moving

I was in the need for something new. So I have moved my family blog. This is my last post on here. But you can keep up with the Turner family here...

Marie's 5 Lil' Monkeys

Family Reunion 2011

Day 1

While most people came on Wednesday evening...the reunion "technically" began on Thursday.

How to sum up the first day? Hmmm...
*talking
*laughing
*talking
*eating
*talking
*picture taking
*talking
*playing
* did I mention talking?

I loved being with my family and just...well BEING. We didn't have to do anything special, we just enjoyed being together.

**For those interested, there were a TON of pictures taken. If you want to look at more you can find them on Facebook **

Heather, this one is for you (:

This weekend, my family is getting together. A "mini" family reunion if you will.

My sister and her family were the first to arrive. My neice Heather gets out of the car and says, "Aunt Marie, you really need to update your blog!!"

So Heather, this one is for you!

While a million and a half things have happened since January, I will not even try to update you on all of them! The major things would be:

**Ben is home
**Ben is home
**Ben is home

Somehow I survived an 8 month deployment and am still alive to tell the story.

Summer is in full swing and we have been busy with scripture camp, cub scout day camp, vacations...lots of fun things.

So Heather, as much as I would like to do a great post to get you all caught up (and everyone else as well) there is just too much. I will just start again later ok?

Who's the boss?

You would think that it would be me. If that was your guess, you would be SOOOO wrong. It is this little man.

At  a whopping 18 months old weighing in at 27lbs he is the ruler of the roost.

If you are sitting somewhere, he will come and either get on your lap or drive you so crazy that you just give up the seat.

If you have any food that he wants, he holds out his hand and screams and cries until you give it to him.

If he is crying for any reason, anyone within ear shot has to give lots and lots of loves or he will keep going.

He refuses to share his Mom, and will try to physically remove anyone that is with her.

If he sees a stuffed animal, no matter whose it is (his absolute favorite thing) he grabs it and keeps it. He will also put his hand out and tell the person "no" if they try to get it back.

The other day Harmony told me that, "Mason's stinkiness is starting to cancel out the cuteness."

We really do love our little blue eyed Masor the racer though (:

He's BACK!

(I stole this picture off of the NMCB3 Facebook page. Not sure who took it to give them credit but...this is the convoy headed back to base)

I wish  I could say that Ben was back, safe and sound in my arms but...that is going to have to wait. He is, however, back at the main base. More importantly, he has internet!

It was a really hard month  not being able to  hear from him, and I really can't imagine what it was like for military wives before email, facebook...not sure I could have handled it back then!

whew...

(the kids hanging out with a "Who" at Universal Studios. Ivan looks thrilled, doesn't he?!)

(family photo outside)

(the crazy 18 month old)

(I found Ivan sound asleep like this one night. What can I say? The kid was worn out!)

(Harmony's favorite Christmas gift! A box filled with packs of gum. She said she is about half way through it already!!!)

(Christmas Eve, with the required new pj's in front of the tree picture)

(this was the destruction found in the living room on Christmas morning!

(chasing after Santa! The Camarillo airport has a Santa in his sleigh that flies over on Christmas Eve. I think it was the highlight of Ivan's night!)

Has it really been 4 weeks since I blogged? Sorry! I don't know where I used to find the time for this! I used to blog regularly. Now it is quick catch up posts. I guess some is better than none but...still!

Starting at the top, Ben. Oh how we miss him!! I got a call from him in the first few days of Dec. saying he was leaving the main base and headed for a smaller one. There is no internet connection where he is and except for 2 emails and a 5 min. phone call, we haven't heard from him in a month. I can't wait until he is back at the main base and we can hear from him again. I complain a lot about his watching sports, but I wish he was here tonight! He has been a Duck fan...practically since birth. Tonight is their Championship game. I hope wherever he is, he gets to watch his beloved Ducks!

Harmony is still doing well. She gets frustrated with her brothers at the drop of a hat but...what are you going to do right? She still calls them "little bothers" instead of brothers. She is turning into a pretty responsible girl and I love that I can start to rely on her for more things. She is very thankful to her Aunt Darla...because she has a cell phone now! Oiy!

Ethan is so cute. Mason says one word constantly (besides Mom, of course!) and that is E! E! He can get "E" to do whatever he wants. Ethan always tells me he isn't going to let Mason boss him around anymore, but I don't see that happening! His whole life right now is video games, scouts & school.

Connor is my little sweetheart. He really just has the sweetest heart. It doesn't stop him from doing things he isn't supposed to do though! I always find him with candy wrappers, his DS, Legos etc where he is not supposed to have them. He wants to get a cell phone so that he can text. I asked him who he would text and he said, me, Dad and Vale.

Ivan has had a lot of adjusting after his big winter break. He thrives on a scheduled routine and it was a hard week back at kindergarten! He is so excited to be turning 6 next month. We are going to have a party with just his church primary class. I am not up for a big party without Ben being here! He wants an Indiana Jones party so I am going to have to get creative!

Mason is a total pill. He is 18 months old today and drives his Mom crazy. Seriously. I have had to purchase 4 baby gates, 3 handle door locks, and more in baby proofing gear. We also were the recipients of a new toilet. Mason threw a big black Lego wheel in and flushed. Our maintenance people came out and couldn't get it to dislodge. So they had to take the whole thing out and give us a new one. Anyone want to adopt him?!

Seriously, I wonder if my life will ever change. I am not nearly as exciting as the kids are!