Picnic Anyone?

This morning was Trevor's first official day 'home all day with Mommy' now that school is out. McKenzie left on the school bus, but there was no trip to school for Trevor! He was very excited. The first thing he said to me this morning was: "So, Mommy, what are we going to do today?"

So, we went shopping. I was hoping to hit up some post Memorial Day clearance, but as I figured, all the patriotic stuff will stay up (and at regular price) through July 4th. But, it was a good excuse to hit up Target!!!

Trevor and Addison insisted they ride in the super extendo cart with the added double seater attached at the front of the cart. So, I strapped them both in the 5 point harnesses and pushed my 18 wheeler sized cart through the isles of Target! (I'll be sure to take a pic next time for reference with the ol' camera phone).

After Target, we went to the Navy Exchange's Garden Shop and picked out a picnic table for the kids. The one I found (thanks Kristina!) is a 6 seater and came with a cute little umbrella!

The kids were doing so great and behaving so well (and I'm sure that had nothing to do with the giant bag of Peanut M&Ms we purchased at Target) we went on to the Marine Base and hit the exchange and commissary for a few things for Daddy's care package he requested!

It was nearly noon by the time we made it home, and Trevor demanded we assemble the picnic table FIRST THING! So, as my handy dandy assistant, Trevor helped start all the screws for me as well as bounce his little toosh on the seats to snap them into place!

Here is our finished product (minus the umbrella since it is temporarily sitting in our living room):

Here is a product picture of what it will look like with the umbrella. Don't bother trying to figure out who is sitting at the table. They are not my kids!

Memorial Day

Today a few of the girls came over for hamburgers and hot dogs. We had a huge spread of delicious food, and I have to admit, I'm glad there were leftovers! Big thanks out to Julie for taking on the task of "Grillmaster".

The morning was nice, but about noon, the rains came, and brought on some humidity... so we didn't get the kids in the pool. But they had fun anyways.

From Left to Right:
Julie Svatek, Catherine Delara, Krista Cronkright,
Kristina Attwood & Me

Abigail Cronkright & Trevor jammin' to some music on the TV

We were lucky enough to witness what I think was the flyby for the Memorial Service just up the road at the cemetery. 4 Chinooks flew over about 2:30.

And I can't believe we actually succeeded in a group picture with all of the kids.

The Turner clan

It was great to get together with some of the girls and hang out for the afternoon. The kids also enjoyed themselves! We all miss our husbands (and Daddy's) so much, but appreciate their hard work and sacrifice. And we also remember and are grateful to all of those who have made the ULTIMATE sacrifice so that we can have our freedom.

I hope you all had a safe and happy Memorial Day.

A Typical Day at the Turners'

Addison has continued to push the limits and find new ways to drive me crazy!!! At first it was climbing onto the furniture, and now, in addition to all that... she has discovered the 'art' of pushing the little chairs around the house to reach higher ground.

Here is her latest discovery:

This is a place she frequents:

Fun with the hamper (upside down):

McKenzie has some pretty creative ways of keeping her younger siblings entertained while I am trying to do some baking or cleaning etc.... this morning, she convinced them to take a ride on one of Addison's riding toys and let her push them around the house...
Lately, Trevor has tied two riding toys together (like one is towing the other) and they cruise around the house pulling one another...

Trevor and Addison usually get along great during the day. Just yesterday, he crawled over to her and laid his head on her lap and pretended to sleep.
She believed him and let him sleep there while she drank her milk... and then the sweetest thing happened.... She started rubbing his back!!!! (I almost cried)

Up and Coming New Artists....(maybe)

The kids have been jamming to the radio a lot lately... and it's funny to see how Trevor only has to hear a song once to really start learning the words (which in some cases is not a good thing).

Here he is (with Addison on backup) singing, and I guess you could call it dancing, to Pitbull's "I Know You Want Me"

(He SOOO reminds me of my little brother dancing when he was younger, sorry Danny)




My cell only takes 30 second video so here is a little encore!

Afghanistan Calling...

I was up late tonight baking cookies..... It was about 10:30PM and I had finished mixing up some dough, turned off my mixer and heard my cell phone ringing. (Thinking it just might be nick) I threw the mixer down, ran out of the kitchen, but not before lifting the child gate completely out of the brackets and had to carry it with me across the living room to my cell phone. Just in time to hear the MISSED CALL tone as I picked up the cell and saw "Afghanistan" on my caller ID.

$@&*$^!!!!! See what desperate military wives do for a simple phone call! Luckily, he called the house line a few minutes later. And trust me, I was waiting with my hand on the receiver!

"Hello!!!!!!"
And what do I hear on the other end? "Is this Mrs. Nicholas Turner?" (immediate sinking in my stomach.....thinking it wasn't Nick, why was someone ELSE calling me?!?! **BAD NEWS***) .... but then the voice continued..."This is Ed McMahan from Publishers Clearing House..."

Ok, phew! It WAS Nick. (What a jokester!)

We talked for over half an hour! It was great! No interruptions, no break ups, I could hear him pretty good most of the time! It was great to hear his voice again after so long!!!

I did get a chance to ask him about some things he and the guys/gals might need now that they are in their NEW LOCATION and here is what I have for anyone looking for ideas for care packages:

1) HAND SANITIZER!!!
2) BABY WIPES (PREFERABLY IN THE HARD PLASTIC CONTAINERS)
*The guys/gals don't have running water where they work to wash their hands, so wipes/sanitizer are a great need there so they can wash up every once in a while.
3) "MECHANIX" GLOVES (click HERE for example)
*Elastic wrap/Velcro on wrist (MEDIUMS) approx. $15/pair
*Nick said the guys/gals that work on the helicopter could use these the most, as the heat during the day literally bakes the aircraft and at times makes it hard for them to even TOUCH the parts/helicopter.

The weather has been around 102 degrees during the day. If there is a breeze, Nick described it as, NOT refreshing, but more like someone blowing you with a hair dryer. AND, if its blowing enough to blow the sand, he described it as sitting in an oven, with a hair dryer on you, and someone throwing talcum powder at you. The sand there is not like your standard "beach" sand... its very fine like blowing dust or talcum powder. He said their biggest battle is the heat. They don't really ever get any relief from it....but other than that, he said the living conditions are tolerable.

That's all I have for updates... but I will add the items to the sidebar for care package ideas. Nick has been able to check his email occasionally, but they only have ONE computer and ONE phone for the entire squadron, so its' hard for anyone to check their email and respond very often.

I hope everyone has a safe Memorial Day weekend! And don't forget to take a moment to remember the purpose behind Memorial Day!

Trevor's Preschool Graduation

This morning my little man graduated preschool from Pali View Baptist Preschool in Kaneohe!!! The ceremony started at 10am. But I was there at 9am to make sure we had a good seat (that was when they opened the chapel up) There were people waiting at 8am when I dropped him off!

I lucked out and was able to get a second row seat right in front of where he would be sitting. Thank goodness they put their names on their chairs up front!

You'll have to forgive my video taking. Picture me in a seat, with a belly, and an Addison on my lap,trying to hold her AND the camera all while she is jumping, dancing, and waving at Trevor.

Here is the Zebra class walking in... and Trevor spotting me! "Hi MOM!"

Their first song was
"I Want To Do Right"



Doesn't he look like a little choir boy here?!

"Behold, Behold"

"I Am A Promise"

They put together a slideshow of pictures with the kids busy at school. It was really cute. They did this because they know that a lot of the parents always ask "What did you do at school today?" And what do the kids always say? "Nothing." So they shut the lights down, and as each picture popped up, the kids screamed out the child's name in unison! It was really cute to watch, and hear them yell out the names!

Getting a hug from Mrs. Stacy

And his Bible from the pastor.

Watching his classmates get their diplomas...

Sitting patiently

They had cupcakes for each student with their name on them...
and there is my belly!

Luckily, Trevor only wanted a piece of cake, and Addison wanted his cupcake, so it all worked out. She was grabbing at the icing before we could sit down!

I think it was a long exhausting morning (for everyone), so trying to get a partial family picture was a bit of a stuggle....
"Trevor, just one picture of us, okay? And then you can have some candy!!!" (is that a bribe or what?)

But you'd never known! What a good faker! All "happy" and adorned with candy leis from mommy and his friends!

Congratulations Trevor!!!

Nick's New Email Address

nicholas.turner@bastion.afghan.usmc.mil

He didn't mention how often he would get to check it, but at least they have their accounts up!