Thursday photos...in progress

I have so much to do...I've been a mad woman almost trying to get some things accomplished around here. Hopefully it's the big hurrah before the big day! LOL! Although, we have hmmmmm...exactly 33 more days!!!! Trying to do laundry, get some other winter things for the kids more organized, more laundry, trying to get my closet and Buddy's closet fixed up, so we have more room elsewhere..whew..anywhoo some more photos...

sneak a peek

at some of my timed photoshoot from yesterday....which, in fact, left me so very sore today....just thinking about all I had to do to do this makes me hurt! LOL! Up and down, set the camera up a gazillion times, RUN to my pose....but, it's done. I have a lot more of Philip and I, and of Ella, Ella and Philip... and just of myself, but most of the myself ones I'm not thinking will get to my blog...I like them, but they are not traditional. They are in NO way inappropriate, of course, but I think I'll feel awkward. LOL.

AND, if you have a few minutes, BTW (that's by the way, for those who don't know!), click FIRST on my friend Sam's blog (see the list to the right) and read his "It's over" post and THEN go to my friend Kimmy's blog..and read It's just begun...Hilarious...She really IS smug LOL.

another photograph blog entry

Ella in her pumpkin/fall outfit..she wore this to school Friday. Also, Buddy and his doggy (one from Build A Bear...do you believe that he LOVES going there? I think it's sooooo cute!!!)...and Ella with some soccer poses- in action blocking a goal and then whispering a secret to the other Ella on her team.

May I interrupt your daily blogging?

LOL!

This babe is 5 pounds 6 ounces! Can you believe it? Still waiting for Nov. 11th. That is maybe 6 1/2 weeks away? How many guesses that we'll have an 8 pounder? Well, most of your guesses SHOULD be that. Philip was 8, 13 a week early. Ella was 9, 4 TWO weeks early! Everything is fine and dandy, the doctor said today. The ultrasound showed a little boy who loves to yawn (just like Mommy!) and he (his head)was smooshed against the uterus, trying to get his hand in his mouth. So very cute. I cried. So sweet.

I hope to be back to regular blogging, um, next year? Seriously. I am just going to try to enjoy brief updates between now and then. And reading everyone else's although my commenting will be brief or nonexistant.

But, do you know what? I am envisioning myself really loving a Thanksgiving dinner (at my mom's!)...can't wait. Lately, my eating is very minimal b/c I feel so nauseated. But, I do enjoy looking at a Swiss Colony magazine, and wishing we had some of those wonderful sausages...
cheeses...
pastries...
nuts....
cookies.....
chocolate....
jams....
ahhhhhhh.....
How to justify getting some of this is the question!

A few photoshoots

I've had a couple photoshoots in the past week and a half. My friend Katie, with her daughter, Autumn. She always gives me these gorgeous eyes in photos. I do NOTHING with them I promise. Amazing. Then, my friend Alysha, her family...her beauitful children! Whew..however...now I know NOT to do photoshoots when I am in the third trimester. Ugh. It was tough. I like to bend down, lean over, stand in weird places, lie down on the ground...hard to do when you have so much extra weight in front of you!

A week's end

I have several things to share today....

First, Ella came home from school yesterday with a hop, skip, and a jump in her step, along with a smile. She had two more friends, and knew their names, too! LOL! This morning was the first morning since school began that she did not cry when I left her and did not remain clingy to me. This is what happened...we get into the recess area, and a girl comes up and says "hi, Ella!" and then two more girls come up to us and say the same thing, and then a group of four girls come up and say the same thing and one gives her a hug. Mommy is VERY happy. Ella went off to play after sitting her backpack down and didn't give me one extra glance. Still, Mommy is VERY happy.

Secondly, we had gone to Beaver Creek after church a couple weeks ago, to meet some friends of ours that we had played in a band with awhile back. Jack took a couple of photographs of Rich and I. I cropped a bit and played with them in Elements, and the black and white one is my favorite. I still need some maternity shots, wink wink to Beth, and hope that can happen soon.

Thirdly...ahhh..at last....my favorite publication came yesterday so I can see my 2 photographs published! There was to be a third photograph in this issue, but it will be in a subsequent one I was told...perhaps the winter or spring I hope! I am thrilled! Ella and her friend Natalie, in When It Doesn't Rain, which is the first photograph of the issue (due out in October, so go check Barnes and Noble for it then!), and then a little boy from our former church at his birthday picnic. That's his feet...and his dropped silverware. LOL. Anywhoo, if you can't read the journaling, I'll come back later and blog it. I have limited minutes right now, ALONE in the house, as Rich took the kids to a park. I will have to blog about my hero, my husband, tomorrow. He sure has been a hero lately.






I have been super tired again lately...and sick. Ick. Such as last night. Hoping that this passes soon. Eight more weeks!!!!!!

And, finally, today was the funeral for our lovely friend, Aleida, from Studio Calico. Please continue to pray for the family...and friends who truly loved her. I must say that friends that you meet online mean as much as ones "in real life." They really really do. They are definitely true friends.

Beaver Creek State Park

If you were tagged

how long would it take for you to answer the tag? LOL! For me, well, a long time. I'm getting slower and bigger as the days go by. That's the truth! So, my friend, Beth, has a list of fine questions to answer. I decided to take a break in my evening here to do this. First, though, I must say that Ella is FINALLY getting settled a bit more with school. She has a friend, and remembers her NAME. She also is liking her teacher. However, she still cried when I drop her off. That's when I feel most helpless. I do pray for her right as I lead her to her little line outside and give her more hugs..then back away..I may go back and give her another hug, but then Buddy and I wander away cautiously. It hurts to see her big tears roll down her little cheeks.

My heart still breaks for Aleida's two small children and husband. I miss seeing her posts on SC and seeing her personality and love for life shine through her words and artwork. I can't begin to tell you how many times I find myself praying for her loved ones and crying...She really has given us at SC a greater zest to continue scrapbooking and find things more worthy of writing down...

One thing I must scrapbook about is our 24 hours without electricity. I loved that time we had living a bit simpler, and so did Rich and the kids, but especially Buddy. We were suprised when our own power can on again so soon, but others aren't in business yet. Kimmy, really, if you need anything come on over! Several businesses and churches I believe in our town don't have electricity, and it may be the weekend. We went Sunday night through Monday evening....Sunday night, we lit our candles, a rarity at the Russell household, and then cooked on our gas stove, and I read books to the kids by flashlight. Ella went to bed earlier than Philip, so I was able to make a game of hand shadows for him on the ceiling. Then, he started to do that, and was quite proud of himself.

I think that's all the talking I'll do for now..here are some questions that if you want, go for it and answer them on your own blog. I'm too lazy to "tag."

1. What are your nicknames?

Um, I guess Sweetie, LOL, by my Richie.

2. What do you do before bedtime?

Eat cereal, pray with the kids (well, before THEIR bedtime), Rich and I will have prayer together as well, watch tv, check the Internet.

3. What fandom(s) are you most into at the moment?

um not sure about this question..nothing?

4. What is your favorite scent?

brownies in the oven! LOL! Also, vanilla and/or spiced (like pumpkin, cinnamon, etc)

5. What videogames are you playing at the moment?

not into that


6. What is your theme song?

ummmmm....well, I guess you could say the Last of the Mohican soundtrack, the sad soulful stuff.


7. Do you trust easily?

I don't know. Sometimes yes, maybe now, though, not as much.


8. Do you generally think before you act, or act before you think?

Think Think Think

9. Is there anything that has made you unhappy these days?

Yes, losing a friend, being nauseated again, and also worrying about Ella and the new school stage


10. Do you have a good body-image?

No!!!

11. Is being tagged fun?

Okay


12. What websites do you visit daily?

Email, SC, other blogs....should try to visit Revive our Hearts more often though.


13. What have you been seriously addicted to lately?

not really anything, but maybe just looking on creative blogs.


14. What kind of person do you think the person who tagged you is?

A lovely, lovely friend.


15. What’s the last song that got stuck in your head?

A Philip Original: Chi chi chi chi CHA CHA! (there's hand motions too! LOL!)


16. What’s your favorite item of clothing?

capris and long sleeves, as an outfit


17. Do you think Rice Crispies are yummy?

Oh yeah.........fav from childhood til now. Only wish they made the ones with the little marshmallows, still. Oh well.


18. What would you do if you see saw $100 lying on the ground?

Give it to the police station.


19. What items could you not go without during the day?

My Bible, family, pillow, soft surface, cup, tea, water, sugar LOL. And clothes.

20. What should you be doing right now?

Something a bit more productive...like reading or writing, or organizing some scrapbooking.

Missing a friend

Today, someone that had truly captured the friendship of everyone she met, passed on. It is truly heartbreaking. A tragic car accident took her life immediately this morning while she was on her way to work. Aleida left a wonderful legacy to her family through scrapbooking, which is how I "met" her, on Studio Calico. I always appreciated her spirit, and her elegance in her scrapbooking. You can see a pic of her here with her daughter, Bella. And, a beautiful example of her scrapbooking work here. For many of us on SC, it has reminded us WHY we do crazy things such as collecting paper and embellishments, and craft stories out of them. One thing I was always impressed about her was her Martha Stewart craft punches collection. She truly loved her hobby...because she loved her family. Please be praying for her family and friends.

Remembering

I am going to be thinking and praying for all who lost loved ones on 9/11. It still feels fresh, I believe, to all Americans.

I need to also wish my darling Happy Birthday today. Love you sweetie!!

A few pics....one of Ella and a horse at the Canfield Fair, one of the smoke from canons at the Great Trail Festival, and one of Buddy and the Monkey.

Photo time!

The Great Trail Festival Family Photo.

Philip and a sock monkey, one that was made long long ago. I think my grandma had made it but it may have been made by someone from the church we grew up in.

I hope to later have stories and summaries from our week of THREE fairs. So happy the fairs are over. More photos to come later, too!!!! And, an update on Ella and Kindergarten (which I am still having doubts and more thoughts on).

What a great daddy

Rich is such a great daddy. He has really taken the extra time lately to go out of his way to play with his Ella and Buddy. Actually, he spoils them just a bit, I think. He had to leave with a friend to go to the big fair's Tractor Pull event, and the kids CRIED their eyes out at the window as they left. I think Ella is having a bit of a harder time anyways because of school.

Yes, she managed to go Friday. Not a real positive day for her. Nor for me. I cried so much that day, after I dropped her off, and later in the evening. There are some things that really bother me, Rich too, and I really wish we could let her go to a local Christian school. It's impossible for us to handle the tuition. That makes me so sad. I would go clean floors with a toothbrush so she could go there to school. ***TEARS****

So, think about Ella and her mommy if you can, and pray for this transition. And, pray for provision, either way. For her to find a friend, like her teacher, like to eat lunch in a room that hurts her ears for the noise, and a playground playmate so she won't have to play alone and cry by herself...or, for a big ole money tree in our backyard. My brother was so sweet to call both Thursday and Friday to see how Ella's first day of Kindergarten went. His daughter is going to the Christian school, and loves it. With 10-13 students in her class, who wouldn't like that less chaotic atmosphere. Then, thankfully for me that night, I know he passed on word from my very tearful conversation with him to my mom, so she would be in the know about the day. I did NOT want to talk about it, for even when writing about it I get upset and it breaks my heart. My mom and I are going to the Olive Garden after our church services, just her and I. I am really glad we can do this. My dad is at a Civil War thing this weekend, so it'll be nice to give my mom some company.

Beyond that, I have had nausea again and headaches. My leg is FINE but still hurts. It's been a tough week for trying to manage change and stress.

I did manage to organize all of Philip's toys into FIFTEEN bins. WHEW. That was a workout. Blocks, cars, dinosaurs, trains, tracks, tools, stuffed animals, bugs, books, bigger blocks, bigger cars, planes, helicopters...aiyiyi. So glad it is better for him to see all his toys and they are not all crammed into 2 huge bins.

Monday is our annual tradition of attending the Great Trail Festival. That is our only Labor Day event LOL. I guess we were party poopers or something this year. My dad and all of us here at the Russell household will go. It's great for the kids (i.e. pony rides), music, dancing, bagpipes, to see Native American and settlers history, and we love the flag raising ceremony in the morning. Also, good food. I love the kettle popcorn and the lemon shakes AND the roasted/cinnamon almonds. Will make up for missing the fair this week.

HAHAHA My mother and father sent me this via email and it's funny!!!

an update on frustration

Ella is officially SICK, not just nervous. She's nervous for sure..she had several bad dreams last night. But, with a temperature, she definitely is missing her first day (or days) of school. I feel so bad for her.

Rich and I are definitely lacking in sleep today, but Buddy sure is not! LOL! It's a dreary day outside, but there are two wonderful children inside making this home beautiful.

I'm frustrated.

Ella is sick.

Or.

Nervous.

Has not fallen asleep yet.

Tomorrow is her first day of school.

The orientation tonight was overwhelming and stressful for me...for all of us.

400+ people crowded in a very small cafeteria. Apparently, the largest group of Kindy's ever. (the 400 includes siblings and parents....so about 165 little 5 and 6 year olds).

Ella is VERY sick to her stomach...

Again, is it nerves.

SHe just can't stop being sick.

She's disoriented, almost falling asleep and then WHAM. Here we go.

Almost midnight and it feels like it'll be a loooooooooooooooooooooooong night. Poor thing.

Not sure what'll happen tomorrow morning. I feel so bad that she may miss her first day. :-(

Let me do more of...

Nothing but feel like everything. That is how a mom of two plus one on the way feels. (And I seriously feel blessed to say that. I missed my kids the few hours I had to be away from them this afternoon...). Now, I have to stay off my feet even more, because of a potential issue. Last week I had a sore spot on my leg that has hung around ever since, and I didn't know what it was, if it was just a bruise, even though it had no color as such. This morning, I woke up with another sore spot on the same leg but around the calf area. Painful and bothersome enough that, after the morning (church) activities, I made a call so I could see what I should do, and thus went to the ER for them to check it out. No blood clot found, thank goodness, but there was a "maybe" indication with another test that it COULD occur, so I go back in a few days for another ultrasound. Nothing serious we know, just pain that is constant and bothersome. I was told to elevate the leg as much as possible.....which will be not that much harder to do, since I've been physically tired, or mentally tired. I would appreciate prayer that this painful spot(s)would just go away as fast as they came.

Ella is ready for her first day of Kindy...Thursday! We have screening for her Tuesday and orientation Wednesday. I need to get a gym shirt and art shirt in order, but other than that, she has all she needs. Soccer game (first one) on Tuesday, too! We took her school supply shopping at Target last week, and she found this My Little Pony backpack that she LOVES. She is carrying it around EVERYWHERE. And, pulling out her little supplies and reorganizing them. So cute. I sure hope I don't have to put her name on each crayon though! LOL!

I took advantage of the Old Navy jean sale on Saturday. I had prebought several pairs, since the kids' were going to be $7 and adults $12. Richie finally has a great pair of jeans (he is a khakis kind of guy, which I LOVE about him, too!) at a GREAT price. He has ONE pair that is very out of style LOL. Just one. Like I said, he's a khaki kinda guy! Good thing I had "extra people" with me so I could get more than the 3 pairs alloted to the per person thing. HA! So, Ella ends up with 3, Rich 2, and Buddy, 1, but wait...I ordered 2 more for Buddy off the internet, free shipping, too, and the funny thing is, the ones I got were NOT ones on sale in store. He has had this fantastic growth spurt, with his height, so getting these with the adjustable waist is going to be wonderful. He has a 2t/3 waist, but a 4t leg. Other than those items, I skirted past any school shopping for Ella.

We have had several family get togethers the past couple weeks, for birthdays, and just a nice campout as well with family. At the "campout" which was really just a campfire, my gram actually wanted to come, so we picked her up as we went to my parents' house. We've had some wonderful time with the Snyders' that have moved to the area! I have been able to have Abigail over several times so the girls can play. These hot days are no fun though. Especially now that our van has no air! Yikes! Rich can recharge it so hopefully it'll last again, until the end of this summer heat.

When we were at Rich's parents' house a week ago, Rich was working, but the kids and I had gone, I should clarify, and I had some time talking with his grandpa Simplican. Now, I suppose not many know this, but Rich's dad had passed away when he was 5 years old in an accident. His mom remarried several years later, and it was the "turning point" for the family. So, he and his older brother, Gary, have always called his stepdad "dad." And, so, this grandpa is his stepdad's dad, and boy, is he a cantankerous fellow. Made me laugh LOTS that day. He was so enthralled with my coupon clipping. Something I did while I awaited the meal. He could not believe that I would be getting free bread from coupons from the paper that day. He kept asking the other "women" of the household if they collected "stamps." LOL! Also, he said his grocery bill is $9 a month! I guess he doesn't eat much! He said some funny things to me when we were lazily conversing. Since I've known Rich, I have honestly never gotten to talk much with grandpa Simplican. He is 93, and still going.

This week, we had the pleasure of taking lunch to my grandmother, all four of us. It was a pleasant visit, and I know she really loved seeing her great grandkids again.

I feel that my bloggin/posting flair, ability, or whatever has disappeared. And my creativtiy as well! But, that's okay. This time, with 2 and a half months left, makes one slow down, and think or do other things. I am just trying to let God lead me in the areas I need to concentrate my energies on.

Time Apart

I decided to take a little break from blogging. I have had not much energy the past couple days, and started feeling very nauseated again, so for all our sake's here, I am going to take some time away from my blog (not having much to say anyways! LOL!), and away from the computer in general, until I feel a bit better. I may lurk some, but not much.

Hopefully, next time I blog, I'll have some photographs to share, of scrapbook layouts as well as photos of my growing too fast Ella-girl and Philip.

Take care everyone!

Bugs

That's one of Philip's favorite things.

Not mine. And apparently our Scrabble game attracted some weird ones (it was left in a car trunk) and so we had to throw it away. Ewww. I had forgotten about it, so my bad. It was a used one, given to us b/c it was someone's extra, but now we can't play Scrabble. Not that we were earlier that much, but Ella likes to play that. My grandma helps her and they play Scrabble their way. I personally love Scrabble very very much...my grandpa did too and wow, he was quite the Scrabble player!

I am nauseous, since mid afternoon. So, well, I am just not doing anything, and this sitting at the computer seems a bit much, too.

We went to Rich's parents' house after church, and all had a very nice time. The kids got a nice long tractor ride in this lovely cooler weather. By the way...I am incredibly anxious for this summer weather to end. I am impatiently awaiting fall.

Miss Sensitivity

Yep, that's me!

Near tears, not really pinpointing why. Tired, my feet/ankles/legs still really hurt. They did last night, and through the night...hope to get them up most of this coming afternoon. Not swollen, YET, so that's good.

We received some nice baby boy hand-me-downs from a friend of my SIL's family. 6 pairs of Bobux/Robeez shoes....omigodness. Those are FANTASTICALLY made shoes and are expensive! All used clothing, but hardly look worn, even the shoes. I am keeping a lot of it, some to disperse to my parents' house for extras, but I am planning on handing some things on to my SIL, Valerie, who is due the very end of October with a boy. The sleepers are WARM ones, so that works out well for us.

I just finished watching a movie that I have seen several times before, but for some reason, it made much more of an impression on me than ever before. It is one that several other bloggers I know really like...Pride and Prejudice. Oh, dear, I cried through the movie and just loved the music, and all the scenery. Many scenes just took my breath away. I am so glad that it is a movie with a very pleasant and romantic ending.

What wonderful snail mail

Here is a COMPLETE "glimpse" of the R.A.K. I won from the most wonderful scrapbook community online. Nicole- thank you so very much. I was floored by the 4 pounds of paper! And all the vintage goods...and everything else. LOL! Notice, all the old buttons, the birdie stamp, the TONS of paper (for those who don't know, a sheet of scrapbooking paper probably costs .75 each now, on the low end).

My favorites are all the black and red diecut paper. And some of the vintage paper goods. YUMMY! I think I am going to make some odd sized paper albums. Like, very tall, but just wide enough for a 5" photograph. I love LOVE LOVE the paper that is in the sweet package. So,that way, I'd still have plenty of pretty patterned paper left to use elsewhere.









On to a quick summary of the week and upcoming weekend. Wednesday had been a busy day with the kids. We went swimming and the next day, oh my goodness. It was like I had run a marathon. My fibromyalgia was really REALLY bad, especially in my hips. I think because of squatting down/sitting down in the kids' sized pool. So, I did not do much at all. Today, it is so much better. I also had a chance, well, TWO opportunities, as a matter of fact, to go out with a girl-friend. Beth and I hit a couple stores, and then had dinner Wednesday night. Thursday night, Kimmy and I were going to just sit and have coffee but I wasn't up to chatting b/c that was the day I didn't feel to peppy, so we watched the movie, even though we saw it both before LOL. I had wanted to catch it before it left the Columbiana theater, since it's one, closer. Two, cheaper. Three, just all around a nicer atmosphere. What we didn't expect was that the film started to burn up while we were watching it! Ahhh! Somehow they managed to get it going again. Whew. I think I would have cried. I do a lot of that lately. :-)

Tonight, I'll watch my neice, Abigail, as her parents and other members of the family are trying to get their "new" Historic home ready (i.e. carpet ripped up, new flooring, painting, cleaning...) for their official move in of Monday. Now, mind you, they had to be out of their house in Medina Wednesday! So, I know they are stressed and would appreciate prayers. Also, tomorrow morning is Ella's soccer practice, then Rich will go help my brother and sil with the house stuff, and I will watch Abby. Later, practice with the praise team, and Rich will be coming to that too! Yeah! I have really really really missed sharing in that ministry with my husband.

Chapman, healing and faith video...

Soccer Pics!

and my favorite little outfit for the new boy...

A bit of melancholy

Yesterday and today....a bit of melancholy, yes. We all went to the neighbor boy's 7th birthday party yesterday. Ended up staying there for 3 hours. The kids enjoyed themselves so much. We really appreciate these certain neighbors, and enjoy "nurturing" that friendship between our kids. Ella started calling her friend's dad "uncle." HA! Anyways, Rich and I ended up sitting with the grandparents. And, if you know anything about Rich at all, you should know that he has the great gift with conversing with the older generation. Thus, we had great conversation with this over-60-years-married couple. Add that fact with the WW2 veteran hat placed upon the grandfather's head, and there you have a big reason for my sadness. A comment made by the grandfather was, "did you know 1000 of us die every day?" I held up until we got home, and just cried. That generation of people is quite golden. So special. What they sacrificied before the war, during, and after. I feel we have a great loss as this is all happening. Later, Rich dropped me off at my grandma's and then took the kids elsewhere to play. We had an hour just to chat. It was very nice to do that, by myself, though she always says I don't know how much having those kids around means to her.
Today, I was again quite emotional about my grandpa, and some other things. Music being one of them.
Tonight, I just tried to hold on to the moments I had with my kids. Seeing Ella for the very sweet and loving girl she is. Admiring her, and telling her, that she is so good at riding her bike, not a tricycle, but a BIKE, which she has been doing for quite some time now. Almost a year, or maybe, a year even. Philip, for doing so many big boy things. Getting potty trained (or getting there LOL), and always loving "mommy's baby." That is sweet. He says mommy's baby is "coot" (for cute).
I have been taking the challenge of working crossword puzzles lately. That was a great pasttime of my grandpa's. Also, praying more. And, I have been reading some western collections of his, that I was bequeathed so to say. I share that love of history, especially the love of that particular time period, with my dad, and my grandpa.
*******************
Well, it's actually Monday morning now, and I realized I forgot to talk about 2 highlights of my day yesterday....an Applebee's date with my Richie, AND, winning a scrapbooking goody drawing on the Studio Calico board (a wonderful and sweet design team member was personally giving away some stuff!). Can't wait for my happy mail this week!!! Don't know what I'm getting!

A post for my mom

This was on my friend Beth's blog. I thought since my mom interprets for the deaf, and even though this is not "sign language" I thought there was quite enough significance to post this...for my mom. I appreciate her and love her so much.