powell family: May 2010

Mother's Day, 2010

Well, Mother's Day was yet another smash hit this year! I'm telling you, I have the best husband and kids in the world. They just shower me with love. Will shopped for and made Emeril Lagasse's Mother's Day breakfast (brunch) for this year's GMA Mom of the Year award winner. We had Emeril's Huevos Rancheros (to die for... homemade sauces and everything), his Buttermilk Cinnamon Biscuits with honey butter and his Raspberry-Orange "eye-openers" to drink. It was all just heavenly, and Will worked so hard. Thank you, Sweetie...I love you so much!!! I feel like "mom of the year."

Grandma really enjoyed her Mother's Day too! She got two pretty tops from her son Jim (and Judy) and a 3-pound box of See's Candy (that we didn't help her eat at all) from her son Stephen (and Julie)!

While I was getting ready for church in the morning, my near-perfect husband and angelic children were making me strawberry cupcakes! I had an inkling they might be up to something, with gobs of fresh strawberries in the fridge. They were scrumptious!!!

I know I look ridiculous in these pictures, but Levi's face just kills me! I love it!

My card from Sullivan has her voice recorded on it saying, "I yuv you, Mom!" I hope it lasts forever.

My kiddos spoiled me! The boys each picked out a super-cute set of jammies from Victoria's Secret for me, and Sullivan got me this lovely "pip gloss!" I feel so loved! And I totally needed the pj's!

Mother's Day Eve

P.F. Changs sounded good to me for the pre "my day" celebration, since Will would be cooking on Sunday. Here are my cutie-pies while we waited for a table. I give the best-dressed award to Titus. ;)

Dinner was great... thanks to my man for getting us in! We were quoted a 2 hour wait, I was bummed, Will disappeared, we waited about 5 minutes, we were seated, and all were happy! Thanks, Honey! You're the best.

Here's my pretty pink Mother's Day cocktail. I can't recall what it's name was, but it was good and fruity.

My kids are little NUTS! What laughter and joy they bring to my life!!!

My Sister!!!

I was so excited when I found out Cody would stay at our house for this year's chaplain's conference. She always comes to CA in May, but she usually stays at the Bible college. It was SO MUCH FUN to have her with us!!! I loved driving her to and from her meetings and having her here for most meals. Grandma, Will and the kids loved it too; she is just such a breath of fresh air. One of the best things about Cody is that she is genuinely giddy over everything I cook for her... which makes it even more fun for me. I love her so much and feel so incredibly blessed to have her in our family... and to have a sister close to my heart!

Aunt Cody is the best... she even taught Sullivan how to use her iphone. ;)

Dinner with fab friends

Allen and Julia had us over recently for such a wonderful dinner: cornish game hens, stuffed artichokes and pasta with brown butter sauce... YUM!!! Thank you both so much; you are such generous friends to do this for us. We love you!

37 years blessed!

Friday night before my birthday was our romantic date night! Now that we have a great sitter, I don't sweat going out anymore. (Thank you, Erin!) I wanted to go to The Edge again, since the first time we went was on Valentine's Day and they had a special menu. Well, their regular menu is absolutely delectable!!! We had many delicious courses, but my favorite was the grilled veal tenderloin with sage browned butter and veal raviolis with a cabernet reduction. What a fabulous evening with my dashing man.

These roses came from our yard. Hubby picked them for me.

On Saturday we went to San Diego to start the family birthday festivities. I'm pretty easy to please. As long as it involves a great meal out and maybe a tiny bit of shopping, it's a banner birthday! What is a visit to San Diego... or any large city, for that matter... without a good long stop at The Cheesecake Factory?!? And the great news is, we ALL love it there. (Levi goes just for the brown bread with individual pats of butter.) Everything about this restaurant makes me happy. I love the upscale family-ness (a.k.a. noisy, but classy), the ginormous portions of fabulous food (and it's CONSISTENTLY good), and the large array of unbelievable desserts to choose from. But, most of all, I have such fond memories of coming here, ever since Will and I were married. I actually sat in one of these swirly booths and inhaled the Santa Fe salad just hours before I went into labor with Zane. See? It's nostalgic.

After our fabulous lunch out, Titus hit the nail on the head when he said, "Are we taking one of those memory drives?" Yes!!! We headed for Balboa Park on this glorious day because Mommy wanted to... and it was (almost) my birthday. Will and I (and baby Zane) used to spend lots of time there, and we have plenty of fond memories we love to revisit. While the boys rolled around on the grass, Sullivan explored everything with delight.

This is the Botanical Garden at Balboa Park. After Will took me to dinner at the Marine Room, 13 years ago, he suggested we "take a walk" at this park. His best buddy, Jack, helped him set up the romantic scene where he would pop the question. It was the most beautiful night and there wasn't a soul there. I'm amazed at how perfectly the whole thing went down.

Will and I posed at the site where Will PROposed. ;) I'll never forget the music and candlelight at the most beautiful table. There was champagne and chocolate and strawberries and a poetic book he wrote about me. God has blessed me with the most incredible husband... I just can't believe it.