The unknowns

What to do, what to do? We have been trying to get a loan modification on our home in Simi with no luck soooooooo, it looks like we have to short sale our house which is a huge bummer. We really wanted to keep it so that if we do move back to the area, we'd have something to come home to. Unfortunately it's just too expensive even if we did rent it out, which is the reason for the move to Albuquerque in the first place.
We will most likely rent a home out in NM but are in the process of seeing if we qualify for a small home loan. Keep your fingers crossed!
Right now, there are so many unknowns! Where are we going to live? Will I get a job? Where do I send the middle one to preschool? Are there good gyms in the area? The list just keeps getting bigger! The one thing I do know is where the girls will be dancing so I suppose I can cross that off my list! I am planning on going out there for 5 days the middle of next month so hopefully I can check a few more things off. I have to keep reminding myself that it will all work out, things will get done, we will have a home to move into in July. As stressful as this time is right now for our family we have such high hopes that this is the best move for us. We are excited about starting over and getting out from under this pile of debt. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and it is so exciting! Please say your prayers for us as we wrap things up here in California the next 4 months!

Dance Competition season is here!

With much anticipation, the dance competition season has arrived and is in full swing! The girls are enjoying it so much! They are on the "Mini" hip hop team at Simi Dance Center with 8 other girls. They performed in their first competition 2 weeks ago and did awesome! The team won the diamond award (which is the highest honor one can receive for total awarded points) and won 4th overall (out of 10 groups) for the "large group rookie" dance. Not bad for their first time out! All the girls did a great job and it's been so fun to see them in their costumes; each one very unique!

Today they performed at the Hall of Fame Dance Challenge at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center. It was even better the 2nd time especially since their Daddy was able to attend. It made it that much more special! Another early day (up at 5:15 am without a single complaint) to get started on hair and make-up It is so worth the entire 2 1/2 minutes they are on stage! They did even better than they did 2 weeks ago! Both girls have great facial expressions and were totally into the dance. Their team won an Achievement award for "most entertaining" and got "platinum" which again, is a high score. We couldn't be more proud of our girls! Seeing how much they love the entire experience makes me so sad to leave Simi Dance Center. It has become our 2nd family and the competition experience has been great! We want to continue supporting the girls talent and hope that we can find a dance studio in Albuquerque that offers the same experiences. We hope you enjoy these pictures as much as we do!

What a difference 2 weeks makes! From the 1st competition to the 2nd....Miss I went from having a bit of stage fright to becoming quite the performer! Look at that face! =)

Miss M means business!

"Let's eat some berries"

I am truly Thankful

50's Day at her school

Having fun at the park

Look! My very first haircut!

Enjoying a Saturday afternoon

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sometimes we just need to let things go!

Sometimes it's difficult to understand why people do certain things. Perhaps it's not our job to understand. Instead I need to keep reminding myself that it just isn't worth it. As much as it hurts or just plain sucks I need to remember to let it go. ahhhhh!
I have so much to be Thankful for!

October Fun

October was a very busy month for the Russell family. Three trips to Disneyland, a trip to the Pumpkin Patch and Halloween. The girls had a great time getting ready for the festivities and dressing up. And what's a Halloween without a Princess in sight? This year we had three Princesses (although Tinker Bell isn't technically considered a Princess!). Miss M decided to re-use her Snow White costume (which made us excited not to have to buy a new one this year!) from 2 years ago, Miss I dressed up as Belle and Baby K was Tinker Bell which Miss I wore 2 years ago! They had a blast!
Halloween was spent with good friends including their Auntie and Uncle. The kids made their own pizzas and the adults noshed on tasty appetizers. Then all 18 of us trekked out for over an hour Trick-or-Treating. We couldn't believe how easily Baby K followed the kids. She really knew what to do and couldn't wait to get to the next house. It must have been so exciting for her to get something from every house!

Miss I is doing great in preschool and we were lucky enough to have a beautiful day to enjoy the Pumpkin Patch. She had a great time with all of her friends and her little sister. It was too bad that Miss M was in school and couldn't join us.
All in all in was a great October!

The girls all dressed up

Never seems to be enough hours in the day

I wish the day could just be a few hours longer. Now that we have two girls in school and after school activities, I now understand all those little yellow signs hanging in car windows in the early 90's stating "Mom's Taxi." I always thought they were pretty lame but can appreciate it much more now that I am a mom who practically lives in her car! Don't get me wrong...I love bringing the kids here and there but to get other things done such as grocery shop, bank, cleaning the house, etc... it's pretty difficult. And throw in working and it never gets done! How do mom's who work full-time and have 4 or 5 kids handle it all? Kudos to them! I admire their ability to do it all. I'd love some pointers if they got em!

Who can ever get tired of Disneyland?

Not our family! We spent another beautiful Sunday at the Happiest Place on Earth! Everyone in the car by 6:30 am and we arrived just as they opened the gates. I swear, we never get tired of this place. The girls have an absolute blast and it's been such a joy watching Baby K discover all that Disney has to offer. It is such a magical place for these girls and watching their smiling faces and eyes light up brings tears to our eyes. It reminds us how precious and how short childhood really is in the grand sceme of things. They will have plenty of time to be adults and do adult things when they get older. It's so important for them right now, to just be kids and have fun doing it! Going to Disney and doing other kid things is what they will remember. We are so blessed that we are able to make these memories that will last a lifetime!

P.S. We're going back this Sunday! =)

Smooches in Toontown

Cotton candy face

With Cinderella

On Tower of Terror.....Miss I is our brave one!