Dancing the Night Away!

It's that time of year again. And we're gearing up for another ball, thanks to the wonderful Moss family. And what would such an event be without an associated practice? I ask you. *in my best Percy Blakeney voice*

Merry Christmas!

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting." Micah 5:2


Merry Christmas!

Milk & Cookies

Aren't Christmas cookies just scrumptious?

And baking them with 4 enthusiastic helpers is a blast!!

Though the boys tired of our Christmas baking, the girls were in it for the long haul...

Mixing the icing and cutting out the shapes.

Noah's patented, "Is this going on your blog?" face. :P

And I can say with all honesty, that these cookies were delicious!

Happy Birthday, Kiri

Happy Birthday to one of the best, dearest friends a girl could have. Merry Birthday, chum! You mean the world to me. :O)

A Snoozy Kitty

If the weather is cold and blustery, then it is certainly time for a nap.

Silver & Gold... & Blue?

Here at the Powell home, we go a little crazy with Christmas decorations...
and therefore, several years ago, I started putting up a blue and silver tree.

But, if you have WVU ornaments, it has to be a Silver, Gold, and Blue tree. Right?

So, with flowers,

Snowmen,

and gold icicles, my tree is complete.

Hanging w/Atticus

Cell phones are always a treat

Poor Atti, I've confused him...

Gifts for Madge and Guy

Tea and Presents. Mmm. Good day.

Demotivational Randomness

LOL. I'm still laughing.

I had planned a nice Christmas post or something to do with the kiddos. But, then I saw this. And while most of you probably won't understand... It's too funny to pass up. :D

Quote of the Day

~Thanksgiving Day in the Barclay House~


Donna: Come on. I need your help in the kitchen.
Jimmy: Whaddaya, talkin' about? I finished my part! The football game is on.
Donna: So?
Jimmy: So, I'm doing what Dad always does, while you do what Mom always does. I sit here and watch the football games, and you call me when dinner is ready. It's traditional.
Donna: Not this year it isn't. You're going to help me finish the dinner.
Jimmy: But, Donna...
Donna: Jimmy.
Jimmy: I always knew you were one of those liberated, feminist types.
Donna:  Oh, no. Not at all, Jimmy. I just need a big, strong man to come and open some vegetables for me. I'm too fragile to do it myself.
Jimmy: Uh-huh. Sure.
Donna: You can either help me, or I'll stuff you like the turkey. Which is it?
Jimmy: *in deeper voice* Lead the way, little woman. I'm a big man, a proud man, and a bulky man, and I can open those cans with my teeth.


It's that awesome.

"I never thought it was such a bad little tree."

One tree down... and one to go. :)

My Prison Uniform

So, I wore this to the Berry's, and I had an interesting conversation with Jude about it. Apparently, stripes are for convicts and robbers. Tee hee hee. I'm feeling gangsta.

Of Cap Guns and HiHo Cherry-O!

While at the Berry's this week, I learned all about cap guns. Who knew that they don't actually shoot anything? Just a little burning smell, after the gun powder ignites. Hmm. In the long run, I think these kids may teach me more than I teach them.

The cap guns

The chamber holding the caps...

While the older kids did their independent reading, Eva, Jude, and I played HiHo Cherry-O! It's a fun, kids game. Hopefully, we'll get to play it again soon...

And in other news, we worked on our geography... And I told the kids my trick for when I had to memorize which states were which... I think Maine looks like a dog, New Hampshire looks like a queen, and Massachusetts looks like a gun. :O)

"Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!"

As a friend of mine said, how appropriate is it that it snowed on the 1st day of December?

Mmm. I guess it's time to curl up with a hot drink and a book.

Or maybe decorate for Christmas!

Only at the Powell Family Christmas Party

Does Sandy Claus choose to make an appearance.

We all sit on his lap and receive our presents.

And I do mean *all* of us!

Happy Anniversary

3 years ago in November, I started this blog. Wow. It seems like such a LONG time ago... So to end November, I'm wishing myself (and all my readers who make this blog worth continuing...), "Happy Anniversary!" --> Complete with balloons!!

In which I become a tree

After 24 dances, the clean up begins, because even a Ceilidh must come to an end....

Tree-ish me

And even though we are quite busy taking down the decorations and the like, we always have time for more pictures! Especially since all the guests are so kind as to help dismantle the ball. :O)

Ineke, Me, Ana

Keely in her dad's hat

I do so enjoy a good foot picture. I think the tradition started at the 1st Spring Ball...

"Foots (no e)"

Kiri and Me

Daniel and Bobby

Blurry clean up

And so my blogging about the Ceilidh comes to an end.... but before you get tearful, I'll leave you with some photos of the Grand March...