It's Independence Day

This year, we were invited to one of daddy's friends houses that he works with. They have beautiful land and a sweet family to make friends with! We grilled burgers, played outside, ate lots of red, white, and blue sweets, and of course, popped some fire works!

We made strawberry, blueberry, and marshmallow kabobs with chocolate red white and blue strawberries!

I know! Your mommy always says this but...July 4th is my favorite!! I have come to the conclusion that your mommy just loves life and anything we have to celebrate makes it that better! I love our country, I love our family and your mommy thanks God for everything he has blessed us with everyday! What an amazing place to live and I hope my girls grow up knowing how beautiful our country is. Happy Birthday America~

One flag, one land, one heart, one hand, One Nation evermore!

Oliver Wendell Holmes

SKY

Vacation Bible School 2012

Sky was the theme of VBS this year! Every year is so much fun but I have a feeling the "fun" is getting a little more "fun"! This was Addi's first year with the big girls and boys. Addi, you are no longer in the preschool for VBS. You mommy was so excited to know I was your crew leader for your first year and got to watch you make new friends and have so much fun! Alexa, this was your first year to be a crew leader all by yourself! I knew you would be amazing! God blessed you with 5 boys...very active boys, and you handled them with such love and made their week so much fun! It filled your mom's heart with love and made me shine all week just watching you take the role and guide your crew closer to our King! Ella Jo, you were in preschool having so much fun with all of your friends! I couldn't wait everyday to hear all of your stories too! VBS is so special to my heart and I can't wait for every year!! Summer, Church family, crafts, songs, new friends, and growing in our Faith....Thank you for giving us the children every year to guide them and bring them closer to you Lord~

A trip to OZ

Recital 2012

Recital this year was OZ! So many beautiful dances put together to pull the whole thing off! This year for dance Addi & Ella only took ballet and Lex even cut her classes down to ballet, hip hop, and lyrical. This recital was very relaxed since my angels were in less numbers. Mommy sat back and enjoyed it a little more, rather than running back stage. This coming year will be a different story...My little dancers will add more classes, this will be an award year for Addi Grace, and Alexa's very last recital to ever dance at....that's all mommy wants to say about that right now. 

Addi Grace, I think you wore my favorite costume any of my girls have ever worn. It was for ballet and you were trees....oh so beautiful trees! Very elegant my baby...very beautiful! You still shine so bright when you are on stage. I love recital time for you because you are so shy at all times...until recital! You light up and can't wait to tip toe on to that stage and shine! Shine you did....

Alexa Rae, you would think you were born on a stage! It doesn't matter if you are dancing or acting...if it's on a stage you are exactly where you belong! All of your dances were amazing. Momma is soaking all this in because I know me, and I will probably cry my make up off every day of the next recital. Knowing that will be the very last time to see you dance on stage, I will be asking our Savior to calm my heart those few days for sure. That will be such an emotional week that I will think about later. My beautiful ballerina, you have made me so proud for so many years as I watch you grow through life as well on stage. Your momma loves you and will never forget how beautiful you dance.

Ella Jo, my most precious little dancer! You, like the rest of your sisters, love recital time. This year you were a tin man! The most precious tin man I ever saw! You tip toe right on stage and shine your very own star!

I think your favorite part about recital is the make up you get to wear. Dressing up, wearing make up, and watching all the other dances is what gets you excited about this time of year. Mommy can't wait to watch you grow up dancing and see how beautiful you become. All my beautiful dancers make my heart grow every year! Many beautiful memories in this theatre and many more to come~

Kicking it off!

A Bucket Full of Fun

To get Summer Vacation kicked off right I decided to all sit down as a family and write down ideas we wanted to do this summer! We each took turns till we couldn't think of anything else! We have never done this before but I think we will make this a Summer Vacation kick off party for the Russell family! So much fun even though some of our items were left in the bucket. I think I'm going to leave them there for next year! 

We did our Summer Bucket List in the morning and I don't think Lex was too happy about the time we started...I promise to make it later in the day next year so we don't interrupt beauty sleep.

This made us all get so excited about the summer ahead! Water Park, Zoo, Spa, and Swim Lessons to name a few! Mommy got a new sand bucket and printed the printables off Pinterest! (thank you pinterest)

Looking forward to kicking some things off our bucket list~

Kicking it Off with a picnic in the park

One of the things on our bucket list was a family picnic! Since the weather is so hot with temperatures knocking on 100 degrees, mommy decided to make it a fruit picnic! So much fun...We went to the park and played on the playground until we got too hot and then enjoyed our picnic. Lots of sweet memories girls...I think mommy may want to plan a hot chocolate picnic for winter this year! 

Splish Splash at the Water Park

Alexa Rae was at the water park with us but did not want to be photographed and mommy has learned her lesson that when Lex says that....she means it! We went to this water park several times this summer! Not too far from home and so much fun! Can't wait to return for lots of splashin!

Playing at Pop Paw's Pool

We swam at Pop Paw's Pool at least 2 times a week through the summer. I'm surprised no one got an ear ache! We had some friends meet us there one day and had lunch out by the pool! Just relaxing, soaking up the sun, listening to music and mommy listening to precious giggles....splashing around, turning flips, "Mommy! Watch Me!", sweet conversations while laying out on lawn chairs with Lex....

All these things happen at Pop Paw's Pool! Mommy's excited to go through the rest of all the memories through out this next year but looking forward to more of Pop Paw's Pool!

Sandy Toes

Ok girls, your mommy loves this man so much! (he happens to be your daddy) Looking at this picture my heart starts beating a little faster...I know...gross!! 

For mommy's birthday this year before we had our family dinner we decided to spend a day at the beach! Maw Maw and Paw Paw Russell had a beach cabin where your daddy has so many special memories. We were just beginning our summer memories and even winter memories at this cabin but a hurricane named Ike had other plans and decided to wash it away. We still enjoy the beach but are no longer staying at the Russell cabin. 

What a beautiful day and a beautiful birthday! Sandy toes and sandcastles! We brought so many sea shells home mommy has to decide what to do with them! The beach is such a magical place to your mommy....

It's a place of relaxation but so much more than that. It's where the land ends and the rest continues. It's a place where your mommy can just sit back, close her eyes, smell the air, and just...listen! Set your heart free and enjoy this beautiful world our Savior created for us. It's beautiful girls! Your mommy's wish is for all of you to just sit back, slow down, and enjoy everything it has to offer~

Preparing for Summer!

End of Year Parties

Mommy can't believe this year went by so fast! What a fun year it was... 

I think Ella Jo has grabbed a hold of Mrs. Owen's heart! I know that we are going to miss her so much! What a blessing it was to have her in our life and prepare Ms. Ella for next year! We had such a good time at the end of the year luau crafts, face painting and yummy snacks. It's always so exciting to move on to the next step but it brings the tears back in mommy's eyes looking back on our awesome memories from the past year! I'm going to just store them deep in my heart....

Kindergarten is over and hello first grade! Mommy remembers with Lex that once you start Kindergarten that the years seem to pass so much faster! I'm excited about all the fun things we have in store for us but I'm holding on to my little girls as tight as I can!! Alexa Rae has all ready slipped through my fingers and now graduating which I refuse to blog about till May of 2013!! We were so blessed with Ms. Holland as your teacher! She was such an amazing teacher this past year but mommy has also made a new friend! Ms. Holland lives right down the road from us so I know we will see her sometimes! My precious Addi Grace, you were so big in Kindergarten and your mommy and daddy couldn't be any more proud! 

Very big smile this morning ready for the last day of school and give

Ms. Holland her summer preparation gift!

I made a sign for the back of your chair. Each of you had one but I'm posting Alexa's sign because this will be the last time she will have a sign. I don't think it's cool to have one for college..

This was the first time I typed or wrote Seniors 2013! When I do that post I will have tissue in hand!

Bubbles for some Summer Fun! Both of you helped mommy decorate a small tube of bubbles to give to your friends to help kick of summer vacation! My sweet girls, no matter how small the project, both of you love to help mommy with gifts, treats, and crafts! Not so much help with chores...maybe that will come with time....maybe not!!

Summer is so exciting for the whole family! Lots of "together" time and nothing makes your mommy happier! No hustle and bustle! No schedules or due dates! No bedtimes! No alarm clock! No homework! Nothing but fun in the sun! This past summer was Alexa's last summer vacation as a high school student! Mommy can't wait to see what the future brings to my oldest angel! I love scheduling play dates and crafts to keep us going through the hot months of summer and mommy will post a few pictures of some of our favorite summer memories~ 

Welcome Summer 2012! What an amazing summer we had!