Ten on Tuesday v.6

1. This post is going to be picture-less today, folks. I have to get it done in the 5 minutes it takes for Marie's mac n' cheese to cook. I'm in the middle of PACKING FOR UTAH (!!!) and it's a crazy busy day.

2. We're going to be gone for a good chunk of time, so we've felt the need to cram in as much fun as possible with our friends. Thus, the last-minute packing. Unfortunately, the rain ruined plans today, but maybe that's also fortunate. I always underestimate how long it takes to pack up a family.

3. Our flight isn't until 1:40 tomorrow, which I'm very excited about. We always book these early-morning flights for some reason, which means we have to get up at 3 a.m. to make it to the airport. That's 1 a.m. Utah time, so we always start our vacations exhausted. The thought of sleeping in until our normal time tomorrow makes me happy! 

4. Especially since after we land, we're headed right up to Utah State for their 4th of July concert & fireworks extravaganza. We haven't been for at least a decade, but if I remember right, they always put on a pretty great show.

5. We've talking and daydreaming constantly about our plans for a Disney cruise. We've been saving for awhile now, but I guess we're all tired of saving and waiting and just want it to HAPPEN. It's always a constant battle in my mind, where to save that extra money: HOUSE vs. CRUISE. Either way, we'll be saving awhile! :)

6. Marie finally got her front tooth out! Well, I guess I should say that Kevin got it out. In fact, I had to leave the house both times they worked on it. I'm not only unable to pull my kids' teeth out, I can't even watch. And if you could have seen this one... makes me shiver just thinking about it.

7. She got an extra dollar for this one - the tooth fairy must have known it was special. We've been bribing her for months if she'd get it out, and Kevin thinks we'd better darn well pay up. After all, she saved us the $3000 the dentist wanted us to pay to take her into the hospital, put her under, and take those teeth out. I guess a prize might be in order.

8. I was worried about how her looking like a ragamuffin, but luckily, that brief stage is behind us. She looks pretty darn adorable with that front tooth missing.

9. DIY project #1 is officially done. The stairs are DONE! And I've never been so glad to see a project over with. They look pretty good, but I had plenty of doubts along the way. In fact, as I was pulling painters tape off near the end, I may or may not have started bawling. Bleeding paint was NOT what I wanted to see. But it all worked out, and 5 months, countless sweat & tears (no blood, luckily!), but very little money later, they look pretty good. Hallelujah.

10. And last, but not least, I got invisalign. Long, LONG story, but I needed it. It's been a week, and all I have to say is that 1) whoever claims they're invisible is nuts, and 2) braces might have actually been better. Jury is still out on that. They're a pain, and the thought of having it for 18 months makes me want to cry. I'll survive. And hopefully become less vain in the process.

Happy 4th! 

Ten on Tuesday v.5

1. My sister is having her baby RIGHT NOW and I'm dying that I'm not there. I mean, I didn't really think I'd be there in the hospital with her, but I thought I'd be in the same state. Guess I'm going to have to wait 8 whole days to see Miss Avery, and this makes me surprisingly sad.

2. We've had a crazy fun week. June tends to be that way, with so many events to celebrate, in addition to regular summer fun. 

3. We started with Marie's birthday (another post coming), which I think lived up to all of the anticipation. She got breakfast in bed, wanted to go berry picking (Bucket List #24), helped me make her Hello Kitty cake, had her favorite dinner, and got a mammoth-sized Barbie house. 5-year-old heaven.

4. Speaking of which, she chose Isaac's for dinner that night, much to the chagrin of Kyle, who was rooting for Red Robin. Man, he really worked on her - begging, bribing, and threatening until I threatened him in return. But I was proud of her, she held her own and stuck to her guns. She usually gives in to him on everything.

5. Funny thing is, she's not really a pushover, she just likes making other people happy. So am I proud of her for being selfish?? I'd like to think she just knew it was the one day she could look out for herself. :)

6. We went on a family bike ride the other day. We've only done that a couple of times before. So we decided to go big and bike 9 miles into Mt. Gretna (Bucket List #4), stop for some dinner and ice cream, and bike 9 miles back. The only problem: 18 miles is a pretty long distance for us non-bikers! Let me just say, there were definite doubts along the way...

7. Surprisingly, although there were doubts, there were no complaints. I'll say it again: NO COMPLAINTS! Unheard of. The kids were rock stars. And we had a blast. Even though we severely underestimated the time it would take us, and were riding back in the dark - just us, the fireflies, and the boogeyman.

8. Speaking of which, Kyle has turned into a hard worker! And that exclamation point is for good reason. It's not his fault, it's ours. But we're determined to instill the value of hard work, and it looks like it's finally working. He does his chores without complaints (usually), he's agreeable when Kevin asks him to help with something extra, and he helped Kevin install a neighbor's pool liner. Not to mention that he's out running a mile or two everyday.

9. I hope I didn't just jinx myself. Knock on wood...

10. And lastly, yesterday Kevin and I celebrated 13 years! It was without much fanfare or excitement, but I'll just say this: I love him a million times more than I did 13 years ago, and I'm so happy to be doing life and raising a family with him. And I love that he's mine forever. We went out for sushi, fro-yo, and a little shopping. And this is all we have to show for the day:

40: Trip to the bookstore

There are few things in life that I love more than a good book. I'll read anything and everything. And when I'm not in the middle of one, with the next one waiting by my bedside, I feel a little lost. Not sad, exactly, just a little melancholy. Problem is, being in the middle of a good book doesn't exactly make me the best wife or mother. Just ask my poor husband, who didn't get an ounce of decent sleep last night, until I finally turned the lamp off at 2 a.m.

Anyways, I'm working hard to brainwash my children into my book-loving way of thinking. And while I'm not sure I've succeeded quite yet, I HAVE passed on my love of bookstores. A trip to Barnes & Noble makes for a perfect day. We can spend hours in there, obsessing over what to buy. It's our favorite. And while part of me knows that I could definitely find the same books cheaper on Amazon, the other part willingly pays the higher price because I'm so afraid that they'll go out of business and we'll be left with only online bookstores. And nothing would make me more sad.

Bucket List 2013

Without further ado, it's our Twenty-Thirteen Bucket List! In no particular order...

1. see Monsters University
2. GIANT slip n' slide
3. BBQ with friends
4. Mt. Gretna bike ride
5. Marie's 5th birthday party
6. catch fireflies
7. Go fishing
8. Camping
9. make freezer jam
10. Pajama day
11. Barnstormers game
12. swimming...always!
13. science experiment
14. hike Susquehannok state park
15. Demolition Derby
16. Backyard campout
17. bubble party
18. Screen-free week
19. warhead contest
20. visit the Science Factory
21. see Despicable Me 2
22. make a treat for friends
23. BEACH, BEACH, BEACH! (yes, that's three times...)
24. pick strawberries
25. Landis Valley Farm & museum
26. Kyle's 10th birthday
27. make marshmallow catapults
28. LAWN twister
29. learn 5 new piano songs
30. learn to do a cartwheel (Marie)
31. Summer Reading Program @ the library
32. balloon paddleball
33. make rock monsters
34. bowling
35. trip to UTAH!
36. meet baby Avery :)
37. build cup towers
38. peanut butter playdough
39. Pineview Dairy
40. trip to the bookstore

Ten on Tuesday v. 4

1. Marie's lost two teeth in the last week, with another on the way. I was okay with the little tooth on the bottom, but when I looked in the roof of her mouth and saw a permanent tooth growing in, I freaked. That tooth has pushed one of the top teeth out, and the other will be coming any day.

2. I'm not afraid to admit that I cried when she lost the second one. Kevin asked me why, and I wasn't sure if it was vanity (Hello, Nanny McPhee???) or because she's my baby.

3. Did I mention that she's not quite 5-years-old? Way too young to be looking like an awkward, grown-up kid.

4. One week of summer vacation down, and I think it's been about 50% successful so far. Lots of success on the playing end, not so much on the chores/reading end. I'm vowing to be better this summer!

5. This was supposed to be our summer of reading. Marie's really starting to pick it up, and could be a pro by the end of the summer. And I'm determined to get Kyle reading and loving other books besides "Big Nate" and "Diary of a Wimpy Kid." I got desperate and hid them all away:

6. I printed out reading punch passes that they can redeem for a treat, and they WILL be completing the summer reading program at the library. Man, they give a lot of good passes/prizes away! Yes, this is definitely going to be our summer of reading...

7. Marie had her friend birthday party on Saturday at the Hands-On House children's museum. It was perfect in every way. The kids ran around like crazy for two hours, had juice and cupcakes, and I didn't have to do a thing. Nothing to prepare, and nothing to clean up afterwards. We're not ones to spend a lot of money on birthday parties, but I thought the $100 fee was completely worth it. 

8. Kyle participated in a lacrosse camp last week. He really loves lacrosse, and has a blast throwing that ball around. But, he's a pretty cautious kid, and let's face it - lacrosse is a pretty crazy sport. So he's been very apprehensive about trying it, despite some aggressive recruiting. He gave it a go, and had a good time, but I don't think he'll be joining up. I'm just proud of him for trying. It was a big step just for him to try something new, all on his own.

9. Marie was pretty stoked about the gear, too:

10. We've moved into a pretty great neighborhood. Last weekend, they had an outdoor movie night. And a few days later, a giant Welcome to Summer ice cream party. Kid heaven.
 

Ten on Tuesday v.3

These weren't intended to be my only posts...one of these days I'll really start updating the blog.

1. I just spent the last hour on the computer, researching companies to repair my garage door, pressure-wash my house, and re-seal my driveway. Home ownership ain't cheap, folks!

2. I spent all of yesterday afternoon sprucing up my front yard. 10 bags of mulch later, and only 2/3 of the front yard is done. And did I mention that I trimmed the edges with SCISSORS? Please tell my husband to find the battery/charger for the trimmer SOON!

3. Marie played in the sprinkler the entire 4 hours I was out there. That's a lot of water. And after I thought of my water bill, I thought, "Geez, that's going to make the grass grow even FASTER."

4. I really want the pressure washing done because I'm dying to get up there and paint those shutters black, and put a fresh coat of paint on the door. Keep the door red? Opinions?

5. My brother came up over the weekend, and we ditched Marie at a friend's house and went disc golfing. And spent the majority of the time like this:



For the record, it was MY disc we were looking for. Not my best game. But also for the record, I didn't feel too bad about him risking his life in the poison ivy, because I took a brutal hit to the back from one of his discs. Ouch.

6. My parents also came up to see the kids' last home soccer games. I'm sad to see Kyle's season end. He's a great player and it's so much fun to watch.  It was Silent Saturday, meaning no coaching from the parents or coaches. Much harder than it seems.

7. Marie? She's fun to watch, too, but for a completely different reason. Anybody that's watched 5-year-olds play soccer knows what I'm talking about. We celebrated her actually KICKING the soccer ball three times during her game. First time she's touched it this season. And anytime she'd see a camera pointed at her, she'd stop and pose. So much for keeping your head in the game.



8. I'm in the primary presidency now and had my first sharing time on Sunday. I was a little worried about it last week, since the last sharing time I experienced was when I was 11-years-old. But it went fine, and I'm excited to do it again. It's going to be fun to be with the kids. And surprisingly, my kids like having me in there. Who knew!

9. It's 85 degrees today. And humid. Yuck. The pool opens this weekend, and the forecast says it'll be 67 degrees. There's something wrong here. Not that I'm anxious to show off my ghostly legs...the Turner family is WHITE, people!

10. We have no plans for this weekend, and I'm honestly so excited about it. We have a to-do list a mile long, and it'll be nice to check something off. Add a little bit of fun in there, and BAM - we're set!

Ten on Tuesday v.2

Forgot to post yesterday...ooops!

1. We're baaack. From Utah, that is. It seems like we crammed weeks of fun into 3 days, and we came back exhausted, but it was worth it.

2. I've said it a million times, but cousins are the best! Mine were like siblings growing up, and I'm so glad it's the same for my kids. I honestly can't think of anyone in the world that my kids love more than these guys:

3. Our flight was direct this time, and I'm sold. I've always kind of liked having a layover, and having the chance to switch planes and move around. Especially with kids. But after too many delayed planes, and missed flights, we decided no more. And let me tell you, we'll never go back. Direct flights all the way, baby!


 
4. I think Kevin's been a little homesick for his family, so he was pretty happy to see these guys. Only, the picture is incomplete because we're missing a brother. I'm not sure where he was hiding. Sorry, Lance!


 
5. In a way, I'm glad that these family reunions only last a few days at a time, because I NEVER GET TO SEE MY KIDS. Seriously, I kind of start to miss them. Who can be bothered with mom & dad when cousins are around?

6. A wedding was the reason for our visit. That's our niece LauraLyn in the middle there. She might be the cutest, sweetest, and most positive girl EVER. We weren't sure there would ever be anyone good enough for her, but she seems to have found her perfect match. They're the cutest. 



7. We become total gluttons when we visit Utah, eating at all of our favorite places. Training Table? Check. El Matador? Check. And thank you, LauraLyn, for having your wedding luncheon at Maddox Ranch House! My mouth is watering just thinking about it...

8. Baby fever. We got to see our little niece Clara and nephew Lincoln, and I'm so sad that I didn't get any pictures. I was dying over them. Most days I can push that baby yearning to the back of my mind. But those little guys did me in. And those little baby hugs Clara gives? Don't get me started...

9. Speaking of baby fever, I got to see my cute sister who is pregnant with her first! I poked and prodded and tried to get little baby Avery to move, to no avail. Oh well. She won't be able to resist my charms when we welcome her this summer! We squeezed our visit in at 10:00 at night, and dined on half-price Sonic shakes. Perfect.

10. And now it's back to the grind. Yesterday Marie and I made paper chains. I think we're down to 17 days of school left, and 50 days until we're BACK in Utah. Let the countdown begin!

 

Ten on Tuesday v.1

1. It's raining outside. Have a mentioned that I love the unpredictable weather of the east coast? Warm one day, cold the next. Cloudy, then sunny. Not to forget the amazing thunderstorms that roll in during the afternoons. Unpredictability means I never get bored.

2. I'm especially happy about the rain because I was on-the-ball, and got my booty out to mow and fertilize beforehand. Although, I'm not sure why we wanted to fertilize because we're already mowing our lawn more than once a week. I'm already tired of it. And I LOVE mowing the lawn...

3. Marie's last day of preschool is tomorrow, which is just CRAZY to me, because that means she'll be starting kindergarten in the fall. I'm thanking my lucky stars that we only have half-day kindergarten. I'm not ready to lose my buddy.

4. Her latest obsession is racing - to the car, to the house, upstairs, to the playground, etc. But she only wants to race if she's going to win. If she falls behind, she calls a time-out until she's caught up, and can be sure the victory is hers!

5. Kyle had his first piano recital last night and rocked it. He was so nervous, and I felt so bad. I remember those awful pit-in-my-stomach feelings. But he faked it, and was so awesome. And he finished it off with an ultra-dramatic fist pump and bow at the end. So funny.

6. All of those amazing performances last night made me realize how much I miss the piano. And made me contemplate signing up for lessons myself. Until I remembered how much it costs. I like my iphone and gym membership more!

7. After a lazy winter of cabin fever, I've kicked my booty in gear again and started working out. Unfortunately, after a month, I see no difference. Boo. Guess my 4-month stint as a couch potato is going to take a little (lot??) more work. But on the bright side, I love feeling stronger again.

8. I just put the final coat of polyurethane on our newly refinished hardwood stairs. We lived with nasty carpet for 2 months before Kevin couldn't take it anymore and ripped it out one night. He had every intent of finishing it in a week. Three months later...

9. I've got to admit, they look pretty awesome now. We just had to make an agreement to no more home improvement projects until he's ready to take some time off of work. "Maybe we're not home improvement people," I said.

10. We're headed to Utah this week! Just a quick little trip, but we get to see everyone we love most in the world, so we're EXCITED. We love it here, but I'm pretty sure the west coast will always feel like home.

Excuses

I could come up with a million excuses and reasons why this blog is so neglected (crummy computer and moving into a new house to name a few...), but the fact remains: this blog is sad. And lonely. And in some desperate need of TLC. And the fact that I printed its address on my Christmas cards just makes it worse.

So until I put my life back together and stop running around, flying by the seat of my pants (I soooo do not thrive on chaos!), let me leave you with this bit of Christmas cheer:

This girls believes. She loved sitting on the Big Guy's lap, and was so concerned when we walked outside and she couldn't see any reindeer roaming around. Christmas with kids is so fun!

As a side note, she requested "a butterscotch pony and the Barbie cruiseship," neither of which we were planning on. So, the question remains: Do we take back what we've already purchased so we can fulfill her dreams? Do we make up some excuse why Santa didn't bring what she asked for? Both are $100 items, so it's like we can just add another little gift to the bounty.

Help?!