Monday Morning Project

Do you have a favorite? I'm still deciding, but either way, I enjoyed making all of these thank you cards to have on hand, as well as to send out for wonderful and thoughtful Christmas gifts received this year. I love making cards and such. It is the "creative" side of me and a way I indulge myself with "me" time. Abigail took a long enough nap to allow me to drag out all of my card and stamp stuff down to the "craft room" also known as our dinning room, as well as to stamp and create all of the above cards. Next project: Valentine's Day cards?? Time will tell.

December in Pictures

The thing with doing one post for a whole month, especially the month of December, is that there are a whole lot of pictures. Skip around as time allows for.

December was a wonderful month--full of family and friends.
It began as Abigail met a new friend, Santa:Abigail once again proved she was a born traveler as she made it through all connections, layovers, and flights to CA like an angel.

My parents hosted the Family Christmas Party this year.Due to the early arrival of my cousin's baby, Tyler, Abigail and I were promoted to the parts of Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus in the Nativity.

We had a chance to visit with lots of friends.

Good friend Joseph, Julie and their cute family from our days at Duke:

Randi, Anjanette, and Debbie from home sweet home

(not pictured: Randi's husband Mike and Tyler):

Emily, from days of studying Chemistry in high school:

But mostly, our holidays were filled with family.

Ashton and Brent playing Davy Crocket:

Marble Machine Makers:

Abigail with Grandma on Christmas Morning:
Chad with the nieces and nephews (5 of the 8 staying at the house):
Abigail, opening her first Chrismtas Present.

Thanks cousin Hayley for the blocks and super cute bows!

4 Generations:

The second half of our vacation was spent in Heaven....also known as
Cambria.

The sunset:

Spencer with Brent searching for sea shells:

At the beach, watching and chasing the waves:

Happy Family on the beach:

Happy Babies (Abigail and Craig, 4 months older):

And suddenly, you realize, this is what heaven must be like:

The Sea Lions congregate on the coast near Hearst Castle to birth their babies:

Abigail finds her toes:

Happy Family walking on the ranch:

My dad walking with Kate:
My Mom with Benjamin:
The boys (most, but not all):
And this is what it is all about: FAMILY
(mom and dad with all 8 grandkids)

Pretty in Pink

Thanksgiving Visit to Utah

Fortunately, we were able to get tickets with air miles to Utah for Thanksgiving this year.
Unfortunately, the night before, at 9:30PM, we received a call saying our flight was cancelled.

Fortunately, we were able to rebook our flight.

Unfortunately, it was for 7:00AM the next morning.
Fortunately, we had alarm clocks and were able to make it on time---.

Unfortunately, Abigail spit up all over the place on the way to the airport--and in the airport--.

Fortunately, we had a change of clothes with us.
Unfortunately, our flight was not direct.
But, fortunately, we have a born traveler on our hands and she was a perfect passenger--hardly crying at all and sleeping or eating most of the time. And...

Fortunately for us, Abigail is so cute she was able to smile our way into an extra seat (2 extra seats on one of the flights) for her car seat on most of our flights.

A born traveler:

Once in Utah, we met up with my brother, Spencer, at BYU for a fun visit:

A super quick visit with my cousin Megan, her husband Tyler, and their cute son Ashton:

Abigail with Great-Grandma and Grandpa:

Abigail with friend, Kimber:

Abigail with cousin October:

Abigail reading with Grandpa and cousin Alex:

Abigail, after taking a walk with Grandma:

Abigail with Aunt Heidi and cousin McKadee:

4 Generation picture, Abigail, Tyler, Grandma Beverly and Great Grandma:

One Happy Family:

A Name and a Blessing

Catch-up-posts continue.

October 17th weekend was full of wonderful family members who had gathered for Abigail's baby blessing. My parents came from California, Tyler's parents came from Utah, and my sister-in-law Ann (aka, super mom) with four kids in tow, came from North Carolina. Tyler's cousin, Michelle, also came for Sunday.

It was a splendid weekend full of family time.

Sunday was a special day as Abigail received her name and a blessing.

On the records of the church Abigail will be known as

Abigail Ella Rushton.

Tyler gave Abigail a sweet blessing and I am thankful for his worthiness as a father and as a priesthood holder in our church. Tyler's Father, my Father, our Bishop, and two close friends, Dane and Brian, were also able to stand in the circle as Tyler blessed Abigail.

Abigail was sweet and calm throughout the blessing--with the help of my dad holding in her pacifier. Mom had made Abigail a beautiful white blessing dress. My friend Angela made Abigail and I matching bracelets. We are so thankful for everyone who came and so thankful to know that families are forever.

It was a wonderful day, but even more than that, we were once again reminded of how special Abigail is in our lives, we are so grateful for our Heavenly Father blessing us with such a sweet daughter, and we were again reminded of the sweet and simple abundances our lives are filled with.

The Grandma's:
All the granddaughters on my side of the family:
My parents:

and the little one said, "roll over"

To celebrate 12 weeks of life here on earth Abigail decided to roll over.

It isn't a perfect and smooth roll, but, it is a roll, from tummy to back. Yesterday she preferred rolling to her right, while today she has preferred to roll to her left.

Weekend in North Carolina

This is the first of many "catch-up" posts.
The last weekend in September we headed up to NC to visit Jamin, Ann and crew. We are beyond excited that family is now a mere 5 hours away (7 hours if you count all of the 'feeding baby' stops). It was a wonderful weekend--filled with lots of showing off Abigail, playing with the kiddos, chatting, a visit to Wake Forest where Jamin is a professor, eating great home-cooked food, enjoying good southern food, and just hanging out.