My oh My that is quite the hike. It took us 5 1/2 hours to peak. Justin had a crazy idea to go off on a trail of his own so we were climbing boulders, sliding on steep dirt paths, and scaling cliff like structures with an eight year old and 6 year old child. Are we CRAZY or what. Anyway it was a little scary at times. I was just scared for the kids. The kids were amazing troopers. The total hike took us 10 hours. We started at about 9 a.m. and got done at 7 p.m. My husband is a goer so he kept us going. I think I slid and fell at least 10 to 20 times. Our backsides were all dirty from sliding down steep dirt inclines and I am surprised that my pants are in one piece after sliding down slick rock also. It was a definite adventure and very cool to see the world from the top of a high peak. It was worth all the blisters on my feet and the pain I feel in my legs. Would I do it again? I will have to think about that for awhile.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Can you believe this kid is 9
Mackay now
Wasn't he such a cute little guy(Mackay at 7 months, I think)
Happy Birthday Mackay! It is really hard for me to believe that Mackay is 9 years old.
Things we love about Mackay:
His laugh
His smile
His attitude about life
He is loving
Loves to give hugs
Compliments people
Makes others feel better when they are hurt or down
He tries to work hard at school
He loves making people smile and laugh
Is getting better at playing the piano
There are many more
We so appreciate that he has come into our life and helps us to learn and grow while on this earth. We just hope we can do our best as his parents in teaching him and loving him.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Frustrations...
This past Thursday I decided that I would go to the School Board Meeting to support my friends and teachers on the upcoming decisions that were to be made about the school district in our area. I realize that that may have been a mistake because it kind of made me angry. I don't get frustrated or angry very often, but when it comes the the welfare of my children and family a monster within me tends to come out.
Anyway, this problem comes from way higher than our school district. It comes from our government needing to make changes and cuts in their budget. I understand that cuts need to be made but why not on some other program. I believe that the children should come first. They are our future and we need to build them up, help them to learn and grow, and also help them to feel loved. Sometimes and for some kids this only happens at school (and not with every teacher either). I have been very lucky in that my kids thus far have had very good nurturing, loving, and kind teachers. I know they love the kids and can see that they do by their actions and teaching styles. I am really thankful for this.
Anyway, back to the Board Meeting. Teachers, Parents, and others were pleading for the board to not lay off teachers, not increase class sizes (especially at the kindergarten level), and not get rid of certain programs that will increase kids life skills. Well, all of that was ignored and 8 elementary teachers will lose their jobs, class sizes are going to increase, the High School will no longer have a Home EC. course or auto shop, and foreign languages will be cut by 1/3. Also the Middle Schools will now share a Vice Principal (who is the key disciplinary figure at the school).
Sorry about my ranting and raving, but I just don't find it right to make cuts when they have already made so many. I think that they should just cut the pay of the higher ups, it would bring a lot of money to the table. My point is, why have a Board Meeting if you are not going to even listen to the people and consider things. They had their minds made up before the meeting and all was said and done.
Anyway, this problem comes from way higher than our school district. It comes from our government needing to make changes and cuts in their budget. I understand that cuts need to be made but why not on some other program. I believe that the children should come first. They are our future and we need to build them up, help them to learn and grow, and also help them to feel loved. Sometimes and for some kids this only happens at school (and not with every teacher either). I have been very lucky in that my kids thus far have had very good nurturing, loving, and kind teachers. I know they love the kids and can see that they do by their actions and teaching styles. I am really thankful for this.
Anyway, back to the Board Meeting. Teachers, Parents, and others were pleading for the board to not lay off teachers, not increase class sizes (especially at the kindergarten level), and not get rid of certain programs that will increase kids life skills. Well, all of that was ignored and 8 elementary teachers will lose their jobs, class sizes are going to increase, the High School will no longer have a Home EC. course or auto shop, and foreign languages will be cut by 1/3. Also the Middle Schools will now share a Vice Principal (who is the key disciplinary figure at the school).
Sorry about my ranting and raving, but I just don't find it right to make cuts when they have already made so many. I think that they should just cut the pay of the higher ups, it would bring a lot of money to the table. My point is, why have a Board Meeting if you are not going to even listen to the people and consider things. They had their minds made up before the meeting and all was said and done.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
World Wide Web
We have been without the web for over a week and while we were without it I felt so disconnected with the world. The web has become such an important part of my life that I really didn't realize how much I used it until I couldn't use it. Anyway this is what I use the world wide web for:
Scrapbooking ideas
News
Keeping in touch with others (facebook, blogging, email...)
Recipes (I am too lazy to look them up in a cook book so I just google and pick a 5 star recipe)
Answers to many questions that I have
Spelling corrections (http://www.dictionary.com/)
Creative ideas to do for the kids and hubby
Genealogy
Movies
And oh so much more...
I did survive and actually did some things around the house that I needed to do, but boy am I glad to have this part of my life back up and running.
Also on that note we have switched over to voice over IP so our home phone has been cancelled, sorry for the inconvenience if you have tried to get ahold of us. This was also a big head ache because we cancelled the phone we had no way of contacting people because our cell minutes were also low. crazy! I won't go into my frustrations with Verizon at this moment, or ever because it was just too frustrating.
All is good now! Hooray!
Scrapbooking ideas
News
Keeping in touch with others (facebook, blogging, email...)
Recipes (I am too lazy to look them up in a cook book so I just google and pick a 5 star recipe)
Answers to many questions that I have
Spelling corrections (http://www.dictionary.com/)
Creative ideas to do for the kids and hubby
Genealogy
Movies
And oh so much more...
I did survive and actually did some things around the house that I needed to do, but boy am I glad to have this part of my life back up and running.
Also on that note we have switched over to voice over IP so our home phone has been cancelled, sorry for the inconvenience if you have tried to get ahold of us. This was also a big head ache because we cancelled the phone we had no way of contacting people because our cell minutes were also low. crazy! I won't go into my frustrations with Verizon at this moment, or ever because it was just too frustrating.
All is good now! Hooray!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Sunday's Breakfast 2
This morning my kids begged for to have this for breakfast so its not something we haven't ever had before, but is one of our favorites:
Monkey Bread
Ingredients:
4 cans refrigerated biscuits (I make my own from scratch)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 sticks butter
(3/4 cup)1/2 cup white sugar
2 Tablespoons cinnamon
1/2 cup raisins (these are optional, it's great with or without them) I opt out - don't like cooked raisins -yuck!
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9-10 inch tube pan.
2. Mix white sugar and cinnamon in a medium sized plastic bag. Cut the biscuits into halves or quarters and place six to eight biscuit pieces in the sugar cinnamon mix. Shake well.
3. Arrange pieces in the bottom of the greased pan. Continue layering until all the biscuit pieces are coated and in the pan. If you are using raisins, place them among the biscuit pieces as you are layering.
4. In a small saucepan, melt the butter with the brown sugar over medium heat. Boil for 1 minute. Pour over the layered biscuits.
5. Bake for 35 minutes. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a plate. Pull apart and enjoy!
Icing:
Ingredients:
1/2 pound cream cheese
1/2 pound butter
1 pound powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon juice
I don't make the frosting, they are way too sweet anyways, thats probably why my kids like them so much.
Directions:
1.Allow cream cheese and butter to get to room temperature.
2. Beat butter and cream cheese together in a large bowl with a mixer.
3. Slowly add in the pound of powdered sugar.
4. After all the powdered sugar is added mix for 12 minutes (do not mix less than that).
5. When almost done, add in the extract and lemon juice.
I have not made this one, but may try it in the future.
Neiman Marcus Monkey Bread
Ingredients:
1 1/2 compressed yeast cakes
1 cup milk
4 Tablespoons sugar
1 Tablespoon salt
1/2 cup butter, melted plus melted butter for dipping
3 1/2 cups flour, sifted
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Place milk in heavy bottomed pan on low heat. Stir occasionally until small bubbles appear around the edges of the pan and milk is just hot (do not boil).Remove from heat; let cool slightly.
3. Place yeast and scalded milk in a large bowl. When yeast is dissolved, stir in sugar, salt and butter. Add flour; beat well.
4. Cover and allow dough to rise to almost double (approximately 45 minutes).
5. After dough has risen, turn out onto lightly floured work surface. Punch down and roll out to 1/4 inch thickness.
6. Cut into 2" diamond shaped pieces. Dip each piece in melted butter.
7. Arrange the pieces in a 4" pie pan, 4 or 5 overlapping pieces per loaf. Allow to rise for 1/2 hour.
8. Bake 30 to 40 minutes or until brown. Remove from oven and brush with more of the melted butter.
Monkey Bread
Ingredients:
4 cans refrigerated biscuits (I make my own from scratch)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 sticks butter
(3/4 cup)1/2 cup white sugar
2 Tablespoons cinnamon
1/2 cup raisins (these are optional, it's great with or without them) I opt out - don't like cooked raisins -yuck!
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9-10 inch tube pan.
2. Mix white sugar and cinnamon in a medium sized plastic bag. Cut the biscuits into halves or quarters and place six to eight biscuit pieces in the sugar cinnamon mix. Shake well.
3. Arrange pieces in the bottom of the greased pan. Continue layering until all the biscuit pieces are coated and in the pan. If you are using raisins, place them among the biscuit pieces as you are layering.
4. In a small saucepan, melt the butter with the brown sugar over medium heat. Boil for 1 minute. Pour over the layered biscuits.
5. Bake for 35 minutes. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a plate. Pull apart and enjoy!
Icing:
Ingredients:
1/2 pound cream cheese
1/2 pound butter
1 pound powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon juice
I don't make the frosting, they are way too sweet anyways, thats probably why my kids like them so much.
Directions:
1.Allow cream cheese and butter to get to room temperature.
2. Beat butter and cream cheese together in a large bowl with a mixer.
3. Slowly add in the pound of powdered sugar.
4. After all the powdered sugar is added mix for 12 minutes (do not mix less than that).
5. When almost done, add in the extract and lemon juice.
I have not made this one, but may try it in the future.
Neiman Marcus Monkey Bread
Ingredients:
1 1/2 compressed yeast cakes
1 cup milk
4 Tablespoons sugar
1 Tablespoon salt
1/2 cup butter, melted plus melted butter for dipping
3 1/2 cups flour, sifted
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Place milk in heavy bottomed pan on low heat. Stir occasionally until small bubbles appear around the edges of the pan and milk is just hot (do not boil).Remove from heat; let cool slightly.
3. Place yeast and scalded milk in a large bowl. When yeast is dissolved, stir in sugar, salt and butter. Add flour; beat well.
4. Cover and allow dough to rise to almost double (approximately 45 minutes).
5. After dough has risen, turn out onto lightly floured work surface. Punch down and roll out to 1/4 inch thickness.
6. Cut into 2" diamond shaped pieces. Dip each piece in melted butter.
7. Arrange the pieces in a 4" pie pan, 4 or 5 overlapping pieces per loaf. Allow to rise for 1/2 hour.
8. Bake 30 to 40 minutes or until brown. Remove from oven and brush with more of the melted butter.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Another Cowboy joins the Roundup in the sky...
On February 8th at 5 a.m. we received a devastating call from our nephew telling us that our beloved father, father-in-law, and grandfather had passed away after collapsing in his bedroom after showering to get ready for work. He had fallen in the shower and asked his wife if he had a bump on the back of his head. He then took two steps and fell to the floor. Justin's mom tried to do CPR on him and then called for the paramedics who claimed he was dead when they arrived. This came as a shock to all of the Turner Family and we left the next day to be with family until Funeral arrangements could be made.
Grandpa Turner was also known as the "Fire Grandpa" He was great to take the kids and us on fabulous adventures in the hills and mountains that surrounded Parowan, Utah. On every adventure he would build a big or small fire depending where they were. Sometimes they would cook Ramen or hot dogs or marshmallows on these fires, thus he was nicknamed the fire grandpa by our son Tyler. Tyler though grandpa was the best and would stick by his side whenever we visited. We are so grateful for the great memories that were created with grandpa.
On Friday February 12th Grandpa Jim's Funeral was held in a church in Parowan right on Main Street. The night before a viewing was held and so many people came that they stayed an extra hour and a half later than planned. The viewing the next day also had many come and we had to close the door on some so we could have the Family Prayer and start the Funeral. Justin gave a beautiful Family Prayer and the Funeral was very nice. We loved hearing about memories of this great man. He served as Highway Patrolman for 20 years, and county police officer, as Chief of Security at Southern Utah University, and recently as a bailiff for Iron County. He loved working as a Peace Officer and influenced many to pursue jobs to do the same. When asked what he did for a living he would say, "I catch bad guys"
Grandpa Turner was an honest, humble, patient, and loving man. We knew he loved us and loved spending time with the family. He was a cowboy at heart and loved trucks and guns. We had him carried to the cemetery in his favorite truck, because we knew that is what he would have wanted. They also buried him in his new black boots. All the grand kids wrote notes to him and stuck them in the casket along with a bag of jelly beans and a few other snack, he loved his sweets.
Jim Turner was loved by many and as you can see many came to his funeral and to the cemetery to bid him farewell. Many of these people were Peace Officers from all over. It was incredible to see so many officers at the cemetery when we got there. Many of our nephews carried the casket. The policemen and highway patrolmen that were present lined on both sides and saluted as the casket we first carried from the church and then again at the cemetery.
Jim Turner was loved by many and as you can see many came to his funeral and to the cemetery to bid him farewell. Many of these people were Peace Officers from all over. It was incredible to see so many officers at the cemetery when we got there. Many of our nephews carried the casket. The policemen and highway patrolmen that were present lined on both sides and saluted as the casket we first carried from the church and then again at the cemetery.
 |
| From 2010 Feb G Jims Funeral |
Grandma Turner was presented with the flag that was placed over the casket
after the Utah Highway Patrolmen folded it.
 |
| From 2010 Feb G Jims Funeral |
Grandpa was also given a gun salute by 7 Highway patrolmen shooting 3 rounds each. He loved that I am sure.
 |
| From 2010 Feb G Jims Funeral |
My father-in-law will be missed so much by our family, but we are so grateful for the knowledge that we will see him again someday. He always wanted to go on a mission and now his is doing just that. We love you very much and will try to live our lives that best we can so we can all be together again some day.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Amazing Evening for an Amazing Race
Okay, I was thinking of writing my own post for this, but my friends did such a great job, and since they have all of the creativity in writing and had the means to take the pictures I will just direct you to their posts. It was an amazing evening and soooooooo much fun! I definitely want to do it again. Creative Dates are the best! Anyway go to http://n8swife.blogspot.com/2010/02/amazing-race-valenitines-edition-2010.html and http://meganhallpass.blogspot.com/2010/02/of-lovers-and-grave-robbers.html
So to sum up: fantastic food, fun friends, fabulous entertainment, and just and all around freakin' amazing evening. Thank you, Thank you all!
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