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).

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

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.

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!

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!)

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!

Mother's Day 2009

I had such a fabulous Mother's Day! I couldn't be a happier mom--my children truly fill my heart. Could I be luckier. They treated me like a queen--and gave me so much love. Look at these faces...they angels! Even when their little devils, they are my angels, and I'm so lucky to have them!

The Two Youngest

Rory....

Just finishing up his first year of preschool--tomorrow is his last day! I can't believe it. Favorite things to do: play webkinz, run, eat sweets, make crafts, camp...so much more...He is just so sweet and full of love. 4 years old now, and he's a fun one...I can see that he has an exciting life ahead of him....I love his enthusiasm for life and the sweet love he gives.

Kyle (KyKy)....

He's a love bug...but he is a busy 2 year old. He can sure throw a good "tantee" (tantrum)--right there with the best of the 2 year olds. I love his big brown eyes though, and when he is in his "kissy-mode"--just squeezes on so tight and hugs and gives kisses all over! I love to watch him napping--he's my baby and just so precious. He loves to dress up (as you see in the cute picture below)--it just warms my heart to watch the little guy.

They sure aren't little for long!

Out For Some Pictures

It was a beautiful November day...unbelievable...64 today here! Tuesday is going to be 69!! Anyhow (getting side-tracked in marvel of the nice weather in NOVEMBER)...we went out today and took some family pictures. Okay, one of my major PET PEEVES in life is going to get family portraits done...or even for just one kid. Waiting for the photographer to be ready (and I have an appointment!), keeping the kids calm, keeping the kids clean, getting them to like some total stranger and actually smile for them....not my happy day. But I do love having nice portraits of the kids.

About this time of year (Christmas card time) I know I need a good family photo. Have any of you ever gotten (or sent) cards that have just pictures of kids on them, and you're thinking...who are these kids?! You really need to put your pictures on there too--so we know who is sending these to us (reading the name on the card is not enough)--I want to visually see how my friends are getting older too, after all! =) I digress again. We went out on this beautiful day, to a canyon that is mere steps away from our house (although we drove over there as to keep the kids from dilly-dallying). My friend Natalie and I worked out a trade...I put all her Christmas Card addresses into a spreadsheet so she can send out her cards this year (without having to hand-address her cards), and she take some pictures of our family with her talented eye and fabulous camera. **I love trades** We got some great photos of the family together and I wanted to share some of the fun ones with all of you. So here you go. So much better than going to a studio!!

Memory Making

I have been SO busy for SO long now, I really haven't taken much time to scrap...in fact, it's been MONTHS. For something I enjoy SO much, it makes me sad that I haven't done it in so long. I've almost ignored the urge--because I'm too overwhelmed (with other stuff) to think about it.
Last night, I was putting some Girl Scout newsletters that I've been doing for her troop, in her scrapbook. I sat and looked through my past work and realized how very much I miss it.
Tonight, I took to it! I had no meetings and didn't have to run the kids anywhere. Yay! So, after dinner, I locked myself in my office and sat down and digi-scrapped. I love doing it this way. Look below, the same layout, but I can throw them in each of my kids' books and they'll never know how much easier it was for me (and quicker) to do it this way, than to do it with actual paper. I still do miss the hands-on, cutting, gluing, etc....but this way is practical for me right now. Plus, I can get a kit of digi-scrap files, and I know that they match and that the embellishments will "work" on the page.
It felt really good to do a little "memory-making" again tonight.

Our Halloween Tribe

We had a great Halloween. It was excellent trick-or-treating (probably the best we'll EVER EVER have). The day was in the mid-70s and the evening didn't even require a jacket. Last year...2 sets of underclothes, winter coats, hats, etc. We loved it this year! Yay!
Thank you to Grandma Mac for the making of the costumes...they were so much fun and we. Thanks Auntie Marcie for letting me borrow your get-up this year...it was awesome! We had a lot of fun and a great night.

4 Little Indians

Halloween is coming and Grandma Mac really came through for us! What a fabulous seamstress and creator she is. The kids just loved being dressed up in their indian costumes. I love that they all matched. There wont be many years where they can have the same theme and matching costumes...so yes, I'm enjoying it now! Thank you --AGAIN THIS YEAR-- Grandma Mac! We love you.
Trick or Treat!

Not Many More

I can't believe it, but summer is winding to an end. This week is supposed to be in the mid to high 70s though, but I can't help but think it's winding to an end...that this is summer's last stand.

Taking advantage of the nice weather, when Rory asked if they could turn on the fun water-hose-toy that grandparents got us, I had to say "yes." They are having so much fun. Silly boys--they are so cute. Who needs swim suits either...after wearing nothing but for a week at Lake Powell, the underwear/diaper thing is just fine!
Even Tess is enjoying the outdoors.
I'm ready for Autumn. I love it actually, but little by little, outdoor activities do dwindle.

My Children, 2008-09 School Year

I love school pictures. I love it too that I can take the younger kids and get theirs done there at the school at the same time. It's easier for me to do this, than to take them to a portrait studio (one of my most UN-favorite things to do). I really love the way they turned out too. I just look at my little blessings and can't believe how full my life is--I can feel my Heavenly Father's love for me when I look at the sweet children he's entrusted to my care.
(Isabel-8, Bryce-6, Rory-3, Kyle-19mo)

the gates are down, the underwear ON and the eggs are found

Gate Status=DOWN. What does this mean? It means that Kyle is going up and down the stairs and is fabulous at it....so much so that we have taken the gates and all barricades DOWN! It's rather nice...I still take double-takes sometimes, as my psyche isn't used to it quite yet. Kyle LOVES IT! He loves going to the down-down play room with "the big kids" and just roaming. He really is pretty good on his own, and YES, I do check on him still rather often. But it nice to let him have some freedom and not have to have him under foot and in sight at all times. Hooray for Ky!

Underwear Status=ON. What does this mean? It means that Mom took Rory's diapers and said "no more." Okay, he still wears them at night...but not during they day. We aren't going back either. No pull-ups, no diapers for nap...underwear! He was just getting lazy with his training and it wasn't going anywhere. I seriously prayed for help with this, and I got the impression to just go for it. Jim was home a few days last week being sick, so he was here to help with the few accidents we had, but it really hasn't been too bad. He's excited and proud, and I, Rory's Mother, am very excited and proud of Rory!

Easter Eggs Status=DYED, HIDDEN & FOUND. We had a fun fun time this Easter. We all enjoyed the Founders Village Easter Egg Hunt--though it was rather brisk out, the sun made its appearance at just the right time. There were a ton of kids...and not quite a ton of eggs, but each of my kids got a few eggs, so they were happy enough. We saw friends there and it was a great way to kick off the Easter weekend.

We also shared some nice spiritual moments this week. Beginning with our Family Home Evening on Monday we talked to our kids about Easter and its meaning. We spoke of Jesus's Atonement, His Crucifixion and the Resurrection. It a bit complicated for our yougin's but we simplified it and they got the idea. Mostly we talked about how much Heavenly Father and Jesus loves each of us and how all of this is a gift to us. We got a beautiful book from Deseret Book called In The Garden, at the recommendation of my sister-in-law, and while the wording in the book was a bit rudimentary, it was basic and understandable for children....and the art was FABULOUS.

All in all, our Easter was rather nice. We shared a lovely Easter dinner with some close friends and enjoyed our day at church too. Now to get the kids to not eat ALL their candy in one sitting!

A 3 Year Old

Wow, Rory is 3! We had such a fun day with him. It started out with us letting him open Grandma & Grandpa Mac's birthday gift for him...a cool view-master projector. The kids loved it and spent a long time in the bathroom (as it is dark-dark in there). Fun stuff.

We went to Olive Garden (Rory's request) for his birthday dinner. It was YUMMY! They sang to him and he felt super-special (he was a little shy when they came to sing to him and it was darling).

THEN--the BIG fun...we went BOWLING. Again, Rory's Request. He could have gone to Chuck E Cheese's or anything, but he LOVES to bowl. We had a fabulous time. He is so cute. He cheers and jumps up and down and has a great time. Of the kids--he got 1st place! We opened gifts there and even lit candles on his birthday rice-crispy-treats (no cake for the egg allergy). What a good night.

I can't believe he is 3! Some days he seems more like 5 or 6 due to his size and brilliance, but then again, the 3 years are amazing, and has gone quick. When we moved to Colorado, he was only 6 weeks old. You've come far my sweet boy.