I went to Time Out for Women in Denver. It was so much fun and I got to spend some time with a former Ricks room mate. Tim and I went skiing and I actually had fun. I hadn't been skiing in over 12 years but Tim was a good sport and we stuck to the beginner hills and had a great time together.

The girls had 2 snow days and were happy for the break from school. It was a big storm! Tim came home early from work and couldn't get his car all the way up the driveway because of all the snow. He had to dig out the window wells because so much snow had been blown into them. There were big drifts everywhere. The girls loved playing in the snow, but it was really cold and windy and they didn't last long outside.



We went to Utah for spring break. The weather wasn't much better in Utah than it was in Colorado but we had a great time. We loved staying in Ginny's condo and remembered our happy memories with her. After the General YW broadcast the girls stood on Ginny's balcony and waved at the young women and their mothers as they left the Conference Center. They were so excited when they would point and wave back.

We hiked the "Y" and the girls did a great job. Tim carried Laura in a backpack and the girls were thrilled to see how high they had climbed when we came back down.
Girls at the top of the Y.



It was nice day and we even got a little sun burnt. We spent a day in Provo driving around and visiting old apartments. We ate ice cream at the BYU creamery, it was yummy. We also walked around BYU campus and of course we ate at Los Hermanos.

We went to the Dinosaur Museum and the girls had so much fun it was hard to get them to leave. The 3D movie about dinosaurs was great but it really scared Laura.

We also visited the Beehive House, the Joseph Smith building, Temple Square and the Church History Museum. We even got to visit with Mom and Dad before we left. It was a great trip and we had a lot of fun.

Girls at Temple Square.

Time out for Women

I went to Time out for Women in Denver. It was so fun and the talks were wonderful! It was just what I needed. I even got to see a former Ricks College room mate!

February

The girls had a fun Valentines Day at school. They all wanted Prince Caspian valentines to give out this year. Gone are the days of princesses and ponies. Tim and I attended the annual Adult Stake Valentines Dance. I took pictures again and Tim and I danced too, it was a lot of fun.



For president’s day we went to the indoor city pool. The girls were so excited to go swimming again. They all went down the water slide; even Laura went down with Daddy. We stayed for hours and finally left when Laura’s lips started turning blue.



Laura seems to be improving so they will not do further tests right now. Rachel was able to participate in a Tech Fair for school. Their team took second place for elementary age students. She really wanted me to include a picture of her with her glasses in the newsletter. Sarah and Emily completed the first half of the national assessment tests this week. They both said they felt like they did well. We'll just have to go with that for now since we don't get all the results back until September.



I reported for Jury duty but wasn't selected in the final group. It was amazing how many questions they ask you. It was kind of a cross between a blind date and a job interview. The court system is very interesting and I learned a lot. The lady helping with the interior decorating is still not quite finished so I don't have pictures yet, but I will soon.

We enjoyed the holiday break but are also glad it is over. It has been so windy here this month it reminds me of Idaho winds. One night it was almost 90 mph and it just shook the whole house. We are thankful for some snow this week since it has been a very dry winter.

I took some family pictures for a lady in our stake over the holidays. We are trading pictures for interior decorating. It has been a lot of work but also a lot of fun to see the transformation of the living room, kitchen and family room. It will probably be another few weeks before everything is done so you will have to wait for next month’s newsletter to see some pictures. The girls now want their rooms repainted too. Rachel says she is “done with pink.”

Laura continues to have random stomach pains and now her blood testes indicate a possible gluten allergy. More tests may follow. We hope to find a solution soon that will help her feel better.

We had parent teacher conferences and the girls are doing well in school. They all dressed up for Retro Day at school. Rachel was an archer from Prince Caspian, Sarah was a pioneer and Emily just wanted to be herself with braids.

Rachel and I read Inkheart and went to the movie; it was a fun night for just her and Mom. The girls love to bowl on Wii and kept asking when we could go bowling. When we finally went as a family they learned it is a lot harder to bowl at a bowling alley than on the Wii.

Merry Christmas!

We are so thankful for all that we have been blessed with this year. We love this time of year when hearts are turned towards each other and towards Christ. We are so thankful for: the Savior, family, scriptures, the gospel, temples, freedom, friends, good music and good food.

Tim moved onto a new project at work in April that focused on cancer. That project died last week so he is back on his old project in diabetes. He attended several conferences for work this year and was able to visit Boston and Florida. He still enjoys his calling in the Elder’s Quorum presidency at church. To celebrate their 13th anniversary Tim and Carolyn went to Hawaii. It was a wonderful trip and we were happy to spend the time together.

Carolyn is busy with the girls and all their activities. She updated her website and business is booming. www.carolynturnerphotography.com. She has recently been called as the ward choir director. It is a fun but challenging calling. She is also participating in a local women’s choir called Triple Trio. It is a fun group of women that performs at church and community functions.

Rachel is in 5th grade and is looking forward to attending middle school next year. She got glasses and was so excited to pick out the frames herself. She suffered a broken finger in September due to an accident involving a chunky heeled Sunday shoe, an angry sister and some stomping. She had to have it taped to the finger next to it for a month but it seems to have healed without any lasting problems. She enjoys participating in an after school choir called, Kid-Zing. She will play the harp in church during the Christmas program.

Sarah is in 3rd grade and has started taking violin lessons. She was baptized after her 8th birthday. She enjoys attending activity days at church with Rachel and Emily. Sarah loves to go the Denver Science Museum to see the dinosaurs.

Emily was also baptized by her father in August and we are so proud of both of the girls for making such an important decision. Emily is playing the flute and also takes piano lessons along with her older sisters. Emily loves 3rd grade and has made many friends this year.

Laura is two and so the world revolves around her. She started nursery at church and loves to sing, play and eat “nacks.” Laura still sucks her two fingers on her left hand but has added piggy painting. What is piggy painting you might ask; she holds her piggy tail with her right hand, while still sucking her fingers on her other hand, and proceeds to “paint” whatever she can reach with her “piggy paint brush.”



We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Love,
The Turners

November 2008

We finally had some snow last night and the girls were so excited. They made a snowman which they named, “Snowy.” Snowy must be tired because she keeps falling over, after three tries to keep her upright they just left her there to rest.

Rachel had a harp recital and played Silent Night. Mom sang along with her and Rachel did a great job accompanying her. The girls all love their instruments and it sounds like an orchestra warming up when they are all practicing at once.

Laura is acting like a 2 year old. Her most often used phrases include: “I do it, mine mine mine and A-ha!” She can be a naughty girl but she always keeps us laughing. One night we had the missionaries over. We all sat on the couches as they shared a scripture with us. Laura pulled her stool, that she uses to get into everything, behind the couch. Suddenly she popped up from behind the couch with her arms above her head and yelled, “TA-DAH!” Everyone, including the missionaries, thought it was pretty funny.



Tim and I went to the BYU vs. CSU football game. It was an exciting game and BYU won! It was uncomfortable and a little scary when several of the angry CSU fans around us became more and more drunk as the game progressed. It made me so thankful that I had the opportunity to go to BYU and enjoy the uplifting atmosphere there.




I ran the Turkey Trot, 10k race. I did much better than I did in April but I still can’t seem to run it in under an hour. 1 hr and 8 minutes was my time. I uploaded my new website and was thrilled with the way it looks. www.carolynturnerphotography.com.

Tim has been busy putting up closet shelves in the basement. It is so nice to open and closet and see where things are now. Tim winterized the lawn but we didn’t take daylight saving into account. He had to use the shop lights to help him do some evening mowing.



Thanksgiving dinner was great and we stopped by to see Tim’s family for pie later than day. The girls have been home from school all week and have enjoyed sleeping in and playing all day. We hope you all have a Merry Christmas.

Is October over already?

Hawaii was fabulous! It was such a wonderful vacation. We were so thankful that my Mom came to watch over our girls while we were gone. We went to Maui for 3 days and Oahu for 2 days. We loved visiting the Polynesian Cultural Center and the Hawaii temple. We also went snorkeling and took a helicopter tour. It was so beautiful on our drive to Hana. Tim even tried surfing. It was a wonderful trip and now want to go back again someday.

Tim went to a conference in Boston this month. He said he went to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Museum and said it was quite interesting. He walked down to the Chinatown district and had some Malaysian food. He ate a "Buddhist yam" which was pretty good. He also had his fill of muscles at a seafood place.

I went my mission reunion and the Saturday sessions of conference. What a wonderful opportunity. I had never attended conference in the Conference Center before. It was fun to see Mom and Lindsey there too. I have finally gotten caught up from taking High School Senior pictures and attended an entrepreneur workshop done by the church. It was very helpful and I am learning how to do the business part of a business. I conducted our first ward choir number on Sunday. I was pretty nervous but it went well.

Laura has had some health problems this month but seems to be doing better now. Sarah has started violin and seems to be enjoying it so far. Emily is doing quite well with the flute and Rachel hopes to be ready to play Silent Night on the harp in church this December. They all continue to progress in piano.

The girls had fun at trunk or treat. They all dressed up as Harry Potter characters. Laura was a black cat, Tim was a vampire and I was a witch. We didn’t intentionally mean to look so “gothic.” When we were trying to teach Laura to say trick or treat, I asked her what you say before people give you candy, she said, “I want CANDY!” Uh. We fixed that and now she loves to say, Trick or Treat. The girls had lots of fun trick or treating and Tim and I wish there wasn't so much candy in the house.