The Reenee Roo

For a limited time only...

2009-02-16T15:41:00.000-08:00

Set: Big Bubba's BBQ, Visalia, CA
Purpose: My 28 birthday...
Main Characters: Me (the only person seen), Shaheen (camera woman), Lu and J (scared for life because they were forced to watch)
Background:
Shay: Oh, we are GETTING you on that bull!
I'm going to go with, "It was free because it was my birthday and I desperately needed redemption from the last bull ride back in LA at the SaddleRanch."
*This was the second ride, I just did so well the first time, the operator had me ride again... yeah, that's it, I rode sooooo well. As per usual as the night goes on I tend to get more animated and less inhibited. That is why this video will only be online for a limited time for a limited amount of people.
**Please note the ending....Shaheen zoomed in extra special just for a special effect. ... Yup.

For those of you brave souls that have actually ridden a bull, you'll believe me when I say, "Those seats are a trap! They are freakin' SLIP-ER-Y!" For those of you cowards that have yet to take a ride of the wild side, you're not allowed to judge me.

who do i chase?

2008-12-25T23:08:00.000-08:00

Pets and Christmas shots.

2008-12-25T20:01:00.000-08:00

Does she looked surprised? Horrified? Special? Haha, to be honest I told her to make a face... I can see a little Breckenridge in the look actually....
Here I believe Tucker was explaining to Travis in what order he was going to open his presents... so strategic.

This one is like puddy in my hands. You want him to smile you just have to know that the magic words, "Hey Tuck, don't smile. Don't you do it!! Don't smile!! Hey stop smiling!!" Works like a charm. He tries so hard not to smile, he can't resist my powers of persuasion.

The first signs of torture in my new home.... Doesn't she just look delighted to be my pet!?
When I'm working in the office, she works at chasing her tail that she catches glimpses of through the leaves of my plant. Oh yeah, and then she jumps out, either onto the back of chair or onto the floor and the dirt that she had been playing in goes either all over me or all over my floor. I've taken to putting a shirt as a skirt around the base of the plant, covering up the dirt, problem solver, thank you very much.
When the puppy is free, this is usually the look Annie has as the pup is toddling about. You can just the words anticipation and attack written in her eyes.
The manzanita bush under attack. I had to strategically tie it to the end table to prevent further damage to it's already delicate state. Now, since there is no hope of it toppling to the ground, Annie, the cat, is already bored with it.
Tucker waiting patiently by the tree. When asked what he was doing his response was simple.
"I'm not doing anything." OR "I'm not touching anything." He sat there for a good 15 minutes with his arms crossed, just waiting, much different from last year.

Mom's fantastic new archway that has been loitering in her garage since last Christmas Sale Holiday... it's actually working at this point, it was going off and on due to the rain we had. Such bad weather.... whatcha gonna do.....

Her name is Kiera, which is an irish name that means black or dark. Of course she will probably never know her real name because Darin calls her BlackE and dad calls her Katie. ??? I don't know either.

Temporary puppy sitter. This little tyke can sleep anywhere and in any position.... observe...

Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight...

Degrees of Boredom...

2008-12-03T14:07:00.000-08:00

One could not possibly describe the severity of the boredom that is surrounding my fellow teachers and I at this very moment. I have, in the course of the last hour, imagined all the possible avenues of torture I would rather be pursuing. There's the happy go lucky "rack 'em" method (Braveheart style), the don't scream disembowel method, oooh, how about the Rambo method of leave a serrated knife in a pit of coals and then burn some of your skin off, piece by piece. Okay, so that was a bit of run-on sentence, and yes I am a teacher, but when you are forced into a computer lab and strapped to a chair with no offer of sustinance like chocolate, you don't care much about grammer. I was among two of the chosen to attempt a breach in the system and raid the office of the VP for chocolate, probabl for my stealthlike capabilities. They are well known in these parts.

One bit of exciting news for me is that I will be traveling to a home later this afternoon to look at some black lab puppies. Christmas time would be when I would bring one home. Plenty of time to get my yard puppy ready. Anywho, we're actually doing something now, so ... later!

PROPERTY UPDATES FOR CASA DE POWELL

2008-09-14T16:53:00.000-07:00

Pick a vine...any vine.... "What is it?" You might ask.... "You're guess is as good as ours," we'd say. Among the twisty, grasshopper tempting vines, are raspberries, blackberries, grapes, (blueberries yet to be planted), and I'm sure there is something I left out...but you get the picture...

This the grandkids new fantasy tower where they like to engage in games that include Peter Pan, Wendy, Captain Hook and if Jenny is around she takes on the role of Nana. If I'm around, and I don't know how this worked out, but I'm Smee.... Don't know how I feel about that yet...

Dad's putting green. His daily goal is to sink 6 in a row before he allows himself to stop and go in... unless it's really hot, then it's the next one in...

METAL BUILDING, the shop, THE HANGER, the money pit.... All names for this building. It just recently acquired that last name of MP when they were putting the doors on and mom was yelling, "Doors!!! We have doors!! Look we have doors!" It reminded me of the scene in the Money Pit where their stairs were finally put in and Walter (Tom Hanks) was yelling, "Stairs!! We have stairs!! Honey! We have stairs...." Anyway... too much movie trivia?

We've obviously put it to good use though. Every child has their own personal square for their storage. I might have two....
GRASS!!!! WE HAVE GRASS!!!!! Just on one side though (for now) Check out that Royal Empress Tree on the right.... it used to look like a little bamboo stick... my, my, how they grow.

They grow up so fast....

I've never seen a leaf this big before...so I need to put up a comparison...

The old gazebo that was next to our pool at our old house is now in the field at the new house... with a little update.... like stones, ground cover, soon to be jasmine covered corners....

This next section is part of Fantasy/Fairy Land...

Fancy bird houses....

Reading Fairies.... she looks pretty comfortable to me...
The family orchard. I told mom and dad that I would not quit my job to work the fruit stand they were going to have to set up on the side of the road to get rid of all this fruit they would be produing within the next few years. Crazy!!! We all need to research how well fruit ships to Oregon.....

All fruit EXCEPT the fruit produced by this tree. This tree is all mine...hands off Bub!

HHhmmmmm Pomegranite......My mouth is watering and my clothes are staining just thinking about it. Reminds me of the times we lived in Woodlake and I would venture out to the pomegranite tree and throw a nice big one against the pump house fence to break it open so I go eat it like a greedy little pig in the bushes. I would walk as innocently as I could back to the house and mom would tell me NOT to be eating the pomegranates like that. "Like what? I wasn't eating pomegranites..." I said with my red stained face and hands..... Thank goodness I've grown smarter over the years. I finally started washing my face off in the pool before I went inside.....

2008-09-14T15:03:00.000-07:00

BUILD YOUR OWN PUMPKINS!!!!!
Presenting our model... Jennifer Powell

and her assistant.... Abigail Powell! Wow! That girl can sure work a hoe....

Mom throws the seeds .... Abby pushes them into the ground...Tucker is no doubt doing manly t.v. watching...

Here we are a good month in.... still no blossoms.... still two months to go though.
THE ASSIGNMENT.... Load up as many red tomatoes as you can in this red bucket...

With no more left to pick they headed out into the fields to show grandma city what they had accomplished...

Typical male....making it harder than it needs to be...

To his credit, the bucket was quite full and they were very proud of their accomplishment

So proud in fact, that Tucker had to show off his muscles.... as Miss Abby took the load off by herself. Must have been really heavy.........

They all have the same look on their faces.....hhhhmmmm tomatoes.... I can hear it now.

GRADUATION AT GRIZZLY

Give me my stuff and get me out of here!!!

Kayla's graduation/family reunion from Grizzly in June, 2008

Costas n'Armenalegus

2007-08-01T20:40:00.000-07:00

I had to put three pictures together to get this picture, so if it looks a little distorted, that's why. I haven't taken any new pictures of the house house since we moved in and the only ones I have show the other people's furniture and stuff in it, so I'll wait to take more pictures to give you the inside tour. For now, you'll have to settle for pool pics.

This is the smaller pool...snug as a bug in a rug, or a water strider in an insect infested swamp? Not sure which image goes best here. Feel free to offer you word choice.

Travis was the first to dive into the depths (all nine feet of 'em). You may not be able to see it from this picture, but fear has gripped him, and he's as still as a statue watching his life flash before him.

...which he managed to recover from.

"SCREWDRIVER!"

Even the "mature adults" were enticed by the crystal blue water, aching to drench even the orneriest of sibilings.....

Is that Darin pointing his toes in anticipation for impact? Hehe...

Bruce and Becky flew their avion down around central and southern California a few weeks ago and decided to stop in for some show boatin', high-flying, don't try this at home, air twistin' stunts, in the pool of course. I only with I had the Flop heard round the world, by Bruce Breck on a still image. But the video is much more IMPACTFUL. I'll attempt to get that on later.

I, of course, look like an idiot.....WHO TOOK THIS PICTURE?!
AAAHHHHHHH! ADORABLE! (you shoulda seen after she got her hair wet...yikes!) ;P

On a side note, Zorro's new favorite sleeping spot. Mom was putting the kitchen supplies away and had this cupboard open, but when she went back to fill the shelf, it was already filled.

I'm not sure what I like more about this picture. That it's a picture of my dad and Bobo, or if it's that they both have this far off look in their eyes, remembering the good ol' days of motorcycle ridin', poppin' wheelies, peeing on tires....wait...anyway, LOVE IT!

NOW, for the moment you've all been waiting for! Enough of the old, cripple, four legged freaks! Gimme some little ones to smile at! FYI, Tucker is now to be referred to as Red Power Ranger and nothing else. He can keep himself quite entertained in the pool, if you hear someone talking to himself, it's more than likely him. He puffs himself up, as shown below, threatens the ever iminate dangerous animals in the water and then pounces. For the sake of my hand and sanity I haven't included the series of pictures that would best ownt up to this description, but like always, it's coming.

Then we have Miss Abigail. She's just figured out that she can swim better under the water with this mask on than above it and has proved to be quite a little tadpole in the water. Always smiling, as soon as she gets "out for good" she wants to rinse her feet off real quick and gets right back in the water. Kids.

How we do snow in California...

2007-05-15T22:10:00.000-07:00

So, on Dad's 58th birthday, Darin, Jenny, and the kids made their way up to the mountains with a shovel and the bed of a huge pickup truck in toe. The latter they filled up with the former and brought it home for all to enjoy. On that day, what a sight to see, our whole family participating (in some form or another) in the ever so classic snowball fight. Now there were no ambushes, per say, because there was only one snow mound to choose from. This also made the percentages of direct hits higher than the most average snowball fights that I've heard of. The first to partake in this chilling even where the three below. What else are big sisters good for if not for hiding behind their 4 year old brothers?

After such a betrayal, Tucker choose nothing less than an appropriate response.... He prepared to fire back.

Since he couldn't seem to manage breaking this monster into smaller mini monsters, he compromised.

And decided to throw the whole thing! What a mighty heave for this youngster, let's watch and see what happens next!

Nothing short of a direct hit! Baseball may be in his future yet, a little center field action?

Ah, he is learning fast. There is nothing quite like an attack from behind. That's it Tuck, get 'em when their not lookin'.

Enter Grandmaciti. Now I know what you're thinking, what could she possibly have to offer this developing massacre?

She was the new target! Which unfortunately here, you can only see the aftermath, and another thought developing in the angels from the underground.

Then Grandmaciti did what Grandmaciti does best....she strikes back!! Direct hit! What a throw!

Just imagine it...you're four years old, enjoying the numbing of your 10 little fingers and the fact that your grandmaciti just took a snowball in the chest by your own hand. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, she turns on you! Grandmaciti's dark side is revealed! She gathers up the hardest piece of snow she can find, and it's all meant for you, the youngest grandson she has (might ever have). How could you have been so blind? So careless with you love? Traitor!!

What you're seeing now is the only obvious solution for payback. Tears. Pack your bags! We're going on a guilt trip!

Now, there are so many things going on in this picture, I'm not sure what to point out first. Could be the fact that Grandmaciti is trying a different tactic on her grandson. Strangulation. Or, I could point out that I'm being hunted like an innocent gazelle on the plains, and Abigail is the lioness. Just look at the hunger in her eyes...

At this point they've switched from using their hands and just using the bowl to throw the snow.

Again, lioness and gazelle.

The blurry thing in the middle of the picture, at the bottom of that garage door is the direct hit that Kayla is about to receive in the shoulder. Point for Travis! He can throw, but he needs to work on his speed. What's not show in these pictures, is when the gazelle turns to the huntress and chases down the long haired track star wannabe (and I say that with all the love in the world, but Travis, you gotta work on that back kick).

I believe something along the lines of, "Get back here you little twerp," was floating along the wind at this point. What is it about the snow that just brings out the best in people?

Typical scene here, Kayla runnin' away from Mama bear. No mercy. The only rule Jenny plays by, God help us all...

Looks like Abby got a little taste of her own medicine. Although it could quite possibly be a ploy to lure Mama bear into the picture from a backside attack. I'll have to look through my video files and see if I can catch the replay. They hyenas may be installing their wounded, surround and attack option.

All in all a great birthday for Dad, and I'll fish out the video that shows his part in this whole debacle. This is rather late at night and I hope you've all enjoyed the California novice snowball fight in February.

WHO GOES THERE?.....

2007-03-04T18:43:00.000-08:00

There is a first time for everything. Today was the first time that the grandkids (and Jenny) came aboard The Green Pearl. It was pickup time at the convenience dock...

Tucker didn't want to have anything to do with what was going on outside the safety of the houseboat. He was very content to stay put at the table in the center of everything. That was until...

He saw how much fun Abby was having outside with the binoculars. It was all over from there. Front and center.

He kept wanting to know, "Did I get a fish yet?"

"No Tuck."

"Dadda, did I get a fish yet?"

"No buddy."

"Momma, did I get a fish yet?"

"Nope, not yet."

I'm sure this picture was taken during a tickling attack. Everyone looks a little suspicious to me.

On the way home, Abigail took her role as Drama Queen of the family. They were all going to die horrible deaths.

2007-03-03T23:44:00.000-08:00

Looking down on us...

2007-03-03T23:24:00.000-08:00

I try to remember to take my camera with me where ever I go, just in case. I know some of you are probably thinking to yourself, or laughing by yourself, alone in your little home, "yeah, sure she carries her camera everywhere, we see the evidence every four months when she posts another few pictures." Well I do, and I'm glad I did this morning. This is what I see when I drive to my school in Lindsay every morning. Especially when there has been a storm. The sun was hitting the right clouds in such a way.... what do you see when you look at this picture? I love my drive.

The contender

2007-03-03T19:22:00.000-08:00

He's concentrating rather hard I think.

Tucker kept saying, "Grandpop, move your hittor, I can't get it in!" Ha! He'll learn soon enough, no free rides with this grandpop.

... to wet the appetite...

2007-03-02T06:43:00.000-08:00

More to come...

Any guesses on his opponant?

Independence Day

2006-12-02T21:25:00.000-08:00

Back to the 4th of July we go....
The festivities started off just as they should with a gathering of family at the old people's place for food and swimming. Here is Chaos and Mom enjoying a dry pair of clothes after the previous splashing and wet clothes.

God love Abby, she has the best faces! One of the rare (in order to make it special) times that I take her up into my room and bathroom to play in the magic treasure chest or put on makeup. You can give your opinion here, does that shade of lipstick look a little too dark?

But boy can she make that eyebrow dance!

Some time after the stuffing of our faces had occurred and all the water had been removed from the ear canal (by jumping on one leg of course, Thanks Robbie!) we headed out to Roberto's humble abode. Where we set the ground afire!

I like this picture because you can kind of see Abby in the corner, she looks like a ghost! Tucker had a pair of 3-D glasses for some reason, so I thought I'd see how a picture would come out through the 3D eyes.

Rob's homemade hot dog cooker...

Look closely now, I had him put it up against his white shirt for a reason. He said he was going to make a "girl" hot dog cooker....hhmmmm, one can only wonder.

The village idiot...

2006-11-22T17:50:00.000-08:00

(Karina) I'll take personal sabatage for $400 Bob...

(Bob)Okay, let's see what we have.....for $400 under personal sabatage...The village idiot.

(Karina) What am I according to YouTube?

(bells, whistles, horns, bells, whistles, horns)!!!!!

(Bob) That's ccccooooorrect! You are the village idiot, next time read the fine print. Jack@$$

The video should work now incase ya'll were wondering what the hoopLA was about.

Confuscious say: "Never argue with the village idiot, people watching may not be able to tell the difference."

2006-11-19T22:15:00.000-08:00

Wee Whistler

I don't know if this is a good thing for me to be doing. I have too much of an addictive personality to get involved with the wonders of technology. Too late...

A wrinkle in time

2006-11-18T15:41:00.000-08:00

Before you look on for your viewing pleasure, a few details. At 8:00PM Fri., Nov. 17, 2006, I began downloading pictures from my internet lacking computer to CDs to transfer to the parent's computer. At 11:30, I couldn't keep my eyes open and the first CD I made still wasn't transfering completely to the computer: INVALID MSDOS FUNCTION......CRAP....CRAP IS WHAT IT IS! Anywho, starting again at 8:00AM this morning, I was still trying to make the CD's work, but to keep my sanity, however slow and painful it was, I switched to using my 128MB USBport thingy. Besides the hundred plus pictures I had the same amount of videos it seemed. So for those of you who might feel my pain.....at 2:00PM this afternoon I was nearly done transfering when Rob stopped by and fixed my computer. So...all that was for nothing, I'm on my computer now and it's just so easy.

A WRINKLE IN TIME: I last left of at Tucker's birthday and I believe the next big hoo rah was Mother's day. I'll be updating from that point in time, so we'll see how long that takes.....NO COMMENTS PLEASE...now that I'm have painless accessibility.

I like to call this picture, CHILDREN OF THE CORN, Rob's corn was just getting going when we went out to his place for Mother's Day, and while we were watching the triplets get the remote control airplane out of the tree, we kept ourselves entertained in the corn.

For those of you who don't know Tucker that well, he is obsessed with bugs. Especially Lady Bugs.

This could quite possibly be their first lecture by Grandpop, I'm not quite sure. It could also be a conspiracy being born between his two little minions that do his dirty work for him. When I say dirty work, I mean, go push Grandma city in the pool, or go squirt__________ with this hose, or go pour this glass of water on....It doesn't really matter, any mischevious act will do.

The best part though is when they turn it back around on him. "Grandpop can I please have that water gun?"
"Only if you promise not to squirt me."
"I promise Grandpop, I won't squirt you...."
SCREAMS, RUNNING, LAUGHTER
"ABBY, you lied to me! You better run now, I'm gettin' the hose!"
THIS IS A LIKELY CONVERSATION YOU MIGHT WITNESS WHEN THOSE THREE AND WATER GET TOGETHER.

After the home made grapling hook, attached to the end of a rope, being slung around by the Powell men, didn't work in it's attempts to get the airplane out of the tree by simply tugging on it, someone got the brilliant idea to attached it to the underside of Dad's new truck. Who can see how bad this could go? Brand new truck, nice tight, taunt rope, attached to multiple large metal hooks stuck in a tree.... luckily nothing was embedded in the back of the truck, but the airplane remains in the tree. ANYWHO, Tucker wanted to go help the redneck men of my family and was invited to do so.

Then felt extremely special when allowed to wear the hat of his sire. REDNECK IN TRAININ' is what I like to call this one.

Again, notice the squirt gun. There was a brief struggle over power...

To which Rob won. Unloaded all the water into a five year old's face, then very generously gave her back the gun.

It took Abby a minute to realize that she wasn't going to get her revenge and so when to fill up in the pool Rob had set up for the kids.

Here is Cherol in the middle of shaking her head at Rob for his antics. I believe she kept reminding him how old Abby and Tucker were.

Unfortunately for Tucker, he thought Kunkle Rob wouldn't be mean to him, so his attempt to get water on kunkle Rob landed him a head first dunking into the pool.

His reaction was the biggest shocker of them all. Why would he cry? It's not like that was mean to do to a three year old?

But no need to feel sorry for our little Tuck, for it was only two minutes later he had refilled a glass and was heading over to mom to get her wet. RASCALS I TELL YOU!

Tucker and "Grandpa Hat" inbetween water runs.

Never before seen...

2006-09-20T13:08:00.000-07:00

I would just like to sincerely apologize from every inch of my beating heart for not blogging until now. Eventhough these pictures are no where near recent, I guestimated that my blogger name was on the chopping block with that shiny, freshly sharpened, 12-inch blade gleaming only inches away. I know there is no defense suitable enough to dig myself out of this cavern of ill will, so I've decided to put photographs deep from the vault of objectionable material online for all to see!!! Once my mamojamma computer can work to her full capacity, I will more than gladly share pieces of my monotomous life with my loving family. Till then, CHEERS!

Mom and Jenny at Disneyland when Jenny was pregnant with Abigail I believe.

Mom being herself, playing with cherries.

A little thing I like to call LOVE SAC flying squirrel. Don't try this at home...unless, of course, you have a love sac.

Doesn't Abby look like one of those stuffed animals with the HUGE heads?

Okay, first, I did not put this picture up to make anyone cry, not my intention. Second, I love this picture of Granddad and Tucker! Granddad looks amazing and Tucker is just his old cute baby fat self. I believe this was taken about two years ago when Granddad came down to visit. They got along well, and as Darin would say, "With a name like Tucker Patrick Henry Powell, he's going to be a supreme court justice someday." Wouldn't Granddad just love that.

Never before seen...

2006-09-20T12:29:00.000-07:00

Tucker's birthday party

2006-08-12T17:51:00.000-07:00

Dinosaur's have become Tucker's favorite thing to talk about, play with, watch on t.v., you name it! This poster is now hanging on the back of his bedroom door.

Tucker got a bug catcher safari kit for his birthday. Being the big sis that she is Abby decided she would try it out for him. We found that bugs are always around you don't want them to be and never around when you do.

Tucker was too busy trying blow on his birthday whistle to care, which come to find out had a tear in it.

Easter out at Rob's

2006-08-12T17:04:00.000-07:00

Grandpop's contribution to the holiday was this bounce house. Tucker was very reluctant at first to even go in, but he got the hang of it. The best part of it is that it inflates and deflates in around five minutes.

It's all still the same, static hair once you enter the contraption!

Tucker was extremely content watching Mom and Abby "fly" their kites

Fezzik is Tucker's best friend in the whole world...so he says.

This isn't a trick picture, it really is Rob on Travis' bike, and yes Travis is 12.

Happiest place on Earth...take two!

2006-04-13T13:13:00.000-07:00

This is the second little heathen in desperate need of that leash. I honestly can't imagine having gone through that weekend without those leashes, and even then it was shear luck that we didn't toss them into the "spooky forest" of Pirates.

Now, if that pose doesn't emmulate pure excitement from riding on a flying elephant with grandm-city, then I just don't know what does. It was tough getting some of these pictures since they WERE flying around in circles, but you could hear the cackles comin' round the corner.

Nothin' like kickin' back in the ol' teacup with the bro, catchin a few rays... Now, don't be fooled by this display of pacificity, for it was only momentary and then they became the snow huskies again, pullin' and leanin' into those leashes.

Dina! Dina! It's a...it's a... it's a waaale! Tucker still seems to studder when he's really excited about something. I mean come on, he's almost three, an aunt of my education and stature should only expect the brightest neices and nephews right? Wow...I really DO know how to B.S.

You almost can't tell who is having more fun on the spinning cups. I'm pretty sure Abby was determined to make grandma-city sick. There are other pictures with her sticking her tongue out with obvious determination to go faster.

Let's say it together now.....Aaaawwwww! I'm so proud of my family and their, I'll be it long overdue, expirimentation with smiling in pictures! And for a Powell man to actually show his teeth...by God...it's a bloody miracle. Honestly though...one of my favorite pictures to date.

No, no, you're not halucinating, that's Darin smiling again! I may have shoved mom out of the way and thrown Kayla and Tucker in there before his face had an adverse reaction to the emotion, but hey, what ever it takes.

This picture doesn't even begin to describe the marvelous job this woman did playing the Evil Queen from Snow White. It's really a story to be told in person, but we waited in line like we had for other not so important characters to get Abby's autograph book signed. All the while Abby can't take her eyes off of the other people going to see the Queen, stoically silent. It really was a "penny for your thoughts?" kind of moment. When it was her turn, she didn't run up to the Queen with excitment but rather looked back at Jenny to make sure she was still there. Slowly she walked up and handed her book to the Queen only to take a step back and look over her shoulder at all of us again. "Is this your princess book?" she asks with obvious distain for the cover filled with princess'. Abby was completely silent for the first time all day and mearly shook her head in concurance. "Hhmm, I dispise Princess'. Especially that daughter of mine. Tell me...Abby...do you like me?" I've never seen a girl shake her head up and down so fast.

Nearing the end of the jungle cruise and the evenings rides, Tucker was content just to sit and watch on Jenny's arm out at the animals in the water, I don't even think he had energy to point. He was just making noises that I assume were words. If you'll take notice to the red ring around his mouth, he had one of those huge suckers that took him nearly all day to eat, but he was downright determined to finish it. He also is wearing a beany underneath his hood with "GRUMPY" written across the top, only appropriate I thought.

Last but not least, after the insane downpour of rain, I think mom was the only one with working poncho left, so she looks the driest of us all at this point. The two heathen seeds had fallen asleep in their strollers, summoning all the energy for the next days adventure. I should have kept them up all night...California Adventure pictures to come soon....month or two sound about right? ;)

Happiest place on Earth...most of the time.

2006-04-13T07:36:00.000-07:00

Let the chaos begin....

Dumbo was the first ride of the day, but certainly not the last. Brought back memories of waiting in line for another special little girl, me :D, for two hours to ride Dumbo. Now that's dedication.
NOTE: A blue leash extending from the back of Miss Abigail to the hands of Grandma-city. Make no mistake, the other little monster had one too.

**OKAY, NO BODY GET SNIPPY ON ME NOW......I've been trying to download other pictures to this dang thing, but my computer doesn't seem to want to cooperate and will never quite finish uploading the other pictures. So, before I throw it out the window, I'm going to shut it down for a while and try again later. More and much better to come. I promise!

Warming up to the flash...

2006-02-09T08:49:00.000-08:00

Quite possibly my favorite picture ever!

Typical Dad, can't just smile, has to try and give me bunny ears, but I put up a fight!

Just what every girl needs.......they're awesome by the way.

You just missed Tucker's tongue trying to pick off one of the yellow roses.

The quarter century bash....

2006-02-09T08:19:00.000-08:00

On your left you'll see the birthday cake that Jamie (Dub) and Chris got me for my birthday. Whose birthday? Oh, yeah, ... MY birthday. Of course when asked what flavor I wanted for my birthday, I was told "anything but strawberry", which of course is my favorite. But since "no one else likes it" and "that requires a special order" I had to choose something else (which so happened I didn't even get that!) BITTER MUCH? Yeah, you could say that. But as you can see to the right, a very lovely birthday cake from my family in V-town that .... what? Was strawberry? No way! They don't have to special order it?.........okay I'm done with that. Just kiddin' you guys! Lovely cake, thanks for caring!

As you can see, as soon as I went and got my camera to take pictues of my beautiful family, all of their smiles fell off and it was like I just became invisible. So what did that do? That only made me want to take MORE pictures! Don't they know better by now. Since I'm posting them now, maybe that will teach them to smile next time, so they won't have to waste their breath threatening me to take their pictures off. My family......all scared of the flash!

Darin's eyes automatically closed behind his glasses....

My dad wouldn't even look at me....

I almost scared my grandpa to death, falling back into the wall...

Rob...I'm not quite sure what he was doing... trying to act like Frankenstein?

A misnumbering perhaps?

2006-01-27T23:39:00.000-08:00

Nope! No misnumbering here! If you look hard enough at this well developed picture I took with my cell phone, you can see how much the price increases when you ask for a full service gas ordeal. Fortunately for us, all I had to do was flip my hair and bat my eyelashes for the attendant and we got free window cleaning. A TWO DOLLAR A GALLON INCREASE! That is just plain and simple madness right there folks.

No introduction needed

2006-01-27T23:31:00.000-08:00

Comments? Thoughts? Concerns?

The Science Discovery Center...Pin Board Series

2006-01-26T23:56:00.000-08:00

This is what the pin board looked like before the Breckenridges attacked it, and when I say attacked it, I mean....

ATTACKED IT!

Well these otta keep me out of the dog house with the blog nazi's for a while. I'll have some goooood ones after this weekend I'm sure. Best friends wedding and a birthday? Whew Hoo!

Flying Squirrel

2006-01-26T23:52:00.000-08:00

For those of you who don't know about the JUMPIN' LOVE SACK game, here is just a taste of what you are missing.

A quarter century...

2006-01-26T23:42:00.000-08:00

Okay, so if you're reading this before the 29th, you can say it, "premature much?" Jamie and Chris, sweet angels that they are, bought me this beautiful icecream cake from the Robins of Baskin. Cookies and Cream icecream on Vanilla cake...hhhmmmmm, and the best part was that they sang happy birthday to me! Nevermind that I had to put my own candle in it, light it, and imagine that they were excited to be singing to me. Of course it could have been the camera that I had pointing at them to record it all......boy, I wish I could put videos on this thing....

The Getty

2006-01-26T23:36:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago, the Dubster, Vonnie and I went to the Getty Museum. As you can see their was a beautiful sunset view out over the ocean and L.A. But this place was pretty amazing, next time anyone comes to visit me in L.A. this will be on the ticket stub.

Mr. Scooter Pants

2006-01-26T23:23:00.000-08:00

Because I feel so bad for not posting in sooooo long, and since Bob will never look at my blog, I thought it appropriate to put this picture of him for everyone to see. We went ultimate bowling the other night and this was the pre-party...

How to achieve cooperation..

2005-12-30T11:43:00.000-08:00

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

2005-12-30T11:40:00.000-08:00

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

2005-12-30T11:21:00.000-08:00

RACECAR DRIVER

FIREWOMEN - POLICE

FIREMAN

ASTRONAUT

Grandpop's advice

2005-12-30T11:17:00.000-08:00

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

2005-12-30T11:11:00.000-08:00

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!!

2005-12-30T11:06:00.000-08:00

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

2005-12-30T11:03:00.000-08:00

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

2005-12-30T10:34:00.000-08:00

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...

2005-12-30T10:30:00.000-08:00

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...

2005-12-30T10:20:00.000-08:00

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

2005-12-30T10:14:00.000-08:00

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...

2005-12-11T22:25:00.000-08:00

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?

2005-12-08T18:35:00.000-08:00

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 ...

2005-12-08T18:28:00.000-08:00

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...

2005-12-08T18:24:00.000-08:00

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

2005-12-08T00:28:00.000-08:00

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

2005-12-02T17:42:00.000-08:00

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...