Where to begin?

Happy 2013!  

Starting the New Year feeling this behind isn't good.

I'm not sure where to start, I have soooooo many pictures.  And excuses. And so much has happened since my last blurb.

Maybe this one will be without pictures, maybe it'll be stories and the pictures can come later.

First the excuses.  

I got an iPad.  It was supposed to be in last July for our anniversary (Dee won it through work - Yay Dee!) and it didn't come until October.  Love it.  What does that have to do with my blog you ask?  I rarely use my computer any more.  However, I haven't figured out how to access my pictures to update them to my blog.  Complicated technology, I know.  

Next and more time-note-worthy is Tyler started home school in October.  It's a long complicated story involving high expectations and a teacher not delivering (when I say "high" I mostly mean "teaching").  It has had it's ups and downs: one of the ups being Tyler gets to be home all the time and one of it's lows being Tyler gets to be home all the time.  Selfish, I know.  I had about 4 hours to myself a week with Carter being in Pre-School - which might not seem like a big deal but this was the first time in 13 years to have 4 hours a week to myself.  Selfish, I know.  

Some of the good out of that is I've learned a lot of things I had forgotten from school, things I distinctly remember thinking, "I'll never use this again!  Why do I have to learn this stuff?!"  Surprise!  I've also been reminded of things I enjoyed learning.  It has also been fun getting to know Tyler on another level.  He's a funny kid.  Most importantly I see a love for learning returning to Tyler's eyes, I love when they get excited about something they learned, get excited about learning.  This is why I do what I do.  

As for adventures that include a lot of pictures to be posted at a later time:

Thanksgiving was spent with my amazing cousin Teresa and her family.  We weren't turned away when we invited ourselves to their house (no, really) and had a GREAT time.  They recently moved to the Bay Area and it was the first time in history I can recall being at the beach around Thanksgiving.  It was great company, great food and a great time!  I laughed so hard (although not the Powell laugh that reared it's ugly head...LOL) and loved sharing stories and commiserating with Teresa about our family and youth.

December flew through with projects at school (not Tyler's though, ha ha!) and a performance for Ellie - LOVE the Christmas song she learned this year - Carter's Preschool (he had his pants zipped this time - forgot to mention that about Thanksgiving, talk about funny!) and a big one for McKenna at the middle school.  Our friend even called it a "McKenna variety show" because she was in so many numbers.  That one also included the snack bar which I am always crazy enough to volunteer to run which means I spend a week baking like Mrs. Claus.  

Christmas break this year included going to Utah for two full weeks!  It was different for me this time.  Better.  It was the first official time we didn't have a baby I had to get up with or follow around to make sure they didn't get into stuff.  I slept in.  I played with adults.  We got to see lots of family but didn't feel rushed to do so.  We played in the snow.  We saw sites (Temple Square) and went on a date.  My entire family was together a couple times.  It was a wonderful time and my heart feels so full being able to be able to go.  

I promise pictures will come. I only have 500 or so to filter through... back to the iPad of avoidance.  :)