More Than Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving 2012

thanks pl. n. grateful feelings or thoughts; gratitude: a heart full of thanks for our escape.

Thankful doesn't begin to describe how I'm feeling. Your momma can't describe the emotion that I feel every time I look in each of your eyes! Thanksgiving is a time to reflect back on what your thankful for in all areas. There is so much I'm thankful for this year. The one thing that I'm thankful for every year is that God directed my life and your daddy's life so that our paths crossed and we met, fell in love, and started are beautiful family that we always prayed for. Then the next chapter in our lives came y'all....What an amazing chapter. Everyday I get to wake up and hold my angels and listen to their precious stories is a day of Thanksgiving! Your mommy is much more than thankful. My beautiful brown and green eyes of angels everyday I thank God....Happy Thanksgiving

Fall Festival

Every year we love the Scarecrow Festival at Shangri La but this year we went on the day they had their Fall Festival. Scarecrows, face painting, and pumpkin crafts to name a few exciting things on this day. I love all the colors and the feel of the cooler weather approaching. So much fun my angels! We got to take some pumpkins home and enjoy  more crafts with pumpkins! 

Addi Grace, you would not let me take any pictures of you on this day. If I captured a moment of your fun it was only without you knowing. You did have fun and enjoyed the scarecrows and the festival. Maybe one day you will smile easily for mommy's camera?

 I love fall so much for all the fun that comes with this season and it just prepares us for all the Christmas excitement that's right around the corner. I hope my angels remember all the memories that we are making. Enjoying all the little moments that come our way. Sometimes mommy doesn't bring her camera (either on purpose or accidental) I won't have the pictures but my heart soaks all the fun in and locks it up tight. I'm savoring all our traditions and all our precious memories as a family. One day I pray to enjoy your moments with your own families. When that day comes....I couldn't imagine my heart growing any bigger? I love you my angels, and thank you for all our "moments"~

Fall Review

*Carnival*

We kick off the fall season with our carnival trip that we have gone to every year since mommy and daddy have been together! Fun Fun memories with all of our girls at this carnival and like many others in our town we plan on continuing our tradition for many years!! 

Alexa Rae met up with friends and enjoyed time with them but Addi and Ella rode the rides together....most of them! Addi wouldn't ride the train. I don't know if that's because she feels she's too big but in the end Alexa rode the ride with Ella! Sweet big sister Ella has, Lex even rode with a big smile!! Thank you Alexa Rae!! Till next year carnival....we enjoyed you again this year.....

Fall Field Trip

We took our field trip to the new fire station! It was fun to be with you my angel. I had time to grab Ella from school before your picnic at the park so we could all enjoy your field trip! Mommy hasn't visited the new fire station and it was totally cool!! very nice and plenty of room for all our fire fighters to be comfortable. These men do so much more than fight fires...we learned a lot of what they do and as far as the Russell's we respect them a lot more after seeing everything and hearing of all there responsibilities they have! Thank you to all fire fighters and police officers and paramedics who help our town and others~

Addi Grace and Ella Jo

*Fall Cousins*

Sweet baby girls! It's so awesome to see my sisters begin their precious families! Mommy has her 3 younger sisters and now two of them have sweet baby girls of their own. We were raised to know and worship our Savior and I can't wait to witness and share our walk in our faith with my sweet nieces and perhaps one day a nephew? I know this fall pic is one of many we will be taking of y'all! So many precious memories y'all will share and the stories are just beginning!

*Halloween Fun*

Micky Mouse, La La Loopsy, and a Cowgirl! That's what my girls were for Halloween!! So much fun! Lex had to work that night but our tradition went on as it normally does. We got ready and left for our church for Trunk r Treat festivities. Games, Bounce Houses, Cotton Candy, Cookies, Hot Dogs, Popcorn, Face Painting, Crafts, and don't forget the candy candy candy!! Lots of good memories we always have. It's fun to see what everyone dressed up as. Happy Halloween my angels.....

Halloween Party and Parade

Ella Jo, this is your last year at your preschool and I know I will be so emotional to say goodbye to all your precious teachers and sweet traditions this school has! One of them is the parade around the school for Halloween!! So much fun! The entire school walks around the school and people honk and wave back to y'all! After the parade we celebrate with the party. This year mommy helped your teacher plan and decorate and we dipped caramel apple slices, made a cupcake spider, and had pumpkin bowling. I think everyone had a great time! Mommy's just trying to enjoy your class while it's so small of 12 kids instead of a whole class of 22! It just gets so busy once you start Kindergarten. For now, I'm enjoying the closeness of all your friends and their families.....

Thank you Lord for all the beautiful seasons you have given us in this world. Every season, every color, is so precious to me Lord....all the memories I have of all of my girls. I thank You for all you have given me and I thank you for our friends and families we have...I praise You, Lord....always....Amen~

Addi With A Twist!

Someone is *6*

Happy 6th birthday my sweet Addi Grace! You are such an amazing little girl with the sweetest personality! You have so many beautiful qualities like your daddy and that makes you so special! You love playing with friends, doing crafts, snuggling, and playing with your sisters. Your growing up angel and mommy can't believe it! I love it when you get into telling a story because you not only tell it with your voice, your whole body gets involved with hands and all! (you get that from your momma) Your love for people and always wanting to take care of them makes my heart grow but the love you have for Jesus Christ is overwhelming! You are 6 and worship your Savior and you know exactly who He is and you keep Him in your heart! 

We had so much fun planning your party...Addi with a Twist! We painted on canvas, had face painting, and edible paint! Tons of painting fun!

Your sweet friend Lexi trying to comfort you while crying because your embarrassed from us singing.

Such a fun day! You did get shy when we all sang happy birthday! Unless if you're on stage you do not want any attention drawn to yourself! All of your sweet friends had so much fun and I can't wait till the next party! We all ready have the theme that you thought of all by yourself and I can't wait to get started! 6 years my angel...6 years? Every day Addi.....you make special...you make perfect and complete! Mommy prayed  so many years for you! Every time I look deep in your eyes I see a glimpse of Heaven and I'm always reminded that you, just like your sisters, are the greatest gifts I will ever receive! I promised my God I would thank Him everyday if he would bless us with you! My angel....I have! I have now for 6 years and I will for all the days to come~

September In A Flash

Highlights from September 

 

Mommy has been wrapped up in everyday that I have not stopped to update our blog. Once I get started typing I realize how much I miss it and I promise to catch up soon and stay on track for us!!

Yes, it's January, and I'm posting about September....better late than never right?

Well, September was so much fun with Friday night football, Saturday morning football, new schedules and lots of other fun things that came up! Mommy will try to remember every sweet detail as best as I can but I will have to be short and sweet at the same time so I can catch up on everything...

One thing is for sure...our whole family loves football games! We look forward to every Friday and starting in August we start the countdown to kickoff! Our girls have been going to football games since y'all were babies and grew up knowing how much fun we have! The cooler weather approaching, popcorn, bands playing, looking for the Bear, adoring the cheerleaders, and of course wearing our Green and Gold....

Addi Grace, you had a sleepover one Friday and we had so much fun at the game with your precious friends!

*Looking up to the big girls*

2012 Fall Cheer Clinic

Addi Grace, you learned cheers and how to dance to our fight song at a cheer clinic one Saturday morning. At the end, parents were able to watch, but you started to cry and became very embarrassed so you sat on mommy's lap and watched your friends. Even Lexi couldn't get you to dance and cheer. When it came time to cheer at the game the next Friday night you lit up like a star and loved every second of it, as you can see from that beautiful Addi smile! Made your mommy so proud of you to let go of all your shy bugs hiding inside and just have fun! My beautiful Addi Grace!

Presentation of 1st Grade Bibles

Every First grader gets presented Bibles at church. This is such a special time and Mommy and Daddy were so proud of you because sometimes we know those shy bugs keep you from having attention drawn to you but you were so big and got up to get your Bible until it came time to take pictures and ran and sat in my lap! Still proud of our big girl though! You are learning so much about your Bible and learning how to use it my angel....wear the pages out!!

Southern Hospitality

Alexa Rae, you never seem to amaze your mom! It doesn't matter if you are dancing, jumping, or acting, if you are on a stage...you are shining! I knew you loved theatre but you blew me away with this hilarious play! Your name was Twink and through a town crisis you were trying to get to your weddin'! You had a total of 3 plays and even though I don't think you had one more word left in your hoarse voice you were interrupted with applause during one of your scenes! This happened twice!! Of course your mom was smiling from ear to ear and I didn't know I was crying until the tears were streaming down my face...I know...I can hear your voice..."Oh, Mom...come on..." I know, it's true! I'm just what you call...One Proud Momma!! 

Alexa and her director, Mr. Broom

 Words can't describe how proud I am! You have so many gifts and so much to give! I know I'm your mom but I know the Alexa Rae that I see everyday...inside and out, good days and bad days, crying and laughing hard, teaching her mom a lesson or cracking us all up! Every way you are is beautiful and I can't believe who you have become! I know our Savior watching you and guiding you has eased my mind as your earthly mom but you have grown to be such a special young lady! I'm so proud to be your momma! You keep my heart beating and make me such a better person and mom by being my beautiful daughter...I love you~