Silly shots

"A Chinese Gothic" - Grant Wood is rolling over in his grave!

An action shot of Trace throwing a baseball ( lets not discuss the pink color )!

Trevor standing in an actual sod home in Gothenburg, NE.

Fun in Arizona - Tara's Grandmother's surprise party

Grandma's 90th
Grandma, Aunt DeAnn and Mom
Fun with a pinata

Trace's feelings about the party

I think she was surprised

Turner and Dempster kids


Riding the javelinas in AZ

Trace was a trooper and walked/pushed his stroller along the entire trail. Tian, of course, preferred to be pushed (surprise)

Ty searching for treasure in the gravel pit

Arizona desert scape

Picture at Gradma's party - Four generations ( from white to black - mostly shades of gray!!! )

TJ - this phot is inserted just for you! On the way home we went to "Heaven" ( otherwise known as Cabelas ). We all thought of you as we saw all the dead stuffed things...

Tian and Trace would not leave poor Jared & Sarah alone at the pool! I would bet they never EVER have kids. Sorry Jared & Sarah. Tian and Trace miss you......

Visiting with the birthday girl at the surprise party. Lots of relatives, fun family stories and games. Trevor & Ty introduced cousins to inhaling helium & dry-ice bombs. Tara & I are so proud.

Trying to find shade at the desert museum in Tuczon! The setting was beautiful. We were all surprised with how green and lush the desert is. Lots of lizards, and incredible species of cacti. Trace pushed an empty stroller through the entire park - approx 2 mile trek in 100 degree heat. Needless to say he crashed in the car.

Trip to Arizona ( Roswell, White Sands & Billy the Kid )

Jared in the back and we are celebrating Sarah's birthday
Tina and Trace at DQ

Trace recovering from his face first dive in the dunes

Trev leaping down the dune

Trve making the Great Wall of New Mexico

Tian and Trace checking out an ant hill

Trev being cool :o)

Our close encounter in Roswell, NM. Trace is asleep - he is not the green guy!

Sledding in warm weather - I thought what a novel concept!. Us sledding in White Sands, NM. This is at the White Sands Sand Dunes - we did not know that this could be done. We all had a blast! Trace crashed of course and ended up with a face full of sand. That boy is not meant to sled. Tara crashed as well - if you want more details, consult Tara! She didn't walk quite right for a few days!

Tian & Trace wielding thier six shooters @ Billy the Kid's burial site in Liberal, Kansas! Who knew... We made the drive to Arizona fun! We made the 1,400 mile trek in 3 long days ( approx. 24 hours of driving - all survived ).

Bad driving or bad luck...

Look - Trev hasn't even bee stung yet

Pouring the basement at the house Tom is building in 3 Buck Ridge

The May apples are out. It made me miss you TJ...

Just like his big brothers, why do you need pants, or a diaper, if you've got your boots on?

Yes, TJ those are the gator boots - the same ones you wore

The long awaited package from TJ - did you know you could mail a suitcase?

It doesn't look so bad from this angle, but I did manage to crush the radiator, the battery etc etc

Okay TJ, I will not judge your two car accidents in one day since I managed nearly the same feat!

Last week on my way to pick up Trevor from driver's ed I plowed into a car and totalled the Honda. I knew it was totalled when the local tow truck driver asked me,"Would ya like to kiss her good-bye." Not ever a good sign. The woman I hit had pulled across two lanes of traffic right in front of me, so luckily it was her fault ( yeah!) Her insurance company - State Farm- has been WONDERFUL. They called to ask me how I was the next morning and were very nice, that was before the knew they were liable, then called back before noon having arranged a rental for me! I had a check within a week and they provided a rental for me to find a new car! Well, back to the story. I was driving the rental and I stop at Ben Franklin in town to look at the plants and the big carts they display plants on in the spring all fell on my, I mean the rental, car. Who does this happen too??!! Anyway, TJ ,I am not sure if it is a bad luck curse or just bad driving so be glad you are on a bike :o) No one was hurt so the whole thing is so ridiculous it is funny!

Trevor's bee hive is really doing well. He set it up a few weeks ago and yesterday Mr Dixon, his bee mentor, stopped by and checked it out and they brought in a honey sample. I am sure it as all pretty typical, but I found it all amazing. Honey already! Baby bees growing!!! I think it is amazing!

Tian and Trace-isms of the week...

Trace is in the car and he is showing off his necklace he made in Nursery. I ooh and aah and ask him he he put all those Cheerios on himself. He looks at me with those big black eyes and says, "No, Brownie ( Sis Brown) did it. It is nice." I think he thought he did her a favor... It reminds me of when I saved all of my worksheets for a week in First Grade and gave them as a present to my teacher....

This weekend we got up early and headed to the Farmer's Market downtown . It was cold - 44 degrees- but fun. There is also an Asian Festival going on down the street so we head over to check it out. We watched some performances of different dances from Vietnam and China. Tian loved it. In the midst of a ribbon dance Tian looks up at me and says ,"Can I do that?" I answer, "Of course, aren't those girls beautiful?"She then hands me her balloon. She was ready to go up right then and join them. I tried to explain she had to practice and get bigger and she is still not happy with that explanation...

In church last week Tian grabs the corners of her eyes and pulls them. She looks me right in the eye and asks,"Mom, do I look Chinese?" Not sure what to do with that one....

WE have been watching a lot of baseball this summer already. Ty is a great catcher and I get to see a little of the games. Tian and Trace usually have a great time harassing the audience. This week Tian was passing out sunflower seeds to anyone who would take them from her spitty little hand. Yes, we had to buy our own because last week Trace was picking them up out of the gravel to eat.... I know I am just as grossed out as you are!

Just now Trace comes comes up to ask for food, his favorite pasttime when I am busy, and I reply, "NO snacks while I am on the computer." He walks away muttering,

"No snacks ev-er." I didn't think I was quite that harsh...

The garden is growing. I will try to get some pics his week. WE tried to work out there Saturday afternoon and I think instead Tian and Trace managed to step on every plant that was growing. We did plant sevral pots around the yard this year. I thought it would be nice to have some plants on the patio, why not make the edible? Tian and Trace did manage to get some sunflowers, her favorite, planted for Granny. Hopefully they will be beautiful this summer. Tian was too busy trying to snitch the seeds to eat, but I am confident a few made it into the ground.

Naked Cat, New Hair, and Baseball Parade - oh my

Especially for you TJ - the budding leaves of the shag bark hickories were opening this weekend
One of the sheds Trev found out back

Trev is proudly displaying the latest welt from paintball

One of the best parts of small town living - our annual baseball parade around town square. Trace even hitched a ride on Tom's shoulders :o) Ty's the short Ranger in the middle.

Yes - he is just as mischievously naughty as he looks

Chef Tian

Puff - doesn't he look great? This poor cat was COVERED with mats of hair...so we had to shave parts of him..
The newest Turner pet. Trev found him up at the property

Ty's new hair ( okay, it's Tian's) Notice the lack of braces

( enjoy it will only be this way for a short time before he begins round 2)