Can Pigs Fly????

Well, I think that I have been quoted as saying "I will get a dog, when pigs fly". I am not sure what happened to make me give in, but I finally did. I have been the only one in our house opposed to getting a dog for years. The kids have been wanting one for so long. I finally gave in...and we have the cutest little puppy. He is a West Highland Terrier. His name is BARKLEE. We have had him for a month already and he has been such a sweet little guy. The kids are loving having him. Even I have fallen for the little guy. Wonders never cease!

WE ARE STILL HERE!

Here are a few of the things that we have been up to during the Summer of 2009.

We started working with the girls to get them up on the wakeboard this year. They did pretty good for their first time.

We finally got our shed built. My dad came down and we managed to get it up and built in just over a week. My dad left with a fractured rib...but other than that, all went well. Thanks Dad, we couldn't have done it without you. You are the best!!


Abby performed at Wines Park in Lehi for the Lehi Round Up days. She performed 4 songs that she played and sang to. She did a super job!



This swimming pool was MISSING for the first month of the summer...but

we finally found it and we have been having a blast in it...it has been a super hot August! This is Katie and Steve diving into the pool..Katie LOVES the water.

Kloee turned 11 and had a little party a couple of days before school started. She really disliked having her birthday on the first day of school.

Okay, I had to post this. Look at all of these groceries that I got and with coupons and some in store deals, I only paid $13.10...CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT??! I was so amazed. I LOVE COUPONS!!

We had an end of the summer picnic with some of the kids friends and with their favorite preschool teacher Ms. Tina. She is so awesome!! As you can tell from this picture...the pose was her idea...she is so much fun!

Isn't being 8 GREAT!?

Max turned 8 last week and had a fun party with family and friends.

Today was a very special day for Max. He was able to be baptized.

So many of our family members were able to make it for his special day.

Aunt Tiffany and her kids were able to come from Arizona and Grandma and Grandpa Russell came all the way from Canada.

Thank you to everyone that came. It was so great to have everyone together.

Goodbye to Tina's Tots Preschool

Katie had her preschool graduation tonight. She was so excited for her little program and did a great job on her songs. They did the Pledge of Allegiance in sign language. It was so cute.

We are so sad to say goodbye to Tina's Tots. All 4 of the kids went to this same preschool. It has been so wonderful. Tina has been the most amazing teacher and so much fun! There isn't a day that goes by that Katie doesn't tell me something that Ms. Tina taught her or something that she says.

This is an end of an era...but we are leaving with some fabulous memories.

Thanks Ms. Tina for the past 8 years of teaching our kids their ABC's and sooo much more!!

Before & After

Abby has been wanting to get her hair cut for awhile. We finally went and got it done...we were surprised to find out that she had cut enough off the length to donate her hair. We are sending it in to Pantene Beautiful Lengths.

Dancing and Camping

I know, I know, it has been a couple of months since I have blogged...well more like 6 months. But who is really counting?

This past weekend Katie had her first dance recital. She had two dances and did a fabulous job.

















The dance recital landed on the same night as our ward father and son camp out.
So Max and Daddy had to improvise and they set up the tent in the back yard, bought a load of treats and picked up a movie at Redbox and watched it on the laptop. They stayed up way too late, but had alot of fun.

What happened to November??

Every four years when leap year roles around, I always wonder who the heck thought up leap year??? Why do we need an extra day every four years in February? Never really understood.....but seriously, when did someone decide that there wasn't going to be a November in the year 2008?? The last thing I remember was going trick or treating October 31st and now I am getting ready for Christmas..what is with that?? Needless to say, life has been a little crazy around here.

My sweet Uncle David passed away on November 21st and we were able to go up to Calgary for the funeral. It was so nice to be around my wonderful family. There were cousins that I hadn't seen for years. This picture shows "the Russell clan" with the exception of 5 cousins that were not able to attend. That was so amazing. I can't remember the last time we were all together. I was so sad to have it all end. I love my family!

It snowed one day while were up at my mom and dads. Grandpa took the kids across the street to go sledding and build snowmen. We didn't bring any snow playing clothes for them...so they mix and matched what they could of Grandmas and went out and played. They had a blast!! Great memories. It was unseasonably warm while we were there with the exception of this one day. Perfect weather for our unplanned trip up. We were truly blessed to have the weather we did. It made us feel alot safer with all the traveling we did while we were up there.

Home sweet home! This is the field across from my parents home...isn't it gorgeous!! I love the windmills.

Visiting with Cameron and Joanna and their new little one Konnor William. He is such a sweetie! It was nice to visit them and enjoy their beautiful newly finished basement. You did a great job Cam!

3 generation picture...proud daddy...proud grandpa!

My dad finally bought himself a new recliner while we were up there. He is always falling asleep in this old wooden rocking chair that is in their TV room. I am thinking that this is going to be ALOT more comfy for him. Sit back Dad and relax...you deserve it!!