Christmas Day 08'!!!!!!

This Christmas we decided to wait until Christmas morning to open gifts with the kids. The night before we read to the kids about baby Jesus being born, and why we have Christmas, Izze gets it a little bit, and Ian just repeats what he hears right now. So cute! The night before we sat out the bicycle and the basketball goal that nanny Carol and papa Lin had got them, so they would see them in the morning. Christmas morning, Isabelle, ran into the bathroom (I was showering, I thought I would be done before they woke up, but....), she said mommy, there is a new bike in the living room, I tried to ask her a question about it, but she had already headed back to the living room. Izze and Ian were both so much fun this year. You could see the excitement on their faces as they opened up each present, and you knew which ones they really liked and then those they didn't really care for, like clothes. So many new things to play with, it kept them busy for hours and now days. We cleaned up the paper and preceded to Ponca City to have Christmas lunch/dinner with the family, not without some of our new toys making the journey with us though. haha. Paw paw Jack was able to go to Ponca with us and share in the Christmas festivities. Nanny Carol, Papa Lin, Nanny Faith, my brother and his family were there, aunt Jessi and her family, aunt Cindy, and her family so many I can't remember them all. We had everything you could ever want to eat, it was all there. I have to say some of the best cooks run in my family. I kinda missed out on that though. LOL! The kids got to open a few more presents from Nanny Faith, and uncle Tom, and aunt Jessi after we had some good eating. Izze got a Dora horse that really moves and she just loved it, she played with it the whole time, along with my brothers girls, who she loves to play with so much. Ian joined in on the fun as much as he could, he didn't get to venture outside like the big kids, but he tried. Nanny Carol sent us home with all the goodies she makes every year. We had banana bread, pumpkin bread, fudge, peanut butter balls, and the list goes on. Well, as you can imagine it didn't last long, it was gone within a few days, and now for the New Year we need to break out the chicken and vegetables. LOL We just had a great Christmas with family this year, and are so thankful for everyone of them.
(The pictures are as follows: Isabelle and Ian in their Christmas outfits the Sunday before Christmas, thank you Nanny and papa for them, Izze riding her new bike, such a big girl, Ian with his new music guitar, he loves that thing. I don't think he put it down the first two days, and would burst into tears if we had to leave it behind. Ian and daddy resting on Christmas Day. Ian couldn't hold his eyes open any longer, so daddy worked his magic so he could rest. Look at that face, so precious. Izze and Ian opening presents from Nanny Faith, and uncle Tom & aunt Chloe and the girls. They got some good stuff. The last four are of the kids opening presents on Christmas morning at our house. Isabelle on her new bike, Ian with his basketball goal, and Izze with her ballerina jewelry box.) I think that covers it, couldn't have asked for a better or blessed Christmas together. Love to all the family, and looking to a New Year!!

Christmas Eve 08'

This Christmas Eve we spent at our house with Brian's brother, Mike, and his family, and paw paw Jack. We decided to do a big family breakfast. The best part, the guys did the cooking. We had biscuits, sasuage, eggs, and of course coffee. It was a nice morning. Then on to the exticing part, (at least for the kids), opening presents!!! Ian as you can see in the picture got a backpack, he was very proud of. I like the picture with Paw Paw and all the kids, Isabelle, Jackson, Goldie and Ian. The one with Ian in his stocking is funny too, because the stocking is almost as big as he is. I have many more pictures I could post, but maybe later, it takes so long to upload them. We had a great Christmas Eve with family. It was fun to see the kids play together and enjoy each others company. The holidays make you realize how important spending time with family is. love you guys, thanks for sharing your Christmas Eve with us!!

Christmas has passed...

The Christmas tree has been removed from it's standing position in the house, and now resides in the attic, until the next Christmas season begins. The presents are gone, lights and decorations have their place in the attic as well. When we open the attic they will remind us of the holidays still to come. It's always a little sad to see all that sparkle go, but nice to feel neat and orderly again, at least as neat and orderly as you can be with two small kiddos. Sometimes, it seems they know we are trying to clean up, and start dragging everything they can out, as fast as they can, to keep up with us. I have pictures to post of our Christmas with family, but will do it in the next blog, hopefully. This Christmas season was so much fun with the kids, seeing their faces light up,telling them about Jesus, the reason we celebrate Christmas ( They will understand even more as they grow). It was fun to go look at Christmas lights. Ian, every time he seen lights he would say "Christmas lights" in his little voice, so cute. Papa Jack got to go with us this year, so it was extra special. He showed us one place that was lite up like crazy, so pretty. Every year seems to be more special as the kids get older, and understand more.

We had a great Christmas this year with family and friends, and are thankful for every one of them. We are still eating the baked goodies from nanny Carol. Whew, almost ready to finish them and be on our way to chicken and vegetables for the new year to come. Now, we are waiting, anticipating the New Year, and all it will bring. It is interesting to look back at an entire year and remember everything that has happened, too much to comprehend at one time I think. Hope everyone has a great New Year, hope to post more later.

Tuesday - and Random thoughts as well.....

burrrrr................ Cold one today!! The kids and I headed to the library today, all dressed in our puffy coats, as we call them, hats, gloves, check. Brian says we look like marshmallows, or Ian does when he wears his. If you have ever seen the Christmas story with the little kid in his puffy coat that can hardly move, well, that is Ian. He can barley bend over without falling over. At least it keeps him warm, I express. If the roads aren't slick tonight we will be headed to practice, hopefully.

I finally got our Christmas cards ordered on Sunday. I am a little behind this year, or maybe I say that ever year, hummm. ... I think starting things before Thanksgiving is the way to do things, and have things done and not feel rushed about it, and enjoy the holiday season, maybe next year. Although, we have finished Christmas shopping this year and we did that before Thanksgiving, that is a first for us! Hopefully, I will get the cards in the mail this week or next. Running out of time, it seems like Christmas is already upon us!! I did get the rest of the decorations out yesterday too so we are moving ahead!! Well, here is to a cold Tuesday, may it be warm within your hearts and homes.

Thanksgiving Day!!

We enjoyed a great Thanksgiving with family. We headed to Ponca on Thanksgiving day for some great homemade cooking and some family get togetherness! We had everything from turkey (which was the moistest turkey I have had in a long time), potatoes, white gravy, rolls, broccoli cheese casserole, and much more. Plus, all the desserts. Wow, I think I ate three times that day. After the feast was over, a bunch of us headed outside for some frisbee time. Izze and Ian had to join in on the fun. They would run and get the frisbee and try and throw them, they were so cute, and full of energy. Izze had so much fun with Andrea, Danielle and Whitney. She didn't want to go home, she wanted to stay and play outside with them. Ian was fun to watch too, he wanted to be just like the big kids, doing everything they did. We had a great visit, then back home that night. Friday we spent with Brian's brother and family, and paw paw Jack. They came in from Little Rock. Jackson, and Goldie have both grown and changed so much. It was nice to spend the day with them. It was a great day to be thankful for family.

THANKFUL PT. DUEX

For all of you blog followers of the Rushes of OKC, normally you hear from Alicia, but today, it's Brian sharing a couple thoughts. Thankful seems like such an inadequate word for how I feel about my wife and family. Alicia is most incredible woman I know. The way she cares for our family is really quite amazing. I learn so much from her about patience, grace, tickle pillow fights, going above and beyond, giving of yourself, and the list goes on. She is Amazing and I am beyond thankful for her in my life. My life is different because of her. My life is better because of her. Alicia, I love you.

Secondly, I am thankful for my kids. Again, it is hard to put into words what it is to be a dad. New emotions. New struggles. New goals. New priorities. Isabelle and Ian truly astound me each day. Each day is filled with new discoveries and with each day I find that I love them even more than I thought was possible. My little chick-a-dee (Izze), I am so thankful for you. Bo (Ian), I am so thankful for you.

Thankful!!

Thinking about Thanksgiving tomorrow, I just wanted to say how THANKFUL I am for my family and friends. Without these people in my life, I think it would be a lonely one. They make me better than I am. I wouldn't want to be without any of you. So, thank you for being you in my life. To you, and yours, have a great Thanksgiving Day!

Home Vacation!

As I sit here pondering what to blog today, I have to say there is something to be said about vacation's at home. This last week, we spent our vacation at home, and we had such a good, relaxing time. Some pro's to the stay at home vacation..... you get to sleep in your own bed, so that means better sleep. The kids get to take their naps still, so they aren't cranky, plus getting to sleep in their own beds at night, so everyone is well rested. Getting back to the nap, I have to say, I took a nap almost everyday, I haven't done that since Ian was born. We got some work done around the house, which probably otherwise wouldn't have gotten done. I got drawers, cabinets, cleaned out that have been in need of organization for a long time now. That felt great. It's the little things, you know. We got our kitchen area painted. We didn't get to the whole house, but at least we got that done. We had some fun time too. Brian got to take the kids to their lapsit class at the Library, so he got to experience that time with them. We stuffed ourselves and played at Incredible Pizza. Izze got to ride the go carts with Brian this time. She was so cute sitting back in the seat, you could hardly see her. Ian was running from one thing to the next, that was his first experience there, except when he was first born. We jumped and slide at the bouncin craze place until mommy and daddy were worn out. Those things are a lot of work to get up and down, you know? We ate good food, so I got a break from the cooking, Hurray! Of course our vacation wouldn't be complete without the shopping part. We did our normal Mall, and headed down to Marshall's a day too. We had a date night where we just did Christmas shopping, so that was fun, and had dessert together at Barnes and Noble. I have to say we had great family time, it was fun! Today, Izze ask if daddy was going to be home all day today, and I told her no, but in a few days he would be home again all day. She said, "oh, that's not good". She is something. Couldn't have asked for a better vacation.

Have You Ever Heard Something So Sad...?

We have had a few days vacation this week, so today we headed to the mall. One of Izze's many favorites. Brian took the kids to play in the play area, while I did some shopping (looking really, I didn't find anything). When I meet up with them later, Brian told me that Izze went up to some girls and asked if they wanted to play with her, her words, "you guys want to play with me", and Brian said they were mean and said NO. He said she walked away and told Brian no one wanted to play with her, so they played some together, then about five minutes later she was ready to go. My heart broke. I know this will happen probably a lot of times as she grows and starts school, and we will have to deal with it, work it out, but I didn't expect it this soon. Ouch! I was so sad, she doesn't show any signs of it affecting her, but my heart sank a little, and sinks a little more thinking about all those things to come we will have to work through. Why can't life be simple, everyone likes everyone world?

Little "heart aches"

I just had to blog about this. Brian has been talking with Izze about using the potty in the night, so she doesn't leak, which she has been leaking some at nights. Her pull up just can't hold it all. Last night, I woke up to a sound like something dropped (which was the lid to her potty). I lay there with my eyes open, I see Izze's little frame gliding in the darkness going back to her room, so quiet, peaceful, not bothering to wake me and ask for help, but doing it all by herself. I thought at that moment how proud I was of her for being such a big girl, and at the same time, as I lay there my eyes begin to fill with tears. I, realizing that she was becoming a big girl with each new step and phase she passes through. She actually got up twice last night to potty by herself, never even waking me up, but going straight back to her room and going back to sleep. Wow! I was so emotional, I couldn't hardly go back to sleep. So proud of her, yet my heart ached a little. Have you ever had so much emotion/feeling that you can feel your heart actually ache?? Well......
Kiss, hug, kiss, hug to my little/ big girl.