Back in Texas

One last shot from our time in Texas in July. (Happy Birthday Uncle Michael)

Powell Boys

Our computer has been on the fritz for what seems like forever. We're tentatively back in action, and will start uploading the backlog of photos from this summer.

To start, here are Jack and Thomas at 2.5 years and 6 months. (June 2009)

Oh, I see what you're talking about.

Jim and I were having a conversation in the front seat of the car, and Jim said something along the lines of, "I think this is the right neighborhood."

Jack, from the backseat, cried out, "No, not neighborhood, ROBIN HOOD!"

And that settled that.

Big Day

First bath together.

Screech

Tom's latest antics

Jack Quotables

Jack ran away from us in Target and disappeared long enough for me to get pretty anxious. When I finally found him (well, when he found me) I tried to calmly explain how Mommy feels sad and scared and worried when I can't find him. Jack listened with wide eyes and replied, "But Mommy, Jesus keeps me safe."

We're big fans of our church's kids' program and the teachers. Jack memorized his first verse! According to Jack it is: Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Problems 3:5

Jack and GrandDad

Soaking up all of GrandDad's pointers on duck feeding.

Remembering Grandfather

2 Priceless TX videos

Jack's first zip line experience:


Thomas's first hysterical laughing fit:

Texas Trip Greatest Hits

With the family before dinner at Carino's (Kristen's anniversary, once again, spent without Jim...I think we're 3 out of 10 for spending the day together and not with high school kids.)


Typical.


The Greats:







Jack took this picture:


And this one (my personal favorite).




The Aunts and Uncles



Trying to sort out the problem with GrandDad's leg.


Classic.


Playdates with TX friends

Clarification

TCU is in Fort Worth, my brother and his wife are alums, so either they or my Mom are the likely culprits who taught Jack this catchy phrase while we were in TX two weeks ago. I hadn't heard it before today. Oh, and TCU is an arch rival of BYU's football team.

Thomas, eating machine

Here is Thomas on the occasion of his first spoonful of rice cereal, June 4th.




and here he is after 6 weeks on baby food:

Overheard

Jack walks into the kitchen and says, "Horned Frogs! That's my team!"

Another Quotable

Jack's been practicing the "Oh, Okay." with various inflections for a few weeks now, which cracks us up. Who knew you could use those same two words to express so many different emotions. But yesterday, he busted out his latest favorite phrase. We were explaining something or other of importance to him, and his response:

"Oh...I see what you're talking about." (drag out the "Oooooh", and the "I" and you'll get an idea of his charming two and a half year old inflection.)

Birdsongs

Hiking, we overheard some beautiful bird songs.

Kristen: Jack, do you hear the birds singing?
Jack: Yeah, they're singing Jesus Loves Me and Shrek.*

*Shrek = Accidentally in Love by the Counting Crows (from Shrek 2) a song that our entire immediate family has memorized and we often listen to in the car on repeat (it has replaced Hillsong's Hosanna and rivals Coldplay's Life in Technicolor as Jack's favorite.)

What??!

So, I’m eating lunch, watching CNN, and there is a commercial about KAZAKSTAN??! I pause, stunned as familiar images flash before my eyes, in fact, I’m pretty sure every photo they used was already familiar as a documented destination on the Morningstar Adventure of a Lifetime. Apparently Kaz is hosting the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions on July 1 and 2nd and wanted everyone in America to know? And guess what’s more, I already have a good hunch of what the venue might be...something with a black room and a white room...and a room with freakish doves. Seriously, what an odd moment, but a big THANK YOU to the Morningstar family for such a great Kaz education!
Oh, and if you are reading this and need some clarity, I'm sure Jamie will share the appropriate links over at http://morningstarhappenings.blogspot.com/

Baby Talk

K: "Hey Jack, can you talk baby talk to your brother?"
J: "Yeah." And he leans in real close, smiles at his brother, and in a sweet little voice says, "Baby talk, Baby talk".

K: "What would you like for lunch, Jack?"
J: "I'll think about it." (places hand contemplatingly on face) "Hmmmmm...let me see."

"Come here, Mr. Smarty Pants."
"I not Mr. Smarty Pants...I Jack Harrison Powell!"

We watched the helicopter that was on display at the Summerfest Carnival as it took off and flew away. Jack: "There it goes! Flying to Texas!"
Jim didn't hear what Jack said, so I asked him, "Tell Daddy, where is the helicopter going?" Jack: "Going to Costco!"

Just like Daddy

Jim was leading songs for the college group. But he wasn't a solo artist for long (and, perhaps slightly upstaged by Jack's killer moves).

Fro Watch: June

Here we go again...