Name That Baby Food!

Anyone...anyone...can you name that baby food?

We've moved on from obediently opening our mouth for each bite to blowing raspberries...I think I need to invent a feeding time shield for parents...it just might be the next big info-mercial to hit the scene, maybe it'd be my big break..if the snuggie can do it so can I!

Princess Carter at Cousin Brenna's Birthday party! No birthday cake for this little lady, but she's surely enjoying some of the new flavors we've been introducing...the newest fad if she likes the flavor is to "mmmmmmm"...the whole time while eating....if it's not a flavor on the top ten, I end up covered in it...come on now...who doesn't like pureed peas!

Too cute in her adorable panda shoes and dress...Thanks Becki for the cute outfit!
Couldn't resist this picture, I'm having such fun dressing her up for church...glad I tried the shoes and dress on her, about two weeks ago she was swimming in them...now she fills them out perfectly...oh the agony if she only gets to where the panda shoes once...they're just soo dang cute!

Baby Cousin Love

Baby Carter and Baby Autumn...Love the Babies!!!

Settling in...

WHAT...we're leaving Idaho??? Oh Mom, do we hafta?

Well we finally made our way to Oregon, what a drive I don't care to repeat anytime soon! What a hulabaloo, packing our apartment, packing a trailer, unpacking a trailer, packing it into another trailer, unpacking at a storage unit and unpacking at my sisters....golllllyyyy...time for a vacation!!!

We've somewhat settled into Brook and Randall's, excited to be here, passing babies back and forth, have to say we are in good company...we've got quite the set up in the converted garage!!!

John's been working at Mom and Dad's building a wood shed while Dad's been laid up sick with pneumonia, and hopefully we'll be starting on the massive overhaul of their yard soon!...Carter and I have been spending alot of time relaxing at Nana's and Auntie Brooks, playing with all of the little cousins running around! We're so excited for baby Autumn to be blessed on Sunday, and will very much enjoy the family fun on Labor Day, I do believe a birthday party is in the makings!!!

The job hunt will begin soon and after that the house hunt....uh...or rather apartment hunt! Who knows where we'll actually end up...I'm thinking we should look for jobs near the beach!!! My heart strings are tugging towards central Oregon to the high dessert just like good 'ole Idaho, land that I love!

We're sad to leave the gem state, but know this is where we are supposed to be right now, it's good to be near my family for a bit, and so fun to share Carter with them...though we will miss our Idaho family dearly!

For a quick Carter update: She's now five months old and every bit of rolly polly she was when we left....she's eating her rice cereal like a champ and starting to find the joys in other flavors!!! Still won't roll over...though we try to help her along...I think maybe she'll just skip to crawling...make that running at the rate she's growing and learning!! She's truly the light of our lives, our Jolly little baby Carter Grace!

Powell Palooza

Well, it's another boiling sweaty day in the berg...errg, uhh,...I mean bright and sunny day...and we just keep pluggin along!...We've been packing, packing packing...or rather just shifting stuff around our little two bedroom apartment, waiting for the trailer to come on Sunday, dreading the fact that once it's loaded it's time to really get down and dirty with the cleaning!It's amazing the knick knacks and hoopla you find hidden in the wilds of a closet, forgotten for the last three years!

Soon enough we shall celebrate in the dusting of the final speck of dust and hit the road...I'm rather excited to be back amongst the clan...it's been far too long...what fun to have all of the Powell sisters back together, and the BEST part, getting to share all of our babies with eachother!!!

Though we will miss our Idaho family and friends dearly...we're ready for the adventure that lays ahead!

Rabies and such...

Rabied beast???...or just a beast of a baby???!!! I thought this picture was kind of funny, looks like she's foaming at the mouth! Well, our big girl just keeps getting bigger....it must be something in the water! She's 4 months old and weighs 19 pounds...and we LOVE it!!! As my mother and sister put it "She's a jolly chubby little thing"...It's SO true, she always has a smile and a little jolly glimmer in her eyes, what a happy little lady she is, we are so blessed!

Carter is just starting to learn to eat her baby cereal from a spoon, and thinks she's pretty hot stuff...I couldn't help myself from taking pictures, she loves to sit up in her chair while we have dinner and REALLY enjoy's blowing raspberries with her cereal/spit filled mouth...thankfully i've not yet suffered any battle wounds from newest developmental adventure!!!

On a sunny but cool Sunday morning, the Huckleberry Hansen family started off on a lovely adventure with the infamous professional mountain treasure guide and her assistant.

“To the mountains” The guide proclaimed as her assistant brought the adventure machine to life, with their provisions tucked away and belts in place the group was ready to commence the treacherous journey deep into the wilds…it was a long journey…Baby Huckleberry Hansen drifted into a dreamy sleep, while the guide and her assistant instructed Mommy and Daddy Huckleberry Hansen on how to find a mass of fortune… In a secretive tone, the guide began…

“To the top of the mountain we will go, to a place not known to many…we will look to the North for a climb so steep not many dare to venture…ah but alas that’s where we’ll find it all, the treasures of untold glory”

Further into the cavernous forest they neared the secret path which would take them to their mountain treasure, the assistant cried out “Hold on tight!” as the adventure machine growled and bucked its fury taking the group into the thick … everyone had their nature eyes on hoping to find the most elusive creatures, sure to live in the dense of the woods…a hint of fear struck deep in their hearts, but nothing could stop each member in their quest for the dark…royal…and scarlet jewels hidden in the brush of the woodland floor…

Excitement filled the air as the adventure machine slowed, Mommy and Daddy Huckleberry Hansen looked at each other questioningly as the guide rolled down her window and craned her neck to smell the forest air, taking care to evaluate each scent so as not to miss the trail of the mountain treasure… “Surely you cannot smell the sweet scent of the trail from here?” the Huckleberry Hansen’s asked…the guide and her assistant looked at each other knowingly with a glimmer of mockery in each eye…soon enough the adventure machine calmed to a halt, and rested as each member disembarked…there was a distinct separation between novice and professional, which furthered the Huckleberry Hansen’s instruction…

“High into the woods we will go, spreading out to take our fill…stay on the steep to the north, and look within the shadows…"

With excitement, the guide’s assistant passed out small baskets to safeguard the treasure which was to be found…Daddy Huckleberry strapped Baby Huckleberry to his back and stepped in line to make his way up the steep embankment…Mommy Huckleberry was the last in line and hesitated but for a moment before leaping onto the forest wall and grabbing at branches and roots to steady her climb…

Soon the great skill of the mountain treasure guide and her assistant became apparent, as the Huckleberry Hansen’s stepped into a flurry of wild and untouched treasure…free for the picking!!! Ravenously they reached for the round and dark royal gems, intent on making their found fortune last the arctic winter that was sure to come…they worked feverishly side by side, adrenaline rushing… the jewels were small, and needed great care….soon enough fatigue set in, and Baby Huckleberry Hansen became hungry… the great day of adventure was coming to a close…

They made their way back down the mountain, taking almost heroic measures to ensure the safety of their treasure…once regrouped at the adventure machine, The Huckleberry Hansen’s and their guides enjoyed a drink of cheer and sweet treats in merriment…but after being fed, Baby Huckleberry Hansen became very tired, so everyone climbed in and settled down for the journey back to the city…the beast jumped to a start, and then settled as the adventure guide’s assistant lulled the machine to a steady pace…soon the Huckleberry Hansen family arrived at their home….

“What a day of adventure” Mommy Huckleberry Hansen whispered as she tucked Baby Huckleberry Hansen into bed….

“What fun we had” said Daddy Huckleberry Hansen…as he laid his head to rest next to Mommy…with a deep breath and a sigh, the Huckleberry Hansen’s settled in for the night, as a cool sweet summer breeze drifted into the house, dreams of wild mountain treasure and adventures began to play in their heads!

Well, we're still in Rexburg, still job searching, and still wondering what the heck is coming next!!! Life is full of twists and turns...most of the time I like to call it adventure, but lately having almost reached panick mode, I'd like to say it's more like the end of the world....but alas all I have to do is hold my sweet baby, look into her eyes full of trust and know that whatever comes our way we can handle it, if not just for her!

On a funny note, we recently made a quick trip to Burley/Twin Falls, it was fun to see family for a visit, upon just arriving at my sister inlaws house, my almost 4 year old neice, before even seeing Carter greeted me at the door saying "Aunt Joy, your baby is so cute"...a few minutes later when we got Carter out of her carseat Riley said matter of factly... "Aunt Joy, Carters arms are fat..."...repeated about a million times (which is true...she looks like a cabbage patch doll all fat dimpled and such!) Ah, children are truly the spice of life...awwww...how much we love all of our neices, and one lonely nephew...speaking of which, I'm so excited that our newest little neice Autumn was born today... I guess Parker will have to keep praying for a brother!