All These Things

Merry Christmas...

2011-12-25T02:12:00.000-06:00

From our house to yours.

Newborn Photos

2011-12-14T01:58:00.001-06:00

Remember my friend Lauren? Well, she did it again. Check out these amazing pictures of our family and little nine day old Delaney.

First Impressions

2011-12-14T01:37:00.000-06:00

My beautiful mom meeting her ninth grandchild

I knew Rylie and Reagan would need to be up for a lot of photo taking when Delaney was born so I decided to involve them by giving them each a disposable camera in their big sister gift bags. The cameras were a big hit and we ended up with about 16 pictures of Grandma holding Delaney and the other 32 were of the cars in the parking garage outside the window. At least it was a fun way to spend 4 minutes :)

Reagan was ready to see some diaper action. She is still very interested in each diaper and her step stool has a permanent spot next to me at the changing table.

Family. Sisters. Love.

Delaney's Birth Day

2011-12-14T00:59:00.003-06:00

Three days past her due date and after almost 24 hours of a slow starting labor, it seemed surreal that we were finally at the hospital and I was truly in active labor. It was the real deal. Seeing the table all set and ready for Delaney was so encouraging. Now for the fun part- labor!

Toby is the greatest birth coach I could ask for. He gives me a lot of credit for birthing our girls without an epidural but I couldn't do it without him. He is so supportive and keeps me focused. He is also pretty entertaining which comes in handy during the long hours but is not so helpful when he ends up telling jokes mid contraction and laughing makes the pain even worse! Here he is keeping a log of the events and labor as things progress- just another thing on my list of "while I am in labor" requests.

Working through the contractions.

Transition...

She's here!

I was overjoyed! I felt such physical relief and an emotion surge of both love and joy.

Our midwife, Lauren

Sleeping soundly the next morning.

My Friend Lauren...

2011-09-26T15:51:00.003-05:00

...is amazing. And gifted. And gracious. She spent this past Saturday evening taking pictures of this 36-week-pregnant momma and the people I love most in this world and gave us treasures we will cherish for a lifetime. Thank you Lauren for being such an amazing friend and photographer. And thanks for making this photo shoot so much fun.

We are officially...

2011-07-08T14:42:00.001-05:00

Homeschoolers!

This is our first official week of homeschooling and it has been so much fun! I was a bit nervous about how we would manage to get everything done and keep Reagan entertained and keep up with the rest of life but it has been really natural so far.

For those of you who keep up with this kind of stuff, we are using the Sonlight kindergarten curriculum with a little bit of Abeka for phonics. I really like how everything is paced out for each day. So much of her learning at this age is focused on exposure rather than mastery anyway so it's like we get to introduce a bunch of really fun concepts that open up doors for continued learning. For example, just in this first week, we have read about creation, dinosaurs, the Earth, sun, hemispheres and seasons, tadpoles and frogs, and the way the earliest people lived and made food. There are also learning elements that are structured into every day. These include a Bible story, work on our alphabet memory verse for the week (this week it was Romans 3:23 A is for All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God), poetry, read-a-louds to her and her reading to me. We also have math and phonics workbooks too.

I know it's only our first week but so far it has been a great way to spend intentional time together and I love seeing Rylie get excited about learning. Even Toby got to take on the first science lesson since we started on Monday, the 4th of July.

The day our curriculum box came in the mail... a big day for any homeschooling family!

Rylie on her first day of kindergarten. She got herself dressed (and accessorized) for the day before I could even get upstairs :)

Learning about the Earth

Learning about the way the sun shines on the Earth. When Toby asked Rylie what would happen if the Earth didn't move and the sun stayed in one spot, Rylie appropriately answered by telling him, "it would make that place really hot. You know, like Texas Daddy." She also liked using the flashlight to demonstrate how Aunt Holly gets the sun first on the East coast, then we get to wake up and have breakfast and finally the Earth rotates enough so that our Grandmas and Grandpas and Aunts and Uncles get the sun in San Diego.

Toby even topped his lesson off with a hands on visual. When knew you could use a hard boiled egg to show what the layers of the earth are like. There is the crust (shell), mantle (white) and core (yolk). The only bummer with this experiment is that the egg didn't go into the Easter egg dye like Reagan wanted it too.

A little painting project. Rylie painted a picture for each season and Reagan took it upon herself to test the strength of the paper by applying as much paint as she possibly could.

Saying Goodbye

2011-07-07T15:57:00.000-05:00

Another piece of big news that we haven't had a chance to share with everyone is that on May 24, G returned to his Grandmother. In short, it was a bittersweet day. We are so happy that G had someone fighting for him as she genuinely loves him but we miss him. We continue to pray for him and will always consider him as part of our family as he will be in our hearts forever. There are a couple of questions that we are commonly asked so I thought I would share those along with our responses in an effort to explain how we were feeling and are feeling now...

What was it like to say goodbye?

It was actually hardest before the final goodbye had to be said. We knew that his Grandmother was making a great deal of progress toward her plan and with that it was most likely that the court would order for him to return to her. As this news became real to us the grieving began. We all considered G an equal part of our family and it was difficult to imagine him not being here. I also had to come to terms with this outcome being as much a part of God's plan for him as adoption would have been. I had to let go and trust that for whatever reason, God wanted him here on December 10th until May 24th; not a day less, not a day more.

Will we foster again?

Maybe in the future but not now. The timing to try fostering-to-adopt again really doesn't make sense right now with a new baby coming in October. Both Toby and I were and are in total agreement that we need to be on the agency's inactive list and we will trust that God will provide direction in His time if and when we are to foster again.

Would we have done it if we knew what the outcome was going to be?

Yes. The need is great. Kids need a safe and loving home regardless of whether their future includes reunification or adoption. While we wanted him to stay forever we were also prepared that God's plan might be just to use us for a while. We recognize that we will likely never know the reason or effect the decision to foster had or will have on our lives or the lives of others but we knew the call was clear and we obeyed.

How are things now?

The girls sacrificed a lot to welcome and care for G. We are so proud of them for that. Think countless doctor appointments, family visits at the department of family and child services (not exactly a fun place to hang out), impromptu visits from attorneys, case workers and other people checking on him and often times a very frazzled momma. Once we began to feel at peace with what was happening, my sorrow was replaced with a joy and optimism for the time ahead with Rylie and Reagan and the four of us as a family. Since June 24th there has been sadness but also a lot of fun family time and emotion freed up to focus on the gifts that God has blessed us with including one coming this October.

Other thoughts...

Since the day we decided to begin this journey, we were met with unwavering support and love from friends and family. Friends sacrificed their personal time to attend training classes so that they could watch G for us if we needed a break or date night (calling your teenage babysitter is not an option when fostering). Others cared for him in the church nursery and Mother's Day Out, gave and shared clothes and toys, and loved him as part of our family and community immediately and without hesitation. And many who never even met him in person cared for him in prayer and for that we can never thank you enough. Both Toby and I were asked to write letters to G that will be given to him upon his eighteenth birthday as part of his file. In those letters we each told him how great and true our love for him is but that even more there is a heavenly Father who's love is beyond our greatest imagination and that he has a unique and specific plan for his life. We pray those words will meet him in a place where he may choose to accept the love that Christ offers and know the only thing that really matters in life.

And what is a post this long without pictures...

Gambit on his first day with us

A Picture is Worth 1000 Words

2011-07-07T14:00:00.003-05:00

Admittedly, we have done a really poor job of spreading our big news beyond our friends who live close by and family. So in the interest of public knowledge I thought I would share the picture Rylie made and sent to her Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles to make the big announcement a couple of months ago. That's right, we are expecting baby number three on or around October 24, 2011!

We've had our 20 week sonogram and have the top secret gender information written down in a sealed envelope (no, we haven't peeked!). It is being entrusted to the care of both Grandmas as they are devising a plan to reveal the gender to us when we can be together and celebrate the news with both families. We are completely excited about either a boy or a girl, although I have to say Toby would like an heir for his love of Star Wars and all things sports related. Just to clarify, he does talk to the girls about Star Wars and sports but he would like someone who is a bit less interested in the outfits and colors the athletes wear and who doesn't try to dress Yoda up like a baby doll. I already have my hunch but we will see for sure in August! And even then, we will still be up for a delivery room surprise. You know, I have heard that can happen ;)

Great Grandpa

2011-06-10T15:24:00.000-05:00

After a wonderful time in Kentucky we hit the road to visit Toby's Grandpa Fischer in Ohio. The girls had a great time and were thrilled to find the little dolls he had in the basement. We spent one morning at the park and enjoyed two visits with Toby's Uncle Mark and Aunt MaryPat.

Shields Family Reunion in Kentucky

2011-06-10T15:11:00.000-05:00

Hopkinsville, Kentucky

In-N-Out Comes to Texas!

2011-06-10T14:05:00.001-05:00

One afternoon a quick run to Lowe's changed our lives.

Ok, that is a bit of an overstatement but it was at Lowe's that a fellow In-N-Out fan told Toby about In-N-Out's expansion to the Lone Star State. A quick Google search confirmed that the rumors were true and we could be enjoying a double-double in only a few months. The timing was perfect when we routed our trip to Kentucky right through Dallas where two locations opened within a week of our travel date. When we got there, we found a packed restraunt, cops directing traffic, lines wrapped around the building and all the good food that reminds us of home. We even coaxed our good friend Erin into joining us for the California cuisine. I am not sure that she enjoyed it as much as we did but it was great to catch up nonetheless.

Is it me or do Rylie and Erin look related?

MDO End of Year and Preschool Graduation

2011-06-10T13:55:00.000-05:00

We are so thankful for the wonderful Mother's Day Out and Preschool programs at Northwest Hills United Methodist Church. This was a great year and each of the kids were blessed to have loving and talented teachers.

Ms. Daysi, Rylie and Ms. Katrina

Ms.. Laura, Reagan and Ms. Kathy

Ms. Kim, Gambit and Ms. Heidi

Each year the kids perform a selection of their songs at the End of the Year program. Gambit's class was up first and he, like many of the other one-year-olds, he was a bit more interested in checking out the crowd rather than performing.

Reagan was much less tentative than her two-year-old peers. In fact, she ate up the opportunity to be in the spotlight. This picture only begins to tell the story but I assure you she earned her title as the family ham.

Rylie's enthusiasm for singing and worship fill my heart with joy. While the photo quality of these shots is not the best, I love the story of her movement and the fact that she had to step out of her place on the stage in order to get her groove on. Go girl!

Thanks to the creativity of our music teach Ms. Ana, the graduating four year old classes did a hip rendition of the itsy-bitsy-spider. The song started with the typical sing-songy version and then haulted with the record scratching sound while the kids reached for their glasses and struck this pose. They continued on to entertain the whole crowd with their funky moves and shades to the Go Fish version.

And now for the part I can hardly believe. My Rylie Hannah Lees graduates!! Kindergarten here she comes!

Rylie with the program director, Ms. Jennifer, who is amazing and leads the great group of teachers to deliver a truly fabulous program for the kids.

G-Cutie

2011-01-05T14:41:00.002-06:00

Family of Five

2010-12-22T23:36:00.001-06:00

As many of you know, our family has recently grown by one very cute, very sweet, little man. On December 10, 2010 Baby boy G (as we will call him on the blog) joined our family and we are so thrilled. While we don't know the number of days we will be entrusted with his care, we are so grateful that God chose to allow us to be a part of his journey- whether for a short time or long.
The other morning I thought it would be fun to take some pictures of the kids together and found that the camera captured a lot of honesty. What do you think?

Patience

2010-11-18T23:56:00.002-06:00

If Fancy Nancy was a Turkey...

2010-11-18T23:54:00.001-06:00

She would look like this...

And some pictures of my little turkey...

The Ladies Lately

2010-11-04T18:00:00.002-05:00

Halloween

2010-11-03T18:00:00.002-05:00

I have so many pictures to catch up on but I thought I would start with the most recent and share some pictures of my beloved Captain Hook, Wendy (from Peter Pan) and the cutest pink octopus this neighborhood has ever seen. Well, except for the one that was around 3 years back but that is another post for another time. Enjoy!

Our neighbor and friend Michelle had a great costume and was a perfect place to start the night of trick-or-treating!

Reagan could hardly believe that she got to keep the candy

Getting the hang of this...

But ohh... don't you hate when your tentacle gets stuck in your bucket?

Reilly and Rylie

Unlikely friends... Captain Hook and Wendy

the background: Rylie wanted to be Wendy but with one condition. Toby had to be Captain Hook. He gladly agreed and she was absolutely delighted!

Waving at all the cars that passed by...

Reilly, Reid, Rylie and Reagan. R Neighbors :)

Shiver me timbers! That is one handsome cap'n!

Answering the Call...

2010-11-02T23:35:00.003-05:00

I am sitting down to make a long overdue post and am feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information I want to share. Let's just start with the basics...

As many of you may already know, Toby and I have recently followed God's unmistakable leading in deciding to become a foster-to-adopt family here in San Antonio. We have always planned to adopt at "some point" but never knew when or what that would look like. So, when I began feeling God speaking to me about the multitudes of children in need in my own city, I wasn't totally shocked. But when I realized that this meant possibly doubling our family size during residency, I knew this calling was in proportion with an ark, sacrificing a long awaited child and leading a group of people from an occupied land. Okay, so it pales in comparison to what Noah, Abraham and Moses were asked to do but in our small world in felt incredibly similar. Toby and I laugh at the way this makes very little sense on a logical scale but love the creativity of the God we serve.

We are currently almost complete in the application process through Baptist Child and Family Services and possibly weeks away from having a child or children join our family. Seriously- if you think of this in terms of pregnancy that would be like being 38 weeks pregnant. The difference is that I am not wearing jeans with an elastic waist and I don't find myself in the constant state of needing to go to the bathroom. The similarity is that our world and home will be completely different in the coming weeks and we have NO IDEA what to expect! Well, except that we are expecting to see God's heart in all of this.

More soon...

The Eyes of Texas Were Upon Us...

2010-09-26T21:06:00.006-05:00

So I know that at UCLA we only care about "natti’s". That’s national championships, of which we have the most by far. But, yesterday's game against Texas deserves some kind of summation after the Bruins victory. It was an amazing game to witness. I got to watch the game with Becca's cousin Nate, a UT alum. He gave great insight into the Longhorns, Austin and the stadium which made the game that much more fun.

A few of my observations from the game: This was the most attended game in Austin history (101,700). Hearing them sing the Alma Mater “the eyes of Texas are upon you all the live long day” is one thing to experience in your life. When you're at an event like this and things are going well it's not surprising to receive 50+ texts from friends. Any seat facing east in Texas Stadium is a good seat – the heat and humidity are offset by a nice breeze, upper deck middle was perfect. You could hear the UCLA fans who composed three small sections throughout the game, because UCLA was ahead throughout. UCLA won the game in the third quarter when Norm Chow wisely decided to not let Kevin Prince throw the ball deep in UCLA territory and simply ran 7x before punting; when Texas didn’t return Locke’s 46yard punt it felt like the game was in hand – and tons of fans started leaving the stadium. I don’t get fans that leave in the third quarter, first tickets are really expensive, second if you bleed burnt orange for your school you should be able to cheer them through tough times. That old-guy UCLA cheer dude, who exhorts the crowd with his “I need every man woman and child…" chants is priceless and one of the best things about UCLA football – which says a lot about how bad we’ve been. It’s hilarious that the Texas flag is more highly regarded at the game than the American flag. You can diffuse any possible altercations by talking about how bad UCLA’s quarterback sucks. UT fans and UCLA fans can get together for a rousing “take off that red shirt” when required. Though all the talk radio and fans in San Antonio and Austin were looking passed this game to Oklahoma – they should have concentrated on this game. 66-3 and 34-12 will be numbers that this generation of Texas fans don’t forget. The pistol just might work. Imagine if we had a good quarterback - same story for the eighth consecutive year. Tortured UCLA fans deserve to have a good QB. It’s Westwood – you’d think we could recruit someone. We will probably get annihilated in the home and home series next year in the Rose Bowl, but this was one of the most fun sporting events I’ve ever been too. It’s definitely tops in my 4 years in Texas which have some really good moments, it looks like this: 1) UCLA beats Texas 2010, 2) Final Four with UCLA 2008 – we lose to Memphis who it turns out was loaded with cheaters and ended up forfeiting all their wins from that season. 3) Lakers over Spurs with Kobe hitting game winner 2009 4) Missions v Frisco – seeing a bunch of the current playoff bound Padres in Double A ball. I’m out.

-Toby

Happy Birthday Reagan!

2010-09-16T22:53:00.004-05:00

Aren't birthdays great? There are so many reasons that make them so wonderful. There are the obvious ones like cake, friends, celebration, gifts and balloons and then there are the sentimental reasons like the way they bring about a sense of thankfulness and remembrance of the years past. I didn't start doing this on purpose but I have ended up creating somewhat of a tradition as I pour through iphoto each year when Rylie and Reagan celebrate a birthday. I love seeing the pictures of the past year and comparing a date in time to the very same date one year later.

This year, I thought you might like to join me. Instead of posting 1,000 photos for you to see, I held back and chose a few highlights from each of Reagan's birthdays so far. And what better way to start things off than with a pregnant belly shot 1 week out from delivery...

Welcome to this world Reagan Sophia Lees!

September 17, 2008

Could there be a more enthusiastic welcome to the family?

Happy First Birthday Reagan!

September 17, 2009

Happy Second Birthday my sweet girl, I love you!

September 16, 2010

(celebrated one day early)

more celebration pictures to come... until then, we are ready to kick off the 2's in a big way!!

Bad Mastiff

2010-08-28T08:54:00.000-05:00

I don't even think Prince Charming can help now...

San Diego (part 1 of 467)

2010-08-27T17:19:00.001-05:00

It's been a couple weeks since we boarded a plane in San Diego and headed back to San Antonio and I am just now feeling back in the groove here at home. We miss everyone already and can't wait until we can be together again soon. There are countless reasons why the trip was truly fantastic so I will try to share some highlights with you by posting a few pictures each day. As long as you don't mind that it might take me until Christmas to finish.

Here we go...

Rylie taking Miley's song to heart, "It's the Climb" Go girl!

Monkey see, monkey do. Little sister following big sister footsteps up the hill.

Rylie collected flowers from Grandma and Grandpa's backyard to make a bouquet for Daddy!

Grandma Shields and Rylie replanting a flower that got... well... uprooted by an eager bouquet maker :)

I love this picture...

Jordan and Rylie making handprints

Reagan

Peyton

Soon-to-be big sister, Peyton and Grandpa

Grandpa Shields with Rylie and Reagan

Picture proof of Rylie's long legged genes!

Pictures I Like

2010-07-25T08:17:00.000-05:00

These are a few shots from one of my recent practice sessions while the girls were playing on the playset in the backyard. Right now, these pictures of Rylie seem to me like ordinary pictures among many but I think one day they'll stir up vivid memories of swinging our hot Texas afternoons away while we wait for Toby to come from the hospital.

Lesson Learned: Gardening

2010-07-24T20:09:00.002-05:00

Lesson: What's on top doesn't always represent what's hiding beneath the soil!

I walked past this large, full foilage and thought to myself, "surely there is a reasonably sized carrot under there." So what did I do? I yanked it up and look what I found... a puny little carrot. Cute and kind of funny looking. I think I prefer the visible fruits and vegetables. They're a bit easier for impatient and impulsive gardeners like myself.

Just for fun... I thought you'd want to know that both dogs were all over the carrot when I was trying to take a picture. If only you could see the snarf Arnie left next to it. NOt to self: avoid the super slippery patch of goo on the tile. I should probably clean it up but it's Saturday and it just doesn't seem right to work that hard right now.

The Affair is Over...

2010-07-16T15:49:00.000-05:00

Brace yourself, this is big. Really BIG. I'm saying so long to my companion of many years. DC, it's time to go our separate ways. It's not you, it's me. Well, actually it is you. And it's me too.

I just wanted to share my farewell message with you all - my dear friends- because I am going to need help, encouragement and probably a lot of grace. I have only started cutting back and I am already typing this with a headache. I am sad because I really don't have anywhere to turn. I don't like coffee or tea and I can't drink juice (unless I decide that I'd like to have a migraine) so here I am taking a dramatic step into a lonely world of H2O. Rumor has it there are some nice and healthy bubbly waters that might quench the cold bubbly cravings that I have but it those drinks have big shoes to fill.

If you are thinking that this post is absolutely pathetic and incredibly dramatic, I totally agree with you. But, for those of you who have known and experienced this affair, you know. You know what this means. Sniff, sniff.

Once Upon a Time...

2010-07-13T00:12:00.000-05:00

We went camping with our good friends, Nate, Lauren and Sammy Salinas, but never blogged about it! These pictures are some of our favorites so I am counting on this being better late than never!

And we wonder why Rylie is such a big fan of Nate's??

Reagan alerting everyone that there is a fire and it is "Hot!"

Just cute

Reagan got some fiddle stix action. She was a big fan. Maybe you'll see her tearing up a lacrosse field one day!

Lauren and Sammy

Sometimes all you need is to get away

Our fearless roasters...

photo credit: Lauren Salinas

(there are other shots by Lauren mixed in here but I have to give credit for this super cool one and the fact that she was up early enough to catch it!)

A Super Cute Sammy Sandwich!

Lauren, Sammy and Nathan Salinas

Another one of Lauren's great shots... just have to give a shout-out to the great gal behind the camera!

It Takes a Family...

2010-07-12T23:37:00.001-05:00

to bathe a Mastiff!

I am sure this will sound crazy but I think this picture makes Chelsea look... small!

She is actually happier than she looks

Rylie's doing her part

And then some pictures of the less furry family members...

And just because I can't leave my Arnie dog out, I wanted to document the way he spent the warm afternoon. Any other dog and I might have been worried at this sight!

Fourth Of July!

2010-07-09T17:03:00.001-05:00

Efficiency swinging. The new thing.

Does this say summer fun or what??

David Hsieh, you are a good Dad!

Leyla

Rylie and C.C.

Maggi (or "Baby Maggi" as she is still called in our house!)

Just ask her how Michelle's strawberry shortcake cake was!

Toby found a new love on the Fourth: the Wii. Seriously, you would think a PS3 would be enough but the two systems are so different you just have to have both. It's amazing we left Costco without one the next day. Santa, you will be hearing from us!

It didn't take Reagan and Maggi long to figure out the best seat in the house. Thanks Miss Michelle!

p.s. even though Michelle looks all friendly and cuddly with the girls here, I have to warn you all of something. Don't mess with this girl in a snow ball fight. She will pull out her Michigan roots and destroy you. I think we are pretty safe here in San Antone, but I feel the need to warn everyone. The evil frosty in the Wii snowball game had no chance against Michelle's game!

This is one of my favorite pictures of the night. So impossible to get a shot of everyone looking but still so cute.

Leyla, Rylie, Maggi, Reagan and C.C.

Reagan saying "Hot" as the fireworks shoot off into the sky

Maggi clearly having a bit more fun than Reagan at the moment...

Does anyone know what time it is? I think we were supposed to be in bed a while ago!!

Sometimes sisters know just what you need.

Happy Birthday America!

Leftovers!

2010-07-07T16:13:00.000-05:00

These pictures have been floating around on my desktop because I like each one of them but I am so behind on blogging that they haven't ever been loaded. So, here you go my friends... a smorgasbord of Rylie and Reagan!!

Rylie Hannah

Reagan Sophia

Life Documented

2010-07-07T00:01:00.001-05:00

Sometimes something around the house catches my eye as iconic and I have to take a picture. This small pile of shoes did just that the other day as I thought to myself, "one day I will miss this". It's hard to imagine it, but one day pink and green flowered sandals might not be the footwear of choice. Rylie and Reagan might not like having matching sneakers. And, worst of all, we might live somewhere that requires more than a rubber sole and some straps. Well, aside from the base I rank LAST on my list, I think we can pull off the flops just about anywhere. Anyway, do you have any "shoe piles" that speak to you?

Peach Pickers

2010-07-06T23:46:00.001-05:00

After a great Independence Day celebration with friends we took an afternoon trip to Marburger Orchard in the Texas Hill Country. It was a sweet way to spend a warm afternoon as a family. Before you can be a certified picker, you get to learn a few facts about peaches. One of which was a big surprise to me. Are yo ready for it? When you pick peaches, you should look for a really nice golden yellow color. No green (duh) and ... get this... don't pay any attention to the red on the peach! It gives no indication of the ripeness, flavor or, well, anything. It is essentially a sunburn on the peach. Seriously? I have picked peaches my entire life (at the grocery store albeit) looking for the peach that most closely matches the ones that Clement Heard depicted in The Little Engine That Could. I figured if those peaches were good enough for the good little boys and girls on the other side of the mountain, they were good enough for me. Well, the good news is that after having this for dinner, I would say the peaches we picked were just right!

...see if you can find the picture of three hot Leeses in a peach tree!

Welcome Summer!

2010-06-21T14:42:00.000-05:00

Dear Summer,
We're glad you are officially here. We have some serious summer fun planned but can you please be nice to us this year?

sweetness

2010-06-20T13:01:00.005-05:00

So sweet and such a perfect post for Father's day.

Celebrating Our Fantastic Father

2010-06-20T12:26:00.001-05:00

Toby,
You are so many things to our family. I love you for being a father who the girls can look up to. I respect the way you work and lead our home. I appreciate everything you do for us; you take the trash out every Monday, plant gardens with the girls, and you serve your patients and team at work as if you are serving for the Lord. You have hidden the truth in your heart and seek God first in all things. You take the high road and help others around you. You patiently tolerate bad days and savor new recipes and good movies. You love through your service and don't ever ask for recognition. Your hands gently guide our girls and deliver God's healing to others. You make tutus, fix stuff, and shoot hoops. You serve our country by caring for others and you loyally support your teams. You train, encourage and advise those you love and you genuinely care. I know what a treasure God has given me in you and I thank God for joining us in a mission to serve Him. Thank you for being a man of integrity and a loving husband and father. You are my all these things.

Click here to see a little tribute to our fantastic father!

We love you!

Our Bountiful Harvest

2010-06-13T11:10:00.001-05:00

Our very first tomato crop! I don't think I can cross tomatoes off the grocery list yet (especially since Reagan took one of these, bit into it and dropped it into the trash can...booh!) but this is a start!

Bag Lady

2010-05-26T15:56:00.001-05:00

Trying not to panic, I quickly dropped the wet, soapy dutch oven and ran to the steps when I heard an especially loud "thump, thump, thump, SCREAM!" Someone had fallen down the stairs. When I got there, I saw Reagan on the bottom step and about a dozen purses and other items scattered all over the stairs above her. I hoped she would feel comforted by my sudzy embrace but quickly realized she wasn't crying because of pain but rather the tears were the uncontrolled response to her disappointment. After some motherly advice from Rylie, Reagan was already out of my arms and collecting her things. This is a moment or two later...

Item count: 5 purses, 2 necklaces and 2 very important bottles (these managed to stay in her grasp through the fall!)

thanks ladybird

2010-04-21T13:22:00.002-05:00

In addition to the very yummy bluebell ice cream, texas bluebell flowers are a statewide delight! Thanks to my friend Tammy's blog, I learned a little bit of history. Apparently, these delicate flowers that adorn the highway medians and roadsides throughout Texas were part of Ladybird Johnson's roadside beautification projects in the 1960s. So, if you visit Texas in early spring, be sure to note all of the cars pulled over with parents taking pictures of their children sitting amidst these Texas icons. That's better than the rush of children going to the bathroom roadside as I first suspected. Anyway, here are our little Texas bells among Ladybird's lasting efforts to make the great state of Texas just that much prettier.

ps. I hope Mrs. Johnson isn't offended that the girls actually preferred the flowering weeds that were growing in the same area :)

When it rains, we splash!

2010-04-20T15:03:00.002-05:00

Arnie's vote for the Chargers' 1st Round pick

2010-04-19T19:21:00.001-05:00

Click here to check it out!

7 amazing years ago...

2010-04-12T09:29:00.003-05:00

Toby,

I love this journey you're taking me on. I can't wait for the next 7... and then the 7 after that, and the 7 after that... and well you get the idea :)

I Loce you babe. Happy Anniversary.

He is risen, He is risen indeed!

2010-04-12T09:00:00.003-05:00

We celebrated Resurrection Sunday with the Easter service at church, a family brunch at the Cheesecake Factory and a really fun Easter egg hunt after nap time. That is after a quick ichat session with the crew at Palisades Court. Way to go Mag for making that happen.

Overall, the best part of celebrating this year was the balance we found between the fun and spirit of Easter and the truth of what we are celebrating. It is such a joy to watch and participate in Rylie's understanding of Easter and it's ultimate and unmatched significance. My heart relates to the joy and suspense in her eyes when we get to the climax of the resurrection story. He is risen, He is risen indeed.

And so, without further delay, here it is: Easter in pictures at the Lees house...

Rylie is a beautiful silk dupioni dress and Reagan in a hand smocked white, pink and green dress. Both lovingly made by Grandma Shields.

Just waiting to be found...

How many eggs do you see?

Lees family Easter egg hunts all start with the same fair tradition; all of the kids line up at the door, youngest in the front, oldest in the back. Chelsea wasn't patient enough to make the shot but I managed to catch a quick one of these two ladies before they were on the move!

Rylie didn't waste any time as she quickly slid down the slide to get the next egg!

Time wasn't a much of a concern for Reagan. She tried to about 10 times to get this egg without getting her hands or knees in the dirt and mulch. She finally managed to scoot close enough and bend over to get the egg. I sure hope the treat inside was worth it!

Toby was happy to see the bunny didn't forget him...

And the hunt is finished.

The Community Egg Hunt

2010-04-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

Rylie, Reagan and I took a walk down to the community park for the third annual Easter egg hunt. They hide over a 1000 eggs on the soccer field and all the kids run out on the bunny's count of three. The hunting is short lived and sort of hectic but it is a great opportunity to see friends and neighbors. This was a monumental year as Rylie very confidently stood with the bunny for a picture. Reagan was enthralled with the bunny but as you will see in the pictures wasn't willing to break the 10 foot radius of safety.

While all of the other kids lined up and focused in on their targeted eggs, Reagan just waved and said "hi" to the bunny.

Happy Easter

2010-04-04T06:00:00.001-05:00

Coloring Easter Eggs!

2010-04-03T13:44:00.001-05:00

Ta Da! The finished product...

dear mom,

2010-03-25T20:43:00.000-05:00

Cindy Meanna is in good hands.

Snappys, Pumping, Climbing, Slides, and Smiles

2010-03-25T20:20:00.004-05:00

Fun at the McKenna Children's Museum

2010-03-24T20:45:00.004-05:00

Nurse Rylie

Serious shoppers.

Such a good Dad.

Even I couldn't say no to fish from such a cute worker!

Do you feel safer?

Random confession: I am really, really NOT into space stuff. Movies, toys, gadgets- I don't get it. Truthfully, space and dinosaurs are tied for the thing I am least interested in. Lack of interest aside, I couldn't pass up the chance to take a fun picture of these bubbly, perfectly round, unique and colorful planets.

Just incase you forgot where we live now.

Paper mache fish. Very cool.

Catching Up!

2010-03-20T15:00:00.000-05:00

Despite what our post-less blog would suggest, the fun and silliness has continued here at home! Click here to check out a quick video of some recent pictures.

Rylie's Four!

2010-03-20T13:50:00.001-05:00

Toby and I have been blessed to be Rylie's parents for FOUR years!

Check out how we celebrated -fancy style- with all of Rylie's girliest friends. Special thanks to Lauren Salinas and Michelle Reidesel for being accessory, tatoo, photography, and pbj experts!

Link to Pictures

ps. Holly, this one's for you!

Kiss Me, I'm Irish.. AND It's Breakfast for Dinner!

2010-03-20T13:33:00.002-05:00

Last year, we shared about our newly established tradition of breakfast for dinner. This year, thanks to some St. Patrick's Day cookies and a fantastically fun idea for rainbow pancakes by Lauren, we've really stepped things up! We even got lucky enough to celebrate with the Sam-Man!

click here for this yummy pancake recipe!

Fringe Benefits

2010-03-20T12:47:00.002-05:00

Just one of the trade-offs for Toby's long hours!

This yummy apple cake is from the same patient who had a hat custom made for Toby that says:

"Wilford Hall Urology

...the place to be when you can't pee!"

So Fancy!

2010-03-20T12:34:00.000-05:00

Thanks Grandma Lees for the fabulous bathrobe!

Our Baking Adventure Continues!

2010-03-20T08:29:00.002-05:00

Conclusions:

Chocolate Pudding Pie: Good

Strawberry Shortcake: Bisquick recipe is better (although there may have been some baker error in there)

Frosting Wars: Great!

I also have to note that you can learn a lot about depth of field by photographing a carton of eggs. A fun idea just in time for Easter!

The Naked Truth

2010-03-20T08:09:00.001-05:00

This girl LOVES to color!

A Whole Lotta Cute!

2010-03-20T08:04:00.000-05:00

Special thanks goes to Rylie and Reagan's stylist: Grandma Shields :)

I Love Spring

2010-03-20T07:56:00.002-05:00

Even the packages are yummy!

Don't Mess With Texas

2010-03-20T07:50:00.002-05:00

Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T08:19:00.000-06:00

After a busy Birthday and party weekend, Toby knew just what to do for his valentines:

Chocolate for Rylie

A Teddy Bear for Reagan

And an afternoon to go get a pedicure for Me! I really should have taken a picture of my toes. I went for a sparkly, plum color!

Maybe Next Year...

2010-01-18T00:52:00.000-06:00

As Toby is crying himself to sleep, I thought I would add some highlights from our afternoon that concluded with an abrupt not-so-happy ending.

Rylie was excited to wear her Chargers gear in the spirit of the big game. The ensemble (yes, a fancy word for outfit) wasn't complete, however, until she made it into a Chargers (or "Teamers" as Rylie calls them) cheerleading outfit. That is where Cinderella's ball gown and Belle's yellow high heals come in. A costume the Charger girls might consider for next season...

Blue and Yellow are so much prettier than green. Especially if it is green claiming to be from New York that is really from New Jersey.

Genetics can do some crazy things.

Even Reagan knows the ball is supposed to go through the uprights.

Chelsea's face says it all.

Crib Junkies

2010-01-18T00:24:00.004-06:00

When Rylie woke from her nap the other afternoon, she asked if she could play in Reagan's crib with her toys. I don't think Reagan has ever had so much fun in there and Rylie has asked to play in Reagan's crib every day since then. Who needs a playroom, swing set or back yard when you can just play in a crib full of baby toys?

h1n1: part 1

2010-01-17T11:02:00.001-06:00

One of Rylie's much anticipated stay-at-home days took a turn for the worse when I told her my plans to take her and Reagan to the hospital to get a shot. It was little consolation that Toby and I got our shots a couple weeks back but she did seem selfishly relieved when the tech said that Reagan needed two shots while she just needed one. Rylie spent most of the afternoon trying to immobilize her arm by bracing it to her body.

As for part 2 of the h1n1 shot... she hasn't forgotten that it is coming. In fact, on our way home today I asked her what Febuary means anticipating an enthusiastic "my birthday!!" response when instead, she said, "more shots!"

Capturing the Cold

2010-01-10T16:36:00.004-06:00

so maybe it is time to go inside...

When Uncle Andrew Comes to Town...

2010-01-10T16:28:00.000-06:00

You get to:

1. Play outside even though it is FREEZING! Yes, literally, freezing. I believe it was 30 degrees this morning. That didn't seem to phase Andrew, the San Diego native, as he has spent 5 of the last 6 years living in Chicago and New York.

2. Ride bikes and big wheels and anything that will go!

3. Learn how to use the cd player. Rylie is approaching DJ status with her CD switching skills. If anyone is looking for a party mix containing tracks from Baby Einstein and The Little Mermaid, just give her a call.

4. Play "naptime" each morning while he willingly lays on the ground and lets Rylie cover him with blankets.

5. Have company in the back seat of the car.

6. Learn new and fun baking techniques. One of which is the mystery bowl mixer. In this step, a 3 year old innocently mixes an unknown amount of ingredients from one bowl into another. What fun. Way to roll with it Andrew. I'd say the muffins came out beautifully in spite of this little mix-up!

7. Learn a little bit about the pros and cons of stock watching.

8. Watch some cinematic masterpieces: Transformers 2 and Star Wars (these were on Andrew's list of movies to watch while in the U.S.)

9. Learn about life in Kenya

10. Have a great time with an awesome Brother and Uncle!!!

Baking

2010-01-10T15:56:00.001-06:00

Just after Christmas, Toby came up with a great idea...

The proposition: Bake a scrumptious delight from our newest Baking cookbook each week.

Ironically we started this one week before watching the movie, Julie and Julia. While our resolve is no where near Julie's, we are enjoying the idea in the same way!

Step 1: identify most enticing recipes (you can see how difficult this was)

Step 2: Get Baking!

Week 1: Apple pie and Apple crisp (no pictures...sorry, we were knee deep in flour, apples and pastry dough)

Week 2: cheesecake (I vote that we make this EVERY week but I guess that might not be such a great idea...)

I was particularly excited about and proud of the yummy crust so a profile shot was in order.

Week 3: Blackberry Muffins (ok, this ended up being more of an Andrew and Rylie creation but Toby and I gladly participated in the taste-testing)

Before

After

Special thanks to the Feldt family who has graciously offered to help with any and all unwanted or excess desserts. What would we do without you?

How to Start a Decade

2010-01-04T23:05:00.000-06:00

Our home church in San Diego is doing something really cool...

http://30daysofpraise.blogspot.com/

Here is the deal...

Start the day by praising God for who He is.

End the day praising God for what He has done.

Check out the blog for details. You can download devotionals, music, and other resources too.

I'm in! Are you?

Garage Hoops

2009-12-30T22:01:00.004-06:00

For anyone who can finish this sentence, "If you give a mouse a cookie, ..." you know where this story is headed.

After a fully functional and organized garage was achieved thanks to some impressive handiwork and planning by Toby an Dad, it was clear that the now open space needed to be utilized in a really meaningful way. It didn't take long for the chief planners to stumble upon this one-on-one, free-throw shooting, lay-up laying, home hoop-it-up court, space-utilizing solution.

And with that, I present to you: Garage Hoops.

Cookie Making

2009-12-29T23:59:00.002-06:00

Full of anticipation for Santa's arrival, Rylie was hard at work baking cookies for the man in red. Toby suggested that she be sure to use lots of frosting since he thought Santa just might like his cookies that way.

Christmas Eve Service

2009-12-29T23:57:00.002-06:00

so serious.

so sweet.

The Dress

2009-12-29T23:56:00.005-06:00

In addition to being a beautiful dress, Rylie's Christmas dress was especially special. If you can believe it, the dress was one of many hand-smocked dresses that my mom made for me as a young girl. Twenty-Five years ago I wore that dress to the 49ers Christmas party. Are you ready for a blast-from-the-past circa December 1984??

Here it is...

Me, my older brother Preston, and the good ole' 49er himself!

The Shields family: Laurel, Rebecca, Billy, Preston and Brian

Cookie Decorating

2009-12-29T23:55:00.001-06:00

Rylie with expert decorators, Grandpa and Grandma Shields

The Polar Express

2009-12-29T23:54:00.006-06:00

"I wish I could hear Santa's bells tonight" Rylie said as I tucked her into bed on Christmas Eve.

Don't Forget the Reindeer

2009-12-29T23:54:00.005-06:00

As a Christmas holiday activity, the kids in Rylie's class made reindeer food. It is amazing how exciting a little oatmeal and glitter can be when you mix them together and tell a three-year-old that it is food for Santa's reindeer. So, just before bed on Christmas Eve, Rylie carefully stirred the food and placed the bowl right outside our front door.

To her surprise -and delight- the food was all gone in the morning! That is except for the mess that the reindeers left. They must have been really hungry because the bowl was knocked over and some of the food was scattered around the front door and steps up to the house.

Angels and Bells and a Very Special Day

2009-12-29T22:26:00.005-06:00

During one of the busiest weeks of the year, time stood refreshingly still as I watched Rylie and Reagan perform in the annual Mother's Day Out Christmas Pageant. I have to say that I don't typically get very excited for performances and probably -no definitely- underappreciate the work that goes into such a production. While I fully support the event and the excitement it brings for the girls, I was honestly surprised by the amount of joy that filled my heart as I watched. In years past, Rylie has mastered the "deer in the headlights" look as she stood still on stage, wondering what she had managed to become a part of. However, this year was different. Not only did Rylie confidently embrace her responsibility to sing and perform the corresponding hand motions, Reagan lit up as she realized she had the attention of everyone in the room. As a member of the first class to enter and perform, Reagan excitedly walked down the aisle and enthusiastically shook her bells until sitting just wasn't enough. It was then that she stood up in front of all the kids and shook those bells and did a little be-bop dance until one of the great teachers, Ms. Cathy, invited Reagan to sit on her lap where she continued to shake those bells with all she had. How special it is to learn something new about your child as you watch the spark of something uniquely placed in them by God himself.

And while I can't tell you what the songs were that they were actually singing and I believe these shots are evidence to support my theory that it is IMPOSSIBLE to get great pictures at events like this, I hope you enjoy these photos. It was a fun afternoon celebrating the birth of a baby more precious than any other; our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Rylie's very special teacher, Ms. Lori. We couldn't find Ms. Deb, Rylie's other fabulous peach class teacher.

Reagan's loving and fun teachers, Ms. Michelle and Ms. Cathy

According to weather.com...

2009-12-02T22:37:00.003-06:00

This is what our house will look like on Friday afternoon. :)

I love this time of year...

2009-11-29T19:06:00.006-06:00

A Sea of Fun!

2009-11-29T18:45:00.000-06:00

Five things we were thankful for at Sea World on Friday

1. Daddy time!

2. Rylie's first adventure on the Shamu express (which rider had more fun? You decide...)

3. Freedom to walk in squeaky shoes

4. Penguins... no strangers to the "things I am thankful for" list around here

5. Sea Lions and seals and 1 year olds who try to mimic their bark. So cute.

Ready to be Thankful!

2009-11-25T19:44:00.004-06:00

I am not quite sure how it happened but our Thanksgiving meal is prepped and ready to go in the oven tomorrow. This I must say is an especially great accomplishment given that I had the world's biggest dog following my every step just hoping that I would drop even one small morsel of a delectable dish. BTW, Were her hopes fulfilled? Most definitely :)

As I was putting everything together, I realized that even the food we eat is a reminder of all the things we have to be thankful for. Not just that we have food. Trust me, I recognize the fortune that is. But even more, the friends represented by the recipes I use.

For example, as I made cranberry crunch salad, I thought of my dear friend Holly, her husband Rolf and their beyond adorable Liam. The turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes and toll house pie recipes make me reflect on the blessing of great, God-loving family; the Lees, Shields, and Lewis families. The new additions, broccoli and rice casserole and mac-n-cheese (the fancy way), this year came from our culinary pro friend, Dana. And the mashed potatoes are a recipe that has evolved as Toby has patiently hung through numerous test runs. What a trooper, right?

I can't look anywhere around me without seeing a reminder of some, or many, things for which I can thank our loving savior. For He affords us far more than we could ever deserve.

Heres to a most thankful thanksgiving filled with gratitude, fun, love, laughter that create memories for a lifetime.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Lees!

CFA

2009-11-23T10:49:00.003-06:00

Thanks to Lauren and Sammy's Grammy, Toby and I got to enjoy a seriously good laugh this morning! Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsJHqstPuNo&feature=related

For the record, Toby would like to say that he thinks it is just "alright".

Outdoor Fun!

2009-11-17T16:02:00.007-06:00

As Toby has been preparing for the annual Urology exam, Rylie, Reagan and I have been trying to find fun things to do that don't involve interrupting Toby. Thankfully the weather has been nice enough to enjoy some bike riding, outdoor walking for Reagan and playtime for all of us. Here are some pictures I caught last Saturday...

The Dog Whisperer

2009-11-17T15:56:00.007-06:00

Watch out Cesar, here comes Reagan!

Arnie watches on from his command post on the fireplace mantle.

The secret to really smiley pictures?? Let the kids do what you never them do... in this case, splash around in the dogs' water bowl!

I don't think that is a turkey...

2009-11-13T22:35:00.001-06:00

Didn't know if anyone saw this cute little cartoon that came out recently...