What is THAT?

There's been a WHOLE lot going on in Powellville lately.  We've traveled places, rearranged things, filled out paperwork, completed projects, and met folks.  They say a picture's worth a thousand words, so I was thinking of just putting a bunch of pictures of our happenings and doings here on the ole blog (those are called WORDLESS posts in blog-speak you know...), but, because I love words SO MUCH, that wasn't very fun for ME.  So, this "wordless" post is gonna be a bit wordy.  Cause I like words.

And, you, dear reader, have a part to play in this post.  Yes, we're going all INTERACTIVE this time.  When I show each picture, you need to say, either out loud or in your head, "What is THAT?"  (And I teach my fourth graders that when you see something written in all caps, it's begging for emphasis.  So, say THAT emphatically.)  Go ahead, practice.... "What is THAT?"  Okay.  Good.  Let's begin.

Ah.  And one more disclaimer.  Some of these embody a bit more excitement than others.  But, that's how life is.... some days you're cleaning out closets and some days you're meeting Barry Manilow.  But I'm getting ahead of myself.  Okay.  Let's REALLY begin.

What is THAT, you ask?  That is my next Pinterest project.  I enjoy the Pinterest.  This chest will soon be sporting a new look..... a new RED look.  We moved this little number OUT of the playroom cause we've been REORGANIZING.  It was not fun.  But we made progress and the boys are now sporting a brand new "Man Cave".......

Do you see any clutter or toys or STUFF?  No.  It's put away.  For now......

What is THAT?  The boys listening to the history and happenings and stories of George and Ethel Vanderbilt on the back porch of the Biltmore.  Now, that WAS fun.  During the annual Ryanfest in the mountains, we took a break from the coasters of Dollywood and went after a little culture.  So, we loaded up and went to the Biltmore.  If you ever get to go, definitely get the audio tour.  SO GOOD.

That is Little Bit's first baby doll.  That piece of preciousness will go in the care package that we send to her.......

THAT is where they make Bush's beans.  We went there, too.  No reason.

That is my new classroom.  Had to move rooms.... AGAIN.  Also not fun.  Whole lotta learning gonna take place up in here.  It's not finished, but it's close.

That is the outside and inside of the best fort ever built.  Cause what's summer at the farm without a fort?  And this one was equipped with air conditioning (fan) and the latest technology (movie on the iPad and games on the DS)..... Max didn't come out of that thing for HOURS.  I highly recommend......

That is a completed Home Study!!!  SO happy!!!  This comes after many meetings, much paperwork, reading requirements, medical check-ups, 10 hour online trainings, and home visits.  NEXT:  We've sent our "stuff" to the Department of Homeland Security (I800A) and we're waiting on Citizenship and Immigration to give us the nod.  Just today we received our appointments for our biometric fingerprints....and if THAT ain't official, I don't know what is......

Okay.  Take a deep breath.  Cause things are about to get goooooooood on this blog.......  SO good.

THAT was my moment with the great Barry Manilow.  That's all I have to say about THAT.... FOR NOW..... cause that's a WHOLE other blog post...... but I'm still recovering from the experience, so I'm not ready to share just yet..... But, I have to know..... did you clap when you watched it?  Cause clapping is important.

And, if you've made it this far..... I have ONE more......

That's the name of our new little one.  We'll call her Mary.  Mary Powell.  

And THAT's what we've been up to lately.

We hope you're having a GREAT summer.

I'm on BEACH time.

I have no idea what day it is.  I'm using the sun to try to figure out what time it is.  My biggest problem right now is that my tea is too far away for me to reach it.  Beach time is gooooood.

I asked each person what was the BEST thing about this beach trip.  Here are our favorites:

JOE:

Deep Sea Fishing was a first for us this time.  Six hours out on the water...... We left early in the morning just as the sun was coming up and went WAY, WAAAAY out..... Although the Maxer got a bit queasy, we all had a lot of fun. You see all those big fish behind the boys' heads?  Well, they caught them.  Red snapper.  A LOT of Red Snapper.  Then, our new friend Jesse cut them all up for us, and now they're sitting on ice in our cooler over there.  I have no CLUE what to do with them, but we got em!

JACK:

Very fitting that Jack's favorite beach experience has to do with food.  The boy ate his WEIGHT in shrimp over the last few days..... This yummy shrimp boil was put on by Joe's company last night.  It was GREAT.  When Jack noticed this particular spread, he did exactly what his Dad does in situations like this..... he whipped out his phone as fast as he could and started snapping pictures for Facebook!   Jack can now peel and eat shrimp faster than you can say BUBBA GUMP.

MAX:

Did you see this one coming?  Indeed.  Max's favorite thing about the beach?  The Claw.  Oh, dear.  He seems to be convinced that there is some "skill" that needs to be perfected and calmly tries to explain to us that he can't "practice" those skills if we don't give him more money to put into the thing.  I then calmly explain to him that there ain't no WAY that we're plugging any more money into that machine.  It's. A. Ripoff.  I don't care if you did see someone win something once at the Piccadilly.  You're done.

MIKKI:

Do you see these people?  THEY are my favorite thing about the beach.  I like taking pictures of them. I like burying them in the sand.  I like hanging out with them.  I like getting ice cream with them.  I like riding in big boats with them.  I like eating shrimp with them.  I like jumping waves with them.  I like watching the sun set with them.  I like them.

Here's a few more shots of my three favorite beach things......

And the picture that I must get every time......

Thank you, Beach.  We had fun.