The Reception

Mr. and Mrs. Sydney McGee!

The Happy Couple

The Barn at Dusk

Bride and Groom and Grandma and Grandpa McGee

Elle and the Princess Bride, Shea

Gwen and the Bride

Jon and me

Jon's Brother Syd (the groom) and Jon's sister Kjirsten

The McGee Boys

Dancing the night away

Following Syd and Shea's wedding in the Salt Lake City Temple, they held their reception at a beautiful barn in Mapleton.  Shea and her mom spared no detail in planning this.  It was absolutely beautiful.  Hanging lanterns, fresh flowers, a photo booth, panini bar, great music, lots of dancing and a lot of fun.  Elle was mesmerized by Shea.  She thought she was a princess.   The bride and groom rode off on a tandem bicycle at the end of the night as we all threw flowers.  So adorable.  I am so excited for the two of them to start their lives together.  I am excited for my girls to have another aunt to look up to and for me to get another amazing sister-in-law.  It was a magical evening.  

Last Stop

Our last few stops during the wedding weekend included getting to see my mom, hanging out with my sister and going to Ben's studio.  We were able to visit my mom at her stomping grounds.  Elle loved seeing all of Grammie's nursing equipment and even made a few rounds with her.  Thanks mom for opening your home to us and for letting the girls snuggle with your dog, Tootsie.  We were also lucky to be able to meet up with my sister Briar and her cute family.  We met them at her husband Ben's studio.  He has his own letterpress studio in Salt Lake City.  The artform is amazing and hasn't changed in the last 100+ years.  Ben has 6 letterpresses that he has acquired from all over the United States.  He does custom wedding invitations and announcements as well as boxed set cards and stationery that you may see in your favorite stationery stores and boutiques all around the country.  Needless to say I was in heaven browsing through all of the beautiful things he had in the studio.  Check out his websites...  Seraph Stationery and The Mandate Press.

Catching up with Briar, Ben and their three girls was so fun.  Elle and Gwen had a blast running around with their cousins.  I had so much catching up with Briar.  We are only 16 months apart. We look a like, we have basically the exact same childhood memories and we both think the same random things are hilarious.  

The girls loved flying.  I wasn't too sure about our 7am flights...very interesting with two toddlers!  Elle loved being able to sit by the window on the plane and Gwen loved daddy's fun idea of cruising the airports on top of her "monkey suitcase".  A great end to an amazing family packed weekend!  

Extra Halloweeny

This little girl is very excited for Halloween.  Elle chose the orange bow this morning so she could look "extra halloweeny" at preschool.  We have had her costume and Gwen's costume ready for the last two months.  Needless to say there have been a few dress rehearsals around here getting ready for the big day.  On a side note, Elle's hair is quite a bit shorter.  A few nights ago, I found her in my bathroom sitting up on the sink.  I looked in the sink and saw mounds of blonde curls and guess who was holding the scissors?  She looked at me and immediately the tears started streaming down her cheeks.  She kept saying, "mama I just wanted to get the snarls out".  It really was sad.  She had even soaked her hair in detangler spray.  We had a long talk that night and she gave me a lot of hugs.  On Saturday we went to the "haircut store", as Elle calls it, and had it evened out.  I think she looks adorable.  

One Hundred

This afternoon Elle said to me, "Mama, I love you 100".  For a little girl who can only count to 15, that is an awful lot of love.  I was very flattered.  And to my sweet Elle, I love you to infinity.  

All-Girl

When Gwen wakes up in the morning she grabs a bathing suit, leotard or princess dress for me to put on her.  This morning it was the pink leotard and ballet skirt that caught her eye.  She LOVES to dress up just like her big sister.  Her little feet are just big enough now to fit into Elle's princess high heels.  I love to see her chubby little legs prancing around in the pink plastic heels.  She is all girl...through and through.  

Me and My Shadow

Miss Gwenners and Mama.  Pretty much how we are all day, everyday.  I am either holding her or she is hanging on my legs...and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Soon to be...

Mr. and Mrs!   Jon's brother Syd and his #1 girl, Shea,  are getting married in just 3 short weeks.  Could they be any cuter?  We are so excited for them and for their upcoming wedding.  Shea is a very lucky girl to be getting the very last "available" McGee boy.  Believe me, I know.  

Family Time

The memory card in my camera is having issues and so I have not been able to take photos as of lately...but I am working on it!  So frustrating.  I did however remember that I had not posted these photos from a month or two ago when we were visiting with Jon's family.  The last picture is of our very favorite Uncle Syddles.  He and Shea are getting married  soon and  the best part is that they will only be living a short distance from our house.  The girls will have lots of time with their favorite uncle and soon-to-be aunt.  

Daddy Time

Jon called home this past week and asked to speak with Elle.  As soon as she hung up the phone she started running around the house getting her shoes on, getting her golf club out of the cabinet and of course started putting on daddy's glove.  She then sat on the front porch and waited for him to drive up the street to meet her.  She was soo excited to go have special time with her daddy.  The two of them go to the driving range near our home as often as they can. I know they have fun playing together but I think the best part for both of them is having time together.  

All Mine

Miss Gwenners is growing up too fast as far as I am concerned.  I still think of her as a baby even though she is 30 lbs.  With Elle at school, Gwen and I now have time together each day when it is JUST the two of us.  It has actually been a lot of fun for both of us.  I think we both needed this special time with eachother.  There are so many little things about her that I never want to forget.  I love how much she loves books and how she walks over to me with one and just plants herself in my lap.  I love how she dances with just her left foot on its tippy toes and turns around in circles.  I love how she carries around as many bathing suits as she can in her arms for no reason. I love how I can completely understand everything she "says" even though she still doesn't talk much at all.  I love that when she really wants me to see something she says, "mama" and grabs my chin to turn it in the direction she wants me to look.  I love that I can comfort her better than anyone when she is having one of  her out-of-control meltdowns.  I love that she waves at every person we pass while sitting in the cart as we stroll through the grocery store.  I love that her favorite game in the world is to stand at the end of the hallway and for me to yell, "gweeeeennnerrrs" as she runs full force into my arms only to turn around and do it all over again.  I love that even when she's naughty and has to sit on the stairs for time-out she actually stays on the stair until I tell her it's ok to get up.  I love that when she wakes up crying in the middle of the night all that she needs is for me to quietly walk into her bedroom and slip my finger through the slats in her crib for her to hold.  I love how she laughs hysterically in the movie, "Alvin and the Chipmunks" when an acorn falls on Alvin's head.  I love her hugs when she wraps her little chubby arms so tightly around my neck that I can't breathe.  I love, love, love her contagious laugh and huge grin. I love that my kisses make her owies feel better.  I love that no matter how old she gets I will always be her mom.  I love every quirky little thing about her.  Quite simply I just love her and I love that she is all mine.  

So Happy Together...most of the time

Each morning I take the girls downstairs and make them breakfast.  This morning I guess I took a little longer than usual because by the time I got downstairs to start our morning routine, I found that my job had been done for me.  I found Elle and Gwen exactly as you see them in the pictures above.  Elle got Gwen into the booster seat, got a placemat out, a sippy cup from the cupboard which she filled with water and provided an array of food for Gwen... all by herself! Gwenners had blueberries, fruit snacks, applesauce and goldfish crackers for breakfast.  Quite the spread!  Elle sat right next to Gwen and helped feed her the applesauce.  Every so often Gwen would lean into Elle for a kiss.  It was just so, so cute to watch.  I am so happy they have eachother.  I remember finding out that I was having another girl when I was pregnant with Gwen.  My first thought was just complete excitement for Elle.  I remember telling Jon that we were giving Elle the best gift she could ever ask for...a sister.  I have 3 sisters and they are my very best friends in the entire world.  It is so fun to see my girls developing bonds now that they will carry into the future. They do fight...they both have bruises on themselves to prove that they do.  No one gets Elle more riled up than Gwen when she is grouchy and visa versa.  But on the flip side, no one can make Gwen laugh as hard as Elle can.  And Gwen has a way of making Elle feel so important and so deeply loved.   Gwenners gives Elle the sweetest most genuine little hugs and out-of-the-blue kisses...and I think that's just how it should be.  

Pillow Talk

Each night, Jon and I switch off putting Gwen and Elle to bed.  It is our special time with the girls.  I love the talks I have with Elle as she dozes off to sleep.  She sucks her thumb with one hand and wraps her other arm tightly around my neck.  Nose to nose we have some pretty cute conversations.  She loves to talk about when she was a baby and is fascinated by the whole circle- of- life concept.  She often tells me, "I used to be a baby, now I am a big girl, next I will be a teenager, then a mommy, then a grandma and then I will go to heaven".  Her view of life is so sweet and so simplistic.  I love it.  I tell her how lucky I feel that out of the millions of little baby girls in heaven, Daddy and I were sent her...the smartest, funniest, most beautiful one to come to our family. Wow, what are the chances of that?!  Well, that little conversation really stuck with her because last night as I put her to bed, she had been quiet for a while and then in the dark she whispered to me, "Mama, you're really special to me. Out of all of the mommies in heaven, Grammie got the best one to go to her tummy".  All I could do was smile and kiss her on her little forehead.  

Bathing Beauties

I have mentioned several times before how much Gwen loves to shower.  Elle on the other hand, is more of a bath girl.  This morning however, they both opted for the shower.  Gwen would just stand under the water for hours if I let her.  We keep a basket of bath toys in there just for her. Elle is becoming more and more independent.  She loves to lather up and wash not only herself but also Gwen.  Everytime they get out they grab a towel, hand it to me, and then turn around ready for me to drape it over their backs.  The sight of them walking around all wrapped up in white towels always makes me smile because it reminds me of the movie ET (elle's #1 movie) when ET dresses up as a ghost and waddles around the neighborhood.  Jon and I are always talking about how fast time is flying by with these little ones.  He usually reminds me of this important fact during the occasional pep talk he gives me after I've had a particularly long day of toddler tantrums and the like.  This time of their childhood is a lot of work (a lot) but it really is  a magical time.  They are full of wonder and everything is so exciting to them...even bathing.