Spring Break Fun and Where Did I Put that Shot Gun?

Last week was Spring Break. We didn't go out of town, but sure did a lot to keep us busy and content all week.


One day we had warm weather and the girls put the pool to good use. They even got the "tidal wave" going... (warning: this video could make you nauseous!)


One day they went bowling and lunched with Grandpa Carpenter.


Tiffany carrying around the bowling ball....watch your toes! (ouch!)



Grandpa had to sit out due to a previous bowling injury...so he was designated to be Tiffany's helper. They did quite well together.

Brianne went to throw the ball down the lane...however, it ended up flying backwards towards the crowd! Oops! Boy, was she surprised.

Finally, she got the ball rolling the correct direction...this is her SUCCESS dance.

One day the girls and I headed to the Woodlands Mall. We decided to finally spend their Christmas gift cards and give Tiffany her first ride on the Carousel. She loved it!

Shopping for sunglasses...

During Spring Break, it seemed like Brianne was never home. She always had a play date or a sleepover some where. One night Tiffany was really missing Brianne, so Caitlin and Courtney had a sleepover in their room with Tiffany. Here are the pics of her first sleepover.

They watched a movie, told stories and played Sorry until midnight.

Tiffany surprised all of us one morning and got up and made her own bed! Nice job Tipper!

Ice cream with Grandpa.

One day we had friends over and worked on our Young Women's Personal Progress. Here we are making pizzas.

Yes, that's a guy in the photo... he is Victoria's "I swear Mom, we are just friends" friend. (hee-hee...where is that shot gun?) ;)

Playing "Snarf".

Brianne and her friends out swimming and sunbathing while the others did Personal Progress.

One afternoon, the twins received a text message. It said,"we are outside, in front of your house." They looked at me and giggled. I said,"You are not going out there. You are going to make them walk up to the front door and knock!" haha, I am so mean. But, hey I want my daughters treated with respect. The boys soon did come knock and then they all went to the back yard to "Hang out". Again, where is my shotgun? haha! ;) Oh, I am so not ready for this boy stuff! Oh well, here it comes. I guess I had better go down to Lowe's and pick out a comfy chair cushion for Ron's and my rockers.

Ron's Birthday!

It was Ron's big day last week! What fun we had celebrating with him!

One of things I married into, was the making of the honorable Turner Family Birthday Red Velvet Cake. If you were anything like me....I said, "what's a red velvet cake?" I swear all I remember was his entire family standing there with their mouths wide open, in complete shock, staring at me because I didn't know what a red velvet cake was! (I also had a few more of these experiences with his family....like when they discovered I didn't know what a Dairy Queen Dilly Bar was, I didn't know what a K-Mart Blue Light Special was, and when they discovered I put ketchup on my tacos! Yeah, I didn't blend in well with his family.) Well, each year I try to make this stinkin' cake for his birthday and it just doesn't come out right. Personally, I think Grandmas, "Oh so wonderful" cake tastes like play dough! (Ya, you heard me right Turners. I am sure there are mouths wide open right now.) A few years ago, I discovered Duncan Hines makes a Red Velvet cake mix! Wow, was I ever excited! No more playdough cake for my family!
Unfortunately, I found out that, the cake mix just wasn't what Grandma made. So, back to square one I went. So after much study and probably a little luck...waa-laa, this is what a created and "I'm just saying" it is the best one I've ever made. Best meaning it had a nice shape, color, texture and the icing wasn't sliding off. (PS I still think it tastes like playdough. Possibly, if I add a little ketchup to the cake, it may taste better. Oh pick your jaws up off the floor.) LOL.







The fire was so hot, it began to melt the icing.




This is one of the gifts he recieved. The story of Hewlett Packard (HP).

She Does it Again...

Victoria had another track meet last week. Out of 4 schools and 16 girls, she threw for 1st place in shot put! Nice job Tori!

Grandma Carpenter's Birthday Party!

On March 1st, my Mother celebrated her 67th birthday with her favorite, BBQ ribs and cake. Here are a few pictures of the festivities. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

They brought her the wrong order...oops, I don't think this little lady can eat this many ribs! We all laughed and laughed.

She was determined to have as many candles as could fit on the cake...

Check out the smoke! LOL!

A First Time for Everything...Even a Stake Dance!

Nothing like hearing the hair spray can spraying, the make-up flying through the air into and out of the basket and smelling the many ounces of perfume! Alas, it must be my oldest daughter getting ready for her first stake dance!

Tori turned 14 back in September but kept telling me "there was no way she was going to go to a stake dance". I kept telling her how much fun they were and that she would have a blast!

WELL, she finally believes me! She and the Mia Maids went together last night (Thank you Kelsey!) and Tori had a great time! Now, she is counting down the days until the next Stake Dance! So, to my sweet teenager....I told you so! (I love that phrase. ;-)

Shotput & Discus Queen

Victoria had a great track meet last night. She took 1st place in Shot put and 2nd place in discus. She just barely missed 1st place in discus by an smidgen! There were three schools competing and I have to brag, I think she had the best form out of all of the girls! :) Way to go Victoria, AKA Vinnie! xoxo


Here she is getting ready to throw the shot put.

Getting ready to throw the discus.

winding up...

Happiness....it was a great throw!

She came home today sportin' a Gold metal and a Silver metal!

Jumping for joy!

Here is a clip of her second "beastly" throw of the discus...

Yes...It SNOWED again in Houston!

Alright...I feel like someone is just teasing us. The weatherman said, possibly an inch of snow would fall around our city and all that fell from the sky were a few snow flurries and nothing accumulated on the ground. The kids just want to make a snowman, maybe a snow angel? Is that so much to ask? Oh well, the flurries were fun while they lasted. I let the kids stay outside late last night to play under the street lights as it "flurried". I was hoping that ice would form and school would be delayed. Well, no ice this morning, just cranky kids and buses ran on schedule.

The kids did ask an interesting question..."Why is it the year we build a pool, it is cold in February and not warm?" Ti's true, typically here in Houston, in February it begins to warm up and Spring begins to break through. In the 13 years I have been here, I can only think of one other year this cold weather like this winter has occurred. So...sorry kids. The hot, humid, sizzling summer will be here soon. Then you will be begging for this cold, cold weather again! Grass is always greener eh?!

Valentine's Day and the "Surprise Package"!

Around our home, we love, love, love Valentines Day! Each year we like to remember each other with cards and small gifts to express our love for each other. We even enjoy baking cookies and treats to take to neighbors and friends. Here are a few pics of our Valentine's Day!

Each of the girls received a pretty heart necklace and the family had a special breakfast. Ron took all of his women out for a special Valentines dinner! Thanks Ron, it was delicious!

We also received a package in the mail from Grandma and Grandpa Avery. It was so sweet of them to send Valentines and candy. The funny part of this story that I'd like to share is how this package arrived.

The mailman walked up to out front door and very apologetically handed me this package. He said,"I am so sorry, I am not sure what happened to your package, but we think this is blood all over it." They had cautiously wrapped the package in plastic to keep their hands clean....(gross!) but lucky me, I got to unwrap it and take out the contents! Luckily, whatever the red stuff was, did not bleed through.

So, my question is...who was poor postal worker lost a finger in the post office machinery? After opening the package, I threw it in the garage garbage can. I took a look at it the day after and the coloring had dried dark (like blood). EW! We will never know what it was, but hey, it sure made for a memorable Valentine's package! Thanks Grandma Avery! :)