Top Ten for 2009

Obviously we've been quite busy this fall (not having posted anything forever!), but here's a recap of the year:

1. Auriana is baptized

2. Shawn, Jasmine, Blake, & Auri participate in "Beauty and the Beast" Stake Production

3. Family buys a new suburban so we can actually enjoy our...

4. Road trip to Yellowstone, Rexburg, Utah

5. Jasmine helps to start a Kimber Academy private school in Moses Lake (the 3 oldest attend)

6. Payton starts preschool

7. Will hits 5 foot mark

8. Blake looses his first two teeth

9. Auriana makes it on to competitive gymnastics team

10. We anticipate the arrival of Turner baby #5--gender yet to be found out (but Auri really wants a sister!)--due date May 4, 2010

Merry Christmas from the Turners!

Summer Vacation 2009

Well, this year we decided to take our kids with us on vacation--but we didn't go anywhere quite as far off as England. Instead we piled in our new Suburban (with DVD player/TV-yay!) and headed down to the Clayton Family Reunion (Shawn's mom's side) at Yellowstone and then down to Rexburg, Salt Lake, Provo and back up to American Falls, ID to spend time with various family and friends.

Fireworks and the Fourth

We spent the Fourth of July at my sister Ivy's house and Uncle Jeremy bought some great fireworks that Will and Blake had lots of fun with! Thanks, Uncle Jeremy!

Marbles and Teeth

Blake finally lost his first tooth and scored with $2 from the tooth fairy! It's funny to hear him talk with the lost tooth--especially in Spanish.

Keeping the kids entertained with a huge set of marbleworks--they got creative and made it really tall! I had to put Auri on my shoulders and have her put the marble in the top.

Summer Fun

Auri and her friends made up a dance and performed at the school talent show. She is on the left.
Payton and his cousin Isabella (my sister Ivy's daughter).
Auri "all dressed up"--she is not really a girly girl, but every once in a while she wants me to curl her hair (and about half way through wants me to be done :-) We are potty training Payton and here he is trying on his new chonies in some creative ways!

Video Montage of Our "Beauty and the Beast" Production

May 2009 Pics (I have the most boring titles)

Auri & Mom all dressed up for the Junior Miss program where Mom sang.

Auri (in her Easter dress made by Grandma Kathy) and Blake--they're almost the same height!

The whole gang--you could never get them all to look at the camera at the same time!

Arrgh, matey! It's Captain Payton Turner and his "ching ching"--that's what he calls swords (because of the sound they make). Yes, he plays with them at such a young age and anyone who knows what I was like with Will (I wouldn't let a sword or gun set foot in the house until he was 7) may be shocked. With two older brothers, it's impossible to keep play violence out of the house.

Blake and his hip hop group--looking sharp in his Adidas sweat suit.

Beauty and the Beast Moses Lake Stake Production

Here are some long-awaited pics as me dressed up like a....teapot! And Shawn as the handsome prince, of course (pictures are forthcoming)! The kids also did great as little cartwheeling carpets during the "Be Our Guest" number. We actually feel like we're finally getting our lives back after many weeks of practice, practice, practice! It was an experience we'll always remember. Special thanks goes to my mother-in-law Kathy Turner for the hours she spent on my costumes! You are incredible!

Blake and Auri are on far left

A few March Pics!

Dad came home from D.C. and brought FBI t-shirts for all the boys-ooooh!

Shawn's wig for the Beauty and the Beast play--he's the prince (don't worry we have it in a pony tail for the play and he won't look like Shirley Temple):

Boys, Birthdays and Haircuts

March news--we celebrated Will's birthday at the gym--a Nerf gun theme was perfect for this group of 10 year-old boys:

And we finally celebrated Payton's 2nd birthday (13 days late because he's been sick) with our family and both sets of grandparents. He loooovvvved his tractor and his loader--he's obsessed with machinery just like Will was when he was little. Whenever he sees anything that resembles a large, red piece of equipment he yells out, "Grandpa's combine! Grandpa's combine!" Shawn and I have become quite the barbers--in fact, a friend of ours even asks us to cut his hair. Of course, with three boys and one man in the house, think of how much money it saves us (actually, the cost of my hair cuts & colors pretty much make up for it--but, oh well!)

February Happenings

As you know, I don't tend to do weekly postings, but monthly. So here's the latest batch of photos from February '09 so you can see what we've been up to:

Auri showing off her amazing flexibility (she's double jointed like I am, although I can't really do wall splits anymore :-). She is doing great in gymnastics and is about to move up to the competitive team. Payton has to be in every picture showing off his moves, as well.

My kindergarten class took a field trip to the hospital. Here's Blake trying on the surgeon's gear and en extremely flattering picture of me (not!) in a hospital gown with Martha (the tour guide) who I actually taught Spanish to through the college. We had a baby shower for Rischel and Baby Owen (once he got over the RSV!). Here's my tip for cute party favors (thanks to my sister-in-law, Christina). Buy Rice Krispie treats (store bought are harder and easier to work with than homemade), cover them in Vanilla Almond Bark thinned w/ 1 or 2 T. of shortening. Put sprinkles on top. Stick long sucker sticks in the bottom. Wrap in clear bags and tie with bows. TA-DA--looks fancy in a little bouquet even though they barely take any time!

Scout Blue & Gold Banquet -- this is just the tip of the Scouting iceberg for me since I have 3 boys and 2 aren't even in scouts yet.

Apple Dessert contest--we entered grandma Kathy's red hot applesauce (a classic in the Turner family)--Will actually helped make it with her this fall

Will actually combs his hair and uses gel about 3 times a year (I have to force him every time)