10 AMAZING years!!!!!

Yesterday, November 29th, was our 10 year wedding anniversary! Will and I can hardly believe how the time has flown by and how wonderful these years have been. It seems like just yesterday we met in a restaurant.... Anyways, we plan on celebrating when we are in NM over Christmas. Our anniversary was like any other day (work for Will, school for me and the boys, and our home Bible study at the Lohr's house), but Will brought this special cake, that he (obviously) had decorated, to share with everyone. We had fun feeding cake to each other again. I am so thankful for the most incredible husband in the world and our four beautiful children. God has truly blessed me.

Happy little butterfly

This picture is so characteristic of our little Sullivan. She is just such a doll.

Bruce and Cody

Bruce sent me this ADORABLE picture of him and his girlfriend, Cody, from Thanksgiving. I just had to post it on our blog. We are really looking forward to seeing them both in NM at Christmas!!!

10th Annual Powell Christmas Shopping Extravaganza!

This is the first year we've had four children to trek down to San Diego with for our tradition. And I have to say it was the best year yet! We almost didn't go because it just seemed too overwhelming (after all, it takes an hour just to get loaded up in the truck with everything we'll need.... it's a miracle we made it down there with everybody's shoes on!). When we contemplated a much shorter excursion to a local mall we were depressed. So we came to our senses, packed up, and ended up having a wonderful time. Of course, we had to eat at the Cheesecake Factory. This is one of our very favorites; in fact, Will and I were eating there the day I went into labor with Zane. Hooray for tradition!

I'm HOW old?

Yes, it's time for another birthday.... 6 MONTHS OLD TODAY (Nov. 24)!! Our special day in San Diego was a great way to celebrate our little punkin. She did so well without naps and didn't cry at all. What a trooper. I hope she didn't see what we bought her for Christmas. :)

Levi's hat

This is Levi's hat of the moment. It changes often, but this one is special because of it's bright color and the ball on top. Way to pick 'em, Levi!

A Thanksgiving to remember

We were expecting to have family here for Thanksgiving this year, when they had to cancel last minute. We were so sad because it just doesn't seem like a holiday without a house-full. Then it dawned on us that Mike, Stef, Hanna and Asher were also going to be alone this year, so we joined forces. It turned out to be a FABULOUS Thanksgiving - both food and company. We all had a blast and wouldn't trade it for anything. Thank you for joining us, dear friends!

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Here, Levi is serenading his Aunt Stef. Notice how he lovingly holds his "Lollie" (who gets more affection than the rest of us put together).

Here, Kitty....

Here's my chic little baby in animal print! Oh, this baby girl thing is so much fun!

Santa Rosa Plateau

We like to come up to this reserve near our land in La Cresta. The boys run and play and climb the biggest trees you've ever seen. And I try to block out all of the mountain lion attacks I hear about on the news (there are lots in Southern CA). We had a great time Sunday, worrying aside, and Will and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the boys have so much fun. Sullivan loved looking up at the big trees and just being outside.

I LOVE YOU, MOM!!!

This one's for my Mom who is selfless. Thank you for all you do for me. You were disappointed that we didn't tackle any big projects this visit, but wasn't it nice??? And you helped me in so many ways: assisting Titus with his letters during school so Zane and I could move along a little quicker (YES!), making coffee EVERY morning, emptying the dishwasher (I didn't do it once while you were here), folding laundry (this is a constant operation in our house), ironing (I don't do this anymore), helping with meals, cleaning up my messes in the kitchen, baby-sitting so Will and I could go out for his birthday, and just being here. It was so wonderful having you, Mom. Thanks for everything. I love you.

Goodbye pictures

Well, the fun visits always come to an end too quickly, don't they?! None of us wanted to tell my Mom good bye, but we have Christmas to look forward to.

Christmas decorating

We decided to decorate early this year since we won't be here for Christmas; we'll be in NM (I'm praying for snow). This is the first year that all the boys were really interested in actually putting stuff on the tree. It was a lot of fun... and we drank a lot of egg nog.

Girl time

Sulli and Nonnie really enjoyed catching up and being silly.

Hmmm...

.... I can't think of a title for these pictures. I just love them, especially the foot.

I pledge allegiance....

Levi says his "Pledge of Allegiance" with such gusto each morning at school that I had to snap his picture. It just doesn't do the audio justice, though. It looks like Jake is standing at attention as well.

Happy Birthday, Honey!

Isn't he a hunk - and so young looking for 37??? We had a great time celebrating the big day with Mom in town and our favorite Farleys. It was a fun evening of dinner and Yahtzee (two of the Powell-Farley favorite pastimes).

Sittin' pretty

Sullivan is slowly learning to sit up on her own. She's a bit bent over, I know. All of the Powell kids have reached these milestones a little late (Zane wasn't walking until 17 1/2 months). We've heard that just means they're extra smart, right? :)

My first dolly

A friend gave this doll to Sullivan. It is very soft and the arms make crinkly sounds. She seems to enjoy playing with it.

Nonnie's here!

Well, Nonnie has come for a visit, so I will have more pictures of her to come!

Cheryl

My long-lost friend Cheryl was in San Diego for a neuroscience convention (a "what?" you say? so did I!). She is one of those brilliant people who try to explain what it is they do, to someone like me, and I just sit there with a blank stare and nod. I do know that 30,000 neuroscientists attended this shindig and Cheryl was going to present some research (something to do with the eyes and the brain and everything in between... or something). Anyways, Sullivan and I got to drive down and have lunch with her on the pier and catch up after years and years. Just for the record, Cheryl was my first friend (our mothers were close friends before we were even born) and she is pretty special! I have millions of childhood memories with her: everything from Horn Creek Family Camp (where our families always shared a cabin) to adventures on horseback, climbing cherry trees for hours, a zillion sleep-overs, playing silly pranks on the neighbors, etc.... I even remember how she could read before I could and how I was in awe, even back then. It was so great to see you, Cheryl!!!

Winnie the Pooh the Bee

Here is Levi on Halloween dressed in the same Pooh Bee costume Zane wore when he was 2. He and the boys really enjoyed the Harvest Festival at church.

Sweet Pictures