Service for someone else.

This is my brother Aaron. He was homeless.



On Christmas Day this year, it will be 2 years since he has passed away.

Our family is putting together a Service Project for Christmas and we would love your help.

Many homeless people don't have warm jackets, socks, or blankets to give them some sort of comfort during the winter.

I know I often wonder how we can help, even if it feels small and insignificant. Well, if we all work together, we can make a big difference.

We are collecting coats, blankets, and new packages of socks. Any size, any color, anything is appreciated. We will collect the items and then we will take the donation and make it on behalf of my brother Aaron. (If you would like to go with us when we take the donation - sometime in December - we would love to have you come!)

If you are willing to donate, you can drop it off at my house or shoot me an email (nmturner50@hotmail.com) and I will come and pick it up.

Tis' the season to lighten someone else's burden.

Thank you in advance for your help.

****If you would like to donate in the Phoenix Area, please email me and I'll get you my mom's information. We are getting such a good response after only one day, we decided to make this a family tradition. My family is collecting is Arizona and we are collecting in Utah. ****

If you would still like to donate, and you cannot get us your donation, please just take your donation to your local homeless shelter. Please remember that EVERY homeless person is loved and wanted. They are someone's child, sibling, family.

Halloween 2009

Happy Halloween 2009!



This is Luke's BumbleBee mask. Not sure if he's in there or not, but I found this picture on my camera and I thought it was way cool!


Luke-BumbleBee, Alex-Optimus, Addy- Punk Pirate, B - Mix-n-Match, Noah - Whoopie Cushion. Great friends+ Candy+ Costumes= One Fun Night!!


Our carved pumpkins. Not too spectacular, but fun nonetheless! B's is up at the top, then Alex's, then Luke's. They all sketched out what they wanted and dad helped carve them.


My kiddos. Anticipating Halloween night!


Luke got to go with Kev to the parade at the kids school. He was pretty excited to wear his costume. He's sitting with some of his friends, waiting for the fun to start!


I don't know what the title of B's costume is...so I called her the Mix-n-Match. Tattoo sleeves, Orange shirt, and striped hair. (I hope it doesn't stick!)


Optimus Alex in the parade.


So I should get "Mom of the Year" award for this. We went out trick-or-treating and were going along having a great time. I looked at Luke's feet, as we were making our way down the last street on our way home. I couldn't figure out why he was walking so weird. Then I saw his shoes. The wrong feet. Awesome! I was really on top of things that night!!


We had so much fun on Halloween day. I met some of my friends on Lehi Main St and we did some trick-or-treating along the store fronts. Apparently this is a yearly tradition. It's the first time we've gone. It was fun. Maybe we'll make it one of our traditions. Then it was home for a bit. I made Taco Soup (which was so yummy!!) and our friends, the Allen's, came over. After filling up on dinner, we got the kids costumes on and out we went. My kids are crazy. They RAN from house to house. I could barely keep up! We got to our friends house - he's a fireman, and she's a police officer. I was saying to Rob and Simone that we should have the kids say, "my back cops, my back"! (It's a line from a movie!) Next thing I know, I can hear Luke saying it up at the door. I laughed so hard. Between the shoes on the wrong feet and that, we had a few good laughs. What a great night!!

Luke Turns "4"

My baby turned "4" on October 19th. What a fun day!! We did a lot that day. I was able to take the day off. Me and Kev took Luke to lunch, then we had a small friend party at the house. We played a crazy wild game of "Duck, Duck, Goose", and "Pin the nose on the Clown". We had dinosaur cupcakes and lots of fun toys!


Blowing out his cupcake with all this friends!


He got a new Tranformer, which he LOVES!


Luke and his friends.



THEN...it was off to the Skating Rink for some wild skating, more cake, and even more presents!


Uncle Wade, Aunt Julie and cousin Violet gave Luke this Hulk. Luke danced to it all night and is still playing with it! What a great gift. It does the "Hulky Polky"!!



Uncle Rob, Aunt Simone, and the Allen kids gave Luke this BumbleBee. It was fitting..since he was going to be BumbleBee for Halloween!



This is one of my most favorite pictures! Luke had been asking for the Wolverine Claw for ages. We kept telling him he may get it for his birthday. He was SO excited to open his bag and find this little beaut in the bag. I think it made his night.

He also got a new Spider Man bike from Aunty Deb and Uncle Paul and Nanny and Papa. He rides it almost everyday and he's getting very good at riding.

Happy Birthday my sweet boy. The last 4 years have gone by more quickly than I'd like. We love you!

Lagoon

The "Wicked" Survivors. (I volunteered to stay with Luke!!)




Alex: Dad, does that go upside down?
Kev: Don't know for sure.
Alex: Ok, I'll go.
After they are strapped in...
Kev: Well, it may go upside down.
Alex: Oh crap.
He went..he loved it..he went again! Way to go Alex!


Still walking around after 9 hours!! (Barely)


Because of this little lady...it's was the reason we actually went this year! Thanks for wanting to go with our family Linds. We had a great time with you!


Kev and his girl on the Big Pirate Ship.


"Thriller" came on the radio and B had to get to moves on!


The first ride of the day...this was a new one as well. Oh, the excitement!


Before Luke knew what he was riding, he was all smiles. He cried and wanted off once it got going. Needless to say, he stuck to the kiddie rides the rest of the day!



Me and Luke had our own photo shoot while the others were riding Wicked. He makes me laugh. We had fun!



Outside the "Spider". (My favorite ride!) The spider spits water. Luke thought it was awesome!


Everyone on the "Wild Mouse". I DETEST this ride, but the kids insist on going on it. I again, volunteered to stay with Luke. Alex did get me to go on it one time with him. (No one else would go again....now I remember why I really, really dislike this ride!!)


On the airplanes.


B and Alex were riding "Puff". I am such an awesome photographer!!


Luke on the planes. They loved that the guns made noise!



The Cars. They boys LOVED this one!



Odessy. B and Alex were the only ones that wanted to ride it. They love it, we don't. You get wet. As long as they had fun!

Thanks Aunt Sharon and Bop for the tickets. We had such a fun time and made some more great memories! We loved having Lindsy come with us and B had a ride-partner for everything!

We are sooooo lucky.

The Witches

Ahh, the Witches.....



This Witch came right up to us just as we went into Gardner Village. The kids were a little freaked out by her, but once she started talking to them, they warmed up and really liked her. The fun part about going to Gardner Village during Halloween time is all the amazing Witches they have all around the park. It was awesome to see and I love seeing the wonder on their faces as they find a new one. I think our favorite is the "Witchy Poo". She was in an outhouse sitting on the toilet. I thought I got a picture of her, but I guess I didn't. We laughed and went back to check her out again before we left. (The witches posted around the Village are fake, just FYI!!!)



In the beginning....


This is one of my favorite pictures. I laugh every time I see it. I told the boys to be afraid of the big spider behind them... cracks me up!





The kids wanted to get their hair painted. Luke got green with a black strip on his mohawk. B did red and black stripes with lots of glitter. (I think she left 1/2 of it in the back on Lindsy's rental car!!) Alex wanted just black. Made me laugh because he looked like he just had a black helmet on his head. I kept doing a double take.


Luke with the "Witch with the really big boobs"...as my kids called her!


B


My kids are awesome. We had a GREAT time and I am so glad Lindsy wanted to go see the Witches. Otherwise, I am not sure we would have gone this year. It was so fun and we all had a great laugh. We ate yummy food from the bakery and me and Linds got some fake eyelashes put on. We looked pretty dang hot. Of course, I didn't get any pictures of us looking smokin' hot! After about 5 hours with them on though, we both got so sick of having them on...we had to rip those bad dogs off!

A fun time was had by all. We missed Kev...he had to work. Maybe next year...

Linds Trip

My friend Lindsy came up for a visit. What a fun time we had!! We did A LOT while she was here. We barely sat for 5 minutes at a time. But what we did do...was make some wonderful memories that me and the kids will cherish always!!

First up, we did Park City.


We look exactly like we did in High School!!!! ;)



Lindsy with the boys in front of Bridal Veil Falls.



Me and my boys! (B was with her friend)



The boys were so good while we were shopping. What great friends.



Because they were so good while we were shopping, they got to raid Lindsy's wallet and took ALL her quarters to ride some rides before the ride home.

We had a great time!

Happy Birthday Luke

Happy Birthday Luke!

My little man is 4 today. I took the day off and me and Kev took him to Chili's for a special birthday lunch. We had a nice time. Yesterday we spent the day at Lagoon. Today is a little party with some friends, dino-cupcakes, and then off to the skating rink for some good ol' fun times and cake with the family.

Happy Birthday Luke. You are getting so big, so fast. We love you!