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!

Getting Ready

Bryce will turn 8 this year. He had his Baptism Preview tonight...and he came home just so happy and feeling special. I could just tell by the smile on his face that he was feeling really excited in that "spiritual excitement" kind of way. I'm so glad.

For this past year, he's really worked on preparing himself. Where once he wouldn't even say a family prayer beyond a meal prayer (because he knew what to say and didn't have to think about it)...now he'll say family prayers with sincerity, he'll participate and sing when we are singing church songs, he's really starting to be a part of it...and it's because he's wanted it...he's wanted to prepare for baptism. I couldn't be more proud. This June/July, he'll be getting baptized and I really think he's as ready as he can be. I'm so proud of him (have I already said that?).

Christmas 2009

We've had a really nice Christmas. Children and family really make the season bright. Below are some pictures of our happenings!

This was taken after Christmas Sunday in their Sunday-best. (Bryce was already in his comfy-coozy's by the time I wanted to take the picture.) Good lookin' kids!

PJs that Grandparents Mac gave us. The kids could hardly wait for Christmas-Eve to wear them! FINALLY!!

Fun at Bass Pro Shop's Outdoor World for FHE the Monday before Christmas. We had so much fun there--the kids LOVED it!!!

All in all a fabulous Christmas. I couldn't be more grateful for the fabulous family I'm a part of.
Merry Christmas to you all!

Breakfast with Santa

Our last horra as a primary presidency (we were release about 4 weeks ago) was this Primary Breakfast with Santa. This was the kids' time for a church Christmas party, since our ward decided to do an "adult Christmas party." We had a lot of fun planning this. I've really enjoyed working with the ladies in Primary. I already miss that connection. Anyhow, the Breakfast with Santa went really well. The decorations came together so nicely, and it all looked great. The breakfast went smoothly and the activities were great. We had a nice lady from the ward take pictures of the kids with Santa. They turned out great...although Kyle wouldn't look at the camera! The activity was WELL attended and fun. So glad. Yay!

School Pictures 2009

Every year, I've been assembling the kids' pictures into a collage. I love grouping them together...and then I enjoy seeing years past and how they've grown and changed. It's so fun watching these wonderful children grow...though, I wish it wouldn't go so quickly!

Christmas Recital 2009

I'm a proud Mom. Why wouldn't I be. My daughter is doing so well on the piano, and she is just a light in our lives--in our home and family! I have wonderful children, and when I get the chance to brag, I'm going to! Isn't that what parents are supposed to do? I feel like Kathy Lee Gifford bragging about her children Cody and ??? on TV, but now, I get it!

Isabel had her Christmas recital today. It was great--she nailed her songs and did a great job. She got a haircut today, and she was excited and I could tell that she felt pretty. Enjoy the music!

CLICK HERE FOR: Performance of Rudolf

CLICK HERE FOR: Performance of SugarPlum Fairy Duet

Halloween & The Loot

We've had a great Halloween. Parties, parties, recital, and trick-or-treating. NOW--the LOOT! The kids had a great time! It was a fabulous night for it too--who would have thought that after a week of snow being dumped on us, 3 snow days--that we would have a beautiful night for trick-or-treating...but we did!! The kids had so much fun. We put a few layers on UNDER their costumes, they wore hats, and off they went. They were plenty warm as it was so nice out. They came home happy, and bags heavy with candy. Halloween 2009=SUCCESS!!

(Isabel...thanks to Grandma and her costume making...had 3 different costumes this year....1 for our ward trunk-or-treat (Vampire), one for a birthday Halloween party (Mermaid), and one for her recital and trick-or-treating (Mulan/Geisha). WOW!)

Recital

Isabel had a piano recital today--ON HALLOWEEN! It was a lot of fun and most of the kids played something that was a bit spooky, and dressed up. Isabel played "Square Dance and Hoe Down"--and wore a kimono. She looked GREAT...and did a very nice job.

Grandma Mack--we received MANY compliments on the beautiful costume!!

Click on the link below to see Isabel's Recital!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5AyHSVnROU

More Halloween Pictures to follow....

Snow Hat

Okay. It is SNOWING this morning! I checked--no "delayed start" for school. Bummer! I came down though, and Rory had his snow hat on. I just got him this hat and he's so excited to wear it. Kyle came down, saw Rory's hat on, and wanted his too, so I got him his. They are such cuties!

I love snow--especially when it first snows, and it still clean. BUT--I'm still wishing for Autumn to last a bit longer....maybe just until November? Oh well. I do live in the rocky mountains!

Garden 2009: Progress Report

I love seeing the progress of my garden. It has surprised me this year. My broccoli is growing (people said it wouldn't do well in CO). My tomatoes are kind of at a stand still--hmm..... My beets are doing GREAT--I picked 4 really nice sized beets today! My zucchini...well....ISN'T zucchini....It's some sort of squash that looks like zucchini, but is a lighter green (strange?!). I have 1 jalapeno, and finally my cucumbers are blossoming. Better than last year in some ways, and in some ways not as good. It's always an experiment!

Jalapeno

Cucumber

Zucchini???...or not?

Beets!

Broccoli!

A New School Year

Another school year from my kiddos has begun. I'm so excited for my kids this year. Bryce has the same teacher that Isabel had for 2nd grade...Ms. Luebbert. She's a peach. We really like her, and Bryce already knows her a bit as she was his Tech Lab teacher last year. He's been very excited knowing that he would have her this year for his teacher.

Isabel has Mrs. Jaimes for 4th grade. (I can't believe she's in 4th grade!) Our friends have given her great compliments and told us wonderful things about Mrs. Jaimes. I was impressed at orientation and I think Isabel will enjoy being in her class. One thing I loved was that Mrs. Jaimes is a HUGE proponent of reading. Reading is so important and I hope my children enjoy it as much as I have in my life. There is NOTHING like a good book.

Here are my kiddos going off to school--and with their new teachers!

Sewing So Much

I have really been enjoying teaching myself to sew. Tackling one pattern at a time. It's been really fun to sew with friends. Several of my friends are teaching themselves right now too--or rediscovering sewing after being away from it for a long time.

There's something really rewarding creating something useful, pretty and liked.

The pj's...this is a pattern that my mother has made several times for Isabel--it has these pj's and a nightgown on the pattern...short sleeve or long...but below is what Isabel choose this time. It's so feminine and pretty and comfy and cute! I had a lot of fun making these...and it really helped having a pair that my mom had made previously for me to look at and see what she did.

The dress--I was so excited to find the fabric. She wore the dress to church today and looked really pretty. I love things that are one-of-a-kind. A friend bought this pattern and some material to make a dress for her girl...but the material is different...so what the heck...I copied her and used the same pattern...but we don't mind. We're all just having fun creating!

(Click on Picture to zoom in and see more Detail)