December Happenings... AKA Christmas!

I have been putting off this post for a couple of days.  Trying to put a different spin on Christmas pictures is hard.  I am sure you are tired of reading about all the presents, family gatherings, etc!  But I just can't come up with a way to make this topic fresh for y'all!  Maybe it's the lack of sleep... No, I slept 6.5 hours straight last night (thank you LuLu!).  Maybe its the 4 kids eating at my brain all day... Naw, they are pretty good AND Nate has been working a bunch from home. Perhaps, just maybe, it's because Christmas IS truly all about the presents and gatherings... Now we are onto something!  But not the presents Santa brings.  And not the family gatherings of duty. Christmas is about the present and gathering that can only come from our Savior's birth.  The gift of Eternal Life and the gathering of those from afar, just to pay tribute and bring gifts. Gift giving not out of obligation, but out of respect and honor.  Family gatherings not out of duty, but because we love each other and deeply desire to connect with one another.

I hope you enjoy seeing our December as much as we did living it!

On their way to Palomar Mountain for the day with Grandpa Dave.

To the Vermont Family: Those are the hats from Cathy's store!  Hooray for Turtle Fur!!

GO BOISE STATE BRONCOS!! 

Lucy's 1st Christmas gift from Uncle Jeff and Cousins Ryan and Adam!

Not a great picture...  But what you can kinda see here is the Turner Family Wii Oath. 

Things were getting a bit out of hand one night while playing Super Mario Bros and Scooby Doo.  Angry words, hurst feelings, not sharing or taking turns, etc.  You get the picture!  Time for Mommy to step in...

First, all kids and daddies got a timeout from videogames. 

Next, Mommy made all kids and daddies take an oath to only speak kind words to each other,

take turns and freely give grace, or else

NO MORE WII FOR A WEEK!

I am happy to report things are better.  Bailey has gotten the concept of "Bubbling" in Super Mario Bros better and Daddy is sharing and taking turns more frequently!  LOL!

Daddy and his girls! 

What a trooper! Maggie on his back, Lucy on front and Bailey holding his hand!  It was cold and even started to sprinkle on us during this walk.

Our Gingerbread House.

Maggie's Big Wheel!  Will is always there to give a helping hand!

Especially if it means getting to presents faster!

Almost 80 degrees on Christmas day!  We sat on Oma's patio for Dinner!

Right before the frenzy!

Hey, wait!  He's not trash!!

Groucho Marx on skates!

She wouldn't even take the skates off to eat!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Can't wait to share our 2012 happenings with you all!



Lucy's 1st Photoshoot!

Hi All!  These are pictures my wonderful friend, Jennifer Williamson,  took of the kids.  Lucy is 11 days old!!  It is crazy to "look back" at these pictures and see how much she has already grown and changed since they were taken! 

Enjoy!

Hope y'all are enjoying the
CHRISTmas Season
as much as we are!

December Thus Far!

What would a Turner Troupe Fall/Winter post be without a bit-o-basketball?!?  Just wrong, that's what it would be... Just. Plain. Wrong!

 This is at our first game of the season!  Our really great family friend Kimmy Iverson plays for Master's College and last week they played at San Diego Christian College, so we HAD to go!!!  Bailey has dubbed her, BFF, and whenever she is in town for church, Bailey always finds an excuse to sit with her, instead of our family!  She is the kind of kid that inspires and blesses everyone she comes in contact with, young and old, stranger and friend.  When I grow up I want to be Kimmy, but I would definitely settle for 3 daughters just like her (or like her sisters and brother for that matter!)!  Look for more basketball posts and pictures, as CLA's season is just beginning and yes, Nate is coaching again!!

 Lucy at her first basketball game... sleeping!

 Since Mr. Christmas (Will) can't get enough Christmas, he volunteered to decorate Oma's house, inside and out!  She happily took him up on his offer!  Bailey helped, Lucy watched and Maggie napped.  I am sure there will be more posts this season about Mr. Christmas....

Beckett Family Christmas Party!  We had an amazing time getting a chance to reconnect with my cousins and our kids getting to meet and play with their kids!  Again... Lucy (pink blob, center) pretty much slept through it!  Our family is really looking forward to making more memories like this one in the future! Family is good. 

On the horizon...  Aunt Julie is coming in for my mom's birthday this weekend!  Can't wait to hang out with her!  Then Uncle Jeff will arrive for Christmas, Will is hoping to rock climb or hike with him!!  Then it's 3 days of Christmas!  Eve at Mom/Patty/Grandma's house, Day at Oma's, and after at our house with extended family.  Hoping to have a snow day or ice skating time in this season!  But in the meantime, we are having a great time searching for spectacular Christmas Light Displays!!!

Today, be happier than a bird with a french fry! 

(Just saw it on FB, and it made me laugh!)

And!! 

Be a dispenser of GRACE, just like a Pez dispenser if of good ol' sweet tasting candy!!

(Courtesy of Mike Lopez, Trinity Fellowship Church)

Love you all!  SMILE!

Thanksgiving

It was an interesting Thanksgiving to say the least... mainly, I guess, because it was our smallest Thanksgiving I can remember.  You see, my mom is one of 7, and let me tell you, when gathered, it is quite a crowd!  But this year, there were only 13 of us and the Turner Family accounted for 6 people!!

Our day started at our Running Club's Turket Trot!  I did one mile pushing Lucy in the stroller and Nate, Bailey, Will and Maggie each did about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 miles!!

They are holding their Turkey Charms to put on their necklaces!!  Lucy and I are sharing our trinkets from here on out!!

Maggie wore the Turkey Hat for awhile!  We had to tie the legs under her chin so it wouldn't fall off!  Hilarious!!

Our Turkey craft.  The kids did all the feathers and gluing.  They also made made turkeys out of their handprints!!

Love you all!