Our Turley Life

Oh, To Be A Child Again...

2009-11-12T10:48:00.000-08:00

Our neighbors have this old boat junked in the back of their property. To tell you the honest truth I had never even noticed it before. Then yesterday morning I couldn't find the boys... and when I finally found them this is where they were! I told them that they had to go and ask if it was OK if they played in it. So, they both ran up to the door and my sweet neighbor made two little boys day when she said yes! Everything about their lives revolves around this boat right now! It is THE place to be! McKay had early school yesterday and when I went to call for him to come in and get ready I just couldn't do it! To see these two little boys enjoying each other and life so much just melted my heart! I decided that school could wait another day... But, today he was going to be a little boy! It wasn't even until later in the afternoon that he asked me about school!

So, other than that not too much is going on... just packing and preparing to move AGAIN! When I tell people that we are moving again I truly see the sympathy in their eyes!!!! This will be my third move in one year... The only good thing about this move is it is taking us home! So, we are trying to absorb as much warm weather as we can... Because as soon as we get back to Idaho it will be freezing cold! I took McKay to get a winter coat and he was totally confused! He said "But Mom it is still summer here"! It has been a crazy year in so many ways... Kinda one of those when it rains it pours years! With moving three times, having a baby, my Brother and Niece's accident, some family health problems, James' car accident... It has truly rained on my family as a whole this year... But, I am still choosing to look at all the beautiful things that we are blessed with! With each move I have met AMAZING people that have touched and changed my life, I have a beautiful baby boy that brings me so much joy and happiness, My Brother and Niece are both alive and as it has been a very difficult - more difficult than one can imagine - recovery for them... they WILL recover and live beautiful lives. Although James totaled our new car... He wasn't hurt and that is all that matters. My family is healthy and strong and my Boys continue to amaze me each day with their beautiful little spirits! So, I pack once again... happy to do so... Knowing that moving really is NOTHING at all when it comes down to it all! So, I just might let McKay miss another day of school so that he can be a boy once again in this fabulous weather!

Something Easy!

2009-11-04T12:42:00.000-08:00

I bought one of these crayon rolls last year for the boys for their church bag. After a year of them fighting over it every Sunday I decided it was time to make them another one. The only problem with that is I can never just make one... When my Mother-in-law was here visiting she helped me cut out 20...... This one turned out cute and was for Miss Addy Beattie! I found my pattern at www.skiptomylou.org. They actually have quite a few cute patterns on their site that I am using right now. It is definitely a fun site to check out! I have also decided that you could alter the pattern and make one for colored pencils too - I just don't think that I am going to try and make 20 of those too!!!

Another Major Picture Overload....

2009-11-04T09:46:00.001-08:00

Picking Almonds with Grandpa

Eating Almonds with Grandma!

What trick or treater's look like at the end of Halloween!

At the neighborhood carnival

Probably should have used a different backdrop so you could actually see McKay and Carter!

We went to the Tuacahn Market on Halloween

Carter LOVED the tamales!

Obviously he didn't think I was very funny! Lighten up Mr. Turley!

Buying Pumpkins to shoot in the cannon

They were launching pumpkins in this cannon against the cliffs!

Grandpa getting McKay ready for his school party

We baked pies!

We made home made noodle for soup!

This was the morning routine!

Cannon's first sucker!

Craziness!

Carter fell asleep to Grandpa reading to him!

I don't think Grandpa got much of this milk shake!

St. George!

The Boys going through the "Crack of Doom"

It was about a 100 yard crack between two rocks

Look close... that's the boys!

Me watching them coming through... hoping an earth quake didn't hit!

The crack

Starting them up the crack

Thanks Mom and Dad for coming and spending Carter's Birthday, Halloween and the week with us. We had a fabulous time and miss you like crazy!

Get Rid Of That Halloween Candy!

2009-11-04T09:15:00.000-08:00

I am looking for any way to get rid of Halloween candy! I just chopped up the little candy bars and dipped the carmel apples in them. At least it makes me feel a little bit better that there is a little nutritional value with the apple!!! It's also a great way to git rid of the candy bars that no one likes... they taste a lot better in small pieces with carmel!

Anyone Know Who This Child Belongs To?

2009-10-30T09:46:00.000-07:00

Grandpa and Carter had a little fun with McKay's army face paint! I think that the teeth make it priceless!

Zion's National Park

2009-10-28T11:11:00.000-07:00

On our way to Emerald Pool

We saw 17 Deer

Mr. Turley would you please wash my mirrors!

The best way to ride - On Grandpa's lap!

Anyone missing some Doritos???

My parents are here visiting and I took McKay out of school for a day and we headed off to Zion's. It was absolutely beautiful. It was a cooler day and a little bit overcast, but still absolutely amazing. I thought that I had thought of everything to pack... a picnic & plenty of snacks to last us the day, thermos of hot water for Cannon's bottles, clothes for warm weather, coats and hats in case it was too cold, and jackets in case it was just right, an extra pair of shoes and socs in case the boys got their feet wet, an extra pair of pants and underwear in case Carter had an accident... you name it I thought I had thought of it! However, before we even got into the park McKay got his pants all wet... that was one thing I didn't think of - a change of pants for McKay... So, we had to go to the next best thing we had... Carter's extra pants! He spent the day in a pair of 3T pants that we couldn't even get done up!!! Everyone kind of looked at him funny - I'm sure wondering what Mother would ever let her kid out of the house dressed like that! However, he didn't care and it didn't stop him from having a great day with his Grandparents!

Carter's Birthday Pictures

2009-10-26T15:00:00.000-07:00

My children do not like Birthday cakes... They always like to come up with their own Birthday treats... This year Carter wanted "Spooky Cupcakes"! So, I made the little headstones out of white chocolate and did my best at making "Spooky Cupcakes"!

Army gear from Jason, Amy and the boys

Giving McKay a thank you hug for his new Spider man watch

Waiting to open presents

3 years!

Diego Dinosaur Mountain from our friends the Smith's - Thanks guys!

He wanted to have a fire and cook hot dogs and roast Marshmallow's for his Birthday dinner!

And the greatest part is that Grandma and Grandpa are here!

Grandpa loving on Cannon!

Carter had a fabulous Birthday! The only problem is that he doesn't get that it is over! I still hear him say: "But, McKay it is my Birthday..." & McKay is quick to inform him that it is over! I NEVER take my kids to McDonald's... So, the only time they really get it is on their Birthday (or if my Mom takes them!) they look forward to their Birthday Happy Meals all year! They even start to pay attention to the commercials on TV to see what toys are in the happy meals! I couldn't handle not doing a little celebrating on Friday... So, I told him that we were starting to celebrate "early" and we had a picnic on the trampoline with McDonald's (because of the swine flu outbreak I wasn't about to take my kids there!) and then he was excited to get to pick out his favorite Super Man ice cream as our treat! We celebrated with a fire and presents on Saturday with Grandma and Grandpa! McKay asked me if we could celebrate his Birthday next year for two days too... What child wouldn't want to do that!

Today Is Carter's Birthday....

2009-10-23T15:44:00.000-07:00

Today is Carter's Birthday... only he doesn't know it... My Parents wanted to be here for his Birthday and can't be here until tomorrow. So, Carter thinks that tomorrow is his Birthday! It will be a lot more fun with Grandma and Grandpa here anyway! However, I still have been feeling the pains all day long... as I look at the clock and mentally go back three years and think of that special day. The pains of having him grow one year older... I am always so emotional on my kids Birthdays! I worked so hard to get them here that it is hard to have them grow up so fast. He went and ran errands with me today while McKay was at school. Of course I let him get a balloon and a treat at the dollar store! When McKay came home from school this is what he said "Why did Carter get a balloon and a treat? It's not his Birthday you know... His Birthday isn't until tomorrow just in case you forgot"! And in my mind I was thinking "Well actually it is his Birthday"! I LOVE this little man so much! He truly adds so much personality to our little family.

Stressful!

2009-10-22T12:22:00.000-07:00

So, I am one of the room mothers for McKay's Kindergarten class... along with that assignment comes decorating the classroom doors for certain activities. Well, next week is red ribbon week and I had to decorate his door... I was sooooo STRESSED out about it! Seriously the OCD Perfectionist kicked into high drive! Finally, when I was loosing sleep over it I realized that I needed to CHILL out! It's only a door for Heaven's Sake.... Right! McKay LOVES it and that is all that matters! And thank you Heidi Swapp for teaching us the technique of masking!!!

BOYS!

2009-10-21T18:38:00.000-07:00

My house is full of boys which means my life is always very interesting! Cannon LOVES his duck bath tub - But, this is what I found this morning when his brothers were SUPPOSED to be brushing their teeth! It's moments like this that you just laugh a long and go and get the camera!

2009-10-20T09:59:00.000-07:00

A friend

Someone

Who Knows

the Song in your

Heart

and can Sing it

to You

when You have forgotten

the words....

I came across this saying the other day... and it made me want to cry! It made me want to cry because I have friends and family like this and I just want to tell you that I LOVE you all very much!

Our Weekend In Pictures... in random order!

2009-10-18T21:32:00.001-07:00

Had a quiet moment today and was able to call and have a nice visit with my Sister-in-law, Rebecca and my Brother Travis. When I think of him in my mind this is how I picture him!

There are two things that James is a little possessive about... his bucket of golf balls and his dental floss! Carter knows to leave both of them alone! He has enjoyed one too many times of unwinding James' dental floss to a heaping mess. So, I was the guilty person who gave the dental floss to Cannon to entertain him... Carter found him playing with it and said "Mom, you better hide that because when Dad gets home he is going to snap"!

Weather has cooled and my roses are in full bloom again!

McKay spending this morning teaching Carter how to play Tic Tac Toe!

James teaching McKay how to build a fire... Still a little nervous about a 6 year old with the capabilities to make a fire!

McKay & Carter's little Halloween treats they made for friends!

Enjoyed the smell of homemade bread made by James!!! Yes, my husband makes homemade bread and it is fabulous! I don't even try to compete! My boys LOVE Dad's bread!

Gifts for the ladies I visit teach.

Bottled apple pie filling with my neighbor Mindy! I don't know if I can eat them... I think they look too beautiful!

A few festive neighbor treats!

James and McKay were gone Friday night to the scout overnighter. So, to make it special for Carter I let him watch movies in bed with me that night and then let him have breakfast in bed Saturday morning. When I asked him what he wanted for breakfast he said "walk around waffles"! Translation: when we were in Idaho staying at Jason and Amy's during the summer my Nephew Tyson would eat "Walk around waffles" - it means Eggo waffles with nothing on them so that you can walk around and eat them and not make a mess! The perfect kind of breakfast to have in bed!

Round Two: Non Contact Discipline...

2009-10-18T16:15:00.000-07:00

Three things happened today...

1. I decided that I thought that Carter was outgrowing his naps. He has been up multiple times every night for the last 10 nights.... So, I decided that today was going to be the first day without a nap.

2. Cannon is teething and I kept him home from church with me. I decided I rather let him stay home and have a good nap then fight him being upset at church. So, that meant that James took the boys to church by himself! However, they boys were not well behaved and James was frazzled when they got home....

3. Our Home Teachers came to visit us after church. The boys were told that if they were not well behaved while they were there that they would have to sit on a chair for awhile after they left.

So, you can see who was not well behaved while our Home Teachers were here visiting and who also was going his first day without a nap!!! We had checked on him a couple times and he was sitting there like he was supposed to... but, the third time I went to check on him to make sure he was still on the chair I found him fast asleep! I don't know that our discipline was very effective! So, who won? Him? Or Us?

Halloween Treats!

2009-10-16T19:23:00.000-07:00

McKay didn't have school today - they are out for fall break. We spent the morning making Halloween treats for the boys friends. It was a little crazy with melted chocolate and two little boys that just couldn't wait to dig in! My OCD started to kick into high gear real fast and I just had to tell the inner "Martha" in me to chill out and enjoy the moment with the boys! We made mummy and skeleton finger pretzels. Carter however doesn't call them mummies he calls them "mommies"!

My Halloween Apron!

2009-10-16T09:34:00.000-07:00

I had cut this apron out last year... But, with being pregnant and having noooooo motivation at all it didn't get done... So, I was excited when I pulled out my fabric stash and found it. It got me soooo excited that I went to Jo Ann's when they had their patterns on sale for .99 cents and bought 8 new apron patterns!

James and McKay are heading out on a scout camp out tonight. Perfect weather - yesterday when I ran to Costco it was 87 degrees!!! This is when St. George is fabulous! This weekend I am working on a few Christmas sewing projects, bottling apple pie filling, Finally putting up the big swing set and staining it and tackling putting all the stuff that is piled up in the garage in the attic... It will fill good to get it all done! AND of course we are couting down... 7 more days until my parents come to visit!

Fast & Easy Apron

2009-10-14T12:15:00.000-07:00

So, I got tired of getting McKay dressed for the day and then having to have him change his shirt before he went out the door for school... It was always a little dirty from lunch or brushing his teeth or something! And I just can't handle a little bit of dirty when he is going to school! I was at the Dollar Store the other day when I saw these really cute Halloween dish towels and had a thought... Aprons! I came home and totally just made it up as I went - But, I think that they turned out pretty cute! AND he doesn't mind wearing an apron that has skeletons on it! I made one for Carter too... But, he wasn't feeling very photogenic at the time of the picture taking!

I took a couple pictures of the process. I started by folding the top of the towel down until I reached the desired length that I wanted. Then I folded the sides in until I got the desired width I wanted. I threaded the ribbon up through the folds and sewed it into place. Leaving the ribbon long enough to tie in the back! See, nice and easy!

*** With Carters I cut the ribbon where it attached at the neck and sewed Velcro on the back of the apron and on the ribbon to make the neck adjustable. I Like this much better and will do this on anymore that I make in the future.

It's Just Beginning....

2009-10-13T22:51:00.000-07:00

McKay started flag football and last week he had his first little practice! He was so excited he could hardly stand it! I had a major moment as I was driving him home realizing that this was just the beginning... the beginning of YEARS of football, baseball & basketball practices and games and whatever else he might decide to throw in there on top of it all! Sorry the pictures are a little blurry... I was trying to hold Cannon and take pictures at the same time... and try to figure out where Carter had escaped to!

We have been practicing our "drills" all week! He informed me tonight that I am getting much better!

We're Ready To Roast Marshmellows!

2009-10-13T22:32:00.000-07:00

James has a young man in his scout group named Kadyn who is cutting and selling firewood to earn money for the scout jamboree. So, James told him that we would buy some firewood to help support him. As you may know from previous posts my husband is a sucker for any child selling anything! Especially if they are working for it! But, we were completely surprised when Kadyn and his family the Ence's showed up at our house last week and put together a whole fire pit for us! Complete with a fire ring, log seats, a bench, a pile of firewood and a box of wood chips to help start the fire! They did it just to be nice and I was seriously so touched by their thoughtfulness! We have already had 3 fires and have many more planned! In St. George you can pretty much have them all year around!!! It truly taught me the sweetest lesson on being good neighbors.

*** I know the pictures are backwards.... but, it is late and I am too tired to fix them!!!

WARNING: major picture overload!

2009-10-13T22:00:00.000-07:00

James' Parents came to stay with us for a week and it was FABULOUS! McKay and Wayne mounted his antlers from the deer they shot together a couple years ago.

We did lots of good baking! We made cinnamon rolls 3 times!

Lots of time spent with "Pa" on the trampoline

We took them on our little hike up to the top of the water tower. You have to LOVE how Carter has his binoculars upside down and backwards!

Lots of help with all of our sewing projects!

I LOVE how Cannon is looking at Becky in this picture!

Lots of cuddling!

Lots of shooting the BB guns!

This is the target that McKay drew of deer!!! I LOVE the antlers!

Lots of puzzles...

We spent a morning watching the St. George Marathon. It is a huge marathon that they run to qualify for the Boston Marathon. They had about 10,000 runners this year.

It was fabulous having them here spending the time with us. I was as sad as the boys were to see them go!

My Little Pumpkin

2009-10-08T23:27:00.000-07:00

I made this cute little shirt this week for Cannon! The chaos is starting to settle... and I have been in the mood to create & bake! My in-laws spent the last week here with us and Becky and I spent a major part of each day attached to the sewing machine and making 3 batches of cinnamon rolls! I have more goodness to share soon!

Carter Price

2009-10-01T08:52:00.000-07:00

Carter turns 3 this month... and even though it's not for a couple weeks I have already started the "where has the time gone" moping routine that I do every time my kids have a birthday! I always struggle with them getting older and often wish I could freeze time! Here are a few little details about Carter:

* He has to put his pajamas back on everyday for his nap

* When he really means something he says "pinkie square" instead of pinkie swear!

* He has hot cereal almost every morning for breakfast and calls it "porridge"

* He calls his chocolate milk "troll food" - courtesy of his father!

* He is finally starting to be OK with McKay going to school - he has realized that he does come home & that while McKay is gone he has free reign to their room and McKay's things!

* He LOVES to draw.

* He LOVES to draw on things he is not supposed to...

* When he has to use the bathroom he runs outside instead of to the toilet.

* He is always going out in the garage and stealing golf balls out of James' bucket... it is starting to cause his father stress!

* His thanks is pronounced "nanx"

* When we get in the car he always asks for "his song" which is Kenny Rogers, The Gambler. He has it memorized word for word.

* I hear this several times a day "Mom, can I just have a peach, or an apple, some pretzels maybe... just somethin' "

* If he wants something he says "If I give you a kiss will you give me ... "

* He whispers in my ear quite frequently "Mom, you are da' best"!

* He has Nacho Libre memorized.

* I let him "drive" the car home from the bus stop - and he LOVES it!

* When you tell him No to something he almost always says "Oh Come On"! - Emphasizing each word!

* He admires McKay and loves to do anything he is doing.

* When he wrestles with his Dad or McKay he is a scrapper - you really better watch out!

* He is very stubborn!

* He is finally going to nursery without a complete melt down!

* He prays for Uncle Travis everyday.

* He has the funniest facial expressions! Sometimes I get so caught up in watching him when he is talking to me that I don't pay attention to what he is saying!

* He is absolutely fabulous and I can't imagine my life without him!

Seriously???

2009-09-26T10:55:00.000-07:00

Yes, it is the end of September... and yes it is still warm enough in St. George to play in the water! When we were moving here we were trying to decide if we should find a house with a pool... HOWEVER due to Carters lack of not having any fear what so ever we decided it wasn't a safe choice! The safest thing for him was a kiddie pool! But, now I'm not so sure!!! As You watch the video pay attention to Carter in the background!

*** And yes I did retract my "Awesome" comment and threatened him within an inch of his life to not do it again! Especially when he started to try and do them backwards!!!

Candy Bar Cookies!

2009-09-24T13:24:00.000-07:00

Ok - it is no surprise to anyone in my family that I don't like cookies... I never have! Even growing up - cookies have never been my thing. It's sad to say that I don't even like to make them... Yes, I am a mother and I don't like to make cookies - I can hear the gasps! HOWEVER - my very sweet neighbor, Mindy is the best baker I know! Her kids Erin and Kaden come over in the evenings to play with my boys and she is always sending fabulous treats with them. Last week she sent over some Candy Bar cookies that she had made. James & the boys dove into them and I was enjoying how pretty they looked in my domed cake plate!!! I don't know why - I think Carter was "sharing" with me - But, I took a bite of one... AND they were amazing! So, for me to share a cookie recipe you know they have to be good!

Candy Bar Cookies

1 C (2 sticks) Butter or Margarine Softened
1/2 C sugar
1/2 C firm pack light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp. Vanilla
2 1/4 C flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
1 3/4 C candy bar chunks
3/4 C chopped nuts (optional)

In large bowl cream butter & sugars until light and fluffy; beat in egg and vanilla. In medium bowl combine flour, soda & salt; blend into creamed mixture. Stir in candy bar bits. Drop by heaping tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10-13 minutes at 350, or until edges are lightly browned & centers are still soft.

Mindy uses the mini candy bars and the ones that she made us that were so fabulous were with 2 mini snickers, 2 kitkat, 1 milky way & 2 3 musketeers. But, the fun thing is that you can mix them up with any candy bars you want. AND with Halloween coming it is a good way to use all those mini candy bars your kids will get trick or treating! Enjoy!

Letting Go...

2009-09-23T15:43:00.000-07:00

This man is growing up faster than I can handle... Kindergarten has seemed to have catapulted him to little man hood. We were getting him ready for school the other day and he asked me if I would do his hair like a "peacock"... I had to have him explain to me what he meant because I wasn't quite sure about the "peacock" explanation! But, laughed when I realized that what he meant was a mohawk! At first I told him no. But, I sat there and comtimplated it. I'm usually not the type to let him run around with a mohawk... But, I decided it was time to let it go... time to step back and let him start to express himself in his own little ways a little bit more. So, I had to smile as I watched him get on the bus and all the kids started telling him how awesome his hair was! As the bus pulled away he stuck his head out the window with the biggest smile on his face and yelled back at me that he loved me!

Today he came home from school and said "Mom, is my hair called a peacock or a mohawk... because this kid on the bus said it was called a mohawk"! So, I had to tell him it is called a mohawk and will probably never hear him call it a "peacock" again... But, it was really cute while it lasted!

What A Good Friend!

2009-09-22T17:33:00.000-07:00

So, I have had this house in our neighborhood that I have been stalking since we moved in in July... For awhile it was for sale... then it wasn't... then it looked vacant... I didn't know if they had sold it or if it had gone back to the bank or if it was even vacant or not. But, they had this pomegranate bush that was absolutely loaded and I wanted to pick them sooooo bad! I even started to plot schemes of going in the middle of the night - not that I ever really would!?!?!?!

My friend Rachel and I are the room mothers for McKay's Kindergarten class. We had to go up to the school today to throw a little Birthday party for his teacher and I just picked her up on my way and she rode up to the school with me. On our way home I told her I wanted to show her a house because there was something that I was considering stealing from it!!! So, when we pulled up to the house she saw what I was talking about and said "You want those pomegranates don't you"!!! She didn't know the story of the house much better than I did... BUT she told me that if I would pull up to the door she would go knock and see if anyone was home! Something that I was too chicken to do! I probably would have ended up sending James! Anyways - she marched right up there and a lady came to the door and told us we could pick all we wanted! So, Rachel said "lets go pick pomegranates"! Carter had a blast carrying them and putting them in the car - we didn't even have a bag & we just had to put them in the car as they rolled all over the place!
By the time we were done I made it home with 40 pomegranates!

THANK YOU Rachel for going and knocking on the door when I was too chicken!!! You are fabulous! And tell Rick thank you too... I noticed on my caller ID that he had called looking for you while we were picking!!!