Picture of the Week *803 Day*

Friday was One of my favorite days of the year!

August 3rd, AKA 8/03!

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803 was the house number of my grandparents for over 60 years!!  Their little house on Sullivan Street was the location of some of my favorite childhood memories.  To this day I still miss the magic of 803 and I often think about how much I would love to go back for just one more visit with Grandma and Grandpa.

So in honor of 8.03 day, some fun Quilty pictures to walk down memory lane...





Q Family Reunion (1985 I think)
Melissa and I were the kiddos in the front wearing sandals with socks



This picture was taken in front of the tree in Grandma and Grandpa's backyard (they are seated in the middle).  They both got very dressed up for these occasions.  Grandma always looked so pretty and Grandpa always looked very handsome. 

This was the original 803 number on the light pole in front of Grandma and Grandpa's house! 
This did not make it to the new owners when we sold the house (sorry new owners).  The numbers are currently spending some time with the Q's in PA.

Just a few phrases of memories that took place at 803!  The stories behind these phrases would fill at least 10 blogs, but each mean so much to our family.

It's an understatement to say that Melissa and I had a great childhood.  And being a few blocks from Grandma and Grandpa had a huge part of this.  They were so special to us! 

One of my favorite memories with Grandma and Grandpa was eating popcorn along with a huge glass of Country Time lemonade.   Such a small thing  at the time but looking back we had so many great conversations over this late-night snack.  I haven't had a chance to enjoy my lemonade and popcorn yet in honor of 803 day but I have big plans to have some this week. 

Hope you all have a great week, and maybe even take a few minutes and enjoy a stroll down memory lane. 

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Olympic Fever!

I. Love. The Olympics!

I think the Olympics are one of the most exciting times to be an American and get swept up in the competition, the intensity and the passion of the athletes and the countries they represent.  I love hearing their stories of how they made it, and the adversity they overcame to be at the games. 

As kids, Melissa and I used to follow the Olympics like it was our jobs.  I'm sure if you look hard enough at my parents house, you'll find VHS tapes of all the opening ceremonies during the 80's.  When the games started, Melissa and I cut out all the newspaper articles about the Olympics, followed the medal counts each day and even made giant Olympic scrapbooks featuring every magazine article from the entire summer (I can't lie, we were kind of losers). 

We loved all the sports, but especially gymnastics.  I spent many summer afternoons sprinting down the vault runway (aka the dining room into the living room) and then vaulting over the square pink ottoman we had in the living room (the couch was mint colored with pink flowers and the coordinating ottoman was pink -- needless to say, it was the 80's) pretending that I was about to bring home gold. 

When I finished vaulting practice, I spent my free time writing letters to Kim Zmeskal (she was way cooler than Shannon Miller because she didn't wear ugly hair puffs). 

Kim - My childhood hero!

Shannon - Kim's not-as-cool teammate based solely on the hair puff
(although she was clearly 100% cooler than me, the girl vaulting off the ottoman)

When we weren't busy watching the Olympics or writing to the stars, we participated in backyard Olympics at our friend Julie's house!  We had tons of competitions including the cartwheel competition, swimming, broomstick throwing (aka the javelin) and relays.  

During the last time the summer Olympics were taking place, I traded in the vault runway and instead ran down the aisle to marry Denny.  We didn't plan to get married during the Olympic festivities, but it kind of adds to the magic of the games. 

This year I won't be vaulting or running down the aisle but I'll gladly take my seat as a spectator and sport my red & blue.  The opening ceremony kicks off in just a few hours!! 

Go Team USA!!

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Picture of the Week ~Happy Birthday Aunt Joy!~

Today, July 1st, would have been our Aunt Joy's Birthday.  We lost her this December after a courageous battle with cancer so it seemed like a great time to remember what an amazing Aunt, Mom, Sister, Great Aunt, Grandma, Wife and Friend she was to all of us!

Aunt Joy, I'm sure you are having quite the Birthday celebration in Heaven tonight with the other Q's that are up there with you. 

Happy Birthday!  We love you and miss you lots!  LLKK

Aunt Joy and Uncle Bill meeting Ryan - Sept 2011

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Q fun in Cali! - Fall 2004

Tourist-y Q's in front of the Hollywood sign



Q Reunion in the Buff, such a special weekend! - September 2010



Picture of the Week ~Happy Father's Day!~

A day late but just as important is this week's Picture of the Week.  In honor of Father's Day and my amazing Dad, here it is!

Dad, Melissa and I would have not made it half as far in life without you!  You supported us through all we have done.  Thank you for everything.  We Love you so much!

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Wishing all the amazing Dads out there a wonderful week.  May your golf scores by low, your days be long and your life be full of love and happiness!

Happy Birthday Melissa!!

I came into this world with one of the best advantages in life ever (no, not just my stunning good looks)... an awesome big sister, Melissa! 

Awesome Where's the Beef matching jammies!

As sisters we had our share of fights but more often than not, we were best friends.  Melissa was my interpreter until she went to kindergarten (why talk when someone could do it for you?).  We shared clothes, Barbies, a room and a childhood. 

Growing up a Q wasn't always easy.  Melissa threw magnets at me when I wore headgear, and I laughed at her when she did science fair projects.  But together we survived perms, embarrassing cars, family car trips and tons of other crazy happenings... and I wouldn't change one thing about it.

The Quilty version of Barker's Beauties showing off Clicker Car

When we went to OU, we got even closer!  My freshman dorm room was about 100 yards from her senior apartment (ideal for when she was kind enough to buy me beer). 
And we've been by each others side ever since.  Together we cheered for each other and supported each other as we earned diplomas, hunted for houses, said I Do and became Moms. 


OU Class of 2002 graduation!



 I'm so lucky to you as a best friend and big sister Melissa! 

Wishing you a wonderful day and your best year yet!!    LLKK

Picture of the Week ~My Cousin Leslie~

My sister Melissa has a great blog (click here if you haven't visited lately) and started a Picture of the Week.  I love the idea and thought I would try it too (sorry to copycat Melissa). 

In honor of my awesome cousin Leslie's Birthday I think this picture should be the first McGee McBlog Picture of the week! 

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A little background... In 2010 Leslie ran the Cleveland half-marathon (awesome job cuz!), and wore a waterbelt with water jugs to stay dehydrated. 

When Melissa and I saw it we immediately felt that it was cause for a new nickname.  So when the Quilty reunion rolled around a few months later we knew exactly what "Q" award would be perfect for Leslie.  Take a look...

Most of the other Q Awards were very G-rated: Smiley Q, Courageous Q, Funny Q so this award certainly woke up the crowd (as you can see by her dad's shocked reaction behind Leslie). 

I still look at this picture and laugh every time I see Leslie's reaction.  Have an AMAZING Birthday Les and thanks for all the laughs!!    xoxo