Destin

We stayed at a resort called Emerald Shores.

With several of us staying in two large condos, it was hard to keep quiet so others could sleep in... One morning, I took the kiddos for an early morning walk down to the beach, which wasn't more than 200 yards from where we were staying. **And we couldn't see any oil balls or sludge or anything from where we stood.

It was a gorgeous morning...
I was pushing Tyler in the stroller, so we didn't actually go down to the beach, but we stopped on the sidewalk to watch the waves... and reminisce about our Hawaii. *sigh*

Running ahead of Mommy just because she could...

Before returning to our condo, we decided to walk down a couple blocks to see if the other condo full of Turners was up and around...

We were in luck. Grandma and Grandpa Turner, Aunt Becky and Uncle Phil and Aunt Liz were out on the porch....

We sat outside and talked, while Tyler decided to take advantage of his Uncle Phil's lap and snuggle up for a morning nap.

The view from our front door to the pool across the driveway. We took advantage of that nearly every day. The kids loved the pool and McKenzie insisted we needed to get one in our backyard.

It was raining on this particular day.

Addison talked us into letting her ride the carousel at the mall one day...

And daddy caught a quick video on his cell phone...

Sky Ranch

On Sunday, we went up to Baker, FL to the ever so famous "Sky Ranch". I can only describe this place as a little piece of heaven on Earth. Picture, if you will, off in the country, a long grass runway, lined by private hangars with homes built inside them. Sky Ranch is a community of pilots and their spouses, the most nicest, generous people you will ever meet.
*Many of them sent Nick packages while deployed to Iraq/Afghanistan.

Soon after arriving, and getting a look around, Nick says to me, "What do you think? Can't you see us living like this when we retire?" His eyes wide with a huge smile... how could I say no?

I regret not taking a better picture with more hangars and the runway to get a better idea of where we were.
The golf carts came out of everywhere from all across the runway, carrying goodies to contribute to the potluck meal we were about to enjoy! McKenzie mentioned to us that she thought we ought to get a golf cart too! She thinks it would be fun to cruise around in one of those... she also didn't mind pointing out all the Cameros and Mustangs we passed on our road trip down here, and telling us she would "totally be okay with a car like that when she turns 16!"

But I digress...

I brought bubbles for the kiddos to play with before we ate...Cousins Thomas & Kali

Tyler & his favorite cousin Alex

Getting to know some of our Turner Mountain fans that keep up with us on the blog from Sky Ranch...

After enjoying a fabulous feast,
We had a surprise entertainer that night.... Elvis!

Groovin' with Elvis
Aunt Julie, Addison and Aunt Jan on the right..

Aunt Julie dancing with Addison, Alyssa & Trevor

Being that it was the 4th of July, fireworks were the evenings' finale, and we enjoyed them very much.

Thank you Sky Ranch for the generous feast and fireworks!

Karen's Wedding

On Friday July 2nd, we tragically lost two wonderful men in our family who we loved and adored with all our hearts; Nick's brother and brother-in-law. Our family has pulled together and accomplished things we didn't know we were capable of during this unthinkable tragedy.

"The Lord makes so many good things happen in our lives that we might think He's abandoned us when sorrow comes along. But the Lord knows when we're hurting and it's then that He draws closer to us. In our sorrow, we may not feel His presence, but that doesn't change His promise to be with us... and we may not understand, but He doesn't ask us to. All He asks is that we trust Him."

______________________________

On Saturday, July 3rd, we attended the most beautiful wedding of Nick's neice, Karen.

Trevor was the ring bearer and Addison was the flower girl. I had no doubts that they would make it down the isle with no problems, until they practiced dropping the flower petals during rehearsal. Because after they practiced, they had to pick UP the petals....

So, as they walked down the isle together during the wedding, and Addison dropped her last few petals, she stopped, and turned around to start picking them up again....
Trevor tried to explain to her that it was time to sit with Mommy, but Addison was determined to pick up the petals... until Daddy intervened. McKenzie was a candle lighter. Her counterpart got to the end of the isle and ran out of wick! He turned around, announced "I'm out of stuff", and then sat down. *smile* So McKenzie lit the rest of the candles for him.
The beautiful bride walking with her brother and mother.
After the wedding we went to a gorgeous reception. The kids were getting so tired, but they hung in there! They must have known the fabulous celebration that was about to happen...
Here, Addison spilled punch on her dress for the 3rd time...

Nick's nephew Alex doing the "Fat Guy In a Little Coat" with Trevor's tuxedo jacket.

My sleepy little pink eye'd flower girl

Trevor and Addison dancing with cousin Jill and Grandma Turner

Trevor out on the dance floor.

Addison was so tired she would dance in spurts. She'd be dancing around, then pause with this tired stare you see below... then start up dancing again! She was a trooper.
This was the last opportunity to catch a family picture at the end of the night... but at least we got one taken!
And what's a Turner family wedding without a little YMCA?
Even Nick's dad got involved...

And another tradition, Nick and his mother dancing to Neon Moon
The removal of the garter...
All the single men lining up (Trevor is front and center)
All the single men ducking as it's thrown, except Trevor and one other gentleman.
And suddenly, the garter appeared in Trevor's hands. The look on his face was PRICELESS. He was so excited!
Parading around the party on cousin Timmy's shoulders with the garter in hand.
And now showing it off on his head. The highlight of his night!!

Oh What A Night!
Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Archer!!!

Visiting Friends

Thursday, we drove over to Pensacola/Milton to visit some long lost friends we knew when we lived in Hawaii, the Trammells'. They moved to Florida in the spring of 2009, and we have missed them terribly! So I knew that visiting them was a MUST when we planned this trip.

Their son Hudson is just a few weeks younger than Trevor, and their daughter Hannah is just a few weeks older than Addison.

I made them both super hero capes, so they had fun with those while we were there, and it made it difficult to get them to be still long enough to catch a picture!But it sure didn't take them long to get back into the way things were... it was as if they were never apart! They had such a blast together!And I had so much fun catching up with my dear friend Sherree! She made us her super yummy Red Beans & Rice! And then she even sent some leftovers home for us to enjoy!
Thank you Sherree and Alan for letting us visit! It was great seeing you all again!

On our way back home, we slipped through the military housing in Milton where we lived for 6 months before moving to Hawaii. It looked the same as the day we moved out!We had to laugh as we reminisced about the memories we had in our little 2 bedroom house there. And how we would never be able to squeeze our family in there now! Gosh, it seems like yesterday.... and yet a million years ago at the same time. How times change!

Florida

We left on a Tuesday morning... van loaded with luggage, toys food and movies... and the Turner family of 6. We drove 11 hours. Made only 2 stops for fuel and restroom breaks. I packed sandwiches and snacks to avoid fast food stops. The kids were so well behaved. They watched movies and colored, and we played travel games. And some even napped.

We made it to historic Auburn, Alabama. Home of the Tigers! Where several of our military friends went to school! It was neat to be in their stomping grounds, even if it was only to stay at the Microtel for a few hours of sleep.
Early the next morning, we loaded up the family again and headed down the road for the last 4 hours of our trip to Niceville, FL. It wasn't until we were 90 minutes out from our final destination, that we heard our first "Are we there yet?" From Trevor.

We arrived at Nick's sister's house and hung out with family the rest of the day. Nick took Addison on a jet ski, and she loved it so much, she didn't want to get off. Nick toodled around the bay near the dock, and she kept telling him, "Daddy, go faster!" We also spent some time in the pool:A bunch of the family stayed in 2 beach condos at Emerald Shores in Destin. The condo we stayed in was amazing!

Addison Update

Tuesday morning, Addison got her tonsils and adenoids out, AND tubes in her ears. What we called a triple whammy.

Here is a pic of her all happy and ready to go while we were checking in.
We were given a soft yellow gown, and tiny little non slip sockies. At this point, she was still oblivious as to what the near future had in store for her.
While we waited, the nurse came in for Addison's final costume piece, her surgical hat. And she didn't want to wear one unless I had one too... so they graciously spared one for mommy... and the nurse took our picture.
Then before she could realize what was happening, a few nurses came in with warm blankets, scooped her up and took her to the OR. I was escorted out to the waiting area, and after about 30 minutes, she was done! They took her to recovery and after another 45 minutes I got to go back and see her. She was all bundled up in blankets in a nurses lap in recovery, very groggy, but she cried for me when i walked in. They placed her in my lap and she went in and out of sleep all morning. Narcotics were working wonders!!! She sipped on juice, licked a few icees, and went through 2 1/2 IV bags throughout the morning and afternoon. By 3PM we were discharged and on our way home.

Our first night was rough. She was reluctant to swallow anything so even getting Tylenol in her was a chore, but after she took that, we were able to get fluids in her. Wednesday was okay. Still struggling to get her to drink much, but as the day progressed, she seemed to be improving.

Her voice has already changed and sounds less nasal-y. And her pronunciation is improved. I can't wait to hear how she sounds after a full recovery.

She's a trooper and I hope she continues to make a speedy recovery.