PSF and a photography lesson

One of our Thanksgiving traditions is taking a photo for our annual Christmas card.

The picture on the card (or pictures if it's one of those years where getting my children to all look at the camera at the same time with pleasant if not smiling expressions on their faces is just not going to happen forcing me to use individual, albeit adorable, photographs) always looks wonderful.

But, for every amazing photo we get, there are the ones that just don't make it.

So, I give you the anti-Christmas card photos.

One rule of a good Christmas card photo is that the subjects have to be able to stand still.

Sadly, my boys haven't acquired that skill yet.

Then, of course, there's the traditional someone-looks-drunk-photo. This time it was Melody. Those candy canes go straight to their heads, you know.

Looking at the camera is also another strong Christmas card photo characteristic.

Not happening here

and happening a little too much here.

Then there's the picture where one person is looking but the other two aren't.

Then one looks (kind of) and one closes his eyes and one decides to just leave.

And then this. This is the "I'm done" shot. Which, incidentally, reminds me of this. *Shudder*

Fortunately these are not the only shots we got...stay tuned!


Hosted by Cecily and Rachael

Thanksgiving at the beach

Yes, I realize that Thanksgiving was weeks ago. And that Christmas is in full swing.

It is because Christmas is in full swing that I've been unable to blog about our Thanksgiving at the beach.

However, I'm going to post a few pictures, just to let you all know what's so much fun about Thanksgiving at the beach.

Hunting for sea shells. Who doesn't love that?!

Writing your name in the sand

or having someone write your name in the sand

Digging in the sand


and thinking about eating it. (And later, actually eating it.)


Having your daddy jump over your head, repeatedly, to try and distract you from either running into the water or eating sand

Running towards the water to fill up your bucket

Running to give your Captain a big hug!

Thanks for such a wonderful Thanksgiving, Captain and P3!

PSF and thankful

I truly have an infinite number of things to be thankful for.

I'm pretty sure I would run out of paper if I tried to write them all down. Or I would get a hand cramp.

However, these three children are at the top of my list.

(Sorry the picture quality isn't that great. Since I forgot to pack my camera cord, I took these with my cellphone.)

They follow very closely behind their wonderful daddy and my handsome husband.

Yes, there is a plethora of blessings in the Powell household.


Hosted by Cecily

snow or sand?

This is where were are celebrating Thanksgiving.

We walked outside and Melody exclaimed, "wook at all da snow!"

Too bad Charlie believed her. He was in for a surprise when he tasted that first mouthful. Yes, I said first.

Sorry for the poor picture quality. I forgot camera cord so I can't download any of my pictures. This is from my cell phone.

So far we are having a great time! We have played in the sand, eaten sand, collected shells, shoveled sand, and Melody has seen several whales.

No one else has seen whales, but we have seen dolphins. Jack had a special treat yesterday; he went sailing and enjoyed a dolphin show up close.

Today we're expecting more beach fun and lunch at our favorite place, Bud and Alley's. We will be attempting to take a family photo for our Christmas card this afternoon. I'm prepared with many bribes so let's hope we get a good one!

vacation and swimming

While you are reading this, I am sitting on a beach such as this, sunning myself next to my husband.

We each have one of these.

We are in Cancun for a little belated Anniversary trip while Grammy and Granddaddy watch the children for the weekend. This is our first trip in over 4 years that we've taken without any children (either externally or in utero). We are pumped!

Thank you Grammy and Granddaddy!! I know we will have a great time and I hope you do too!

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I have been wanting to post these pictures for a while, and since I'm out of town, I figured this would be the perfect time.

Jack is a child that loves the water. As long as nothing above his neck gets wet. As you can imagine, teaching him to swim has been quite the challenge. We have been really working with him all summer and given him lessons as well.

I'm proud to say he's now a full fledged swimmer and I have the photos to prove it! Way to go, Jack! He's really grown up in so many ways this year. 5 is just an amazing number for him.

For the record, that's not his beer on the side of the pool!

The Powell Beach Experience - My Version

I had a fabulous wonderful amazing absolutely perfect trip!

Quality time with my husband, including two nights out and getting together with old friends.

Lots of fun time with these cuties!

Spending time with my dad and mom.
(OMG! Charlie is still eating sand...did he find some in my dad's shirt!?)

Several "Vacations" on the beach.

A little quality time with my mom while we engaged in our favorite hobby; shopping.
(Do you like the new addition to my shoe collection?)

Sitting out on the balcony enjoying the view.

The Verdict: I've always said the beach is my favorite place on Earth and I still believe it!

If you haven't read about the rest of my family's experience, scroll on down....

PSF - The Powell Beach Experience - Charlie's Version

These series of pictures were taken pretty much the exact moment Charlie touched the sand.

Hmmmm, this looks tasty.

A little crunchy but so far so good.

What the heck is this stuff??

Maybe this bite will be better.

And pretty much any time Charlie was on the sand, he was eating it.

Except in this picture.
He took a bite right after I snapped it.


And if we tried to keep him from touching sand, this was his reaction.
Pleasant, no?
So, he ended up being held most of the time.

Charlie's verdict; The beach? Pretty tasty!


Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

(If you haven't read Alex, Jack, and Melody's versions, scroll on down...)

The Powell Beach Experience - Melody's Version

Melody, generally, is not a cautious child. However, the drama came out at the beach. At first, she was very wary of the sand and insisted on being held.

When I refused to hold her any longer, she settled for sitting calmly on a towel.

Soon, boredom got the best of her and she was experimenting with the sand and her bucket.


And it wasn't long before she joined Jack on a sea shell hunt.


And thus began Melody's love affair with the beach.

She had a blast jumping in the waves with Mommy.
She loved when the waves would wash up and bury her feet.
I swear I have never seen this child stand still for so long.
She loved Daddy's birthday Oreos.
And (since I know you're all wondering) she loved the hat. In fact, my little fashionista wore it the two days preceding our beach trip as well and has worn it since.
The verdict; Melody thinks the beach was a jumpin' good time!

(If you missed Alex and Jack's version, scroll on down...)