powell family

New Year's Eve Tradition

2012-02-10T21:01:00.000-08:00

Here is my beautiful mom: Posole-maker-extraordinaire! Nobody can touch this recipe, and she created it. We all just stand back and watch the magic happen. Thank you, Mom, for bringing New Mexico here for New Year's, and for doing ALL the work! I love you!!!

Another fire in the dining room fireplace... perfect!

Will even made sopapillas. They didn't puff up too well, but it was a valiant effort. Here is quite possibly the best New Year's Eve food in the world, at least it is for us: Mom's own posole perfection, Padilla's tamales with red and/or green chile sauce, any sopapilla, and a cool glass of white wine. YUM. Thank you, sweet Mom!!!

Slumber party with Nonnie!

2012-02-10T20:54:00.000-08:00

After Dad left for NM, Mom moved into Sulli's room for the rest of her stay. We put a second twin bed in her room a while back, for occasions such as these! She's been calling it "Nonnie's bed" in anticipation! Oh my goodness... what fun Sullivan had climbing into Nonnie's bed for stories and visiting until they went to sleep. A four-year-old's dream!

Titus turns 9!

2012-02-10T20:19:00.001-08:00

Titus' birthday is December 27th.... TWO DAYS after Christmas. If we adults look tired, it's because we are. At least I am. It's hard to entertain a house-full for Christmas and then turn around and put together a boy's dream birthday dinner. For my Titus, it was meatloaf, mashed potatoes, salad and birthday cake. I may be tired, but I love it. He is SO WORTH IT. We love you so much, son! Happy Birthday!!! (Dad was sick with the flu in the guest house. He could not make it to dinner... even though he stayed in CA just for Titus! :(

His favorite presents were probably the LEGO sets Nonnie and Popsie got him! LEGOs never get old.

Every year Titus requests this cake.... chocolate inside with peppermint buttercream frosting. I love that he loves it so much! (Note: he did not ask for pink candles; that is all I had.)

Merry Christmas, 2011!!!

2012-01-27T18:44:00.000-08:00

Our second Christmas in De Luz... and our first having my family here with us! On December 22nd, everybody got here. Yes, I can see adopting little William if his parents ever decide to give him up. ;) He is a doll.

How FUN to get Bruce, Cody and Willy-Bird here for Christmas!!! When Mom and Dad arrive, Christmas will feel complete and we can start to celebrate. I love everybody being together...

My nephew is as yummy as he thinks food is. At only 6 months old, this kid can EAT!

Levi and Sullivan helped babysit Birdie. Please note the stripey leg warmers and the edible rolls on top.

Non and Pops got the kids new boots, just like last year! They got to open them early for our family pictures. (We didn't get to have them taken because Dad got sick.) :( You have to have cowboy boots out here in the country; it's a must for safety on the property, especially in the summer when you might possibly meet a snake. Plus, we all have an affinity for the look. Will and I have country in our blood, and the kids definitely inherited it. Thank you, N and P! A wonderful gift tradition!

So cute.

We all went to dinner at Palumbo's Ristorante in Old Town. It is so fun... a little family-owned country Italian place with delicious food. We had a blast!

Oh, goodness. Could he be more precious?!

Christmas Eve is Where It's At!

2012-01-24T14:22:00.000-08:00

My Prince Charming!

The always well-dressed and beautiful couple, Bruce and Cody! My dear brother and the sister I never had.

My ever-loving Mom and Dad! I love you both so much!!!

We all went to the Christmas Eve service at The Barn. Pastor Clark presented a simple, wonderful message. All anyone really needs to hear on Christmas is that Jesus came to save them! He died for my sins and yours... and in receiving Him, we have eternal life!!! I'm forgiven! It never gets old, hearing this truth! What a wonderful Savior we have... and the best Birthday in the world to be celebrating!!! After we got home and dinner was warming on the stove, we all posed for pictures in front of the crackling fire. Have I mentioned how much I love this fireplace? It makes the Christmas spirit burn a little brighter!

Here are a few shots of the tree, still in-tact!

After a comforting dinner of Chicken Chili and cornbread, it was time to break out the Christmas cookies (I made 10 varieties this year! Actually 9, if you discount the "Christmas Poo," but I won't go into that. :))

So, in Schuman tradition (actually Eastman tradition, on my Mom's side... which ultimately takes over, don'tcha think?) we opened presents on Christmas Eve. It is just better. Let me tell you why. There is something magical about the evening... especially when you take your time like we do. Also in Schuman/Eastman tradition, each and every present gets its own turn. That means there is no ripping into things at once. Each person has one gift at a time, and everyone else is the audience to that opening. Everyone "oohs" and "ahhs," and it's wonderful. So, after Christmas Eve dinner is cleaned up, extra glasses of wine are served - or champagne - along with Christmas cookies, and everybody enjoys the sparkly lights and long hours together, without even a thought about getting Christmas Day dinner prepared. It's just perfect. Enough said! Anyways, here are a few random pics of the kids.... I actually hardly took any this year. I was having too much fun.

The ONE and ONLY thing Sullivan asked for this year was her own Bible. Not the toddler kind with big pictures. She wanted a REAL one. She was so happy with it... still is. She "reads" it every day. It is embossed with a horse head on the pleather exterior. (It is a horse-lover's edition!) Her whole name is engraved in the cover, and it is the most precious Bible you have ever seen. I need a close-up of it.

We all chuckled at how Levi has to try gifts on immediately. Here he is, hiding behind the couch, trying on a new western shirt from Non and Pops.

Titus got a practice drum set... you know, before we buy the real thing. That is definitely a purchase one should be sure about.

This may be the most popular Christmas present of all. We ALL love to play this game!!! But, technically, it belongs to Zane.

And not only did the kids get new boots from Nonnie and Popsie, but they all got new jackets as well! (I forgot to get a pic of Sulli in her fabulous animal print!) Thank you, N and P!!!

But my favorite part of our time around the tree was listening to Zane play worship songs and everyone singing along. Bruce's solo wasn't bad either. You want to remember moments like these forever.

We encouraged the kids to save a present for Christmas morning too (which greatly pleased the Christmas Morning Crowd). Birdie was especially happy since he slept through the festivities the night before. Of course, the kids opened their stockings in the morning too. Don't get too worried, people. Next Christmas, since it is a Powell year, we will be opening only one on Christmas Eve and the rest in the a.m.! And I will just have to deal with it. ;)

Christmas Dinner

2012-01-19T13:28:00.000-08:00

The Christmas table was just waiting for the food... and so was Birdie! He is so precious and easy to please.

Bruce took so much video of the entire Christmas! He put together such a cool movie for us all to keep. I guess all of that annoying childhood filming he did is paying off. He makes me smile with his camera always in-hand.

And THIS is why I am saving my money to buy a new, LONG dining room table. I have my heart set on one from Pottery Barn. I will have 10 chairs and we can all sit together. It just wasn't right having a "kids' table." Don't they look sad?

Oh my goodness... dinner was perfect. It's so fun when everything turns out just right! We had Beef Tenderloin with Gorgonzola Sauce, Sausage-stuffed Mushrooms with parmesan and herbs, Potatoes au Gratin (ala Cody... thank you, sister!), and sauteed Green Beans with garlic. Mom and Dad brought wonderful red wine to compliment the beef, and it could not have been more delicious!

Dessert was Maple Ginger Layer Cake with Caramel Sauce. I thinks this needs to be our Christmas Dinner dessert tradition!

A gorgeous night!

2012-01-13T12:46:00.001-08:00

This is what I saw from the porch one evening... so lovely. It reminds me of a New Mexico sunset.

I'm posting this pic because of the tree in the porch. There are two of them, and they make me so happy! (Pardon Diego for looking possessed, though.)

Another 40!

2012-01-13T12:29:00.000-08:00

Our friend Steve had a 40th birthday party in December. Lots of those lately! I don't really have a picture of him. In fact, I didn't take any pictures. Will took a few.. and this is the extent of them. We can't have any party without a picture of "The 3 Musketeers."

Me and Julia

Here I am, trying to be sneaky.

Steve and Kim are so in love with my cake. I mean, each other. :)

Yes, another belt test!

2012-01-13T12:13:00.000-08:00

On December 9, 2011, both Zane and Levi were up for a belt test. Here they are before it began, looking mean with Mr. Richardson.

Our Levi completed his first-ever belt test and earned his orange belt! Woo Hoo! Congratulations!

And Zane received his Level 3 Preparatory Black Belt. Way to go, Zane!

Dad and I are so proud of you boys!

Christmas hors d'oeuvres and wine tasting

2012-01-05T14:17:00.000-08:00

Our wine-tasting parties have grown from 3 to 6 couples: the Lohrs, Whiddons, Turnures, Cernetics, Kosteckas and us... and this time it was our turn to host. It was fun to have a Christmas theme and to have "his" and "hers" tables. Everybody brought delicious food to share, and it was a great evening, complete with a gift exchange. What a fun way to kick off the Christmas season!

Yes, it's that time again!

2012-01-05T14:10:00.000-08:00

On December 2nd, we celebrated Kimberlee's birthday dinner at my house. Here's our unconventional pose! Love you girls!!!

Thanksgiving, 2011

2012-01-05T13:50:00.000-08:00

To keep it short and sweet...

The Powells

The duds

The table

The fam

The bird!!!

Palumbo's Ristorante

2012-01-05T13:41:00.000-08:00

Will's parents treated us all to a wonderful dinner out, down in Old Town. Palumbo's is a newer, family-owned Italian restaurant, and it's delicioso! And it's reasonably priced for a large family - especially for Old Town Temecula.

Sullivan's new bike!

2012-01-05T13:33:00.000-08:00

Grandma and Grandpa got Sulli this adorable bike for Christmas at Thanksgiving. She loves riding it around with her brothers.

Morning Star

2012-01-05T13:30:00.000-08:00

Employee of the Month. :) Thank you for the shirts, Chad Dulaney!

Love these

2012-01-05T13:26:00.000-08:00

She makes up the notes and words as she goes. It's so cute.

Carri's 40th

2012-01-04T16:37:00.000-08:00

I love this picture from my friend Carri's 40th surprise party. These are all such lovely women God has put in my life. Good friends are priceless.

Our kids...

2012-01-04T16:34:00.001-08:00

... just keep growing up.

He should be a chef.

2012-01-04T16:29:00.000-08:00

I think when he grows up, Levi could be one of those super-handsome man chefs on TV. Of course, that's his mother talking. But this cutie sure can make some mean bacon!

Happy 41st, my Love!

2011-12-19T17:31:00.000-08:00

We did "40" so big, Will was happy to have low-key 41st celebration. I made his favorite dinner and cake, and we just had a great family evening in. We do that a lot.

Will loved his cards from the kids best, but I think his second favorite gift was the picture of him with his sweet Grandma. We needed one in the house!

A night in "Italy"

2011-12-16T20:22:00.000-08:00

In November, our good friends, the Woods, started an awesome new tradition: a quarterly dinner club where the hosts decide on the region or type of food they want to feature, and the other couples cook and bring what they are asked to... and we all enjoy! There are just four couples, which is perfect. Our first dinner was at the Woods', and it was a blast. We all enjoyed incredible food from Italy and had a wonderful time! Oh, let me introduce us, starting at 12:00: Chad and Kristy Wood, me (Will is taking the picture), Kimberlee, her husband Steve across the table, and Carri and Eddie Roman. This is one awesome group of people, folks. FUN!

Kimberlee brought these yummy appetizers: tomatoes with goat cheese and herbed oil and an artichoke bruschetta. MMmmmm.....

Will took our picture, enjoying Carri's minestrone soup. It was the perfect Italian starter and smelled amazing!

Our hosts with the mosts... and their incredible, handmade pasta, rolled into cannelloni, stuffed with deliciousness. Chad and Kristy stayed up until 3am the night before our dinner, making this dish. YUM.

Love this picture of Kristy and Carri too. Such joyful friends of mine!

Here's my sweetie and me.. and the pie I brought (Lime and Blackberry Italian Meringue), per Kristy's request. Thank you, everyone, for the delicious food! Thank you, Woods, for this fabulous idea and for hosting our first regional cooking club night. Can't wait for the next one! See you all in France in February....

Meet the Bickersons.

2011-12-16T20:11:00.000-08:00

Levi and Sullivan are good friends. Levi is often the odd brother out when Zane and Titus team up. But he always has his baby sister to fall back on. In fact, they play together pretty much every day when Levi finishes his school work. Sometimes she plays Lego Ninjago with him; sometimes he plays dress-up with her. Fortunately, he has never dressed himself up, but he is willing to help her put all of her accessories on. Looking at the happy couple, it's hard to imagine that they bicker a lot, but they DO. They also love each other a lot. :)

Fancy Nancy!

2011-12-16T20:07:00.000-08:00

Sulli loves looking at Fancy Nancy books so much, she actually got the pose perfect!

So Very Thankful

2011-12-08T12:51:00.000-08:00

October was a hard month. But a good one. At a routine check-up, my doctor found a lump in my breast she wanted to have checked. She ordered a mammogram and an ultrasound. As if that were not unsettling enough, the mammogram came back fine, while the ultrasound showed a suspicious mass. This was not the one the doctor was concerned about. I was referred to a surgeon immediately, who ordered a biopsy. It is during these dark times of waiting and uncertainty that we fall on our knees before God - more than usual - and He draws nearer to us. I am always thankful for these times of growth, though they are never fun. Jesus was merciful and loving in so many ways. One was the overwhelming peace He gave me. Even when I was scared, I had peace.... if that makes sense. He used my husband and children to comfort me in such sweet ways. Will wrapped his arms around me, praying for me several times daily. The kids wrote scripture verses down for me.... ones that meant a lot to them. It was precious. They all prayed for me constantly. Of course, I had my wonderful parents to talk to and pray with (poor Mom bears most of my burdens)... as well as my sister and dear friend, Cody. God also had my surgery date moved up a whole week, so my wait time was shortened. Finally, the lump was benign... a HUGE answer to prayer!!! Will got me this cake to encourage me, somewhere in the middle of this ordeal. And the "thankful" vase was a gift from one of my sweetest friends, Heather. She prayed with me several times and got the vase for me with the thought that I will keep it out and remember the Lord's faithfulness. I will, indeed.

Pumpkin Patch Day Disaster

2011-12-05T17:30:00.000-08:00

Mid-October. HOURS in the car - most of which were the last mile of the drive. Crowded. Over-picked. Hot. Ugly. Let the rotting pumpkin behind the kids speak for itself. This was the day we had. Why?! I am done with pumpkin patches. The kids could hardly muster a smile... just look at them! Except Sullivan, of course, because she finds joy in EVERYTHING.

The Public

2011-11-22T14:29:00.000-08:00

We all had so much fun one evening, having dinner outside at the Public House in Old Town. Zane's guitar/voice teacher, Justin, plays with another guy and they call themselves Shultz and Hamilton. They play down in Old Town a lot, and it was great to finally see him! Zane pretty much decided, then and there, that he wants to really get into music. He loved it! Oh, and the food at the Public is incredible.

Here's Justin.

Andy Warhol

2011-11-22T14:19:00.002-08:00

This recent art project was one of the most fun the kids have done this year! Love it!

Titus: Preparatory Black Belt!!!

2011-10-13T11:25:00.000-07:00

Titus tested for his Preparatory Black Belt at Anointed Martial Arts on September 30, 2011. He did a phenomenal job, and this is my favorite shot!

Here are some other air shots... none as good as the first. Why can't I ever remember my good camera?! But you can tell how well Titus was doing. I love the smile on his face in the last one. :)

Zane had fun hanging out with some buddies during the test.

I was too busy videoing Titus reciting his NINE scriptures to take still photos. So, I don't have pictures of that, but he was amazing. God has done big things in this little boy's life. He has learned to confront fear with the power of Jesus! I did take pictures of the sparring and wrestling, where Titus had to fend for himself against big mean fellas!

Mr. Kruger made a special big deal out of Titus because he was the only one at this particular belt test who was entering into the Preparatory realm. It was really cool, and everybody cheered for our boy. Here he is, taking off his old belt and getting his new one... and a whole new phase of training in Christ-Jitsu! We are so proud of your hard work, Titus. We love you so much!!! Congratulations!

Great Aunt Betty and Dane

2011-10-12T11:35:00.000-07:00

My Great Aunt Betty and her daughter, Dane, came to visit and have dinner a couple of weeks ago. Dane lives in Northern CA, and she was staying with her mom a few days, so it was nice she could drive her up from San Diego. We all enjoyed visiting and catching up on Dane's family, whom we've never met. The boys ran off before picture time!

High Tea

2011-10-12T11:27:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't you take a break from teaching your 3 boys school, if you got an invitation to sit down for a fancy tea like this one? I could NOT resist.

Naughty little girl ;)

2011-10-12T11:26:00.001-07:00

NO MORE FINGERS!!!

2011-10-12T11:05:00.000-07:00

She did it! Sulli stopped sucking her two fingers after four years of this habit. It was not easy. We tried lots of things, like will-power. She would go to sleep holding "Lamb-Lamb's" ear, instead of putting her fingers in her mouth, but the next morning, she would confess with eyes full of tears, that she had given in to the power of THE FINGERS. Finally, I got the brilliant idea of putting a glove on her right hand. Fingers wouldn't taste or feel good in her mouth, all fuzzy. It worked. But it took obedience on her part. She was told not to take the glove off... and she didn't. Here she is, modeling her glove at bed time.

To reward Sullivan's hard work and obedience, I took her on a date - just Mommy and my girl - to Build-a-Bear to find a special friend. Out of all the critters, Sullivan immediately picked the large PINK Hello Kitty! No question about it! She also picked out the fancy black dress and high heels for "Kitty" to wear.

We even got pretzels with cheese to celebrate the big accomplishment!

Loving Kitty at home...

Even Prince Charming (Daddy) loves Sullivan's "Kitty." He caught a few Z's with her while Sulli read to him.

Jackson Pollock

2011-10-07T14:25:00.000-07:00

Every other Wednesday, we have an art and science co-op at my house. There are 5 families and a total of 17 kids, split up in 2 groups: 6th grade and under and 7th grade and up. I teach the young science (Apologia's Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day), along with my friend Kristy, and two other moms teach the older kids' science. Jenn teaches art, and she is phenomenal. Our first meeting was at her house since it was to be especially messy and needed lots of grass to spread out on. The artist of the day was Jackson Pollock, and the kids painted just like he did: IN the painting. He liked to be in the middle of his canvas, literally throwing paint around. it was so much fun, and the kids painted to loud music (like Manafest and Toby Mac). Here is Jenn, explaining what's coming to the young group.

My painters in action! I am so thankful for Jenn, teaching some fun art. I am artistically challenged and don't teach a stroke of art on my own. This is the beauty of co-ops!

Here are the finished products, I think. Every time I thought they were done, they added more paint. Why not? It's fun!

Cheerleader

2011-09-27T15:13:00.000-07:00

Sullivan was performing one afternoon in NM, for me and Mom. She was actually dancing, but it looks more like cheering to me. :) Such a funny girl.

Sandia Peak Tramway

2011-09-27T14:50:00.000-07:00

One of the fun things we did while we were in NM was ride the Sandia Peak Tramway. It's one of the longest in the world, and it was fun to go again and see the kids' reactions. They loved it. The views are breathtaking, and they reminded me of why I love Albuquerque. It's truly a one-of-a-kind city.

On top of the world!

And we finished our sky-high time at Sandiago's - at the base of the tram - for lunch. Thank you, Mom, for treating us to such a fun day!

20-year-Reminiunion - with awfully cute kids!

2011-09-19T20:49:00.000-07:00

A few of us from the graduating of class of 1991 got together to celebrate 25 years, on July 30th. We met at Mom and Dad's with kids in tow, to have Dion's Pizza and let the young 'uns ride the horse. Most everyone lives in ABQ, but Derek (from Houston) and I made our long treks back to the homeland for this event! Derek, we are awesome! (He is the one talking with Dad, in case you didn't know.) Anyways, there will supposedly be a formal class reunion in October, though I still have not received an invitation. So, maybe not. October doesn't work for me, nor my friends, anyways. That didn't stop us... and fun we had! ;)

Several of these adorable little people had never been on a horse before. Since horses consumed me as a child, I throughly enjoyed how happy these kiddos seemed to be to hang out with my old girl. Obviously, she didn't mind either.

The kids were so cute, waiting for their turns.

Aside from literally melting in the hot desert sun, I had a blast leading the kids around on Tater for "pony rides."

More cute shots: Please note how happy Tate was. This day might as well have been her birthday. She was in HEAVEN.

Reminiunion- NO kids

2011-09-19T20:21:00.000-07:00

That evening we grown-ups (Really? Do we have to be?) met at Sandiago's for dinner. I had never been there before. It's up by the tram, and it's beautiful up there. We had some good New Mexican food and even better company. It was fun to catch up, and I honestly think this was more fun than our big class reunion would have been. I was with the people I really wanted to see.

We finished a fun evening together at... where else? Flying Star for dessert. We sat outside for a good long time, talking and laughing some more. It was such a blast to see you all... wish we could do it more often than every 25 years. At least I see Kendall and Derek more than that! (But not often enough.)

Rail Runner

2011-09-11T18:12:00.001-07:00

Mom and Dad treated the kids and me to a train ride to Santa Fe and back on the Rail Runner. I've been on a train before - long ago - but the kids hadn't and were super excited about it. Here are the boys, anxiously awaiting the train's arrival from the station in Los Lunas.

The inside of the train was pretty nice! I was glad we had big areas to sit and look at each other, visiting and pointing out scenery to the kids. We really had a lot of fun! This is a great way to go to Santa Fe... but a long one (about 2 hours each way). I think next time I'll drive, but I'm really glad we did it!

I got a huge kick out of Sullivan and her Popsie. She was pretending to tell him secrets while silently mouthing unknown words to him... and then dissolving into a bursts of hysterical laughter. It was pretty adorable. I think Dad enjoyed it as much as she did.

And these pictures were taken on the way home. Everybody is a little tired and a little dirty. :)

A Day in Santa Fe

2011-09-11T17:18:00.000-07:00

Every time we go to Santa Fe, we have to have lunch at La Casa Sena. It's just fabulous... the gourmet New Mexican food and the ambiance. We love to sit outside and enjoy the scenery and the live music. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for treating us all to an amazing meal.

The Santa Fe Cathedral Park is beautiful. We told Dad we'd meet him there after Mom, the kids and I did a bit of post-lunch shopping. When we got there, Dad was parked on a bench, telling a man about Jesus. (That's my Dad. He's always had a special heart for the lost, and he's not ashamed of his faith. Even when I was a little kid, I remember him taking homeless people out for lunch and sharing the gospel with them. Oh, to be more like him!) The kids messed around on the monument while we waited for Popsie. Sulli loved the animals, Levi loved the sheep, and the other boys pretended they smelled bad. Boys!

After playing in the park, we headed for Haagen-Dazs to beat the heat with ice cream. Always fun!

On our way back to the train station, we walked through a little fair of some sort, with all kinds of goodies for sale... including hats for your dog! Although I didn't purchase any for Diego or Hunter (gasp!), I did have to take a picture or two of the models. I loved the pit bull especially.

Tate's favorite little people

2011-08-30T14:22:00.000-07:00

Zane has been riding by himself for a while now, but this was the first summer he wanted to do it right. He was serious about holding the reins properly, having great posture, heels-down, toes in... you know, show stuff. I'm very proud of my biggest cowboy and the progress he made in a short period of time.

This was Titus's first year riding completely by himself in the arena. Even though he's a crazy kid, he plays it safe when it comes to things like horses. I had a hunch he was fully capable, and he was. Another true cowboy.

Levi has no fear and is super strong for his age. At only 6, he's pretty much in charge of the horse, like his big brothers. But I still stayed close, especially since I wasn't changing back and forth between kid and adult saddles. It was too hot to mess with that. So, he was in a huge saddle for his size. He is a great rider and at the rate he's growing, he'll be in that adult saddle by next year, I'm sure. :)

Sullivan loves Tater. If we had a horse at our house, she would be me when I was little... I can tell. And she was a very big help, holding the wild mare while I would get her saddled up each time. ;) That's my girl.

She and I have been good friends since 1983. And though I'm not little, I'm still one of Tate's favorite people... and she'll always be my favorite horse.

Bobo the Turtle

2011-08-28T12:40:00.000-07:00

A turtle moved in to the Schuman's front porch. Mom asked Sulli what she should name it and Sulli exclaimed, "Bobo!" So, "Bobo" it is. He is not particularly friendly, but doesn't mind being fed, or even watched as long as you don't try to pet him. If you try, he hisses at you like a cat! Sullivan and Levi enjoyed going out with Nonnie and observing this strange little pet. I think he's cute, even though he lacks personality.

Just like everyone that stays at Nonnie's house, Bobo gets special treatment. Mom buys him (or her?) a turtle food with fruit in it that Bobo just loves. Don't try feeding Bobo bugs. Bobo is a CLASSY turtle and prefers fruit jello.

Bye-bye, Birdie!

2011-08-19T10:23:00.000-07:00

I got to sneak away from NM (thanks to Mom and Dad watching my 4 darlings) for a few days and fly to Portland to meet my nephew, William Halsey Schuman! He is affectionately known as "Birdie." I affectionately call him my Willy-Bird... like the pricey turkey you can get from Williams Sonoma. ;) From the moment I saw him at the airport, I was in love. He is a doll. Here we are at the Schuman's, having a little talk. What a precious boy!

Bruce is one of the best dads I have ever seen. He's INCREDIBLY involved in every aspect of his son's life... and has been since pregnancy. I'm so proud to call him my brother.

The first morning I was in Portland, I got to hold my sweet nephew until it was time for his first feeding. Cody is one of those rare and determined moms who goes above and beyond her calling... she's just amazing! She has worked so hard to get him on a schedule, and he is doing brilliantly! Maybe we should have let him cry a little, but I asked Bruce if I could spend a little time with Birdie so we could start to get to know each other. Believe it or not, before he fell asleep in my arms, we had our first of many great conversations that day. I think we really bonded! I hope he gets to know his "Auntie M" well.

Here is Willy-Bird's nursery! It's the most elegant nursery I have ever seen! I have a feeling this little man will grow up with extremely good taste. :)

I somehow managed to not get a picture of Cody where you can see her face. But at least you can see her lovely, signature cherry-colored nails. It was fun to meet Christine's new baby girl, Charlee, too! They stopped by for a few minutes. Charlee wasn't too sure about sharing Birdie's "Mama-Roo" with him. So funny!

Our second night together was SO MUCH FUN!!! I really wanted to cook a meal for my beautiful sister and brother.... they have been working SO HARD. If I could have stayed longer, I'd have done so much more. Bruce bought all of the amazing food, including these fabulous steaks... wow! And I loved the wine... and not JUST for the label! I had such fun making Red Velvet Cake during the day, while watching my Willy-Bird for a while so Cody could go out and get those gorgeous red nails of hers done. This was one of the best days I've had in a long time... and one of the best visits ever. How I love these three! Thank you for having me! Until next time, sweet Birdie!

Always a Project!!!

2011-08-19T10:05:00.000-07:00

I've never been too excited by a man in uniform. They don't do a thing for me. Now, a handsome, well-dressed man in a nice suit.... that has always pushed my buttons. Why do you think I fell for Will when he worked for Gov. Gary Johnson? I got to see him in a suit all the time! And much of his career has involved a suit since then. HOWEVER, this sweaty, hard-working husband look is a CLOSE second! Wow... I love my fine-lookin' man!

Oh, let's just take one more look. Nice!

I have the best dad in the world. He was kind enough to drive with me and the kids all the way home to CA so we wouldn't be alone. Anyone who knows Dad knows how protective he is. :) And it saved Will from having to fly back to NM to drive us home himself when he was SO busy with work. On top of all of that, Dad helped Will start to tackle our newest house project: rebuilding the porch railing, which was broken down before we bought the house. It turns out that it wasn't properly stabilized with good wood and bolts, like it should have been. So, these strong men tore out the bad stuff and replaced it with good... now for the railing! I can't wait for it to be done since this awesome porch with oak trees growing through it is one of my favorite parts of this house! Thank you, Dad, for all your help!!!

Girl time with Denise!

2011-08-18T21:53:00.000-07:00

FUN. FOOD. FRIENDSHIP. LAUGHTER. GIRLS!!! We love you, Denise!!!

As she left it.

2011-08-18T21:43:00.000-07:00

Grandma's room is still just like she left it. I wanted to take a few pictures before it changes because I know it's inevitable. But for now, we still look in there every once in a while and enjoy all of her wonderful family photos. They always make me smile.

The kids made G.G. this banner right before she returned home from the hospital on Friday, June 3rd. She went home to be with Jesus 2 days later. But the message is more fitting than ever now. Welcome HOME, Grandma!

When you know Jesus, isn't this true!

Laurel June Powell, 10/6/1926 - 6/5/2011

2011-07-27T10:40:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures that I love of Grandma, during the time she lived with us. They are in no particular order, and you've probably seen most of them before. Enjoy her sweet smile.

How blessed our family is to have been able to care for Grandma for the last 2 years of her life (21 months, to be exact)! She added so much to our lives and our family, and looking back, it seems she gave us more than we ever gave her. Like she always wrote at the bottom of every letter she wrote to us, Grandma, "May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent from one another." - Genesis 31:49.

We miss sweet Grandma.

2011-07-27T10:32:00.000-07:00

Once again, here is the last picture we ever took of Grandma, on Memorial Day. She was so happy. These beautiful flowers came after she went home to be with Jesus. Will's company, ISS, sent them. They were lovely, just like Grandma.

"Blackbird"

2011-07-25T16:47:00.000-07:00

Zane practiced playing "Blackbird" by The Beatles a lot before Grandma's memorial. Grandma loved to hear him play this song. His guitar teacher, Justin, has been teaching him Beatles' songs since the beginning because they're hard... and they make him good! Zane has come a long way in less than one year, and he did a phenomenal job at the service. Thank you, Zane. I love you so much!

Grandma's Memorial Weekend

2011-07-25T15:12:00.000-07:00

We drove straight to Alameda, the day before Grandma's memorial service. The kids were THRILLED to get to spend the night in a hotel! We stayed at the Hilton, just minutes from Grandma's church. I wish I could say that we all had as much fun as the kids did... but a giggling Sullivan.... and an ice machine that EVERYONE in the hotel (and possibly surrounding hotels) visited ALL NIGHT LONG outside our door.... made for a long night. Sulli was finally obedient and went to sleep, and I'm pretty sure Will and I got a few minutes of sleep somewhere. But the highlight was watching "Water for Elephants" in our room. One perk of having a big family is that you're forced to buy two rooms that adjoin. Wait... IS that a perk? It is when you want to watch a movie. :)

It seemed too somber to take pictures during the memorial service... though I wish I had one of Zane playing "Blackbird." He did beautifully. And the Holy Spirit spoke through Will as he officiated the service from his heart. Will's aunt and uncle did a beautiful job of organizing the service and reception. The best part of the reception was the wide variety of Grandma's cookies, which the granddaughters made to remember her. I just got a few pictures of the kids at the reception, before we left Alameda for Uncle Steve and Aunt Julie's house in Nevada City. I love how kids can still find fun in the moment, even after a sad time. Here are the Powell and Bright kids being silly.

Titus gave Grandma some love.

The morning after we got to Nevada City, the kids made a beeline to the zip line. (There's a little playground too, and you're never too old for those.) Steve and Julie have just about everything you can think of on their property!

Yes, even Mom did it. It was fun.

Sulli was very upset that she was not big enough to zip line, but I finally got her to crack a smile. :)

Who is this new fellow in so many of our pictures?! Why, that is Sullivan's new hero and friend, Nick. He is Kristin's husband, and he is going to be a FABULOUS daddy. He spent hours with Sulli, blowing bubbles, swimming, running around... you name it. He's every kid's dream. Oh, and did I mention he jumped in the pool, fully clothed, to save Levi's life? Don't ask me what happened, since Levi knows how to swim. But it involved Levi panicking while trying not to let his ice cream sandwich drown, while falling off Shamu.... oh, it's complicated. So, thank you, Nick!!!

Sulli, Phinny and Nick

Oh, and here is "Fwenchy," the new pup Aunt Cindy brought Sulli, with Cousin Nick.

Aunt Cindy and Devaney paid special attention to our girl too. I think she was pretty much in Heaven this entire trip.

Oh, and let me take a moment to introduce Aunt Julie and Uncle Steve to you (it's been a while)... Steve is on the right of the man picture, next to his brother Jim (Will's dad) and Scott, my brother-in-law-in-law. Julie is on the right of the lady picture, next to Kate and Kari. They were both so hospitable, opening their lovely home up to all of the family members! Will and I and the kids were even given THEIR bedroom.... large enough for the 6 of us to sleep very comfortably. Thank you so much, Aunt and Uncle!

Mostly, though, we just hung around by the pool, eating too much, reminiscing and catching up on each other. It's a rare thing to get 22 family members under one roof for a weekend! (Is this backyard stunning, or what???)

Here are Kristin and Kate, both expecting. They are such cute mommies!!! Kate already has one baby, sweet Phineas.

This is the youngest of Will's 4 cousins, Karly (between Will's parents). She is in school in Portland, OR, where she is studying to become a natural doctor. Don't we need more of those!!

I love these pictures of Sullivan with little "Baby Boy" Ty. He is Kari's little boy, and he is a puddin'!

And, of course, we enjoyed watching the kids swim!!! Our boys were a tad shocked at how much colder the pool here was; they are spoiled with southern CA temperatures. But Steve and Julie have an awesome hot tub that's perfect for warming up in. (Thanks, Aunt and Uncle, for the fun pool toys you bought the kids... and for sending them home with us!!)

Evenings were spent in and around the kitchen, eating Uncle Steve's awesome BBQ and hanging out. What a wonderful time we had with everybody. Grandma would be so happy to know how we remembered her. She loved to bring people together during her life, and she also did just that after she went to be with Jesus.

Celebration of Marriage!!!

2011-07-14T21:58:00.001-07:00

There were lots of fabulous friends at this event; what a fun and wonderful evening! Here are some photos that were sent to me, so I am taking a moment to post them and celebrate my marriage to the love of my life.

And here is the couple of the hour: our sweet friends, Kim and Steve, who were the reason for... and hosts of... this party. They recently renewed their wedding vows in Maui and wanted to come home and celebrate what God has done in their marriage, with friends. Will and I are so blessed to be a part of their lives... and we are so blessed to be married to each other. Marriage is indeed a reason to celebrate!

Summer Camp

2011-07-14T21:51:00.000-07:00

I just learned that sending your child off to camp - even church camp - is not easy or fun at all. For me. Zane was ecstatic.... he couldn't wait! And I was happy for him, but I really, REALLY missed him. He was gone for 5 days, and the kids moped around with me. It just wasn't the same without our Zane. But, he had the time of his life and grew in so many ways.... so I'm glad he went. But I'm not looking forward to next year. (Here he is the morning he left.)

Cabanillas Family visit!

2011-07-14T21:34:00.000-07:00

My long-time friend (since 4th grade), Jody, her husband Marco and two adorable girls came for an overnight visit from San Diego, where they were visiting family. Jody lives in Colorado, so I don't see her much at all. I get so excited when she's coming to California! We enjoyed guacamole, margaritas, fish tacos and s'mores while catching up on each other's lives. I love how it always feels like no time has passed at all; we could still be those silly little girls who dressed alike and did everything together. How time flies. It was so much fun to see you, Jody, and your wonderful family.

The kids loved having Chloe and Ava over. They all swam, ate, played games and had a great time! Please come back soon, friends!

Praise Him with Dancing!

2011-07-14T21:10:00.001-07:00

July 1-3 was Dunamix's annual summer recital, Praise Him with Dancing. Sullivan and her pre-ballet class danced to "Morning." It was very precious. Titus makes me smile because he takes these performances very seriously. He's always my best dressed boy, donning a jacket again... and his po'boy too! I love how excited all 3 brothers are to see and cheer for their little sister.

At home, getting all dressed and made-up in Mama's bathroom is the best! When her make-up is on, Sulli stares at herself in the mirror with awe, like she's making a new little friend she's never seen before. It's so cute.

My least favorite part of any dance performance is the WAITING. Trying to keep lots of pint-sized girls occupied until it's their turn is challenging, to say the least. Sullivan is always one of the quiet ones, however, and she's quite happy to play with other girls' toys or color with other girls' pencils. :) This time it was great; the pre-ballet girls performed towards the beginning of the show, not the end like last time. That way, we could leave as soon as they were done! Brilliant!

Here the little girls wait anxiously in the hallway to enter backstage!

These pictures are from the rehearsal. There was no photography allowed during the actual recital performances.

Father's Day, 2011

2011-07-13T19:23:00.000-07:00

Father's Day was very laid back, with lots of eating, swimming, and more eating. I forgot to take pictures of dinner. But I did get a couple of brunch and the cake. I made Eggs Benedict with pancetta.... with champagne.... then coconut cream cake for later. Will looks deliriously happy. That's what too much food will do to a fella. We sure love you, Honey. You're the best dad in the world.

Odds 'n Ends

2011-07-13T19:04:00.001-07:00

Nonnie got Sulli this fedora. Is that cute, or what?

The boys are so proud of their newest Lego creations.

This is Sullivan's "monkey suit." It's the best swim accessory we've ever bought. It doesn't allow her to tip over or go under at all, and she is happy to bebop around in the pool in it all day long.

I love how Sulli ran into the house to fetch herself some books to read by the pool like Mama. So sweet.

Julia's Birthday

2011-07-13T18:43:00.000-07:00

Well, folks, it's that time again! Another birthday dinner... 3 of my favorite nights out of the year! We had Julia's birthday at my house and had a blast as always. Will and Allen kept the kids in the guest house, which was handy so someone could take our picture.

Kimberlee made her famous appetizer: tomatoes with goat cheese, pesto oil and walnuts. It's incredible!

And, Voila! Here's dinner. I made scallop gratins and Kimberlee made a delicious salad with sour cream dressing and fresh herbs. Yum. (Julia, as you can see I'm borrowing some of your pictures; I didn't get many of my own. :))

For dessert, I made Julia's favorite Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake. If you're a sweet and salty fan like we are, you would love this cake.

Party Crasher! Get out of our picture, Sweetie! ;)

Ah, there we go. I hope you enjoyed your dinner, Julia! We sure love you!

Final Game

2011-07-13T18:27:00.000-07:00

I was terrible about taking baseball pictures this season. So, I finally took my camera to the Mud Hens' final game, and I remembered why I never bring my camera. I can't get a good shot to save my life. But Zane knows we love and support him just the same. :)

And here is Zane's biggest fan. She is always cheering for her biggest brother. She loves to run right up to the fence and yell, "Go, Zaney!"

Memorial Day, 2011

2011-07-06T15:22:00.000-07:00

Mom and I enjoyed visiting and watching the kids swim with their Daddy. I love days like this.

Grandma had a good day and sat outside with us, just watching the kids swim and play. She seemed so happy. Little did we know that this would be the last picture we ever took of our sweet G.G.

We ended a great, relaxing day with a BBQ. My boys (all FOUR of them) are absolutely crazy about red meat. And they all love it practically still mooing. Don't get me wrong... I love my steak pleasantly pink and juicy, but the Powell men take it a little far for my taste. Anyways, we sure loved having Mom visit and hope she comes back real soon.

Holy Avocado!

2011-07-06T15:00:00.000-07:00

This is our new favorite Saturday morning pastime. There is something so rewarding about doing hard work that is productive, as a family. Everybody got a cut from the earnings too, which the kids loved. A family that picks together, stays together!

Hunter and Diego are the only family members who do nothing, whatsoever, to help.

Here is our small potatoes... I mean avocados... operation. The first time we picked, I actually drove 2 of these moving boxes over to McDaniel Fruit Company myself, with Mom and the boys, and sold the impressive load. I don't think these guys had ever seen some girl with avocados in her truck drive up before. They looked at me like I was from Mars. But I am not ashamed, and we have picked about half a ton. It's not much for a grove that should produce around 40,000 pounds a year, but we are just getting it back up and running, and it sure has been fun for our little family.

The Littlest Picker

2011-07-06T14:45:00.000-07:00

Notice the torn bag that left a little trail behind her.... ;)

First tooth lost for Levi!

2011-07-06T14:27:00.000-07:00

Icky, but cute. :) May 26, 2011

Level 2 Preparatory Black Belt

2011-06-25T15:38:00.000-07:00

Zane continues to progress well at Anointed Martial Arts, where he is learning Christ Jitsu. It's expensive and sometimes I get tired of taking Zane and Titus... and Levi too in the Fall... but I love everything they are learning. It's not just incredible discipline and self-defense, but loads of scripture memorization and Bible study work they do at home. The motto at Anointed is "Where Christ is Master." So you will never see the boys bowing down to an instructor. We just love it. So... once again.... off with the old and on with the new; this is how it went:

I love how intense he is, just waiting for his turn...

We all cheered as Zane let the other kids have it!

Fighting Mr. Rogers is always fun... NOT. Just ask Titus. But Zane doesn't seem to mind.

Zane always recites his scripture flawlessly at the end.

Congratulations, Zane! We love you and are always proud of you!

Uncle Bruce is fun!

2011-06-25T15:23:00.000-07:00

Bruce made a quick trip to see us and the new digs, and it happened to be when Mom was here too. She and I flew home from Cody's shower together. Bruce's trips are usually quick, but they're always very fun! The kids just LOVE to play with him.

Sulli is our precious little beach ball baby. The dirt on her face proves it's fun, no matter what... and who needs a beach?!

Look at all these muscles!

Sullivan's FOURTH Birthday!!!!

2011-06-16T13:56:00.000-07:00

On May 24th, our Sullivan Grace turned 4 years old. Seriously... would somebody tell me where the time goes??? I started this blog when she was born, and it does not seem like I've been at it for FOUR years. She's our baby! She can't be a little girl already... except that she is.

We had scallop gratins and caramelized red onion salad with blue cheese for Sulli's birthday dinner. I know it doesn't seem like kid party food... but sometimes the menu is all about the grown up guests. After all, Mom and Bruce were here! And, honestly, as weird as it sounds, my kids like fancy food.

The cake I made for Sullivan was delicious and whimsical! A friend sent me the recipe link because she knows I love to try new cakes. It's hard to describe, but I'll try. It is a dense and moist white cake. It has a layer between the cake layers of See's milk chocolate cherry cordials (they are the BEST). These are enrobed in fluffy, rich vanilla buttercream, which also covers the entire cake. Then chocolate ganache is poured all over the buttercream, to cover the cake completely. Then I crushed Oreo cookies to make crumbs and covered the cake with those. Top with a cherry. It was really incredible. My only complaint was that it did not cut easily like the pictures online. When I hit the cherry cordials, I ended up squishing the cake with my knife. Oh well... fabulous, nonetheless. Any my girl who loves cherries was happy.

Too many presents... too many pictures... so here are just a few. My favorites were lots of new clothes and shoes from Nonnie and Popsie.

Well, we all enjoyed this little family party. Sometimes I think the smallest, most intimate gatherings are the most memorable. They are the ones I remember the most from my childhood. Thank you, Mom and Bruce, for coming all this way and celebrating our precious Sulli with us!

Sweet

2011-06-16T13:54:00.000-07:00

I just love this face.

Summer Recital Practice

2011-06-16T13:25:00.000-07:00

I never take my camera to ballet and I miss a lot of cute things. Mom came with us while she was here and took these sweet pictures. I just love them.

OH BABY!!!

2011-06-03T15:41:00.000-07:00

On May 20, I flew out to Portland (by myself!) for Cody's baby shower the following morning. Her mother threw her the most elegant - and delicious - celebration! We had so much fun honoring the June arrival of Baby Boy Schuman, and it was wonderful to see several familiar faces from the wedding and other get-togethers over the past few years. What an absolutely lovely day. Here are us girls, right before leaving for the brunch. Isn't my sister one hot mama?!

Here we are out to dinner at Papa Haydn in downtown Portland. Bruce treated Mom and me to an absolutely fabulous meal... and dessert! What fun it was to celebrate Baby S. again that evening. It was a quick, but very special trip... and I thank you, B and C, for wanting me there and buying me a plane ticket. I love you both so much! See you again in JULY!!!!!

Mother's Day, 2011

2011-06-01T14:16:00.000-07:00

I got so many sweet gifts from my kids and from Will for Mother's Day... but here are the real GIFTS in my life... and my main reasons for living. God has given me a great calling. I am blessed beyond anything I could have ever dreamed of.

Will put together this spread for Mother's Day brunch. It was just amazing! He made his famous cowboy breakfast a little more elegant with the pastry, chocolate-dipped strawberries and almond champagne. Thank you, Sweetie!

And here are my favorite little people enjoying the amazing food! Oh, and my favorite champagne....

And here is another sweet mother... our GG. Sulli helped her unwrap a 3-pound box of candy from her son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Julie. I hope they know that WE end up eating most of the chocolate... not Grandma. We only WISH she were interested in eating still, especially high-calorie treats! So, thank you, S and J, from ALL of us!

Birthday with my Girls

2011-06-01T13:50:00.000-07:00

After a week of celebrating my b-day with the family, I got another celebration with my fellow musketeers! This tradition NEVER gets old and only gets better. I love them so much and am so thankful for great friendships!

Dinner was just insane. We had a divine fish dish, covered with grapefruit-fennel salsa, on a bed of couscous... with garlic marinated asparagus on the side. YUMMMMM!!!

Dessert was an incredibly delicious twosome: chocolate covered coconut macaroons (best I've ever had), courtesy of Kim.... and the most fabulous lemon tart on a coconut cookie crust (my mouth is watering just thinking about it!), courtesy of Julia! Unbelievable! Thank you, sweet friends, for yet another perfect birthday celebration!!!

My 38th Birthday!

2011-06-01T13:32:00.000-07:00

My family celebrated my birthday for about a week, as usual. Is there any other way to celebrate a birthday..... especially as they get bigger and bigger? I think not. We didn't take lots of pictures, but in a nutshell, we went out to lots of restaurants, did some super-fun shopping and ate an entire Costco sheet cake in one week. And most of that was me. Scary, I know. But I just have a thing for that fake, lardy buttercream frosting. MMMMMmmmmm..... Oh, and throw a 2-pound box of See's hand-picked chocolates from the kids in there.... and a box of fancy liqueur chocolates from my friend Kendall! I don't know how I don't weigh 500 pounds.

Sonora Easter

2011-05-14T11:40:00.000-07:00

Our family spent a really fun Easter weekend at the Powell ranch in beautiful Sonora. Saturday was a play day. The kids played baseball, shot Dad's rifle, and rode this 4-wheeler thing. All four of them were outside the entire day, except for Sulli who came in during the dangerous target practice and helped me bake a little. What a fun day! (If there aren't many pictures with the big boys, it's because I could never find them!)

Will's mom made me a chocolate cake for my birthday... a little early! I can never celebrate my birthday too much, so the more opportunities to eat cake, the better! Saturday night, we had a great dinner and the second half of my birthday cake. (Notice half is missing from Friday night when we actually celebrated it. ;))

After a very early sunrise service, which we all enjoyed, we came home to have an Easter egg hunt and breakfast. Sulli enjoyed hanging out with Grandpa, waiting for the eggs to be hidden outside.

OK, kids... go find the Easter eggs so we can eat Grandma's Creamed Eggs and Ham!

While the dudes went fishing down at the pond (a strange Easter activity!), Sullivan and I stayed in and played card games and dolls. Doesn't she look sweet in this darling outfit from her Nonnie?

Getting ready to dig in to our beautiful Easter dinner, featuring Standing Rib Roast! MMMmmm... thank you, Mama Jude!!

I made two desserts to end the holiday sweetly: Coconut Cream Pie and Peanut Butter White Chocolate Cream Pie. Here is the latter. One of our new favorites!!! And THANK YOU, Mama Jude and Papa Jim, for treating our family to such a wonderful Easter weekend. We had a lovely time!

The Sword of the Spirit

2011-04-29T13:35:00.001-07:00

Years ago, I told Zane about how I had some spiritually dark nightmares as a little girl and my Mom would open the Bible and put it by my bed. The dreams stopped instantly. God's Word is so powerful. Ever since then, Zane has kept his open Bible next to his bed at night... then the other boys shortly followed suit. It recently struck me that this is pretty awesome. I had to snap some pictures. This is what you will see every day and night in their rooms. I was especially moved when we were in Sonora for Easter. I went downstairs late one night to check on the boys, totally unaware that they had brought their Bibles. There they lay, sound asleep, each one next to his open Bible. Not one of them forgot to pack his Sword.

Zane's Bible is always open to whatever scripture we are memorizing at the moment: right now, John 15:1-7. We just finished learning Ephesians 6:10-18 (how fitting!). Zane has been getting up on his own early each morning for a while now, spending time in the Word. My heart swells with what God is doing in each of the boys' hearts. Nothing compares.

Titus and Levi's room: Swords methodically positioned.

Levi literally covers his head with the Word at night. I love how he balances it just right on his headboard. So sweet.

I'm not sure what the significance of Esther is to Levi, but it's usually open to this book. Levi loves to read his Bible each morning.... pretty impressive for a little guy who doesn't read too many big words yet!

Titus keeps his Bible on his windowsill, propped open by the blinds. He is passionate about this and is convinced it's the ONLY way to get a good night's sleep.

Like Zane, Titus has his Bible open to his memory passage. He tells me he reads it each morning. What diligent children! ;)

Let's take a closer look at Bunny. LOVED.

Any touching moment can be ruined by something like this. Oh, BOYS!!!

Dining room

2011-04-29T12:44:00.001-07:00

We just love our new dining room! It is cozy, with a capital C! It's especially wonderful with a fire in the fireplace. And the big windows with the trees outside make it so serene. I'm SO thankful.

Latest "adventure"

2011-04-28T13:52:00.000-07:00

So, we discovered a leaking pipe in Sullivan's bedroom wall. The plumber said it has been leaking for months, at least, and has saturated the whole wall, insulation and all. We found it when there were wet spots in her carpet! Will demolished the wall (between Sulli's room and the laundry room) by himself (to save money) and then had the Dry Force people come and spray the mold and leave their de-humidifiers. For weeks, Sulli has been our little roommate, sleeping on the love seat at the foot of our bed. She is quiet as a mouse, and I will be sad to see her leave. Her wall is now repaired, and we just have to paint and tack down the carpet.

Red Belt!!! (Titus)

2011-04-28T12:08:00.000-07:00

Titus recently earned his Red Belt in karate. He is progressing so quickly! Here he is, doing "Heaven" and "Earth" with his instructor, Mr. Kruger.

Here's Titus, confidently reciting his memory verses... perfectly!

We are so proud of our Red Belt! It won't be long before he is a Preparatory Black, like his big brother! Go, Titus!!!

We celebrated our warrior's accomplishments and went out to dinner!

Home, Sweet Home

2011-04-20T13:20:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures of our new place... the front, from the front door and of the pool out back. It is so peaceful... we STILL can't believe we live here!

Will and I assembled and stained this picnic table for our front porch. I love it because we can eat outside, under the trees, and the kids can do their school work out there, enjoying the fresh air. Even on a hot day, the temperature is perfect on the porch because it's completely shaded and there's always a nice ocean breeze. At night, it's fun to sit out and listen the croaking frogs in the creek!

And, of course, Levi can be found in his favorite thinking spot almost every afternoon after lunch.

Mud Hens #10

2011-04-20T13:12:00.001-07:00

I can't believe I haven't taken any pictures this TVALL season... except one. I have been to several games, though, and Zane is the best Mud Hen in the whole, wide world. Horrible name.... GREAT team!

Great Aunt Betty

2011-04-20T11:53:00.000-07:00

We had my great Aunt Betty over for dinner a little while ago. She lives in Carlsbad and doesn't drive, so Will enjoys picking her up, and she LOVES Will. They enjoy talking during the hour-long drive each way. Betty was excited to see our new place, and we thoroughly enjoyed having her. She is 90 this year and reminds me so much of my Fauv (her brother). Their mannerisms are so similar, that I find myself fighting back tears once in a while, as I watch her. I miss him so much.

She brought old fashioned toys for the kids, which they loved. Sulli also enjoyed playing with her cane. Levi made her a sweet note and taped on a few coins, in typical Levi-fashion.

Thank you, Eden...

2011-04-20T11:42:00.001-07:00

... for the precious skirt you made for Sullivan! We love it!

ELEVEN!!!

2011-04-07T13:43:00.000-07:00

On Zane's birthday, March 8th, we took the day off of school and went out to dinner that night. He chose Islands because he likes their burgers and loves to watch surfing while he eats. As you can see, the kids were in rare form. (Notice Titus's new Beaver Cleaver face.)

After dinner out, we came home for presents. Nonnie and Popsie strike again! Levi wasn't the only one to get 2 new western shirts and a cowboy hat! Zane's favorite was the one with the guns on the back, of course! Thanks, N and P!

From us, Zane finally has two things every boy needs: a Swiss Army Knife and an iPod Touch.

And here he is, modeling the gun shirt... with his gun.

Zane's Best Buds

2011-04-07T12:53:00.000-07:00

Skylar came a little early to Zane's party, which was so nice because he's such a special friend... and I got to hang out with his mom and sister too.

For Zane's 11th birthday party, he wanted to invite his two best friends for a sleep-over. So, Skylar and Matt - along with Titus's best friend David (Matt's brother) came over for pizza, cake, movies and craziness! And CRAZINESS it was. But even us girls enjoyed the party.

Time for cake. :) Zane requested Chocolate cake with Peanut Butter-cream filling and Chocolate Buttercream frosting (and I threw the Reese's in to really freak him out)!

MMMMMmmmmmm...... You know you want some. ;)

The next morning the guys entertained themselves outside by running around, playing in the creek...

... and catching frogs. Skylar was probably our frog-catching champion. He caught a bunch the night before too. All of the boys are so adorable and outdoorsey.

Buddies

Even little Sulli enjoyed time outside with the guys. Actually, it looks like she's been crying, but I don't know why because Will took the picture. Such a sweetie.

Happy Birthday, Levi!!!

2011-03-30T04:12:00.000-07:00

The birthday boy wanted a "family weekend" to celebrate. He wanted to go bowling, out to a movie, and to spend time in our new home! So we did just that. Movie day, though, ended up at home with Toy Story 3, which we hadn't seen yet. There was nothing good at the theatre. Bowling was a blast... we all loved it.

Our hungry bowling champion (he won the first game!) wanted In 'N Out afterwards. We were happy to oblige. We frequent this joint so much, I'm pretty sure they know us.

Waiting for cake... (Sweet Grandma spends most of her time in bed these days, so getting a picture of her with her hair lying down is challenging.)

So, it was finally cake time. I made chocolate layer cake with Nutella buttercream. YUM! I'm a Nutella fanatic, so I thought it would make a pretty fantastic frosting, and I was right. Everybody loved it! Here's to the sweetest little 6-year-old I know.

That special day....

2011-03-30T04:07:00.000-07:00

I went back to dig up the picture of Levi, the day he asked Jesus to save him. Oh, happy day!!!