Extravaganzaglorious!

"We're full of smiles, we're full of joy and cheer. This Christmas time has been the best in years. 
The feelings got us in a festive swing 
We'll dance, we'll sing, we'll shake those bells and jing-a-ling. 
Extravaganzalorious... 
Here's the reason for the fuss, There's so much joy we're set to bust, Extravaganzalorious! 
We're feeling fine, we're in a happy way....we're gonna ride it right through Christmas Day! 
Extravaganzalorious, Extravaganzalorious! 

The spirits right on this Christmas...Ex-Tra-Va-Ganza-Lorious!"

Well, it's officially Christmastime here in the Powell house! As Grayson says, "I'm having fun!" It's only day one and we are so much into it. Our elf, Mac Jingles, returned today and brought with him a girl just for Ada! She is officially named, Ella Twirl. These two are going to have so much fun this year. :) They prepared a perfect little North Pole breakfast for the children this morning, leaving elf chocolates and pj's and a very special letter from Santa to remind them what Christmas was about. 

After breakfast, the kids all wrote some wonderful letters to Santa. We will send them straight to the North Pole on Monday :)

So, from our house to yours, happy Christmastime! :) Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas season filled with all the anticipation and joy that only awaiting the birth of a Savior can bring!

Thanksgiving

Our Thanksgiving Day was a mostly quiet one, but a good one! We started, last year, having breakfast with on Thanksgiving morning with Chris' brother and his wife. This is a nice little get together and the kids always enjoy time with their aunt and uncle. This has become quite a treasured tradition. ;)

The kids made cute little Indian corn napkin rings, I made breakfast casserole, pumpkin bread, chocolate covered pecans and April brought sausage balls, per my hubby's request...she's so good to him! ;) The food was good, but the fellowship was better! Wonderful way to start the day.

After a mid-day snack and nap, it was off to my grandmas for supper. Always love seeing my grandma, and a little ashamed we don't get their more often. There were lots of little cousins having a ball and big cousins to catch up with. It was a nice time! And the older the kids get, the less hectic things like this are, so that is always nice.

The kids with their great grandma!

We were able to share a Thanksgiving meal last weekend with Chris' family and will celebrate with my family tomorrow. Always Thankful for our families and love sharing time with them. Such a wonderful time of year....we are blessed!

Preparing Our Hearts For Thanksgiving

We've spent the last couple days preparing for Thanksgiving. I've mentioned before that it's one of my most favorite holidays. I like to think I have a grateful heart year round but there's something to be said about taking the time to share in thanksgiving with those around you. 

As I reflect on the last year, I can not express the gratitude I feel when I know there's a God who loves me, every. Single. Day. No matter what. I can't be too grumpy. I can't make too many mistakes. I can't fail too many times. It doesn't matter. He still loves me. And for that I'm so very grateful.

My husband. He's pushed me along. He's kept me going. He's been a source of encouragement, Grace, and unending love. He's forced me to see my inner strength and made me stronger. It surely wasn't the easiest year, but transitions were made, family relationships are slowly rebuilding, and we are adjusting. He's always been there. And he loves me, even on my slightly crazy days. :) I've said it before, but God knew who I needed when He made him!

My children. They are my sweet babies who are slowly transitioning to wonderful big kids. They add just the right amount of laughter, challenge, sweet and love to our life. For them, I could never be more thankful. So blessed to be their mommy! <3

Friends. Sometimes they are family and sometimes they are not. But those true friends who just seem to get you. The genuine ones. The ones who never get tired of hearing from you. The ones who don't mind if you vent. The ones who share in your joys, struggles, hardships, and victories. They are few, but they are valued. God gives you just the ones you need! <3

Our life. Everything. Our home. Our food. Homeschooling. Love. "Stuff"...waaay more than we need. Even the simplest things, I feel so very grateful for. We have so much more than we deserve! And yet daily we are blessed again and again. Breath in our lungs, food in our tummies, roof over our head, beds to sleep in, family to share it all with. 

So tomorrow as my little family and I celebrate Thanksgiving, we come to The Lord with overwhelming thanks in our hearts. Thanksgiving for what was, what is, and what's to come. Unsure of what the upcoming year holds, even what tomorrow holds, but thankful nonetheless, because He's already there! Thank you, Lord, for blessing us so much more than we deserve! <3

Celebrating Thanksgiving with my tiniest boy at preschool!

The kids made the most wonderful indian corn napkin rings for a special breakfast with their aunt and uncle! :)

They also had a blast doing some Thanksgiving pearler beads this afternoon! :)

What I Learned Without Facebook...

A little over a month ago I was feeling the heavy need to re-asses where my time was being spent and re-prioritize the things I was investing "myself" in. I took a break from social media, and this is what I learned without Facebook...

I learned that I waste a lot of time on there and while I do enjoy browsing, I just browsed way too much, more out of habit than anything else. 

Another thing I learned, on the hard days, there's some comic relief reading funny posts and seeing smiling children. I missed that some, but I also had to break the habit of burying my nose in the phone when I was feeling overwhelmed!

Also, there's a major convenience for me when it comes to contacting people! Facebook makes this pretty easy when it comes to planning stuff or organizing a get together of some sort.

I also learned you have the power to hide the people who can't  find much positive to say. And that my friends, is the first thing I did when I returned! ;) There's nothing that says I have to let someone's negative attitude affect mine!

I learned it's a stress relief and outlet for me, but I can also live without it! And at the same time, I am way to sensitive and I have to give that up! The truth is not everyone will like you. It's just the way it goes!

There definitely has to be a set time limit on how much I will browse, and, with taking a break, I stopped feeling obligated to know everything that's going on. I have no obligation to social media but certainly can enjoy it when there's time.

I learned that even without Facebook, I still can barely keep up with the laundry, dishes, homeschool and house work! Ha ;)

I also learned while some forget you're gone, there's some friends and family who might actually miss you. Miss the children. And I actually missed some myself! And the ones who may be bothered by your post or your family, is not your problem, it's theirs. Just do what you do, shine bright for The Lord, and shake off the rest. It doesn't matter how genuine you are, some will question it, but just be genuine anyway! 

Balance. Balance is the key. I  put my phone away. The likely hood of an extreme emergency is slim and it's okay to check it every couple hours for text or calls but doesn't have to be attached to me. This was a difficult thing to do for me, not because I NEED my phone, but because I am a pleaser, and I don't want to ruffle feathers. But, my phone doesn't have to be attached to me. It doesn't. No matter who I feel obligated to answer immediately. And right now, I want to show my children that my priority is NOT my phone. It's them. And others get used to the delay! ;)

I made the decision to give it another try. A less committed try. And see what happens. I took a much needed break to re-prioritize, re-organize, and rekindle my little light. We all have a light and we all have to let it shine, whatever way we were made to do that! 

That being said...go shine your light today! :)

Crown of the Carolinas

Ada had a big day today!! She competed in her very first gymnastics competition and absolutely loved every single minute of it! She did not want it to end! :) Her whole team did an amazing job and had wonderful results. It was a great first experience for her. They all medal in this competition but still go through an awards ceremony to announce everyone, which she could have done all day. She loves the crowd and certainly didn't get that from her mama. ;) I really think I was probably more nervous than she was, but seeing how much fun she was having would make you smile. It was contagious. It was fun! :)
She came home with 2 fourth place finishes, a third, a second, and third all around in her group. She made us all very proud and had a blast doing it.

The competition hair was a treat! all together took at least 2.5 hours, but she loved those bouncy "baby curls" as she called them. 

 All rolled up! :)

 We had the rare privilege to spend the evening, night and most of today with Ada. Just her and us. She was so precious and so appreciative. And didn't mind the undivided attention at all. 

She got to spend her first night in a hotel, which was a treat. She was all snugged in a queen size bed and way too excited to sleep. She had an hourly countdown going on. She could not wait to put on that leotard and glitter in her hair!

When morning finally did come, she hopped up and we took out the rollers, sprayed glitter, put on the leo and headed out! And bonus, this competition was at one of her aunt's Alma Mater, so she attended with us! That was a treat. :)

Getting all ready! :)

I had to capture her sweet routines on video. Have to share! ;)

Beam routine with a 4th place finish!

Floor routine with a 2nd place finish!

            Vault with a 4th place finish!

And her bar routine earned her a 3rd place finish! :) 

She says bars are her favorite but she loves them all. She was a delight today, and we already look forward to the next one! <3

"I know a girl...she puts the color inside my world" <3