If you have a Polaroid Instant Camera

you may want to just throw it away!! Here is why. That certain film is not going to be manufactured any longer.

Anyways, let the "morning sickness" begin! LOL! It lasts all day, and has seemed to hit, well, morning, til night! Though last night it was quite near 3 am before I fell asleep, not sure why, but I didn't. I have to go to the store tomorrow- hope I don't get trample upon by all the other grocery shoppers. Then, I hope to hit another store so I can get a dress for church that will fit. Something springy, but I suppose maybe not, since it's still quite cold.

The Russell/Simplican side of the family here will be very busy come fall, because my sister in law Valerie (Rich's youngest sister) is due the very end of October. We found that out today! The cousins will be very close.

The kids are very excited about the happenings of Easter. I must break out the Veggie Tale Easter Carol DVD tomorrow, so they can watch it. I forgot all about it this week, though I've been telling them the very important reason for celebrating Easter.

My honey brought me home a candy bar. Yeah- that got him some Brownie Points, though, not that he needed any, b/c he's the best!

Oh, and blech..this is right up there with Beth's bloody egg tale and photo.....a nice flexible tongue depressor like thing was in a piece of something I got from a fast food place (yeah - I was nauseated but I had this certain FOOD in my MIND!), and it totally grossed me out even more for the rest of the day. It may have been part of a utensil? I don't know, and I really don't care. BLECH. EWWW. GROSSS. No more fast food for me for a looooooooooong time!!!

Upcoming wonderful beautiful movie

Like Dandelion Dust. from a book by Karen Kingsbury. GO and read this book (read all her books, really). They make you cry, they make you happy, they just make you a better person, I feel.

Check a bit of what the movie will be like, to be released in theaters SOON I hope, check it out here.

Well, I have been close mouthed about some things...

some changes, really.

The first: We feel that God is leading us to a different church. We have stopped attending our beloved place of worship altogether. We had two weekends of family time. Next week, we'll go to my parents' small country church. After that, I am not sure. I am praying that God will lead us to where he wants us to be. It's been touching, with a few letters, not cards but LETTERS with meaningful and heartfelt words, coming in the mail, and some phone calls from friends, saying they miss us. Oh..this was tough. I miss the wonderful "family" from that church...but, Rich and I really do feel this is where the Lord is leading us for now.

The second: WE are expecting a new Russell baby in the fall, a week or two before Thanksgiving!!!! I am so excited, to say the least. I feel a bit silly since I already have to wear maternity clothes! Unbelievable! We told Ella and Philip last night and they are very excited. Ella has been so sweet, and was very interested in knowing more about babies, and how they grow. So, I'm trying to explain! LOL! I feel VERY blessed.


I KNEW it was just nerves. I did the typing test mentioned on a friend's blog..maybe it could be my once claim to fame..well, maybe not! Got up to 105 wpm!!!! If you want to go try, go here.

My Favorite Idol Song from 3/18

SYESHA....Yesterday

A recipe copied from elsewhere- oh I want to eat this!!! But first someone has to make it for me! LOL!

Tex-Mex Ravioli Casserole
1 (16-ounce) jar mild salsa
1 (10 3/4-ounce) can tomato puree
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin1 (28-ounce) bag frozen cheese ravioli, unthawed
2 (19-ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 bunch green onions, thinly sliced
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1. Combine first 3 ingredients. Pour 1/2 cup sauce mixture on the bottom of a lightly greased 2-quart oval or 11- x 7-inch baking dish. Top evenly with frozen cheese ravioli. Layer with black beans, chopped cilantro, green onions, and remaining sauce mixture; top evenly with shredded Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses.
2. Bake, covered with aluminum foil (lightly sprayed with Pam, to prevent cheese from sticking), at 350° for 45 minutes or until bubbly. Remove foil, and bake 5 more minutes.

Let stand 5 minutes.Makes 6 servings. I served it with chips and guacamole…everyone loves it!

First Piano Lesson

I just gave Ella her first piano lesson! She did really well. I followed the lesson from an older piano instruction book. Actually, I think it was the "same" one I used when I first had lessons. My MIL had given me a box of music and some of these beginning books were in there. We did stepping and skipping, with middle c, d, and e. And she learned notes a and b. And we numbered her fingers, and sang our little song. Then she started making up one with the three notes she learned. It gave me great joy to do this with her. It'll be worth the effort, I KNOW.

We went away Saturday night, just us and the kids, and had fun. The kids love hotels LOL. Today, met with my friend Alysha and her little boy, Connor, at IHOP. Their menu has the neatest things right now, for advertising Horton hears a Who. Let's just say, one set of pancakes has pastel colored juice/syrup and a nice big lollipop on top. AND, you can get green eggs and ham. I totally want to go there again with the kids before they discontinue those options. Terribly cute.

Glitz

Glitz It Now

Ooohh this site makes me think of Bewitched! For all scrapbookers, AGAIN! I wanted to look on this site at the stamping rollers. Really neat, doodle like.

New company I found ..

Webster's Pages is a new paperie company. Beautiful. And it has "when you say nothing at all" playing instantly, so have your volume set where you want it!

Friday's snow

had me unnerved for the whole half day while I drove to PA and back and was in the car 4.5 hours. Not the best of trips. No accidents, thankfully, but I stopped/got stuck several times and was very scared. I was just thankful to be able to FINALLY pick my children up from their great grandparents' house and get home. Getting home from that house to ours took awhile. Actually, the 5 minutes it usually takes for me to get home from one area beyond Salem to Salem took at least 20. So, we ended up staying home allll weekend.

Ella has a play date arranged for this week with a friend from school. They talked two times this weekend. So cute.

Buddy took around his toolbox and daddy's tools and "fixed" our kitchen chairs.

Began making an Easter basket list...one that has NO CANDY and probably only 2 things, since they are bigger and I don't want to get little things that get lost around here. Think, Leapster game for each of the kids, since they don't have one, but they do have one Leapster, which is Buddy's, Imean Ella's..no wait....well...buddy plays with it and Ella always just wants it when Buddy plays with it! LOL!

Anywhoo, off to bed. Lately I 've been going to bed early. Feels so much better.

Chimney Rock Park

I went here 10 years ago, I think. Finally now just documenting this amazing trip. Lots more pics to scrapbook! Having lots of fun lately- completed 15 pages in 3 days! A personal record! I'm lucky to do that in a month, or two!, but not just 3 days! It's a wonderful thing!

some scrapbooking lately!!!!

Well It's ABOUT time...

I just added, to the right under Last of the Mohicans, the song (Kiss)- what I chose for my own bridesmaids to walk down the aisle to at Rich and I's wedding. YES it is from a movie. LOL! Then I walked down to Cora. YES I went waaayyy non traditional but it was AWESOME! I had a playlist over there before but it'll go back eventually some Moon River (rich and I's special song) and Cindy Morgan's How Could I Ask For More. They NEED to be on this blog too. Eventually.



Well, enjoy! I know my dad will!

**Just added the other two songs we love, too. You'll have to stop them as they seem to just want to start automatically.

A challenge for myself

This woodgrain Hambly paper (in the Wintry Thoughts page) was very hard for me to put on a scrapbook page! To some, it may seem silly, if you are not into this stuff, but really..it's soooo different from what I usually work with! I love it though. I wouldn't mind using the little pieces I have left for something special.

I need to remember to change my lens and settings when I take pics of pages...oops! Anyways, the top page, you can't see all of the title, but it is Here Kitty Kitty.

Monday again!

Here's a plain jane page, but honestly IRL it look better than here. LOL! Inspired by Grandpa...
And, if you are one to look at artwork (i.w. scrapbooking albums) here is a fantastic album created by my friend, Greta...minialbum.


That means tomorrow I get to watch AI. And some other new show I was interested in. And then that means that Wednesday is only 2 days away, and again, American Idol, and I get a little something in the mail just for me! Also, Rich will be off, so hope we can scoot out to Chipotle for lunch or something. THEN, that means THURSDAY is only three days away, and I can watch some serious TV. So, I suppose you could say my enjoyment right now is food, tv, and scrapbooking! LOL!

Had Ella stay home from school- her ear is definitely bothering her. Philip is napping, and has a great stuffy nose and is feverish. Poor boy..he just puts himself in my lap so he can "hold me"- when he is sick he puts himself to bed for a nap!

Finished watching Rendition last night. Not my fav movie, it was a bit dark. I like Reese Witherspoon as an actress though. I hope we can watch No Reservations soon...if the movie gallery has it in when I go in FINALLY!

Friday I go to my doctor that is 1 1/2 hours away. It's a lovely drive...but just long. I feel very badly as it's the dr.'s last day as a dr. for some time. Just pray for my dr. and his office. Friends of ours, well the husband works with the Dr., too, and his job may or may not be at stake due to the fact the office may or may not be open while the Dr. isn't there. I am not sure. My Dr. has helped so many people, and this one thing was very unfortunate but it may affect his patients- for example, I'm going to have to scoot on over somewhere else for my thyroid checkups, etc. I have NO IDEA where, but I will be praying about that too.

And Saturday, well, I hope it's just a nice HEALTHY day for all of us to enjoy. Rich and I STILL have never gone out for our Valentines Date. Isn't that sad? We keep getting sick here!

But, I thank God for the enjoyment and blessings we have here at home!

Quick Weekend Rundown..

Thursday afternoon: Bring Ella home from school, slight temp and head ache
Thursday evening: Buddy has slight fever
Friday: Buddy definitely has some upper resp. infection going on. Off and on fever.
Friday night: Ella goes to bed, wakes up crying (tearfully) saying Ouchy ouchy ouchy over and over again. Says her head hurts and ears.
Saturday 12:01 am. Finally goes to sleep. After being awake a couple of hours with Daddy.
Saturday 12:01 am. Daddy thinks he is sick, with the flu.
Saturday morning: Daddy at work. SICK. Stays the whole day b/c he has to.
Saturday noonish: Take kids to hospital (er) so we can get Ella seen by the doctor. Middle ear infection....went to walmart for antibiotic. Took 3 hours plus for all that to occur (figures).
Saturday evening: Philip, a slight temp again, Ella gets some pain medicine in her too.
Sunday morning: we stay home from church. Can't take Philip into any place to be with kids, plus he's slightly grumpy with this cold thing. I want Ella to be on her medicine one more day before she's around other children. Rich goes to work- he woke up feeling sooo much better.
Sunday afternoon: the kids and I went to my parents, so they could get out for a little bit (only did so if Philip would not have fever, and he didn't). Except right when we got home.
Sunday evening: normal routine. Hope for good rest for both kids. Last night Philip woke me up b/c he was yelling in his sleep, "No Diego, No Diego!" LOL!