Sweet 16

Tian got her tutu for ballet this week. It was all well and good until we went to picture day on Saturday....suddenly Tian was the queen of shy?!?!?
This shot is for you Leah - see how simply this is made. She just took strips and tied them to a wide strip of elastic. SHe even tied on a loop of ribbon so it can hang in the closet

and better yet...the tutu is a multi purpose wig

Doesn't Tom look good in a hair net? We had the chance to package meal for Haiti with Meals from Heartland. It has been a lot of fun. We went a couple time this week and Trace was a real trooper. NO comment on Tian :o), however she did put in a good 20 minutes both times

Here is Tian operating the sealer. I would hold the bags and she would press the arm down to heat seal the packets. Trace especially enjoyed smashing the packets to make them flatter

Trace making sure we are all working

Trev was the king bag prep rice man

Trace after getting a othful of vitamin dust

Sweet 16 for Trevor

Amelia and Michelle planned a surprise party for Trev on Saturday - it was little kid style including a poster of Trevor for a game of pin the crown on the prince

The cake is one fire

I know the crown loks like a Pope hat

The big moment

The vampire shot...I think she is hissing at someone :o)

Ta-dah

Another busy week at the Turners. Meals from the HEartland, a new tutu and Trev's big birthday. We had a low key birthday with Trev on Friday - pizza and a movie at home. hen Saturday the kids came over to surprise him after his SCUBA class. He arrived late which added to all the excitement. The kids were wild and the party included a pinanta that Trevor demolished before anyone else got a turn. Ty and his friend Ty made balloon animals and by some miracle Tian and Trace really did go to sleep. We were trying to keep them quarantined since they both had a nasty cold and Tian had somehow come down with a great case of hives. We are still baffled what caused them, but they disappeared just as suddenly as they came. In fact, hey both seemed to make a miraculous and we drug them to church on Sunday.

Church was good - we had 58 people and 16 kids in Primary. They have called a new Primary President who will be awesome ( hi Joy :o) and Tian and Trace are VERY excited to show all the other kids what wild really means. It was a good day and since I had to speak, I am glad it is over!

Tian and Trace-isms of the week:
I made a great big pan of chicken pot pie - the kind with a crust and Trace thought it was the best meal ever. He announced," This is a nice taste in my mouth."

Since Tian has had a cold this week jut enough for an occasional sniff. She has taken to sniffing like a...construction worker. It is VERY dainty. I finally looked at her and explained if she sniffed like that again I would probably scream. Trace came to the rescue, climbs on my lap with both chubby hands on my cheeks and says,"Mom, Mom sniffing is just like smelling and that is good." All while demnstating a proper smelling technique. I couldn't argue with that one.

We have also enjoyed the drama queens panic attacks over being itchy - they go something like this: all is quiet and she would scratch er arm then in a rising crescendo," I am itchy. I'm itchy. I AM SO So SO ITCHY!!!!" Yes we heard her EVERY time.

We also had to make a stop at the Chinese market. Tian looks around at every Asian person there and decided they must all be Chinese....

We have enjoyed the Winter Olympics and just wished they were on a little earlier. The boys all want to be snow boarders and ariel skiers, Tian just wants an ice skating outfit.
Here's the update for you TJ: The US leads in over all medals ( Canada the most golds), Apollo Ohno has won the most medals ever for winter games ( the speed skater with the goatee)- he was the star on ice! The US did lose to Canada for hockey which was a disappointment. We are still waiting to see any athletes in these winter games for Fiji or New Caledonia. You should start a bobsled team while you are there :o)

and yes, I have been exercising in order to keep the size of my rear end in check :o)

Girl's Point of View

Tian playing a reading game with Tom - she has to move around word cards to match a picture

If only she had a little more drive to do what I want her to do ( I know put two bosses in a room and the cute raven haired beauty will always win!) .... she is reading simple words, but only when she wants to. I have to be careful not to push because she immediately shuts off.

Come to think of it I think I am the student in this relationship:o)

The best part of home schooling is getting to see this :o)

Is there a better way to avoid doing your own homework?

Ty taking a run down our hill


Trev's pagoda and the Great Wall

A great shot of the kids doing the dragon dance

A night shot of the famed pagoda

Gotta love Trev's hat

The master and masterpiece

Hmmm- the boys have been updating the blog and I checked it out today.... So here are some pics and more details :o)

It has been a busy couple of weeks, but they have been good. We survived our celebration on Chinese New Year and the kids are planning on it being even bigger ?!?! I am actually counting on the Spring Festival....I am definitely ready to see some crocus instead of growing piles of snow. The party was fun - next time I will cook more ahead of time and I WILL get to enjoy the company. I did this time, but wish I had done a few things differently, but we lived with only minor injuries ( the ping pong table/pool table/air hockey table collapse) left Austin with a sore foot and me a minor heart attack. Trev wasted no time getting the table back up and running though- it is currently on saw horses.

I am starting to feel like we are starting to catch up on school ( sort of) and it has been nice to be able to get outside the house. The snowstorms are either not as bad or I have toughened up...

I made Ty go to a videography class at the extension office this week. HE went kicking and screaming ( okay only figuratively), but ended up having a good time. I am hoping he can help me get a couple videos up on the blog.... I know always an ulterior motive :o)

We thought of you this weekend TJ as we had the chance to go to A&W and have a frosty mug of rootbeer in your honor. It was just like the day we brought you home from the hospital and I made dad stop for a drink on the way to our apartment :o) Only this time the loud kids belonged to us and there was no cute baby to stare at! There was however a bride, groom and wedding party - Tian remarked: She looks so shiny! Yes, the bride's dress sparkled and the gears in Tian's head were running on overload with her own wedding plans.

Tian and Trace-isms of the week:

While sitting behind our hair challenged friend, Brother Penner, Trace remarked in a panicked whisper, "Mom, his head is NAKED!" Tnak goodness it wasn't Tian who noticed... then everyone in the room would have heard her and she would have followed up with a lecture!

Tian in preparation for Chinese New Year," Mom, can I be Chinese for the party?" And I thought we were doing so well... Actually, she meant that she wanted to wear her Chinese dress - which she did. By some miracle it still slid right over her round little tummy.

Tian has become my own personal trainer. Every day, some days before I even make it down the stairs she starts with ," When are you going to exercise?" or "Mom you have to exercise!" and sometimes, "Come on Mom, hurry and exercise."

So it came as no surprise when she met me downstairs, looked up at me with a hand on her hip and accosted me," Mom, if you don't exercise your butt is going to get bigger and bigger." Out of the mouths of babes I guess...

Last week TJ reported that he is doing well. The stray cat that has adopted him is pregnant, he is healthy and is loving being in New Caledonia. I am hoping for more details to add this week- HINT HINT!!!!

Hope you are having a great week, I think I'll go exercise...

.

Feb 20, 2010

Another crazy week went by. More snow this week. We only need about 6 more inchesw to break the all-time Iowa record. See pic's of our drifts... There is another BIG storm heading in tomorrow evening! It has been a pain but fun at the same time. Tian and Trace have really had fun playing outside. We are hoping to win a Winterset contest for Trevf's snow creations. 1st prize is a discounted family pass to the pool!

We went to Levi's birthday party last evening. Everyone had a good time. Week 1 in the branch is over. Things went well, our YM/YW activity went pretty well also.

Ty took a videography class with Kassie Trimble through the local 4H group. They seemed to have some fun.

The rest of the week has been pretty same ole. We have been busy. We are looking forward to doing a coupole service projects next week, Meals from the Heartland - package meals for the people in Haiti. We are going to do a session next Monday and Thursday. We did it in the late fall - it really was pretty fun.

That's it for now!

Tom

Chinese New Year

Prep. for the Dragon Dance!!!

Mom - working hard to have enough food! Spring Roll manufacuring 101

A tamer moment - the bulk of the guests kids ( 30+ were downstairs - probably breaking the ping pong table )

Mom's favorite part of Chinese New Year. Home clean-up. I had escaped washing the floor for long enough - according to Mom.

Call us crazy or foolish... But we had a houe full of people over to celebrate Chinese New Year last night. It really went quite well. Food was good, lots of guests, jots and lots of kids, and crazy activities. Ty created 16 riddles for the guests to puzzle over, We all worked on a Dragon for the dragon dance, painted pictures, made red paper cuts, made lots of food, and did lots and lots of house cleaning to start the new year off fresh. Tian all week was so looking forward to the party but was having enough of the cleaning said as only she can - "I really hate Chinese New Year - lets not do this again".

The only downside to the whole party was that during the party we received another 3-5" helping of snow. I had thought that we escaped the predicted storm. All day it was 32-35 degrees F so our hill and concrete apron had all but melted off. However just as the party started it began to snow very hard. It was truely beautiful seeing the snow fall with the pagota and great wall in the lit background. No one got stuck in our driveay or even in the neighborhood - Tian did not get to have a sleep-over.

This was really a fun event - one we will most surely repeat!!!

Ty - Party Post

On February 13 at the party we were playing ping pong and the ping pong table fell down on Austins feet when he jumped on it. Other people jumped on it before him to losen it but he was the lucky duck who finished it off. My dad said it sounded like the house caved in. My mom said she just hopes no one got hurt. I'm sad I missed it I was too busy I guess to hear anything.

Ty

THis is a picture of Trevors Great Wall and a pagoda.

Here is a picture of Mom's and Ty's door guardian.

Here is a picture of Ty's tiger.

This is a picture of Trevor's pagoda he made.

THis is our awesome dragon. It is made of cardboard and paper mache.

"Big Day"

Kids art project for the party!!!!

We had a big return to Winter again this week. Puxatawny Phil came out last week and predicted 6 more weeks of winter, so this week we received 6+ more inches of snow. The Price's got their car stuck in our driveway and then at the bottom of the hill. It stayed there for over a day until the sun melted the snow on the hill. On the whole East coast it is snowing the blizzard of blizzards - over 3' of snow in just over 2 days..... Not to meantion but it is snowing currently and will probably not stop until Tuesday ( we are expecting another 4-6" ).

I took Tian, Trace and the two Ty's ( Ty Turner & Ty Thomas ) to a traveling Abe Lincoln exhibit at the Winterset Library yesterday. They had a place to vote weather you thought Abe looked better with a beard or without - Tian and Trace had a blast pushing buttons watching the numbers fly by.... I really hope it wasn't a scientific poll:-) The exhibit was fairly boring but as the Ty's said- at least they had cookies and snacks..... Sorry Abe!!!

Trev had his first scuba class. He did not drown and seemed to have had a great time. Next week they get to put on the real equipment!!!!

Today is the day the Branch gets established, boundaries are announced as well as callings...... The space is all finished and really looks pretty good. The church furnished the space with a combo of new and recycled items - most of which I helped to unload even a new player organ..... I escaped the magic phone call from the Stake Exec Secretary until this past Tuesday night. I had we had to meet with Pres. Chapman the next Wednesday evening. That put an end to some speculation but added to more.... I will share the news after Church today.....



Mom also had some news this week. Last week she got the deal of the week buying a really nice set of pots and pans on craigslist.... This week she sold her old set. She almost got the new pans for free!!!! She tried them out this week and they work just fine! !!!!!

We have been preparing this week for our Chinese New Year party! That means a whole lot of Spring cleaning!!!! We have torn the house apart cleaning and touch up painting. We are having potentially 40+ people coming to celebrate with us - it really will be fun. We will probably turn it into an annual event ( if it goes well! ) The kids spent the week making an art project for the party - see the pic's. It really turned out cool. We will use it in or dragon dance event for the evening! This will really be a fun deal.... We are going to cook Hu Hot style and make Spring rolls and doing other authentic Chinese games and such. I hope we don't get arrested I am going to shoot of some fireworks to cap off the evening.... The party is this coming Saturday night!

Wish you were here,

Love Dad

And January Ends....

Tom was so organized this morning, Sunday he had the little guys up, bathed, fed and dressed for church at 6:30 am...unfortunately, we don't leave for church until after 12...The kids finally decided to take a nap ( by the front door?!?!) in order to make church come faster

Tian working on her moves

Kristi Yamaguchi want - to -be ( in pink on the ice) got right back up for more....

Sam, Amelia's little sis, is in the green and I think she and Tian were having an endurance contest

Trev is an awesome big brother

See how much fun skating is with preschoolers....Poor Tom spent most of the time on the bench with Trace....

Trace holding on for dear life...at first he refused to stand up on the skates, so here we were making HUGE progress

Ty getting a pep talk from his annoying mom

You have to read Ty's body language in this one ( red Huskers sweatshirt and I am holding onto him). Looks like he's enjoying himself huh? It did get better. Tian ( pink coat to Trev's left)- ever independent

ME rushing to get Tian, who decided out of the blue, to skate in the opposite direction of the crowd

Trace and I trying to get him to have some fun. I don't know what is with the hair in the middle of my face...Maybe the poem about the girl with a curl in the middle of her forehead should come to mind.....

Trev getting warmed up - he is in the white

Friday we had the opportunity to go ice skating to celebrate Amelia's 16th birthday with her family. I don't have any pics (yet) but Amelia sprayed every one's hair pink and blue. Trace was sporting a smiley face and Trev looks good in pink :o) Amelia's mom kept us hopped up on sugar - Here is the run down:

Trev - had a great time

Ty - hated it then loved it

Tian - loved it - we had to drag her off the ice at 10:00

Trace - hated the skates, the ice, being cold and he was tired....

IT was a fun night unfortunately, the ice rink didn't open for public skating until 8pm so we had two TIRED pre-schoolers, but they actually did pretty well and we lasted for 2 hours without tears. Trace was a little whiny - he doesn't like winter sports. Remember last year he had the "run in" with the post while sledding...

No picures of Tom this time. He was manning the camera, however I must report he managed to stay vertical the entire time. And , yes, TJ, he did skate :o)

Tian -isms/Trace-isms of the week: At dinner Tian suddenly asked, "When TJ comes home will he live here or in his own house?" I reminded her that TJ's bedroom and all of his "stuff" was in the bedroom downstairs, but his room used to be hers and perhaps he would like it back, and she would have to move to his "new" room in the basement with Bernard ( TJ's stuffed deer). She smiled and instead offered," He could sleep in my room with me. He likes pink." So TJ, I guess it is your call. Private room, your own bathroom or share with Tian....

Trace at dinner (I have noticed most of our bizarre stuff happens at the dinner table - maybe that is why smart families don't eat together anymore....) looks Tom right in the eye and states," Dad this is you:" In a deep voice he continued," Trace just shut up!" Hmmm.....

Trace in the car after skating,"Mom, I am very, very, very tired and I hate ice sledding." He was a pretty good sport considering we didn't start skating until an hour after his bedtime....

Highlight of the week: I found a fancy set of pot and pans on Craiglist...wahoo!!!! Now I have even bigger pots for more experimental cooking:o)

January Thaw

Snow beginning to thaw

Dismal foggy view of our woods

Where over 2' of snow was less than a week ago - we now have a melted river and exposed grass!

This morning out of the blue, Tian looked up at me and asked if during our Daddy/Daughter date to her ballet class if we could get a treat ( not the unusual occurance ), but "how warm was it - like 73 degrees? We are quite warm considering the weather we have had this month, however we are at a balmy 39 a far cry from the 70's Tian was asking about! It's hard to believe but with the recent ice storms and rain we are getting that most of the December/January blizzard snow ( that we all thought would be here until Spring ) is now all but gone. Back to a muddy dirty car, garage, yard.... Man - I love Iowa.... As I alluded to earlier this week temps were warmer upper twentys/low thirties and we had a pretty substantial ice storm @ 1/2" of ice over everything. We were lucky and did not lose power, water, or even have any tree damage to speak of! Several neighboring towns will be without power for over a week.

We have not seen the sun really all week either, becaus of the mild tmps and moist air we have had Seattle/San Francisco type fog.

Other than weather.... no real excitement this week. Tara has had the flu or something like it for the past few days. She has not really even gotten out of bed that much. The kids have been surviving on left-overs, frozen pizza, and my burnt-offerings. We have been surviving ok - trying to stay away from Tara so we don't get whatever she has.

The Church project is nearly complete. Trev and I put up the shelving yesterday and assisted the Stake FM in moving in some furnishings. Feb 3rd is the substantial completion walk-thru. By Friday, the project will be completed!!!! The remaining three homes in Van Meter should be completed this week as well!

Sorry nothing of excitement to report on.

Tom

"Blind Side"

Tian & Trev's snowman army!

Not a terribly exciting week at the Turner's. Mom and I did however see a really good movie. I took Mom out on a date - no kids. We saw the movie, "Blindside" - it is based upon a true story about family and love. The movie is about a boy that is taken in with a wealthy family and becomes an excellent football player and student. This was truely a remarkable touching story and all the better that is is true!!

We went to the Mi Publito resaurant with the Hensley family. This was pretty fun. Will, Mr. Hensley, is investigaing the Church. He has had a couple discussions with the missionaries. It was good to spend time getting to know him better. He is really into hunting and taxidermy. Tj - he was interested in seeing your handiwork and is willing to offer assistance!!! Tey like to go fising and catch bullhead catfish. Sounds like sometime we are going to have a fishfry with them!!!

This week was much warmr than the last few and no snow to report. We have been baking in the mid twenties to lower thirties. The scary part is that this seems warm - I truely is all relative.

Trevor and Tian created a snowman "stonehenge" in our yard. ( see pic's ) I guess Trev and Tian called them the snow "terra cotta warriors". We also spent time cleaning off the pond to see if we can create an area to ice skate. Now the ice is too rough. We are hoping with a little melting during the day and a re-freeze at night that it will become smooth and will be a nice rink area.

The church project is about a week and a half away from completion. Other projects are going pretty well and looks like the couple that has been interested in lot 9 may actually move forward with both the lot and building services - we are crossing our fingers.

Tom

Highlight of the week

Here's Dad's black eye after a wrestling fight with the big boys, (Ty and Trevor) with magazines and a thumb got in the way. Somehow someone got hurt. It's all fun in games till daddy gets hurt. And I'm taking all the credit. Ty Turner