Wordless Wednesday

Cribless!!

It's a bitter/sweet day here at the Russell household.... You could now, if you stopped by for a visit, walk through the house room by room and would not spot a crib anywhere. For 10 years and 36 days we've had one inhabiting at least one if not two rooms in our home! A little longer if you were to count one being vacant until Braden's arrival!


Jake is officially a big boy now! Well as big as he can be yet still wet in his pants...that's next!!


Here is his new bed, opposite E's and across the room from his two oldest brothers, B and G's. He's adjusting quite well. To answer your question, "Yes!" He does get out but with a quick discipline and a talkin' to he responds well...so far! When we first moved him in with the boys we had his crib up in the room but after a night or two he began climbing out and getting into his big-boy bed to sleep. So after only one week we took down his crib ;-( and now he's one of the boys. No longer the baby, though he still refers to himself as "Mommy's baby boy" with a 'little' prodding! ;-)


For your delight I thought I'd share a couple of funny crib photos that I came across. I'm sure there is more but here is a few good ones!


Ethan (2.5 at the time) thought it'd be fun to clear out Madi's closet, or at least the things he could reach, and let her play with them in her crib!! I wonder how many of those shoes hit her in the head. :-( Poor girl! And you can't see it but she has a hanger up around her left shoulder!






We had gone to the zoo and after we returned home I laid Jake down for a late nap. He was a bit crabby that day and was being very stubborn about going to sleep. I let him cry it out for about 10min or so and when I went in to check on him, well there he was pressed up against the side of the crib on his knees! Too cute!!



Here Jake is on his computer pillow!

Here is Ethan's first night in his convertible toddler bed/crib! I know, I know he's a bit old(almost 3) to be moving him from the crib. But I was holding out as long as possible to keep my sanity by having him contained! He did such a great job of obeying mommy and staying in his bed, well for a couple nights at least!!

He's getting comfortable in his new 'big' boy bed

Sweet grin!

And we're cribless!!! ;-) ;-(

Picture Day!!!

Last week I noticed there was one day in the next 10day forecast that was going to be nice(above 70). I had wanted to get out with the kids to take their yearly photos so I made the decision the night before to go and had to scramble to be sure their clothes were clean.

As some of you know I got a new camera a little over a year ago and haven't had much time to play with it. I've been searching for tips, took a 3 hour photography class on the basics, and practiced here and there but not enough to really know what I was doing! There is more to it than meets the eye!!! (pun intended) So as I've been reading more lately and practicing at home I was excited to attempt to take my kids' yearly pics! I mean if all fails then so be it, that's the beauty of digital, no loss!

I was actually concerned with combining, trying to figure out settings on my camera and keeping my kids under control and happy during the shoot! We did have fun though. I'd let them play and call them aside one at a time to get individual shots. The group ones were extremely difficult!!! Mainly because of our youngest, Jake!(case in point see above pic!) But on the rare couple of occasions in which I was able to get him to cooperate AND smile then Madi wouldn't sit up, or smile, or even be in the picture!! So we had some obstacles but I still wanted to make it enjoyable after all I wanted them to look happy in the photo!! I didn't succeed in getting all the shots I wanted but we got many and I was very pleased! I didn't get very many of one of my kids (poor middle child always forgotten) well he wasn't totally forgotten, I just had more shots of the others to choose from and I'd like a better one of him, ya know with that smile that he has all the time that wasn't captured in the most of the pictures! So I might try to get a couple more of him and maybe one more of Braden but other than that from two hours of snapping shots I think I have plenty to chose from! (as my photography skills aren't that great I took a LOT just to get a few!!)

Here are a few of my favorites!! Hope you enjoy!!

Jake age 2

Madi age 4

Look how long her hair is getting!! Hope her brother doesn't cut it off again!!


Ethan age 6

Look at that missing tooth! Love it!


Gabe age 7

Crazy teeth! Love it too!


One of my favorites!

Braden age 10





Thanks and praise be to God Who is the giver of all good and perfect gifts, including those above! May His grace and mercy be showered upon us all the days of our life!!!

Wordless Wednesday!

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