Christmas 2009

Christmas Recap. Sad that there isn't enough time to document it when it happens, that it has a to be a recap. Better late than nothing.

Ward Christmas party where Santa and his helper were spotted.

Rushton Family party on Christams Eve. Lots of food, fun, laughter, singing, reading of the nativity story with the kids putting a piece on the table until it was complete, more food, good company and fun.

Traditional photo of the kids with Grandparents on Christmas Eve.

One present to open on Christmas Eve: jammies, handmade from Grandma Rushton. I've come to realize, this is the best I'm going to get with two strong personality children. The cosmos would have to align for them both to smile at the same time.

A cute tradition we've started is Reindeer poop. Santa sometimes lets the reindeer in the house to get warm and oops! Livie was checking it out.

Howie got to the wiggle bikes first and was checking them out.

They loved their bikes, and Santa brought Howie his scooter he has been asking for. Now he can "go scootering with Dan and Lauren".

Olivia got a play kitchen (a beautiful handme down from Subrina, thank you) and thought she was in heaven. We put the bow on her head and this was her cheese with her eyes closed. Silly girl.

The bigger hit was the plastic storage container I bought to put the play food in. Kids...

We had a lovely Christmas. It was small, but that was a good thing because we were able to focus on other things this season and less on the monetary side. Kids made Christmas so wonderful and magical. What a great year.

Happy 5th Birthday Howie

We celebrated Howie's birthday on Saturday. Since his birthday is on Christmas Eve and everyone is usually with their family and doing Christmas things, we decided to move his birthday a few days early. Howie first chose his cake he wanted and then turning his birthday in a bowling party seemed only natural. He was pretty excited to go bowling with his friends. We found some cute miniature bowling games as favors. It was too perfect. I asked him if he thought the cake turned out okay, if it looked like the picture. He gave me a big hug and said it turned out better than the picture. What a way to melt mom's heart. I wasn't expecting the actual bowling to take as long as it did, I guess I under estimated how much I would be running around with little kids bowling, but I think we all had a pretty good time. In the middle of bowling, the store presented Howie with an actual bowling pin, retired of course and let everyone sign it. Howie thought that was the coolest. I am still surprised at how heavy it is, each time I hear Howie drop it around the house! Howie had such a fun time and we hope the friends did as well. Thanks friends for sharing in Howie's special day.

hApPy BiRtHdAy hOwIe! We love you tons!

Howie's Preschool Christmas Program

Howie's preschool did their Christmas program at Tommy's nursing home. It was very cute. All the kids were in Elf hats and shoes. They sang some songs and then recited the poem, "The Night Before Christmas" for the residents. Howie practiced his part over and over. He had the first first lines of the poem, "Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse." I couldn't get my video camera turned on fast enough, but he did awesome! Later, I was ready for he next lines, "And lying his finger aside of his nose, and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose." Howie knocked it out of the ball park! He did so awesome. He was the only one who had memorized his parts! Hopefully the video loads. Tommy takes him into the nursing home sometimes to visit some of the elderly residents. After the program, he specifically went to two of the resident's rooms that did not make it to the program. It was his idea to sing a Christmas song for them. That melts you heart to see that he is picking up on the kindness deeds we try to teach him. That right there, is pretty rewarding. On the drive home, he told me he wanted to start learning the entire poem. Howie is growing up so fast and we are so proud of his accomplishments. Way to go Howie.

try not to let the ending of the video (the total boy thing he constantly does) ruin the cute video

The Nutcracker

As you can see, things have been busy. I haven't even posted since Halloween. I can't seem to get on top of things again and so instead of being overwhelmed by all the things I need to catch up on posting, I will just post and try to stay current. That way I don't get overwhelmed (easily done it seems lately for me).

Howie has always had an attraction to Nutcrackers. He always asks for one each year and loves them. He is fascinated with them. This year we took Howie on a special date, just him and his parents. Last year on clearance, I found a Nutcracker and we pulled it out this year, Howie was in hog heaven. Then, we got some last minute tickets to The Nutcracker ballet production (thanks Lindsey). We took Howie on a special "date" with mom and dad to this production. Just so he would know what was happening, we watched clips from the Nutcracker ballet on Youtube and we explained the story to him. He wanted to take his Nutcracker to the production, so we let him and he was in all the photos. Howie was so cute and did well the first half. He wanted to see the mice and Nutcracker fight again. He attention span was limited during the second half, but we managed. When we got home, we surprised him with a very special Nutcracker M&M candy dispenser. He loved it. What a special kid and such a cute and funny addiction to Nutcrackers. It was a nice day for us all.

Christmas 2008. Somehow he finds Nutcrackers where ever we go.

"Silver"

Yesterday I gave haircuts to the boys; Howie first. When I got Tommy into the chair I was surprised to see so much gray in his hair along the sides (it was pretty long, that must have enhancing the gray and brought it to my attention, yes that must have been it). I called for Howie to come and see what was in dad's hair, trying to rub it in to Tommy. Hey, lest you think I'm completely ruthless and mean, I don't think Tommy minds because he still HAS hair. He is beating the odds of his family genetics. Anyway, Howie takes a look at it and says, "Wow Dad, look at all that silver!" Tommy and I couldn't stop laughing.

(note: no photo allowed, that would be mean and ruthless, sensitive subject)

HALLOWEEN 2009

Whew....where to catch up!? Work has been kicking my trash (physically draining and emotionally right now), so I guess the far and few posts are justified. Well, there are other things I could post about, but I will skip to my FAVORITE subject: (drum roll please).....HALLOWEEN! Yep, the 'most wonderful time of the year'. Here is a few of the fun things we have been doing this month:

My work (Child Protective Services team) party on the Saturday before Halloween. Our family theme was The Wizard of Oz this year for Halloween. Yes, Howie's costume is hand made. I am not sure I will ever do that again.

Howie-tin man, Olivia-lion, me-scarecrow, and tommy-yellow brick road.

Howie enjoying some festive witch brew. I made some yummy treats for the party, witches hats, bone cookies, and witch brooms (which I got tired of making so there is only a few).

However, I have to say that my coolest creation yet was worms. They were the hit of the party. Freaked most people out mentally and they wouldn't eat them even though they were made of jello. Thanks Rich for being a great sport, hope you don't mind I used your photo. Good times.
Carved pumpkins and this is Tommy's creation, the puking pumpkin. (He then took it to the nursing home where their decorated station won!)
Halloween party at the office on Wednesday. Only a few brave ones dressed up. I used Tommy's yellow brick road outfit so it would be easier to take on and off at work.
Won a prize for most original costume. Wednesday night went to Tuacahn's Thriller. I would LOVE for my mom and Julie B to come to this one year. It is the most awesome performace of Halloween song and dance ever. Oops, missed the disclaimer: "Not recommended for the faint of heart or for children 12 and under."

Howie LOVE it. I loved sharing this special event with him. The only draw back was that it was fetching cold!! It had snowed in SLC and a cold front had come down to St. George. Six layers of clothes, stadium seat pads, hotties in out pockets, blankets around us and hot chocolate did nothing against the wind chill! It was fabuless, but it took a good while to unthaw afterwards.

No one told me the whole night I had my headband on upside down. Thanks.

Howie's favorite dance was the one with the three Jason's. He laughed his head off and a lady behind me tapped me on my arm and told me he had an infectious laugh and to put him on YouTube. I was just glad other people thought it was cute too. Hence, Jason was nice enough to take this photo with Howie.

Then Howie had a Halloween party at his preschool on Friday.

Some festivities this month. I love the pumpkin push ins better than carving. We used them last year and will use them each year. Like Mr. Potato Head, different creations each time.

A Halloween pizza from Papa Murphy's one night for dinner, quick and easy.
Halloween lanterns. Got this idea from Bobbi originally, thanks. Instead of tissue paper strips glued on with mod podge, we just painted the various sized canning jars with acrylic paint. I was very proud that this control freak of a mother didn't redo or touch up Howie's pumpkin, black cat or vampire paint job. Then we painted faces on. Super easy and fun to do. We lined our walk way with them.

Trunk or treat. Tommy and I switched costumes.

Some random person at the trunk or treat. Faced painted butler in a old car, looked almost like a hirsch. Creepy. LOVE it. (as you can see, didn't design the tin man costume very well. Howie couldn't hold the bag and get a piece of candy. Once he got a piece of candy, he couldn't put it in his bag. Poor engineering job by mom. Sorry Howie.)

Found this witch on someone's porch while trick or treating. Thanks for letting us take a photo with her.

Livy was very cute and got the whole trick or treat thing down, walking from door to door, holding candy in her hand, but all this without her lion hood on.
At the end of the night, met up with Jim and Cynthia and the cousin's, knocked a few doors together in our old neighborhood ward and then went to the Haunted Mansion of St. George. There is this emaculate...what is the word for it...plantation....no....I don't know. This old couple have a home with acres and acres of land, right smack in the middle of St. George. But it is gated and hidden, you wouldn't know it was there. At Halloween, they decorate their grounds and open it up to the public. They give away king sized candy bars and free train rides around their grounds. It is a lot of fun to walk around and feel of the ambience. What a perfect ending to a FABULESS month. Hope you had a goulish time too.

wow

You might have to turn up your volume since this video is just wispers.

Wispering....ahhhh.....my favorite sound!

Baby's First Birthday

We really can't say how much we LOVE having Livy in our family. She is such a joy and makes us all smile. We had a really fun day with lots of cake and swimming too. Thanks to everyone that supported Olivia and made this a special day for her.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLIVIA

WE LOVE YOU