Catch Up!

How does everyone keep their photos organized? I had been downloading all photos to my Kodak program and then keeping them on until I either ordered the prints or put them on disks. Well, my computer is doing "funny" things and it even had a crash warning last week, so I have been trying to get everything off of it just in case. I bought a portable drive and did accomplish to save everything, but in the meantime found out I had multiples of each picture. No wonder my computer was dying, I had 7,000 pictures on it and 100's of video clips. I would download a picture and then create an album and it would be in several folders. I had no idea. So, I have finally put 2008 and 2009 pictures on Picasa and then on my disk drive and then I can also order from it. I'm hoping this works out for keeping organized and up to date.

Ok, let's see... what's going on. First of all isn't this picture cute? We went Strawberry picking with our homeschool group and Amie had to do what the rest were doing. I think though there was more on her and in her then were in the bucket.

I had a wonderful Mother's Day too! I got the three disc Twilight movie. You know, I had been reading the books as they came out, so when the movie was out, I did not like it at all. I thought it was .... I don't know, just didn't like it. Well, after the second time seeing it, it sure did grow on me. Now I love it. Of course, the books are much better. I've read them all twice and want to read them again, but I'm trying to read all of Jane Austin's novels. I think, even though there are only 7, it will take me time.

Next on the list this month was of course Mollie's Birthday. She is 9! Can you believe it? She is growing so much and such a sweetie. We were going to have an American Girl "Tea" party, but she opted for her gift instead (and dad gave in.....A DOG!) Brian said he would NEVER have a dog and I swore I would never have a cat. Well, I guess I won. :) So we had her a combined party at Grandma's house and then on her actual birthday, we had a donut cake and then took her out to Chick-fil-A (her pick) On Saturday we went and picked up Bella (she was already named that, it wasn't from Twilight although I thought it was a sign :)). She LOVES her and has been doing a really good job of taking her out etc. Plus it's my workout partner. She has been jogging with me every morning.

Oh, back to Mollie. She is so cute. We were working on her Faith in God for girls book for church and in it she had to write her testimony. Well, one night she spent some time in her room and when she came out she had written a very sweet testimony/ life story in one book. I am so thankful to have such a sweet daughter who loves the Lord.

All month Brian has been talking about participating in one of the "Tea Parties" going on across the country. Well, he found out at 4:00 that Bulloch County was having one at the courthouse. So as soon as he got off work at 7pm we went down there for the last 30 minutes. I'm thankful for a husband who is passionate about our country and the future it holds. It was also a great teaching moment to explain that we live in a country where we are free to express our opinions and that we want it to stay that way. For more info on the "Tea Party" Check out http://foxforum.blogs.foxnews.com/2009/04/16/beck_alamo/

Same Russell's Different Address

If any of you ever followed my on again off again blog.... to my dismay, it has disappeared. I am so bummed! I loved looking back on the pictures since my scrapbooking has been nil. And I was just learning how to do all that cutsie stuff... Joanna, I may need another family picture :) So, here I am again, starting a new blog.

It has been a crazy few weeks! Brian and I returned from a wonderful cruise to Cozumel Mexico and I'm still trying to catch up on life. His dad planned the trip to surprise his wife for their 40 year anniversary. All the kids and their spouses came plus a few sisters and friends. We had 20 in our group and had a blast. Brian and I danced, and played and laughed harder than I have in a long time. It really was rejuvenating and we are calling it our 10 year anniversary trip. (I can't believe it's almost been 10 years!) We were also able to go see the Mayan Ruins and it was so interesting to learn their history and correlate it to the Book of Mormon. Oh, and the beaches were beautiful!

We returned home to an exhausted Granny (THANK YOU SO MUCH MOM) who watched the four kids and we are very grateful for every one's safety. They had a little incident where Benjamin's bed caught on fire in the middle of the night due to his lamp. So please be aware of your kids lamps. He had put it under his blankets and my mom did not see the light on when she checked on him. Thankfully she woke up to the smoke before the flames started. I know that Heavenly Father was answering our prayers to keep them safe and protected. So needless to say, my mom must have been a little edgy after that. They had a great time with her and loved being spoiled. I didn't mind either and love the Wii Fit! Maybe I'll lose the 6lbs I gained from the cruise.

Well our business is doing great. I'm trying to get organized with all the hostesses and preschools and libraries. Usborne is such a fun and great company to work with. Mollie's reading has improved 100 fold by having access to the reading series books. She loves Rumpelstiltskin and Little Women. Check out our website at http://www.theusbornebooks.com/ for any info, how to earn FREE books and to order any time. A great book that I just read about the benefits of reading aloud is the Read Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease. It really has made me look at the importance in our children's lives. The book we are reading aloud right now is The On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder. My kids love it! We are in the 3rd in the series Little House in the Prairie and have learned so much. I think I'm also going to start reading aloud The Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

We also had a wonderful Easter week. The kids were able to go on a hunt with our church friends at Mill Creek Park. The weather had been horrible the previous week, so we were happy that the sun came through and the kids had a blast. They loved their baskets and church was wonderful. I was released from my cub scouts which was bittersweet, but I am now able to focus more on my class I teach. I did the Easter Egg Resurrection lesson and it went really well. They were very attentive and participated. At home with the kids we watched Worthy is the Lamb and went to a friends house for dinner. I truly am thankful to have the knowledge of the Resurrection to teach our children. They really seem to understand so much.

Well, I am off to Benjamin's golf lessons and meeting up with Brian.