Old Photos

From 2009...

Happiest Place on Earth

We drove from Palm Springs to Disneyland. This trip would count as the first real time the kids went to the parks. We went when Haley was 2 and again when she was 3 and Ryan was 4 months. We were in Anaheim for a wedding and stayed directly across from the park. This time was the real deal. We were prepared for the madness of what Disneyland can be- crowds, long lines, melt downs. This turned out to be one of our best trips ever. I know I always say that, but it really was fantastic.

 The excitement from the kids was over the top. It was just so sweet and child like. They were bursting at the seams. Jake and Cita decided, last minute, to surprise their kids and join us that first day. How fun to experience the energy with cousins!

The kids were awesome. We were up and at 'em early in the morning and stayed out with no breaks (which we intended to do). The kids just asked for more each day and no one was whining. They were thrilled after each experience.

We owned the whole pass system. We had never used it before (that's how long it's been). We mastered the Fast Pass, Adult Switch Pass and the Single Rider Pass. Josh and I had to ride California Screamin' and since we did it separately- the Single Rider Pass was key.

Haley was crazy and she went on EVERYTHING! Well, not California Screaming (she was a bit nervous about the upside down part) but she went on all other coasters and thrill rides...multiple times.

Ryan's favorites were Pirates and Soaring Over California. He got just as big of a rush as his sister did on the big rides.

We were blessed to meet up with some friends who live in the area and some other friends who happen to be there the same time we were. We enjoyed park time and a couple of meals together.

I was constantly reminded, throughout the long days, that the kids are older and simply in a different phase. We were all pooped by the end of each evening, but the energy was electric and the vacation, to me, was perfection. Not only do I love my little family, but I enjoy them so much. Their personalities are so fun.

A highlight for me what how well they got along the whole time. They usually do, but they are siblings after all. After we'd go on a ride they would immediately report to each other. If they sat next to each other on a ride, they talked to each other the whole time. "Ryan! Wasn't that so fun?!" "Sissy! I got Zurg! Did you see that?" "Ryan, you were so brave!" "Sissy! That pirate almost got us!"

Disneyland really was the happiest place on earth for the Russell Four! It's a trip I will never forget.

Palm Springs

I really am catching up on the blog. I don't want to skip over significant events, as the purpose of this blog is to capture our lives as it happens.

Over the February break we went to Palm Springs with my family. My parents treated us to their time share there.When you're a kid you cannot know how special it is to have times like these. As an adult, I am fully aware of how priceless family time is. I cherish it like nothing else.

The highlights of the trip were pool time and our card night. The pool at this resort was so fun. Two pools, 2 water slides and two hot tubs (one that was in a cave). We were out there every day for multiple hours. The day we checked in we had been in the car 7 hours. When we met up, our rooms weren't quite ready and we didn't have our stuff out of the car. The kids put their feet in the pool by the steps and little by little they were all the way in, fully clothed and fully swimming. It was awesome.

My other stand out time was our last night there. The kids had all fallen asleep and they we were, with my parents and brother and sister-in-law. We made cocktails and played cards for a couple of hours. The teasing, the laughing, the fun- all of it was spectacular. We just don't have times like that anymore. Our together time has changed so much in adulthood. Our card night felt like a night in the house we all grew up in together. Jake and my only objective was to screw over the other sibling. It was fun.

 Haley, our little fish, found it relaxing to put on her brother's water wings.

 Cereal with no spoon!

Santa Cruz

I am behind on posts and am attempting to catch up.

At the end of January we got to head to Santa Cruz for the weekend with the Russell side of the family. We celebrated Hanukkah, birthdays, an engagement, and life itself. The house we stayed at was right off West Cliff. The view from the house was OCEAN. I live here and go to the beach all of the time, but its beauty never ceases to amaze. I am in awe of nature. I love the ocean and being near it.

We had a great time eating in, having the kids run around and play outside, and checking out the wine tasting rooms up the street. We took walks along West Cliff and enjoyed Natural Bridges.

Mostly, we just enjoyed being together. We laughed, a lot, and had real time to talk and catch up. A highlight for me is the time I got to spend with Joe. It seems every time we are together it's in that big group setting and the focus isn't there because of the natural distractions with the kids. I was so happy to really ask him about his job and how life is in New York. I am thrilled that he is joining the family.

A great weekend in a great place. No complaints.

If Only I Did Stand Up Comedy

We all have insecurities. It's human nature. The beautiful thing about getting older, or maturing, is that I know what my faults are. One of them is that I know that I need to lose weight. With that said, I want to add that I have a great sense of humor, at least I think I do.

Earlier this week I had a physical. I have promised myself that once a year I will go in for a physical and get all of my numbers. I did this a couple of years ago and it was so informative. I like getting a clean bill of health. When I went a few years ago it was to a different physician that my regular one. So, he hadn't seen me in years.

He has the worst bedside manner I have ever seen. This is why while I was sitting there I was thinking, do not laugh in his face. Am I on Candid Camera? Do not laugh out loud. If I was a comedian I would be getting the best material.

He said plenty of good things about my health, but that's boring. Some of my favorite statements, questions and my responses (when I wasn't silent trying to hold back the laughter) are as follows:

"Do you have sex with your husband?"
"Yes"- (and a few guys on the side.) -Wish I had said that.

As he is looking at my charts over the years, "You're supposed to lose weight after having babies, not gain it."
"You're telling me."

"Have you noticed any facial hair?"
"Yes." Let me pause and say that it's crazy that I am at an age when this is a normal question and even crazier that I had to answer yes. I mean, what's up with the hormones and the 2 regular whiskers? The best way to make a woman feel the opposite of feminine is to add hair to her face.

I then talked to him about a soreness in my quad I got after a run. It had not gone away like a sore muscle. He checked me out and said I need to work on my flexibility. I have never been flexible and have only started yoga in the recent years. I know this important on so many levels for health.

He then explained to me why I have big thighs (with a visual using his two hands to demonstrate the width of them) and a "figure of a body builder" as he squatted a bit and put his arms and legs out wide.

I almost lost it. If this was 10 ears ago I would have been fighting back tears. At 36 I was fighting back bursting out in laughter. He was just so serious while he explained my "squatty" stature and why flexibility will make me leaner.

It was a visit for the books. I am there to get my numbers and know where I am with my health. As I was laughing out loud in the car on the way home, I felt so great that I was not crushed by all of it. I am in a fabulous phase in my life.

Well, minus the facial hair.

8

She's 8 and loving it. She's happy, funny, energetic, curious, helpful, kind, hard working, mindful, intelligent, and friendly.
Her birthday was spent celebrating with a couple of friends and cousins Friday (rock star style) and with her family Saturday with a brunch at our place.

8 and awesome. Cheers to another year of health, happiness and growth!

Valentine's Day

This week has been a very exciting week in our house. Valentine's Day was filled with excitement as the kids prepped their Valentine's to share with their classmates. This was Ryan's first time with all of it. Our dining room table turned into an assembly line of folding, writing, attaching and sealing. Both of the kids woke up early and ready to get to school! Ryan even said, "Mom, I've been waiting my whole yife for dis!"

While teaching yesterday, I was reminded about what this day is like in middle school. Valentines mean a bit more as the students only give them to select people. We don't have celebrations or class exchanges. I think part of the reason I love teaching this age is that I remember it so well. I was so boy crazy (with my friend Suzi) and Valentine's Day was the pinnacle of, well, of everything! I saw the faces of kids who were surprised by little things. I saw the faces of kids who were nervous about giving a Valentine to a certain someone. At this age it all means so much. Don't you remember that? I have written before about how kids are really no different than we were. They are kids, experiencing this stage of life. It's awkward, it's scary, it's fun, it's hard. There were no cell phone texts or other new gadgets. It was the old fashioned way- hand written notes, stuffed animals, balloons, etc.

The day made me smile.