the us in russ

Birthday Balloons

noreply@blogger.com (Em Russ) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:15:00 +0000

Abby and Zack turned FIVE in December. We celebrated in style with a classic birthday BALLOON party.

I wrote the party invitation info on inflated balloons and then let all the air out, tied it to some cardstock and stuck it in the envelopes. It was totally cute but a few of the parents told me that kids opened the invite, played with the balloon and rubbed the marker off so they didn’t know when the party was. I think if I were to do it again this way I would include a real printed paper with the info as a supplement. Still, it was cute… apparently that is the most important thing to me!

Abby and Zack wrote thank you tags for the party favors. I got the printable from my friend Darleen’s blog here. Her little boy was at the party (and she made the robot shirt Zack is wearing below as a party favor for one of her incredible parties!! Click here to see the most hilarious picture of Lila at one of those parties. She is the one with cucumbers on her eyes!)

The tags hung on the balloons that we gave out as party favors. I tied the balloons onto little animals that had their arms wrapped around a ring “POP”. I also sent the kids home with a big punch balloon that we used as part of the decorations in the basement.

You can see the favors in the background below. I decided not to do cupcakes or cake and ice cream but did balloon shaped sugar cookies instead. I used Twizzler pull and peels as the balloon strings. It was a good move and the kids all loved them!

Abby and Zack’s cakes were just little round cakes with a bunch of pull and peels as the strings.

Our decorations were just tons and tons and tons of balloons everywhere.

A little bit of birthday, a little bit of Christmas…

When the kids showed up they got to pick out a balloon hat from the pile I had made. I became a balloon tying expert and it is actually kind of addictive. We had balloons all over the place and I loved how the strings from the helium balloons hung down in the rooms and looked so festive.

This was upstairs in the dining room. You can see a few of the girls with their hats…

…and the basement where most of the action took place.

We played lots of games with the balloons. My favorite was the “freeze dancing” with balloons tied on their hands and feet. I attached rubber bands to lots of different sized balloons. They were all over the floor in the basement as decorations when the kids showed up which added to the excitement. Then I let them pick as many as they wanted to wear for the dancing. The freeze dance song is one of Abby and Zack’s favorites so it was perfect for the party. The song pauses and tells the kids to freeze… it was awesome with all their balloon limbs flying and the kids LOVED it so much they begged for an encore. It was pretty hilarious to watch too!

A new birthday tradition we started was putting a dollar in balloons and hanging them in their doorways. One balloon for each year old they are. (They are only five… the balloons in the middle were just leftover decorations from the party).

And every year since we’ve had Lila we have had balloons on the floor in the kids rooms when they wake up on their birthday. Johnny’s family used to sneak in and toilet paper your room on your birthday but the balloons are a little easier. Especially if you have a bazillion balloons in your house leftover from a birthday party!

I know it is totally cliché to say this, but I really cannot believe they are five. It seems like only a few days ago that they looked like this… (and there were lots of times I never thought I would say this, but oh how I miss those two sweet little babies!!)

(Abby on left, Zack on the right)

Happy (sort of late) birthday to my babies,

because you’ll ALWAYS be my babies!

Seven year old sweetness!

noreply@blogger.com (Em Russ) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 04:33:00 +0000

Lila turned seven on November 27th. SEVEN!! I can hardly believe it. I distinctly remember the days when I wondered if I would have a babe of my own and now I wonder how that squishy, sweet, baby of mine turned into my little friend.

Her cake request… “Can you make a Seven??”

Yesterday I was talking to her and I paused for a second to look into those beautiful big eyes of hers. I was struck with how many days go by when I fail to actually look into her eyes or snuggle her in my arms.

At that moment I stopped and asked her if she knew how much I wanted her. How much I had dreamed and prayed and wanted HER! She lit up as we talked and I made a mental note to remind each of those babies of mine how much I want them in my life.

I was looking through the pictures on my phone recently and noticed a trend. I have several spontaneous moments of Lila taking care of Alex. I find this especially funny because he has recently taken to dragging her around and calling her “Mommy”. She grins and loves every second of it. (It reminds me of my relationship with my baby brother and makes me miss him!)

Sweet. That is my Lila.

She is always ready to help, frequently without being asked. She begs to fold laundry and then asks if she can put all 10 loads of it away. She is loving and kind to her brothers and sister. Frequently one of them will demand a chair or a book or whatever the moment holds and without fail, Lila will give up whatever she has to make them happy.

The other day I was feeling sick with a bad headache. I picked up the kids from school and was so nauseous that I went straight to my bed. As I lay there I was overwhelmed with what I heard going on downstairs. In a perfect (and humbling) imitation of me, she said “ok. If you want a snack raise your hand…” and she proceeded to fix 4 little snacks, play games with the kids and quietly entertain them for hours while I rested. She even got them all cereal for dinner (which, to be honest is about all I regularly pull off for dinner!) I felt so blessed and so lucky to have such a sweet girl who could take care of things when I couldn't.

Sure love that girl of mine. I am proud of the little lady she is growing up to be. Happy (super late) birthday Lila Bean. I hope life gives you everything you wish for!!

This dinner gives me the creeps…

noreply@blogger.com (Em Russ) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 02:38:00 +0000

I recently had a friend mention to me that I have neglected to post the pictures from our creepy Halloween dinner. Soooo… just in case you need some ideas for an awesome Valentines day, here you go!

This year we branched out and invited a few friends over. It made the night a lot more fun and we will definitely do it again next year!

Lila and Abby cut out and penned the labels. I love them (labels and girls).

Mummies

Worms (this is still my Halloween favorite! Click here for the recipe)

Skeleton’s Teeth (white corn)

Mummy Mush (mashed potatoes) and Monster Hands.

Yes. Monster hands. They were incredible… really, really incredible! Like… so incredibly real that I almost couldn’t eat it. Almost! (Click here for the recipe)

Slug Salad (the “slugs” were mushrooms. You’ll have to message me for this recipe. It’s my mom’s famous, DELICIOUS, spinach salad!)

Dracula’s Ribs (recipe here)

Devil’s Eyes

Dragon Hearts

Band Aids (seriously, these were soooo creepy! The idea came from here)

Ghost Poop (this is was a FAVORITE of the little ones at our little dinner party)

Troll Eyes (go here to see what they should really look like)

Ghost Brains

with Spider Blood and Vampire Blood, as toppings for our Ghost Brains

Not pictured was our “Spider Cider” and our Frozen hand (can’t remember the clever name for that one and I borrowed the picture from here)

For last years party pictures go here

Brothers In Arms

noreply@blogger.com (Em Russ) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 05:35:00 +0000

Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a superhero.

~Marc Brown

Most of these pictures are moments I just happened to catch with my cell phone.

I love their relationship. Alex does everything Zack does, loves the things Zack loves, Alex says what Zack says (Zack has even taught him how to talk like Yoda).

And Zack is incredibly sweet and patient with Alex and loves him right back.

I sure love these two little men of mine and I hope they are always best friends!

A brother shares childhood memories and grown-up dreams

~unknown

A brother is a friend provided by nature.

~Legouve Pere

There is a destiny that makes us brothers,

no one goes his way alone;

all that we send into the lives of others,

comes back into our own.

~Edwin Markham

“There’s no other love like the love for a brother.

There’s no other love like the love from a brother.”

~Astrid Alauda

All for one and one for all.

My brother and my friend.

What fun we have. The time we share.

Brothers 'til the end.

~Unknown

Thanksgiving Curse?

noreply@blogger.com (Em Russ) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 03:09:00 +0000

Three years ago I missed a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner with this master chef because Zack had a fever and was sick.

Last year on the day before Thanksgiving I dislocated my kneecap (and then Alex had his second hernia surgery).

Exactly two years ago today I posted about Johnny’s most recent back episode flare up. For some strange reason, we felt like THIS was our year to have a nice happy, healthy, peaceful Thanksgiving!

But man, we should have learned our lesson…

This morning Johnny moved wrong and ended up in intense pain on the floor. I knew immediately by the tone of his yell what had happened.

We initially thought it wasn’t too bad so we made an appointment with a doctor and called my friend Heather to watch the kids. (oh Heather… thank you, thank you…)

As I tried to get Johnny up to go, I quickly realized that our plan wasn’t going to work and I needed to call 911.

Five firemen had to haul him down the stairs strapped to a chair. I’ve never seen him in so much pain and it was heartbreaking!

In the ER they pumped him full of drugs and sent us home.

Wednesday he gets to see the spine specialist and we hope that it will be a quick recovery. Hope!

Happy Thanksgiving Folks!!

“When 900 years old you reach…

noreply@blogger.com (Em Russ) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 00:59:00 +0000

…look as good, you will not!” -Yoda

Happy Halloween!
Love,
Luke & Leia Skywalker, (the twins)
Queen Amidala, (their mother)
and Yoda

Sleepy Babe

noreply@blogger.com (Em Russ) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 19:10:00 +0000

Alex just turned two but don't be fooled by his sweet little face. The boy thinks he is four. (Though if you ask HIM, he says he's THE baby!!)

He has recently decided that he is too big to take naps. Not officially, of course, but by staging a (sort of cute) protest of singing and playing in his crib at nap time.

The result is that this little boy of mine is sleepy. Almost all the time. (And, by golly, I sure know how he feels!!)

But when he falls asleep in the car, I get to carry him into the house and snuggle my cheeks against his cheeks and (reluctantly) tuck him into his bed.

Oh, how I love this little man of mine. I wish I could just freeze time for a little while...

Kids Say The Darndest Things 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Johnny Russ) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 01:53:00 +0000

One of my favorite things that we do around here at the Russ house is the quote board where we write down the funny things the kids say. We are a little behind in getting last year's posted, but it is still great.

To read the quotes you can zoom in and out on the image below. Just click the image (not the little box in the corner) with your mouse or roll your scroll wheel, or you can use the buttons at the bottom. To see different parts, you can just drag around with the little hand, or you can drag the blue box around in the upper left corner.

Don't forget to leave us a comment and tell us what your favorites are!

In case you wanted to check out our past funniness... 2007, 2008, 2009

Also, Johnny wanted to send a shout out to Casey for hooking us up with a hosting space!

Home Maker

noreply@blogger.com (Em Russ) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:51:00 +0000

At the beginning of the new school year I had to fill out a lot of forms to get the kids enrolled in their new schools. We moved (again) recently and as I have been trying to get settled (again) I keep thinking about something I filled out on all those forms. There is a spot where you are required to fill in your profession…

As I filled out those forms with the word “homemaker” I was struck with the meaning of those words and I haven’t been able to get them out of my head in the months that have followed. I am a home maker. I make this home. Whatever I want it to be, that is what I make of it.

I thought of the book by Jane Clayson Johnson titled “I am a mother.” It is one of my VERY favorite books and I find her so inspiring (you should read it and reread it and give it away as gifts!!). One of the stories she tells is about being at a dinner party shortly after she had become a mother. Everyone was introducing themselves and time after time as the women stood up to introduce themselves they made excuses or seemed embarrassed and said things similar to “I don’t have a real job, I’m just a mother.” Jane talks about how she was so proud and happy to be a mother that she wanted to stand up and shout “I AM a mother”. She was previously a co-host on the CBS Early show (among many other things) but being a mother is her greatest accomplishment. It is an incredibly powerful book and her message has really stuck with me.

I am a mother and I am a homemaker.

As I have been setting up house in this new place I have been thinking about this responsibility and this “job” of mine. It is such an encompassing responsibility. It is so much more than just cleaning the house (though cleaning the house is a HUGE part of it). The furniture is where I put it and the pictures on the walls are where I hung them.

My home is literally what I make it.

I am the example that they follow. I am the one they look to when they are scared and sad. The food I make is the stuff that helps their little bodies to grow. The songs I sing help them fall asleep at night and the words they hear echoing through their little ears as they go to school or drift off to sleep are going to be mine…

No pressure… no big deal…

We have a picture frame I bought before I had kids. I am sure I was thinking of my own mom when I bought it but now it has a picture of me and Lila in it. The words say “Our house is warm inside, because you've made it so. Everything says love to me, no matter where I go.”

I want that warmth in my home. That is the kind of home I want to make.

Zack just came in and said “Mommy, I need you…” There is no sweeter sound to me, no “job” I’d rather have than this.

Guess I better get back to “work!”

Hauntings Past

noreply@blogger.com (Em Russ) — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 03:20:00 +0000

On November 1st Zack started planning his Halloween costume for the next year. He’s gone through lots of choices. Avatar, Ninja, Cowboy… who knows what he will come up with. As it is looming closer he is really getting excited and as we have been talking about it, I realized I never posted pictures of last year’s spooky fun. So… in case you need some super awesome costume inspiration, I give you…

Halloween Russ Style 2010

All Abby wanted to be was a butterfly. Lucky for her (or for me, really) Lila’s costume from a few years ago fit perfectly!!

Lila decided she wanted to be a princess. (She is wearing the tiara I wore for my wedding)

Here she is in her school parade with her Connecticut best friend “The Tooth Fairy” Daniella. (Don’t worry Kay… you’re still the Boston best friend!!)

Alex the Lion showed up as well. He perfected his ROAR when his trainer tried to make him wear his mane.

As soon as Zack saw this “SQUAT” team costume he was IN LOVE.

And you can’t be on the SQUAT team without a criminals to bring in.

Just be careful not to let your man get away!!

Johnny’s sporting a REAL prison jumpsuit. His tattoo sleeves are incredibly real looking and he loves them. He wore this outfit to our church Halloween party (where no one knew us yet) and I think people thought that he really had tattoos all over his arms. One of our new friends was so impressed with them that he went to the party store THAT NIGHT and got himself some tattoo arms. They are awesome!

Happy Halloween Everyone!! (just a weeeee bit late!!)

How to Rodeo.

noreply@blogger.com (Em Russ) — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 04:56:00 +0000

A few months ago we were talking about cowboys and I told Zack I knew lots of REAL cowboys in Utah. His response was classic.

“WHAT. IN. THE. HECK? Cowboys still exist? I thought they were extinct!!”

So, to prove they were real, we decided to take the kids to a real live Pioneer Day Rodeo.

When attending a rodeo there are a few things you need to remember.

Most important, you need to have a hat. If you can’t wear your great grandpa Barrett’s authentic cowboy hat (like Grandpa Otis is) and if your mom searches every store around and can’t find a cowboy hat for you (that doesn’t cost a bazillion dollars)… you’ll have to wear your Boston/MIT digs.

Either way, when they ride by with the stars and stripes… don’t forget to put it over your heart!! (Which will be bursting with pride at this great nation we live in!!)

And definitely don’t forget your BOOTS!! Pink boots are best,

but brown are good too…

“Slip Slops” (what Alex calls his flip flops) however are NOT good. They will fall underneath the bleachers and then Grandpa will have to go rescue them for you!

You’ll also want something soft to sit on… especially if that something is your grandma!

And don’t forget to watch the actual rodeo. It will have you laughing and screaming and cheering harder than you have in years. Seriously SO much fun!! Even the baby brother will say “WOW” when the bucking broncos come out, and then he will sit mesmerized by the whole thing!

(see Zack… REAL cowboys DO exist!!)

But whatever you do, DON’T forget your SMILE!! (Even if it is missing a few teeth!!)

No matter what happens, we’re sure you will LOVE the Rodeo. (Almost as much as this little guy loves his big sister!!)

Taking the Mountains for Granite...

noreply@blogger.com (Em Russ) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 04:19:00 +0000

When we were in Utah this summer the kids were understandably impressed with the mountains. One day as we were driving around we started to head home and Abby started crying because she hadn’t got to touch the mountain. I realized then, that they thought the mountains were like a building. You drive up to the edge of it and it just goes straight up in the sky like a skyscraper.
So Grandpa was kind enough to take the kids up and explore the mountains. We drove around and found a little river to let the kids play in.

It was cold. SOOOO cold. I think the kids were surprised because they are used to water feeling like the warm summer Atlantic ocean in Florida, not like freezing melted snow.

Don’t worry… they got over it quickly!

We even let them bring home a smooth river ROCK as a souvenir. They were totally stoked. Seriously.

And before it was all done they even got to touch that mountain…

You can be sure that it did NOT disappoint!!

Gingerbread

noreply@blogger.com (Em Russ) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 04:41:00 +0000

These pictures were listed in my "drafts" folder from February of 2008. I decided that I had to post them because they just made me laugh. This was a little party I organized right before Christmas of 2007. Lila had just turned 3 and Abby and Zack had just turned 1 (a few weeks earlier).

Johnny's aunt has a tradition of making gingerbread houses every Thanksgiving. Hers are AMAZING and one year we got to make them with her. It was so much fun that I have always wanted to imitate her. This was not my first attempt, but what makes me laugh is that this year I am decorating the house with TWO babies on my lap. And what is even more amazing is that as I look at this picture, I miss it. I miss those two babies. There were days when I NEVER thought I would say that!!

But it was oh so much fun. Even with my "helpers". Now these little people aren't so little anymore and I miss them. I miss them being so little and oh my do I ever miss those soft curls on my little boy.

Johnny even got in on the action. (Though I find it fascinating that he's not holding at least ONE of the kids. I like to think it is because I am still the favorite at this point... I have to enjoy it because it only lasted a little while!!)

After a few months (yes, I know... months!!) these houses had to go, so before they went into the trash I let the kids have a go at them. (Not sure where Abby was for all the fun... sleeping, maybe!)

They were thrilled. (Though Zack was not quite SO thrilled with peppermint!!)

Often when I look back at those first few years after the twins were born and Lila was so little... it's all a little blurry in my memory. I remember the crying (by everyone) and the stress of having so many little ones, but I need to take more time to remember these good moments. Times when we were able to have fun and when I occasionally DID get things done (even if this blog post wasn't one of those things!)

These are the memories I want to keep!!

Saving.

noreply@blogger.com (Em Russ) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 04:53:00 +0000

I gave the kids popcorn in little plastic baggies today. When we were done they threw them away. We ate lunch on paper towels (because we are out of paper plates) and then we threw them away. I finished off a plastic container of chips and threw that in the recycle bin (recycle = progress??) Unfinished cereal, half eaten sandwiches, even a container of uneaten mushy grapes... all went into the trash. Even a crayon I picked up off the floor went into the trash because it was easier to throw it away than to go put it away. Besides, an entire box of crayons only costs 40 cents...

I've been thinking a lot about waste today for some reason. I think it might be because I recently had the privilege of looking through my grandma's things after she passed away. One of the things that really caught my eye was an old medicine bottle. It has my grandpa's name on it (he passed away 27 years ago) and inside the bottle was a little roll of string. She also had jars of nails and screws and old glass peanut butter jars full of various things that she might need someday.

And I can't get the images of that stuff out of my head.

I've always heard the saying "waste not, want not" as well as the quote I remember President Hinckley saying "fix it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without." That was the age that grandma lived in. It's not the age we live in now, but somehow I am starting to think I might be missing out on something. I am positive that I take so many things for granted in my life. I don't realize the blessings of little plastic baggies and grapes that go bad. I remember when, as a child, grapes were a rare and special treat that would NEVER even have a chance to go uneaten. When we were going through grandma's things we found a bread bag that had a price tag of 41 cents. Now bread costs ten times that. I wonder why when prices have appreciated, my value of things has depreciated. Perhaps I've just become spoiled. More likely, it is laziness. Maybe it's both.

So today I am renewing my commitment to appreciate the things I have and to take a little more care with the stewardship I have been given. I'm going to save my pennies and baggies and eat those yummy grapes. I'm going to set grandma's peanut butter jar and grandpa's medicine bottle somewhere I can see them and I am going to remember that sometimes, somethings are worth saving.

Russtache Next Generation…

noreply@blogger.com (Em Russ) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 02:48:00 +0000

Every year at the beach all the Russ boys grow out their beards and then shave them into crazy patterns for their annual Russtache event. This year, Blake and Annalee decided to let everyone else get in on the Russtache action.

All 21 grandkids and some of the uncles with their Russtaches

Even Grandma got in on the action…

Liz & Emily

I think Zack was the most excited about his Russtache…

This is him SEVERAL hours later… still wearing the stache…

Zack & Brady

The Russtaches get better and better every year with crazy and unique designs.

This year I helped Johnny plan and execute his work of art…

We took our inspiration from Brandon’s “swirly” last year…

The Brothers Russ… Russtache 2011

Bryan, Robert, Johnny, Brandon, & Blake

until next year…

Back Door Friends are Best

noreply@blogger.com (Em Russ) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:01:00 +0000

When I was growing up my Grandma Marie lived on the corner. I’ve mentioned before how most of my cousins on my dad’s side grew up on my street… it was an idyllic childhood of climbing trees in the summer, eating green apples (with salt, of course) and running barefoot down the black top street. One of my favorite places to run was grandma’s house.

For years she had a sign that hung on her back door that read:

“Back door friends are Best!”

It never occurred to me that I should knock before I ran into grandma’s house or that she might be busy and not want me to play at her house every day… I just knew that when I went in that back door, I was one of grandma’s best friends!

Grandma passed away a few days ago. She would have been 92 next week and though I am sure she is having a glorious family reunion in Heaven, I miss her.

And so, because grandma would have loved to read the “history” I wanted to include just a few of my memories.

Grandma Marie was a teacher for 23 years and playing school was one of our favorites. Rindi and I used to play at grandma’s for hours. We would use her old school books and her gigantic chalk board and we would read “Ten Pennies for Candy” and sing “I can’t spell Hippopotamus”… or we would climb up her old red metal swing set and perch on the top rung. We would sing at the top of our lungs into the pipes and we would hear “Love is Spoken Here” echoed through the corn fields.

Rindi and I liked to write “readers theaters” and we would take our little plays and perform them for grandma. We also fancied ourselves as little spies. We would sneak around looking for clues to all sorts of mysteries. I remember one time we gathered some goodies in a basket and carefully crafted a note signed “your secret admirers.” Later we learned that grandma knew it was us all along! (Perhaps it was our 7 year old handwriting that gave us away!)

One of the things I always loved about Grandma was her poems. She wrote books and histories and thousands of poems. She wrote a poem for each of her grandchildren and I always loved mine. Last month when I visited with Grandma she held my hand and told me several times how special I was to her. My poem reminds me of that too. As a child when I would read it I would hope that I would live up to the beautiful things that she saw in me.

Granddaughter Emily

Today I am vacationing
Near wide rivers,
Lush green forests,
And snow-capped mountains,
But, for a little while
I will not think of rivers
Or forests or mountains.
I will be thinking of you,
You, who will soon have a birthday;
You, with your sweet loving ways;
You, who can brighten my day
With a smile and a hug;
You, who carry responsibilities
Beyond your years;
You, so quick to learn and to share;
You, with a gentle, tender heart.

These wide rivers, lush green forests
And snow-capped mountains
Are awesome and beautiful
You, dear Emily have a beauty
That outshines them all.
You are special, and I love you.

Written by Marie, August 1985

I could (and should) spend hours writing my memories of grandma, but for the last few days I have just been missing her. As I have been rereading her history I have glimpses into her life before she was “grandma”. As a child I naïvely assumed that my parents and grandparents were always as they are now. Reading grandma’s history has reminded me of stories she told of her youth. Parties, dances, dates, falling in love, and raising babies. I remembered stories about how she struggled for years with infertility and I felt a kinship with her in suffering. I read about she wondered if she had made the right decisions while raising her boys and I felt that same question within myself as I raise my little ones. As I read her history I feel more inspired to create my own and to leave my story for those I love. I am so grateful she left hers!

(grandma at my wedding)

When I had Lila we decided to name her after Johnny's grandma Lila and my grandma Marie. I wrote this poem for grandma Marie one year. (She was named Alice Marie after HER two grandmothers.)

For two grandmothers loved you were given a name
and so for my child, I have chosen the same.
It's a name filled with history, promise, and grace.
One I hope she will cherish and also embrace.

To my grandmother loved - down the street I would run
for hard candies and hugs, stories, learning and fun.
Your back door- always open for pigtails and rhyme,
your swing set a musical playground to climb.

From you I have learned how to read, write, and spell.
Hippopotamus, ten pennies... I know them all well.
As a child, your words filled with musical prose
touched my heart in a way that hel ped my talents grow.

You have helped me to love those who went on before
as I read through your words and I long to know more.
My memories will always be close to my heart
for you helped to give me an incredible start.

And now for my little one, I hope for the same.
I hope that she'll cherish her beloved name.
For to me, my dear grandma, you're one of the best.
My life has been touched and I call your name blessed.

Emily Haws Russ
February 2006

All the kids with Grandma July 28th, 2011 (A month and a day before she passed away)

Love you, Grandma! We will miss you!

When Daddy Gets DONE!!

noreply@blogger.com (Em Russ) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 03:06:00 +0000

We’re SO glad

when Daddy is DONE

glad as we can be!!

Wave our hands

And pout

NO… joy!!

Then climb

and climb

upon his knee.

Put our arms

around his neck

hug him tight like this!

He walks in line

and MIT gave him WHAT??

but from us… a great big KISS!!

A belated graduation congratulations to the smartest Daddy in the world. We love you and are SO proud of you!! Maybe someday we can walk in your footsteps!!

P.S. I was surprised to find myself choked up when I watched the massive line of graduates walk down Mass Ave. So many memories came flooding to the surface. Boston will always be such a special place to me and I am so grateful for the privilege Johnny had of going to MIT. (And I am also SO grateful that he’s done now!!) Congratulations Johnny!!

I'm one of the SISTERS!!

noreply@blogger.com (Em Russ) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 14:28:00 +0000

When I was growing up my cousins (on my dad's side) all lived on my street. Though a few of them moved away, most of us stayed put in Hooper and became the best of friends. (I did a post about Rindi a long time ago here...) One of the families has SEVEN girls and one boy. Those seven sisters are like my very own... oh, how I LOVE them all!!

They recently started a blog called "The Saga of Seven Sisters". It's funny and sweet and real and I love it because their lives are like my life! Today they are letting me do a guest post and I am so thrilled! Go check it out HERE and make sure to leave me a comment so I know you were there!!

Two Heads…

noreply@blogger.com (Em Russ) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 04:04:00 +0000

One of my favorite things about having twins is how they play together and love each other. They entertain each other a lot of the time and do almost everything together. Which can also be sort of a bad thing sometimes…

Me (rubbing Zack’s head): Uhmmmm… buddy, did you cut your hair?

Zack: Yeah, me AND Abby did it (as if that makes it better).

Me: Guys, what did you do with the hair?

Them (at the exact same time): Put it under the couch.

Zack: Would you not be so mad at us if you didn’t find it?

Sometimes the ideas combined from two little heads are NOT better than one!

You’re a mom like me if…

noreply@blogger.com (Em Russ) — Sun, 29 May 2011 03:55:00 +0000

Back when I was only an aspiring blogger I worked up a post on paper. I was sure that it was going to be my very first post and it was going to be BRILLIANT! I would think of things as I was doing dishes and add them to a list magneted to my fridge. I was cleaning through and old stack of papers today and found that old rough draft blog post and I decided to finally post it. I’ve included some of my favorite random pictures from those crazy days.

When I made this little list FOUR YEARS ago Lila was about 2 ½ and Abby and Zack were about 6 months old… life at my house was chaos. Literally.

“You’re a mom like me if…”

- Every time you pick up the house your child asks you who’s coming over!

- You use a sippy cup (the last clean one) to get a drink because there are no more clean dishes. Or you forget the cup all together and just drink out of the sink.

- You throw things away (bibs, casserole dishes, Tupperware) rather than deal with washing them (generally after an extended stay on the dirty counter)

- Each load of your laundry gets washed four times because you never remember to switch it to the dryer.

- Your kids aren’t hungry because “lunch” off of the floor around the high chairs fills them up.

- A bath is considered cleaning the tub.

- You measure whether a shirt is ok to wear by asking yourself if someone could believe this food, snot, spit up, etc. (or all of the above) got on you after you left the house.

- Your kids look at you weird when you do your hair or makeup.

- Your kid says “mommy, what’s that” when she sees your hair dryer!!

- Laundry NEVER makes it to the drawers.

- You rewash laundry because it is so wrinkled from sitting in the basket that you might as well just start over!

- You get to the grocery store parking lot and turn around and go home because the thought of going in with 3 little kids makes you want to cry. You do this more than once.

- The next person to tell you you’ve got your hands full might get an ear full.

- Your kid spits something out and you would rather eat it than go find a garbage.

- You are so tired that you only realize after eating half of your PBJ that the bread is moldy and you seriously consider whether or not to keep eating…

- Blogging is your reward.

- You just leave holiday decorations (like Easter) up all year because by the time you go to take them down it is almost time to put them up again.

- Milk on sale gets you really excited.

- Half of your wardrobe came from Costco (and the other half came from Walmart/Target).

- Every time you get your kids dressed out of their jammies they ask “mommy, where are we going”. Your babies look at you funny and try to grab your hair when it is not in a ponytail.

- On the day you actually do get ready your daughter insists “no Mommy, it HAS to be in a pony!” as if that is your standard uniform!

- Your hair dryer breaks and you don’t miss it.

- You get your hair cut and no one notices for months because it is always pulled back.

- Your standard answer of “I’m fine…” is only true 1% of the time… you’re right on the edge of sanity.

- The toilet/bathroom will be called “the potty” forever.

- You can’t afford to get sick.

- You love your kids like crazy.

- While doing dishes you think, “when did we have spaghetti?” Answer… A LONG TIME AGO!!!

- One of your very best friends is 3 feet tall and you never knew you could laugh so hard at such a little person.

- The smile of a baby makes all the stress ok.

- Your favorite sound in the whole word is your child’s laugh.

Dandelions

noreply@blogger.com (Em Russ) — Sat, 07 May 2011 04:08:00 +0000

With the awesome explosion of Spring lately, my kids have renewed their fascination with dandelions.

A few years ago my mom took the kids shopping right before Mothers Day and let them pick out anything they wanted for me. Lila picked out these cute little vases and these days they are constantly filled with the little (wilting) yellow treasures.

I’ve been thinking about these little yellow “weeds” a bit lately.

I can’t help but remember a poem I wrote in 1995, back when I used to fancy myself a poet. I dug my old poetry scrapbook out today. It’s a simple little poem, but I thought I’d share my little treasure with you.

DANDELION
those little yellow tokens of love
are just weeds,
to the ignorant.
but in the eyes of a child,
they are priceless,
gifts from God
for a loving mother.

-by Emily Haws
April 30, 1995

From our Bunnies

noreply@blogger.com (Em Russ) — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 13:31:00 +0000

Happy Easter!

From our bunnies to yours!

Love, Us

p.s. click here to see a great video about what Easter is REALLY about!
It gives me chills and I know it is true!!

Bird Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Em Russ) — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 05:32:00 +0000

One more for Corduroy Dreams...

Yesterday our “eggtivity” was to whip up a little love for the birds in our lives. We live in the North East and I am amazed at the things that live in our backyard. We have woodpeckers, red birds, yellow birds, blue ones… (I’m ashamed to admit that I actually DID take a bird watching Zoology class in college and I used to know the difference between a finch and a swallow. Not so much anymore.) Anyway, the point is we’ve got company out our windows so I have been plotting some kind of bird activity for a while. I didn’t really want to do the pine cone birdseed thing so when I saw this idea I wanted to give it a try.

Alex (19 months) kept walking around calling these “cookies” so we named them “bird cookies”. We got 10 out of this recipe.

“Bird Cookies” (recipe from intimateweddings.com)

3/4 cup flour

1/2 cup water

1 envelope unflavored gelatin (2.5 teaspoons)

3 tablespoons corn syrup

4 cups birdseed

Mix everything BUT the birdseed. Add the birdseed and stir well.

(I accidentally just poured it all into the bowl and mixed it up at once. I think it worked fine, but I think it might be best if the gelatin dissolves in the water first… just an idea.)

Pick out your favorite cookie cutters. We used an egg, a bunny, a tulip, and a star. Spray the inside with cooking spray and place on parchment paper. Fill your cookie cutter with the gooey birdseed mixture. Spray your hands with cooking spray (this is really important because that birdseed sticks like crazy.)

Use those little fingers at your disposal to really smash that birdseed in.

These are the cubby fingers of my 19 month old little man.

Make a hole using a straw or a chopstick or a skewer or stick or pencil… anything, really…

Abby is demonstrating here before the birdseed is in, but really you have to do it after you’ve got all the seed in.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can sample the birdseed like my Zack (who won’t even taste spaghetti or alfredo but he WANTS try birdseed… go figure!)

He thought it was about as nasty as spaghetti…

Let the bird cookies dry overnight.

Then add jute or ribbon or string and hang.

As we were making these, Zack said “HEY! We’re being nice to the BIRDS!!!”

This isn’t Mickey Mouse… it’s an upside down bunny head…

And you may have to be creative to get them into the trees…

One tip, put the hole as close to the middle as you can. Though most of them withstood being carried around by my baby, they will break off of the ribbon if the hole is too close to the edge!

Now I just need to go research those birds that will be coming to visit!!

Don’t Eat Pete Update

noreply@blogger.com (Em Russ) — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 01:23:00 +0000

We played Don’t Eat Pete again today and I had a genius idea I had to share. I was getting annoyed that the eggs kept rolling away but the kids were having so much fun with the eggs they didn’t want to play it without them. We were also having a hard time figuring out which squares had been eaten because they were putting the egg back on it’s square.

So, I tore the eggs in half (or if your eggs aren’t hooked together you could just use the one half) and we hid the treat underneath. Then when they had eaten that treat they just set it to the side. Perfection!

I took this with my cell phone in case my description didn’t make sense…

“Don’t Eat Pete" Easter Style!

noreply@blogger.com (Em Russ) — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:28:00 +0000

another one for Natalie...

Have you ever played “Don’t Eat Pete”… it is so simple but the kids absolutely LOVE it. LOVE. This morning I was trying to come up with an “eggtivity” and I realized I could capitalize on the love of “Pete” for this holiday.

The directions are simple. Here’s the adapted directions for my Easter purposes.

Take a piece of poster board or paper. You can do it on a regular piece of paper but I happened to have this poster board lying around. There is a regular “Don’t Eat Pete” game on the back that we used for a birthday party. If you wanted to decorate each square with cute eggs or bunnies you totally could. I don’t have that much energy today! Really, the size of the board doesn’t matter. (Here is a cute variation that you could use as well.)

Draw lines to make nine squares. Put an egg on each square. Each egg should have one piece of candy or cereal inside. (For “normal” Pete you just put the candy or cereal right on the square.)

Have one child leave the room. The other kids then decide which square will be “Easter” or “Pete”. (Really, you could call it whatever you want. If you think of something more clever, send me a note so I can copy you!)

Bring the first child back into the room. They choose one square at a time and eat the candy from that square. For this Easter version they will have to open the eggs to get to the candy. As soon as the child (or adult!!) opens the chosen egg everyone else yells “DON’T EAT EASTER”!!! If you are doing this without the eggs you just scream as soon as they touch “Pete”.)

Their turn is then over and the next person leaves the room and the fun just starts all over again!

For some reason, the kids think this is hilarious. Especially if Daddy is playing!

(this picture is from Lila’s birthday party. You can see that the regular Pete board just has random animal pictures. Really, you could adapt it to any theme… princesses, pirates… the possibilities are endless!)

Now hop to it and make your own Easter Pete game. You won’t be sorry (well… you might be sorry after you have had to play a thousand times, but your kids definitely won’t be sorry.)

edit: check out the update I posted here!