Happy Birthday Tucker!

My little guy is 3 today! I think of him as a baby-which I sometimes call him when putting him to bed. "Goodnight baby," to which he quickly replies, "I'm a big boy." Yes he is.
Tucker,
You are my sunshine. You brighten everyone's day who meets you. You are beautiful-to which he would reply, "I am handsome." You are a mini Trent. You are so smart. You are so observant. You are so ticklish. You are a miracle. You give my life more meaning. You are funny, and silly, and strong, and playful. You are imaginitive. You don't like being dirty. You are left handed. You are very good at pronunciating your words and practice on the ones you have a hard time with. Sometime's L's in the middle of a word turn into D's (Chardotte, Kyder, baddoon) and you'll keep trying until you say it right. When you get really excited sometimes you will stutter the first word of your sentence ( I I I I went down the slide). You have a beautiful singing voice and love music. It brings me pure joy to hear you sing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. You love bathtime-you always have. You love chocolate milk when you wake up and before you go to sleep. You love drawing and impress me with the drawings on your doodle pad. You love water, but haven't learned to swim quite yet. You are fearless in the water. Yesterday you woke up afraid of the thunder. You love being outside. We got so much time, just the two of us, I wish we would always be buds. You are petite. You touch my heart. You do the crab walk. You say "Guess what?" You make your little sister laugh. You take her toys. You are learning to share. You love carrots and dip. You love chocolate. You love your family.
Tucker, you have a special place in my heart. You made me a mother. You will always be my baby. I love watching you grow and being here for all of it. You are an amazing little boy and I love ever talent, every flaw and every quirk. I love you and I always will!

My baby is getting so big!

Charlotte is doing so much! She is starting to sleep better, she only woke up once last night! She is learning to cry herself to sleep- it's so hard to let her cry, but so worth it. Her crawling gets better every day, and now she can go from her back to her belly to her hands and knees and from there to a sitting position all by herself. She is always trying to pull herself up to stand by pulling on my clothes or using the couch or lazyboys. A few times I have found her in her bed sitting up which I find so comical. My little baby sitting there waiting for me. This morning she was crying in her bed and I was trying to let her cry herself to sleep. When I realized it wasn't happening and I went in to get her I found her STANDING-holding the rail, of course. It was darling. She was so mad because at this age they don't know how to get down from standing. I wish I had gotten a picture. I will post new ones of the kids soon. We will be having Tucker birthday celebrations this weekend with plenty of pistures. I can't believe he will be 3! Aren't I too young to have a 3 year old?

Smudge

Mark is the 7th child. He is 17 now (about 7 and 1/2) years younger than me. I think of him as a beoutiful round little brunette boy following Teddy wherever he went.
One story I remember with Mark was when he was really little, probably around 18 months. We lived in California, my parents weren't home. The doorbell rang, Sarah told me to stay by Mark while she got the door. But I wanted to see who was at the door and ran after her. Mark screams. We go back to find he had picked up the jagged top of a tin can out of the trash and sliced his finger. He had to get stitches and I've always felt guilty about that.
When Mark was getting older while I still lived at home, I was a teenager and too involved with me, me, me to remember a lot about Mark in elementary and so I missed a lot. I know he was ver smart. Skipped a grade, I think 3rd grade. He was pudgy and funny. Then I got to know him from a different view when I didn't live at home.
A couple years ago when I was visiting Mesa, my mom watched Tucker so I could spend a little time with my brothers. I went to their high school and picked up Mark and Ted, I think Ted was a senior and Mark a junior at the time. I got them out of class and took them to a movie. It wasn't anything special, but was one of my favorite times, because I never get to hang out with my brothers.
Mark is very good looking- if you haven't noticed, all of my siblings are pretty dang cute.He had braces and is very proud of beautiful smile. He is so likeable. Has lots of friends and I bet all different kinds of people like him. He is really helpful and giving and a people pleaser I think. He came with my dad and helped us empty the moving van after an already long day of working in the heat. He has the greatest sense of humor and you just want to be around him. He works hard, he is strong, and girls like him. I love my Marky and hope we get more time to hang out together soon!

Fun and Games

This was a fun little thing Gina had on her blog. It would tickle me pink if you'd play along. It's kinda like Mad Libs.

Copy this letter to my comments and fill in the blanks. Then, if you want, copy the blank letter to your blog with your name after "Dear," and I will come and fill one out for you...

Dear Robin,
I _____ you. You have a nice ______. You make me _______. You should _______. Someday I will ______. You + me = ________. If I saw you now I'd __________. I would build a _______ just for you. If I could sing you any song it would be _________. We could __________ under the stars.
Love, _______________
(P.S. ______________.)

Brain Damage

My husband has a disorder. I call it selective listening, and answering. What is wrong with saying "okay" just to verify you heard something even if it wasn't a question? Furthermore, what makes it impossible for you to hear something while the tv is on? I have had my moments of being sucked in to a show where I didn't hear something, but isn't it pretty normal to occasionally comment on a movie during it, or talk to your husband during a commercial? Then again it isn't the TV that is the problem, he can be looking at mail or simply thinking and miss every word. The sad thing is that usually I am telling him how hot I think he is or something I thought he would find amusing and he still doesn't hear! I understand being slow to respond when I ask you to change a diaper, but when I am coming on to you please have the courtesy to respond in any way. I would not say I am high maintenance by any means other than I thrive on affection. This is our long time fight. Why don't you kiss me more, or for longer, or even look at me like I am desirable? His response-"I think it, I just don't say it." While we were at Lake Powell, I put on a new swim suit that is red and ties at the top. He actually made the comment that I looked like a stripper. Frankly, I was stunned, I knew that he had not meant it to be offensive and that he may even have thought it was some sort of compliment somehow. It left me bewildered for the rest of the day.
Now, just to make myself clear, this is not meant to be telling what a terrible husband I have. Anyone who knows me will vouch that I adore my husband. Nor is this meant to say that I am the perfect wife, I am terrified at the amount of flaws that could be listed by my husband. It is simply to say that some men were not born with a sensitive, doting gene. And for all of his fabulous qualities, there is no such thing as the perfect man or the perfect marriage or the perfect relationship that has no bumps. This is an example of a silly manism that makes life interesting and I felt like writing(typing) it down.

Some cute, not too excitng stuff

Thursday we (Charlotte and I) went to a Pampered Chef party at Diana's house. Tucker played at Grandma's while we went since Trent was at real estate school. It was nice to get out and fun to see baby Ava, she is darling and chunky, just like my little girl, and she had the cutest short pants on. Anyway I did manage to get a picture of the two of them.
Friday night Trent didn't work late, but he was so tired from all his classes and work that he didn't want to go out or hang out with anyone. That's alright, we ordered pizza and wings( I haven't had good wings since we moved to Utah). We also rented Prime with Uma Thurman and Meryl Streep. It was alright, but long and ended pretty lamely. I like movies that are more of an escape from reality.
Saturday Tucker was pushing his doll stroller when Trent decided to put Charlotte in it. It was pretty cute. Notice Tucker's shirt. Gina made it for him and gave it to him before we moved when they had a little birthday party for us.
Saturday night we went to Peter Piper Pizza (like a Chuck E Cheese) for our nephew Ethan's party. It was a good time with my family who are usually pretty big slackers on planning things to do together. Moqui and Charlotte looked especially cute in their SpongeBob party hats.

It's The French Revolution!

Abbie was born on July 14, 1981-twenty-two days after me. We've been hanging out pretty much ever since.
We lived in the same area until we were almost eight.
We saw eachother on holidays, and once I even flew down to go to Rocky Point with her for spring break. That trip was a disaster and is a whole nother story entirely!
I moved back in town my sophomore year, and wouldn't you know it, we ended up at the same high school.
This is our strange high school love triangle. We managed to get over it.
Abbie is one of my biggest supporters. She came to so many track meets. And believe me, it's not always the most exciting or fun place to be, especially in Arizona heat. Abbie and I weren't always your typical, bubbly high school girls who wished those days would never end. We had a great time writing notes using pictures and making fun of other girls. We spent time hitting thrift stores and watching our friends "jam" at Dustin's house and going to their shows on the weekends. Abbie invented Thursday holidays and saved us from the monotony of the high school week.
I will have to have Abbie do a post on Thursday holidays, as I have a notoriously bad memory and she has an excellent one.
The summer after graduation we took a road trip with Meadow to Majic Mountain in California. This picture was taken about 5 minutes after Abbie threw up.
Abbie and I lived in Provo at the same time for a while. She was going to BYU and so was my husband. So we got to hang out a little there. Well our paths have crossed again for this summer and I am so grateful! Abbie is hilarious, she has a unique sense of humor. She is thoughtful. She is the cutest pregnant chick too. She is meek and underrated and usually mistaken for a teenager still. She isn't very affectionate, except with Jake. She is creative. She is a mystery.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ABBIE! I LOVE YOU! (am I allowed to tell you that?)

Ted Ted the round head

Here comes the return of my sibling posts.
Teddy is the 6th child in our family, he is 6 years younger than me. Ted is the first newborn I ever remember seeing. We went to the hospital after he was born and he was this cute tiny thing in a little beanie. When my mom took off his little hat I was shocked to see that the whole thing had been filled with this long cone head. His head looked just like a football. Well, as little Teddy turned into a darling blonde little boy his head turned out perfectly round and we would sometimes call him Ted, Ted, the round head.
Teddy is a beautiful, blonde hair blue eyed boy. He and the next youngest Mark were just 22 months apart and inseperable as little boys and always reffered to as "the boys". Adam who had been waiting for a brother for a long time after being surrounded by 4 sisters was very pleased to have little boys to tease and boss around. I remember at some point he made them call him "master" and he called them his "henchmen". They would obey his every command it seemed.
As Ted got older his hair got darker, and turned curly. He can sport a fro with the best of them. He is built much like Adam, very slim and athletic. He took up running. He competed in cross country and the distance races in track. I am so bummed I didn't get to be there for more of his meets, I only got to see him compete in one track meet in Tempe-I think it was the Tempe relays, and one cross country meet at Red Mountain while I was in Mesa on visits. He did very well and competed in State, I am sad to say I am not sure how he placed overall, but I know he did well. I wasn't around for most of his high school days, and I feel that I still have a lot to learn about Ted.
He is a night owl and a late sleeper(at least he was before his mission). He is an avid reader and loves fantasy novels. He is easy to get along with. He is handsome. He is silly and maybe even a bit dorky. He loves food. He is on a mission for our church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, in Madagascar. He is an awesome brother and on his way to being a great man!
I love you Ted!

Powell reunion at Lake Powell 2006

We started our trip on Tuesday the 4th of July. We woke up around 5 am and loaded the truck and kids and headed to Trent's parents' house where we met up with the rest of the clan and hooked on a trailer with Trent's brother Bart's newest toy-a Ranger. We headed to Flagstaff after fueling up and loading coolers with ice and eating a Jack in the Box breakfast. In Flagstaff we all stopped at Trent's sister Kim's house. While stopped there Charlotte played on the grass, she has started getting onto her hands and knees and rocking back and forth when she is placed on her belly. It is so cute, she is so anxious to get crawling and playing like a big girl! And even more exciting, while we were at Kim's Charlotte had pulled my finger in her mouth and I thought I felt something little and sharp, I rubbed her gums and sure enough she had cut her first tooth!! I got all excited and handed her to Trent to feel it. He said, no, that's just a rough gum. I was so disappointed, how could I have mistaken it, but after further examination (more fingers in Charlotte's mouth) we found it definitely was a tiny little tooth! What a big girl. She had been very fussy the last week and I am sure now it was the teething. After a little playing at Kim's we headed to the Cinders about 45 minutes from there, this is where we played on quads and the ranger on all the cinder hills.


Last year Tucker was deathly afraid of quads and would scream if you even attempted to sit him on one that wasn't running. This year Tucker could not get enough rides. He had a fabulous time riding quads and the ranger and playing in the black dirt with his cousins. I stayed at the trailer with the baby a lot, but I did get to go on some fun rides and my favorite part was when Trent and Blake got out there rifles to go shoot some skeet, I went with them. I haven't done much shooting in my time, I can't remember when or where I have, but I have once before. Anyway for me they put a skeet upright on a stump which I hit on my second shot and then I shot a pinecone. After that they let me shoot at skeet flying throught the air, and to my surprise I actually hit one of the four I shot at. Not too bad for a first timer. I really liked it.
Anyway the plan was to camp there that night. Kim and Dan were going to head home to finish packing their trailer for Lake Powell and Trent's mom was going with them to stay there that night too. When Trent suggested he and Tucker stay and camp and I take Charlotte back to Kim's for the night I gladly accepted the offer. It was a fun day but I did miss the festivities of the Fourth of July. I was a little bummed not to see any parade or fireworks. The next day we headed to Lake Powell and first stopped at our hotel a little after 12:30 pm to check in and drop off our bags. Then we headed to Lone Rock beach where we always stay and set up camp for the rest of the week. A big wind storm came through blowing sand everywhere, but luckily didn't last too long. We didn't go out on the boat that day but enjoyed playing on the sand with the cousins and eating and hanging together.

This is the Ranger. It can climb and move like a quad, but is much more stable and can hold much more weight.
The next day we were joined by even more fun relatives. Trent's sister Stacey came with her family including her 7 week old twin boys.
Also Trent's Aunt Sandy came with her daughter Britney and her husband a 2 year old little girl. And they brought Grandma and Grandpa Summers too. This is the annual Powell reunion. We do it ever 2nd weekend in July. I always know I can at least count on that for vacation.
Friday morning we took family pictures at the lake. Wes (Trent's dad) has them so I'll post some later. Charlotte hated her lifejacket and would scream until the boat got going and then would instantly fall asleep. Tucker loved building sand castles, jumping on the water trampoline and going down the slide attached to it, riding the boat, riding the quads, visiting the marina where we would get ice cream and watch the huge carp that swim close to the surface waiting for people to feed them and the ducks.
Here is Charlotte and her tongue again. We brought her saucer to sit in, and a baby pool, and an outdoor playpen. Babies require so much gear, and it was worth bringing it so I didn't have to have her squirming to get out of my arms at all times.
Friday night a storm blew in and we left the lake a little earlier than usual. We headed to a burger and shake drive thru on the way back to the hotel and before Tucker could even eat his dinner he was passed out. I figured he would wake up in an hour or so and eat and bathe before bed. Nope. He slept from 5:45 pm to 6:40 am! He hardly budged when I slipped him into his jammies. Saturday I finally got to wakeboard a little. It has been two years since I have gotten on a board. It was pretty fun even though the water was rough and I face planted twice. I am so sore now, I am sure sitting in a car for about 6 hours didn't help.
Sunday morning we checked out and went to breakfast together before heading home. This is me and my sisters-in-law Andrea and Dusti after breakfast. We had a great time!

Gone again

Tomorrow we head up to Flagstaff, to the Cinders. I have never been there before. I guess it is pretty much like the sand dunes. I assume I will be stuck sitting around with Charlotte while the boys play on the four wheelers, motor bikes and other toys. We will camp that night and head up to Lake Powell Wednesday morning. We will play there for 4 days. We won't be camping then, we will stay in a hotel. I love playing in the water and wakeboarding and cliff jumping- but I guess that is illegal now at Lake Powell. I will take pictures to post later and I intend to finish my sibling posts too. I still have 4 left to do. I have tons to do today to get ready so I better go.