Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Thanksgiving 2013

We traveled from Colorado to Utah for Thanksgiving this year.  It was my brothers' year to be with our family and not their in-laws.  So, it was nice to have ALL of my siblings, and ALL of my neices and nephews there, along with my father and his wife, Sherri.


The dinner was delicious, of course, but being with family and having such bounty was the true blessing.  We had a great time playing Catch Phrase in the evening, as the kids all schemed how to spend more time together.  They just love each other so much...it warms my heart.

In the photo, from left and forward to right and forward:
Isabel Ellertson (turquoise sweater), Kyle Ellertson (red stripes), Rory Ellertson (red & beige stripes), Bryce Ellertson (gray), Sara Mac Gillvray Ellertson (green) shirt, Jim Ellertson (tall plaid), Summer Shippen Mac Gillvray (blue), Andrew Mac Gillvray (in back with blue t-shirt), Ethan Mac Gillvray (blue sleeves, grey middle), Avery Mac Gillvray (floral leggins, cream shirt), Haylee Mac Gillvray (white shirt, floral skirt), Katie Mac Gillvray (pink shirt, in front), Becca Mac Gillvray (black & white blouse), Jennifer Smith Mac Gillvray (brown sweater), Todd Mac Gillvray (blue shirt, big beard), Alex Mac Gillvray (gray & blue hoodie), Mary Mac Gillvray (in back, berry blouse), Marcie Mac Gillvray Thornbrugh (red & white shirt), Allison Mac Gillvray (pink striped shirt), Jay (Jerald) Thornbrugh (blue #61), Jorma Thornbrugh (gray and black striped shirt, on end) Timothy Mac Gillvray (sitting), Sherri Mac Gillvray (sitting).



A Family Tree

Our tree is no longer a designer tree.  It doesn't match anything in particular.  It doesn't have a color scheme.  What it is, is a family tree. Every year one of our highly anticipated family traditions is to make our way on the first Monday of December, to a Hallmark store and let each kid pick out an ornament.  They aren't cheap ornaments, but they are well-crafted and they most often reflect the kids' interest or favorite movies in the prior year.  We have a lot of Harry Potter themed ornaments...and Mickey Mouse too.  One of the first years were were doing this, Isabel chose a pretty bird, and I kept that tradition going.  I buy a "Beauty of Birds" ornament each year (and there are usually 2 full size and 2 small).  My tree has a lot of very beautiful birds in it.


Last night, we decorated the tree after visiting Hallmark.  It was a lot of fun and the kids are always excited to see their previous year's ornaments.  Our tree is lovely.  It is a family tree.  It is more lovely than if it were professionally decorated with the finest and most expensive ornaments.  It reflects my family.  

Some not-too-distant year we will have a designer tree again.  It will be gorgeous when I put all my bulbs up again, but it will not be as full of love and therefore, not as lovely and beautiful as the one I have this year.  it will mean that my children have grown and have taken their childhood ornaments to their own family trees.  I cherish this time when they are still in my home and filling our home, and our Christmas tree, with love.

~Sara