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Got your baby, got your blanket, got your bucket of ...Guinness and Pinot Grigio (I dont like beer)

Well, it took me so long to figure out how to get 3 pictures in here that I dont have any time to type! These are a few California pics for those of you (ANNIE) who have been asking. That sweet Sam is the best, and, No, we are not all usually THAT tan. --dirksgirl

Acting out. . .

The latest news at the Warren/Slaughter house is that six, count'em SIX of the residents of the house are going to be involved in drama this fall. No, no, I don't mean the kind of drama that takes place year 'round--"He was making a face at me but I didn't hit him!". . ."I know I left my math book in the kitchen and now it's gone and can I go play now?". . ."Dad come quick! I didn't do anything but there's blood all over the trampoline!" This year we're gonna teach the kids to do it RIGHT and be believable when they tell us their stories! Nathan, Bethany, Shelley, John Caleb, Timothy, and Molly are going to become thespians, spending a good part of their Thursdays every week with a large drama troupe made up largely of home schoolers. Actually, Bethany and John Caleb are more interested in the "techie" side of things, but all of them will spend some time learning both the "art" and the "science" side of theater. We're pleased that so many of the kids are interested in the same activity this year--cuts down on the driving! And I'm sure most of you will be approached about buying tickets to the big productions. . .if they're anything like the one in the spring, you'd be treating yourself to come and enjoy :-)

If you're really bored...

.... here's a semi-fun thing to do (and I stole the idea from Jane's website). Click on this link http://www.world66.com/myworld66 and make a map of all the states you've visited. Don't laugh, I'm trying to kill time while the baby sleeps.

Annie

Walking Man...and Woman...and lots of small people

We're BAAAAACK! Yes, the Russells are home again (a few of us w/ Disneyland colds) from our almost annual jaunt to California. We visited w/ the Big Russells, went to the aformentioned Disneyland, ate waaaay too much sugar, Samuel ate lots of sand at Hunington Beach (which we are still finding if you know what I mean!), and had some great weather. I have calculated that we spent exactly 53% of our visit on the beautiful highways of Southern Cal. I was amazed that it can take 1hr to go somewhere and yet take 3hrs to get back home. The laws of nature that most normal people live by do not apply in California. I have several more examples I will save for another day.
The best part of our trip were the stares, comments, gawks, and a few back-handed insults w/ got about the size of our family. We had the 4older boys dressed alike for the airports and DL and were the topic of conversation everywhere. DL employees even stopped us much to MILs embarassment. I am grateful I am married to a man who not only is not bothered by it but relishes it. Hes so cool he even wore the same outfit as the boys at DL.
The children are now being put through DeTox. ALL they got for breakfast from their boring old parents was oatmeal and a plum. Oh, horrors.

i think i hear a fiddle. . .

(Tevye)

Is this the little girl I carried?

Is this the little boy at play?

(Golde)

I don't remember growing older

When did they?

(Tevye)

When did she get to be a beauty?

When did he get to be so tall?

(Golde)

Wasn't it yesterday

When they were small?

(Men)

Sunrise, sunset

Sunrise, sunset

Swiftly flow the days

Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers

Blossoming even as we gaze

(Women)

Sunrise, sunset

Sunrise, sunset

Swiftly fly the years

One season following another

Laden with happiness and tears

~~Golde

Happy Birthday, Kristen!!

This is Kristen - she is one of my big sisters, one of my best friends, and one of my heroes. Wish her a happy birthday!

Ahh, the sentiment of love...

Found this picture that we took at Sea World in the spring. Even then, Carrie already loved her Papa and I think he likes her, too. She is even more of a Papa-fan now, but seriously, who isn't? I think Dad could very well be the most popular human on earth (next to Pop, maybe). He's a wonderful Papa, and I'm so glad my kids have him.

The winds of change. . .

. . .are blowing through here. I see bags of stuff going in and out of rooms. . .CJ is paring down and deciding what she wants to take with her. . .other people are poring over the leftovers and plotting what to do with the space she leaves behind. How come it seems like we've never done this before, huh? It's not like we've never had a daughter decide to just up and desert us--we should be pros by now! But NOOOO. . .we have to go and get all weepy and morose every single time. John says we're not gonna let this happen any more. I'm trying to figure out how you do that. . . ~~the Matriarch

More Sand...

Another warm welcome to our newest blog link, Johanna :-) We hope you like it here!

The IT guy's wife

Like sands through the hourglass, so are the links of our blog

I have now added Il Bussola to the family link list. Please visit Shane's blog and give him a warm Warren welcome!

I'm not saying anything... But I'm thinking a lot.

If you would, please turn your attention to the right side of the screen: For your perusal and reading pleasure, I have added links to some of the other family blogs. If there are others (pertaining to family or friends, or interests of family and friends, or of family interests, or any other combination of family, friends, and interests that I might have forgotten) that anyone would like added, please email me the links and I will post them if they pass muster. Since we have already established who is Boss and who is King, THEY will have ultimate say-so on what gets published. Sorry, Suze - no Izlie links here.

The IT guy's wife

It's too sad!

Come see us!!!! we miss you!
Caleb--Don't look at the camera! Oh, wait.
Annie--There was a time when love was blind!;-)
Erin--tell mommy to let you have green beans now cause you have a tooth!

This is a Test. A What? A Test. A What? A Test. Oh! A Test!

Hey! Listen up, Everyone!!!! Crystal Sea Drama Company is doing a play for a competition in Waxahatchy(if that's how you spell it:-D) called This is a Test. As most of you know, Nathan is acting in it and Bethany is the Stage Manager. Well, they had practice last night at Gracepoint Church and i went to hang out w/ my friend Brandon cause he had to be there because his brother is in it. Well, they were short one person in the play so Mrs. Miller asked me to be in it! It's a Highschool play and most of my friends are in it(they're highschoolers) and Mrs. Ripps said i could pass as a freshman! I don't have very many lines--mostly ad lib-- but still, it's gonna be soooo much fun! We're also going to perform it at Gracepoint before the competition, to COME SEE IT!! The competition is in November and we'll al bus up there together and stay in a hotel and all that jazz. Bye!

~~Shelley

Johnny Depp rocks!!!!

Let's take a vote. Comment on which Willie Wonka you think did a better job(unbiased) Johnny Depp or Gene Wilder.
Go.
~~Princess Vannetts ;-)

You can hear the ocean roar, in the dangling conversation...

Ok, I just have to say, for the record, that all this blogging, complete with pictures of Erin, is making me more sad that ANNIE AND CALEB AREN'T HERE!!!!! Come visit, quick! Carrie isn't sure she remembers Erin today. --Kristen

Darling shouldn't i be the one wondering, after all, I'm the one who is gone.

I was just wondering why Lyric isn't posting on here! she's am important member of this family! you know what i think? i think SOMEONE--i'm not mentioning any names, MOM--forgot to tell her that there is a family blog! if no one else want's to then i will have to!
~~Shelley, the caring one

If you've gots the poison, I've gots the remedy....

This is my favorite pic of the boys. This was at the zoo, and is a preview to their days as ladykillers. kristen

umm......hi!

don't we look beeeaauutiful? whoever took this picture is AWESOME!!! oh, wait, that was Bethany.........nevermind!.... :-)
the only downer in this picture was that i couldn't open my eyes because the sun was looking right at me!

I'm outy. ~~shelley

"Then I was young and unafraid...

... No song unsung, no toe untasted!" Disfortunately, Erin will usually choose toes over even the brightest and most alluring toys. Why do I bother spending the money?