2009--A Year in Review--long post!

JANUARY

We welcomed the New Year with our favorite friends and went to Sonic for some ice cream on a very cold night!!

We took Zach and Savannah to the Monster Truck show with some of our friends Brad and Christy. Morgan stayed with my parents. Zach seemed to enjoy it a little more than Savannah.

We welcomed my nephew Brooks Paul Russell at the end of January. He is so precious.

February

Todd and I celebrated our 13th anniversary. I took him to the driving range!!

We also celebrated Mardi Gras! We had King Cake and Savannah ended up with the piece of cake with the baby in it. She's gotta buy the King Cake this year!

MARCH

It snowed the first of March! This little comedy routine landed us at Pri-Med later that evening!

It was fun to play in the snow!!

We went to watch my brother play baseball against Prattville Junior High School.

Zach went on a field trip to the Pretend Hospital.


APRIL

The kids spent the night with Uncle Loren and Aunt Jennifer.

Todd and I went to the Auburn "A-Day" football game.

Zach played baseball and was chosen to receive several game balls throughout the season.
MAY

Zach celebrated his 7th birthday!

We went to Jose's to celebrate Zach and his baseball friend's birthday!

Zach's Field Day

Savannah's Awards Day

School's Out

Zach and Mrs. Wingo

Savannah and Mrs. Jackson.

Rainy summer day!

Hanging out with friends.

Zach's baseball party! He won the MVP trophy!

Kite flying!
Sunday afternoon slip 'n slide

Todd and I volunteered at the School of Education Luau! We were able to go to the Luau for working.

Summer Day at Wonder World Family Amusement Center

Todd playing with the kids after work one day.


Playing at the park and creek in Millbrook.

JUNE

Playing at the Splash Pad in Montgomery.

Grilling out at the river.

Summer fun program at Bass Pro Shop

We learned to make homemade donuts.

Todd turned 33 in June. He was also laid off from his job on the same day!

JULY

Picnic at the Splash Pad

On our way to Orange Beach.
Zach after his first deep sea fishing trip
The Gang at the Beach

Zach and Todd went to the Lowe's build and grow program

Back yard camp-out!

AUGUST

Zach started football for the Prattville Youth Lions.

First day of school

September

Morgan's 13th birthday!

Morgan's birthday present--Tickets to the Taylor Swift concert

OCTOBER

Aubie came to the Early Childhood Center where Todd was doing some intern work.

NOVEMBER

We went to Branford, FL to visit Todd's Grandparents.

Championship game for the PYL

My Family!

DECEMBER

Our tree!

Savannah and her BFF Emily celebrating her 10th birthday!

Looking forward to a Happy 2010

End of Christmas Break

We have kept Landon for Alicia since the kids have been out for Christmas Vacation. Alicia's nephew, who is staying with them right now, also came over to hang out. The kids have really used the Wii and almost worn out Mario Kart and Family Game Night that we got for Christmas. However, after a week and a half at home with 5 kids playing and arguing over who is going to be controller one, Todd said that we were going to the park. The first day that we went we only stayed a couple of hours! It was COLD! Todd and the kids invented this game called Hide-N-Chase. They used the entire playground. They had so much fun and actually got hot!

The next day we packed a lunch and headed to the park with 6 kids! Savannah's friend Emily spent the night with us and tagged along. As we were walking out of the house to head to the park, it started drizzling! Well, we decided to go on anyway. We were the only people at the park when we got there. We had out picnic and the kids (and Todd) were ready to resume their game from the previous day. They played in the misty rain and finally it stopped and they had so much fun!! Especially since we were the only goof balls at the park on a cold wet day!

Savannah fell while being chased back to base!
Thursday afternoon, we loaded up and headed to Dothan. Todd's friend, Matt, invited Todd and Zach to go hunting with him. Zach was so excited! Matt lives in Dothan, so Friday morning, I took Zach and Todd to Matt's house and they headed to the hunting land, where they even spent the night! Zach loved it!! They didn't see anything while in their tree stand, but they were hunting, so they were happy!!

We are heading home in the morning and excited to get things back to our normal! Todd will be starting his internship on the 11th! He will be teaching 5th grade for 6 weeks then 2nd grade for another 6 weeks. He is so close to graduating! May 15th is the big day! I am so proud of him, I never thought that the time would come. Now, if I can just get done.

Another year has come and gone and as I look back on 2009, it wasn't THAT bad of a year! We made it through despite Todd being laid off! It is nice to look to the future at the beginning of a new year, to set goals and make plans. Here is to 2010 and the hopes of a better year!!