Holiday Updates

I must say that this is the cutest little face!! I just want to squeeze him! This is my nephew Brooks! He will be a year old next month! I can't believe it! I have gotten to see him a few times over the last several weeks and I have to say that I miss him this week! I hope to see him soon!!

The kids had a great time "playing" farm down at Todd's Grandparent's house! We had an interesting time riding in the wagon and watching sugar cane being pressed. I was also able to get some pictures of an old tobacco barn for my classroom. I thought that might make an interesting add-on to a lesson about farming one day, especially since most tobacco barns have been torn down.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving meal in Dothan with Todd's parents. There was enough food to feed an army, but that is usually how it is during Thanksgiving.

Friday, we left Dothan and headed to my parent's house in Clanton. We had a great time. We were also able to snap an "official" Russell family picture! I think that is a pretty good looking group of people. I can't believe how many of us there are! It is really nice when we are all able to get together, we always find something to get into, especially my brothers.

We wanted to go down to Dothan to witness this next event with our own eyes, but we didn't make the trip. Lucky for us, Mrs. Pam was able to snap pictures of our very own Santa's Helper, Santa Ron!

We had a good Christmas and our family elf kept us busy! He didn't get into much trouble this year, but he did manage to roll our living room and wrap up our doorway with wrapping paper and the kids had to bust through!

We went to my grandparents house for our annual Christmas dinner! It is always fun to get together with family that I don't get to see very often. We always play an entertaining game of "Dirty Santa"

Christmas afternoon we went to my parents house and as usual had a great time.

I love going "home," even though it is not actually my home (I have never lived there), there is just something about being home! I love to watch my kids interact with my parents and have my brothers give me such a hard time. I wish that it was easier for us get together more often!

Todd took me on my first hunting trip this past Saturday. I really had a good time. Believe it or not (I am not a big fan of outside!) I really want to go again. We only saw an old red fox, but it was still fun, until the sun went down and the hoot owls came out! It was kind of spooky.

This is a picture of us in the shooting house!

Today is Savannah Brooke's 10th birthday! I can't believe that she is 10 years old today! She is a wonderful kid and everything that I wish that I was. She is smart beyond her years and talented in so many ways! I couldn't be prouder to be her mother! I can't believe how fast she is growing up, it seems just like yesterday, I found out that she was breach and that I was going to have to have a C-Section!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAVANNAH!!

Well, that is the Holiday update for now, I am sure that there will be more to add in the coming days, because our life is never dull, but that is the way we like it!

Christmas Tree!

We went and cut down our Christmas Tree with the Goffs this past Sunday afternoon! We had a good time and found a tree we love. It is perfect in the house. We just need to get it decorated! Morgan has had the flu, Zach came home sick Monday, and Savannah is going to the doctor today! Hopefully we can get everything done this weekend!

Football

Last night was the last night of football practice! I can't even tell you how excited we are about it! Zach and Todd have been having practice three times a week since July! It is time for a break. The midget team has made it to the championship game, which is tomorrow. We are excited and hope that the boys can beat the #1 Millbrook Mustangs! If not, it is ok, they have worked hard and played great!

I have been working on making signs for us to hold up and I am going to paint the windows of the car!

The boys get to ride a bus over to Millbrook and get dressed in the high school locker room. They are so excited! That is such a big deal to 6 & 7 year olds!

Here are some more pictures from throughout the season.

AUBIE!!

Todd had to get a resource person to come to the ECC (Early Childhood Center) where he has had to do internship this semester. He thought that since it was football season, he would try to get some Auburn cheerleaders, a football player, and AUBIE!! The only person that he was able to secure was AUBIE! He checked with his teacher and she said that the kids and I could come to the center too! I was glad that school (for the kids) was out, so I didn't have one of my classes and the kids were out of school, and we were able to go! The kids had a great time seeing AUBIE up close! They also had a good time playing with the kids!

No Cute Title

The last few weeks have been so busy for our family. I am not sure how we manage to keep going but we do. I am looking forward to Thanksgiving break, because I won't have to go to class for a week, but I will still have school work to do. I am just glad that we will have a little time to breathe and enjoy one another.

Last week, the Prattville Youth Lions Midget team won their first round of playoffs, so we play again this weekend. I really think that most people are sick of football. I know five people in my house that are ready for it to be over. We play in Tallasee at 9:00. Let's cross our fingers.

Savannah and Morgan are going to Dothan this weekend. So it will just be Todd, Zach, and me for the weekend. Should be different and quite. Just us and Zach.

I do ask that every pray for my family. My parents, brothers, and I are going through some stuff right now and know that we could all use your prayers.

Did We Vanish

No we didn't vanish, but some days I wish that I could. Here is a quick list of the things that have kept us so busy the last month or so:

Prattville Youth Lions Football practice and games
Savannah's tennis lessons
Morgan's guitar lessons
my 15 credit hours of school
Todd's 15 credit hours of school
the kid's school work
laundry
the list goes on and on

I just really have not had time to make a post. Besides that I figure that most people don't really care about all the school work that we do at our house. Over the next few weeks, I do have a few things that I want to update, but I can't do it right now because we just got home from a whirlwind trip of over 580 miles in less than 24 hours!!

Just wanted everyone to know that we are still alive and here, just that we are drowning in school work.

Update soon!!!

I Need Your Help!

All of the kids have been out of school this week with Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease! I am so glad that they are better and will be able to go to school Tuesday! I know that they are happy about that too! I hope that we do not pick up anything else and that the kids will be able to stay in school for a while.

I need some advice!!

Since Morgan started Jr. High, some things have changed around our house. She is actually enjoying school. She has all A's and one B right now. She is really growing up (her birthday is the 24th) and we are really proud of her! However, we have entered a new phase of adolescence! She has, for the last 2 Fridays, went out with her girlfriends. There has been a mother with them the entire time and that brings her home. Last weekend they went bowling. We didn't give her a time to be home because she was with another mother and other 12-13 year olds. She came in around 11:30ish.

Now before I go into what happened last night let me say, sorry Mom. When I was getting the information out of Morgan, I sounded just like my Mom. I guess, maybe the things she did wasn't so bad!!

I need to know who was going, what times, and where they were going. Now, I know that things are different than when I was 12 or 13, but she is 12!

The girls wanted to go eat Mexican, go bowling, and then go play flashlight tag at one of the girl's house. We agreed to that. Well, shortly after dropping her off I get a call on my cell and Morgan says that they want to go Cosmic Bowling which is from 11:00-2:00 am. Well, the first words out of my mouth were, "YOU ARE NOT STAYING OUT UNTIL 2:00!!" I even told her that we would come and get her if we saw that they were going to be late.

Well, after Todd and I talked we quickly saw that we don't think the same way as some of the other parents. After she texted me some, we told her that whatever she thought was best and we would talk tomorrow. She thought that she was in trouble, but she wasn't we saw that we were. Needless to say she came home at 1:30!! Yes 1:30!! I was so not happy and her Daddy was not either. We were even more unhappy when she told us they played flashlight tag at the park, not some one's house, and that she rode to Millbrook to take a girl to her Grandmother's. I thought all the girls were going to be dropped off in Prattville. I would have really liked to know when things change. Are there parents that actually allow there 12 year olds to stay out all night. What is going to happen when they go out with a boy and expect to stay out until 1:30! There is nothing in the world that she needs to be doing with a boy after 10:00.

Well, when Morgan got home, we went ahead and laid down the rules. From now on, she has to be home at 10:00, we have no problem picking her up, but she is not going to stay out past 10:00. That does not mean call me at 10:00 to pick her up. That is late and she will not go the next time. She also can have the outings taken away for not doing what we expect from her. When things change she has to call us to make sure we are fine with it.

What are your thoughts on this? We are trying to do what is best for our almost 13 year old. Thanks for your help.

Football and School

I guess that you can tell that school has not just started back for the kids, but also for Todd and I. Not only do the kids have their fair share of homework, but Todd and I are drowning in assignments that we have to get done. I even have a class once a month on Friday night and ALL day Saturday. I keep telling myself that it is only once a month for 3 months!

The kids are all doing GREAT in school right now. Morgan actually has all A's in her classes. She is loving Jr. High. I am glad because I was a little worried about it. The principal really runs the school in a strict, but fun way. I think that the atmosphere seems to have a big difference, she really seems to have a new passion for school.

Savannah has all B's and LOVES Science. She has already read several Box Car Children books. She likes the fact that she has 2 teachers and continues to love school. I am so glad that she enjoys school.

Zach is also doing well. He loves his teacher, Mrs. Mills. He is doing great with all his work.

I am so glad that the kids are having a good year so far.

Well, if school has not been keeping us busy enough, Zach is playing football for the Prattville Youth Lions. He has practice three days a week.

He had his Jamboree game today in Wetumpka. They only played two twenty minute games. They won one and lost one. I think that they played pretty well. They even got to play in the rain!! (Zach is #40)

If I don't make any post for a while, you will know that we are trying to juggle everything.

First Day of School

Monday was a big day for our family! The first day of the new school year is ALWAYS exciting for us and the kids! Morgan started 7th grade! Jr. High! I can't believe that we have a child in Jr. High! She was excited!! When we picked her up from school, she could not stop talking and telling us all about her day! It was actually nice, even though my head was hurting. I was really glad that she enjoyed her first day!

Savannah was excited also! She is in 4th grade! She is excited because she gets to change classes this year! She had a lot to tell us also when she got in the car. She is so excited to be back in school, it is one of her favorite places!

Zachary did not want us to know that he was excited, but he was! He was happy about his teacher, he has only known her since he was about 1 year old! He didn't have as much to tell us as the girls did, but he did tell us about his day.

I am glad that the kids enjoyed their first day and are excited about the new year! I hope that their excitement continues throughout the year and doesn't wear out!

After school and getting Morgan's supplies Zach and Todd had football practice. About the time that they got home, Savannah started telling me that she did not feel well and Todd came in and told me that Zach was real whinny and not feeling well. Our neighbor Landon, has a case of the N1H1 flu, so we are almost sure that the kids have the same thing (they are around each other all the time.) Morgan said that she was going to move out until everyone was better that she could not afford to get sick! Funny how her prospective has suddenly changed.

Savannah and Zach have missed 2 days of the first week so far! I really hope that they are able to go back tomorrow or Friday. That is not a good way to start the first week of school, but that is life!!

Business and a Picnic

Today, Todd and I had appointment at the Health Clinic at AUM, so Todd suggested that we pack a picnic and take the kids to the Splash Pad. I thought that was a wonderful idea. If we are going to go all the way to Montgomery, we might as well make it worth our while.

Todd needed a new TB test for the new school year, since he is going to be working at the CDC, and I needed a re-check for my medicine. We also went and got our books and Todd picked up some of his notebooks from last semester.

Afterwards, we took the kids to the splash pad. (Mrs. Pam, DO NOT LOOK ANY FARTHER!) The kids went into the bathroom to change clothes and they came running out, yelling, "SNAKE!!" Todd went and checked and there was a baby snake in the women's bathroom.

The park people came and took care of the snake and interesting enough, Montgomery has a policy not to kill any animals, but to release them back into their environment. To me the only good snake is a dead snake!!

The kids enjoyed their time playing and especially enjoyed it when Todd accidentally got wet.

Todd being laid off has been really hard for us finacially, but we have really enjoyed being able to spend some extra time with him this summer. I think that he has realized that being a stay-at-home Dad is not everything he thought it was going to be.

Menu Plan Monday!

Here's the plan for the week!

Breakfast
cereal
waffles
breakfast burritos
Zip-loc bag Omelets


Lunch
sandwiches
chicken nuggets
pizza
mac and cheese

Dinners
Crock Pot French Dips
Tomato Pie
Santa Fe Wraps
Southwest Chicken Spaghetti

Backyard Camp Out!!

Well, our backyard camp out did not work out very well. First, I tired to make a tee pee for the boys to sleep/play in, but I could not make the sheets wrap around like they were supposed to, so we cancelled that idea.

We set up the tents, air mattresses, and fans. Everything was ready. The kids were excited!

We made s'mores and then headed to bed, but not all the kids wanted to stay outside and they just would not go to sleep, so at midnight, we went inside.

The kids were convinced that they were going to sleep outside Saturday night. Yeah right, I thought.

Saturday morning, Todd and Ben took the boys to the Build and Grow Clinic at Lowe's and they built helicopter! Zach and Landon had a good time. They are looking forward to going back and building a boat in a few weeks.

Well, Saturday afternoon we went to Ben's parent's house and grilled and swam. The kids had a good time.

They all ended up going inside and not camping out. I guess it was just not as fun as actually going camping! Maybe we can take the kids soon, since it has been a while since we have been camping.