I can't believe it!

I have to comment about today. This is one reason why I love Fridays! This morning I accomplished on finishing up my homework. Checked my bank to see if Jay's check came and my eyes about popped out! We not only received his check but also tax return money, yippee! I then got on the scale, which is always a drag, I checked it twice and I had lost some weight! My total weight that I have lost sense January is 12 pounds. I'm back down to where I was a year ago, even more of a celebration! My weight watchers is working for me (with some slim fast drinks here and there)! Now, I just need to lose about 12-15 more pounds and I will be a real happy camper (Pre-birth weight from Madie)!

Huey Lewis...The heat is on!

I can't believe no one guessed my title on which band sung that song. The answer is.... HUEY LEWIS AND THE BAND. Good old 80's. A little info on him is on this website that I pasted.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.thestatenislandboys.com/Huey_Lewis/images/Huey_Lewis1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.thestatenislandboys.com/Huey_Lewis/index.htm&usg=__0NL1HiSsP5KabTO6RjI9kFYYONc=&h=432&w=282&sz=29&hl=en&start=3&sig2=mHQms6dpxihYWI4LdlCeGg&um=1&tbnid=KIPTT5x628G9dM:&tbnh=126&tbnw=82&ei=Qt-zSZXGBYr0sAPa8JyOAg&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhuey%2Blewis%2Band%2Bthe%2Bband%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26rlz%3D1T4ADBR_enUS279US281%26sa%3DX%26um%3D1

The heat is on...

Okay who knows who sung that song from my title "The Heat is on"?... I'm not kidding about the heat turning up around here! We hit 90 degrees on March 2, come on! Other than the typical heat, my life has been turned up a notch...with school assignments (midterms), the regular church callings, and family needs. Last month we did something every weekend that pertained to serving the Lord. Now that is dedication, right? It looks like March will be like that too.

Don't get this the wrong way, I'm not complaining I have everything under control and am getting my school assignments done early so that I can focus on the right things which are family and church. I am so excited to be a part of girls camp again! When I got released a part of me was so very sad! I loved the girls I was serving with. I understand why I was released, hello a new ward and hubby is a bit busy these days and I'm in school.

On a side note, today I went to an IEP meeting to observe and I got emotional. As I was listening about all the health problems this child had for the first time I couldn't help but think of how the parent would react. I almost wanted to cry! It was a real eye opener for me! I kept thinking to myself "you can not get emotionally attached". Think as an educator and not a parent! I thank my Heavenly Father everyday for my healthy kids. I feel spoiled to have them.

Stay cool everyone! Swimming is coming upon us very early this year! Which reminds me, that I need to get going if I'm serious about the triathlon in Litchfield next month, ouch!

Tag your it!

I just love my niece! She tagged me but I am up for the game... Here are the rules: 25 random things, facts, habits,or goals about me. Are you ready for this readers???

1. I love pop in general and am trying to quit. ugh!
2. I always check my email in the morning once I come downstairs.
3. My goal is to go to Hawaii after I graduate from ASU (2010)
4. I love fresh cut grass and hearing the lawn mower
5. This is my favorite time of year in Arizona because I get to smell the orange blossoms...
6. Madie's name for me is sentimental. I graduated from Madison High, raised in Madison county, and we sometimes call her Mads for short and my great grandfather was named Mads.
7. I am a home body but I can't stand to be in my home all day or I go nuts.
8. I enjoy scrap booking when I have time, but am ready to look into the digital photo books that can be made at Sam's club.
9. I would love to get a higher quality camera and learn more information on "good" photography
10. Crazy as it sounds I love to paint. I'm not the best at it but I do enjoy it.
11. One day I will grow my own garden down here in Arizona. It's just a matter of time!
12. I did a triathlon in 2006 with Trena (my sis) and plan to do one again but this time on my own!
13. I love to go hiking around Jenny's Lake in Jackson Hole, WY.
14. I am admitting one of my fears and that is... I'm scared of the ocean. You will see me go waist deep and that is all.
15. I love to bake goodies but hate to cook dinners, ugh!
16. I love doing yard work!
17. I walked on the volleyball team at Ricks College in 1992.
18. I am Jay and the boys' hair dresser.
19. I secretively wanted to be a professional volleyball player (that ended after being on the Ricks team, it was no fun anymore).
20. I love getting pedicures and treat myself once a year on my birthday. It is funny to see the looks on their faces... the lady handling my "man" feet, and scrapping 3 inches of dead skin.
21. When I heard Jay sing for the first time in a church musical I was smitten!
22. I am one who wishes I stuck with piano lessons to be really good at it.
23. I can Ty a tie. I do it for Drake every Sunday!
24. Okay, I'm going to say this and I am not proud of it... I am not a fan of scouts.
25. When I was younger I used to go fishing with my brothers and my dad. I miss that. I was the first girl to go with them. ( My family said I should have been a boy, now you know where Madie gets it).

Yea, I finished it! Anyone who reads this gets tagged! Okay so I have been informed that I'm cheating. To be more precise... Stephanie, Heather, and Rochelle you have been tagged!

Jay's family

The Russell grand kids...Aren't they a fine bunch (especially the older grandsons j/k). I believe there are 22 to be exact!

Look at these "sexy"ladies... Ya, I have the privilege to hang out with these skinny, good looking gals and very talented! I'm proud to be the FAT one in the bunch.

Terry and Adele to make this all happen. It is exciting to see their posterity grow. I know mine won't be this big!

Hubba, hubba the men in the family! Come on Jay you can show your teeth!


Here is the whole clan! I personally think we make a striking family but I am being bias because I am married into the family.

Here are the kids, with the spouses, and mom/dad.

To get these pictures is quite an adventure with all the little runs running around, especially when we took this shot. The older grand kids were great to keep the little ones preoccupied.

I just wanted to give you a little history on this picture day. It was a couple of days after Christmas and a cold front came down. It was in the late afternoon with not much warmth from the sun...so image the kids noses are runny, Rosy cheeks, and noses. Our photographer did a great job by photo shopping Rich in too. His back went out that day and he couldn't get out of bed! I say well done, with what we had to do! Hopefully we can rest for another 5 more years.

The race is on...

It has been 3 years since I have ran a 5K and I was proud of myself to run the whole time on flat AZ surface! I've been running with Stephanie and Melissa twice a week at 5 in the morning. I think I'm the only one who is really awake since I have to drive over to there house...Anyway we all did great!! Melissa rocked by taking 2nd place in her age division, Steph came in 6th with her age division, and I came in 10th with my division. (I like to say that I was one of the older ones in my division, pushing to 35). Melissa is obviously the ring leader, Steph is our comedian, and I'm the audience when it comes time to running in the morning.

Like a dummy, I forgot my camera so I have nothing to show proof that we ran the Heart and sole 5K for West Valley Hospital. Another fun event for that day is that the race was held at the Cleveland Indians Spring Training facility and it was opening day for them. This is a brand new facility and southwest valley is excited to have them here! I plan to go see their opening game on Wed. the 25th with a friend.

Someone is always watching...

So I'm taking a culture class this semester and my professor wanted us to create something to let the class get know us, so... I decided to create a poem and she loved it so much that she wanted an electronic copy. I was tickled to death (not to mention that this professor is very intrigued about "Mormons").
Where I’m From –Rochelle Russell
I am from wide open spaces, from the Teton Mountains and Craters of the Moon, canned green beans and homemade bread.
I am from a home that my father built himself, brick by brick, with a basement and a large inside porch, and mom was always singing a tune in the kitchen.
I am from the cold northern climates, gorgeous seasons, endless potato and wheat fields.
I am from Peterson, Rasmussen, French, and Belnap bloodlines. Stubborn, musical, athletic, and hard working from my mother Marlene, my father Don, my seven siblings Rocky, Jolene, Tammy, Trena, Bryce, Kent, Shamae and my husband Jason, my children Brock, Drake, Madison and 43 nieces and nephews and one great niece.
I am from the laid back, spontaneous, and dry sense of humor.
From “whatever you put your mind to you can do it” and “set your standards high and never lower them.”
I am from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am from the “Ricks College” days and walked on the volleyball team in 1992.
I am from Idaho, Denmark, and England eating meat and potatoes (Idaho’s special).
From the grandfather who was a sailor who joined the church and married a Scot to traveling to Salt Lake City, the great grandmother who sewed her own wedding dress with leftover silk from her father’s silk factory, and the grandmother who was always playing and singing for others in church services, funerals, and weddings.
I am from a small town with farming fields, green grass, pine and oak trees, a large garden to snack on, and climbing apple trees. I am from a large stock of loyal, faithful, and loving family members.

The race is on...

Okay, all you runners... I have paid my fee to run the 5k on February 21 at the Goodyear ball park. I know Stephanie and Melissa are going, Rochelle said she might... It will be fun and those who don't like to run can walk a mile (and pay for their shirt). Can't wait to see those who love running there!

Desperate!

Anyone who has signed their kid up in NYS tackle football? I would love to hear what you think of it. Any suggestions to find GOOD DEALS on football equipment? I would love the feedback!

It starts....

You guessed it... this is my last weekend of freedom before my classes start. I feel that my break has been very successful by painting some rooms, getting things fixed around the house that needed to be by contractors, cleaning carpet, catching up on reading material, throwing two January birthday parties and most importantly started running again and joined weight watchers to get the jelly roles off! Jay and I have decided to be more health conscientious, since he is the largest now in his family and they give him crap about it and he just basically wants to have energy and his looks back. I on the other hand not only want energy (and look good) but for health reasons since diabetes runs in my family very prevalent! Not only does my parents have it but my two older sisters have diabetes (type 2) and I also have two nephews that have type 1. I wish they would find a cure.

I plan to run a 5k in Goodyear on Feb. 21 anyone besides Brock wanting to come with me I would absolutely love it. I am also training with a lady in my ward for a sprint triathlon (the swimming is going to kill me if I don't get my rhythm down). Anyway, my spirits are up and I'm smiling all the time... hopefully that will continue when school gets under way and assignments are due and all that other fun stuff!