My Year in Photos

January 5 - someone I love

2012-01-06T21:18:00.000-08:00

This topic could have been much easier, just had to snap a picture of one of the kids, but I don't want to play favorites! Instead, I happened to be sitting here working on the computer and Whopper decided to make herself comfy snuggled under the little shelf in my desk/hutch. Of course I had to try every camera setting and am still not thrilled with the pictures, but here's one of the better ones. She's a very lovey cat, even if she's kind of smelly sometimes and still likes to attack my feet at night when I'm trying to sleep.

January 3 - clouds

2012-01-06T05:15:00.001-08:00

OK playing catch up already here. The girls called me outside while waiting for the bus this morning because the clouds were pretty and they knew I had missed the cloud picture for January 3rd. Here's what the morning looked like across the street. The sky seemed darker in person and the sunrise between the houses was much more vibrant with orange and a sliver of red at the horizon, the photo just doesn't do it justice.

January 4th - favorite color

2012-01-04T16:04:00.000-08:00

OK so this picture is serving 2 purposes today. It's our 3-month anniversary of living in the new house. And the front door is purple, which is my favorite color...even though you can't see it very well in this picture! Every day I wake up pinching myself...still...living here has been the best thing to have happened to us in a long time. The kids are adjusting so well, and I think I'm doing just fine, too!

I had to skip day 3, the picture was supposed to be clouds, and of all days, there was not a cloud in the sky. I thought about taking a picture of the smoke coming from the refinery stacks, but that wouldn't be right. The sun has been shining and it's very bright outside, but it's also bitterly cold and our lake in the back yard has frozen over. Nora demonstrated by throwing giant rocks out onto the lake and they didn't fall through the ice...but don't worry, we are not brave enough to test how deep the ice goes!

2012-01-02T16:09:00.000-08:00

January 2 - What I Wore

Today was definitely a boring day for this topic. I worked this morning, so comfort was the key word. Comfort without denim. Purple slacks and a black long-sleeve shirt. Thanks to Gina for taking my picture.

Happy New Year 2012

2012-01-01T20:44:00.000-08:00

It's another new year, and I'm resurrecting this blog. Looks like I attempted to take a photo a day in 2008 and made it to mid-August. I'll attempt to beat that this year! At the very least, I'm hoping for a month of photos thanks to the motivation and daily "assignments" that I'm getting from my friend Kristie Parker in Reno. Unlike her, I have no delusions of ever scrapping these into a mini album, but I'll attempt to take the photos nonetheless! January 1st - my self portrait (with my head cut off and everything!)

August 16th

2008-08-16T07:57:00.000-07:00

Last one from the lake!

August 15th

2008-08-15T07:57:00.000-07:00

August 14th

2008-08-14T07:55:00.000-07:00

Nora looks much too grown!

August 13th

2008-08-13T07:55:00.000-07:00

August 12th

2008-08-12T07:54:00.000-07:00

I love how they were both laying there with their chin in their hand...too cute!

August 11th

2008-08-11T07:53:00.000-07:00

August 10th

2008-08-10T07:52:00.000-07:00

Pics from the lake will take all week, but since I haven't used my camera since then...it'll have to do!

August 9th

2008-08-09T07:49:00.000-07:00

I have major lens envy!

August 7th

2008-08-07T07:47:00.000-07:00

We got to visit briefly with Glenna & fam at the Ronald McDonald House in Chicago.

August 2nd

2008-08-02T22:42:00.000-07:00

One last one from Great America...this is the photo of us all on the Loggers Run. I was determined to get a picture of all 5 of us together somehow, and this just happened to turn out pretty funny! I was screaming my head off, even though I knew it would take a picture and was planning to smile pretty. Hahaha!!! But the BEST part is the look in Gina's face! I believe you call that "the fear of God!" Poor baby, but she loved it, and if the line wasn't an hour and a half long, I bet we would have gone again!

August 1st

2008-08-01T22:39:00.000-07:00

Here is another from Great America. I took this right before we left, the kids loved seeing the park lit up at night. Unfortunately, I dropped the camera at some point during the day and my auto-focus stopped working. Not a problem, I can manually focus USUALLY, but I think my eyes were so tired, and it being dark and all...I muffed this one. But it looks pretty anyway, and I guess it will have to do!

July 31st

2008-07-31T22:36:00.000-07:00

I took the kids to Great America today, thanks to the free tickets from Grandma - hooray for reading programs! We are SO excited to do this again next year.

July 24th

2008-07-24T10:47:00.000-07:00

Low light shot in front of the stage after a performance...I likee!

July 22nd

2008-07-22T21:52:00.000-07:00

July 21st

2008-07-21T22:36:00.001-07:00

Opening Day/Night!

July 19th

2008-07-19T21:05:00.000-07:00

The Brook had a "Back in the Day" reunion, it was nice to see some old friends and get caught up.

July 18th

2008-07-18T21:02:00.000-07:00

Jack & his "Shipoopie" dance partner on stage at Downtown Alive...can't wait to see the whole play next week!

July 17th

2008-07-17T21:10:00.000-07:00

Not sure whose glasses Nora was trying on, but I know all those beer bottles did NOT belong to her!

July 16th

2008-07-16T21:00:00.000-07:00

This is me & Ryan, he had a good snooze while I was holding him.

July 15th

2008-07-15T20:59:00.000-07:00

Matt & the boys

July 14th

2008-07-14T20:58:00.000-07:00

I love my cousins.

July 13th

2008-07-13T20:57:00.000-07:00

My godchild Lindsey graduated high school, isn't she beautiful?

July 12th

2008-07-12T09:27:00.000-07:00

July 11th

2008-07-11T21:19:00.000-07:00

Taking pictures while stamping is not as easy as you might think.

July 8th

2008-07-08T21:18:00.000-07:00

Another frog card, I just couldn't help myself!

July 7th

2008-07-07T05:53:00.000-07:00

I'm stamping this week!

July 6th

2008-07-06T06:06:00.000-07:00

Roasting wienies at the lake!

And a bonus photo - swimming at the lake...yes, in a pool! Times they are a-changin', we didn't even have to walk down he hill! These kids are SPOILED!!!

July 5th

2008-07-05T06:06:00.000-07:00

We love Philips Park!

July 4th

2008-07-04T05:54:00.000-07:00

We watched fireworks in Bolingbrook in front of a beautiful lake.

July 3rd

2008-07-03T06:05:00.000-07:00

Musical chairs - love those Carmie Expressions!

July 2nd

2008-07-02T05:55:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Carmella!

June 29th

2008-06-29T06:16:00.000-07:00

Nora is getting babysitting lessons and LOVES it!

June 25th

2008-06-25T06:16:00.000-07:00

Can you tell the difference?

June 23rd

2008-06-23T06:15:00.000-07:00

Again at the water park.

June 22nd

2008-06-22T20:57:00.000-07:00

On our way home from WI, we saw several rainbows, even a couple doubles!

June 21st

2008-06-21T21:01:00.000-07:00

Paws the Bear....late night pole dancing?

June 20th

2008-06-20T21:11:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Glenna!

June 19th

2008-06-19T21:11:00.000-07:00

Polka Dot Retreat - somewhere in WI, very close to MN...footwear courtesy of Glenna! Toes from a nail place near the Archivers.

June 18th

2008-06-18T18:37:00.001-07:00

It's official! Gina is 7 today! Hooray!

June 14th

2008-06-14T18:45:00.000-07:00

Gina blowing out SEVEN candles!

June 13th

2008-06-13T18:47:00.000-07:00

The kids enjoyed decorating for Gina's birthday party! Carmella made the sign, the rest of the kids (and some neighbors) made all the paper chains.

June 12th

2008-06-12T19:02:00.000-07:00

Another picture from the park.

June 11th

2008-06-11T18:57:00.000-07:00

Took the kids on a walk to the "water park" which is actually just a park in our neighborhood that has this fountain-type area for water fun in the summertime! They only got to enjoy it a couple times last year since we moved here in late August, so we plan to visit much more this summer!

June 10th

2008-06-10T19:03:00.000-07:00

Carmie at the park.

June 9

2008-06-09T19:04:00.000-07:00

Nora at the park.

May 31st

2008-05-31T13:45:00.000-07:00

I got to see my girl Glenna today! We met in Bloomington and visited a scrapbook store. Yeehaw! Thanks Becca for taking our picture!

May 26th

2008-05-26T19:49:00.000-07:00

It's getting to be that time of year again...birthday season in the Russell household! These are the invitations we made for Gina's party. We need to hand them out before the end of school - only 3 more days (but who's counting?!?!)

May 22nd

2008-05-22T17:44:00.000-07:00

I met up with Gina's class on their picnic field trip to Phillips Park.

May 20th

2008-05-20T19:39:00.000-07:00

Before:

After:

May 19th

2008-05-19T16:29:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness, it's been almost a month since I posted, how the heck did that happen??? OK I will try to play catch up, I'm sure I took some pictures, guess it's just been really busy around here and I haven't uploaded. Grr. Here's a card I just made this afternoon, stolen shamelessly from http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/!

May 18th

2008-05-18T16:38:00.000-07:00

Look at this - a double-fisted duster...quite a rare sight, especially in this house!

May 17th

2008-05-17T16:32:00.000-07:00

It's cleaning day...

May 15th

2008-05-15T16:49:00.000-07:00

And here's Jack, and since my sister loves the blurry action photos, here's an extra one just for her!

May 14th

2008-05-14T16:49:00.000-07:00

Here's Gina, who also wanted to be velcroed to my arm...double Ugh!

May 13th

2008-05-13T16:46:00.000-07:00

On the 13th, all the other kids got to go skating, and I was there with my classroom as well. It was difficult to take pictures, the kids were blurry in many of them as they zoomed past me. I walked around the middle ring with one of my students velcroed to my arm for support. Ugh! Here's Carm, and the next 2 days I will share pictures of the other 2 kids!

May 12th

2008-05-12T16:44:00.000-07:00

Nora's class went skating today with half the school, this was the Character Counts reward for all the students who did not have an office referral for the whole year!

May 8th

2008-05-08T16:59:00.000-07:00

Last one...and my favorite!

May 7th

2008-05-07T16:58:00.000-07:00

May 6th

2008-05-06T16:57:00.000-07:00

May 5th

2008-05-05T16:56:00.000-07:00

May 4th

2008-05-04T16:54:00.000-07:00

Another card...

May 3rd

2008-05-03T16:52:00.000-07:00

Happy National Scrapbook Day! I went to a crop, but didn't scrapbook, I made cards instead. The next several posts were all cards I made on May 3rd. :)

April 23rd

2008-04-23T17:02:00.000-07:00

April 22

2008-04-22T17:01:00.000-07:00

I scrapped! It's a miracle!

April 21st

2008-04-21T14:52:00.001-07:00

The girls found a frog on the side of our house today...check out those warts!

April 20th

2008-04-20T21:07:00.000-07:00

Here's another of Nora's pics...remember that wedding marathon picture I posted last week? Well it seems the kids had their own wedding photographer, and she caught a lot more than me, for example the happy couple's first kiss! And no, that's not an orange yarmulke on the polar bear, I guess the half egg is his "wedding ring," Rose has a pink one on her paw if you look closely. Gotta love their imagination!

April 19th

2008-04-19T21:04:00.000-07:00

I didn't take pictures today, but found some cute ones on Nora's camera when I downloaded her pics from the past couple of months! Here's one of her pink poodle Webkinz at the park. I'm learning lots of things I didn't know about what my kids do when I'm not watching them!!!

April 18th

2008-04-18T20:32:00.000-07:00

T.G.I.F.!!!!!

April 17th

2008-04-17T18:02:00.001-07:00

This is getting fun....the kids can all read and spell now - let's play Scrabble! Their scoring system is funny, as Jack says, "adding all the numbers on the tiles is too sophisticated for kids like us!" So they made tally marks for each letter they used. I think Nora was the big winner, but they all gave up after spelling maybe 4 words each.

April 16th

2008-04-16T15:19:00.000-07:00

My little thespians had their big play today...they were amazing!

April 15th

2008-04-15T20:21:00.001-07:00

It was a super windy day today...maybe a little TOO windy for these kites, but we sure had fun!

April 13th

2008-04-13T20:26:00.000-07:00

Went a little nuts with the glitter on this one...sorry to whoever the recipient might be (haha, as if I will ever remember to actually use one of these creations of mine!)

This one I used some Pearl-Ex stuff that I was SURE that I just HAD to HAVE several years ago. You can't see it very well in the picture, but the background stamp is kind of shimmery and if you hold it a certain way....well it's probably something you have to actually SEE to understand. Oh, and the Pearl-Ex has returned to it's home in the back of a drawer that doesn't see the light of day very often, and I expect it will stay there for all eternity. :)

April 12th

2008-04-12T19:18:00.000-07:00

It was a Build-a-Bear wedding marathon at the Russell home today. Four couples tied the knot while the rest of the "family" watched. This picture shows Rose the Pink-Nosed Bear marrying BenBen the Polar Bear. Aren't they lovely?

April 11th

2008-04-11T20:51:00.000-07:00

Made another card...and the kids just aren't THAT cute these days, so I guess I haven't been taking any pictures other than this. Sorry!

April 8th

2008-04-08T19:45:00.001-07:00

Made another card tonight, Nora picked it out from Splitcoast, but we ended up changing a few things to make it our own. Love these colors!

April 7th

2008-04-07T19:47:00.000-07:00

We are constructing a volcano...stay tuned, the big eruption is scheduled for Thursday at school!

April 2nd

2008-04-02T14:51:00.000-07:00

And this card was actually designed by Nora...who was the first one in the shower, so got to stamp with Mom before bed. :) She's pretty darn creative for being only 10!

April 1st

2008-04-01T14:49:00.000-07:00

I made another card...wahoo!

March 31st

2008-03-31T14:46:00.000-07:00

I was so excited to work in my newly cleaned and re-arranged scrap room, so I dug out some scraps and made these cards. And then I cleaned up after myself, so the room is still mostly clean. Hooray!

March 30th

2008-03-30T18:01:00.001-07:00

Woke up with this intense desire to rearrange my scraproom...this is the result. Can't wait to break it in!

March 29th

2008-03-29T17:57:00.000-07:00

Made these cards at a crop in central IL - big fun!

March 28th

2008-03-28T15:45:00.001-07:00

I guess I am in a crafting mood, made a couple more cards on my own today!

March 27th

2008-03-27T15:43:00.000-07:00

Glenna came over to play and we made some cards.

March 23rd

2008-03-23T16:03:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter!

March 22nd

2008-03-22T21:28:00.000-07:00

Nothing like waiting 'til the last minute...

March 21st

2008-03-22T12:04:00.000-07:00

This is Drew, isn't he adorable? My camera was not cooperating, he's much cuter in person!

March 20th

2008-03-20T21:37:00.000-07:00

Nora had her auction at school this week. She had 618 reward bucks to spend and this 2-liter bottle of lemonade cost her 480 of them! (The 4th graders earn these bucks for good behavior and stuff like that, I believe.) Since she bought it all for herself, she decided she would drink right out of the bottle. Goofy girl!

March 19th

2008-03-19T21:32:00.000-07:00

For the blog's sake I am pretending this happened earlier in the week, but it was actually Saturday that we finally dug out all the Easter decorations. And the kids thought it would be cute to put all their Easter-ish stuffed animals all over the Evergreen Tree (it's not a Christmas tree if you don't turn the lights on and it doesn't have the ornaments on it!!!) Little did they know, I had already bought some Easter Egg garland...it looks very festive...and not at all like a you-know-what!

March 17th

2008-03-17T12:03:00.000-07:00

Green Eggs & um...sausage. Ya gotta work with what ya got!

March 16th

2008-03-16T17:36:00.000-07:00

It's Palm Sunday, so why not buy a palm tree? It was a comedy of errors getting it home in my minivan...it sure didn't look this big in the Costco warehouse! Good thing Grandma came over to watch the kids or I may have had to tie someone to the top of the van to get us all home!

March 15th

2008-03-15T18:10:00.000-07:00

Back to last weekend pictures again, because they are just too cute. Here's Ben & Carmella.

March 14th

2008-03-14T17:34:00.000-07:00

Gina finally got it! She's finally comfortable and balancing while riding her 2-wheeler! Wahoo! And yes, that's her outside without a jacket...we had a couple of 60-degree days this week, thank you Mother Nature, we are SO ready for spring!

March 13th

2008-03-13T18:09:00.000-07:00

Look at those eyes...an auntie could get lost in them, I tell ya!

March 12th

2008-03-12T18:07:00.000-07:00

This was a common sight, Nora giving Ben a piggy-back ride. Again! Again!

March 11th

2008-03-11T18:06:00.000-07:00

More pictures from the weekend, since nothing else was going on that was picture worthy. I'll fill in the rest of this week with more pictures of The Babies. Aww.