Christmas is the time to remember...

Well, we've had quit the weather here in Cincinnati the last few weeks. Lots of beautiful snow and very cold temperatures. This weather has really made the Christmas season even more special. The girls have loved the walks to school in the snow, Christmas movies and hot chocolate by the fire in the evenings, and making holiday treats.

We miss all our family at this time of year, especially those that are no longer with us. Last year I think we were all in shock and the full grasp of Mom's passing didn't seem real. This year it's been much harder. But when I'm missing her most, or just having a bad day, I've been pulling out some of her holiday recipes and making them. Just this small act has helped me feel closer to her. Christmas was Mom's favorite holiday and she loved baking special treats for family and friends. In honor of her, I want to continue her traditions and make these with the girls. Through this I know she's with us everyday.

Christmas truly is the season of cherishing memories past and present, giving thanks for family and friends and looking forward to the blessings ahead in the New Year.

Much love to all,

Julie

Halloween Part 2

Halloween in Terrace Park was so much fun! Neighbors set up fire pits in their driveways to welcome the trick or treaters. We finished up our evening with a dinner of traditional Cincinnati-style chili, cornbread and homemade pumpkin pie, followed by the traditional viewing of Charlie Brown's Great Pumpkin and munching down on some delicious candy. Nanny and Pappy came for a visit this weekend and were such troopers. They dressed up just for the girls.

Today we are all coming down from our sugar high....but we are eagerly anticipating next year's Halloween!!

Halloween

It seems we've been celebrating Halloween for a week now. Between Pumpkin Fest at Marin' s school to Madeleine and Marin's class parties, we have really put our costumes to good use (and eaten our weight in halloween goodies).

Here are some photos of the girls this past week...I'll post actual trick-or-treating photos tomorrow.

Happy Haunting!

Marin's 6th Birthday!

We celebrated Marin's birthday on Saturday. She was so excited to invite her new friends to a pony party. The girls rode ponies, painted and just had a great afternoon being outdoors.

Happy 6th Marin! We love you and are so proud of the little lady you are becoming.

Has it really been almost a year?

I have to say I'm a little embarrassed that it's been almost a year since I posted on our blog. I guess it's just because we've had so much going on in our family in the last year.

Well, for those of you that don't know, we are now in Terrace Park, OH ( a small burb of Cincinnati). Justin accepted a job at an ad agency here in late June. We are finally getting settled in. It's been a very busy 8 weeks but I can honestly say things are starting to slow down and fall into place. (And I really need to be at a point that nothing major and life changing is going on.)

We are getting a good schedule down. Marin started Kindergarten on August 25 and she is loving it. Madeleine starts her first year in preschool next week and she's super excited and super ready. We walk Marin to school every morning as does most everyone here in our neighborhood. We feel like we're livin' in Mayberry...and that's ok with me.

I will post again this weekend with more detail, but for now here are just a few recent misc photos of our life here so far.

And, since we've moved from the "flyover state" to the "birthplace of aviation", guess that means I don't have to change the name of our blog!

Happy Halloweeeen

Halloween week in the Russell household was full of parties, candy and trick-or-treating fun! We watched The Great Pumpkin at least every night...that's one of the girl's favorites.

Marin chose to be one of her favorite characters right now, Pocahontas. Madeleine wanted to be a pirate. She is infatuated with them right now and that's all she would consider!!!

We took the girls to Prairie Village shops for safe trick-or treating, then headed home for a pizza party. We were joined by our friends the Staffords. Halloween this year was so much fun for all of us.

Nothing beats a pile of freshly raked leaves

Yesterday the girls and I raked leaves. Well, I'm the one that raked and they jumped in the piles. They had such a blast and I was able to capture a few shots. I'll post more Halloween photos on Sunday...stay tuned!