How to achieve cooperation..

This was a babysitting night, and how to get a little boy to smile for a picture that he never likes to take....let him press the buttons! Which is why I am probably not so much in the picture.

Bug eyes

Can we say intrigued much? With just a press of a button and a turn of a key, this tabletop santa would lite up and it would start to snow. Fair enough to say Abby couldn't get enough.

Career choices

RACECAR DRIVER



FIREWOMEN - POLICE



FIREMAN



ASTRONAUT

Grandpop's advice

Ah, the grandpop/grandson bonding moment over new and exciting toys. Tucker knew who to go to by the end of the night to get those hard to open packages ripped apart.

Rob and Cherol

It always seems to get a picture of this man you have to strategically position the camera in his direction and know when to shoot. This picture actually was focused on Tucker, but AH HA! Got Rob and Cherol as a bonus. Hehehe.

Everything princess!!

Talk about an overload of princess stimulation. Anything with a princess, especially Cinderella, or a castle on it, Abby wants it. She was very excited about her new cup and wanted to try it out right away with, "fresh water and ice please." What a polite child. What a thirsty child. Tucker got a spiderman cup and wanted, "applejuice, please." They had that stuff down in two seconds and wanted more. Opening presents can be quite an ordeal for the youngsters, but we're building up their stamina slowly but surely.

Abby's "scare the snakes away" doll

Being four years old and sleeping in a land of bugs, big and small, a little girl is bound to have some nightmares once her imagination gets the hang of making things from shadows. So, mom bought her this doll for her to sleep with, a companion to help ward off all the monsters. As you can see Tucker looking on wondering if he would rather have that doll or the T T T T-rex he just opened. We all know what Darin would have said.

First Dinosaur present

Little did Tucker know, this was only the first of many dinosaur's he was going to recieve

The right half of the dinner table...

Okay, from right to left, we have Rob, Cherol, Travis, McKayla, and Abigail, with a little bit of Jenny again. Boy she can't get herself in the pictures enough huh? I'm sure you'll note mother and father are nowhere to be seen. Cowards

Left half of dinner table...

Ok, Grandpa, myself, Darin, Tucker (who really just wanted to look out the window at the Santa Claus waiving his hand) and Jennifer. As you can see mom took a page from Becky's book on the lights above the table. Jenny and I set it up after we had the table cloth and stuff already on the table. Crap everywhere you're askin?! Yep sure was! So we had to do it all over again, but I think it turned out quite nice. Another fun bit of info, the window to the far left we had to open so Tucker would be entertained (cause you KNOW he didn't want to sit at that table and EAT?). Besides the blinds opening up the window itself was up because it was getting a little stuffy, so what does dad do? Predictable father of mine, he sneaks out from his position at head of the table and goes outside. Where he crouches around to the open window with Tucker's face pressed up against it and AAAGGGGHHHHHH! Well that sent Tucker back on his behind and right back up again to see the Santa Clause with Grandpop. So dad took the kids outside to look at the lights, oh the big softy he's becoming. LET NO ONE BE FOOLED!!

The Powell family Christmas tree

Although it may seem a little blurry, I chose this picture because it shows off the tree in the best light/haze. Mom get's her tree's flocked every year and each year brings a new theme. This year it was silver and blue's. Next year I think we've decided on a sort of Renaissance theme. Can't wait to share it with the Breckenridges, the Peil's and the Bank's!!! Wholy cow I'm so excited, I just made myself light headed.......

Beverly Hills style...

Ruth's Chris Steak House.......oh dear god....U.S. PRIME, GRADE A, STEAK and sweet potato casserole. The coolest people in L.A. got this place a rockin' on this fine Sunday evening. Hotty Scotty, Lind "smear", mua, Gailster, Dub, and Chris, all hail, the gang's all here!

Who wants another Stawberry Long Island?

This one goes out to my friends back home that love to have high school reunions every weekend at that double hockey stick place downtown. Ah, good times.

The numbers are out ...

This is the 456 comin' at ya in full effect. Somewhere in the land of La Hermosa, on a night full of possibilities that ended in the same ol' song and dance. Earplugs? Earplugs! Nighty night.

A night out at the midstate fair...

Okay, new picture of Shay and myself. Always good times at the midstate fair. Yeehaw!!

HERE! Are you HAPPY now?!! Since I'm not special (motivated) enough to have a Christmas tree, so I have meticulously placed the lights with obvious Christmas cheer, with the ornaments strung from the ceiling with tender loving care, there will be stockings to come for all of those who live here. OOOooo, I'm good.

Cheer Party in Tualatin, OR

Funny faces, mine and Robbies at Robin's Starbuck's Cheer party where there were police and firemen playing with little kids everywhere. Talk about melting your heart...