Ice Skating North Side Style

 The north end of town puts up an ice skating rink every year and this is the first time we have been as a family.  We had been trying to go all week and finally made it on Friday night, along with a lot of teenage girls wearing way too much parfum and their boyfriends trying to impress.  Derek was not interested in skating so he observed until it got too cold and he went to the car... 

 Bryanna had been ice skating before and along with her rockin' roller blading skills, she was off skating like an olympian right away!  This was Abby and Gracie's first time ice skating but since they have had pratice with rollerblades it only took them a short time to catch on.  We had a great time with only a few falls but as it usually happens, 2 of the 3 were cold and ready to go home after and hour.  We made it 20 more minutes so this girl could get in a few more twists and twirls!

Christmas Day Fun

 A sledding we will go on Christmas Day!  We went back to our favorite sledding spot and it was snowing like crazy but that didn't stop us.  The girls were having so much fun that they broke a sled!

 

 

One of the best parts of Christmas is getting to play with all the new toys and clothes.  Gracie and Abby are all dressed up with their new outfits and dolls.  Bryanna was in her room listening to her Ipod.

Merry Christmas

 Santa brought the girls Ipod Shuffles this year and they were sooooo excited if you can't already tell by Abby's face. 

 A tired but happy mom and dad.  Cinnamon rolls were for breakfast..I made them homemade for the first time...yummy!

Maggie even got a present from Santa.  2 days later it's already been destroyed.

 

This Christmas season as with all others in the past, we are so grateful for the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ and we know that He is the reason for the season. Without Him there would be no Christmas and we are thankful for this knowledge.  We are thankful for all our blessings this Christmas and all year long.

Merry Christmas

Christmas Eve 2012

 Christmas Eve traditions have changed a bit for us since we moved away from home 7 years ago.  We have started to go out to dinner and do our own Nativity play and then unwrap presents via skype with Derek's family.  We miss our family during the holidays but we are thankful for our little family and new traditions. 

 Nativity Marlatt 5 style.  Daddy=donkey, Gracie=Mary, Bryanna=Joseph, Abby=angel, stuffed animals and barbies=wise men and shepherds, Mommy=photographer.

 

 

Another tradition is making cookies for Santa and Jesus and oursleves. Yummy sugar cookies with homemade cream cheese frosting:)

Save some for Santa!

Christmas "Adam"

 The night before Christmas Eve Gracie told us was called Christmas Adam...so on Christmas Adam I had the great idea to sleep under the Christmas tree and the girls were all for it.  We got our beds laid out and watched Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.  Derek had to work the next day so he slept with us for a little while but went to bed at some point.  I wished I had too because when I woke up my body hurt and I was freezing cold.  I guess mommy's big idea was a little too much for my 34 yr old body!  It's all about making memories at our house though and so we might make this a tradition on Christmas "Adam" every year.

 I got an idea from a blog to surprise the kids with "The Minivan Express".  To make it a surprise we had them get their jammies on and Derek would read them The Polar Express.  On the second page were 3 golden tickets to The Minivan Express!  They were so excited thinking they were really going on the Polar Express but just as excited to go in the minivan.  I had popped popcorn and made hot chocolate and Derek punched their tickets as they got in.  We drove to our favorite house of lights.

The lights are set up to go along with music and  plays videos too.  We have been a few times since we have lived here and it's always so cool every year.  This year we saw 3 families/friends from our ward there too!

Bryanna says it was impressive and super cool!

Caroling, Caroling

My girls really wanted to go caroling this year but I wasn't up to it so much so they decided to do it themselves.  As we dropped off goodies to some of our friends and neighbors they sang "We wish you a Merry Christmas".  I think they brought the Christmas spirit to a few people that night and I'm proud of them for being so brave and so willing to do it without me.

Band Concert

When Bryanna told me she wanted to be in band this year I was excited for her but nervous about the time it would demand from her and me.  She originally wanted to play the electric guitar but miraculously she changed her mind and chose the clarinet.  A kind family from church offered to let us borrow theirs this year and Bryanna was set.

 Because she plays piano it was easy for her to learn to play clarinet, and she has really been enjoying it.  This was her first band concert and they all did amazing. 

                                                                       Band friends

We are so happy for Bryanna and the new talent she has discovered.  Thanks to her  band teacher also for her time and for making band fun!

Santa Train 2012

This has become a tradition for us.  This year is the 4th year (???) we have gone on the Santa Train at the Nevada Railroad Museum.  It's a short ride with a Santa who is a little "if-ee" but the kids enjoy it and we get a candy cane from the jolly guy plus hot cocoa and cookies afterward!  This year our friends the Coles came along with us which make it extra fun.

Pictures

Took family pictures.  I always do them myself...thanks to my camera's timer!

Here are two of my faves of our girls.

Thanksgiving 2012

The only picture I took from Thanksgiving.  We make  candy turkeys every year in honor of my Granmda Rushton.  My mom's mother was a teacher and she first made these with her class and then brought home to make with my mom and her siblings.  My mom kept the tradition with me and my siblings and the grandkids.  I make sure to do them with my girls every year and I make sure they know where the tradition came from.  I hope they will remember and do the same thing with their kids one day. 
We were invited to our friend the Eddy's for Thanksgiving dinner.  We are so grateful that they thought of us and we really enjoyed our time with them and our friend the Coles.  The food was delicious and the company even better. 
I am so grateful for so many things but especially my family, Derek's job, and the Gospel.  We are really so blessed.

Dog Days

We were dog sitting for our friends this week.  Their dog Bartowski is an outside dog and Maggie is mostly and inside dog.  They played really well together for the most part but I knew when Maggie was done because she would jump on the trampoline and Bartowski couldn't get up there.  It was her saving grace!  If Maggie was inside and he was outside they would stare at eachother through the window.  Sometimes whine for eachother. It was cute to watch. 

One more tooth....

Abby lost the first of her two front teeth.  Her permanent teeth have been pushing those baby teeth straight out.  The last one is still hanging by a thread...we can't get her to let us pull it out yet!

2012 Presidential Election

November 6, 2012

Presidential Election

Barack Obama vs. Mitt Romney

My candidate did not win

I was sad

But I now have to pray for our country and leaders

and pray for the future

Fall Crafting

I LOVE CRAFTS! 

 If I could own a little craft store and craft all day I would be happy.

 sweater pumpkins

 the first Thanksgiving

fall wreath

Happy Halloween 2012

Bryanna-Tonks from Harry Potter

Abby-Black Cat (her 4th costume of the season)

Gracie-Vampire

We trick or treated in our neighborhood for a little and then joined our friends for a while.  The kids got plenty of candy.

 

 The Loot

Abby's loot and the creepy Bloody Mary doll she got from and old lady's house (that ended up in the garbage).

Our writing winner Gracie

Gracie came home from school one day with a letter and book from Scholastic.  She had won a writing contest and received these as her prize.  We didn't even know she entered the contest...I guess the whole class entered.  She was very excited and we are so happy for her.  Great job Gracie!

Trunk or Treat

This year the Trunk or Treat was a few days before Halloween and the kids were so excited to dress up in there costumes early.  I was partially in charge of the activity so I was in and out, running around and didn't get many pictures (Derek was at work).

Brother Rush dresses up as Frankenstein every year.  Bryanna's friends Shay and Cahlie joined us this year.

Unfortunately Gracie was still recovering from the flu so she was in the car laying down.

We had a Ghost decorated trunk and the girls got plenty of candy=success!

Field Trip

 

Abby's 2nd grade class took a field trip to Taylor Creek at Tahoe to see the Salmon Spawning.  We were there just a few weeks earlier and saw soo many spawning.  This time there were a lot of dead ones.  Only 3 out of 1,000 eggs survive the spawn!  One of the groups got to see bear cubs.
We had a great time...we ate lunch, played on the beach and this really cool dead tree.  Field trips are so fun!