Anyone for Tea?

It's THURSDAY! This means it is our long day (without daddy until about 9:00 or so tonight). Izze and I thought we would embrace the day and have a tea party in her princess tent. She was all dressed up in her pink and purple boas ready for tea. She would pour the tea (pretend tea) in the little tea cups, and we sat in the tent sipping away. Of course we had to bring her lamb in with us so lamb could have some tea too. We don't do much without lamb there with us. As I sat there sipping and laughing, I thought to myself this is what I want her to remember, moments like these. Later today we plan to do some errands, which she likes too, but I know this "tea time" will be one of our favorite things to do together. I know it will be for me.

Friend Time!

I got to go out last night and spend some time without the kids with a girlfriend of mine. I am so glad that the Lord puts people in our lives that are just those people you know you will probably always be friends with. I have a few people like that, not many, but at the same time I think there can only be a few to fill those spots in our lives. I had a great time catching up and talking without any interruptions. Thanks to my friend for being you, just genuine you!

Thanks and Giving!

Every year I am reminded of how very blessed we are. I try and think about all the things that the Lord has blessed us with and to thank him for them. This year was no exception. We have a beautiful little girl and a handsome little boy, and we adore both of them. That right there is blessing enough.
We headed for Ponca City on Thanksgiving day to spend some time with family and of course eat all day long (or graze as some of us call it.) The day is filled with all the things a Thanksgiving dinner should be filled with. From the turkey to the dessert, and don't forget the appetizers before the main course. It's amazing how one day could make you not want turkey again until the next Thanksgiving. Thank the Lord for ham on Christmas!!! The kids enjoyed the trip, and they both took naps. Izze did so well she took a nap on aunt Cindy's bed, so proud. Izze and Ian both got Christmas outfits from nanny Carol and papa Lin. They are so cute.
My brother and his family stopped by and it was great to see them. His girls are growing up so fast, and they are so beautiful. We had a great Thanksgiving, and are thankful for all our family and friends. See you in about a month.

Taking It Easy!

Vacation Time! How we love this time. It's so nice not to have to worry about being somewhere or doing something. Everything is on our time (and the kids schedules!) We took another road trip to Dallas for a little Christmas shopping. We went to our favorite stores and a few new ones this time. We stayed another day so we where able to fit a little more into the schedule. The kids are doing really well on these trips. Izze keeps asking if we are going to go on another trip. She got to ride her carousel ride, and she always has to ride the brown horse for some reason. We figure by this time, if we would have kept all the ticket stubs we would have a free ride by now. She got to ride it twice this time and got a balloon. We went to our favorite places to eat, including la Madeline and we brought some of their tomato soup back with us. It is so good, I think we ended up eating it that night when we got back. Oh, how I wish we had one of those here. On our way back we stopped in Norman to take a look at what Marshals had for Christmas, we ending up finishing up some of our Christmas list there. I wish we had another one of those closer too. Anyways, it was a great trip, we always enjoy it. I think it is becoming a tradition in a sense. Izze talks about going back to Dallas on a trip. She is already getting use to going. Time together is sooo great!

To one incredible husband & dad!

Brian - you are amazing! You are such a great dad and husband, we couldn't ask for more. I love to see the kids faces light up when they see you, and I just love being around you. You are my best friend. You are our hero for everything you do for our family! Love you! The family

Daddy time...well, not really

Brian Here...thought I would jump in for a quick post to tell the world how incredibly blessed I am with my family!

Alicia-you are my hero. No really, I'm being very serious when I say that you are an amazing hero of mommyhood. I don't know how you do it, but I see the results every day in our wonderful family. I love you beyond the very words I could ever express.

Izze-when we laugh and tickle and play and bounce and dance and sing and eat fruit snacks, I am transported to a world that is all our own.

Ian-a new level of bonding is happening with us little fella and it is beyond belief.

Rush family, I love you.
Dad (Brian)

Me Time!

Today, as I sit to create this blog, the outside is already reminding me of the winter cold to come. But, today I do seem to enjoy it. We (the kids and I) had lunch with our favorite person, Daddy! This is daddy's long day, so we try and meet with him on Thursdays to spend some time with him. Right now both kids are down for a nap and it's just me listening to Vince Guaraldi (A Charlie Brown Christmas) and a hot cup of tea. We have all been a little under the weather lately, and this is just what the doctor ordered for mommy (me) today. I am thinking about the Christmas list next to me, that I need to start on. It can wait a bit. Izze ask about everyday if we can put up the Christmas Tree. We keep telling her in about a week. To her though there is no time, at least that she can understand. We plan to take her to a Christmas Tree farm this year. The ones I know about have hot chocholate and candy canes. She will love that. Can't wait to see her face light up. Well, here's to many more great Thursdays, and "ME TIMES."

Our "BIG" Little Man!

Ian is sitting up now pretty good. He still needs a little help, or he starts to fall. The boppy is doing the job here. What did people do before the boppy?








Look at that smile. He has both of his bottom teeth in now, and I'm sure more will
follow soon. He drools continually.









Those big eyes, just like his daddy. Who couldn't love those. They are more hazel now, like daddy's, but some days they look more blue. Brian's do that too, but his will seem more green on some days. Not a bad quality to have.

Holding Brother

These are our gifts. God has truly blessed us. Every time I look at our children, I know it is so true. He chose us to be their parents. He didn't have to give them to us, but by his mercy and grace he did. Now, with this great responsibility, Lord give us wisdom to raise them with grace and success.

Izze wanted to hold brother as she does often. You can tell by the expression on Ian's face, he doesn't seem to mind. I know inside, he is just waiting for the day when he can get up and do whatever she is doing or go wherever she is going. Izze is having fun, she keeps pushing brother's head back to make him sit still. She does it out of love, of course. Out of a heart of gratitude, thank you Lord!

SWEET BIG SISTER!!

I love to watch Isabelle and Ian play together. When he is in his exersuacer, she will pile the toys so high they will be up to his neck. She likes to sing, and talk to him. When she talks to him it's like she is trying to talk big with all these words that don't make sense, even though she can talk really well. She doesn't like it when he cries. She will tell him, it's ok baby, or brother don't cry, and then sometimes it's stop brother. She likes to go with me to get him when he gets up from his naps. She will pull the bumper pad down and say, hi brother, or brother wake up. He loves to watch her. He will bobble his head all around to try and follow her. He smiles so big when he sees her. There is nothing like seeing them bond this way. I thought one child was the best, but I really do enjoy the two. Knowing that they will be close and love each other so much , makes it all worth it.

Quality Daddy Time!

Our little girl loves her daddy. I got this picture of them the other night. I had just feed Ian and put him to bed and Izze and daddy were having some "quality" daddy time. She likes to watch the "train show," as she calls it. Others of us know it as The Polar Express. She likes to watch it a little bit before she goes to bed, and any other time that we will let her too. I think it is so important to her and to him to have that time together. She will grow up having that "man" in her life to show her how other men that will be in her future should treat her. I know they will have many more daddy, daughter times and that makes me so excited. She loves to "work" with daddy out in the garage, on the car, or yard. Whatever he is doing she likes to help. If she knows he is going outside to the garage she says, Izze work with daddy. She will sit in the car and hold bolts, screws or whatever they are working on together. She likes to sit in the front seat and pretend to drive, she has a big smile on her face because she thinks she is doing something so great. I love seeing them together!

FIRST PIG TALES!

This Sunday, (yesterday) I put Isabelle's hair in her first pig tales. Her hair has always been so baby fine and not a whole lot of it, so it has been hard to put things in her hair and have them stay. She looked adorable!! She liked them too, and couldn't wait to show daddy when we got to church. She was jumping all around the house. I think she liked the pig tales bouncing. She still has those kissable cheeks, you just can't help but to kiss them. She is our little princess!

More Pictures at the Park

Isabelle trying to make her way up the hill to the playground area
Ian and Daddy - such big smiles!
Isabelle entertaining us on the little bridge - she amazes us!
Ian is all smiles! Of course hands in mouth. It's hard to keep them out.
I thought this was sweet. Ian caught with his eyes closed or blinking one.
We are so blessed to have these little people in our lives. Lord help us never to forget that! They are our gifts.

Fall Family Pictures Have Arrived

This weekend we headed to Fink Park in Edmond for some family pictures. Every year about this time we try and fit it in. We usually go to Will Rogers Park, but this year we decided to change it up a bit. Fink park has been re-done and is really nice. We got some great pictures, and then Izze wanted to play of course. So daddy took her to play for a little bit, before we headed home for naps.

More Halloween Pictures

Isabelle and Kylie downtown
Izze walking to the next store for candy.
Izze, mommy and brother getting a quick picture before heading home
Izze, daddy and brother before they heading out for more candy

All DRESSED Up!

We had such a good night on Halloween night. Izze dressed up like a princess, except she had pink wings, and she didn't want to wear her tiara because it hurt her head. Ian was a leopard with a hood that had cute little ears on it. We took them downtown Edmond for some fun. A lot of the downtown businesses were handing out candy and they had streets blocked off with the big blow up slide and jumping thing. Some friends of ours went with us and their little girl was an OU cheerleader, she was so cute, just the wrong team. (HA, HA for all you OU fans.) Izze was so amazed by everyone and everything around her we could hardly get her to walk because she was just looking around taking it all in. After the downtown fun, Brian took her around our neighborhood. He said she had it down by that time. He said it was comical to watch her. She would just go right up to the doors staring right in (if the door was open), she would knock and say trick - or - treat and open her bag for them to put candy in. Then she would say thank you. He said she wanted to walk the whole time and do everything herself. She had so much fun. She couldn't hardly wait to get to eat a piece of candy. She ask for candy every day now. Maybe mommy and daddy will have to take care of the candy for her. They were sooo cute!!

Our Little "Artisit"

Izze loves the pumpkins we got at Chester's Pumpkin Patch, so I thought it would be fun for her to decorate them. Well, she loved that idea. We took stickers, crayons, and markers to make our own special looking pumpkins. Izze liked using the markers the best, but she needed a little help. They ended up all over her clothes, but thats ok because she will only be two years old once. She had a great time marking all over the pumpkins, but to her and us it was her little masterpieces. Here is daddy and Izze displaying our new and "improved" pumpkins.