School UPDATE...

For those of you who follow our schooling adventures, here is a bit of catch-up on that front....

We began the 2011-12 school year using the Rod & Staff curriculum.  Bailey seemed to really like doing her math workbook during kindergarten, so I made the assumption that she likes workbooks.  That made sense to me since workbooks fit me personality!  I like to see my progress, check things off a list, I am not a big craft person, etc.  When the box came it was HUGE and filled to the brim with textbooks and workbooks.  Whoa!!  I was excited! 

Things started OK, then we took lots of time off in November, December and January.  It was hard to start back to the grind in February.  Things had been getting shaky in October, but I thought it was just me what with all the hormones and anxiety.  But love was NOT in the air in February... Bailey cried and was refusing to do schoolwork.  Something she once loved, she now loathed.  What was wrong!!  Turns out, black and white workbooks make life dull and boring.  Too much rigor doesn't leave time for crafts and coloring.   So we exercised our right to change in the middle!  We went back to a proven curriculum in our family... My Father's World!  We have since boxed up all the R&S textbooks and unused workbooks and sent them back to Rod & Staff headquarters.  Please understand that Rod & Staff is truly a great program!  I am in no way saying otherwise.  IT JUST DID NOT WORK FOR BAILEY.  That's it, pure and simple.  I actually think, as a child, I would have loved it!!!!

So now we are back to My Father's World (she used it for kindergarten and Will will start it this Fall!).  We are doing science experiments, crafts, coloring, reading and lots of hands-on learning!  Best part is, Maggie and William tag along!  They love the stories and crafts too!  No one has cried a single day, no one has yelled about doing schoolwork, the eagerness has returned!  Phew!!

Making a clay pot for the scroll she made the day before.  Will decided he needed a dinosaur and Maggie... she wanted panckaes!

Nate and I believe in these early years it is so important to cultivate a TRUE LOVE of learning that will last for their entire life.  Our school is NOT only about reading, writing and arithmetic.  Find what you love, and figure out how to do it forever, so that it is enjoyable.  Isn't that what every adult is looking for in their employment?!  Why not start cultivating that mentality now?  I could go on and on about our school philosophy, but I will spare you that... for now!  Maybe one of these days I will get around to post that!!

Hope you are having a great day!

Love you!

Smile at someone today,

you never know who needs a little pick me up!

Our GOOD Friend NEEDS YOUR HELP!!!!

Ok!  Family and friends, near and far!!! 

Time to step away from our rather self-centered blog to reach the masses (okay I know I am not reaching "the masses" but read-on anyways!!!) for a very important reason! 

TOM WINTER

is the reason!

Tom is a wonderful husband, amazing father, tireless high school teacher, selfless friend, follower of Jesus, courageous, joy filled man, not to mention, an EHS Cougar.  But that is only the beginning of the list I could write.  So why exactly am I writing this list you ask?!  Well Tom is also confined to a wheelchair.  But that doesn't stop him or even begin to define him.  However...

Being in a wheelchair does present some mobility challenges, that having a wheelchair accessible van would SOLVE!!  But have you EVER priced one of those suckers?!  Crazy expensive!  Just Crazy!  So with this being National Mobility and Movement month a contest has started and Tom is entered. 

LET'S ALL HELP HIM WIN A VAN!!!

All you have to do is go to THIS website everyday this month and VOTE for

TOM WINTER!!! 

It would be life changing for them to win this van!

Be apart of this!!

This is by far one of my favorite pictures!  The one in the middle is Charlie, Tom and Melissa's fantastic son.  Just love that kid!!  The guy on the left is Will and the boy on the left, Luke, completes this handsome trio.

So please take a bit of time out of your day, everyday this month and VOTE for Tom! 

CLICK HERE to watch the video and vote!

Thanks!  Love you!

The MOB Society

I cannot take any credit for this post, except for the fact I had the good sense to sign-up for "The Mothers of Boys (MOB) Society" emails!  Got this one in my inbox this morning and it immediately made me smile!!  I love my boy!!  I am so glad we get to experience raising girls and this wonderfully, magnificent, total BOY!!  On April 18th we are going on a date, just the two of us, to his favorite restaurant... Chick-fil-A!!  They are hosting a Mommy/Son Date Knight!  Can't wait to hear what comes out of his mouth when it is just the two of us!  Without sisters around, he becomes VERY talkative!! 

So, here is the "Application to be a MOB"...

What applying to be a mom of boys might look like.

Must have strong stomach.


Gag reflex not recommended.


Must be willing to work weekends, nights, and holidays.


Medical experience a plus.


Must be practiced in the art of boo-boo kissing.


Must have at least a base knowledge in video game lingo.


Moderate to advanced Super Hero understanding recommended.


Aversion to blood not ideal. This job can involve trauma situations.


Must be willing to deal with mass quantities of feces removal.


Must be able to leap tall building blocks in a single bound.


Stain removal expertise helpful.


Sense of humor imperative.


Minor degree in zoology a plus, prerequisites in animal handling even better.


Referee experience beneficial.


Tolerance to the smell of urine necessary.


Perseverance in toilet scrubbing required.


Sword fighting experience a plus.


Must not hold too dearly to breakable items.


An intricate knowledge of Lego handling useful.


Rough-housing will be sometimes required of applicant.


And most importantly, patience and grace will be required of you every day for the rest of your life.


What would you add to the list?


Jessica Bowman
 
So really?  What would you add to the list?!  I think I would add, "Can tolerate large amounts of sweaty-ness."  "Doesn't mind stinky feet."  Or "The smell of hot, dusty, boy heads."  Moms of boys... you know that smell!!



The one and ONLY!!

 Please visit The MOB Society for encouragement and laughs during this season of raising our boys, sons, dudes, little men, guys, soon to be boyfriends, husbands and fathers!!
 

Love you! 

AND!!! 

Smile today! 

 It's GOOD FRIDAY! 

Jesus died for YOU and BEAT the grave!!

Wahoo!

Fantastic February!

We had a wonderful February!  We enjoyed every inch of our county, from the mountains to the desert to the parks!

One particular weekend Nate and I were feeling stuck.  Stuck in life, stuck in the house, just blah.  So at our date night that week, we decided to be spontaneous!  A bonfire in the desert the next evening sounded perfect!  Maggie had her dance class in the morning, we puttered around the house, then we kicked it into high gear!  We got stuff for S'mores (we like to call them Hot Shmoes, courtesy of the movie Toy Story!), bundled up, bought firewood, packed up the dog and drove East!  It was liberating!

We kind of thought of it as a dry run!  We hadn't been camping since Maggie was 3 months old, so we weren't totally sure how the kids would do!  Baby steps...  And good thing too!  Because we learned a ton about our kids in those few short hours!  We drove a total of 4 hours to spend 1 hour and 45 mins in the desert!  The kids got cold and the best part you ask?!...  well, learned Maggie WILL NOT squat outside to go potty.  She held it the ENTIRE evening until we got home!!!  Crazy girl!  So if we are to ever camp (which we did in March!!)  we need more clothes and blankets AND the potty chair for Princess Maggie!  Go figure!



In February we also started our garden at Oma and Grandma Lisa's house.  We planted Sweet Potatoes, tomatoes, peas, acorn squash, asparagus, regular potatoes and lots of flowers!

We went to go see the movie, "The Lorax"!!  I won 4 tickets to the special premiere screening, so we saw it one week before it opened AND in 3-D!!!  And for an even BIGGER bonus, they actually sent me 6 tickets!  So grandma Lisa got to go too!!!



Bailey started dance class again!  And this time she is joined by Maggie!  Bailey is taking a whole class of ballet and is doing really great!  Aunt Hannah said to take as much ballet as she can in the beginning since it is the foundation!!  Bailey is listening!  Her teacher Miss Kristen), come to find out, was also homeschooled as a child!  We feel really blessed to have her in such a great environment!  Maggie's teacher is the same one Bailey had last year (ya know, the lady with more patience than I can even imagine!).  It's a ballet/tap combo.  So stinkin' cute!  Maggie is doing good as long as the pink hula hoop doesn't make an appearance!  The story goes like this... They each get a hula hoop, place it on the ground and when the music is playing they are to dance around the studio.  When the music stops they find a hula hoop and get in it.  Each time they are to find a different hula hoop... that is unless your name is Maggie and there is only 1 PINK hula hoop!  She hovered/danced around it and even pushed the biggest girl in the class out of it numerous times.  Then there is the stuffed butterfly incident... that is a whole other story!  But she really is doing great and loves to practice!  Her class is 10am on Saturdays and she is normally up and dressed for class by 7:30!!  Their Dance Recital is June 16th!  Hope to see you there!

Bailey is the teacher and the other kids are her students!  Sometimes I get to be the Dance Studio Owner, but mostly I am the mom who brings them all "icy cold water" when they are done!  Even the teacher gets thirsty!  The green tutu and sleeved leotard is the most "man-ly" dance outfit they could put together for William.  I tried to explain that boys normally just wear shirts and shorts to class, but he wanted to look like the other "students"!  Glad we have enough tap shoes for everyone!

We have been enjoying making Whoopie Pies...

..doing car washes for our toy cars...

..and of course enjoying Lucy! 

Although, doesn't look like she is enjoying us back! Haha!

Now onto March!  Camping, birthdays and more!

Love you!



Let's just pretend it hasn't been THAT long ....

So, when I sat down to finally write a new entry, my thinking was, "Great I will do one huge February post and !voila!, I am caught up!"  Then I looked at the calendar... might as well do March while I am at it or I will be behind... again....!  But let's do February first, ok?! OK!

I think I have been putting off writing lately because February was so stinkin' awesome, I am a bit intimidated. No serious!  I really don't think my writing can do the month-o-fun we had justice!!  I will try... I am sure many of you are thinking..."She is the most TRYING person we know!"  Keep those thoughts to yourself!

We will begin with our trip to Disneyland...!


 

Our first night, we went to Goofy's Kitchen to get in the mood!!  Man oh man!  Goofy can cook!

 



While dining, Cinderella stopped by!  She was amazing!  William is in love! He talked to her all about cars and how they work, since ya know, she has never seen one before!  It took all we had to get Maggie to stand next to her!



I can never remember who is Chip and who is Dale.  Will liked this guy... he picks boogers too!



First Day inside the House of Mouse!  Everyone has their "Ears" and we are ready for the rain!  Which, subsequently, NEVER ARRIVED!!  Bonus! No crowds! No Rain!

Will is clearly smitten with Rapunzel, Bailey liked her and Maggie... well... who knows?!

Daddy and Maggie on Autopia!

Totally love this picture!

Maggie was terrified of most of the Characters!



The Autopia worker said to "Stand on #3."  So Maggie made Daddy STAND ON #3 and take their picture.  I guess to document her obidience!  I think we will bring that worker home... he is the only one she seems to obey!

Daddy and Will on... wait for it...

wait for it...!

SPLASH MOUNTAIN!!!!! 

Some how we got Oma and Will on the ride WITHOUT them seeing the HUGE drop!!  Needless to say, Will's face paint needed a touch up!  As did Oma's... oh never mind what she needed to touch up!


 

Uh.. Hello?! Do we know you?  Apparently William was a big hit with the Asian visitors!  They we so happy to take a picture with him, and one women even pushed her own son out of the way so it was just her and Will!  Go figure!  His cuteness is even international!  I love that he even posed!

 


 

Just the six of us!

 

Daddy and Bailey on... Dumbo, I believe!

Casey, Jr.  The rest of us are in the "Wild Animal Cage" behind them... Appropriate!

The "WILD ANIMALS" Beware!

We spent the entire first day and about half of the second day in Disneyland.  Then we made it over to California Adventure.  The kid's favorite ride there was "Goofy's Flight School".  I think we went on it about 15 times.  No LIE!!  I was sore the next day!  My mom almost had a heart attack!  The kids loved that she was scared but they were not! 

One of the highlights on our trip was the Ferris Wheel in California Adventure.  And by highlights, I actually mean low lights!  And by low lights, I mean I cried and almost peed my pants!  And by almost, I mean I did.  Picture this...

Last ride of the day and the whole adventure.  Nate and my mom really want to go on the ferris wheel.  Bailey and Maggie go anywhere Grandma Lisa and Daddy go, and I reluctantly agree to go on it, with one stipulation.  It has to be a car that doesn't move!  And I am wearing Lucy.  Oma and Will grab the Nook and a bench and (wisely) sit this one out!  As you can probably figure, of course we got on one of the moving ones.  I looked for something to hold onto (and not Nate, because last time I was scared on a ride I dislocated his shoulder).  They all laughed at me for wanting just a little handle to "keep me safe".  Alas, none were to be found.  My fingers tried desperately to claw anyway they could into the cage that surrounded us.  And then it starts. 

We go up and up AND UP AND UP! 

YEAH... that last "up" is where I started to laugh, but laugh only so I wouldn't cry!  As we get towards the top, we stop to let riders on and off.  That is when it first happened.  The stupid thing starts moving on the mini track it is on.  {Thinking about it now... literally just got the chills.}  With that little ditty,  I stopped laughing and started crying.  Then it all started AGAIN!  But this time we are going down!  Plunging to our death!  I was certain of it!!  Now I have all sorts of liquids coming from many orifices.  Basically I was a mess!  The thing continues like this for what seems like hours!  Meanwhile... my mom is laughing at me (she only made it to the laugh/cry stage!), Nate is trying to console Maggie (because I was no help) and Bailey is only marginally scared.  And Lucy, you ask?  She slept through the whole thing!

There it is in one post... 3 days of February.  We still have gardening, dance class, an impromptu trip to the desert, The Lorax movie and many other "day in the life of..." type pictures just from February!  Stay tuned!

Love you!

January Fun!

Greeting from The Troupe o' Turner's!!

We have been pretty busy this month celebrating my 32nd birthday, starting school back-up, watching Lucy GROW and enjoying our 80 degree January weather!!!!

{A side note about my birthday}

Nate and I met when I was 16 years old, so really what we celebrated was the joy I have had in knowing this AMAZING man 1/2 my life!  In all the chaos of raising children and making our life "go", my grandma asked me if this is what I envisioned when we started dating... HECK NO!  He was cute, older, had a car (1990 RED Jeep Cherokee), and made me laugh!  At 16 what else is there?  In turn, he thought I was cute, could talk sports a bit, and had a mom that cooked lots every night, so we ALWAYS had leftovers for him to eat!  Thanks Mom!  But this IS my life.  No matter how it came to be...

I LOVE IT.

The hill right outside of our patio. 
An early morning exploration before school gets underway for the day.

She made scrambled eggs and toast for her and the other kids. 
Bailey is getting so great in the kitchen.  We are putting together her own little cookbook!

Our birdfeeder. 
We have yet to see actual birds partake of the bounty, however, the Turner birdies are loving the snack. 
Go figure!

ROLL CALL!!!! Yep!  They are all here!

On Oma's lap. 
Oma says she has a knack for boring Lucy to sleep!

Paci POWER!!!

Would you believe about 5 minutes before this he told me he wasn't tired?!

In the very near future I will write about our impromptu trip to the desert. 

Oh my... good thing we like our kids!

Have a wonderful day!!

A Gold Mine!!!

As parents we fight many battles, yet some we choose not to fight.  We fight the "You Are NOT Going Outside WITHOUT Clothes On Battle" but choose to not let WHAT it is that they actually wear outside bother us!  You catch my drift, right?!  Ok! So, not wanting to die on the Hill O' Booger, we had not really put much emphasis on nose picking and do I dare say.... booger consumption.  We felt we had bigger fish to fry OR undies to dry! LOL!  Well, the time has come to start curbing his "appetite". 

WARNING TO MY MOM!

YOU MAY WANT TO STOP READING NOW!

First of all, he (Yes, I am writing about Will... really you couldn't have figured that out earlier?!) is such an active picker, he even picks while sleeping and thus wakes up with bloody noses, sheets, fingers, face, jammies, etc  You get the picture.  Well, now his nose is RAW!  He has mined it totally clear and then some!  So today, in the car, we were having a little discussion about his extra curricular activity, and I asked him if he knew what his boogers were.  Clearly I didn't think this through.... I mean, basically I am using the same reasoning and line of thinking my mom used on me. (Oh great!  I just admitted one of my gross childhood habits. Go ahead. Judge me.  I just judged myself.) But seriously!  Why on earth did I think that would work on Will?!!!  GO ahead, judge me again.  Anyways, this is our conversation:

Me "Dude. Stop. Picking. Your. NOSE!  Seriously, it's gonna bleed again!"

W "Mom. I have to."

Me "Ummm, ok. Why??"

W "Cuz the boogers are my brains."

Me "No Bud.  They aren't your brains they are your body's waste."

W "Mom. (getting very serious) They are my brains.  They are coming out of my nose and I have to put them back in."

Me "Will, no. They aren't!!"

W "MOM! Yes they are!  It's just the way God made me!"

Me "Buddy!!  Yes, God made you special, but BOOGERS ARE NOT BRAINS!!  They are your body's WASTE!!  Just like your poop!!"

STOP READING IF YOU CAN'T HANDLE ANYMORE GROSS!

W "Well, I like to eat that too!" (giggle, giggle)

Me "..." What could I say?!  I had no comeback.

So that leaves me praying that he was only joking.  I am almost positive he was joking. Almost.