Blog move!

So, I've been blogging for years. I do it mostly to keep track of our activities and to help me remember what kinds of fun things we are doing.

Evidently blogger limits the amount of space I can have!?! Something about being linked to Picasa and photo storage and blah, blah, blah....I have tried to figure out how to fix or change or erase or whatever and it's just not working. I even had a super tech guy helping and even HE was confused!! So, short of BUYING storage (I'm not gunna' do that) I don't have many options except to start a new blog!

It kinda' works out well since my change of email addresses a while back messed up my blogging links....really, it's just too long a story.

So, what you really need to know is that we've moved!

If you are still interested, you can find us at:

http://russellreports2.blogspot.com/

Come on over, the water's fine!

Oh, and be patient....I'm still getting the kinks out!

Haigler Creek

I went with Dallin on his end-of-year camp out at Haigler Creek near Young, Az.

Luckily we weren't camping but 'lodging', because it rained most of the time we were there. It was fun to enjoy the cool weather but we spent a lot of time indoors the first couple of days.


We were with a great group of kids. Each student was divided into a group and given a responsibility for each meal whether it was preparation or clean up. It was really fun to see these kids be responsible and help each other.


The second day we were there we had a little sunshine and decided we would risk doing some fishing.


I'm not sure who he gets it from, but Dallin LOVES fishing! Sadly, he has never caught a fish before-he gets that from me. I have the worst fishing luck ever.

The last day we were there he went without me and finally caught his very first fish! (I'm hoping I get the picture of it from the parent who was supervising.)


We had a fun zip line everyone rode on.



It went so fast Dallin even lost his shoe! (That's his excuse.)

We took a really great hike with a group (about half) of the students and I was so impressed with how helpful they were with each other, especially with a couple of girls who had some injuries. The boys helped hold back branches and were very encouraging when the girls were having a hard time.

Open for business!

The pool is 80 degrees and just perfect!

It's been a mild spring and we haven't had too many roasty days, but anytime it gets slightly warm the kids beg to go swimming.

Kaisa and Sophia came over the other day and they all had a blast!





The pool is just the right size. The kids can play and cool off but it's not so big that I worry too much. Even Sophie could stand with her head out of the water.


After much persuasion and patience from Kaisa, Maura finally warmed up and did a great job just paddling along by herself.



Of course she needed both the arm floaties and the tube.


I'm so glad she is still a little nervous around the pool. A little fear is healthy!

The only thing Dallin is afraid of is the camera! Stinker boy!


I think I may be able to convince him that cutting his hair would help him to swim.

I finally have the chemicals figured out and how to keep it clean. It's not looking like a swamp any more! So, if you need a place to cool off-come on over, we're open for the summer!

Pinewood Derby-The Tank!

Dallin and Adam created a very macho Tank for this year's competition.

It was awesome! BUT, it weighed a little too much.

Rats!

So they had to do some modifications.

After a few creative solutions, it came in under weight! AWESOME!

He registered his car and named it, and gave it a number...#1!!

Then off to the races!

Very exciting!


It was a little discouraging at first,

but once they added some graphite to the wheels they did much better!


He sooooo wanted to win a race or two (note the crossed fingers).

YES! At least he won a couple!!


It was a really fun day!


He won the award for "The Most Destructive Looking".



I'm not sure if they meant the car or Dallin...


How cool is that??

Birthday 'workout'!

Typically I get up at about 4:40am to stumble into my closet and hastily throw on worn out shorts, a grubby t-shirt and sneakers and head to the gym with a group of people from my neighborhood.

It's the only way I can get motivated to get exercise-peer pressure is what it's all about. There is always a flurry of texting the night before to make sure everyone is going and find out who is driving. It's been a really great way to motivate me! There is no hair brushing or make-up or beautifying of any kind-we're going to the gym to sweat!

Well, I planned on sleeping in on my birthday. It's MY birthday so I felt I deserved a day of sleeping in. But the night before in a deluge of texts and guilt trips I was harassed and peer-pressured into going by said group of people.

Grudgingly I set the alarm, struggled out of bed and slouched into the waiting car. "Happy Birthday!" they said as I sat down. Then off we went towards the gym. I am usually only half conscious through most of the workout so I was only slightly alarmed when the driver missed the turn off to get us to the gym. She made some lame excuse and kept driving in the wrong direction. After a few more minutes I asked "Okay, so where are we really going?" "I'm a bad liar," she replied "So I'm just going to shut up and keep driving!".

We ended up at IHOP at 5am where we were met by a ton of other people! Happy Birthday to me!

WOW! I felt so loved that they would sacrifice SLEEP to come and hang out with me for an hour before heading off to get kids and hubby ready for the day. AND they didn't get dressed or beautified or anything! They all adhered to the 'workout' dress code so I didn't feel foolish (well, not very foolish anyway).


My sister Katie and her husband Kevin and baby Adell drove all the way from Coolidge to come and have breakfast too!

Someone even brought candles for me to blow out (gratefully not 40 of them!)

It was a great morning!


Thanks for coming and for arranging it! I had a GREAT birthday!

I'm really 40??? Seriously??

Easter re-cap

We made fun cupcakes for friends and neighbors with "tweety birds" on them (or so Maura says).

The neighborhood breakfast and egg hunt is always one of our favorite activities.
Waiting in line to eat.






Breakfast is always delicious!


This year the Webelos were in charge of the egg hunt (and since I am now a den leader, I got to help). We filled a ton of eggs, then got to the park early to 'hide' them. Really, we just spread them out on the grass as far as they will go. There is always a big turn out.


It's surprising how quickly all the eggs disappeared! One of the dads said now he knows what a locust epidemic looks like! But, the Mookster and Dallin got their fair share!



The Easter Bunny found us. The kids mostly got flip-flops, silly putty, and things for a fun summer.

Adam had some early church meetings, so we got the kids up early so he could enjoy a few minutes with them before he left.


I think Dallin's favorite prize was a giant croc for the pool!


We spent most of Easter together hanging out (playing with toys) and just being together.


That's the best part of any holiday.

Oh, forgot to mention we went to the Easter Pagent with my cousin Jonathan and the Patterson's. We all really enjoyed it, Maura especially! She watched the entire thing asking questions the entire time and she had talked about it since then. I am amazed at how much she remembers and learns from things she sees. It was a terrific night.

Arizona spring evenings are so enjoyable! The days are getting almost too warm, but once the sun goes down it cools off nicely and we spend a lot of time in our yard.

Since his new job Adam has been working some long hours trying to get on top of everything, but one evening we were together and spent the evening enjoying the cool evening. There won't be too many of these left. It's already starting to heat up quickly!

Adam and Dallin played frisbee.






(There was a little showing off.)

Maura ran in circles in her dancing dress, and enjoyed the flowers.




I love these evenings!