The Powers of Two - Rock Duo

The girls are constantly scheming about creating a band. The conceptual part of the task they enjoy, the actual musical part of the task they ignore. It's alright, they've done enough damage to my guitars already. However, if they were to start a band and needed an album cover I've got a few ideas...

And if there's ever a time that Georgia wants to become a Gangsta we've got that covered...

The Prettiest Cake

For documentation's sake, I think this is the prettiest cake I've ever seen.  Julie made this flower garden cake for Ella's 3rd birthday.

Mr. Potato Chip Guy

Another one of our neighbors is moving from the neighborhood. He's the local Potato Chip dispensary for the kids. Parker and Georgia have been mooching free bags of potato chips for several years now. Unfortunately Ron and Beverly are moving away. 

They were good neighbors for us so we're bummed they're going. However, from a family cholesterol perspective we're saying "woo-hoo". Cheetos are dangerous.

Parker's Spelling Test

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So far Parker has received nothing less than 100% on every test.  Looks like they need to put "easy" on the next word list.

A Typical Saturday Night

I thought I would document a typical Saturday night at the Powers house.

The guys usually let me play band with them. Sometimes we come up with really funny song ideas or lyrics.   We've learned that if we don't turn on the computer and record them (no matter how bad), we can't remember how we played it the next day.

After a couple hours we usually end up on the couch playing Wii trivia.  

"Louscious" (Jeff) is always the winner.

Parker's 7th Birthday

I made matching PJ's for Parker and her doll.  She picked out the fabric.

Our baby girl turned 7 yesterday.  Parker is growing up so fast.  She has always been ahead of the curve; doing everything early.  At this age, she is as independent as ever; rarely needing much instruction on her homework, reading incredibly well,  fixing her own hair, working the TV remote control like a pro, surfing YouTube (I didn’t know she was doing this on the tablet and hence set down some firm rules and warnings).

For her birthday this year, I embraced the large party idea and proceeded to invite 30 children to our home for a birthday party. Of course 11 of these kids are family so the number jumped to 30 real quick when you count our close friends and neighbors.   A few kids ended up sick so we ended up with 26 children to entertain.

The highlight of the party was the Treasure hunt by far.  I had something simple in mind, but once my creative husband got involved, there were word puzzles, funny sign clues, satellite aerial photos of the neighborhood, phone calls and tongue twisters involved in the game. 

Bella, Peach & Georgie

The cake of choice this year was a panda bear.  Parker was a little upset I couldn’t make a mama panda with baby pandas riding on its’ back. 

This is what she wanted.

  I told her it was just too difficult for me, which she didn’t really believe.  I ended up making this.

This is what she got.

The party went really well overall.  Parker received such thoughtful gifts from her friends and family.  Some of the highlights were a super furry, cozy sleeping bag from Grandma Dahl, a  Trip to Toys R Us with Grandma Powers to pick out a gift of her choice (AG doll outfit and art kit), Aunt Rebecca got her a video camera. She got matching dolly and me pajamas from Alora; from her friends she received Lego kits, art supplies, and Barbies.   In the evening, when Parker was playing with her gifts she said to me, "Mom, I want to have a smaller party next year.  I mean, I got so many gifts....I don't deserve this many gifts!"  She said this out of gratefulness and humility which are two of Parker's most wonderful traits.  That girl is truly a "peach".

Ali, Ella, PJ,Tobias, Alora, Ephraim, Brooklyn, Daphne, Georgia, Bella

Random Acts of Photography

Random acts of silliness occur all the time at our house. It’s usually induced by the girls. The moment you give them an inch of frivolity they take a foot-long sub of ludicrous folly. When this happens I usually end up with a re-injured shoulder.

But it hurts so good.

The Matching Pajama Twins

An excellent version of the Gangam Style Dance.

I don't know how this started but all I can say is...help.

 

This is a Christmas Card outtake. It started as a nice, sweet photo but devolved to this...

Ugh.

After further review of the Christmas Card outtakes it seems she was doing that "magical" face of hers during our photo shoot as well. Double-Ugh. 

I'm pretty sure that look on my face is pain. I need to protect myself better.

The camera catches some of these moments but then there’s the ones that are missed. And missed they will be.

Christmas 2012

We had a wonderful Christmas holiday this year.  It started off with a trip to Lake Nacimento to meet up with Mitra, Paolo and baby Marcello.  It was cold, cold, cold... but oh so beautiful there!

I like to call this one 'Out for a Walk - City Mom v. Suburban Mom'

Xmas Card 2012

Christmas 2012

 The American Girl doll. I did not see this coming. My girls have never been as much as into dolls as other girls her age. But…bang, that all changed. I had never even heard of an American Girl doll until a few weeks ago. Now when I mention it to people they all know about their little sub-culture and the store in L.A. and the American Girl restaurant. 

We’ve done a great job shielding our girls from fast food. I realized this yesterday when shopping for Laura with the girls. They ran across this in the toy aisle and were unfazed. They could care less about McDonald’s. Exactly what their marketing department does not want. Ha! Take that you soulless product-placement advertising bastards.

We’re Hamburger Habit people.  

Every year is the same and I feel it again. Answering the question, "what do you want for christmas?" Well, here are some thoughts...