The story behind...

"THE BASKBALL MAKS"!! We have had this basketball mask...the I bought on clearance after Halloween for 25 cents about 4 years ago ~ just to have! When Hal was about 7 months old we were putting up our Halloween stuff, going thought he Halloween box and one of the kids pulled out "THE MASK"! She freaked out!! Absolute hysterics!! We got her calmed down and John hid the mask!! Well for several Halloweens after that she was afraid of ALL masks!! She would cry when we would walk down the Halloween isle or if someone would think it was funny {Mandie and Stephanie} and put one on and scare her as she came around the corner!! But over the years the kids would find the basketball mask and scare her and you always knew what she was running from cause she would so the blood curdling scream and run to John or I and just be shaking!! So we would have to hide the mask again until someone found it and repeat the whole thing over again ~ usually happening 2-3 times a year! We still thought she was just afraid of all masks!! Well this year we went shoppin' and would always walk down the Halloween isles and she was like..."look mom I'm not afraid anymore of masks! They don't scare me!" as she would touch and look at different ones!! Now I'm sure she's no different than any other toddler and scary masks...but as Jace came walking up the stairs this year...she freaked out! Screaming ..."he has the mask, he has the mask" and ran and clung to my side! We had to hide it the closet, but through out the day one of the boys would find it and tease her with it and each and every time it scared her to death!! So I sat her down and asked her why it scared her so bad! She said it just had a really scary face and her hated it really bad!! Now I know you're asking yourself wht we don't throw it away but I want to hang on to it so one day she will show her kids "the mask" she was soooo scared of ~ which she probably won't want to but ya never know!! And on a side note...I love scarin' my kids! I have never put the mask on but am guilty of having Blake put it on at mom's and scaring her as she came into the living room!! I know...mean, mean, mom!! I've hid in their closets, in the pantry, behind the shower curtain {which was the best...I got Jace sooo good! To this day he peeks behind the curtain before he gets in the shower or even when he goes potty}! I've even scared John and got him a couple times pretty good! I don't make this an everyday or weekly occurrence, but every once in a while I get 'em good!! I just hate it when they scare me and they have got me good too! So to my kids and hubby...I apologize for scaring you and for keeping scary masks the scare in the house that scare you!! The football team is going to state!! They played Salmon last night in a intense game!! Justin didn't get to play last night and he knew he wouldn't! But again he's just glad to be a part of the team!! John lost his voice last night cause he was screamin' so much and Jace had worked up a sweat!! But we won 28-27!! They find out Saturday who they play and where!! After the team wins all the football players gather together and sing the Shelley school song and I don't know why but I just want to cry every time {pause my music player at the bottom before playing'}...

I just think it's awesome!! Way to go Shelley!! The kids all had their parent teacher conferences this week and are doing great!! Some need to put forth a little more effort in the homework area {Justin}, others need to read more {Jace and Hannah}, and one little lady needs to keep practicing her letters and sounds {Halle}! But John and I are very proud of them!! The kids are out of school today {teacher make-up day} and we're just kinda hangin' out! I asked the boys to mow up some leaves along the fence and the hedge! Jace did exactly as he was told...no more, no less! The next I know I see Justin out there just workin' away!! He mowed up the leaves, put the playhouse away, took the tramp down and put it away, and trimmed a few bushes!! He was like the energizer bunny!! I do have to say when that kid put his mind to something he really works hard!! Sometimes it's just hard to get him motivated!! Here he is in another mask I bought the same day as the basketball mask...Heaven help me!! So thankful for...1) got the church scheduled for the Russell Family Christmas party ~ it's John's year to plan it and I'm just stressed 2) the sun is shining {though it is very windy} 3) John's last day of work is today!! He is so very tired!!

Where do you hide your Lay's chips?

This is where a certain 16 year old hides them...at the top of our coat closet! Justin has always loved Lay's Potato Chips!! He uses them to scrape all the cheese off his pizza before he eats the pizza, he piles a huge pile on a plate and drizzles them with mustard {he also does this with pretzels and mustard}, and puts them in a bowl and drizzles them with lemon juice! Apparently this day he wanted to be sure he had some when he came home from football! I left them there and the next time I saw the bag it was empty and in the garbage {which was quite a surprise cause I usually find them under his bed}! And yes the top of my closet is a mess!! Who cares!! Justin and Jace have been going partridge and pheasant hunting after school! They jump in the "Yoda" and off they go!! At first it made me REAL nervous but they both have taken Hunter's Ed and so far have proven themselves responsible {not to say accidents can't happen and I'm a nervous wreck while they're gone} but they are makin' memories as brothers! Their first time out the each got a partridge...John helped them clean them and fry 'em up!! The next time out Jace wasn't quite so lucky, but Justin did get a pheasant! I think this was his first one he has ever gotten! Next time J...And they even cleaned the pheasant and cooked it up along with some fried potatoes!!But did they clean up all dishes and mess? Nooo! They know their mama will do that!! Which I did and will continue to do!! For one day I will have no one to clean up after {except John and his messes} and I will be sad!! So I say hide your chips and make those messes!! Even though I complain cause some days it is overwhelming...I love being being a mama!! So thankful for...1) this beautiful weather we are having 2) Jace is learning to sew in Teen Living ~ maybe he can teach me 3) got all my Halloween put a way and all my fall stuff out!!

I LOVE FALL!

Halloween fun...

started Tuesday with our ward carnival! They had a yummy diner and games for the kids! John had to work so the kids and I went...Thursday was "Crazy Hair Day" at Halle's school! This is what we came up with...
It was fun to do!! Let me tell ya though...there was alot of hairspray in that girls hair!! Justin is playing football during the playoffs ~ which Shelley is undefeated so far ~ YEA! He's a sophomore so he won't play very much! But their first game was Thursday night at the Holt Arena in Pocatello! I wasn't going to go, then I was, then I wasn't...having mom guilt, cause no one would be there to watch him if I didn't go!! Well the game started at 8:45, John had to work the next day, so as soon as he got home J and I jumped in the car and headed down there!! I was glad I did!! They were up quite far so he got to play the last five minutes!! I forgot my camera but Steph took some pictures for me...he's #82!!They play again this Thursday!! Before the game they fed the football players chicken fettuccine, rolls, fruit, and some dessert! The mom's got to make a poster for their son to be hung at the Holt Arena and this was Justin's...We are pretty proud of the kid! Friday we spent the day cleaning and getting ready for the big day...HALLOWEEN! It was a good day! I was a little worried about the weather cause I hate Halloween when it's yucky and cold, but it was a great day! John, me, Jace Hannah, and Halle went to the pumpkin walk out at North Bingham County Park ~ Justin was with some friends!! It was fun seein' the different pumpkin displays!! These are just a few of the many they has there! They had "Charlotte's Web"... "Alice in Wonderland"...

"Nightmare Before Christmas"...
"The Three Little Pigs"...
"Toy Story"...
"SpongeBob"...
We came home and got ready for trick-or-treating!! Justin went with his friends ~ again, and Jace was just going to hang out! But at the last minute decided to dress up and go with his cousins!! He threw this mask on {there's a story about this mask...Halle HATES it, but I'll tell about it another day}!Halle was a Hippie Chick...
Hannah was a Vampire...
Don't ya love her shoes...I'm hopin' she'll wear hot pink ones like these on her wedding day under dress!!Hannah went with her friend Allie and I took Halle while John stayed her and passed out candy! After Hal got all the candy she could carry, we headed over to mom and dad's for hamburgers, homemade fries, and doughnuts and watched Transformers 2! It was a great night! On to the next holiday ~ Thanksgiving!! It's truly my favorite holiday! I just wish they'd keep Christmas out of the stores until after Thanksgiving! This week we have parent/teacher conferences, more football games, basketball games, and a bunch of other "stuff" ~ all good though! Going to start Christmas shopping this week...there's 53 days until Christmas!! So thankful for...1) Justin ~ he was set apart today as a priest...made me cry 2) John set Justin apart ~ so thankful my sons have such a great example to follow, he is a great dad! 3) my house is a complete mess but tomorrow is Monday and I can crank up the radio and clean it while the kids are at school!!

Happy Halloween!!!

Off to gets some treats and hopefully no tricks!!

BOO!!

Pumpkins and Pick-ups...

about sum up our past few days!! Last Saturday we met at Mandie's had pizza and carved pumpkins!! And as always I think I want to carve a pumpkin every year and as soon as I get half way into it I realize how much I dislike carving and cleaning pumpkins!! Jace wanted the Steelers sign on his so he traced the pattern and asked if I would cut it! Long story short, I messed up and ruined his pumpkin! So they had to make a quick pumpkin run to Fred Meyer and get another pumpkin!! Sorry Jace!! But we got 'em all carved and all ended well!! I'll have to try and get a picture of them all lighted tomorrow night!! That same night it was two days before Justin's 16th birthday and we got him a little Toyota pick-up! We were so excited to give it to him that we just couldn't wait!! So we had my dad drive it up to Mandie's and as soon as everyone got there we gave him a card with this poem on it... "This note is just for you...

from your mom and dad,

do exactly what it

says and don't get mad!!

We love you so very much so
here's a early birthday surprise!!
Open Mandie's big garage door...

you won't believe your eyes!!"

Well he kinda new somethin' was goin' on cause I kept tellin' him to stay in the garage so he wouldn't see my dad drivin' it up!! So when he opened the garage door this is what he saw...a little 1989 Toyota pick-up!! It only has 85,000 miles on it! It needs a little work, but that is something John and Justin can do together! Jace was excited cause he said in three years that it will be his!! It needed a new stereo so that night we stopped at good 'ole Wal-Mart and he got a Pioneer radio ~ cause ya gotta have some tunes, and John, dad, and Justin installed it Sunday!! So now the next thing on his list is some subs!! He went and bought a fuel filter and oil filter and him and John are going to change the oil! It will be a good little truck for him!! He was very excited and very grateful!!My dad was excited too! The day before we gave it to him we parked it in his shop and he waxed it and cleaned it up and went and bought a new seat cover and floor mats for it!! He has awesome grandparents!! On Monday he drove to school and I knew he would be comin' home for lunch with Zac and Justin!! So I eagerly waited by the front door with my camera...If ya look closely at the second picture you can see him lookin' in the window and seein' me with the camera and was like..."MOM"! I love the kid!! That night we went to Sizzler ~ his choice for steak and all you can eat shrimp ~ with my family and Grandma and Grandpa Fillmore! John and I gave him a few accessories for his truck, a cd holder, a holder for his phone and iPod, and some air fresheners!! Mike and Mandie gave him a gas card and the biggest piece of jerky I've ever seen, Mike, Steph, Blake and Shannon gave him some $, and Grandma and Grandpa Carter also gave him a really nice Fox jacket and shirt!! He was totally spoiled! Thank you to everyone! A few things about Justin...

* he's 6'3

* weighs 175 lbs.

* wears a size 13 shoe

* loves to eat anything, anytime
* is doing good in school

* can now drive at night ~ legally

* can not be with out his cell phone or iPod

* everything is "gay" if he gets mad or irritated

* still picks on his sisters and brother

* has some really great friends

* hard worker {once he gets going}

* has a great sense of humor

I hope he had a great birthday! He turned 16 two days after Homecoming! A month or so ago he said to me that he was going to go! Well with him turning 16 two days after, I just casually reminded him what the prophet said about dating before you're 16!! All he said was "gay" and walked away!! But he didn't go and I was proud of him and his decision!! That and the fact it saved his dad and I lots of moola!! Well best get to bed...tomorrow is Halloween and to be honest, I just can't get into it this year!! I think it's the weather! I hate trick-or-treating in the cold and the kids having to wear a coat over their costumes!! So we'll go and get what we can without freezing! I've stocked up on candy, got some pumpkin pizzas, doughnuts, and apple juice!! Now just pick up a movie for later that night and I think we're all set!! So thankful for...1) my family, especially my parents, they love and spoil my kids 2) that we were able to surprise Justin with a little truck ~ officially named..."the YODA" {we name all our cars, why I don't know! We've had whitey, brownie, silver Boy, orange boy, and now "yoda"} 3) John...he works so hard for me and the kids!!

Happy Birthday...

to this kid...my 10 lb. baby born, born on October 26th, 1993 at 6:02 p.m.! Who is now 6'4 and just full of it!! I love him more than he will ever know and am so proud of him! He is your typical teenager and seriously makes me think about startin' to drink at times but then he crawls into his bed at night and his size 13 feet are hangin' out the bottom, falls asleep, and my heart melts!! Every night I cry when I check on him {and my other babies} before I go to bed and see him asleep!! It was just yesterday when he would lay in our bed and would say..."mom, let's talk about it" and I would say "talk about what?" and then he would say..."TRUCKS" and we would talk about trucks! Or he would say "DEERS" or CANDY" and we would talk about it till he fell asleep!! I still like it when he crawls up on our bed, except the tables are turned and I tell him..."let's talk about it" and he says..."talk about what?" and I'll say "GIRLS" or "SCHOOL" and we talk till he gets a text or a call on his cell from one of his friends and then we're done!! Be back later with more fun! John and I surprised him Saturday with an early birthday present!! He loved it!! Want a hint? It has four wheels and a radio!!

Gosh..

I just don't know where to start!! I have been awful about keeping up my "journaling", but I have been trying to keep up with everything going on around here!! I survived a case of the swine flu, as well as Jace and Halle ~ who I think had it but they were never tested, with no major complications! Which I am very grateful for especially after hearing some of the awful things that have happened! I still don't think I'll get my kids the vaccine though! Too new and just don't "feel right" about it!! I don't know though...it's hard to make a informed decision with the news blowing things outta proportion and some saying get it some saying don't get it...I guess I just gotta go with my "intuition" and pray it's the right choice!! Well with that outta the way, we've had a lot going on like I said earlier!! First the Hermit Crab died...made it alot longer than we thought it would!! It had crawled out of it's shell and we had a bigger shell for it to crawl into but it just died! It was kinda gross lookin', like a little alien!! At the end of September Jace and Hannah did the Punt, Kick, and Pass competition at city park! Hannah decided at the last minute to do it and took first place {out of two} in the girls 10-11 age division! She got a first place ribbon. Proud of you Hannah Rae!! Jace too third and did great too! Football is all over and it was a great season for both boys!! Jace's team was 6-1 and ended up playing the other Shelley 7th grade team {there are two 7th grade teams} for the championship! The other team won but our team played awesome!! We just couldn't move the ball! Jace caught a nice 35 yard pass and a couple more passes! I was too nervous at the game and didn't even get the camera out!! Justin finished up last night! All the Shelley High School football teams are undefeated this year!! Justin played great also! He got a touchdown pass last night which of course I missed...but here's a few more from the game last night... Halle lost her first tooth!! It was loose for quite a while and was just drivin' me crazy hangin' there!! So I asked her if I could feel it...well a little pop, followed by a ear piercing scream, her tooth was out!! Just in time for Halloween, know I call her my little Jack-O-Lantern!!Hal and I went out to pick up John one night from the bus stop and I was lookin' at the pictures on my camera when Hal asked me to take her picture!! Well we decided to have a little fun...

Here's scared...

silly...
very happy...
silly again...
smilin'...
thinking...
mad...
kisses...
now that's all she wants to do is pull and make faces for the camera!! I've also been busy with my other new addiction, making interchangeable watch bands!! Love these!! I've made on in almost every color, one for Halloween and Christmas, Hannah has one in every color, and we make Halle little bracelets since her just a little to little for watches!!

These are a few of the newest ones I've made for me {I have about 20}... Hannah's...
and Halle's bracelets!!
It's fun!! John has been busy with work! He has been working alot of overtime just to get ready for the holidays and for Justin's birthday! He still has time to shoot his bows and I love watching him through the kitchen window!! I just wanna run out there, tackle him to the ground, and go crazy all over him { I know...quit blogging about "stuff" like that, but I think the guy is HOT}!!!Well that's just a small fraction of what has happened since I last "journaled"!! We are getting ready for Halloween!! Halle is going to be a groovy chick, Hannah wants to be Dracula's wife {?} and you can now go to Hannah's blog and vote on what she should be for Halloween, and I don't know what the boys are going to do yet!! Jace starts basketball in the morning and in 2 days Justin turns 16!! I just can't wait till tomorrow night...we are giving him his birthday present to him a few days early and you won't believe what it is {SCREAM}!! He won't either!! I cry just thinkin' about him seein' it! We've been givin' him the run around and I hope it all works out!! But I can't believe it!! It seems like for me and John time has stood still, while our kids are just growing right before our eyes! Does that make sense? I cry at every little thing...when Halle lost her tooth, when the boys walk off the football field, when they all leave for school in the morning and I'm all alone in the car and come home to an empty house!! It's a "changing of a season" for John and I, it a good season, just that we aren't good with change!! So thankful for...1) my health... how come ya have to get really sick before you realize how good really feel 2) friends who make me laugh...I love to laugh 3) surprises...I hate being surprised but I LOVE surprising other people!!

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Love this song...

I am loving this song by Owl City playing on my play list!! Justin had John listen to it the other night while I was dying in bed {story to come} and in my dazed state I heard it and loved it!! Sit back and listen!! It's a catchy tune... and you won't believe why the reason I was dying ~ and no I am not exaggerating!!!! But here's a hint...SERIOUSLY!!!

Spud Day and some other fun stuff...

how I love Spud Day!! When the weather is nice and sunny...it makes for a great day! The girls wanted to ride in the kids parade and decorate their bikes! So we rode our bikes downtown and I dropped them off at Mick's and then rode down to watch them... They got a $.50 piece for riding in the parade!! John, Justin, and Jace walk with the fire engines, passing out candy and Idaho Spud bars... After the parade we headed over and got our free baked potato! I don't care what ya say...I think a free spud on Spud Day taste better than I have all year!! And after all these years we have a "plan" all figured out so we don't have to wait an hour to get one!! After that it was walking around and seein' what was out there!! The girls rode this...and this...

This was a hilarious ride!! If ya look closely you can see how dizzy Halle is getting!! Ya can't see him, but there was a guy in the back that would spin the cars as they went by!! Gladly he caught on about Halle and didn't spin their car too much!! I was sure we were going to see her corn dog come back up! Last year Hannah bought some little frogs that lasted about 3 weeks till John threw them away!! Well this year guess what she found and "had to have" {saying "had to have" like a dramatic 10 year old does}...a Hermit Crab!! And ya just can't get one Hermit Crab cause little sister feels left out and the other Hermit Crab would get lonely!! So $25.00 later we walk away with a Hermit Crab house, food, TWO Hermit Crabs, a palm tree watering spot, and instructions about the care of your Hermit Crab!! They are such ugly little things and don't do anything!! Well we get them home and figure out their house they came with is too small for two crabs and they need more sand! So a quick trip to Petco and another $25.00 we now have a sand castle houses, pink sand, two shells they can grow into, a crab pooper scooper, and two happy little girls!! I'm sending John out next year to scout out the booths for any other strange animal they might be selling and we will direct Hannah far away from that one!! After lots of food and drink we headed to the Spud Tug!! The fire department helped mix the potatoes and helped with the tug!!Right after that we headed to the Demolition Derby! The fire department helps out there too so we go out and hang out!! Can I just say a demolition derby brings out every single weird person this side of the state!! It's truly a white trash event!! And since we're there..... We park our chairs in the back of the pick up trucks, have a little fried chicken, and hoot and holler when the cars rams each other!! Really...I would love to drive in a derby!! Ram a few cars!! But Mandie and I were talkin' we probably couldn't drive anywhere cause we'd be peein' our pants laughing!! It would be fun!! Maybe I'll put that on my "to do" list!! {See I am embrace my white trash side by proclaiming for all to see that one of my aspirations in life is to drive in a derby}!! We all came home tired, dirty, completely worn out!! It was a good day!! Well that post took longer than I thought and I'm tired!! The fun stuff will have to wait till tomorrow!! John and Justin just walked in the door from hunting!! It wasn't a sucessful hunt as far as getting anything, darn it, but a successful day as far as a father and son spending some time together!! John didn't take my camers but he took this picture of Justin with his cell phone!! So thankful for...1) got my bills done and groceries bought 2) kids are in their jammies and I'm off to send them to bed 3) I have a new magazine to read tonight in bed!!

Pickin' up where I left off...

The girls are doing great!! Hannah didn't get historian but didn't feel too bad about it! She had fun makin' posters, cards to handout, and "campaigning". We had the whole "your dad and I are just proud of you for trying and doing your best" talk! She is doing good in school...kinda struggles with her reading! She is a busy body and doesn't like to sit and read! She did the Tater-Tot-Trot last Friday and did great!! She had to run ¾ of a mile and came in 5th! Her shins hurt for a couple days after and as soon as she was done she said..."if I'm doin' this next year I'm going to start running a few weeks before"! She had the lead most of the way but toward the end she slowed down a bit!Jace ran by her toward the end giving her encouragement!! She has also started dance! Her and I are also making her some bead watches and she is loving picking out her beads and designing them! We are so proud of what a beautiful young lady she is becoming!! Halle is lovin' school too!! They got to wear the jammies to school for the letter "P" day! Her thought that was pretty fun!! She has also been wanting to fix her own lunches after she gets home from school!

She is pretty proud of herself and so am I!Halle also did the Tater-Tot-Trot! She was pretty excited to do it, a little nervous not quite sure what to do, but got in there and did it anyway!! Well about ¼ mile into the race {she had to run one lap} her and a few other girls tripped over each other! Well I was takin' pictures and couldn't see her face cause I didn't have my glasses and I thought she hopped up and just kept goin'!! Well she did keep goin' but with tears!! I didn't know she was cryin' the whole time till I see her comin' toward the finish with this face...She was cryin' the whole time but didn't quit and finished the race!! Here she is lining up, getting ready and racing... And this is what happened when she fell...

But nothing that a piece of bread, an orange, a banana, and a Laffy Taffy stick couldn't make feel a little better!!
Proud of you Halle Gene!! She also started dance! Halle and I spend alot of time at the library!! Something I didn't do a whole lot with my other kids {insert guilt here}! But with just her and I home we get the chance to do alot of reading when its quiet!! I almost have 2½ weeks of not blogging caught up! Tomorrow Spud Day and John's hunting! Loving the cool nights and warm days!! Still able to get out and do some of this.. And since we are running here and there with every one's activities, going on bike rides, playing outside, homework, and everything else, this is what usually happens at the end of the night...We collapse into our beds!! So thankful for...1) John ~ again! He does so much for me!! I'm on my diet again and he weighs and measures out all my meat for me and bags it ~ I hate touchin' meat!! 3) 2 more days of school then we're out for Harvest for 2 weeks!

I can't believe...

it's been 20 days since I've blogged!! What is wrong with me?? I love blogging!! It has been very busy with football games, football practices, dance, homework, birthdays, the fair, Spud Day, Tater-Tot-Trot, I've started helping my mom at her pre-school 3 times a week, PTO meetings, and just trying to keep a path cleared through the house, makin' sure everyone has clean underwear ~ 'specially them boys, food on the table, and clean dishes to eat it on!! Not sayin' I'm way busier than anyone else out there...just livin' life and it's all good!! Justin's been playin football and lovin' it! He usually doesn't get home till 6:30 or 7:00 at night, and is extremely hungry, unless he's gone to eat after with his friends! Every Wednesday he throws his football stuff on the garage floor for me to clean up and wash before his game on Thursday! As weird as it may sound...I love washin' my boys football stuff!! It's EXTREMELY stinky and VERY sweaty, but I love washin' it all and hangin' it up to dry ~ I just hold my breath and wear latex gloves so it don't burn my fingers...kidding {kinda}!! I love watchin' him leave for school in his jersey on game day!! He's getting so tall and looks so handsome!! He's #82 and plays tight end... He also has a girlfriend ~ which I'm not to thrilled about ~ not because she's not a cute, sweet girl...but that's a whole 'nother post for another time! He's doing good in school and still trying to get in a few rounds of golf when he can!! I CAN NOT believe in 34 days he will turn 16! He turns 16 three days AFTER the homecoming dance! He is so bummed about that whole thing ~ again that could be a whole 'nother post in itself...can we say drama! But he's a good kid and it makes me sad to see him grow up {kinda goes along with girlfriend thing}! He's been looking for a car ~ thinkin' he's getting one for his birthday!! I don't know...we'll see! Jace has been playin' football also! They are undefeated and he has one touchdown and some extra points! Jace is #10. He plays tight end and defensive tackle. He does great!! It's fun to watch their team play! He has practice four nights a week and comes home just as stinky and as sweaty as Justin! And just as hungry!!He's also doing good in school! He's taking Teen Living ~ which used to be called Home Ec. for us oldies ~ and really enjoys it! They bake cookies, learn all about cookin' stuff and as homework one night he had to pick, prepare, cook, serve, and clean-up a recipe of his choice! He chose Pork Chop Potato Casserole which is like heavenly potatoes with pork chops on top but it was really good!! I posted on my recipe blog! Try it out! Jace is growing up too! Getting taller everyday and so handsome! He's my helper around the house since Justin's gone alot and he's kinda havin' a hard time with Justin goin' and doin' things! He misses his brother being around, he sees all the stuff Justin gets to go and do and he still gets stuck at home! He's at that age where he's too little for some things , but too big for others....makes sense? Justin tries to include him when he can! He's a good kid! Next up was the fair!! We went on a Friday the kids were outta school! It was a beautiful and HOT day!! Justin went golfing, John was working, so it was Jace, me, Hannah, and Halle! Mandie and her kids came along too! It was fun walking around...just don't wear thongs to the fair {yes I said THONGS...they were THONGS when I was growin' up and they'll always be THONGS ~ right Collette?}...my feet were black when I got home!! We had hamburgers, teryaki rice, ice cream, and alot to drink cause it was so hot!! We only rode a few rides!! Jace and my favorite is the Scrambler!! If I was rich I would have one in my back yard!! We laugh and laugh!! The kids also did the weather at the news station booth! Jace wore a blue shirt so he blended in with the blue screen! It was kinda funny!! But by the time we got all that done Halle was tired and Hannah wanted another $4.50 for a pop cause she was going to die"right now in this very spot" if she didn't get a drink {which was right in the middle of the path and we just couldn't let that happen}!! So I carried Halle, got Hannah one last drink, and we headed home without even makin' it to the animals!!It's always the same 'ole fair but I'll always love it!! Well that's all for now!! Still much more to come...the girls, Tater-Tot-Trot ~ which we had some minor injuries at, Spud Day, and some of John's hunting adventures!! So thankful for...1) my dear friend who called me today to make sure everything was ok...she said I hadn't blogged for a while and she was makin' sure something wasn't wrong!! Love you Kara! 2) John ~ as always he's just amazing 3) Life ~ my life!! All of it...crappy carpet and furniture included!!

"Don't go BANANAS...

vote for Hannah!!

Hannah Russell for HISTORIAN!!or how 'bout...

"There's only ONE WAY to go...

vote Hannah Russell For

HISTORIAN!!Hannah is running for Historian for her fifth grade class! Her and I made the posters last night and then her and Justin went and put them up early this morning! You can make two posters then hand out little flyers! She's a little nervous and there are alot of kids running for historian, so we'll see what happens! They have to vote for the top three then those three have to give speeches in front of the student body!! Good Luck Hannah Rae!! I also grabbed her outta school this morning and took her to the doctor! She was up again last night with another ear ache in the other ear! She has double ear infection. The doctor let me look in the ear thing and poor girl has blisters all over inside and one had even started bleeding! We started her on an antibiotic today! I just don't know what to do! I guess we'll have to be more vigilant about getting her right in when she says her ears feel "puffy" or if she starts getting a cold! I hope she'll eventually grow out of them! Like I said yesterday...earaches suck!!

Halle had to take treats for Alphabet Treat Day ~ her letter was I.

So we took these... Ice Cream Sandwiches! These are Fat Boy Jr.! They are just little, like 2 inches by 2 inches!! I have a love of all things tiny and mini ~ especially food! They are so cute! Granted I can eat one on like two bites and John and the boys can eat 'em in one bite, but for little kindergartners, they are just the right size!! Jace had a football game tonight and Justin has one tomorrow! Off to clean up the mess from last night ~ there's still glitter, paper, and glue dots stuck everywhere {it was late and I was tired}! So thankful for...1) we got some antibiotics for Hannah 2) it's a beautiful day outside today 3) my wonderful hubby who finished cooking dinner last night and then cleaned up all the dishes.

This little girl...

stayed home yesterday from school! Her had a really bad cough that just would not quit! I finally found some great cough medicine we had in the closet that works great! Kills the cough but also makes you a little sleepy! So we climbed in my bed, put in Hannah Montana the Movie, and just vegged! Well not to long after, Halle dozed off! But all of a sudden she jumps, like ya do when ya have a dream like you're falling! She hadn't gotten into a too deep of sleep so I asked her...

Me: "Did you just have a dream?"

Halle: "Yes."

Me: "Did you dream you were falling?"

Halle: "Yes. I dreamed I ran across the tile {in the kitchen}

and it was soapy and I falled!"

And she fell right back to sleep! I just laughed!! She has ran into the kitchen right after I had mopped once or twice in her little life and her feet have come right out from underneath her and her falls flat on her bum!! I just thought it was funny she was dreamin' about it and wondered what else she was dreamin' of!!She slept for a good two hours, so I just laid there and finished watching Hannah Montana the Movie and you know what? I ended up crying!! Why I don't know!! When shen she took her wig off and started singing "the Climb", toward the end...I just started bawling like a baby!! As much as that whole Hannah Montana thing drives me crazy...the girls love it! They will stand on their bed with pretend micro phones and just sing along!! They know all the words and when we're in the car they always say..."turn it up mom!" Hannah Montana and Taylor Swift need to come out with a new song so I don't hear the same ones over and over and over!! Though I do kinda like Hanna Montana's new song..."Party in The USA" ~ kinda a catchy tune! Do you know how many times a day they play "You Belong To Me" by Taylor Swift on the radio each day? Too many!! And no matter how fast I try to change the station they always catch it!! Though I hear her concerts are great!! I took Hannah to Hannah Montana in 2007 and it was ALOT of fun! Halle should be getting off the bus any minute! She was so happy to be going back to school today! Except Hannah had a really bad earache last night! Every time she gets a cold it goes straight to her ears!!! Poor girl! She's had trouble with her ears since her was just tiny! We've done 4 sets of tubes and they just say it's something she'll have to grow out of! But till then...earaches suck!! I know exactly how she feels! I had so many as a kid too, and still get one or two a year! Though it does affect her hearing! She woke up this morning saying she couldn't hear very well! So I'll be taking her to the doctor today!! Unless anyone knows of a great natural remedy that works!! Let me know! So thankful for...1) Halle is doing better 2) ibuprofen and heated rice pad 3) I got most of the flowers made for the girls hair ~ that I bought over a month ago and have just been sitting on my dresser.

Boys and their toys...

The boys rented this Saturday...And used it to dig the water up the water line going into grandma's house, capped it, and put in a outside faucet! They are getting ready to burn it and clear the land after the fire a few months ago! The fire department is going to burn the rest down as a practice! John and Blake started bright and early Saturday morning...That last picture is of Blake pullin' a Mike Carter...bossin' people around {John told me to write that}!! I took the boys out and they each had a turn drivin' the excavator... But before I show Jace I have to tell ya somethin'...Jace has always loved to play in the dirt! Jace would {and still does} spend hours in it with his cars and tractors ever since he was little! Even now he goes out in our flower bed out front and makes jumps and trails! So when he was able to have a turn yesterday in the mini excavator, he was in heaven!! He loved it! I told him next year for his birthday I am going to rent the mini excavator for a whole day, take him out and leave him in a dirt field and let him spend the whole day diggin' in the dirt!! He thought that was a pretty good idea!!The next few pictures are of Jace just last summer in some extra dirt my dad had! He convinced his grandpa to haul the trailer down to our house, park it on the side so he could play in it! He spent days out there... walking around and around the trailer!

School is going good for all and we're getting into a routine! Everyone is loving school! The boys had their first football games! Justin scored a touch down! So get ready for some football pictures!! We all took a nap today...not a good thing to do on Sunday even though I love a Sunday nap! But the kids are all still awake! So I better go round 'em up and try to get 'em to bed before ten! So thankful for...1) garden veggies...corn on the cob is soooo good 2) a nice long bike ride with just my boys 3) getting to watch my boys play football.