Today's Coffee: I've stopped drinking it because....

I'm pregnant!

Yes, Russell Baby #2 is expected to make his/her appearance in early December. 

So, I've stopped drinking coffee because I honestly cannot stand the smell or taste right now. 

It's been a tough 9 weeks thus far, but we wanted to announce it so that more people can enjoy this time as well as pray with and for us. 

It's been a very long day as we spent several hours at the doctors and then we taught lessons and tonight is our students' recital. I'm incredibly tired as I didn't sleep well last night (or any night for the past 5 weeks). It's going to be a loooong summer. Also, we close on our house on May 30. 

Breathe in. Breathe out. 

Everything is in the Lord's hands and I've learned more today about trusting Him than in the past month. 

Here's our little baby - -

It's a little hard to tell, but that is one CUTE baby!

Wilson got to hang out with super friends and a bounce house while T and I were at the doc's.
He loved it.

In Christ,

Julie

Today's Coffee: Still not feelin' it...

A short n' sweet blog post. 

The plants are growing really well. I'm so excited about eating out of the garden this summer!

So, you've probably seen (if you are pinterest) that pin about growing lemon trees, because their leaves smell good? Well, I used a lemon for something and decided to try that. Uhm.... hard to do. Out of all the lemon seeds I planted (about 5 weeks ago!) only one has sprouted, and it sprouted about 4 days ago. So, here's to hoping that it continues to grow!

Grow lemon seed, grow!

 

Tonight for dinner I am making something found of pinterest as well. You've also probably seen it:

I'm making it from memory... 375 for 1 hour? I covered it with foil?
Hope it tastes good, because it smells great so far.
Green beans, chicken, potatoes. Butter and Italian Seasoning dressing mix on top. 

And, for your dose of 'I wonder what Wilson has been doing... he's such a cutie... does he ever do anything bad?'

LIPSTICK EVERYWHERE!

For those that don't know... this is EXACTLY what I used to do when I was a kid! 

He smiled for this one. Ha. 

In Christ,

Julie

Violin Students

This post is for a few of my violin students. I'll remove it after next Tuesday. 

Sometimes I put 'helps' on youtube, but I know how sketchy youtube can be sometimes with their ads - so I wanted you all to have a safer option. 
Here is Holy, Holy, Holy with me counting off for you:

Today's Coffee: It's Too Hot for Coffee

Hello baby vegetable sprout-lings!

Mid-April. 

I'm starting all the plants in trans-plant-able pots because we hope to be moving soon. My dream is that we can get a garden dug in the ground and get these guys transplanted May 30. We'll see how that plan goes. I'm growing:

Bloody Butcher Heirloom Tomatoes

Blaze of Glory Hot Peppers

Short 'n Sweet Carrots

Sweet Peppers

Broccoli Raab

Cucumbers

Cauliflower 

Blueberries? (the plant isn't looking so good right now)

I'm also practicing away for the BPI coming up in June. One of my audition pieces is Telemann's Fantasia No. 9 in b-minor for solo violin. Here's a great youtube video of my favorite baroque violinist Andrew Manze playing it:

The theme for this year's Baroque Institute is:

"In the Valley of the Danube"

Special Project: Biber's Mystery Sonatas

After I complete the 2 weeks there of recitals, chamber groups, master classes, lessons, baroque dance classes (?!? so excited!), beginning viol classes, and so much more we then get to take a trip to Destin, Florida for this

Dry Dock - a cozy and rustic beach house

With direct view and access to the gulf ocean waves, this is what I dream about. :)

Here's a pic of W that is just too cute as well:

In Christ,

Julie

Today's Coffee: Colombian Blend

 Somehow it is now April. I don't know how it happened, but it did. Things have been buzzing along here in the Russell house as we gave the recital, celebrated W's second birthday that evening, prepared and had glorious Palm Sunday services, and helped get together lots of music for the Easter services yesterday. Not to mention

We are currently buying a house!

Yes, all that is left is the appraisal and then, Lord willing, closing on May 30th. 

It has been a long process, but we finally found a house we really love, and amazingly, in our price range. The Lord certainly taught us a lot about patience (something I'm not very good at). So, to say things have been busy is a bit of an understatement. 

In our efforts to eat healthier, we have been filling our week with paleo meals. Some have been home-runs and others... not so much. But something that has been a great snack (and it seems that everyone likes) - Kale Chips. We've made them several times now, and the best was last time at our small group - even children loved them! That's right - want to eat more kale? Bake 'em. 

Rinse and dry your kale. Then in big(ish) chops, chop it up. I cut out the stalks first. 

Toss it in a bowl with about a tablespoon of olive oil. 

Line a cookie sheet with wax paper and lay the kale out  in a single layer.  Also,  randomly snag a picture with a cutie smiling in the background. Sprinkle a bit of sea salt on top. Pop in the pre-heated oven at 300 degrees for about 20 minutes. 

And voila! A crunchy, crisp, salty treat! 

So, we've enjoyed the paleo diet. We both feel better through-out the day and we've noticed that we don't have that 'afternoon-get-me-a-cup-of-coffee-or-I-can't-make-it' feeling. 

W has also been pretty cute lately. So, here are some great pics of him!

"I LOVE THE SLIDE!"

And what could be better than a hockey sweatshirt, checkered cape, sitting on a wagon with a frog and waving a flag around???

Superman playing the piano!

And, he here is - he fell asleep on the rocking horse in nursery yesterday!

Thanks for reading! Hope to have good news about the house in a few days or so!

In Christ,

Julie