Ward Halloween Party

Wednesday night was our ward halloween party. We got to go and have a donut eating contest, drink homemade rootbeer, jump in a bounce house, do the cake walk, go through a spook alley, go fishing, do a ring toss etc. etc. The kids got to dress up and we had alot of fun.

and yes I won the donut eating contest! I was up against my friend Megans 2 oldest kids, Kenny & Susie and Redden. I ROCKED at this!

The Carving of the Pumpkin

I'm not sure why I continue to purchase pumpkins year after year. For some reason in this house of boys I (the girl) am the only one that will actually gut the pumpkin. I threaten every year that I'm not going to buy pumpkins if they don't gut them but I never follow through. You can't have Halloween without carving pumpkins. Once again, I'm sure for the 8th year in a row gutted both pumpkins for my kids. Austin was better than anyone. I made Rich help me with both of the boys where I'm still trying to get the feeling back into my wrists and hands. As you can see from the pictures we can see where my young boys get it...from their dad. He said to me under his breath, I hate doing this. haha. I'm telling you what I'm not sure where theses boys all came from? Rich even tried to convice Redden that his pumpkin would be scarrier if he left all the stringy stuff hanging down inside the pumpkin. I think that goes to show how much he doesn't like getting out the guts too. He helped but he was not happy about it. At the end of the evening we did end up with 2 carved and gutted pumpkins haleluja! This is him being totally grossed out after pulling out his first handfulLooks so happy doesn't he? Good thing he loves me because I'm pretty sure he was real mad!

Pumpkin Patch

My how this month has flown. It seems like just yesterday that the beginning of October was around the corner. I rushed and rushed through the end of September trying to get things finalized for our Stake Super Saturday. This was my 3rd year of being in charge and things go more smoothly every year. 1 more year to go. I was worried because it was on the 18th and I was due on the 15th. I wasn't sure how I was going to pull that one off. Luckily we had our sweet little "squeaks" (her new nick name) on the 3rd. The next thing I knew, it was the Saturday before Halloween and I realized that I hadn't even purchased pumpkins for the kids yet. Last year we grew them so I guess it didn't dawn on me like it should have this year. Austin keeps telling Rich and I every time we drive through the neighborhood that everyone has cooler decorations than us. I've been a total slacker this year with Halloween and I'm sad because I usually have our front porch all decked out in glow in the dark spider webs and all. Oh well, maybe next year. Anyway, we (and by we, I mean me and Rich agreed to go along :) you know I love you honey!) decided take the kids to the pumpkin patch after the soccer games and lunch. We got to ride a little train out into a field where they had a petting zoo then load up on the train again and ride out into the field through haunted tunnels and out to a hay pyramid with mazes inside. You were able to walk around and pick the pumpkin of your choice and load it up on the train and head back to the station to have it weighed. I left my memory chip in the reader at home and only had my spare in my purse. It saved me but I had to be very selective of the pictures that I took as it only holds like 10 pics but I'm glad I had it because 10 is better than none. We bought some carmel kettle corn and sat in the beautiful sunny weather as a family and enjoyed a huge sleeve of popcorn together. We love our times like this together. And...despite my husbands non excitement about going, he loves it once we're there. Then I make sure that my kids tell Daddy thank you. Why do I do this? I'm not sure. I guess because I love him. We ended up at home with 2 adorable pumpkins and another story to follow.

The Seahawks are Playing!!!

This last Sunday I was in the kitchen cleaning up lunch and realized that it had gotten quiet in my little cozy home. I realized I couldn't hear Rich anymore and no noise from my kids usually means trouble. I turned off the water and still couldn't hear anything. I went back to my business deciding that I would finish what I was doing and then go figure out what was going on. I mean, come on, their dad is with them - what's the worst that can happen??? As I was finishing my motherly duties, I heard noises once again coming from the muchkins that live in my home (so I assumed everything was normal). Once finished, I went into the living room and found my husband dressed in a Seahawks shirt, Redden with a Seahawks hat on, Austin with a Seahawks shirt and yes you guessed it...Jessi with a build a bear Seahawks football jersey and football pants on. It was absolutely hilarious.

You asked for more pics!

So here they are. Random pics of Jessi in her 1 1/2 weeks of life so far. By looking at these pictures, one would probably think that there is no way she's being fed because there's no way that her mother ever gets a chance to hold her! Don't worry I get my turn too!


Gma Chris loving on Jessi

A shot of her full head of golden brown hair!

Isn't that sooooo cute?


Ahhh...how precious...how do I get one of those?

Jessi loving on "Aunt" Megan
Daddy and Jessi veggin in the bedroom watching tv.

Austin loves his little sister

Austins 5th Birthday

Up until today, I would have said that my children are getting old. Well, now I have something to keep me from saying that - a new baby. I absolutely can not believe that we have an 8 year old and a 5 year old and now an infant- boy where does the time go? Way to quickly is what I have to say. This year Austins birthday wish was to go to Chuck E Cheese with his family. My mom was still here and we invited Uncle Jay and Aunt Pam to go along. We celebrated with Pizza, and a "white cake with gray frosting" per Austins request. What a weird kid! By the time we finished there, we were finally throwing coins at the kids saying hurry put them in all the machines. Our kids were putting in 1 at a time walking around taking a look trying to spread out their fun, little did they know how many coins they actually got to have. Austin came back to the table and took the last 4 from his "location". He said "I have 4 more left". Rich and I burst into laughter and showed him his cup that was entirely full of coins. His eyes got huge!






Austin at the age of 5 you are a very fun loving child. You roll around on the floor playing and pretending anything you can imagine. You are extremely self entertained and can keep yourself busy for hours although you do love playing with friends. The little friends that are girls like to have you over because you don't mind playing ponies or barbies - you're just the "boy" one. You're very into having everyone help you with things because for some reason you think you can't do them anymore. Adjusting to having a baby in the house, you have become a little whiny but that's just more for mommy to love. You love your baby sister and try to surround her with fun things to play with. Your brother plays with you pretty hard sometimes and you are a very tough kid and rarely cry even if you do get hurt. You're tender and your feelings get hurt more than anything even though you could be bleeding. The one think I love about you, is you always, always tell me you love me back. Mommy and Daddy love you Austin - you bring so much joy to our family!

Daddy & Jessi

Who says that babies don't smile at particular things at such a young age? I don't believe it. Every time this guy talkes to her she finds it in her to smile. These were all at different times, not a snap snap snap type of picture.

Funny Kid Quote of The Day

So today Redden had some information to share with Rich when he got home from work. Rich was at the computer and Redden walked up to him, pulled his mouth wide open with his fingers and said "Hey dad, look, I got another loose tooth and I'm gettin' a mullet". Of course he meant to say molar, but he had no idea what one was until I said today after school, "sure enough, you're getting a molar". Funny kid!

Welcome Home Jessi Mae Turner

Friday morning started off slow with an IV and the PIT. The Pit dialted me to a 4 and 50% effaced after 2 hours. I pushed off the epidural wanting to wait until the very last minute so I wasn't numb for so long. I've never sat through contractions like I did right before I received the epidural. Unfortunately right after I received the epidural they checked me and found out that I was at a 10 and ready to push. If I had known that, I would have tried to go "Pioneer Woman" but it was too late. I pushed for 1 hr and 15 minutes before we had a little girl in our arms. (they had to turn off the epidural right after I got it so I could feel something to be able to push properly, otherwise we probably would have had her about 2 hrs earlier) We left the hospital today after lunch and are both doing well. We've noticed some fun little things about her since she's been home. We'll try to blog about them soon. Until then, here's some fun pics.