Something Sweet from Addi

I knelt down to Addison's level this morning, got all emotional, and said to her, "I can't believe you are almost three years old. Where did my baby go? I don't want you to grow up. You will grow up and leave me." (I know pathetic, but she is growing up too fast and it makes me sad.) She got all serious and said, "But mom, I want to grow up. It's ok, I will still hug and kiss you when I am big." And then she gave me a big hug and kiss!


My beautiful girl...all grown up -- October 2010, 2 years, 11 months

The Little Things

Every once in a while I get a gentle reminder that it is the little things in life that matter the most. The little things, like Dylan walking in the door with lillies (my favorite) and a bottle of wine in his hands. Or Addison climbing up on my lap, giving me a hug and saying, "Mom, you're the best. I love you this much." With her little arms outstretched as far as she can get them.

It is all to easy to get carried away by life. Busy planning our future, stressing about money or worrying about Addison's safety. When I stop, literally, to smell the lillies, I find a fresh perspective on what I am doing and why it matters.

Hills Family Camp-Out

In August, Sara, Ellie and Uncle Roger were in town and we all went camping up Gold Creek! The girls LOVE, LOVE, LOVE camping. They love exploring, fishing, looking at the frogs I catch (either of them are interested in touching or holding them!), riding the four-wheeler, walking with Papa, helping build the fire and eating camp food! Dylan and I took a long, long four-wheeler ride by ourselves and saw a beautiful black bear!

(In this picture, Addi is saying to Ellie, "See Ellie, over there is the deer. Do you seem it?" There really was a deer over on the far hill!)

Mom Update #7

Mom finished her Chemo treatments a few weeks ago and has started radiation. If I remember right she will have 8 weeks of radiation and be all finished by Thanksgiving. She had a feeding tube put in as her throat will be very sore and she will be unable to eat. She is feeling ok, considering, and is looking forward to the day when all of this is behind her.

Pumpkin Painting

We are still getting used to Helena and what is has to offer. Last year in Missoula we were able to wander around Bensen's farm, right in Missoula, and let our Addison meticulously choose her very special pumpkin. This year however I am having a hard time finding a local farm to support. So we haven't picked our our pumpkins yet, however, I did pick up a few small pumpkins and let Addison paint them. Dylan and I also got in on the fun!

Impromptu Birthday Party

Addison decided she wanted to have a birthday party. It was nobody's birthday in our home, but she wanted one anyway! She got out her last year's decorations and decorated the coffee table. We cooked pizza and chocolate cake. We decided to celebrate all the children in the world who are unable, for whatever reason, to celebrate their birthdays. We even wore party hats, sang Happy Birthday to them and blew out candles!

Fall Family Pics

A couple times each year I force my family to pose and smile so I can take our pictures together. We have mastered using a tripod and the camera timer! Rock Creek, Montana Sept 2010. Addison - 2 years, 10 months old.

It Has Been Awhile

Only a few weeks have past since I last blogged, but a lot has changed in our lives. Dylan graduated, officially, passing his boards! We had a little gathering of our closest friends and family to celebrate.


He accepted a job in Helena, MT and we moved into a little rental house in the center of town. Dylan is working at an urgent care in town and so far is really enjoying it. Still waiting on his license to be approved with the state he isn't officially working as a PA but is following the doc around and rooming patients. It should be only a few more days, unless some more government hoops present themselves. He likes the work and usually has an interesting story to tell us each night. His schedule is great and allows him to spend a lot of time at home with us. With Dylan working 3 - 12 hour days per week he is looking into a part time PA job filling in one of the nearby ERs.

Addison and I bump around the house, spend a lot of time at the park and go on lots of walks. I have been applying for jobs and looking into daycares/preschools for Addi. She is really craving relationships with kids her own age and is quickly outgrowing spending every waking moment with her boring 'ol mamma! She constantly talks about "going to school" and pretends daily that she is going to school with her friends.

Something Funny from Addi

Something funny from Addi: New posts on the things my Addison says...or does...or both...

Addi and I have a very close relationship. Some may say too close, or too personal, or some may say gross...I mean she is usually accompanying me while I use the bathroom, while I am taking a bath or whatever else I may be doing, she is usually under my feet. Well, I do draw the line during my time of the month when certain protective female thingies need to be inserted (I know too much information, but it's worth it). During this time I ask Addi for some privacy and lock the bathroom door. Well, for almost three years when I ask for privacy she sees me grab a tampon out of the drawer. So the other day, I shut the door while going to the bathroom, Addi entered and I asked her to please leave as I wished for some privacy. She obeyed, but a few minutes later she came barging back in with a tampon in her hand and said, "Here mamma, here is your privacy." And handed me a tampon! Through my hysterics and tears I tried to explain to her what privacy was and why mommies needed tampons! Oh, to be in the brain of my toddler!

Pug-Pug

Hello Friends,

You all have probably met Pug-Pug, aka Pugsley, our adoptive male pug whom we took in when we were in Salt Lake City. I brought him into our home when I was contacted by a lady, who because of a divorce could not have him any more. Pug-Pug made himself at home almost immediately and almost as instantly attached himself to Dylan. The father of his previous family decided he didn't want him any longer. We agreed we would foster Pug until we found a home for him. Well, after only a couple days we fell in love with him and the not-so-little guy seemed to fit into our family as though he had been there from the start.

Dylan and I are facing some very difficult decisions, one of them being moving with our dogs. Being the parents of three dogs has its joys, but it also comes with a large financial burden. It is near impossible to get a land lord to listen to anything you have to say once you udder the words, "We have three dogs."

The point of all this guilty mumbling is, we have decided to find a new home for Pug-Pug. It has been a very difficult decision and I cry as I type. I hate to think Pug will think he did something wrong. Also, if we are able to find a rental that will accept the Powell Family as a whole unit of 6, this letter will become void. (only if new quality parents present themselves to us, otherwise he will stay with us and we will make it work).

I wanted to reach out to the people I trust most to hopefully find some sort of connection to someone who would love on Pug and give him the attention he deserves. I just hate the thought of a stranger talking him, never really knowing if we made the right decision for him.

He is about 5 years old and seems very healthy. He is a neutered male and is current on his vaccinations. When he came to us his belly literally drug on the ground. With much exercise and a proper diet he is now at a healthy pug weight. In my opinion he would thrive in a one dog family or a single person's home where all the attention would be his. However, he gets along with everybody, other dogs and small animals. He is very gentle. Addison and other small children crawl on him, take his food, give him treats and take his precious chewies. He will from time to time give a little warning growl but has never bitten or anything close to it. He really seems to gravitate towards males. He also cowards more with male discipline. I believe he was beaten and lived most of his life in his kennel in his previous home. He is kennel-trained however, and when used properly will willing sleep in his kennel and will spend up to a few hours in there when we are away. He loves to be outside. As you know any member of our family must hike, swim, raft, kayak, fish and camp. He loves to do it all. At home he is content on your lap or at your feet chewing on a bone or tugging with you on his rope. He is trained with basic obedience commands but possesses the brains and ability to go further with his training. He is very well behaved and listens better than a lot of dogs I have been around. He thrives on structure and I would encourage a routine. When brought into homes with other male dogs he will try to sneak away to mark his territory and he will bark and howl when left alone in the car.



Please pass this along to someone you know who may be interested in a life long friend. My process of finding him a home may seem crazy to some people. We do love him and will only place him with a family who we really know will give him the love he needs.


Thank you for reading this. I appreciate any suggestions.

Brandi