5 1/2 Years Old

If you ever run into Elle do not make the mistake of thinking she is 5 years old. She is NOT 5. My Elle Madison McGee is 5 1/2. She reminds me constantly and of course all of her friends. I took these pictures of her yesterday on our way out the door to church. For the first time she let me style her hair curly. We used mousse and a diffuser. She felt very grown up and in her own words, very "sassy". I asked her if anyone in her primary class told her she looked extra cute and she said, "no, but I bet that's what they were thinking".

Love Her

Gwen has been getting up a lot lately in the middle of the night. I wake up to whimpering next to my bed and little finger pokes on my face. She wants to get into bed with Jon and me. I don't want to start that habit so I take her back to her bed where she says, "lay down with me". I snuggle her for a few minutes and tip toe back to bed. That usually does the trick. Two nights ago however that routine was not working. I put her in her bed on 3 separate occasions. 20 minutes later the whole scene would repeat itself. On the third time I looked at her and said, "Gwen, this is soo frustrating". She looked at me, started to cry and said, "I not fwusawating, I your sunshine". With that I just smiled, pulled back the covers to our bed and she hopped right in between Jon and me. How could I resist?

I took these pictures of my little sunshine this morning. I couldn't find her in the house so I looked out back and she was just like this... in Elle's nightgown and her very own hello kitty rainboots. I asked her what she was doing and she said, "mom, I'm on a hunt". She was climbing the slope in our backyard and inspecting the bushes. I LOVE this little girl.

Sunshine

The sun came out this morning and it looked so pretty in our kitchen. We switched out our pendant over the island a few weeks ago. I am loving it. I also found these beautiful flowers at the flower stand the other day. Gwen went with me and begged for the pink roses...as usual. They are so nice and always give her a few of the older ones. Elle is off to Kindergarten and Gwen is at playgroup at our friends house down the street. I think Lily and I will head out and run some much needed errands. Happy Wednesday...

More Lily

I seriously can't get enough of this baby. How am I supposed to get anything done around here?

Lily Pie: 6 months

It's official. Lily's nickname is Lily Pie. It fits her perfectly. Someone asked Gwen what her sister's name was in the grocery store the other day and Gwen said, "lilypie". Lily Pie McGee...I like it. It seems impossible but I love this little girl more every minute. It is that way with all 3 of my girls. I think my heart has literally grown larger with each child I have had. I love them all so much. My Lily will be 6 months old on Saturday. Where did the time go? I gave her a bath this morning and Elle and I lotioned her up. Lily loved every minute of it. You can't look at her and not smile. Often I am running around doing dishes or laundry or chatting with Elle and Gwen and then I catch a glimpse of Lily pie from the corner of my eye... there she is just watching me and smiling. So adorable. It stops me in my tracks every time. I have to stop everything and just pick her up. I feel like I can't kiss her enough or snuggle her enough. She is truly a gift from heaven.

Rain

It has been pouring rain for 4 days straight (that's a big deal around here) and I couldn't be happier. Gwen sat in her chair this morning just watching the rain with her bag of pretzels and grapes. On our way home from kindergarten pick-up yesterday I took the kids to get hot chocolate. You would have thought I said we were going to Disneyland. I think they all love the rain as much as I do...especially since it goes hand in hand with hot chocolate and whip cream.

...but better

A few months back, Elle learned how to ride a bike. I know...a little late but that was our fault for not teaching her sooner. Our house is on a hill so it was hard to learn in our yard. Jon took her to a flat parking lot and she picked it up in just about 20 minutes. She was more than ready. I love that I have a picture of her in her UGG boots too. She got those boots for Christmas and I don't think she has taken them off since. She even tries to wear them with her pajamas at night. She feels really grown-up in them. Lately I have felt that we are in a constant silent struggle. Elle wanting to grow-up and me continually trying to keep her my little girl.

I was lying in bed with her the other night as she was dozing off to sleep. We were nose to nose and she was pinching my neck. She has done that since she was an infant. When she was little she would just say, "mama neck". So random and to me, so cute. So there we were lying in the dark and she said, "mama, you're like a best friend or sister... but better". With that one little sentence my eyes immediately welled up. She can be so trying at times and I think how can I be a better mom. I am learning that you have to mother each child so differently. I try my very best each day and on lots of days I just hope that I am giving my girls what they need. I know I am not the world's best mom but I do think that I am the best mom for my girls. I think we were meant for each other so that we can learn from one another. And I hope that I will always be like a best friend or sister to them...but better.

True Love

Today Jon came home from mountain biking and the girls went running full sprint outside to meet him. It is like that any time he comes home. He has his own personal fan club. They hear the garage door opening and I can't contain them. Maybe not for a few years but someday they will realize how lucky they are to have him as their daddy.

My Lily Pie

My brother Jason came into town last night. We were sitting on our front porch this afternoon with Lily watching Elle and Gwen run up and down our sidewalk. Jason grabbed his camera and took these pictures of me and my baby. I love having pictures with my girls. I want them to look back on them someday and see how I adored them. If Lily stayed this age for the next ten years I would be thrilled. I adore this stage. I can't get enough of her. I hope she will always know and feel how much I love her. What a gift to be her mama.

January

January. I love this month. It is like a clean slate. I need order and have a hard time with clutter. We put all of the holiday decor away, went through drawers, cupboards and even tackled the girls' toy baskets. I always have the girls help me. Elle is great at sorting and organizing but Gwen on the other hand...not so helpful. That little girl is a ball of energy and just wants to please. It felt like one step forward and two steps back but I guess that is how she will learn. We ended the day with a drop off at the salvation army and a trip to the flower stand. Elle and Gwen both chose pink roses (of course) and I found these pretty cabbage flowers. Here's to the beginning of a great year!

Just Ducky

This little ducky is now 5 months old. I wish I could slow the clock down. I am enjoying her so much these days. The little outfit was Elle's. We passed it down to Gwen and now our Lily is wearing it. I put her in it this morning and died. Seriously, how cute is she? The rocking chair was mine when I was a little girl and those pretty blue eyes...those are all her daddy's (lucky duck).

McGee Holiday Card

I managed to get our Christmas cards out this year before Christmas. No small feat in such a busy month. It is a lot of work but I started the tradition when Jon and I were first married. I have a special book I put just one of our Christmas photo cards in each year. It makes me get my act together each year so that I won't have any empty pages in our book over the years. I also love that it will be a record of family pictures all in one place.

I love my little family more than I ever imagined possible. We are not a perfect family but we are perfect for each other.

Happy New Year!

We had a super fun night at the Tuversons. Lots of friends, lots of food, lots of sparkling cider and a whole lot of noise. It was a perfect combination. Jon made his famous crepes and we all had way too many. The kids were really excited when we watched the ball drop in Times Square on TV. I have a feeling the year 2010 is going to be a great one. Happy New Year!

Christmas Angels

Two of my Three favorite girls. I think they had a very Merry Christmas.

Christmas Morning

The first picture was taken right as Jon and I were heading upstairs to bed. It was 2:45 am Christmas morning. Elle and Gwen both came running into our room in the morning yelling, "it's Christmas, it's Christmas"! We made them wait at the top of the stairs for the traditional christmas picture. They then ran downstairs and headed straight for their toys. The main gifts they asked Santa for were American Girl dolls....Elle wanted the "just like me" doll and Gwen wanted the bitty baby. The rocking chairs were re-done by Santa. The taller one was mine when I was a little girl and the smaller one was my mom's. The girls have always loved them but they were a little worn out. I had an "elf" come and pick them up and he took them to the north pole to be fixed up and recovered. The scooters have been in continual use around our kitchen island for the last 5 days. Lily loves her new play-mat almost as much as her little squeaky giraffe. I think the morning was a success. It was so much fun to watch their excitement. I hope it was as magical for them as it was for us watching them.

Christmas Dinner

We had family here for Christmas dinner. Elle and Gwen loved showing off their new toys. I love that we have family that lives close to us.

Lily's First Christmas

We had a really fun Christmas day. I am still sorting through all of our photos. Here is one of my favorites...little Lily in her Christmas nightie with her first gift. Santa brought her this little giraffe teething toy. It squeaks and she loves it.

Christmas Eve

We went to Grandma and Grandpa McGee's tonight for the traditional Christmas Eve fondue dinner. Grandpa read Luke 2 and the cousins took turns singing a few Christmas songs. We got home late, put the girls in their Christmas pajamas and hopped onto Elle's bed for prayers. Jon got out his laptop so we could track where Santa was. It showed a live feed of Santa and his sleigh being pulled by reindeer through the sky. The girls were in complete awe. As we were tucking them into bed the tracking system showed that Santa was coming our way. We told Elle and Gwen that they had to hurry and get to sleep so that Santa could deliver their toys. It is now 1:30 am. I am beyond tired but I love this part of being a parent. Jon is currently in the garage with every tool from his tool chest and the directions on how to put together the girls "wurlybird". It took me some time to figure out where I hid all of the gifts but I think I have everything. I hope tomorrow morning will be as magical and fun for our girls as it has been for us preparing for it.

We Believe

I bought this wreath and then added the red satin ribbon to hang it from our door. A few days later I found this sparkly 'believe' ornament and added that to it too. Jon took one look at it smiled and said, "I am trusting you on this one, Amy". He wasn't too sure about it. I however, love it. It also helped me bring up with my girls about what the word 'believe' means. I asked Elle what we believe in and she said, "well, we believe in Santa". Very true. Santa is alive and well at the McGee home. I then also explained to them that we believe in the real meaning of Christmas. I was able to have them look at our nativity set and we talked about the events of Christ's birth. I hope now when they look at our sparkly 'believe' wreath they will not just think about Santa but also about what we really are celebrating this holiday season.

Christmas Lily

This little girl is my favorite early Christmas gift this year. I also think she makes the cutest Christmas decoration of all. I love you Sweet Lily.

5 Stockings

It seems like just yesterday that Jon and I were in our little apartment by the beach with just 2 stockings hanging up. I LOVE that we now have three little girls' stockings sandwiched in between ours. I think it looks perfect.

Pictures with Santa

Starting with Elle's first Christmas, I have gone to the mall and stood in line to get my girls' pictures with Santa. I love it. When Elle was little she would always be so excited in the line and then as soon as we would get to the front of the line sheer terror would overcome her. I would put my screaming child on Santa's lap and then say, "just take the picture"! Maybe I am sick but I think the screaming child on Santa's lap is a classic shot. Elle thinks those pictures are hilarious now too. I put all of our Santa pictures in silver frames and display them all together on our front entry table. Our collection is growing. I even have one in the mix from when I was little.
p.s. how cute is that little santa and reindeer? I find those little guys all over our house throughout the day...I think my girls love them too.

Advent Calendar

Growing up we had an amazing advent calendar. I loved it. Since there were 5 of us, we would have to switch off turns as to who could put the ornament on the tree each day before school. I remember always trying to make it work out so that I could put the ornament on the tree on my birthday (the 7th)...funny the things you remember. I found this advent calendar a few years back and it reminded me of the one we had growing up. Each day the girls get to put an ornament on the tree up until the 24th. The ornaments are so cute and I love that they get to visually see how many more days until Christmas. Today was Gwen's turn...she even dressed up for the occasion in her very fancy, new, pink Barbie dress (a favorite birthday present from aunt shea).

I also LOVE receiving Christmas Cards. The best part of my day in December is going to the mailbox. We hang all the Christmas cards that we receive on our kitchen cabinets. It makes me so happy to see so many pictures of people we love hanging in our home.

Christmas Sunday

We were all rushing in the door from church today and I made my nephew take our picture in front of our front door. Not everyone was too thrilled with the idea but I think it was worth it. I love this picture. I love each and every person in it more than words can describe and I love that we are standing in front of a home that we love.
Countdown time...5 days until Christmas!

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Elle and Gwen had a small recital at their ballet/tap class yesterday morning and I almost missed it. I had totally forgotten about it. My friend called me and asked where I was. Well, I was at home in my pajamas with 1 little girl still in her pajamas, one naked and one completely dressed for kindergarten. I was about to say that there was no way I could make it and Christy said, "just make it happen". That was all the pep talk I needed. Done! I frantically stripped Elle out of her school clothes and put her leotard on her. Next up was naked Gwen. I got her into her leotard and Lily stayed in her PJ's and was put into her carseat. You can just imagine how glamorous I was looking...at times, motherhood completely strips you of the time or ability to be vain.
We raced over to the dance studio just in time. Gwen missed the practice completely but got there just in time for the recital. They each did a routine to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The antlers were so cute and they put red stickers on their noses. Gwen had no idea what was going on but loved every minute of it. She is such a ham! Elle was so cute and I loved this picture of her taking a bow at the end of the dance...so proud of herself. It was adorable.