Monday, December 31, 2007

MPM


I made my menu up and was very excited because I had almost everything I needed right in my own house. Only a few little odds and ends to pick up. Well I never made it to the commissary yesterday and it is closed today. Oiy! So tomorrow I will be going. All recipes are low fat ( from a fabulous new cookbook that I got) unless marked with an asterik. Ok let's go...

Tuesday:
B: oatmeal, oj, toast
L:cresant dogs, apple slices
D:chicken with stuffing, steamed vegi's, rolls

Wednesday:
B:muffins
L:mini bagel pizza's, canned fruit
D:bbq'd pork tenderloin, pineapple rice

Thursday:
B:pancakes
L:mac & cheese*
D: meatloaf, confetti potatoes, vegi

Friday:
B: hashbrown casserole
L:spaghettio's*
D: sloppy joes, baked fries and corn

Saturday:
B: c,ereal
L: chili w/fritos ( the chili is very low fat...fritos not so much!)
D:polynesian chicken, brown rice, fruit
Dessert: choc. creamy cupcakes

Sunday: a busy day and Ben is on watch so we keep it simple
B: cereal
L:kids choice
D: leftovers

I generally don't plan lunches but my kids are still home this week. For more ideas, check out http://orgjunkie.com

Sunday, December 30, 2007

My Sims Maniac


****guest post by Harmony*****

I got a Wii for Christmas and My Sims came with it. Now I am crazy over it and am really good at it! I also got lots of other things, but my favorite is the game.

I like being on vacation and don't want to go back to school yet.

My Mom let me stay up late and watch Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. It was fascinating!

That's it. Bye! Say hi on the comments!

lemons & oranges


Connor " Hey Mom. I know what you need to make orange juice."
Me-" what buddy?"
C-"lemons. No wait,it is oranges huh?"

Totally cute boy, who makes me laugh!

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

More Christmas pictures

Are you ready...





for a ton of Christmas pictures?

Last night was a busy one. And because of that Ivan fell fast asleep on the couch...at 6. Actually, he fell asleep in the car while dropping goodies off. We woke him up ( which was not an easy task!) and tried to get him to open his stocking. He wouldn't even sit up on his own he was so tired.I finally wrestled his jammies onto him, and he without a word, went upstairs and went and got in his bed!! Christmas is tiring for him too! So our annual " kids by the tree in their new pj's picture" is one kid short.But still way cute.

But since the kid went to sleep so early, he was up nice and early! The first one up. The other kids, had decided to start their own tradition, and they all had a sleep over in Harmony's room. But by 6:30 we had 3 kids awake and finally just went in and woke Connor up. When he came downstairs he said, " I really was on the nice list?!" The kids had a fun time opening gifts and were very happy with everything.

Tomorrow we are headed to buy containers for all their new toys to go in. We are collecting things for a garage sale so I will be able to purge some things. Anyway,I know that we are a day ahead so to those who haven't celebrated yet...Merry Christmas!!

Monday, December 24, 2007

Twas the Night Before Christmas...




I was right...it was a long day! It is 8:30 and everyone but me is sound asleep! Today was filled with activity. We baked and dropped the goodies off. Had goodies dropped off to us, did some laundry, some last minute shopping, made gingerbread cookies, ate pizza, watched movies, opened stockings, recieved Christmas cards, wrapped presents and more.

To keep the kids from driving me crazy,I bought a cookie kit and let them go to town. The kids had a lot of fun. They each made one for Santa and one for themselves. Ivan decided to just eat the frosting right off the knife.

Now Santa is so full from eating other holiday goodies, I am not sure he is going to be able to eat them. Hmmm....what to do?!

Sunday, December 23, 2007

Christmas eve





Whew! Why is it that I have been busy for months, planning, plotting, preparing and I STILL have last minute things to do?! Lots of baking and cleaning and stuffing stockings, and more.

Ben is headed to the Home Depot and then to K-Mart for all those little last minute things. Then tonight we will be delivering goodies to friends.

Saturday morning I got up to go walking and made sure I finished in time to head to the commissary. Did my grocery shopping and came home and baked. Peanut butter Blossoms (Ben's request and are now almost gone!) Pretzel Hugs, Chocolate dipped pretzels, candy cane sticks ( my new favorite...so yum!) Today I am making more pb cookies, candy cane sticks, sugar cookies, and more. This is the first year that I have really done a ton of baking and I loved it!

Ivan was my big helper and did a very good job making pretzel hugs. Surprisingly enough, he didn't eat any of the chocolate. Not until I brought the M&M's out!

Anyway, I'll be posting Christmas pictures as soon as we take them! Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!

Future missionary




I have been pretty casual, when it comes to what my boys wear to church. Usually a button down shirt and shorts, with brown leather sandals. Or pants in Norfolk when it was cold. The reason for this is pretty simple....the a/c in Norfolk never seemed to work very well in the primary room. And now, living in Guam well...it's stinkin' hot here and they never have the a/c on high enough!!

But I decided that I wanted the boys to start dressing nicer at church. I want them to be a good example to some of the little Chamorro kids that we have in our branch. So I got new white shirts and pants. Grandma Kennedy had sent the boys a clip on tie over the summer, which Connor claimed as his. So on Saturday night, I wanted to try the boy's clothes on to make sure that they fit.

Connor got all dressed up,I said, " Connor you look very handsome!" To which he replied," do you think Logyn will think so?" Logyn is a little girl who lives across the street and is in his primary class. It was sooo cute.

The next morning, when I got up, Connor was completely dressed and ready to go. He told me that he was only missing one thing. I asked him what it was..."to be a real missionary I need a pen in my pocket!"

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Mom's Letter to Santa

My friend Alissa sent this to me...

Dear Santa,

I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my
children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor and

sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree

on the school playground. I was hoping you could spread my list out
over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my
son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between
cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18
years..

Here are my Christmas wishes:

I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple,
which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze,
but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle

in the grocery store.

I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month

of my last pregnancy.

If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint
resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music, a television

that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals, and a
refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can
hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, "Yes,
Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't
fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the

use of power tools.

I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting "Don't eat in
the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother," because my
voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only
be heard by the dog.

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough
time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the
luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being
served in a Styrofoam container.

If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to
brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare
ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be

helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house
without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized
crime family.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is calling and my son saw my feet
under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a
safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in
and dry off so you don't catch cold.

Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave
crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always,

MOM...

P.S. One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my

children young enough to believe in Santa

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Hoopla

My friend Cindy tagged me, 12 random things about Christmas...

1** I collect Nativity scenes. I try to buy a new one every year. I love watching the kids when we get them out and display them. I think they like to look at them also!

2** I don't like to have too many Santa's in my house. Although Cindy brought up a very good point about him,I just don't like to focus on him. I don't want people to come to my house and think that is what we are celebrating.

3** So instead I buy snowmen! I love little Snowmen. I have actually bought 3 this year. They are just cute.

4**The kid's use a "special plate" to put out their cookies for Santa. A snowflake plate from the dollar store!!

5** I make a ton of lists at Christmas. And yet I still forget something/someone.

6** Now,I don't know how true this is, but Ben told me that in his family they didn't have too many Christmas traditions, so he is totally fine about following my families traditions. I love that I can watch my kids have fun with the same things that I always enjoyed.

7**For some reason, this Christmas just seems a little more lonely and depressing then any other I have had. Even the year that Ben deployed the next day!

8** I love Christmas carols. My friend Beth, had posted about the new Josh Groban cd. LOVE it. Absolutely love it. My favorite carol has always been Oh Come All Ye Faithful, and I love the way he sings it.

9** I also love Christmas movies. I think everyone knows my favorite but I love all of them. The kids and I have watched a lot so far this year. Like a Garfield Christmas, the Flinstones Christmas, Polar Express( the kids keep going around singing,"we like it hot,hot,hot") and so many more. Tomorrow it will be Connor's request...Home Alone.

10)My favorite Christmas book is How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I also like the movie, but not the Jim Carrey one.I think that one is awful. Another book the kids really like is "Arthur's Perfect Christmas".

11)This year I am really thinking about all the soldiers who are away from home. About the kids who are missing their Moms/Dads. My heart goes out to all and I am keeping them in my prayers.

**12 Sometimes I get way to caught up in having the "perfect Christmas" that I forget to enjoy the little things.

And there you have it. Now for the rules...

1. List 12 random things about yourself that has to do with Christmas
2. Please refer to it as a 'hoopla' and not the dreaded 'm'-word
3. You have to specifically tag people when you're done. None of this "if you're reading this, consider yourself tagged" stuff is allowed...then nobody ends up actually doing it. The number of people who you tag is really up to you -- but the more, the merrier to get this 'hoopla' circulating through the blogosphere.
4. Please try and do it as quickly as possible. The Christmas season will be over before we know it and I'd like to get as many people involved as possible.
5. If you want to -- please give me, Andrea, some link-love as the 'Hoopla-Creator'. I love new blog-traffic.

I am tagging Susan, Mom, Beth, Christy and Tiffany ( that is what happens when you start a blog dear! You get tagged!)

We Wish you a Merry Christmas

One more video. Aren't they cute?!

And btw, this is my 500th post!!!!

Guam Jingle Bells



Seasons Greetings from the Turner kids!

Monday, December 17, 2007

I tried...


I honestly try to pack the kids a healthy lunch. Sometimes it doesn't happen. But I do try. So yesterday,I packed a sandwich, juice box, pretzels, orange slices and yogurt. Not bad right? So I asked the kids if they actually ate it or just threw it away. Ethan and Harmony told me they ate all the fruit. I said, "Connor, did you eat your oranges?" His reply? "Well...I tried.But don't worry Mom, they smelled really good." That kid.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

It's a wonderful life










Last night, was the end of a very looong, and busy week. So much going on. Every single night at least one family member was gone. And it was hard on all of us. So last night, the kids were all in bed, Ben and Ivan were crashed out on the couch, and I started watching It's a Wonderful Life.

I just love that movie. It really is one of my favorites. Not just at Christmas time! And as I watched it I thought, " I really do have a wonderful life". We had a week filled with friends, fun, laughter, new skills, and just good things.

So Thursday night, I went to an ornament exchange with my spouse club.It is such a fun group of ladies. Just really cool. Sometimes,I think wives in a wardroom kind of are "forced" to be friends,because our husbands work together. But I don't feel that way about these women.Actually,I have been totally lucky because in Norfolk they were all awesome too. Anyway...it was a good time.

Friday night, we attended a Hail and Farwell. My friend's daughter watched Ivan, so we just had the older kids. We had a good time and the weather was fabulous! A nice tropical breeze blowing.

Saturday was way busy. I got my Christmas gift, a freezer, nad then the kids and I went to pick up doughnuts. Ben was at a car wash and so we took them down there. Got our car washed and came home. Then we came home and later I took Harmony to get new glasses and then onto a cooking class.

We went to the Hilton, which Harmony decided that the next time that we stay at a hotel, we should stay there. Anyway,there were a couple of troops who were there. They made gingerbread cookies. Chef Robert, had the girls seperate the eggs. Harmony really struggled with this! She started to get frustrated and I told her, that it isn't an easy skill, and she just looked at me and said, " Mom, it's not that. It is just totally disgusting!" She had a good time and her house turned out cute. Unfortunatley, it didn't stay up long enough to even get it in the box.

As soon as we were done, we high tailed it home so that we could go to our branch Christmas party. Ivan had not taken a nap and I knew he was going to be a pill! He ran around for awhile but was willing to sit down once they put the food out. We had a short program and then...a special visitor came. The kids all got in line to meet Santa. Even Ivan. I thinkhe only did it for the candy cane but whatever. The kids had fun and were sound asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow.

Now we are onto another busy week. Ben has a nice relaxed schedule for next week so I am excited. But there is my nice long novel of our week!

Wednesday, December 12, 2007





I had mentioned in my menu plan post that this week is CRAZY. It is Thursday morning for us and this week has just been crazy. Monday was our only not-busy day so we decided to head to the beach. Tuesday, Ben and I shopped all morning and then he was gone in the evening. Last night the kids had a primary party, tonight I am going to an ornament exchange, tomorrow night Ben is going to a Hail and Farwell, Saturday Ben is going to a car wash fundraiser, Harmony and I are going to go to a cooking class and then our branch party is that night. Phew! I think this next week is going to be better but who knows!

Anyway, yesterday the kids had a Christmas party at church. Ivan and I made 4 dozen sugar cookies to bring so that the kids could decorate them. They had a great time playing M&M Christmas bingo, getting their faces painted, decorating cookies. Plus,they ordered 12 pizza's for the kids to eat for dinner. All the adults were laughing,because we asked the kids to sit down...and all the girls sat at one table, and all the boys at the other. They did that allon their own. Eventually there was 1 who broke the ranks but...

Wordless Wednesday

Monday, December 10, 2007

MPM


It has been a while since I have done one of these...and believe me,I can tell! I go to the grocery store and just grab whatever, because I have no idea of what I will be making. Then I will forget that ONE thing. So, back to planning for the week. Every time I start to write my plan, I take a look at the calender. Just to see what is going on and planning accordingly. Ex. I am not going to make alfredo ( Harm's favorite) on Monday night when she has Girl Scouts! So anyway...I looked at the calender and our family is at home,all together for exactly 2 nights this week! And one was yesterday! So my menu is kind of funny, as it reflects who is home and who is not. OK here goes...

Tuesday:(Ben's gone)
B: cereal
D: spaghetti w/ turkey meatballs

Wednesday:(Ben is the only one home)
B:muffins
D: Ben fixes his own

Thursday: I'm gone
B: pancakes
D: mac and cheese,leftover grilled hotdogs, fruit

Friday: Ben is gone
B:cereal
D:make your own pizza

Saturday:
B:cinnamon rolls and fruit
L:Harmony and I at a cooking class
D: Christmas party

Saturday, December 08, 2007

SHS


I am not sure if it is Saturday in the states yet,it is here. So...

A week ago Tuesday, something happened within our little family.It was a very hard situation and it left me feeling lost, confused and just...well honestly kind of depressed. I was tired and miserable.Which led to things like, not cleaning the house, not making meals and picking up fast food instead, being unorganized, being late, not watching the grocery budget etc.

Well fast forward to today. The situation has improved a hundred fold. However, I am finding it hard to get back into my role as "homemaker". The desire has been there, just no motivation. I guess I am still trying to crawl out from under that cloud.

It has been a long time since I participated in any of my challenges. The tackle it tuesday and all of those. So I decided to start doing them again. I have a lot to do to get my house back and these always seemed to help. So I am starting out with Smart Habit Saturday. This is hosted by the Lazy Organizer. I have to figure out her exact address and then I will post it. The idea behind SHS,is to make little goals for the week and then keep building on them. So here are mine...

**go to bed early ( no later than 10)
** drink 72 oz. of water a day
**clean the kitchen every night
**update my planner and calender every night
** do a 15 min. organizing job every day, only 15 min. is required,anything else is just gravy! :)

Chrismtas party


What does a night out entail? Let me tell you...

**1 kid picked up for a sleepover at 3:30, with a list of emergency numbers and $$ for a movie

**1 kid picked up at 5:00, with a list of emergency numbers

**corn dogs, chips and juice boxes for dinner ( so unhealthy!!!)

**1 babysitter

**new dress

** nylons

** hair done by a friend

**hairspray, gel, curling iron and straightening iron

** 2 kids sleeping over at our house

** buying tickets

** heels that hurt

** parking in timbuktoo

** nails painted, nails smeared

** kids going to bed really late

Last night we attended a Chrismtas party for Navfac. It was fun to get dressed up and go out with Ben. A night out is always nice. We were able to get out and enjoy ourselves. Ben works with a lot of fun people and so it is nice to talk to everyone. Ben even won a door prize! Nothing too exciting...movie tickets. We got home around 10:30, because Ben is on watch today. The kids stayed up late with their sleepovers and they are exaughsted. How do I know? Because it is 5:16 in the evening and Connor has maybe been awake for 20 minutes and Ethan and Ivan are still out. I know Harmony is going to be sleeping in tomorrow! Here is a picture of Ben and I before we left. Just ignore the fat rolls. It is hard to get pictures outside here, because it is so humid it fogs up your lens. And do you love how tall I am standng next to Ben? No,it's not the heels...just a step! :)

Thursday, December 06, 2007

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

slimy...yet satisfying

Yesterday I did something that was absolutely disgusting, but it was actually very satisfying. I am not a " I am Woman here me roar" kind of a girl. I am more of a "if I can get Ben to do it, then there is no way that I am going to..." kind of a girl. But because Ben has a "habit" of leaving for 6 months at a time, there are things that I have had to learn to do for myself.

Well our shower has been clogged, and Ben said that he would take care of it, if I would just grab some liquid plumber. So I remembered to get some but when I was putting it away, I read the directions. I thought wow, that is kind of easy I bet I can do it. SO I did!! I was very excited with my plumbing skills!

Later Harmony came in the bathroom and asked what the smell was. I told her you know how it was taking a long time for the water to drain? I fixed it and the smell is the stuff you use. She looked at me questioningly and then said, " you fixed it? How? Oh I know...Daddy helped you."

Grrr!

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

the joys of Christmas


Ahhh Christmas. Such a wonderful time of year. People in good moods, spreading holiday cheer. Kids trying to be good so they don't get on the naughty list. Everyone showing their love through buying gifts...except at my house.

Yesterday, the boys found themselves on the naughty list so fast! I have mentioned before but there are a few Moms, who take turns walking the kids to and from school. My friend did it yesterday, and I knew it couldn't be good when I saw her walking them all the way up to the house. The boys had begun chasing her young son, and because the child is small, he started running towards the street!! One of the most busy streets on Guam! She barely caught him and he was almost hit by a van. So she wanted to let me know that" I raised my voice at your kids." I was shocked. I honestly told her, " I can't believe that is all you did. I would have throttled them!" So they had to sit on time out, make sorry cards and then were grounded for the rest of the evening.

Then, onto the Christmas cheer & giving gifts...the school's pto has a fundraiser where they are having a Santa's Workshop. Kids can bring money to the school to buy gifts for parents or siblings or whomever. So since I already took them to buy something for each other, I gave them money to buy something for Ben and I. Well here comes Ethan, with 2 teeny tiny little gifts. Very proud, he proclaims that they are for Ben and I. So I tell him how sweet and to put them under the tree. Afterward, he pulls a much bigger gift bag out of his backpack. I asked him who that was for and he told me, " well Tristen's mom gave me my change, and so I used the $5 to buy some lego's all for me." What a giving child. So full of the Christmas spirit. So I told him he has to wait until Christmas before he gets it. He was really excited about that...let me tell you!

Saturday, December 01, 2007

video

Awards Ceremony





Today has been such a looong day. I am soo tired. I woke up at 4:30 and headed downtown to participate in a 5k. I ran/walked it and was pretty happy with my time, 41 minutes. Some of it was uphill though! After that I headed to K-Mart, then onto Winchells to get doughnuts for the boys. Went to the exchange to get a bigger memory card and came home.I walked into find Ben hunched over. He had wrenched his back and can not stand upright. So with an hour to go before Harmony's program it looked like I was heading there by myself. I got down there, stopping to get some potato salad, and made it to the community center with 3 minutes to spare.

Harmony went last night, and got to have a sleepover. It started with dinner, a book exchange, art and giggling and talking! She didn't go to bed until after midnight and than was up at the crack of dawn. They worked on skits that they were going to perform for their families. Harmony earned 5 badges and recived a special little plaque with her troop number and seal. For her skit, she was the narrator. She loved having so many speaking parts!

After that, I came home and got everybody's lunch made, put Ivan down for a nap and then it was back down to base to go to the commissary. After grocery shopping, since Ben can't walk, I had to unload the groceries all by myself. I did finally eat lunch at 3:30. Whew. Totally wiped.

Now all that is left...is to clean my house!

Move Over Ben...




I have found a new love!! And it's name would be Cannon Power Shot. My new camera came yesterday. I LOVE it. And only found out after playing with it, that it can also video tape for up to an hour. So today at Harmony's awards ceremony, no need to go back and forth. Now all I have to do is figure out how to upload it. But here are some brand spankin' new pictures. Just for fun!