got friends to help with my kids and drove straight to the hospital. When I walked into the hospital room my grandpa, chief, was holding her hand and softly crying. It was the sweetest thing I've ever seen. He got out of his wheelchair and stood and kissed her on her forehead and whispered to her, "that's what I dreamed about all night, Barb." I hugged him and he cried on my shoulder. He reminded me that they had been married for 66 years. All I could do was hug him right back and cry right along with him. I was able to kiss her on her forehead and tell her into her ear how much I loved her and how grateful I was to have been her granddaughter. I am so happy that I was able to see her one last time.

I was lucky enough to have had my grandparents living just 2 miles from my house growing up. They would have us over every Sunday night for popcorn. They also hosted sleepovers and in the morning we would wake up to donuts, cocoa krispies and chocolate milk...every time. For every grandchild's birthday, Bobbi would take you out for "Bobbi's Special Day". It included her picking you up, taking you anywhere you wanted for lunch and then she would have a special place she would take you....to see a play, a favorite movie, the circus...whatever. I looked forward to those dates every year. I also remember her singing in the choir at church and she would send secret signals to her grandkids in the audience by wiggling her nose. We would wiggle our noses right back at her...it was our secret sign. Bobbi was at every single one of my long dance recitals, graduations, Jon's and my wedding, baby blessings etc. She was always there. Even up until quite recently I would still get phone calls from her just checking in on me. She would always ask about my little girls, I would get soup recipes from her (she had the best) and she would fill me in on all of my cousins. I loved it.

I know I'll be able to see her again someday but I miss her so much already. I feel so grateful that she was such a big part of my life. Her laugh and smile are still fresh in my memory.

I love you, Bobbi.

Tubby Time

Having Elle and Gwen at school is giving me some much needed Lily time. I can't tell you the last time she had a bath. Not that she was a dirty little girl...it's just that I would usually hand her to Jon in the shower each morning where he would lather her up, rinse her off and then pass her right back to me holding the towel (we have become very efficient with this routine). These days however, she can take a leisurely bath smack in the middle of the day. This is one happy girl.

Happy

My two littlest girls and I had quite a lazy morning. Still in our pj's, we dropped off Elle at school and then headed straight back home for some serious down-time. Lily opened up the dvd cabinet and took about 40 dvd's out and mixed them all up, she unrolled an entire roll of toilet paper and then cruised the house with this shopping basket. Gwen played petshop on our front porch, snuck my diet coke from the counter and added a purple straw for herself and kept Lily's grocery basket stocked with play-food. Peter Rabbit was on TV and I did lots of laundry and organizing and breakfast dishes. Besides missing our Ellers, it felt like the good '0l days and we were all very happy.

Look Who's Starting To Walk

I love watching my babies take their first steps. We are at that stage with Lily and it is so fun. This little shopping cart is giving her the confidence she needs to just go for it. Gwen filled it up for her this morning with play-food from her kitchen and was cheering for Lily as she cruised around the house. Lily's smile pretty much shows how proud of herself she is.

Here she goes!

Gwen had her first day of preschool. She has been anticipating this day for quite some time. About a month ago Gwen chose her backpack and lunchbox. She has carried that backpack almost everywhere she has gone for 3 weeks straight. This morning Gwen was giddy with excitement when I packed her lunch and got her backpack all ready to go "for real." You can see in the little pocket on the backpack shoulder strap that she also HAD to take her purple tinkerbell sunglasses for the drive to preschool, "just in case it is too sunny." She chose this headband because it is "sparkly just like Cinderella's when she goes to the Ball." On our drive to school she begged to have her window rolled all the way down and asked me several times to turn the radio up. You could definitely tell she was feeling quite grown-up. I loved every minute. These are the little details that I love and never want to forget. Here's to a fun year!

First Day - First Grade

The picture above was a candid moment I caught between Elle and her daddy before she hopped in the car headed for school this morning. He was whispering how much he loved her in her ear and telling her to have a great first day of school. I tear up just looking at that photo. It really is unreal how much love you have as a parent for your children

The traditional front porch photo before rushing into the car to make it before the bell rang. I took Elle shopping yesterday to pick out a "first day of school outfit". She saw this black and white polk-a-dot dress and black leggings and it was a done deal. The silver sparkle backpack and matching lunch box was ordered a ways back and she has been admiring it for the past few weeks. To say she was excited to put it to use this morning would be an understatement.

We arrived at the blacktop and found her classroom's designated line where the teachers meet each class before they head into the classroom. Elle was pretty much attached to me at the hip at this point. She was nervous but excited. She said her tummy felt "all mixed up".

Her first meeting with her new teacher. She is a lucky little girl to have this amazing first grade teacher. I am so happy to know she is in good hands.

I used to be a first grade teacher. I taught first grade for 6 years right up until one month before I had my Ellers. I didn't think I missed it until today. Seeing all of those cute little 5 and 6 year old kids wide-eyed and ready to learn along with that fun classroom made me miss my teaching days. First grade is a magical year in my opinion. The best. I am so excited for Elle.

I am happy to report that she was all smiles when I picked her up from school today. I waited with Gwen and Lily outside of her classroom after school. Gwen jumped into Elle's arms and yelled, " I missed you, sissy!" and Elle quickly unbuckled Lily out of her stroller so she could hold her. She said she had a great day. I think there are a lot more great days ahead of her.

Tiger Sharks

My Ellers spent the majority of her summer in the swimming pool. We found something she not only likes but actually loves...swimming! She was on our community's Tiger Shark Swim Team and loved every minute of it. She practiced monday - thursday from 9 - 10 am and had weekly swim meets. If you came in first place or last place each swimmer received a ribbon after their race. Elle was always oblivious as to what number her ribbon read (good thing ;) but would just hop out of the pool and give me a big hug. I am so happy that she has found a sport she loves.

It's Good to be 3!

Gwen kills me. Seriously she makes me laugh all day long. Today I sat outside with the girls and their friends as they rode bikes and scooters around our neighborhood. Gwen was out of control. She was going soo fast on her little scooter. She kept pushing herself faster and faster with her legs and then would wrap her front leg around the front bar of the scooter (she was getting very tricky) all while screaming, "this is awesome!" I was dying! I couldn't get a clear shot because I couldn't keep the camera still because of my laughter. And let me say, she didn't think it was funny. She was totally serious. This went on for a good hour. She's a keeper.

plastic jewelry: check

pink scooter: check

sunglasses: check

hello kitty boots: check

butterfly helmet: check

a very fun afternoon: check check

My Lily-pie

I really love this little one year old.

McGee Girls

These three adorable girls are my nieces. Their dad is Jon's brother, Rob. For their mom Linda's birthday, I had them come over to our house to take pictures for her as a surprise. We took lots of pictures and then I put them all in an album for her as a gift. These two pictures were our favorites of the three of them together.

I really love these girls. When Jon and I first got married it seemed like we had them over every other weekend for sleepovers. It was so fun for us. I would also take them out by themselves on little dates. We usually ended up at either Build-a-Bear or Color-Me-Mine. I still think of them as those same little girls even though clearly, they are not so little anymore. We now live super close to them and my girls are lucky for that. They love their very grown-up girl cousins, Sorelle, Juliet and Kandis. I love them too.

Elle's Lost Tooth

Elle lost her tooth while we were waiting for Jon at the 20 mile mark. She now has her two front teeth missing. It looks so cute! Right when it happened I told her I was sad that we didn't have the tooth fairy pillow but that we would make something work. She quickly told me that she had packed it in her suitcase, "just in case". Sure enough when we got back to the motorhome that night she pulled that little pillow out of her blue and red monkey suitcase. And yes, the tooth fairy did find her...6 year olds are fun.

The Leadville Trail 100

Directly after the 6:30 am shotgun start:

I had Team McGee T-shirts made for all of us (thank you, Stacey!):

My sister-in-law Linda and Elle waiting for Rob and Jon at crewing station #1:

Jon had a bag for each crewing station labeled for me to throw to him and ready to go. Here was bag #1:

Next year I am taking binoculars. I was always stressed that I would miss him...they are going so fast!

I love this shot below of the two brothers side by side:

Coming in to the crewing station at mile 60:

Grandpa McGee. I love him. He drove Rob and Jon all over the country when they were growing up and racing BMX bikes.

McGee girl cousins: Kandis and Elle

The last stretch. The sign in top corner is the finish-line banner. I was really stressed out here!

Leadville Race director Ken Chloubler congratulating Jon and telling him that he had made it in under 9 hours!

Elle ran to give her daddy a big kiss:

I sure love this guy.

Right after the results ceremony the next morning. Rob and Jon with their much deserved Under 9 Hour buckles!

This sign says it all: