Happy Birthday Austin!

So he did it....he went and turned the big 12!

What is a 12 year old Austin like?

Well, he was named after both of his parents (Austin being my maiden name, and then of course Ryan being his Dad's name) and it seems as if he is a perfect mix of us both:
He is fearless when it comes to stunts (anything with wheels or on the snow).
He does get a little nervous of the dark.
He has a smile that lights up a room.
He is brillantly smart....he can fix anything mechanical.
He hates to read--unless it is "The Diary of a Wimpy Kid".
He is the best big brother ever, and always spoils his little bro.
He is the best at "pushing his sister's buttons".
He has such a tender heart, he always cheers for the underdog, and has been know to stand up for the kid getting picked on.
He is very popular and has a bunch of friends.
He is a little shy.
He always seems to need a haircut.
He is very particular about the way he looks.
He loves to watch Myth Busters.
He is AWESOME!

All in All he is a GREAT KID--OLD KID!

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I Have A Dream...

I do not pretend to be educated about politics. I do not pretend to even be interested in politics. But I do feel the awesome spirit of today. We as Americans have achieved a milestone.

Let us continue on with this progress.

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only Light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only Love can do that." Dr. Martin Luther King

Tag--I'm it. Sevens.

My cute SIL tagged me with this questionaire. I thought I should be a good sport and do it, but my answers are definately not smart or interesting. Hers are.

Here I go:

7 THINGS I DO WELL:

Waste time on computer

Eat (not that I make good choices, I can just put away a lot of food.)

Bake--NOT cook, but I can make a mean batch of brownies. Okay maybe I should just say MAKE BROWNIES--I can't think of anything else I can bake either.

Give a compliment.

Read books to Kids.

My Job--most/some of the time. Under all the right conditions ie: enough sleep, enough food, right shoes, good pen, right patient, and the list goes on and on...but if all these things line up I am a DARN good RN.

Nagging. This may not be a good quality to have, but it has been the reason much has been accomplished in my life, either with my parents, kids, and husband--as well as others. I think some of you reading this have experienced my nagging. (do you want to go workout??)

7 THINGS I CAN'T DO:

Say a sincere Thank-you. Most of the time its just awkward and I sound flippant. It is not usually what is in my heart.

Diet. This is why I really truly love to workout--I would much rather take a few more laps, then to not be able to eat my delicious brownies.

Stick a child. I was the IV queen when working with adults--seriously other units would call me to come do a "hard stick", but now--no way--I haven't even tried!!

Get mad at Alec. I don't know why I reserve this just for him, but I do. I seem to be able to produce monumental anger with everyone and anyone else. (I don't usually get mad at my little bro either--even when others are ready to throw him under a truck.)

Yoga. BORING!!!

Stop watching TV. I have tried many times to go "without". My withdrawls are too intense for me and anyone that has to live with me.

Have a conversation with my Mom without talking about my kids and my Dad. Too bad for her!

7 THINGS I ALWAYS SAY:

Do your homework, pleaaaassee!!!

Whats for dinner.

Seriously, are you going to throw a tantrum over this? (Remember, I have a 2 and 14 yr. old.)

That's fine. (Not usually what I really mean.)

I need to go to the gym tonight, teamed with: Do you want to go workout tonight?

My turn for the computer.

Do you need to go potty? (I actually say this to everyone--not just my 2yr. old)

7 THINGS I LOVE TO EAT:

Spaghetti--my FIL's is the best!!

Brownies

Vanilla ice-cream with chocolate sauce

Mango Chicken salad

Fruit--any kind, in season.

Rolls, especially my Mom's.

Chocolate cake--"if it isn't chocolate, it isn't cake".

7 THINGS THAT ATTRACTED ME TO MY HUSBAND:

He had a car. (We were both at SUU and he was the only one I knew who could get me to the grocery store--remember, I am good at eating.)

He cooks.

He loved to go study in the mountains. (Again when we were at school--We would hike to a quiet spot and study for hours)

He got along good with my brothers.

He is so nice to animals--even when they are not ours.

He can talk to anyone.

He loves to make the people that he loves happy...no matter what.

TAG 7 OTHERS:

I don't really have seven other people that read this blog (she tagged some of my family already).
LUCKY YOU!

Winter's Must Haves

Mmmm....hot chocolate. No matter how cold, or how much snow falls, this keeps the Turner Family warm.


Playdough can keep Will busy for hours (great for when it is too cold/wet to go outside). Too bad I have to play with him the whole time. I get bored with my playdough abilities. I have really only been able to master: a snowman (with a hat even), a snake--but that is easy, and a turtle--really just a clump of dough, but Will says it is a turtle (that or dog poop--I rather go with the turtle.)


Send the kiddos as often as possible--how much trouble can they get into with entertainment like that.




This ice scraper is actually sold as a kitchen item (something for candy makers--I'm sure I don't know). It is awesome though, it works great on my car. Too bad I don't just have a garage. This is the inexpensive form of a garage.



We don't actually have one of these and it still snows. Oh well I enjoy the shoveling. (Most of the time anyways....but don't tell my family or they will make me do it all the time.)



We were introduced to this game by my bro and sis-in-law. It is awesome and I guarantee it will keep you and yours entertained for hours. The only thing is you need someone to play with. Ry and I don't get to play too often because our kids are too busy/cool to hang with us. Anyone else game??

Wrap it Up!

Okay, so my idea to blog the 12 Days of Christmas did not work. Christmas is crazy, crazy fun! So instead....

Turner Family Christmas Highlights: (not in any particular order)

1. Zoo Lights

2. Grandma Austin's Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies

3. Gingerbread Houses

4. Willard Bay Lights

5. Snowstorms

6. Chocolate Mint Pie

7. Family Parties--The Austin Family party was originally planned to be a sleepover, We (I) had decided that we would not sleep there because Ryan needed to work and I was feeling sick so we were just going to spend the one day. Once there we were having sooo much fun we could not leave so decided to stay (Ryan left us there while he returned to SL for work--good boy). Regan, Will, my Mom and I got to sleep out under the Christmas Tree--it was so FUN--thanks for playing Regan!

8. Games left by Santa

9. Baby Jesus--I hope to remember it always as read by my youngest Turner--with the same excitement, love and joy that he did this Christmas Season. (I can't even begin to describe it so I won't even try)

The 1st and 2nd Day of Christmas

The First Day of Christmas we watched a Holiday Movie. This year it was Elf. I don't know why for sure but it makes us all laugh hysterically. Alec was not present because he was at the Winter Formal.



The Second Day of Christmas we wrote letters to Santa. The letters not only include what they are asking for from Santa, but also what they have accomplished during the past year, as well as what their siblings would enjoy from Santa. They write great, thoughtful letters. Good job kidos--Santa should include you on the NICE LIST.

What Traditions?!?

To prepare for the Season I chatted with each child and Ryan about Christmas Traditions. More specifically I wanted to find out which ones they loved, which ones they thought they could do without, and which ones they absolutely couldn't stand. This would help me decide what I wanted to do this year without making it crazy.

I got the same answer from each one of them: "What Traditions--we don't have any Christmas Traditions!" Are you kidding? I was under the impression that the whole season was just getting in one tradition after another--and it was getting hectic. I GUESS I was WRONG.

But maybe NOT! In an effort to prove them wrong, I will document them here over the next 12 days. Oh yeah--celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas is a TRADITION. (This is where they all said, and I quote: "oh yeah...I forgot about that."

Starting with Day N. (This is a substitute day for when I am too tired, crouchy, or unable due to multiple reasons to celebrate a day).

DAY N: DECORATION GINGERBREAD HOUSES







More Gingerbread House FUN:

Make a Smilebox slideshow