Monday, April 25, 2011

Hoppy Easter!

This weekend was jam packed with Easter activities. So, I'll just post some pictures for you to enjoy. Haahaa! Not much funny happened, we were much too busy to notice if it did.

Easter Eggs we colored.

Easter Egg hunt at church. Hailee decided to sit this one out since, well, you know, she is a teenager. She tells me that with an eyeroll. LOL!







Easter Sunday.

Every year at our church, the kids decorate the cross. Being Catholic for 29 years, this was something strange when I first saw it being done, but it is now one of my favorite parts of Easter. I love going to our "new" church (no longer catholic) and seeing the decorated cross. I played with the sky on a photo editing site and thought this looks pretty cool.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

The Emergency Kit

Last night we were supposed to get "the storm of the century" the way the weathermen were acting. Severe thunderstorms and the possibility of a tornado. Great, a sleepless night, much like the night before. Where we live, the tornado sirens go off as soon as a storm starts brewing. No one here takes the sirens seriously - unless you are a kid. We were even chatting on facebook making fun of the storms and teasing about twisters sweeping us away and being found "in the rubble with stubble". That still makes me laugh to type that.

Anyway, as predicted, the sirens started going off before it started to rain. No biggie. I told the kids they would hear the sirens and not to freak. They had flash lights for when the power would go out. It always does here, no storm needed. I turned on the news and it was just a warning for the thunderstorms that were on the way. I went to the girls room to let them know it's ok and I was going to bed. The boys were sound asleep.

A few minutes later, all 4 kids came into our room, with the dog and all of their worldly possessions. Sirens were sounding, thunderstorms were in full effect and the wind had picked up big time. I turn on the TV and sure enough we have a tornado warning. The funny thing is though, the weathermen were saying it probably wouldn't happen, but because the wind was blowing so fast, they issued a warning for the entire viewing area anyway. *SIGH* All this for no reason. Whatever, better safe than sorry. I don't mind my kids coming into my room when they feel scared, so we listened to John snore (he had no idea the kids and dog were even in the room) and watched the weather report.

I looked in the girls "emergency kits" they packed. I was shocked at the differences in what these two packed. In Hanna's bag (the 10 year old), there was her nebulizer, albuterol, pictures of my Mom, extra insulin for me, her blankie, a stuffed animal, a cross she received from our Pastor almost 6 years ago and a wallet with more change in it than I'd care to count. Time to look in Hailee's bag! Hanna was laughing hard and rolling her eyes when I looked in Hailee's bag. I knew this was going to be good. In Hailee's bag (the 13 year old), I found her camera, cell phone, charger, make up, make up remover, zit cream, flat iron and toilet paper. I had to explain that if there was a tornado, we'd be without power so none of these things would be needed. I was cracking up. She responds with "Even in an emergency, you gotta look good and still be able to wipe your butt."

Monday, April 18, 2011

Let me get serious for a minute.

It's not often that I am serious. I don't like being serious, there is too much stress in the "real world" to read about it on a blog or on facebook, but today, I'm serious.

I learned this morning that someone from our church passed away very unexpectedly last night. He was a great man, very involved in church, always greeted us with a smile and even commented to me how great it was to see us back in church. We were AWOL for a while. He didn't say it to make us feel uncomfortable, he said it because he was truly happy to see us back. He made EVERYONE feel welcome, even if you have never stepped foot in the church doors before. I didn't know a lot about him or his wife, I only knew that they were both great people, had a decent sized family and loved their church family. Woody will be missed by so many people. I can't imagine what his wife is going through today...and will continue to go through for some time now. I hope she knows how many lives Woody has touched, just by being him. I'm saddened by the news of his passing, as I'm sure a lot of others are as well.

This made me realize just how short life is, how it can change in an instant. Woody's death wasn't planned, it wasn't supposed to happen now. All I can think about is my husband. Does he realize what he means to me, to us? Does he know how much we count on him? Do I tell him enough how wonderful I think he is? Do I tell him and show him how much I love him? I know that the sound of him snoring at night makes me go crazy and I want nothing but to put the pillow over his face to stop him from doing it...but how would I feel if the snoring stopped? I don't think I could go on. Well, obviously, I would have to, but how?

My Dad passed away when I was 21, I watched my Mom let herself go after losing him. She passed away 10 years after him. For some reason, probably because I was caught up in being a new wife, trying to start my own family, I didn't realize what my Mom went through. It didn't really seem like life was really short. My dad was only 47 years old when he died. For some reason, at 21, I didn't see any of this. Now, it's all I can think about. 47 years old. That would be 11 years from now. I can't imagine leaving my kids and my life ending before it even begins. Why I see it today, I have no idea.

If you know me, you know I'm not a mushy, lovey dovey person. I rarely show affection towards people other than our kids. Here I sit though, wondering, have I told John enough? I know I haven't. Heck, I was screaming at him all night to turn over and STFU. Today, I sit here thankful he is answering my text messages. I look at the beautiful roses he got me last night and think "Thank you, God, for bringing him into my life"...but do I tell HIM that? Nope.

So, with that, I'll tell him more, I'll try to stop bitching about his snoring, and I won't take him for granted. I'll show him how thankful I am to have him in my life, I'll show him and tell him how much I really love him. How much I admire him and how proud I am of him. I don't think he could ever fully understand how much he means to me, or even know how much I truly love him. I don't think there are enough ways to tell him, enough words in the dictionary. He is the kind of man people dream of having. Hard working, loving, caring, spoils me...and I take it for granted on some days. I realized today it's time I start showing him, because, God forbid, what if tomorrow never comes?

Hug your loved ones...

Saturday, April 16, 2011

I just don't even know what to say.

Joey and Hanna were in his room playing hospital. Joey was the patient with a head injury. You see, Dominic shot Joey in the head with his toy gun. The same toy gun he held to my forehead this morning and started shooting at me (as I slept) and sweetly asked for breakfast.

Having no bandages in the hospital, Joey resorted to the closest thing he could find.


The wide eyes...that was the expression when I told him what his bandage is really used for!!! You just can't make this stuff up.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

He pooped it out, Mom!

Ahhh, my boys. Oh how I love my boys. They are starting to fight almost as bad as the girls do. Dominic can be a total stinker and Joey just asks for it. It's like his payback from being so evil when he was 4. I kind of just sit back and laugh at those two fighting. Although, I do have to referee their arguments and fights more than I do the girls. Dominic will bite Joey the minute he gets a chance, and Joey will slap himself and scream "Mooom, Dominic hit me."

Today, the fight is over a pencil cap eraser. Joey was doing homework and Dominic came up behind him, grabbed the eraser off of his pencil and took off running like the devil. He even has the evil laugh to go with it. Joey immediately screams and runs after him, making Nic laugh even harder. It was funny to watch. I'll admit that.

Nic pretended to eat the eraser, which sent Joey into a crying, screaming fit. Really, who cries over an eraser? So, I asked Nic where it was, he told me it was on the floor. I kind of believed he ate it, he has been known to do worse things. I asked him to show it to me. He brought it in, just like my good little boy. Haaahaa!

I walked over to Joey and handed it to Joey. He wouldn't touch it and was giving me the stink eye. I have no idea what that was about so I had to ask. The answer "He pooped it out, Mom! I am not touching that nasty thing, just throw it away right now! Are you trying to kill me by giving me something from his butt?"

Yes, yes I am Joey, poop kills...you didn't know?

Just another day in the Powell house.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Whoa! What happened here???

Just 6 months ago, our oldest daughter looked like, well, a typical 13 year old, I think anyway. She still looked young, but like she was just starting to grow up. She at lest still looked like a kid, certainly not like a teenager. Oh, she had the hormones and attitude to go with a teenager, just not the looks. Here is a picture taken of her in October. The month she turned 13.

6 months later, I have no idea who this young woman is. She kinda looks like our daughter, she has the teenager attitude our daughter has...hummm, she even talks like her. I have to check her phone to see who she is, because our sweet girl is attached to that phone the minute the school bell rings. What do you know? This girl has the same phone and she gets into my van. It MUST be our daughter. Anyway, this is my Lee Lee. Taken this weekend, in April...just 6 months after the first picture above.

Friday, April 8, 2011

The Green Toe...

Really, you just have to love Joey. His stories amaze me.

Last night we were sitting down eating dinner and he tells us, out of no where, all about his green toe. We joked for a while, kind of like making this out to be some super hero. The Green Toe, with a yellow cape. We had no idea what he was talking about, but we let him talk, he was getting excited the more he was telling us. And to be honest, we were all zoning in and out and only catching part of his story.

Finally, I started paying close attention to what he was saying. "OMG Joe, do you have another ingrown toe nail? Is this what you mean by your green toe?" Dear God, I'm ready to gag, this is at dinner and I can totally picture now what he may be referring to.

"Yep, but don't worry, Mom. I squeezed all the green and yellow blood out. I'M A MAN!!!!"

That was it...the end of dinner. Everyone was finished. Maybe he is the key to weight loss? I'm still shuddering over this story.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

This can't be good...

This morning I had to run to the store to get some toilet paper. Yeah, I know, how can you actually wait until there is no more on the roll? Anyway, Nic Dominic and I ran to CVS since I have a gift card to use up. He loves to be a big helper, so he asked to carry the toilet paper. It is almost as big as he is, but he insists on carrying it through the store. We had to stop several times before getting to the check out because #1, the package was huge, and #2, he saw some bright and shiny items. No big deal, we aren't in any hurry, so we take our time and I let him look at whatever he wants to look at.

As we are walking, he starts talking about going potty like a big boy. We have this conversation at least 900 times a day, surely one day he will be completely potty trained, right? So, we walk and we talk.

Out of no where, Dominic tells me he doesn't need toilet paper, he will pee and poop in his pull up. I had to remind him there are 5 other people in our house who do not wear diapers or pull ups, so we need the toilet paper. I can see the wheels spinning in his little mind, I know he's thinking something...so I wait for it.

Nothing. Humm, surely he is going to ask or say something. Right? Nope, something else caught his eye. YES! I'm off the hook with this one!

Finally he decides he has had enough looking and we can go pay. FUN TIMES! He gets to hold the receipt, and he loves that as much as carrying groceries or toilet paper around. He's an odd ball, that's for sure.

At the cash register, there is a young woman cashier. She comments to him about what a big boy he is for helping his mommy. He smiled his little "shy" smile and then hid behind me. That's typical Dominic. As I am getting my gift card out, he comes back around and says "Mommy needs it to wipe her butt. She doesn't poop in pull ups." God, let this ground open up and swallow me!!! I tried to play it off cool, like I didn't hear him, I look at the cashier and hand her my gift card, and she is laughing so hard, her eyes are welling up with tears! All I could do is smile and tell her to have a nice day, all she could do was nod.

Yep, that is just one part of the Everyday life in

the Powell house!

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

DON'T CALL ME NIC!!!!

Those were the words shouted to me from the 3 year old this morning. He told me he will never be called Nic again! "I am Dominic, a big boy. I go to school and I sleep in a big boy bed. I NOT Nic!"

Fine, I can try to call him Dominic, although, since finding out he was a boy during an ultrasound, I have called him Nic. Even Mr. Crafty, who was totally against calling him Nic, has, on occasion, called him Nic. I guess we will put a stop to that A.S.A.P. Although, after this little conversation (read that as him screaming at me, not talking, he is in a horrible mood), I asked him where "big boys" go to the potty. He happily tells me that big boys go potty in the bathroom. Absolutely! He's right. So, I ask, "Where do YOU go to the bathroom?" and he answers with "mostly in my pull ups"!

Obviously, I will not be winning this conversation.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Let the fights begin!!!

And why not? It was only 7:00 a.m., why not let the girls go ahead and fight? Everyone is up anyway, so I'll stay out of this one. I'll let them work it out on their own. To be totally honest, unless there is blood involved, I have told them to deal with it on their own.

What is it that the girls are fighting over this early? Pre wrap! You know, the stuff athletes use that now all the girls use for hair bands. Here is a picture below if you don't know what it is. And if you don't, consider yourself lucky because you clearly do not have kids fighting over it at 7:00 a.m.

As I let them fight over it, I can hear Hanna begging Hailee to let her have some of it. Oh no, you can't pry that stuff away from Hailee. I don't see the big deal, it's a good size roll of foam. So, I've had it with the bickering. I override Hailee's "no" ruling and tell Hanna she can have some. Then I hear a THUD - - I wait for the tears, sure one of them knocked the other to the floor in their room. Nothing. Ahhh, nice! Hailee just threw the roll at Hanna and it hit the floor. I'm fine with that, like I said, it's early and I don't want to deal with this anyway. Then I hear it. Here it comes! The 13 year old attitude, all over the prewrap. They start going at it again because Hailee is mumbling to Hanna that she will look stupid with the prewrap, the exact same prewrap that Hailee wears. Really, these two will fight about anything.

I kinda giggle inside when I hear them fighting, I remember PLENTY of fights with my sister. We are 3 years apart (I'm the baby) and so are Hailee and Hanna. We had some doozies and lets be real here, we still have arguments with each other. We now resolve the problems in about 5 seconds, instead with fist fighting or clawing each other with our nails. Our husbands don't understand how we can argue so bad or so much with each other and then in a 5 second turn around, we are back to being best friends. I think we drive them a little crazy.

I try to tell my girls that one day, they will be best friends too. They disagree. At their age, I would also disagree that my sister would one day be my best friend. But she is, I would go to the ends of the earth for her, and I know she would do the same for me.

Here is a picture of me and my sis together. Enjoy it because it's probably one of the only pictures you will see of me.

Monday, April 4, 2011

My first post on this blog!

While I thought that my first post would be a funny one, with all that Joey has to say, it's mostly a serious post. OH well, it is what it is. Enjoy!


Today it is raining and nasty out. Instead of making Hanna and Joey walk home from the corner, I decided to pick them up so they wouldn't get wet. I see Hanna getting off of the bus and I see that she is crying. I also notice a band aid on her knee and figured that is why she is crying. She will get just a scratch and she thinks she needs to be rushed to the ER. Of course, getting stitches the amount of times she has, I guess she worries. LOL!

She gets into my van and the flood gates open. I asked if she was ok, DUH, dumb thing to do with an emotional girl. She starts to tell me the story of today. She forgot one of her books and left it in her locker. So, she got a check. She is crying because of ONE check, her first check of the school year. It really means nothing, you have to have 3, I believe, before anything even happens. All these tears over a silly check for forgetting a book. Now, first, I'll say this, she had set a goal to go all year without getting any checks. That means no forgotten homework, no behavior reminders, no forgotten books...you get the idea. We are 2 months away from the end of the year and she got her first check. It just broke her little heart. I keep trying to tell her, as we sit in the van, not to worry, it isn't a big deal, just don't get another one. Joey just dies laughing. I asked what was so funny and he comes back with "Seriously, a check! Hanna, I got a detention and didn't even CARE and I'm only in the first grade!"

I try to ignore the band aid on Hanna's knee because I know that's going to bring more tears. We get into the house and Joey turns and lifts up his shirt showing me two big band aids on his belly. He starts telling me how he was jumping up and down in school and scratched his belly on the metal ledge of the chalk board. He tells me that I should be expecting an e-mail from his teacher about it. No tears, he just tells it like it is. Hanna hears this and comes running back to me, again, crying her eyes out. She has one little band aid and and a teeny scratch. She rips off the band aid and has to have me check it out all the while more tears are streaming down her face. I think that might be why she is so skinny! It's all those tears she cries. All the water weight is gone!