Hello to my 3 faithful peeps who believe that one day I will start blogging again :)
Well I decieded that I better unload my camera before the big trip so here you have it- the Turner's in fast motion in no order whatsoever...
Hebron Maple Fest- Im lovin their syrup!

This weeks heat wave brought us to the beach!

Aunty and her babes

Bouncing off the Easter candy...although I recently realized that Sova is a bouncing bean- when she is excited, nervous, happy, basically anything- she jumps up and down in tinny hops- either that or she is doing her pee dance constantly- which very well can be the case w/ her bladder ;)

And they're off! Easter Hunt Line Up...this is VERY serious business for Jacob.

I love this...if Mike lays down w/ the kids when he tucks them in he usually falls asleep before them...he looks so pretty in Sova's heart blanket dont you think! (the little green lump on the left corner would be Sova-Grace)

Im so proud of Jacob. This is month 4 of violin. He was on a roll but we are having some rough days now. He doesnt want to practice and it's getting harder for him. I think he is doing great but I can see it is frusterating. I think the challange is good for him but I dont want to make him end up hating the violin...I have this sad image in my head of him practicing w/ tears rolling off his violin...I know so sad! Im not a monster- I dont want him to think he can quit so easily so I talked him into sticking it out and pushing through this hard phase- if he then doesnt enjoy it- so long!

My kids have been living outside almost as much as living inside. They were literaly trying to dig to China here (Jacobs new obsession- China- he still begs me to adopt him some more siblings from China:) They can dig and 'plant' all day if they could...plant what you ask? popcorn seeds to 'grow corn', various seed packets I pick up and when they run out of the real seeds they plant fig newtons, peanuts, crackers, orange peels- you name it- we are growing it :)

I'd like to invest in an outdoor shower- they are the dirtiest kids on the block...maybe in town...

Their feet do not allow them to keep shoes on-

Meet 'Astro Boy' he is a vistor from another planet- and he is VERY quiet...and VERY cute- we let him sleep in Caleb's bed because Caleb is missing.

Seriously- how can I not keep myself from cracking up talking to this child...check out those shoes!

You can find my family in a trance everyother Friday night when Jack sleeps over and Daddy calls for a 'Wii-athon.' (side note: any loud screams coming from our home can be blamed upon the defeat of King Koopa)

We gotta start putting Jacob in the back :)

Crocs, saddle shoes, and ballet slippers...

For Easter Jacob received his 1st 'REAL' Bible- no pictures.. not stories....just scripture...

As I type he is supposed to be sleeping but is probrably reading it- he cant stop! All week he falls asleep reading- and before he gets out of bed- he reads...he reads in the car and as you can see in his own words, "Oh great Aunty Jess- Im glad you brought the beach umbrella- now I can read my Bible!" My Jacob, you will be a world changer...

Every year we have this bunny living in our garden...last year she gave birth to her bunnies in a nest in here. (she's behind the dafidil)

Hmmm....lets see...Sova was absolutely thrilled to get her own library card. Jacob started T-ball this week and is supper excited. Mike is building a patio in our backyard including a stone fire pit...lookin great... These last few months I've been going through a naturalize / simplify your life thing...It's not all working but it's interesting- I think Im on to something here but it takes time...if you have no clue what Im taking about thats OK- my mind had been spinning over- time these days- just thinking too much about too much :) Ok it's late and you know how I get :)

Next pics: Destination Disney...Seeing how this is Mike's thing Im letting him plan it all- he went out and bought 5 matching Micky Mouse t-shirts so we can be one big corney family walking through the airports! He thinks it will be even more special for the kids if we match...I love how my corniess has rubbed off on him! He wont let us tell the kids until we litteraly park in the airport parking lot....Seeing how we are flying out of New Jersey they wont recognize the airport in the long term parking across the street (we flew in and out their for India.) Seeing how it's my B-day Sunday they are just going to think daddy talking us somewhere 'special.' And we can hid e the luggage under a sheet :) The camera will be ready!!!!

Caleb- Happy 4th Birthday to my baby boy!!

So Caleb decieded upon a 'Super Hero' party- it was really cute and he was soooo excited when he saw it all decorated...even before the party started he was saying, 'This is the best birthday I ever had!!!'

Look at that face :) I still call him 'baby' in public- of course he doesnt care but it's gonna be hard to stop...

'The Bat Cave'

'Super hero walkie talkie project'

The CT science center- prepare to get wet...

scientists at work

I should be fired from keeping up w/ this blog! Well I am glad January is gone- besides dealing w/ post crash stuff- I think everyone one of us had every available illness out there...fevers, flu, colds, pink eye, earache's...just to name a few :)
So here is Mike's van from his accident!
The picture below is taken from the driverside window- Mike landed wedged in the pasanger side floor area- dont ask me where because I dont even see a spot he could have fit in!

This is the mess he had to inventory...

Talk about miracles and counting your blessings huh?

Speaking of...here are 2 little blessings that cant get enough of eachother lately. Here Caleb has invented a bug catcher for me that kills any bugs near our house :)

Long nights bring back the good 'ol 'Tent Days'....sometimes I feel as if Im living on the set of MASH.

These things literally take up the entire room- they are cool :)

I wish someone could have documented this day: I offered to help out a friend who had surgery and watch their kids from 8 am - 6pm...did I mention they have 4 kids...five and under?

So the 7 kids I had all day ranged in ages of: 6, 5, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 5 months. Yes, it was insane!

Ahhhh....the love of boxes continues. (I cant say enough that they are THE best toys in the world...I refuse to get rid of these 2 big ones...I have NO storage spot to put them- they are in the corner of the living room and is driving Michael crazy but I cant let go w/ these invaluable things :)

They each took turns taking their full NAPS in these!

Hmmm- what else? Jacob has been wanting to tak violin lessons for several months now- in January he started taking private lessons- I think he's doing great- it's a real challenge for him but I feel that it's good for him to have this challange. He even has a few sqeaky songs under his belt already ;) He's going to be in a homeschooler's science fair in a couple weeks and he is so excited to present his volcano project.

Yesterday was a special day at the Turner's...we are patchie free (pacifier) after 6.6 years!!

Caleb cut his patchie up w/ scissors and threw it away! It was becomeing a real problem- Jacob was a 'closet' patchie boy until he was 4! But he left it under his pillow only- Caleb wanted it everywhere he went- and it kind of got embaressing...It took him forever to fall asleep last night and he had a tantrum at nap time that made me feel so sad and bad for the poor little guy- but he fell asleep good tonight :)

Wow this is long- but one more thing cuz Im so excited:

Mike surprised me this morning w/ a vacation to Florida on my Birthday!

It's 1 week- with the whole fam...we are gonna surprise the kids and tell them the day before we go in some kind of special way. At 1st I was shocked- he already bought everything down to the rental minivan! I had mixed feelings because we were on a 'lets pay off debt and save' journey going well BUT the trip is crazy cheap- amazing airfare- and someone Gave him FREE Disney park hopper passes for 3 days! The resort is a kids wonderland too :) Ok sorry if Im gushing but now Im really excited- Caleb will probrably remember this trip and has been begging to go on an airplane, Sova in her Princess stage- this will be like she is in a dream, and Jacob I think will go completey bonkers when we tell him!

Mike planned this right after his accident...kind of sentimental and all- it will be a much appreciated time together!

Merry Christmas...Pt. 2

The kids slept together in one room on Christmas Eve...I had the monitor on so we could hear them when they woke up. Jacob was 1st, "Hey, wake up it's Christmas..."
Then the small herd jumps on our bed to open stockings...it's amazing the difference this year w/ Sova- she definatly got the hang of it - (Last year she was mad and grumpy that we woke her up and she didnt even want to open her stocking!)


I love this...it's all so magical for 3 year olds! They were excited about even there new toothbrushes!
So 1st up- coffee, music, cinnabons in oven, light candle- sing 'Happy Birthday to Jesus!', and then...it's present time!

Sova's theme was- dolls dolls dolls
Nana's Crew

We are missing 2 this year...Joce remember the classic, it's 'Christmas in Conecticut' not 'Christmas in California.' ;)
The Famous Stairway...the 'kids' -kids picture is growing every year- double rate!

Come by sometime and Jacob the meterologist will tell you his weather predictions :)

Christmas Part 1

Last weekend we had a 'fun- old fashioned family sleepover' for our Christmas celebration w/ Michael's family.
We timed it perfect and spent the night while a snow storm dumped several inches while we were all sleeping. I wasnt feeling well and later found out I had/have phnomonia...but that didnt spoil any of the wonderful memories we made that special Christmas snowy weekend :)

First up: Christmas Cookies! It was the shirts vs. skins bake off ;)
skins- I mean-Sova won for most sugar on her cookies...I think 1/2 the container was dumped on just one cookie.
Hmmm...it looks like someone is waitng to open her stocking!
Caleb is showing off his extra large chocolate Kiss from Grandma...he was shocked at the size- it was so cute because that has become their little thing...they know Grandma leaves them kisses around the house...this one was extra special :)
The anticipation has come to it's climax...
It's official: My battle to keep video games out of the house was defeated...and the kids were elated...(dont tell them Mike and I stay up too late batteling eachother in Mario!) I think Jacob was shocked that he actually has a Wii. I'll admit...the thing is cool :)
Uncle Brian giving some nerf tips to Caleb :)All Dolled Up...
she was so happy to recieve her 1st- 'talking doll' and it came w/ a beautiful matching dress for her...she looks like a flower girl in it...so pretty.




Mr. and Mrs. Claus in the flesh!
The elves...I mean Erin and Uncle Robby busy putting together Caleb's hotwheels set :)
Caleb braveing the windy freezing aftermath... for about 10 minutes...after about 7 minutes of clothes prep per kid= over 20 minutes of preparation= worth it for a few good pics :)

Thanks Mary & Greg, Rob, Erin & Brian for a wonderful Christmas weekend...love u all!

Breakfast:
Sova Grace hates breakfast- she litteraly gags it down-noises and all...anything! I rotate between cereal, oatmeal, waffles, pancakes, eggs, and smoothies...Nada...I have to force her to eat...every morning...

Lunch: she will eat 1/2 of whatever I giver her usually...

Dinner: Take a look at the above picture...she can eat her dinners!
She loves dinner time/ dinner food...she loves salads, soups, chicken and potatoes best. She licks her plate clean almost everynight and then complains, 'aww not again- I have a fat tummy!'
THis picture was left over night...she wanted it all!




Gotta love boxes!This is a common sight lately and I couldnt be happier
This spring/summer there were issues between Jacob and Sova at a peak- just the common big brother teasing stuff but it was driving me crazy...
Anyways praise God something changed and they are getting along Amazingly well. Jacob is going through some marvelous sweetie phase- and just plain cheerful and nice to everyone...I've ben getting alot of spontanious hugs and greatful remarks like last nights, "mom, your awesome- Im so glad your my mom!' (gotta write that one down for any hard days we have ahead ;)
(is it possible the above children are only 13 months apart...Jacob is exactly double her weight 32/62!)


Decking the Halls!
Decemeber is so fun! We blasted Christmas music and drank cocoa while watching- I mean helping ;) Mike put up the lights Walking in a Winterwonderland