Emaline and Russell's Dedication.

Russelly

Russell in his walker.

Russell with Daddy's cap on!

What we call "The Russell Basket"

Captain (Savana's cockatiel).

At the Hotel

As most of you know,Grandmother and Papa are down from Kentucky. They stayed at our house for a few days and then went to a hotel in Ormond Beach.  It has been a tradition that the children go and stay with them in twos or threes, and stay there for one or two days each time. Evan and Bo went there first, and then all the girls (exept Alayna and Emaline) went. We ( the girls) really enjoyed staying with them, the only problem being there wasn't much to do, but we made cookies, played games such as Qwirkle, Skip Bo, and pool (the latter being held in the lobby) and pretty much just had a good time. They also took us out for breakfast at IHOP (another tradition) and I (Savana) got five silver dollar pancakes, scrambled eggs, and bacon. LilyAnn got basically the same thing, just she got strawberries and whipped cream on her pancakes. I can't remember what Farrah got but I know it was something yummy! I'm so glad that God enabled us to go there even though we are a little sick, because at one point I thought that we might not be able to go.

Yesterday

Hi, family!  We did make it to the beach yesterday at Grandmother and PaPa's hotel.  We had planned on swimming, but the children were just not well enough to take the plunge.  We found out after making that decision that the water temperature was only 50 degrees, so it made the decision to keep dry a little less disappointing.  I wish I could show you a picture of the children running on the beach, Bo soaking wet after a fall in the icy cold waves, and Emaline chasing seagulls, but I (Lori) forgot to bring the camera.  Sorry about that!  I'm hoping we might get back over there before Grandmother and PaPa head out of town.

Today has been another restful day of recuperation from this cold.  Thankfully, Mama, Daddy, and Baby have all stayed well.  The others have been feeling kind of yucky for about a week, though. Farrah, Savana, and Lily Ann stayed at the hotel last night, feeling mostly well.  Too bad they can't swim at that really fun pool with a corkscrew slide!  Maybe in a couple of days, Lord willing.

Well, it's time to go and listen to a young man read a book he got for Christmas before all the little busy guys get up from their naps.    It's a pictorial autobiography by James Irwin, the Christian astronaut.

The grapefruit feast

Happy New Year!

Happy new year!  We are starting a blog in order to stay in touch better, as we are a busy people!  We saw how fast Alayna put her blog into action and what a blessing it is to those of us who miss her and want to see what God is doing in her life as often as possible, so we thought it would be good to do the same for her and a few other of our loved ones!  We hope to share the true picture of our lives here and the regular goings-on and hopefully, to encourage in the Lord.  To God be the glory!    

Today Doug, Evan, and Bo have gone golfing in Daytona with PaPa.  The rest of the children, except Alayna who is in Haiti, are home having a regular day, which hasn't been routine so far.  They are out in the kitchen right now feasting on grapefruit which they picked yesterday from our gracious neighbor's grove (Mr. Lombardy).    They are getting over a cold, and are hoping to go swimming at the hotel their grandparents are staying at in Daytona tomorrow.