Russell Family Vacation: Winter Edition

Here is a quick little recap of the Russell family vacation...for other recaps check out this site and this one.

Let's just get it out of the way now...Jonah is so cute and of course he was the center of attention of our vacation...as he was at our last attempt for a vacation...although that time he was coming out the womb because he had yet to become the center of attention...but now he is in all his cuteness!

And though we did not have an arriving baby this time to add excitement...we did end up with a flat tire that lead to some good times...and some frustrating times...and all documented of course!

Brooke, Kelli and Kerri...waiting for dinner...and posing for the camera...why are we doing this you ask...well read on...or look on...FLAT TIRE!!!!! YAY!!!!

Scott and Brooke were left to the task changing the tire...but for some reason...the nice luxury car does not have a spare tire...just some puncture sealant...unfortunately there was not a puncture in the tire...it was more than that...so we used the electric pump, pumped up the tire and made our way to Midway....but...everything was closed...so we called the road side assistance. We got that taken care of...we got food...and a cab ride from a very nice gentlemen who was glad to get out of the Sundance craziness in Park City for a while. Oh and let's not forget that Lorie and Sterling (mom and dad for those who don't know) were at Chez Betty for dinner.

Early in the day we went tubing at Soldier's Hollow. We had a great time. As you can see...mom especially seemed to enjoy herself!

Jonah even got in on the action...All in all it was a great vacation...and a nice relaxing time...including Sunday night after everyone but mom and I left. We watched The Glass Bottom Boat and Pride and Prejudice (the Kiera Knightly version). It was nice to spend that time with my family without any other distractions...that just isn't something that happens too often...time away from life and the smog in the valley.

Rants

So blogs are often times used for ranting...so here are a few things I have been frustrated with recently...

1. People who talk really, REALLY loud on their cell phone in public places. I know I am talk loud, but I try very hard to not talk at all, or at least loud in a public place...Example: Saturday I was at the Broadway theatre waiting for The Wrestler to start. A gentleman walks in, sits down, whips out his phone and leaves a voicemail for whomever he is meeting. Two minutes go by...he/she has not shown up...pulls out his phone, leaves another VERY LOUD voice mail....two MORE minutes...ANOTHER VERY LOUD MESSAGE! We get it sir! You are not comfortable sitting alone in a theatre by yourself. I happen to enjoy movies by myself...incidentally...his friend/girlfriend/wife did finally show up...AFTER the previews had started.

2. All the untrue, ridiculous statements, as well as the rude, cruel, and hurtful statements made, or posted, regarding the LDS church and its membership. I am totally ok with the fact that the whole world does not believe as I do. But what really gets under my skin is the anger, or disrespect shown to the LDS church as a whole, as well as individual members. Everyone has their faith...whether they believe in a God, gods, nature, or even just themselves. I don't have a problem with that...I don't go around posting hurtful things...if anything I have always been fascinated with other religions, or belief systems. I understand that the things my religion teaches, and believes does not always coincide with the majority, or the mainstream...and sometimes it does...but regardless...please feel free to disagree with me, and my beliefs, but please don't be hurtful. I do understand that in light of recent issues it could be said that my beliefs are hurtful to others. But I could turn that conversation around on just about anyone and anything.

3. Customers who treat those helping them, be it in the grocery store, the movie theatre, a restaurant, etc...like they are less than them. YES...they are serving you, but they are by NO MEANS below you...in fact...they are SERVING YOU...show some gratitude...and not just in a tip. Just be a nice person. GEEZ! Say thank you to the cashier at the grocery store, to the bagger, to the bus driver, the cashier at REI...whoever...just be polite.

4. I know there was another one...but I am drawing a blank right now. So I will stop...it obviously did not bother me all that much.

Thanks for this moment to vent...COMING SOON...RUSSELL FAMILY VACATION: WINTER EDITION.

Pictures from Christmas Day

So I did have a photo album...but I have yet to figure out how to put it in the post...so I am just going to throw up a few of my favs from the holidays. ENJOY!

The post would not be complete without a picture of the little man!!

One of Scottie's favorite movies is Cars...so Grams got Jonah a mini Lighting McQueen...I can't decide who is more excited...Grams, Kelli, Jonah, Mattie or Scottie...

Taking it for a test drive...but not quite ready to be on his own.

But dad is there, so it's all good!

I guess no matter what age Christmas....

gifts can always be appreciated.

This is at the beginning of opening gifts! Mind you it is probably about noon!

Not even Christmas day will keep the Russell's from their sleep!

I wonder where we learned that??

Christmas Day

Ok so there were a lot of pictures from Christmas day, so I have put them in a great electronic photo album. Flip through at your leisure. As far as the details of the day goes...The Russell's who love their sleep...but also love to rock until the wee small hours of the morning...stumbled, somewhat reluctantly, out of bed around nine to go to breakfast. The aforementioned late night consisted of (after leaving Grandpa Wall's) wrapping gifts, searching for a store that was open with Planters Dry Roasted peanuts...Walgreen's folks...in case you're wondering...oh and it was CROWDED...crowded like I had to wait for a parking space to open up...attending midnight mass, watching The Sound of Music, and going to Denny's...anywho...we got ready and drove to Little America. We decided to break with tradition a bit and went to the buffet instead of the coffee shop...it wasn't very good...the coffee shop is SO MUCH BETTER!!! The good thing about the buffet was the fresh fruit table...but other than that...the coffee shop is where it's at!

So breakfast ended and it was back to the house to open gifts...which took a REALLY long time because we were all ready for a nap...you can see in the pictures that unwrapping gifts included mini naps. The best thing about the gifts was watching Jonah. He really was the highlight of the day. I mean I seriously scored this year...I must have been really good because Santa was super nice, but we were all so enthralled with Jonah...but I mean seriously...who wouldn't be!

The rest of the day until dinner was nap time...Steph and Dave and their kids and Grandpa came over for a light dinner and we enjoyed a game of Imagine Iff...and the last twenty minutes of Mama Mia (because Steph had missed that part) and of course a drive home in an insane snow storm! I maybe should have not driven home, but when I got there I just enjoyed watching the snow fall from my couch with some cocoa and a blanket. It was great. I love the holidays!

Christmas with my family

Ok so before it is April and I am blogging about Thanksgiving, I am going to finish my holiday blogging. I am ahead of where I was last year because I have finished Thanksgiving, and even Christmas Eve, Eve...so now I guess it is onto Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.


Christmas Eve was the usual night at my Grandpa's house...plus we had some very welcome extra guests! It was a good time...a little wrestling, a little eating, a just a great evening with my family. I love spending time with my family. One thing that I really was grateful for this year is the fact that my family is so close, and not just with out immediate family, but with our very extended family. The Saturday before Christmas was spent in Tooele with my grandma Wall's sisters and their families...that is a lot of people but it is always a great time! Especially this year because my aunt Jennifer created a trivia game about all the Bevan sisters and I learned things about my great aunts that I never knew!

It really is a blessing to be so close to all those people. I am so grateful for the strong ties that my grandma Wall instilled in her children and grandchildren. I have great times with my family and some of my best memories are with family.

Here are pics from the Christmas Eve 2008 festivities:

The traditional pajama conga line...which lead to....

DOG PILE ON GRANDPA!!

There was a lot of goofing of with cousins as well....

Brookie and Kenzi.

Toph,Bethy, Brookie, Rachie...so precious!


Of course what would Christmas be without music. Kelli graced us with two of the new songs she wrote last year...she is quite talented...that little sis of mine.

Boys will always be boys...Scottie and Cameron enjoying Cameron's Transformer.

Of course you can't have Christmas Eve without the story of the Savior's birth. Every year is has grown more and more sacrilegious...but this year we reigned it in and had a great "play" with costumes (courtesy of Anna and Tamara...who joined us this year) and everything.

Of course the socializing and the food are very important and not only were we blessing with Anna and Jim and Corey and Ivy and Tamara, but Fiona an Bobby came to. I am pretty sure I invited them all...since I tend to enjoy big parties...the more the merrier! It was actually really great that they were all there.

AHHHHH...the babies...

Punk Rock Aniston!

cousins...2nd or 2nd twice removed or something...meeting for the first time.

everyone loves the babies!

no one is immune.

All in all Christmas Eve was pretty mellow and VERY enjoyable this year. Babies bring an amazing sense of peace! YAY FOR BABIES!