Just A Little Reminder...

So, I think as a Mother you need a reminder every now and then of how good you really have it... Today is one of "those" days for me... The boys have been fighting all day and Carter has found crayons twice that has resulted in some very bright wall art... Plus, James has been gone to Idaho since yesterday morning... I'm sure that a lot of it has to do with the pregnancy hormones surging in my body right now too... But, I was on the verge of a breakdown when I downloaded these pictures and was reminded of how good I really have it. I have two beautiful boys and another on the way that they told me I would never have, they are healthy, strong, happy and full of energy. At times I have to admit that I am a little intimidated by the thought of three... But, I would rather have three than none - So, I am going to try and look at the beauty in the drawings on the wall and enjoy every night that Carter lays at me feet as I cook dinner... And try not to wince too bad each time McKay says "Um, Mom can I tell you something..." (He's usually not telling me anything good!) And enjoy the moments a little bit more that I do catch of them loving each other. It's my goal to take the next month and truly enjoy the season and my two boys - to enjoy this time in our life as a little family of four... to not take it for granted and to live in the moment more. May we all be reminded a little more often of how truly good we have it!

A Little Bit of Idaho...

Another crazy week... We went to Idaho Last Thursday and were able to enjoy a fabulous dinner out with my cousin Stacey and her husband Jon at my favorite restaurant Stockman's. Friday we spent the day running errands and had a doctors apt... Since we are going back and forth to Idaho and need to make some arrangements in January to be there to have the baby we were able to set my delivery date... So, it looks like we will be having a baby on January 15. I have to admit that it feels really good to have a date in my mind - I'm one of "those" people that just has to have everything planned and in order! Saturday we celebrated an early Thanksgiving with my family - When you're away and don't see them as often you really appreciate when you do! So, it was really nice to have us all together and spend the time together. Sunday we went to church with our old ward... BIG mistake... I think it will make it even harder when I go to church here and still don't know anyone! But, it was fabulous to see all my friends that I miss so much! The boys walked right in like nothing has even changed and made themselves right at home! We left after church to be home in time to have dinner with James' best friend from growing up Tyson and his wife Kristin and their family. So, it was a crazy but good weekend!

THEN, we had a little bit of Idaho come to Utah!!! Carson, Lacey and the kidos came on Tuesday and staid through Thursday!!! It was SOOOO good to have them here. When McKay and Addy saw each other they just ran up to each other and hugged! It was priceless. We literally hardly saw them the whole time - they were as inseparable as always! The adults stayed up past 1:00 a.m. both nights just talking, playing games, watching movies and eating good food!!! It felt so good to have them here and to just be able to be together! It was something I really needed - So, thanks guys for making the effort to come- we miss you SOOO much! These are the best pictures I could get of the crazy kids - Carter, McKay, Addy and Noah.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with James' family - Everybody was there but one brother and his family. It was special this year because his Grandma was able to spend the day with us.

Friday James and McKay went skiing with Jason and the boys and Carter and I crashed!!! We literally spent the day laying in bed watching movies! Later we went to this place called Jump On It with Jason and Kristin, Joe and Wendy and the Kids. It's this huge warehouse that is full of trampolines - they even have then on the walls for the kids to jump off of! The kids have a total party there! Carter was a little timid at first... then he would just go and find a trampoline that didn't have anyone on it - he was good until someone came on it and then he would try to start a fight with them to get them out of his territory! Yes, he's my feisty one! Afterwards we went to dinner at Zuppas which has the best soup and salad anywhere!

James had to head back to Idaho today to finish things up on our house - The family moves in on Monday. Joe and Wendy are blessing Maxwell tomorrow - I feel so bad that I can't make it to be there - But, we have to keep travel limited to the doctors appointments... With my other two boys I couldn't travel at all.. So, I am just grateful that we are able to this time as much as we are.

So, I am looking forward to a quiet week next week - or what I hope to be a quiet week! I always intend for them to be chill - but, they always end up crazy! I hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday and are enjoying the Holiday season!

A Much Needed day!

So, yesterday James took the day off of work so that I could have a "girls" day! I went with my Sister-in-law Kristin and my Cousin Megan to a cute little boutique that I had been wanting to go to. It was so nice to be able to take my time and walk through and enjoy it! I picked up a couple more things for the baby and a few things for Christmas. Some of Kristins friends met us there and we went and had luch afterwards - they were sweet enough to let me, the pregnant one, pick where we went because i was in much need of some Mexican food!!!


So, I seriously have people ask me how I get James to be so sweet, to help me out as much as he does with the boys and around the house... He cooks, he cleans (he's not even afraid to clean a toilet if I really need him too!), he helps with the laundry, he does as much for the boys when he is home as I do. He's the type of husband that if you wake up in the middle of the night and need a drink he will get up and get it for you without complaining... I wish I could share the secret with you of how I get him to do all of these things... But, it's just him! So, thank you hunny for all you do - I love you and appreciate you!


We're off to Idaho - the boys are pretty excited to be with Grandma and Grandpa - McKay keeps telling me that we need to get going because he and Grandpa have "plans"!!! My parents are watching the boys for us tonight so we can go out on a date with my Cousin Stacey and her husband Jon. We don't have babysitters here in Utah yet, so we're pretty excited to get to go!

Just a Little Project...

I put this little album together one day last week... It was of the day that my Mom and I took the boys to Hogle Zoo this summer. I had too many pictures to do a layout so a mini album seemed like the perfect answer. There are about 20 pages in this album... with pictures of the animals bonded together to make their own pages too... The boys both love to look at it - and the pictures of the animals throughout are a hit especially for Carter.

We have had a crazy week... but, I'm starting to think that crazy is normal for us now!!! McKay has had his own rough week... We were at Walmart last week stocking up on some stuff for food storage and they had left out a step stool that had wheels on it... Well, what is any 5 year old boy going to do when his Mother isn't looking... Needless to say he lost his balance and went face first into the ground... James was there with me thank goodness because McKay doesn't handle blood very well and there was blood everywhere!!! So, as most of you know I am married to an Insurance man - he knows what to do in those situations! So, after we got McKay calmed as much as we could in that moment James took him into the main office and made a claim. The manager went out and looked at everything and told us someone would call us by Monday. Anyways, McKay was beat up pretty bad! The only thing that was even positive for him in the moment was that it was Gavin's Birthday and we were supposed to be going bowling that night! It was one night that I wished I had my camera soooo bad - he looked pretty sad. So, we had to take him to the dentist the next day and have xrays done and everything came out o.k. BUT, I have to say this about Walmart... Their claims department called us the next day and I thought that they were extremely professional and outgoing to do anything and everything to make the situation better. I was extremely impressed by their professionalism and will happily continue to shop their because of their customer support. They offered things that I didn't even expect them to offer and I was very impressed.

So, the fat lip is still there a little bit - it's getting better - But, then last night McKay was chasing Carter around the house playing tag - he had Carter cornered and Carter threw his sippie cup at McKay and nailed him right in the eye - Needless to say he now has a black eye too!!! He doesn't like the fat lip, but he thinks the black eye is pretty cool! He keeps going into the bathroom to check it out in the mirror - I told James that I thought it would be a good idea for him to take McKay out of school tomorrow to go skiing... I'm afraid that they might turn us in to social services after his big fat lip last week and a black eye this week!!!

So, a quick run down of the week past - we went to Madagascar 2 - I have to admit that I don't like the first one and wasn't too excited about going to the second one.... But, it surprised me and I thought it was really cute. We went with Megan and Greg and had a fun night with their family. One morning after I showered and was blow drying my hair McKay comes into the bathroom and says "Mom, we need a new house... our ceiling in the basement is leaking and we need a new house..." So, I ran downstairs to find water coming down through 2 lights and from a couple water blisters.... NICE! So, come to find out our shower hadn't been sealed properly and that's where the nice leak came from! James made it skiing for the first time... and the ski passes have been officially purchased! He and McKay are pretty excited. We went up to Brighton on Saturday for a drive and for breakfast and McKay was just giddy! I think he is most excited for the chair lift! We had some friends from Idaho come and visit us on Saturday too - Thanks Dave and Sheri it was fun to see you! And last but not least we sold our house in Idaho!!! Yeah! We didn't even have it listed - and it's just crazy how it happened - But, we're just so grateful that it did! We're off to Idaho again this week for another doctors appointment... So, Like I said before I think that crazy has just become our normal for this Turley family!

My Little Shadow...

Carter is seriously a Mama's boy - where ever I am he is. If I sit down he is on my lap, if I am laying down he is right next to me, If I am in the shower he is outside the door yelling at me to unlock it!!! He will eat his dinner alone until I sit down and then he comes and gets on my lap and just takes over eating on my plate, If I am cooking he is "helping" me... In fact he is standing right behind me on the chair right now climbing up my back saying "Mama, what doin" (I hear this phrase several times a day!)... If I call James to come and get him for me so i can do something Carter is seriously offended and I have to admit that at times it makes it really difficult to get things done... I have to strategically plan what I can get done while he naps because I can't get it done while he is awake!!! However, I have to also admit that I truly love it!!! McKay is ALL about Dad and I know that this time with Carter will pass and before I know it he will be all about Dad too... I am a little nervous to see how he is going to handle this new baby... I have been trying to find things that he is interested in (he doesn't play with toys... at all!). We bought him a train track for his Birthday that he likes and I hate to admit this but it is true he LOVES Nacho Libre!!! If you put that movie in he is entertained for an hour and a half!!! So, in the mean time I revel in this time that he is giving me - and have to admit that I lay down on purpose just so he will come and cuddle with me!!! He will always come up to me and say "Mama hold you" and it melts my heart everytime!


So, I went and picked up the babies quilts at the quilt shop and when I saw how cute they turned out I don't feel near as guilty as I was!!! James asked me for a quilt for Christmas and I just might head back to the quilt shop!!!


Kristin came last week and helped me get my scrapbook room all upbacked and organized. Everytime I would walk in there and see all the boxes I would just turn and walk out and shut the door!!! It feels good to have it done - So good that I ordered a bunch of stuff for Holiday projects!!!


The ski resorts open here this week... James and McKay have been out getting all their equipment bought and ready to go. We decided that if we were going to live in Utah we needed to enjoy the things that Utah had to offer and skiing is a big one! James grew up skiing - Me on the other hand I did not! The last time I went skiing I ended up in the emergency room and spent 4 weeks on crutches!!! So, I am excited for McKay to start young and am prepared for him to be skiing better than me when I can finally go next year!!! James is really good at finding things that he can do with the boys - he goes out of his way to do it - So, I am excited for him and McKay to have this time together this winter.

Just A Few Things...

So, a couple weeks ago for family night we taught McKay about the Golden Rule of life... He does pretty good at it and works pretty hard at it too... especially with Carter. Well, I put Carter in time out on the front couch a couple days ago... it was a little bit of a rough day for him - he was a repeat offender!!! - and every time I would walk by he would just glare at me... So, I decided I was going to get the camera - So, as I was sitting across from him on the opposite couch taking pictures of him glaring at me- McKay came in and asked what I was doing... He could see that it wasn't making Carter happy and said "Mom I don't know what is going on right now, but you're not setting a very good example to us of the golden rule - you're obviously not thinking about Carter right now......... I mean seriously what do you even say to that... other than you're 5 and you're right and I'm 30 and I'm wrong.... I did however manage to get a couple good pictures of Carter before his brother came and saved him from his Mother!!!

So, I have been feeling a little guilty about a few other things too... So, with McKay I made ALL of his baby stuff - Blankets, burp cloths - you name it!!! My Mom Made his bedding custom for me just the way I wanted it.... With Carter I made a couple blankets and a few cute burp cloths and had my Mom make his bedding too........................... But, with this baby I have bought everything!!! I ordered his bedding from Pottery Barn and bought all of his burp cloths at a boutique a couple weeks ago.... So, I told myself that I had to at least make him a couple blankets - So, I went to the cutest quilt shop on Monday and looked all over for some yummy fabric - only to find the cutest fabric that was already pieced together - So, then I was feeling really guilty that I wouldn't even need to piece it...................................................... then, as i was finding some super soft fabric to go on the back of it the the lady asked me how I was going to quilt it... I told her I thought that I would just quilt a few stars in some of the blocks to keep it together... She informed me that the fabric I had picked for the back was wonderful for babies, but extremely difficult to work with and maybe I should have their quilter do it.... I told her I was already feeling guilty enough that this was my third child and I felt like he was getting the shaft!!! But, I didn't want to be rude so I asked her about the pricing................................ $28 to have two baby blankets completely quilted!!! I almost choked because I thought it was such a good deal! So, I walked out of that cute little quilt shop with two blankets for baby completely put together other than the binding.... and feeling extremely guilty that I haven't done for him what I did for the other two...

Then, My friend Lacey told me about Walmarts ship to store program... You can go on their website and make an order and they will ship it to their store that is closest to you for free.... So, I went on their site and found more than half of what I was planning on getting my boys for Christmas (Carter is completely done - I just need a couple more things for McKay that entail James)! They will email me in a couple days when it delivers and i just have to go and pick it up!!! No crowds, no waiting in line, no finding a babysitter so I can go shopping and run all over looking for it - Done as easy as that!!! But, still feeling a little guilty of the ease!

So, this week we introduced putting the laundry away into McKay's chore book... I had this huge basket of the boys clothes that needed to get put away. I thought that I was going to have to show him step by step how to do it and kept putting it off... So, I called him into his room and told him what was going on and then I had to leave for a minute to help Carter with something - When I cam back he had it all completely done... Everything was in the right drawers and the clothes were on hangers that needed to be - he even had his clothes separated form Carters that needed to be hung up. All I had to do was put the hangers on the rod!!! I was so proud of him!!! I have to admit that I am a bit of a perfectionist - I have a way that I want things done and it's hard from me to let that go. I have decided that I create more work for myself though by not letting others do things - and probably underestimating McKay and what he can do. I probably expect way too much out of myself - My baby will come to this family and be loved to all ends with or without a homemade blanket!!! My kids will have a fabulous Christmas whether I went to 5 stores to get things or order it all from one and had it delivered!!! Life is good and that is all that truly matters!

Halloween

We had a fabulous Halloween this year! We got up Friday morning and made Halloween muffins for breakfast and made and decorated the annual cupcakes... McKay LOVES to make and decorate cupcakes! He had his Halloween party at school and a program for the parents to come and watch. It was so cute and he was so proud to have us there. It really hit me hard there how quickly he is growing up... too fast! After the party we headed up to Jason and Kristin's house for a yummy chili and cornbread dinner and to help prepare for the festivities... They were moving their fire pit out to the street and making hot cider and nachos for all of the neighbors and kids while they were out trick or treating! Other neighbors did scones and home made doughnuts... it was really a fun night - Jason and James had fun entertaining the crowd while Kristin and I took the kids around to the houses. Carter was sooo into it too!!! He ran up to each house and did his best to keep up with the bigger kids - It was a test, but I finally convinced him it was o.k. to ride in the stroller between the houses and get out and run up to the door when we got there. When we were done going to the houses we came back and sat by the fire and enjoyed the night - the boys had so much fun they didn't want to leave!

A Little Pumpkin Carving...

McKay has been dieing to carve the pumpkins... everyday he asks me if it is time... So, I had to laugh when we finally started carving the pumkins and McKay almost couldn't handle it... He has a weak stomache (like his mother...) weird smells, tastes, textures can send him overboard really quick! So, when he got the first whiff of the pumkin he turned green and we didn't know if we were going to make it! Then, he struggled with the feel of the insides of the pumkin... everytime he would take a handful out he would wipe his hands on a paper towel... he left a couple times to go and wash his hands!!! He is all boy, but there are a couple things he can't handle!!!

Carter on the other hand had a blast as you can see below....

A Little Pumpkin Carving... Mess!!!

Carter got bored while we were cutting out the pumpkins and took matters into his own hands!!! After more than a half an hour of McKay not being able to decide what he wanted on his pumpkin James headed to the internet and downloaded a book of designs... What a good Dad! McKay wanted somwthing scary and this bat was it!!!

Project Days...

I have started project days with McKay. They usually happen on Tuesdays and Thursdays when he doesn't have school and when Carter is taking his nap. That's usually the only time it's safe to get the paint, stamps, glue, scissors out... It's my goal to turn the TV off for the afternoon and we spend time together making projects. We go to the craft store about once a month and pick out new and different projects. I have to admit that we like Michaels the best - they have a good section of little projects for $1. McKay's favorite thing to do is paint - so, often times he picks out little wooden airplanes and cars and things to paint.

Today however, we made this little chore book for him. We went through some magazines and he cut out the pictures (I did have to clean them up a little bit) and glued them on to 3x5 cards. I did the writing and the laminating. A few others that we did were: put your clothes away, collect and take out the garbage, take a bath, clean your room... I'll rotate the chores each morning according to the things that need to be done that day. I also thought that I would put some in there like project day, his family home evening assignment each Monday, go to the park, go skiing... to let him know what we are doing that day and let him look forward to those too...

We carved pumpkins last night... but, that is a post all on it's own!!!

Life Keeps Us Busy!!!

2 weekends ago we headed back to Idaho for a doctors appointment... None of the hospitals or doctors down here are providers of our health insurance... So, We have decided to finish out this pregnancy with our doctor in Idaho and have the baby there... a big hastle... But, it gets us back to see family and friends! So, the boys LOVED being at Grandma and Grandpa's house! McKay and Grandpa worked in the shop and made a few projects, Carter spent most of the time cooking - it entertained him for hours as long as he had water!!! McKay was also all about bobbing for apples... he had a blast once James showed him how to pin the apples against the side and get them!!! And, we celebrated Carter's Birthday a few days early!!! It's hard to believe that he is 2!!!

Last week was full of busy things... the type that keep you running like crazy, but you wonder what you got done... We celebrated Carter's Birthday again on Thursday with Jason and Kristin and their family and Megan and Greg and their girls.

Then, on Friday James left for Arizona and my Mom came to stay with me and the boys!!! It was so nice to have her here - We did a little shopping... And she wanted to go see the Halloween decorations at Gardners Village - but, other than that we stayed close to home and just really enjoyed having her here. The boys are going through withdrawl today... After getting to see her for two weekends in a row it will be a long couple weeks before we get back to Idaho! Thanks Mom for coming!!! And thanks again for sewing my curtains!!!

So, On Friday McKay told me that some boys at school were making fun of the way he dressed and calling him a dork... and that he thought it would be a good idea if he wore his skeleton shirt that day... Right now I know that those who really know me are laughing... Because as my husband puts it I go a little overboard in dressing my kids... I have fun buying their clothes each season and enjoy having them look nice and cute!!! James even goes as far as calling me Stramboli (the pupet master on pinocchio...) So, I told McKay that if he wanted to wear his skelton shirt that was fine but that i doubted that kids were making fun of him because he had really nice clothes... So, this morning he is sitting up to the bar eating breakfast and he told James that he didn't want to go to school.... James asked him why not? He told James the same thing... that 2 boys at school called him a dork for the way he dressed... So, I was sitting in the family room and I could hear the conversation... I heard James ask him if he had told me about it... Kinda like oh no these two kinds are treading on Mom's hallowed ground!!! I told him that I knew about it... I was still doubting the situation!!! So, I told McKay that I would call his teacher today and take care of it... He almost died and told me not to because she told him that she would take care of it today..... mmm hmmm yeah right! So, then I asked him what the two boys names were... he thought for a second and said Zac and Cody (the names of the twins on a tv show he watches)... So, after awhile I told him I needed to talk to him and that I was being serious... his response: "Yeah, it sounds serious"! So, I explained to him that he needed to tell me the truth about school... If boys were being mean to him I needed to know so that I could call his teacher and take care of it... But, If they weren't and I called his teacher that wouldn't be a good thing.... So, this was his response: "Mom, it is really hard for me to tell you this... But, there aren't any boys at school teasing me.... I just made that up." Then I asked him why he made it up and he said "Because some days I don't want to go to school and I just want to stay home and be with you..."! So, I had to explain to him that some days at school are more fun than others... but that it is really important for him to go. This is paybacks - I hated school and did everything I could to get out of it clear through high school!!! My 5 year old is already starting!!! What will be next???

A Little Yumminess...

I made this Pumpkin Spice Cake last weekend and it was so good that I thought I would share the recipe:


Pumpkin Spice Cake

3/4 Cup unsalted butter, softened
1 Cup firmly packed dark-brown sugar (I used regular)
1 Cup Sugar
3 Large eggs
1/2 Cup Buttermilk
1 Cup canned or fresh pumpkin (I used canned)
1 tsp. Vanilla extract
2 Cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg

Heat oven to 350. Butter and flour 2 bread pans; set aside. Beat the butter in a large bowl, using a mixer set on medium speed, until fluffy. Beat in the sugars and eggs, one at a time, until smooth. Set aside. Combine buttermilk, pumpkin, and vanilla and set aside. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg and stir into batter, in thirds, alternating with buttermilk mixture- until smooth. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake until cakes test clean- about 25 minutes. Cool on wire racks.


Honey & Spice Buttercream Frosting

1 tsp. unflavored gelatin

1/2 Cup dark honey ( I used this, but think that I might use regular next time - it has a funny taste to me)

1/2 Cup sugar

1 tsp. Salt

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

3 1/2 sticks butter, room temp.

1 tsp. Vanilla extract

Combine the gelatin and 2 tablespoons water and let sit for 10 minutes. Bring the honey, sugar, and 2 tablespoons water to a boil in a small sauce pan, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool for 3 minutes. Stir 2 tablespoons of honey mixture into the gelatin until dissolved. Whisk into the remaining honey syrup along with salt and cinnamon. Strain into a medium size bowl and beat, using a mixer set on high speed, until doubled in volume and completely cool - about 10 minutes. Add the butter 2 tablespoons at a time, while continuously beating. Stir in the vanilla and use immediately or keep chilled.

I took pictures of the boys helping me make the cake... But, when I was deleting pictures from my camera that were old I accidently deleted them... Argh... Look at the cute cake plate that my Mom sent me... It's a spider web with little spiders hanging down from the edges!!! Thanks Mom I love it!

Did You Know...

Did you know that the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles live in our circle... The boys were playing outside when I heard Carter yelling "turtles, turtles, turtles..." over and over and was in the process of pulling McKay out in the street... Well, Carter had noticed that there was a sewer hole in the circle and now both of the boys are convinced that they live right in front of our house!!! In the top picture they are yelling down to the turtles introducing themselves!


The Last day that James' parents were here Becky made this little pirate ship out of some boxes for the boys... they loved it so much that I brought it inside for them to play with in the basement.


McKay is on round three of the flu today... It's a little 12 hour thing that he can't seem to stay away from...


I've been doing a little baking... some new recipes... I meant to share them with you today, but my camera battery is dead. So, I'll get them to you soon!

Coming Out Of The Fog...

Well, my family has been wanting to see what the house looks like... So, not the best picture - but, a picture none the less. We sit on a hill looking out over Utah Lake - If you look to the right in the picture you can see the water. It's a very beautiful view of the lake and the Wasatch Mountains.

I'm finally starting to feel like life is starting to get back to normal a little bit. The house is pretty much unpacked - except for the few stray boxes that you throw in the garage or Storage room... Then it makes you wonder if you really need those things anyways!

McKay is LOVING school and LOVING being by his cousin Gavin - Kristin (My sister-in-law) was here on Tuesday and took McKay home with her - He and Gavin were out playing in the yard and she would check on them and they were doing great - She noticed them out by their big fire pit and really didn't think anything of it until she found them in the bathroom covered head to toe in charcoal... They had taken the charcoal out of the pit and drawn all over each other, the patio, and just about anything else in reach! She told them that she needed to be able to trust them together and that they needed to make good decisions! She called and told me about it and we had a good laugh but have decided that this is only the beginning with these two! When McKay got home I asked him about it... And the first thing he said was "I know, we need to make better decisions"!

Carter is still adjusting... Every now and then he will come and say he is ready to go home... But, he seems to do pretty well as long as McKay is around.

James' parents were here for most of this week. We really enjoyed getting to spend some time with them and were very grateful for the help that they gave us in getting some things done around the house. Kristin and I took Becky for a pedicure on Wednesday... When I asked her if she wanted to go she said NO! But, James told her she was going! We just had to laugh at her because she was really reluctant - But, then ended up loving it! James even called to check and make sure she was handling it o.k.!

Last Friday night we took the Boys to Gardeners Village - They had it all decorated up with their Halloween Witches. The other pictures are of the boys there.

I spent yesterday working on my scrapbook room... I'm anxious to get it all put together - Fall always puts me in the mood to bake and to create! And right now I have a lot of catching up to do!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Feeling A Little.... Sad...

Today has been a little rough... I have been caught up in the excitement of looking for a new house, new furniture, and getting everything ready for us in Utah... But, today as I finished tying up some loose strings here it all hit... This is my home and now it is in boxes - the walls are bare, and the liveliness that was once here is now gone... After McKay left to go sleep over with my Mom and Carter was put to bed I went through each room and just let the memories of the last 7 years come flooding in... an emotional experience - But even worse when your pregnant! This is where we celebrated our first Christmas and James threw the Christmas tree down the stairs, where James and Tyler wrestled the wild kitten in the basement, where I planted my first garden, where I suffered from all of my fertility treatments to then be able to bring home two baby boys, McKay celebrated 5 Halloweens as a giraffe, lion, baseball player, pirate and superman, Where my boys took their first steps, Where I truly learned to LOVE a neighbor, Where my Dad spent HOURS with us finishing our basement, Where I have spent countless nights up with sick children, Where I ran through the screen door, Where we played "Dare" with Carson and Lacey... Where James lit the driveway on fire, where McKay learned to ride his bike... the memories could go on and on. But, I finally realized that I am not closing the book on this part of my life - I am just starting a new chapter. A new chapter with new stories - with new memories and as long as you have your Husband and your Children with you wherever you are is home.

Where Does The Time Go???

So, I successfully got James on the plane to Alaska on Friday... Yes, I have to say that "I" did... James has a history of bad flying experiences... One time he flew all the way to Chicago to find in his hotel that he had flown the whole way with bullets in his jacket pocket he was wearing.... (yes, it was post 9/11 - nice huh!!!) then a couple times later he was flying back from moving his Brother to Arizona to be detained at the airport because he had a steak knife in his briefcase.... The only thing that saved him was that his Mother was their pleading with them that he was not a terrorist... they kept him for a while and then let him go... But, said that they would put him in their files - what ever that means! So, getting my husband on a flight to Alaska with a firearm, bullets, knives, etc... was very stressful!!! I packed everything personally to make sure everything went where it needed to - It's the getting him home part that might be a little scary! I really don't want to fly to Alaska to bail him out of jail!!!

So, It was our goal to have the whole house packed before he left... and it is! The only thing left is the bare essentials and the things that we really can't pack until right before we leave.

The boys and I are enjoying the week with my Mom (My Dad is with James). We are leaving Wednesday to go to Utah for a little trip - with the move I haven't done any of my kids fall clothes shopping - So, we're going to do some shopping, go to Park City for a day, Go to Hoggle Zoo... Just get out and have a good time together.

I've been getting some furniture shopping done - The boys got cute new bunk beds (McKay is so excited). Baby Boy Turley gets a new crib and dressers. I have to say Pottery Barn rocks!!! So, I'm still on the hunt for a Bedroom set for us... I found one here that I like... But, I want to look around Utah a little bit more - they have a bigger selection of stores... We've decided it's time for a King sized bed... Our kids come and get in bed with us in the morning - It's a circus in a Queen! And with another baby on the way we need to have more room!!!

My Mom is the greatest for many reasons... But, she is coming tonight after the boys go to bed to help me pack my scrapbook room... It's official - When the scrapbook room is packed it's time to move!!!

Boy baby, Girl baby, Boy Baby, Girl Baby...

We are having another Boy!!! Yes, that makes three little boys in this Turley family... I do have to admit that I am a little nervous! If you know my Husband and his four brothers you would understand why! They are all very good men... But, their Mother is a Saint for having raised them!!! So, if history repeats itself... I will take MANY trips to the principles office, put out MANY fires, Have MANY things blown up in my yard, Have to clean out the neighbors pool because my son's put jello in it, return stolen turtles, bring a cat back to life after they put it in the freezer because it was "hot", learn how to remove hot tar from their bodies after a tar fight, replace a fridge because they put a dry ice bomb in the freezer to "save" it for later... this is the edited version people!!! There are some things that I am seriously afraid to admit that they did!!! But, through it all they were fiercely protective of each other... and to this day James talks to almost all of his brothers everyday. So, I can handle the chaos as long as they are in it together - as brothers!

Life is still extremely crazy around here... Packing, packing, and more packing! But, I do see an end in sight! I wanted it all done before James leaves for Alaska next Friday... because we move three days after he gets back! It's crazy how much stuff you accumulate when you have lived somewhere for 7 years... We have taken multiple trips to the D.I. and the dump - it does feel really good to do a major purge! It's just that everything is packed and we will be living off of paper plates and plastic utensils for a few weeks...

I have had to stop designing for Scarlet Lime for the time being... It's just not the right time in my life right now... With two little boys, moving, and the baby on the way it just wasn't the right time. Everytime I would need to be working on layout's my boys would need me... or my husband would want to spend time with me... James was fabulous - he would try and take the boys and leave so that I could work on it... But, then I always just wished I was with them... So, I thank Christy for the fabulous opportunity that she gave me and hope that one day I will be able to do it again. But, until then I am a Wife and a Mom - something that I have always wanted to be and something that will always come first and I thank Christy for understanding that.

Have a fabulous weekend!

No Longer Homeless!!!

Well, We spent the end of last week in Utah looking for houses... Looking through houses all day long is really draining! We had a few that we went down to specifically look at and when we got there we liked the homes, but didn't like the neighborhoods... the houses were too close! I'm an Idaho Girl - I need a little bit of space!!! So, we were a little frustrated and decided to go and drive through this other development that we had heard about - we didn't have any houses to look at, but we just wanted to see the area to see if it was anything that we could be interested in. We were a lot happier with this area and just started driving around and started calling on houses. At one corner I saw this little sign stuck in the ground for a 6 bed 4 bath 4400 sq foot home... I thought why not and called on it. The builder told us where it was at and gave us the code to get into the house. So, it's at the end of a cul-de-sac (I have no idea how to spell that!!!) and at the head of the circle is a big park! So, we got really excited about it - it has a large finished basement with a walk out - so, the lighting is great too! Lots of good storage and the yard is already in! The yard needs a little TLC, But I enjoy yard work! So, we got ourselves a home! It's nice to be able to see where we are going to be!

The home is in Saratoga Springs - So, it's right on Utah Lake. James is excited because we are literally 5 minutes away from the harbor - and there is a great golf course across the street from our housing addition!!!

Plus, I found McKay a great preschool - I think I was more stressed about that than finding a house!!!

We have our Dr. appointment tomorrow to find out what we are having!!! I am really nervous on this one!!! I really don't care either way as long as it's healthy - I know a lot of people say that... But, when babies are hard to come by as they have been for us you really are just grateful! But, I am a little nervous either way - 3 boys is a lot of energy!!! And well a girl.... I really don't know what to do with a girl!!! I'm the only girl in my family and James has one sister who is older... One James' side of the family there is one granddaughter and 11 grandsons with one more due any day... On my side of the family my siblings either have all boys or all girls... So, we'll just have to see!!!

Just A Funny Picture!

I think this means it's time to start working on breaking Carter of the pacifier! The funny thing is that if you look one of them is upside down!!!


It's been a crazy week - we have started packing... We work on one room a night and pack all of the things we can live without for a month. Saturday we tackled the garage and have that all packed up... the room I am dreading is my scrapbook room!!!


James is done working here September 1 and has the month off - But, he is gone in the middle of the month for 10 days fishing in Alaska!!!


Well, we're off this afternoon to Utah to look at houses... Wish us luck!

Just A Little Project...

I have been a little overwhelmed by the whole house hunting thing... We are going down to Utah next week to find a house... So, we have been spending a lot of time talking to realtor's and looking at homes on the Internet to narrow it down... My head seriously hurts from it!!!


So, I needed a little break and put this little album together of Carter and I. When we were on our way to Redfish we stopped and spent a couple days at Challis Hotsprings. Carter gets up crazy early... So, on this morning I hurried and got him out of the trailer before he woke anyone up and we went on a walk. It was one of those walks that you should take more often with your children... no time line, at their pace and letting them stop to discover little things a long the way. What I didn't know was that James had gotten up and had seen us and went and got the camera. He sat from a distance with the telephoto and took pictures of us - They're not all the best pictures - Some are blurry and I hadn't even brushed my hair or washed my face from the day before... but, they are all priceless to me.


I have really started doing more mini albums. I like the quick gratification that you get from them. I also like that you can have a little story that you want to tell that you can't get done with a 9x9 page... but that you can get done with a little album. McKay has started to look at the mini albums more than he does his scrapbook.


James and I are going on a date tonight to my favorite restaurant Stockman's and furniture shopping!!! I think he thinks he owes me - the last two dates we have gone on we have ended up at Sportsmans to get his gear for him to go fishing in Alaska next month! Either way, I'm just looking forward to spending some time with him!