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).

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!

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!!

Sara & Jim's 10th Anniversary in Vail, CO

July 25th was our 10th anniversary. We celebrated this past weekend. We had big plans to go to NY, but when it came down to it, I was a little nervous about going so far from the kids. We decided to go up to Vail which is only about 2 hours from our home. We had such a nice time. We stayed at a beautiful hotel there at the base of Vail Village...The Vail Plaza Hotel & Club. I highly recommend it if you ever go there. It was as nice as can be. We got a beautiful suite there...and it was luxurious and comfortable. The Village was just awesome. There was a farmers market in the morning, live music all around the village at night, restaurants galore to choose from, bridges everywhere, beautiful flowers, alpine-style architecture. From top to bottom, it was fabulous. I had no idea that Vail was so beautiful.

We did a lot of geo-caching (see my "Treasure Hunting" blog post to learn more about that) while we were there. We even went to sacrament meeting at a cute little LDS chapel in Avon...right near Vail. We spent some time in Beaver Creek (also a gorgeous village/area).

The highlight of our trip was probably going horseback riding. We went for a 2 hour trail ride and it was so much fun! I was on a horse named "Brownie." Jim rode "Gus." It was just gorgeous terrain and we had a blast. We highly considered going back the next day for more riding...to do the cattle round up, but we had other activities already planned. Jim and I often talk about packing up and going to live on a ranch. Okay, Jim has spent some time working on a ranch while he was younger, but other than that, we would have no idea how to get started, but it would be a dream. Okay...a tough dream once the novelty wares off, but still! We sometimes wish we could just do what we want to do in this life...our dreams...and though it's possible if you are willing to give up everything you have for that dream, it's not always practical...you know what I mean?? It's like "we have this life that we've built for ourselves and our family, and we're so grateful for the great life it is" but then there's that "can we trade it all now and do THIS or THAT?" Probably not, so we're content with the few times we can dabble in other life-dreams.

Needless to say, we had a WONDERFUL time in Vail for our Anniversary. These 10 past years with Jim have been the happiest of my life...I never thought marriage could be this good. Jim is my best-friend and the love of my life. I wish everyone were as lucky as he and I have been.

And I didn't Want to Blog

My life has been a little emotional lately with "things." So, I really haven't felt like blogging as the thing in the forefront of my mind is nothing I want to share with the world right now. Thanks Shay for "tagging" me with this, as it is simple and I don't have to share too much!

ABC Tag
A-Attached or Single?- Attached
B-Best Friend?- Jim and Rebekah
C-Cake or Pie?- Cake
D-Day of Choice?-Friday at 4pm
E-Essential Item?- Chocolate and/or a good Book
F- Favorite color? Green (shade depends on the season and mood)
G-Gummy Bears or Worms?- Bears
H-Hometown? Split between Diamond Bar, CA and Camarillo, CA
I-Favorite Indulgence?- Cake and a large glass of Milk
J-January or July? July
K-Kids? Four
L-Life isn't complete without? People around you to love and love you back
M-Marriage Date?- July 25, 1998
N-Number of brothers and sisters? 1 Sister, 2 Brothers
O-Oranges or Apples?- Oranges, as long as they're really, really sweet and easy to peel.
P-Phobia and Fears? Someone hurting my children (or any ones really)
Q-Quote?- "I believe in Christ for the same reason I believe in the sun, not because I can see it, but because of it, I can see everything." --C.S. Lewis
R-Reason to smile?- When we turn on the music nice and lough and I dance around my house with my kids...biggest smiles on all of us!
S-Season of choice?- Fall
T-Tag four people?- Cari, Marcie, Summer, and Kami
U-Unknown fact about me?- I hate being late (I think that may be known though)
V-Vegetable?- Broccoli
W-Worst habit?- Eating junk food beyond normal human limits
Y-Your favorite food?- 1 food? Hm... Today: Chinese food from The Mandarin
Z-Zodiac Sign?- Aquarius

Sara went to Cali

I planned a trip to go out and see my BFF (best friend forever), Rebekah. Having a 9 month old baby made this plan a little scary for me....should I take him?-- should I leave him home?-- Jim convinced me that I would have SO much more fun, and be able to relax if I just left him home for a few days. He got him to take a bottle again, after he boycotted the bottle about 2 months ago--Jim got him eating baby food and taking formula...all in the effort to convince me to let him stay so I could have an actual "relaxing" break with my best friend. As I lay sleeping the night before I was to leave, I nearly got out of bed and packed a suitcase for Kyle. I didn't though. Upon arriving in California (without Kyle) I decided...well, I'm going to be here for 5 days--without Kyle--and I can either enjoy myself and relax, or I can be miserable and worry the whole time about my family back in Colorado. While I thought of them a lot, I decided to relax and enjoy my time. It was a good decision. I had a blast....seriously had so much fun. It was so nice to be with my best friend and her family. We have kids all about 3 months of each other and it was nice to see them at this point in their life--and it was great to see that all the craziness of being a mother and all that that entails--well--she's going through it too.

On the way to her home from the airport, we of coarse stopped by In-N-Out...that was the first item of business. Yes...it was so good and all that I thought it would be. I'd have to say that the highlight of my trip was DISNEYLAND. We had a blast. It was just the two of us--NO KIDS. Unbelievable. We got there and the crowds were not bad...we hardly had any wait in lines for the rides--we played like we were teenagers again! It was fabulous. Silly old friends. The day was "awesome dude!"

We went to Yucaipa to a place up in the mountains called Oak Glen and went to the apple orchards there...listened to some live music and had barbecue, shopped around and had fun. Then we headed to a really HUGE pumpkin patch/small fall carnival. You actually pick the pumpkins off the vine. There were a lot of really neat pumpkins/gourds--that had a lot of character. I LOVE the blue pumpkins...so cool!

I'm refreshed and I was so happy to come home to my kids (who were completely fine and good the whole time). They were happy to see me as I was happy to see them. It was so good to have a little getaway with my best friend--I love her!, but it was really great to be home to my honey and my kids.