So...you might be asking yourself...

"What has that wacky Russell family been up to the past few weeks?" Fear not, for I am prepared to answer this question (& more) through a series of photos sprinkled with (what I hope to be) witty, insightful comments...let's see...


New Year's Eve 2006 aka "Puppets, Pudding & Poppers"

The incomparable Karen Prell (of "Red Fraggle" fame) spent New Year's Eve at our house. She brought supplies to make...drum roll, please...you guessed it...PUPPETS!




I know...I know...I just couldn't resist an artsy, blurred background shot...


Karen was also kind enough to bring dinner to our house...standards like Honey-Baked Ham, broccoli & cornbread...as well as some traditional British faves that Karen was "exposed" to during her time in England. There was some sort of cheesy, garlicky spread--that I can't remember the name of--with crackers (yum!), Christmas pudding (double yum!), and an interesting treat that apparently is only sold once-a-year around Christmas in Great Britain called "Cheese Footballs"...let's just say that I don't believe these actually count as any type of food, although Karen claims they're an "acquired taste." Here's Matthew enjoying one...







But, then came the Christmas pudding...a delightful dish...



...as well as Christmas Poppers...which Grace & Emma really dug...



The evening's festivities were just too much for our pampered pooches to handle...






Lunchtime with Emma aka "The Attack of the Peanut Butter Sandwich"

Pictures speak louder than words...and peanut butter obviously makes a great facial!






January 2007 ~ It's keeps snowing, and snowing, and snowing...
So we had another snowstorm...then it snowed again...and again. I don't think I drove for a week (I am from Texas, ya know.) Grace missed several days of school, but she didn't seem to mind too much. :) It did make for another great photo opportunity. I even scrapped it...

Credits: "Winter Chic" digital kit by Shabby Princess (www.theshabbyshoppe.com); Snowflake brushes by Michelle Coleman (www.scrapartist.com).



What else do you do when you're stuck inside during the winter? Why...make Floam creatures, of course. Here are Grace & Emma's latest masterpieces...






From Snowbound to Park-Bound...
And here we are 2 weeks after our monster snowstorm enjoying a beautiful afternoon at the park. And they said the weather in Texas was crazy. It also makes a nice segue into February, since I used the park pics to scrap my February calendar page.

Credits: Overlays by Nancie Rowe Janitz (ScrapArtist) and Michelle Underwood; Calendar & photo frame by Katie Pertiet (Designer Digitals); Paper tear & staples by Anna Aspnes (Designer Digitals); Ribbon by Shabby Princess; Stamp by Rhonna Farrer (2Peas); Paper clip by Traci Sims. Created in Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0.


Whew! That brings you up-to-date on the happenings here in Western Washington. Until next time...