New Year’s Eve 2010

Tonight we had a fun family night celebrating the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011.  I found quite a few very family friendly New Year’s Eve activities from one of my favorite sites- The Dating Diva’s.  If you have never visited that site it is only a few short clicks away.  Trust me, you will be glad you did!  It is full of creative date ideas that can easily be adapted for families.

I found this hat that I used last year as a decoration and thought it would be a neat idea to have each of our family members take a picture with this hat every New Year’s Eve.  Mackaylan thought this was a great idea and was also inspired to learn magic! haha

After eating a few slices of pizza we completed our first activity: All About Me 2010.  These sheets recorded many of our favorites from this past year.  I will say that my heart melted when Mickey wrote that his favorite thing from 2010 was his pregnant wife- what a sweetie! 

Later on in the evening we had a small fireworks show that consisted of my favorite firework- a sparkler!  We also had a few pretty ones that lit up the night sky, but I wasn’t able to capture them with my camera. 

After we shot fireworks, we came back in and completed another project- setting goals for 2011.  Our goals range from going camping to completing a master’s degree to baking with a new Easy Bake Oven.  It will be fun to reflect on these goals in the months and years to come as we all grow and change. 

This New Year’s Eve was very different than those in year’s past, but I loved it.  We were able to spend time as a family and just enjoy each other’s company and being together. 

I am blessed.

“Cleaning” up 2010

Just in case you are wondering what we have been up to since Christmas….  ORGANIZING!!  This week has been super productive:

1- We rearranged Mackaylan’s room, updated her décor with a new comforter she got for Christmas, unpacked most of her new toys, put together her new dresser, organized her closet, and hung a new curtain.  Need proof?

2- Even though this picture doesn’t do this project justice, we prepared the nursery for the arrival of DD #2.  This was a major task that consisted of cleaning out EVERYTHING from the closet to the chest of drawers to moving out furniture.  I tried to convince Mickey to go ahead and get the crib from the attic, but you can tell from this pic who won that conversation:

3- We put away all of the Christmas décor except for the Willow Tree Nativity.  I just can’t part with it yet.  I love that decoration so much and need just a few more days before packing it away. 

4- Mickey was a trooper the entire week.  Just another reason why I love him so much!  He moved LOTS of furniture, organized all of our files from 2010, cleaned out the garage, climbed the stairs to the attic multiple times, kept me from a major meltdown when putting together KK’s dresser, and more.  He’s definitely a keeper!

So, you can see that we ended 2010 “nesting!”  We are all three going into the new year with these projects tackled and that makes us all very happy (the 5 yr. old included)!

Happy New Year!

Our Splendiferous Christmas- Part 5 (final)

This year we celebrated Christmas with my parents on the 26th. This idea took a little getting used to, but it was the best for everyone's schedule and made the holiday last just a little bit longer.

After sitting down to a delicious meal, we were all spoiled beyond belief with all of the gifts!

The kids opened all of their gifts first and then the adults. It took us close to two hours to open gifts!

I think I have this shot from every Christmas since I have owned a camera. Mom always receives her "traditional" pair of earrings. :)

After pictures and dessert everyone cooperated for a family photo. Evidentally, Mackaylan was the only one who got the "silly shot" memo on this pic! haha Yes, she is my child! :)

...and that's a wrap on Christmas 2010 (pardon the pun!)

XOXOXOX

Wordless Wednesday- Christmas Snow!

The morning of December 26th we set out to make a "monster snowgirl." What can I say? When Mickey does something- he does it big! :) Needless to say, we all had a fun time building our snowgirl, playing with Sima (our black Lab) and just being together. I am so blessed to have a husband who enjoys spending time with his family making memories and a little girl that melts my heart with each smile! Life is good.

Our Splendiferous Christmas- Part 4

(Some) Reasons why Christmas with the Rush family was so special this year:

1- We had a white Christmas:

2- It was cousin Rory's first Christmas:

3- We were blessed with lots of wonderful food:

4- Gifts were in abundance:

5- We were able to spend time with those we love most- family:

6- After what felt like 1,001 tries we (sort of) got a family photo shoot in the snow plus a few extra pics!

Only one post left to go.....

I hope you had a marvelous Monday! We have been cleaning and organizing, but we need to be finding a home for all of the gifts that are still sitting in the living room. I guess sitting here on the computer is not getting that done, huh?! More later...

Our Splendiferous Christmas - Part 3

Christmas morning is such an exciting time! For some reason, I am always the first person up. The anticipation is just too much for me! :) I thought I was going to have to go and wake Mackaylan up, but she eventually rolled out of bed a little before 8:00AM. Can you tell she was happy it was finally Christmas morning?



This year I decided I wanted to carry on a tradition from my childhood- opening stockings on mom and dad's bed. After we all opened our stockings, Mickey and Mackaylan cooperated for a family photo shot which made me very happy! :)

After that, we ventured to the living room to see what Santa had left behind. Mackaylan was overjoyed with her 3-story doll house, real porcelain doll, Leapster Explorer, Go-Go Walking Puppy, clothes, and a pair of boots.

We even discovered that Santa left Mackaylan a note thanking her for the chocolate chip cookies and picture that she drew for him. He also went on to explain the reasoning behind a toy dog instead of the real puppy she asked for! (Thanks, Santa!)

After breakfast mom and dad stopped by for their annual Christmas morning visit. This is a tradition that they started since the grandkids have gotten a little older. We used to do breakfast at my sister's on Christmas morning, but once the kiddos came along we all knew they would want to be at home playing with their new toys so mom and dad decided they would make rounds to see what all Santa delivered.

Mickey bought Mackaylan and I a joint gift- the movie White Christmas. Little did we know that we would be getting a white Christmas ourselves! :)

Before we opened our presents from one another Mickey read the Christmas story aloud and we had a short family devotion on the real meaning of Christmas!

Mackaylan loved the doll stroller, Zhu Zhu Pet Carriage, books, and clothes that she received from the two of us.

Mickey got new Bolle sunglasses, clothes, a new journal for 2011, Bop-It Bounce, and new 4-wheeler racing boots.

As for myself, I received a new Bible, a cookbook, a new pair of Dansko shoes, a camera backpack and much more. I am one very lucky girl!

Hang on. We aren't done yet. There's still more to come......