Pumpkin Festival

Last weekend there we went to the annual pumpkin festival in Havana.  It was super bright so the pictures look a little funny- but Beau had a great time.

 He checked out the fire truck

 And tested out the helmet...

The fire department in Havana in volunteer and Ben knows one of the guys who proceeded to tell Ben that here were two spots open.... wonderful.  Ben is actually interested when the kids get a little older.  

Anyway, Beau loved the helmet- we could hardly get it away from him.

 Beau was super excited to ride the train- he loves Thomas the train and insisted this was James pulling the train.

 To me Avery and Beau look very different, but looking at these pictures they look alot alike.  This picture of Avery (top) was taken last week at 12 weeks and this picture of Beau was taken in October of 2008- so about the same age. They really do look alot alike- check out the eyes and nose.

Avery is getting so big!!  Wednesday night Beau and I were eating mashed potatos and steak for dinner.  Avery was giving us the stare down so I gave her some mashed potatos, and I think she loved it.  So we may start some ceral soon-  it is hard to believe that she is old enough for food already!! 

Just so you know

No more passies at the Rush House!!!

YAY, Beau has always loved his passy and I thought it was going to break my heart to take it from him. We tried to take it away when he turned 2 in July but at the same time we switched him to a big boy bed and it proved to be too much at once; we caved and gave the passy back.  Last week Ben put Beau to bed and they had a "talk "about being a big boy.  Now that he can pee pee in the potty he is a big boy and only babies use passies.  Beau was in agreement and ever since we have had no passies.  I thought there was going to be crying and screaming.... but I was wrong, Beau has not once cried for his passy.  Everyonce in a while he will ask about it and I will remind him that he is a big boy and big boys don't use passies- Beau will say, Oh Yea, Big Boy, and go on about his day.   

One milestone down a bizillion to go....

He is a recient picture of Avery.  The girls that keep her at playschool made a banner for October and put everyones picture on a pumpkin.  This is Avery's picture, isn't it sweet- she was even smiling.  They took more pictures yesterday, I will post them as soon as they email them to me.  The girls that keep Avery are wonderful, they take wonderful care of the infants and spend time playing and having conversations with them.  They have made returning to work a joy and I appreciate them very much.  

Beau and Avery go to the same school so they see each other often and go out on the playground together. It will be alot of fun next year when Avery can walk and actually play on the playground with Beau.

I never posted these...

Here are some pictures of when Avery was first born....

 Already sucking on her fingers.... this baby is going to be a thumb sucker... and I have decided I am not going to worry about it and we will just buy braces.  No sense in worrying about something you can't control.

 Isn't this precious, she has had him wrapped around her little finger since day 1!!

 Heading home

Can you believe her 3 month birthday is next Sunday, it is hard to believe how quickly time flies.

YAY!! PIctures

 This was the view from our cabin, it was amazing!!

On our first day we were exploring and found this beautiful waterfall. It was a hike so Avery and Granny enjoyed the scenery by the car.

 This was a taxidermy museum, you know that many dead animals in one place Ben had to go and he said he wanted to see Beau's reaction.... (i was scared just standing under this dead bear...)

 Beau was most interested in the house cat... which apparently loved his furry non-breathing friends

 Waterfalls are all over this place.... beautiful

 The cabin we rented was amazing- I could really live up here.

 This is the Rush plantation house.  It was built by John Rush in the late 1800's descendants still live in this home.  Behind this home was a very old grave yard where we found John Rush and his wife Martha's grave, super neat.

 John Rush 1797-1862 this is Beau's great great great great grandfather- whew that is a mouthfull!!

Many of the men is Ben's family were carpenters and I believe they built these benches and the woodworking in addition to building this chapel.

Three generations, Beau's expression is so funny!!

This is George Rush's grave he was in the revolutionary war!! 1755-1831 that is 76 years old- which was ancient for the time period, good genes I guess.

GURRR....

For some reason I can't upload pictures and I am getting really aggravated about it!! Check back in a few days for updates!!

5 Years and 2 beautiful babies.

Today is our 5 year anniversary and we have been so blessed over the past 5 years. I am so lucky to have a loving husband. Ben has always been very encouraging and pushes me to become a better person. Today I have been reflecting on how much I have changed since we have been together, I am much more responsible and driven to achieve my goals. Ben is a very driven, goal oriented man, and those characteristics have defiantly "rubbed off". When we met I was 19 and had no idea where I was headed in life; today I have an amazing family and a career I love. I attribute much of my accomplishments to Ben, he is my encourager and my rock, I know no matter what the situation he will be there to see me through. It really is so easy to achieve if you have someone backing you all the way. I really don't know where I would be today without him. Ben is the most honorable, considerate, and loving man I know.

(and all of this has nothing to do with the beautiful plant he surprised me with to me this morning)

This has also been my first week back at work, and it has been wonderful!! Avery is at the same playschool that Beau attends and I love the nursery!! The girls that work with the babies are wonderful and pay special attention to each one (there are only 3 including Avery). On my first day back I had "world famous" brownies waiting in my desk and several baby gifts for Avery. The best part is I walk down the stairs twice a day to feed Avery, so I never feel any separation from her. I know she is sleeping while I work and when she wakes I go down to see her for 30 minutes or so. This is the prefect balance for me and makes work wonderful!

I am sure one day I will look back and remember this day as a high point in my life. I feel like I am back on the Blue Ridge mountains looking at my future stretched out like the blue sky in front of me. Life is wonderful- God in all his goodness has blessed Ben and I with much more than we deserve, 5 wonderful years and 2 beautiful babies.

North Georgia

We have been with lucky this past weekend we have enjoyed a wonderful vacation with Ben's parents and his grandmother. We have been in Blue Ridge, GA and have visited all the surrounding areas, including Rome, GA, which is where Ben's family is from. We have been all over these mountains visiting Rush Chapel, Rush Cemetery, and the Old Rush family plantation home and cemetery. We have traveled back in time through 8generations.

Beau Henley Rush and Avery Kathleen Rush
Benjamin Henley Rush
Timothy Henley Rush
Charles Henley Rush
Charles Howard Rush
Hosea Camp Rush
John Rush
George Rush



George Rush was born in 1755 and was in the revolutionary war!! This was amazing to me, although I know someone knows, I know little about my family history. I wouldn't even know where to find my grandfather of 7 generations ago or even what his name was.... I have decided I am going to work on learning my family genealogy this winter. Sometimes you don't know where you are going until you know where you have been.


My family is also from this area, I was born in Chattanooga, TN and most all of my relatives lay in Tennessee. These mountains are a part of my roots as well and they almost beckon your name.

In addition to the history lesson, we visited several waterfalls throughout North Georgia and North Carolina. We also visited a taxidermy museum with animals from all over the world (Beau was more interested in the live house cat than the stuffed bob cat it was sitting with...), a gem museum, and several state parks.