Merry Christmas - Family Pictures

We have attempted family pictures all year...Here's what we have.....

Cayd's Blessing in May

The Fourth of July

Daytona Beach in August

At the Beach in October

Georgia in November

Oh well, we've had lots of memories, laughs and sweet children and a blessed year in many ways. I love Christmas and the ways it helps us stop and think of others more. May we all have moments to stop and savor and remember all the blessings we enjoy because of our precious Savior.
He is the "Reason for the Season" and "Wise men still seek Him".
I love those phrases!

We hope you have a Wonderfully Merry Christmas and Happy New Year From the Russ Family to YOU!

Christmas Parade

There is always a great Parade downtown for Christmas. It was the longest one I have ever been to this year (besides Macy's in high school). The kids had a blast with their cousins and the candy...lots and lots of candy canes. We were glad Grandma and Grandpa came as well. The babies got lots of attention. Cayd's Christmas Firsts.

Cayd and Grandpa

Cousin Breckann loving on Cayd

Mommy's and their Babies

Silly Kids waiting for the parade to begin

On our way home, the kids were asking for water and Gavyn really had to go to the bathroom. He was walking ahead of us hurrying to the car. Well as we we're going along we notice this on the sidewalk......

Can you guess?

Guess he couldn't hold it any longer ;-)

Thanksgiving Program

Gavyn's Kindergarten class had a wonderful Thanksgivng program on November 25th for their families. He was excited and practiced so hard. We enjoyed him singing to us at dinner some of the songs he was learning like "The Turkey Tango". Bryan and I got to go and see him and then eat a Thanksgiving lunch together. He was super cute, even if we are little biased!

He's on the back row in the middle wearing yellow.

Why Are We Spending $$$ on Toys?

TAMPONS +

TAPE +

SILLY CLOTHES = FUN

Here we are at this holiday season, shopping or trying to figure out gifts for these wonderful children of ours. We can barely afford gas, food, and bills and now we have gifts on top of it all.

Why do we do this to ourselves when the Best toys are usually things we already have????

More Georgia Fun

We also celebrated my Mom's 60th Birthday while we were there. My sister Becky's blog (link to the right) has better pictures, but these were cute!

Gavyn and Logan

We continue to try and get a decent family picture, but alas it is not to be yet. The fall colors were breathe taking though. Pictures can't do it justice.This was right outside our ward building, I've always loved the view!

My family....Bryan and our kids LOVE the outdoors at my Mom's house. They climbed trees, cut down bamboo stalks, found a baby mole-like thing, a huge praying mantis and two salamanders. Here they are with Uncle Colin checking out the praying mantis eating yellow jackets.Gavyn with his half dead mole.

Fall in Georgia

Mimi with the grand kids...Gavyn, Hillary, Makayla, Tyler, Bryton and Logan

We got to travel up to Georgia for the Veteran's Day weekend. My brother, James and his family got to come as well. It was fun for all the cousins to play together in the beautiful Fall leaves, etc. We got to meet our newest niece and nephew...Katie and Isaac. They are absolutely Adorable!!!

It was also a somber time as we also laid the headstone for our precious nephew Luke. It was a beautiful day and the Headstone was perfect! How grateful we are for eternal families. We were given a reminder to cherish relationships, forgive faster, and help heal damaged relationships for our time is short and there's not enough time to hold grudges.

This was the only one with them both smiling, but it was blurry...they are still cute as ever...our little Katie and Cayd.

Here's Makayla and Logan
(Luke's twin brother who is 6 days younger than Gavyn)

The boys kept busy at the graveyard by finding a tree vine to hang on and swing with.

Makayla getting to hold Baby Isaac

Halloween Week

We had many opportunities to dress up....Trunk or treat at Church, Downtown Festival, and actual Halloween. Makayla was a butterfly or fairy depending on when you asked. Bryton fluctuated between Spider Man and Superman. Bryan, in the back ground dressed up as the UPS man to take the kids out on Halloween night, one kid said,"I know you, you used to bring boxes to my house".

Gavyn was a cowboy each time.

Cayd was a pumpkin and a spider at different times although he was sick for his first Halloween .

All in all we had a great time, but I am glad this Halloween season is over, now if we can just get rid of all the candy.

Newest Nephew!

Had to brag a little about our newest nephew (#24). Here is
Isaac Mitchell Blair
born October 28th, 2008
7 lbs. 5 oz
20 inches long
Son of my sister Becky and husband, Darren
Congratualtions!!!
We get to see him next weekend when we head up to Georgia ;-) YEAH!!!!

Here's Becky, Hillary, Isaac, and Darren - cute huh!

Halloween Dance

Downtown Trick or Treat was on Saturday. Makayla's dance class got to perform, as did her cousin, Eliza. The music system had some major problems, but these little 5 &6 year olds did wonderfully. I'm not sure I could have held my composure as well. She is third from the left.