Just one more month...

Is it really?.... Three weeks until Brock turns the big 16 years of age.  We have discussed having a party at the house which required A Rock Band marathon along with a DJ to have some dancing going on in our small backyard amongst lots of food, and roasting marshmallows... OR keep it on the download where he can invite a couple of friends to see the Suns play AND get is IPOD touch that was stolen a year ago... Guess what he said... (Which I knew he would) get tickets to the Suns game and the IPOD touch.

My little performer!

It was well worth the one hour wait for Madie to perform 15 minutes of her Christmas cheer! She is our most out spoken child as well as most energetic! I love this gal and when it comes time to doing things for school she is sooo excited to perform, especially when she knows she's going to get her picture taken.

Waitng for her turn...

 Singing her little heart out...

The song she always sung around the house

Just before she performed.

In a Nutshell...

Where did 2010 go? It feels like it was yesterday when we were celebrating the New Year!  So much has happened in the Russell home. Believe me we have had our many downs and a few ups. As we reflect this year we feel blessed and so grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ and to have the gospel in our lives!  As usual, we always update what we did throughout the year so here we go…

In the spring we took the kids to Disneyland/Sea World for spring break! It was a lot of fun and a MUCH NEEDED BREAK! Shortly after our trip on Easter weekend Madie broke her elbow from falling off the monkey bars and Jay’s back really flared up! He’s had problems with his back nearly our whole married life and the last 5 years it has progressively gotten worse. SO, 2 months later after much research and second opinions from doctors and trying all methods we decided that it was time for Jason to have back surgery.  The only time to schedule was either the week of my graduation in May or the next month when all the kids are home and have the surgery. I told Jay to get it done while the kids are in school (knowing that we were moving the next month helped make the decision as well). Jay’s surgery went wonderful and I have NEVER seen him as calm as a cucumber. While he was in the hospital drugged I was graduating in my cap and gown, walking down the aisle to receive my bachelor’s degree in special education. My sisters came down for the ceremony along with my in-laws and brother/sister in-law. It was wonderful to have the support! Two days later Jay came home and I started interviewing for a teaching job while he was recovering.  A couple weeks went by and we finally received the offer I really wanted! It was music to our ears!

The month of June, we stayed busy with Jay recovering, kids on swim team, and packing the house, moving on the other side of the tracks to a sub division called Verrado. Drake rocked in swimming and was on an awesome Dream Team!

July came and Jay and I celebrated our 17^th anniversary.  August is our birthday month for Jay and Drake. Drake turned 13 and I through a big 40^th birthday party for Jay, it was great! In October we made our annual trip to Idaho and absolutely loved the fall colors, weather, Bear World, hiking, and most of all our visits that we had with family.

Getting near the end of the year the kids are doing well in school. The boys both tried out for the school basketball team. Brock is starting for the Verrado JV team and dresses for Varsity team. Drake didn’t make the Verrado Middle school but he’s all right with that and loves his school! Madie is reading all the time, playing video games with the boys, and is ready to be on a basketball team.

So in a nutshell we feel blessed to have our health back and the kids being happy. We hope that your family is doing well and we would love to hear from you! Have a blessed New Year and a very Merry Christmas! 

The lost book....

After 17 years Jay's lost journal is found! I received this strange email on fb about a lady coming across his journal. She was kind enough to mail it to us from St. Anthony, ID... We have found out that she ended up reading the whole thing as well as her 16 year old. I wonder who else has read it.  We thoroughly enjoyed the many laughs as Jay shared memories. Oh, how you think when you are in your early 20's and flitting fancy free! I'm making a mental note to myself... I need to light up like a 2 year old on Christmas day when he comes into the room... that is one way I can please my man :) 

Top 25 Reasons to be thankful

Tis the month to be greatful. Here are my things that I'm greatful for.
1.  My healthy kids
2. My good husband
3. My health
4. To pay my bills
5. To be employed
6. My ancestors for their great sacrifice for me to have the gospel
7. For the Book of Mormon
8. This beautiful country that I live in
9.  My good parents who raised me
10. My siblings who I enjoy hanging out with
11. To have food on the table
12. To see, hear, and feel
13. To have grown up in Rexburg
14. To have a lovely home to live in
15. To have an active mind
16. To be able drive a vehicle
17. For the cooler weather
18. For the seasons
19. The modern day conveniences that we have now
20. For this free country that I live in
21. To know the basics of sewing, playing the piano, and sports
22. For being patient
23. Having funny kids and a funny husband
24. To attend the temple
25. To know the plan of salvation and return to Heavenly Father again...

Happy Thanksgiving everyone~

During our fall break....

Here it is nearly four weeks when we had our fall break and I'm just now getting around to it. I'm much better at responding to facebook than creating my blog.  Being a full time working mom really puts me to the test on time management and being organized. I thought I was pretty good on being organized but I'm not so sure these days... Anyhow, we all had a week off in October and decided it was time to head up north to see my side of the family. It was absolutely wonderful! WE ALL HAD IT BAD ABOUT NOT WANTING TO COME BACK TO AZ! Here are some of our highlights...

Conference Center in SLC...

We stopped here after spending a couple of day with my sister in Prove. It started to rain that day and we were loving every minute of it... Especially after having 100 degree weather still in October, UGH!

The awesome Harrison clan! Love these guys!!!

Hiked up to Stewart Falls... Its along the way to Timpangus hike

CLASSIC... I have lived in Rexburg my whole life and I don't recall this lovely scenery out in Plano...

While visiting my parents in Rexburg they treated us to Bear World. Always a highlight to see God's creatures... These bears look very friendly :)

Getting some wrestling action amongst these two right by our car.

Unique looking animals in Bear World. White Elk...

That's my babe!

The awesome hikers! The kids enjoy hanging out with their cousins... Especially playing Fugitive. That was an experience!  Drake almost got hit, then he got lost and almost got picked up by a police officer. It happened to be BYU's homecoming that night so traffic was hectic and some weird stuff was going on in the neighborhood as well. Glad to have my son with us!

I was trying to capture the fall colors in the background... I wish my camera did a better justice than what it does! Always much prettier LIVE than in pictures.

During our time in Idaho we walked the BYU Idaho campus... It sure doesn't feel or look like Ricks College anymore! Jay had Brock talk to the dean for some academic fields that they teach to help prepare Brock to know exactly what he wants to be when he grows up. That kind of back fired on Brock but made Jason want to go back to BYU Idaho... It was fun to have lunch with some girl friends back in high school and visit with them.  With the siblings and their kids we made a trip to the corn maze.  Had a blast until Drake lost his cell phone. ONLY IN ZION would it show up by an honest person finding it. He received it the next day and Madie lost her jacket at a store in Idaho Falls. I called the store and once again ONLY IN ZION would we be able to receive it. That is one thing we DO MISS... HONESTY!

Coming up for air!

Since the beginning of September school has picked up. IEP's are due... now progress reports along with the grades. GOT TO LOVE THE PAPERWORK :)  Not to mention; learn the whole new curriculum, curriculum mapping, RTI meetings (galore), and my favorite the new grading technology that they threw in this year. I'm so glad this is my first year because the teachers are learning right with me so I don't feel left out. I LOVE what I'm doing! It definitally has its challenges at times and when I teach my social skills groups I literally feel like I'm teaching them a little part of the gospel. How to act kind towards each other and so forth. Once again, the spirit has born testimony of being greatful for the gospel principles! The life of a teacher... and to think Jay wants to do what I'm doing?

Things will get picking up even more once the boys start basketball season... Madie wants to join a sport club as well... there goes my Saturdays. I'm already counting down for the fall break and desperatly looking forward to our drive up to Idaho! Can not wait to enjoy seeing my family, cold weather, hopefully fall colors, and maybe some snow.

Tonight... Madie learned the hard way just like Jay and I when we were kids about getting motion sickness by spinning around too much. Yes the good old tire swing did it to us and to her. Poor thing, came home and went right to bed because her stomache hurt.  She now has two missing teeth in the front and looks like a beaver with the two big front teeth all by themselves.  The fun and yet ugly stage... Boys are loving school, girls, and growing more and more each day. Brock is 6'5 and Drake is nearly as tall as me now! Couldn't ask for anything less with two tall parents :) 

Jay's 40th Birthday Bash!

What a fun year to tease Jason. He turned the big 4 0! After 17 years of being married, never throwing him a big party I figured it was high time, reguardless if he wanted it or not.  So on his birthday I made a card out of a candy gram. It was great and made him feel good.  The kids picked out a card that was a funny one and teased him for being old.  The following weekend is when we had the party. Jay received a Grim Reeper cake, 40 signs everywhere, caution tape of being old, a blinking light that had caution seniors around, with fun gag gifts. I also created a power point that was a memory lane along with a time capsule of favorite 70's (mostly candy).  He loved every bit of it and was a good sport to take it all in. Jay's mom had old pictures of him all over the place and had Barber shop music as background (this is when I should have brought my 80's cd and U2 but forgot).

The awesome cake!

Blowing his candles.

People visiting...

Okay so I had a crappy, chip camera... more visiting

In the backyard the kids were in heaven by checking out the horses, chickens, and jumping on the blow up jumper, and wrestling... They would come in all sweaty needing a drink and would run out for some more.

A HUGE THANKS to my in-laws crashing there house, family and friends who attended and supported him! We LOVE you guys!!!

Sedona Trip

Highly recommend going on a rainy day to Sedona! Not as busy so the traffic was great!  The rain coming down was soft and warm, along with the lush green scenery and red rock!

I don't have a picture of this but when we pulled up to Slide Rock (mind you it was pouring down) a whole bunch of "Jacob look alikes" accept a bit not in shape was walking along in the parking lot. Being in the mountains, raining, and shirts off with levi short guys walking around - we all said, "Look there's Jacob!"

The boys were brave to go down the slide in that freezing cold water. Jay even went all the way under twice! That is a record!!!! Madie couldn't handle the cold... my brave daring girl wanted badly to go down slide rock but the water was too freaking cold. I couldn't bring myself either, but I did get in waste deep and took  pictures.

To and from Slide Rock path...

Just finished going on the slide...

bottom of the slide... no he didn't go down it.

I can't believe I'm even putting this picture in.

gorgeus scenery...

my main squeezes!

On our way home we decided to take the scenic route and traveled through Cottonwood, Jerome, Prescott, and coming through Wickenburg.  Lots of fun camping sites to go camping between Jerome and Prescott. Gorgeous scenery, winding roads, and lots of tarantulas walking on the road. I guess when it rains the spiders come out to get dry on the pavement. We stopped and pulled over to take a picture of this huge spider!

No Drake did not kill it, just petted it with his foot, yuck!

Come, Come Ye Saints....

                                     

A bit hot... 110 degrees at 4:30 pm... BEFORE THE PARADE

Getting ready for the parade

Rehearsing Come, Come Ye Saints 

Parade has started and so has the men. They sounded really good!

Color Guard coming at the beginning of our little parade

Here comes Madie as proud as can be on her bike

Again the men performing a barber shop of many old songs and having the time of their life!

For the 24th of July our Stake Center celebrated it here in the valley.  For the past two years our stake would go up North East to enjoy cooler weather but with the poor turnout from last year they decided to have it in our home area.  We were blessed to have some clouds roll in with a cool breeze for us to enjoy ourselves outside with the fun activities that took place. A lot of effort and hard work went to this activity and I think it paid off. Everyone enjoyed themselves and my whole family had the time of their life visiting, having free snow cones, cotton candy, food, face painting, family pictures, displays to see, and fun booths for the kids to be entertained!

I think this was the most popular ride.  The trailor ride, Mads was in heaven being first in the row of cars.

A greater appreciation of our ancestors and pioneers crossing the plains to have their posterity grow in the true gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. My heart is extremely full of thanks for there contribution and sacrifice! Happy 24th of July my dear LDS friends!!!!

Shh.. surprise party

Okay, I am in need of some ideas to through a 40th birthday party for my main squeeze.  I was thinking of a 70's theme since he was born in 1970 and creating a power point, showing the power point at the party and pictures of him growing up, important people coming into his life.  I thought it would also be fun to decorate it as a disco with black and sliver crey paper and if possible the guests to dress up in 70's. What do you think? I would love to hear any advice.

Summer 2010

We have broken the regular tradition of heading to Idaho for the 4th of July... I don't know what to do with myself with no small town parade.  AZ is just to stinking hot, but we plan to make the best of it and of course it will involve some swimming.

With Jay recovering from back surgery the kids and I are still adjusting to having him around a lot. He has come in handy on helping me taxi the kids around. He is recovering very well and we feel blessed for that.

Last weekend we moved out of our lovely home and downsized into a gorgeous home in Verrado. It took us a week to settle in and get things up and running. So far we are enjoying ourselves and getting to know our surroundings better. A HUGE thank you to all the mighty men and young men who helped load up all our gear! We couldn't have done it without you.


                                              The boys waiting for some ice cream after pictures.

The kids have been enjoying swimming on the swim team. Brock has continued to swim for conditioning and plays basketball in the summer and was invited to play with the varsity team during weekend tournaments.  It has been a great experience and to send a message to the coach to let him know what he is made of.  Drake is our major swimmer and is constantly competing with his two buddies on the team who are good as well to get first place. I still can't commit to do all year round swimming! So much time involved, besides him staying out of trouble what is the other purpose for it? Madie just enjoys getting different colors of ribbons and likes to do what the boys are doing. This year I hope to get her into basketball.

Picture day! Drake and his buddies.

Madie posing for me on picture day

Next month I start training for my job and I have started boot camp as well. Its been wonderful getting up 3 times a week at 5 in the morning to feel the cool breeze before it gets to hot. However, my hip has flared up to the point I needed to get it checked out. Waiting to hear back on the results.

Before we know it summer will be over with!  You know the saying 'time flies by when your having fun'. I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe 4th of July! We will miss lighting our own fireworks this year...

Father's Day

OUR FATHERS



Our fathers toil with hands and heart

To make our lives complete.

They quietly brave the winter cold,

Endure the summer heat.



Our fathers' lives are busy, but

There's always time for us.

They boldly face the ups and downs

And seldom ever fuss.



Our fathers are the greatest dads.

We know you know this, too.

But thank you for the chance to share

Our love for them with you.



(c) by David A. Olds.

On the left side of the screen is a poem I found on the website this past weekend and couldn't help but think of my own dad. I feel like this fits him to a tea. So all the dad's out there you mean a lot to many people! Happy Father's day.

 

This Father's day in our sacrament services was very different. The bishopric was changed on Father's day! Jason was released because we are moving out of the ward and found out that our bishop is moving as well. We have mixed feelings of moving out of the ward, as usual. Great people in the Canyon Trails Ward! You will be missed!! At least we are in the same stake and we have facebook to stay in touch :) 

So I'm a bit behind...

Okay Sally, you wanted an update and I am delivering.  After this picture it won't be as bad I promise!  About a week after Jay's surgery I got the camera out to create the historic moment of his scars and surgery. Amazing what technology will do these days! The upper part that is one inch is where they put the rods in and the lower part is where they fused L5 and S1 together, OUCH!  He had some great bruising going on as well that freaked me out! Don't worry I didn't take a picture of it.

The first week he was home was rough but he has improved tremondously! He is walking a mile a day and today he got on the bike to test it out. He did wonderful! Still not able to lift no more than 5 lbs but in time we are hoping he will be back to his old self in a few months.

 

A week later after graduating we had an open house to honor my graduation and birthday.  It was so fun to see family and friends.  I had rented a bouncer for the kids to jump on outside and the weather couldn't have been any better! It really lifted both Jay and my spirits up to have a social gathering. We have become really anti-social and have realized that. So we have decided to change that and get out of the rut...

On May 27th:  Madie at her kindergarten graduation with Mrs. Hershberger.  She had an amazing teacher and will miss her dearly.  Madie received the future Principal award... Hmm maybe because she is SO BOSSY? I couldn't help but laugh at that one. Fits her to a tea.

On the left is Madie's "twin" friend named Stella. These two gals were the only ones in their class to have the BLONDE hair.  Madie loved her friends and really got along with the boys (gee I wonder why?)  This is a shot with some of her favorite friends. She will miss them.

Brock and Madie at her Kinder graduation.  I owe Brock big time since I missed her graduation. Jay had a doctor's appointment that followed up on his surgery so I needed to assist him.  I was so torn and to this day feel like the biggest LOSER of a parent. Thanks Brock for being the surrogate parent!

I will say that this day is a day I will never forget to hear the progress on Jay's back, Madie graduating from Kindergarten, Brock finished strong his freshman year, and while I was waiting for the doc to see Jay. I received the magic call.  Barabara Robey called me and it was music to my ears the principal said, "I would like to invite you to join our Barabara Robey family" I was so excited and said absolutely I would love too! I got off the phone and cried right there in the waiting office! Jay and I hugged and kissed while we waited and we didn't care who was around.  I continued to follow up with the interviews that were set because you never know, and received 2 other offers but turned them down. It was so nice to pick the one you wanted and this one was perfect for me!  You are looking at the new 3-5 grade resource teacher for Barbara Robey in the Litchfield school district, whoo hoo!!

A magic moment

Getting ready to receive my diploma

So typical of Madie! Me and the kiddos after graduation

Before Graduation ceremony. Look at those nice nails :)

Gold and maroon cords represent Suma Cum Lad 3.8-4.0

The purple and green cord is representing the Honor Society I was a part of; KDP

Me and my sista's after graduation. I thought I got a picture of the Russell's who came. I guess I didn't ask quick enough.

On May 14, 2010 after 6 years of schooling I finally reached my goal! Graduated from ASU at the Wells Fargo Arena on main campus. It was an unbelievable experience and perfect closer for the whole daunting task of schooling for a BA. It has not been easy from all the hiccups life has given us but my family was a huge support and I THANK THEM very much! Jay has been awesome to step up these last two years, epsecially when he has had to endure so much pain due to his back.  The intense program was something (he was not ready for).  It's a new turning page for our family, for me to help support the family financially.  There will always be stress in our life and this will be a different kind of stress.

On May 11th mixed emotions ran through us. Calm as a cucumber Jay laid patiently in the hospital bed for his procedure (not like him).  The hospital goofed by not getting the right equipment which bumped our time and room for surgery. Instead of him going into surgery 8:30 in the morning he had to wait until 6:00 pm. The surgery went very smooth and he did great. So while he waited I left to get my teaching certificate down the street at ASU . It was a marvelous event. I then went to lunch with my friend and pampered myself by getting my nails and feet done.  The massage was much needed.  I then came back to the hospital and we waited, and waited and waited.  He did great by not having any food since Monday night.  He came home on Sunday May 16th.  It is good to have him home and we feel very optomistic that he will start feeling better and feel that he has life again. Chronic pain is no fun and really makes you appreciate having good health!

Our way of entertaining ourselves...

                     Nothing like being snuggled up by these faces! What a hot hunk and sweet princess :)

What a classic! I just love Madie and Jay's face! Why I fell in love with him.

Where is Gila River?

Never been as far as Globe, AZ. I volunteered to be a driver for our youth to go to the open house for the Gila River temple.  I am so glad that I took that opportunity to do so! We started at the stake center (on the left) and walked over to the temple that is straight ahead.  The inside is absolutely goreous! So peaceful, calm, and eligant. 

Our next stop was Spencer W. Kimball's homestead in Thatcher, AZ.  That was a really cool house! The front room is still original and the rest of the house has been renovated here and there.  I love old homes and how they have character in them! This home was definitally for short people! I highly recommend the chance to get the tour. The front yard also had walnut and pecan trees, this entertained Madie when she got bored from the tour. We gathered up the nuts on the ground and counted them.

Our future missionary! What a handsome kid!

Hmm, maybe Drake is thinking about what Pres. Kimball was like when he is sitting in his chair! We went to a museum in Thatcher, AZ and in the music room there were a lot of cool antiques! A Thomas Eddison machine, an old organ that you had to pump to play music, and fun stories about Spencer W. Kimball.

We also caught a glimpse of Eastern Community College. I mentioned to Brock that he could attend that college. "It has a lot of mormon girls that are cute". He commented saying how that school reminded him of his elementary school in Pocatello, ID. I had to laugh, it's not that small!