From Josh, Catie, Ben, and Brianna

Just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. I hope everyone who is travelling to the reunion will be safe and that everyone who is unable to attend will still feel our love!

And I'm posting this because hearing my son read this amazing and beautiful story makes my heart melt:

News from the Wolfs

Be sure and read this post on Cherry's blog.  Exciting news for 2013. 

Katie's a champion

Katie's team won the 7th grade volleyball tournament. It was nerve wracking.  They were leading the 2nd and deciding game by 24 to 20 but ended up losing the match sending them to the tie-breaker which they eventually won by 15 to 10.  That gave them a 10-0 record for the season.

Katie made all her serves this time and had some great saves.  She's going around the house (and in the shower) singing 'We are the champions'.  Dan and Elaine were able to be at the game.

Clarence's Book

Rachel put a facebook notice up for her remembrance book but in case you missed it, here is the link.

Mom's Favorite Recipes

For quite a while I have been working on a book of my mom's favorite recipes. Rachel suggested that I get it published, that there were some websites that could do that. I have recently completed it. This is what the front and back covers of my book look like:

In the book, I have included a picture of Mom on nearly every page, a brief description of the history of how it came to be a favorite for every recipe, and a Nutrition Facts chart for every recipe.

Here are a few of example pages from the book:

 I do have a way to order them but I currently only have it on a private account. So, to order one it would have to be through that, but the price goes down with each book ordered in the order so if anyone wants a copy, I could order them, and bring to the Family Reunion if you're there. I would need to order it by December 1 to get it before the Reunion.

From 1-20 books, it ranges anywhere from $26.66-$23.61 each book.  This includes shipping to my place. The books are in full color, which is why they cost so much.

Family Reunion

Ok, so I know this family is famous for procrastinating.  But it's official!  Frank and I have booked our hotel room for the reunion.  Who is joining us?  We check in on Dec 26th and check out on Sunday as we have to be back to work on Monday.  We need to know who is coming so we can plan activities around what people want to do.  Johnny has put out several options that include Sea World, Disneyland,  Legoland, San Diego Zoo, etc...  Come on people! Let's start making decisions!

Hello and Goodbye

Silently our baby entered the world on Sept 6, 2012 and then just as silently he left.

Nathaniel Randolph McGee was born at 4:27am.
8"long 4 oz.

After an autopsy, his precious little body will be moved to Myers mortuary in Brigham City UT. Hopefully the people there will be able to help us make decisions on how we will proceed from here.

Cousins-mini-reunion

August 20, 2012
Cousins in Brigham City ... Same day as the Temple Open House

Brigham City temple

See Catie McGee's post on the Temple Open House and family weekend. It was good seeing so many of you there!

13th Anniversary

Thanks Michele. 13 years and counting. It's been great.  Laura thinks I've gotten old but I agree with her that Michele looks the same now as then.

I lose weight under stress. BY the time I met Michele, I was down to my college weight from 1976 or so which looks much like this picture from 1999.  She's helped fatten me up since then.

The patriarch who officiated at our wedding in the Oakland Temple in 1999 was part of our ward. He passed away last Sunday. His life was celebrated yesterday at his funeral and today in fast meeting.  The events of his passing, help reiterate the reality of continuing life and the promises we have in the covenants we've made.

Thanks again Michele. It's great having you on my side.

Love Larry

Family Reunion

Proposed 2012 McGee Family Reunion Agenda

Saturday, December 29, 2012

8:00 AM – Breakfast at John’s house (pancakes, orange juice, milk)

9:30 AM – 12:00 PM – board games for teens & adults, activities for little ones

12:30 – 1:30 PM – Picnic lunch

1:30 – 4:30 PM - sports activities

5:00 – 6:30 PM – Dinner

6:30 – Bedtime - Movies

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Arlington Ward church begins with Sacrament Meeting at 9:00 AM

Indexing Record

Thank you to the 46,091 indexers and arbitrators who participated in this historic event.
Final Record Count:

• 7,258,151 Indexed
• 3,082,728 Arbitrated
• 10,340,879 Total

Celebrate with us.

Dad and I were doing this Sunday afternoon and Monday morning. 
Mine all involved 1940 US Census for Pennsylvania. I think Dad also focused on Pennsylvania.

Anyone else involved?

Church History Online

The Church History Library is now online.  One interesting find... Marilla Terry Crawford Hansen and her six kids crossed the plains in 1861 in the same pioneer company as Solomon Joseph DeSpain.

90 years later her great grandson, Lloyd married his great granddaughter Marna.
My dad's grandmother, Sarah Elizabeth Hansen was a 4 year old on the trip and mom's grandfather, William Joseph DeSpain was an 18 year old in the same company.

They were part of the David H Cannon company which arrived in SLC, August 11, 1861 5pm.
The civil war started on 12 April 1861. This company organized on 19 May 1861  and left Florence (Neb) on 1 June 1861.

As an indication of the condition of Solomon's wife, Ruth... David Alvin DeSpain was born 1 Sept 1861 in Granite UT as her tenth child..


(note added: My dad's sister Irene  married a great grandson of Solomon Joseph DeSpain in 1943).

Knight Family Farm

 

Dan's present to me for Father's day.

(also a test of video on this blog)

One of several so let me know if this works well enough for you before I add the rest.

 

Katie's Trophy for Band

Katie was invited to march with the Middle school marching band at the end of the school year and then recognized as the outstanding new band student for the year at IBL. 

Knight Family Home in Colesville NY

The Knight Family Home is being restored in Colesville NY.  A dedication is scheduled for June 2, 2012  4:30pm

The location of the farmhouse is:

Knight House - Latitude - 42°11'13.78"N Longitude - 75°36'19.03"W

That would be on the west side of Hwy. 233 a half mile south of the bridge from the village of Ninevah. (Not far from I-88, but there is no exit right there. The closest exit is Exit 6 to Ninevah.)

Here are some photos: 

Joseph Knight Sr. is one of my 4th Great Grandparents. Colesville was the first official branch of the Church, organized in October 1830. They moved together to Ohio and then to Missouri.

1940 census online now

The 1940 Census for Utah came online today so I looked up Dad but he wasn't in the index.  I had to search under his dad (Ross) to find him spelled as Lloyde with his sisters Collen and Leoa.   And his dad listed from Massachusetts. But after navigating those discrepancies, here is the picture:

Katie's in the Marching Band

Katie is one of four 6th graders invited to join the marching band for this year. Tomorrow is her first competition. She'll be wearing this nice uniform. Seems great for Pacifica Fog Fest in September. But Vallejo in May will be very hot. Leaving at 6am, getting back at 7pm.

May Family Dinner

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to let you all know that we are in charge of the family dinner in may. We had originally planned for it to be on May 20th but I am wondering if we could change it to the following sunday (May 27)? We will be having dinner at our house (2983 Gazelle Rd West Valley UT) at about 5:30pm. Please let me know if there are any problems with this. Also, please let me know if you will be coming so I know how many to plan for!

Thanks,

Catie

Grandpa Maynes last job

I uploaded a story from Grandma Maynes about her husband Jack, our grandfather.  In it she mentioned that his last job was 'taking census for the US government.'. He died July 10, 1940  age 57.

The 1940 Census images were released on April 2, 2012 and are now being indexed. Here is the status.

This picture shows a page from the census where John A Maynes was the enumerator. The date is April 15, 1940.  He canvassed his home town of Butlerville including on this page his own family.   Very nice handwriting.  There are 18 pages for Butlerville at about 40 names per page.

Thirteen people including a daughter-in-law and the first grandson.  Even more impressive if you've ever seen the home. Address: Wasatch Blvd south of 7000.  Two rooms and an enclosed porch with a nearby ditch for running water.

Open House dates

Brigham City Temple Open House



Salt Lake City —

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) has announced open house and dedication dates for the Brigham City Utah Temple, the Church’s 14th completed temple in Utah.

The public is invited to visit the temple during an open house from Saturday, 18 August 2012, until Saturday, 15 September 2012, excluding Sundays and Saturday, 8 September. Open house tickets will become available 30 July at BrighamCityMormonTemple.org.

Missionary Journal 1898-1900

Today I received a follow-up to this contact(July 2011) http://mcgeefamilyblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/shared-connections.html

with Albert Kirby's grandson. He sent me a bound transcribed copy of the Mission Journal of Albert Kirby 1898-1900. Interesting, it states in the intro, that "In the time he served as a missionary, Albert saw eight people convert through baptism into the Mormon Church".

Solon and Emily McGee and 7 of their children were baptized between 8 Nov 1898 and 24 July 1899. Two more were too young. Perhaps these nine were the only ones he saw converted?

The journal has day by day events. Interesting that the dates and events match perfectly with the memoir my Grandfather (Ross) wrote in 1952. He was 15 when he met the missionaries and 69-70 when he wrote his memoir.

Good Bye old van: Hello new car

The day that Michele and Katie finished selling GS cookies, I took the van to Costco, filled it up with gas and drove home. Next morning, we couldn't drive it away from our house. Something wrong with the transmission. We'd been pouring money into it at an ever increasing rate, so the last time... last month we decided to replace it in July when its registration expires . But with this problem, we gave up. No more repairs. So Michele went shopping and got her first 'real' car, a 2011 Toyota Avalon. So now we have a car loan for the first time in about 15 years.

The old van got donated to the West Coast Charity for Children. http://www.westcoastcharity.org/index.html . (run by friends of ours so even the overhead goes to a good cause). Lots of good recent parts so someone will get a nice deal if they know how to fix the remaining problems.

Local Girl Scout Katie McGee sells record number of cookies

Katie was written up in the Pacifica Tribune for her cookie sales.


FTA:
Does she plan on selling even more cookies next year?

"Next year I won't sell so many cookies," Katie said. "I think my mom wants a break!"

Movie Premiere

Katie dressed for the part, waiting at the mall with Michele and Melody for the 12:01am showing of The Hunger Games. Hope it is worth it. She has a field trip at school in the morning.

Katie and Girl Scout Cookies

This is what Katie has been doing all month. Yesterday and today in her Irish outfit for St. Patrick's Day. Today she'll reach her goal! 3000 boxes to win an iPad. The garage is almost empty.

Meals on Wheels

Dad mentioned tonight in our phone call, that he is volunteering starting Tuesday for meals-on-wheels in Brigham.

http://www.standard.net/topics/service/2011/04/11/brigham-city-meals-wheels-program-fulfilling-volunteers-too

Some friends of theirs are leaving on a mission but they have been doing a route. So Dad volunteered to cover the route while they are gone. Just something to keep busy between the other things Mom and Dad are doing.

18 Candles

Happy Birthday

Congratulations Brittany

Getting your Red Jacket is a big accomplishment. Congratulations.

Relay for Life

Patti is raising funds for the American Cancer Society. "In memory of my sister Karen"

2012 Relay for Life


Support her team!
4/14/2012
3:00PM at Betty H Fairfax High School
Laveen AZ

New Beginnings

Katie enjoying her introduction to the Young Women's program at church. The different hats related to a unique aspect of each girl. Katie's was a Dr Suess hat for her witty sense of humor. Melody is next to her with her Terra Nova(high school) Tiger's hat.

The tall girl on the left is also family, 5th cousin once removed with Katie. [Her grandmother and I are 4th cousins.] Common ancestors are Parshall and Hannah Terry.

Happy Birthday Heidi

Any newer pictures?

Melody got accepted at BYU Provo

Melody's headed to Provo with Andy in the fall. Here is a recent picture from near when I first met her. Seems like yesterday. Time flies when your having fun.

Winter in Pacifica

Today... when I got home from work.

Whitney's Birthday

Whitney's five!

Happy Birthday Andy

Here's Andy's recent post-mission picture. He's 22 now.

Happy Anniversary. The BIG 60

Congratulations Mom and Dad:

Then



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and near NOW