Russell Family Blessings

For the first time ever, I actually had our Christmas cards created and ordered before December 1!!!! Too bad it took me 2 weeks to actually get them addressed and in the mail. I had to order more since I ran out...they were delivered to our old house yesterday...I hope they aren't wet! I just realized that they were delivered to our old address! It was my fault, though. Anyway, I'll have to wait until tomorrow to see if our renters have them. I'm keeping my fingers crossed! I hope you like the card. We love Shutterfly! Check it out! Stationery card View the entire collection of cards.

I was just wondering if anyone else has trouble getting their children to eat anything that is good for them? In an effort to be good parents, Wayne and I want to provide healthy food for our children. We try to serve at least one green vegetable with almost every meal. Being the the good mommy that I am I served Brussels Sprouts tonight. Our menu was as follows: Savory Meat (Sirloin Steak), Mashed Potatoes, Whole Kernel Corn, Brussels Sprouts and French Bread. Yummy, I know! As we stood around the bar in our kitchen serving plates and getting everything ready, I popped one steamed Brussels sprout into my mouth and gave one to Wayne. He didn't really care of it, but I liked it ok. Wayne went on to put one one sprout on the plate of each of the children. Immediately, they started to complain! Max, our good sport, tried one (of course he thought it was gross!) After a discussion about what they were, Oki announced that we could all eat our Russell sprouts, but she didn'

I started this post way back during the summer...These pics were already uploaded so I just thought I'd share... The first one is what I found as I looked out my back door one summer morning...Can you tell we're country folks? My kids love to deck out and play outside!!! Eli and Max have even corrupted my little princess! We spent a tremendous time at the baseball field this spring. Max and Eli both playing baseball+ different age divisions=6 weeks of M,T,Th and F nights at the field...Plus 2 practice sessions on Saturday. That was a lot of baseball! Eli played Third Base, Second Base, Catcher and he even pitched one game...Max played mostly Right field. It was his first year in regular play (not coach pitch) and he was a little out of his element. The main thing was that they had a great time. Here's Max up to bat and Eli waiting to field a ball... This is what Oki did all those days at the ball field...she played!!! Here she is peeking in the d

We've been EXTREMELY busy! When I first started this blog, I thought it would be easy and fun to chronicle the goings-on of my family. Well, blogging is really fun and easy, but really...who has the time? It seems that all I do is run at break-neck speed all day and fall into bed exhausted at night, only to do it again in the morning! Now, please don't misinterpret me...I love my family, my life and my job, but sometimes it seems a little hectic! All funny business aside, I am a thankful woman. Seriously! I have been trying to write this blog post for a month now, but haven't been able to find the time. Well, I've been a little under the weather for a few days so it seems that I have finally "found the time" to blog! Yea! There IS a bright side to everything! Our summer ended, as has been tradition for the past few years, with our BIG family vacation in Destin. The weather was a little less than desirable, but we had fun none the less! The first few p

Today I'm going to share a yummy recipe for Old Fashioned Banana Pudding, the kind you cook. My Papa loves it! I made it for him instead of a cake on his birthday, so I thought I'd take a little extra time to type it out for everyone to try. I wish I could take credit for it, but it's not my recipe. I got this a few years ago from a lady at church, Mrs. Betty Danford. I'm so glad she shared it! I am posting a few pictures so that you can see how mine looks. I wish I had more to share and that they were better quality!!! Anyway, here goes... Old Fashioned Banana Pudding Ingredients: 3/4 Cups Sugar 3Tbs. Plain Flour 3 Large Eggs (separate whites into another bowl and refrigerate) 1 tsp. Vanilla 2 Cups Milk Vanilla Wafers 3 Bananas In a heavy sauce pan, combine sugar and flour, mixing well. Add milk, beaten egg yolks, and vanilla. Cook on medium heat, stirring CONSTANTLY until mixture thickens. Remove from heat. In a casserole dish (I

I've got to get better at this! Promptness is definitely not my forte...and I've never claimed to be anything other than a procrastinator. I have so many pictures that need to be uploaded and blogged about. This post is an exception, though. I'm actually going to get this one done in a timely manner!!! Kudos to me! ;) Anyway... Thursday night, our baby, our caboose, our little princess, our Oak Tree...Oki graduated from Preschool! I absolutely cannot believe that she is going to Kindergarten in the fall! Where did the time go? I guess the time flies when you're busy...and boy have we been busy! First, I need to say that we have been very blessed to have the staff family at Kid's World care for all three of our children. Mrs. Pam and the ladies there are an outstanding group and have loved and nurtured Russell children since 2002. For ten years (wow! That seems like forever!) we have been leaving our kids there for care while we work. Not everyone can s

With Valentine's Day coming up tomorrow, I spent my Saturday baking and decorating cookies for Max and Oki to take to school. Giving homemade gifts is something I enjoy doing and I really enjoy decorating cookies, but not the time that it takes me! Oki was some help decorating... Here she is decorating her own cookie... Some I did with sprinkles and I experimented with some other designs too. Some turned out better than others!!! All in all, I think I made something like 63 cookies! I have the best recipe...click here to link to a master cookie and cupcake lady!!! She gives tips on decorating. I love her blog! Hope your Valentine's Day is great!

My brother-in-law, Harrison is working on this drawing for me and I couldn't help but share this "sneak peek" that he sent me today! He is so talented! Thanks H! "Carnley Girls" My sisters, Missy and Gail and me in the middle!

I really don't know what to call these things, so I just made the name up! I got this recipe at church the other night from Mrs. Berry. It was so tasty that I thougth I would share it! Sweet Potato Dumplings Ingredients: 2 Cans Crescent Rolls 1 Package of Sweet Potato Patties (Cut in Half) 1 1/2 Cups Water 3/4 Cup Butter 1.5 Cup Light Brown Sugar 1.5 tsp. Vanilla Cinnamon Directions: Wrap each 1/2 Sweet Potato Patty in a crescent roll and place in a large shallow baking dish that has been sprayed with non-stick spray. (You will have 16 rolls) Combine water, butter and sugar in a small pan and boil until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Pour over rolls, sprinkle with cinnamon.   Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Allow to sit a little while before serving. I made 1/2 of this recipe and it turned out fine. Happy Cooking!