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

Pampered by my Boy

I got some great pampering from my oldest son today. Their 3rd grade class had a Mother's Day Spa in their classroom, and it was so fun. Bryce was so affectionate and sweet. First, we got neck massages...and his sweet little hands really felt great on my tired old neck! I was very impressed! Second, we got pictures taken together and made a scrapbook frame for the pictures to go on. After this, we went and he gave me a manicure. This was a deluxe manicure! We got cuticle oiled, then we had a special hand scrub (and Bryce did his too, and LOVED it). Then he massaged my hands with coco butter lotion. Very nice! Afterwards, Bryce read me a story he wrote and served me treats to nibble while I listened.

I loved spending this time with my Brycee Boy, and I love how gentle and sweet and loving he was to me...and he wasn't embarrassed to tell me (many times) that he loved me. Whenever I think of my Brycee Boy, I'll remember this day always!

I Can't Keep Up

I really can't keep up blogging, so I don't really try that hard--life just moves TOO FAST.  I figure, I have facebook to keep in touch with friends and family, and I have my journal to "journal" my life's happenings and thoughts.  I do enjoy blogging for certain happenings with the family. 

Rory has been in karate for a few months with his brother, Bryce (who is doing GREAT).  Rory is making great strides too though, and he earned his first white belt.  We are very proud of him!

Isabel is continuing on with her piano.  She is has been doing wonderfully, and I'm so grateful she has an accomplished teacher that gives her just the right amount of "push."  I'm so proud of how well Isabel is learning and how each music piece is learned a bit easier. 

Here are pictures and a video from her recital.
(Click on Pictures to Enlarge)

Click Here to See Isabel's Recital Performance

Homemade Halloween, 2010

My mother was a fantastic seamstress...and her favorite thing to sew was costumes. I think all her grandchildren have benefited from this. This year, I thought I'd give it a try. I left myself plenty of time, and choose EASY patterns. I remember my mother making a cute red-and-white polka-dot costume when we were kids (I think I may of worn it also, but I know my cute little brother Andy did--and he was a dang cute clown).

I was planning on only making 2 clown costumes, but Bryce decided (after seeing the others)--that he wanted one too. I thought "Why not?! It wont be long before he refuses to let me make him fun costumes." He'll soon be at the age where he'll want to be a phantom or monster or something scary and not cute. So, I did it! It was a lot of fun making these.

Kyle

Rory

Bryce

Isabel got a poodle skirt. I don't know if I decided on this, or if she did, but it is cute and it was fun making it! AND, I really like how it turned out!

Isabel

School Pictures 2010-11

Another school year has begun, and so far, so good. Isabel is now in 5th grade, Bryce in 3rd, Rory in Kindergarten and Kyle in Preschool. They are good students...well behaved and they enjoy learning. They all have their own strengths--and I can already see how they each learn differently, etc.

I'm so proud of my kiddos.

Summer Recap, School Starts, & Lake Powell

It has been FOREVER since I blogged. I kind of miss it--I don't know why really. I have been journaling a lot and I kind of like keeping a lot of thoughts and feeling to myself. Facebook just doesn't seem to cover enough, and is a bit TOO public, and journaling covers too much for public...so maybe blogging is a medium for communicating with friends and family. I don't know, but I thought it is a good place to put a few pictures of our trip to Lake Powell, and a bunch from the summer time.

We had a great great time at Lake Powell. It was very relaxing and good family fun. It's always a lot of stress and work getting there, but so worth it, and by the time we are home, I wish I could do it again, and not have the pre-stress of it all. The trip was a success though. Here are some fun pictures you can look through if you have a moment.

Here are some more pictures of things happening through the summer, and the kids' 1st days of school. We have been busy having fun!