Duh-O!

Kind of funny. Probably a little more lame. In any case, I think the "Simpsonized" version of Angee looks kind of hot. Merry Christmas.

For Grandma Tanner

Lilly was so excited about those fairy ornaments we found in Embu, Brazil. I told her that you had asked us to send a picture of them on the tree. She wanted you to know that this tree (we have 2) is her special enchanted forest tree. I couldn't just take a close up. You needed to see her whole tree. It has acorns, a variety of butterflies, and of course fairies. She takes her new special purple fairy off the tree everyday to play with. She is so funny. She tells everyone about her enchanted tree. I am not sure where she picked up the word enchanted.
She decorated most of the tree and house herself. It looks a little funny but she is so in love with this holiday and decorating -I think whatever. And, she teared up because I hadn't put lights up outside. She just insisted we put lights up outside. I am not sure how to decorate rocks I told her. So we went outside and decided we could decorate the door. She just kept reminding me about how all the neighbors have lights and they really do. It is blow up snoopy, snowman, reindeer and flashing lights neighborhood. So, she stood next to me and held the lights while I decorated the door. She is a pretty determined 4 year old. No messing around. - I am not sure how to hang lights on cacti. Here is a picture of the ugly rock front yard for those of you who have never been to Arizona. Really, a lot off people have grass, but we are in a rental and it is low maintenance I guess. Good thing for all of the grassy bike trails, parks, and ponds in our neighborhood- where would we have a picnic.

P.S. We will sure miss you at Christmas.
P.P.S. I loved Julie's bath tub pictures -so I took some the other night. Of course, I was also entertaining my kids trying to make it to the end of the day. Tub time is great.

Part 1 of South America- first 4 days.

Don't cry for me Argentina...

Buenos Aires was beautiful. Dave did such a great job. He picked a wonderful hotel in a great location of the city and we did some pretty exciting things before we flew up to Brazil. The city's French architecture was gorgeous. This is a city with beautiful tree lined streets, ornate wrought iron fences, courtyards and magnificent buildings. I loved it. The original and old parts of the city, (La Boco and San Telmo) were still beautiful even though poverty and time had taken a toll on them. The newer parts of the city like La Recoleta (built in the last 100 years) were fabulous--Dave told me the city reminded him of Paris. He actually used his French there. Many people spoke it and it was fun to see him use it. The restaurants were so delicious and the shopping was awesome. It was a little too ritzy for me. I was hopping to buy a few things but decided against that and opted for some postage stamps found down in the Sunday open market of San Telmo. They will make a great framed reminder of Argentina.

Many people we met were very educated and spoke many languages. The majority of people living there immigrated in the 1900's from Europe--when the US shut their doors on immigration. A tour guide told us that the city was considered the 5th wealthiest city in the world in the 1920's--hence the beautiful architecture. Many of the government buildings and embassies were originally the homes of the wealthy before the Great Depression and WWII changed the economy. The majority of prominent families sold their homes at that time and emigrated to America. Which is too bad--the city was really a neat place.

We saw a tango show, a crazy soccer game, and toured many famous locations (Evita's tomb etc...) My favorite part of Argentina was a 4 hour bike tour--through San Telmos, La Boco (the slums famous for the tango), the water front, and the ecological reserve. It was a little tough biking on some of old cobblestones. I had a close call with a bus in one of the tight allies, but it all turned out o.k. It was good to bike through the city. We saw ordinary people going about their daily activities. Argentina was really a neat place to go and four days did not seem like a enough ...the truth is I never left you.

La Recoleta
Is a beautiful cosmopolitan neighborhood that bears the name of
the famous cemetery. Here in this cemetery there are
row after row of ornate mausoleums.

Here is Dave at the famous Pink Building. Which
symbolizes the marriage of the Red and White Political Parties.

We attended a tango show at Michelangelo's. This building
was first occupied by monks in the year 1601. It
was beautiful with bricks from floor to ceiling. Dinner
was yummy and the dancing was so good. I never knew
that the Tango was actually more about the music than the dance
It was all so awesome! The accordion players were great.

La Boco Soccer Game
Here we are going into the scariest sporting event I have
ever attended. The building actually rocked back and forth
which was caused by the crazy fans.
They sang (yelling) the entire time. Dave loved it.
It doesn't look crowded because we went early to get inside
before all the crazy fans came- we were told that
it could get a little hairy.

Trying to keep up with the 20-year old kids
on their bikes was a work out.

There are weirdo's every where!

In La Boco (Italian-slums)- here is the famous corner
where the Tango was invented/played.

Wonderful musicians could be found everywhere.




Here we are on our last day looking at the map of the
original city of Buenos Aries-(San Telmo)
The open market was festive.

picasa test

Free at last, free at last

It turns out that this Thanksgiving has become an Independence Day of sorts. While the rest of America gobbles down their Turkey (boy, am I clever), greedily gorging themselves into a Tryptophan-induced coma, I am waking up to the new freedom of now posting under my own name, yes, even Angee. For too long have I been forced to post under the name of Dave--glorious as it may be. Finally, you will see me in my full splendor. I am woman, hear me roar.

Not so fast

Last Sunday we were eating dinner when Lilly decided to show us how fast she was. Or rather that she was faster than a cheetah. Her chosen course went through the kitchen where Josie had been playing with a number of items from the cupboard, including a bowl, an open package of spaghetti noodles and a dozen or so cookie cutters. You can probably guess where this is going. I certainly wish I had. As Lilly sped through the mess, she suddenly screamed and she began to cry in that frantic manner every parent dreads. I leapt from the kitchen table, scooped her off the ground, and peeled back the hem of her dress to find a large flap of skin hanging from the back of her heel. I'm not sure, but I think it was either in the shape of a Halloween cat or a Thanksgiving turkey. In any case, it would eventually require 8 stitches to close.

This was the first time as I parent that I'd been tested by a medical emergency and while it made it sick to my stomach, I learned just what a wonderful, brave little girl I have. Only a couple minutes after it happened, Lilly, had already calmed herself down and had stopped crying. By the time we were in the car, you wouldn’t have even known there was a problem. Throughout the experience, Lilly did everything I asked her to do without complaint, even when she knew it was going to hurt. But what touched me the most was her response to incredible pain she felt when she was being given shots to numb the wound. As Lilly began screaming, she must have realized how loud and scary this was because her cries soon contained directions for us to “cover Josie’s ears.” I can’t tell you how proud it made me to see her concern for her sister during the most painful and, perhaps, scariest moment of her life. Being a dad is pretty good stuff.

Meet little Miss Trouble

She is a full blown crawler. The real deal. Forward and not stopping on Halloween. The easy baby life is all over. That is paint on her face. What next?

3 of 13

In the Turner family there are 16 grandchildren. 13 of them happen to be under the age of 6. Now that is a lot of little people when we get together. Of the 13 kids under the age of six, there are 10 boys and only 3 girls. I happen to have two of the three girls. So, one nice Sunday evening in October we took pictures. See the pretty purple Texas Sage- it blooms almost all year except (Jan-Feb) It is Lilly's favorite- It smells so good. Here are a few pictures of Mackenzie, Lillian and Josie.

Happy Halloween

Belle is ready to go

Bravely leading the way!


A little unsure and scared to knock!
But wait there is Cinderella all is well!

Playing out back

Some one ask for Rain?

I know this is late but August is terrible. It is hot and humid. It is like 115 degrees and 100 percent humidity. This summer there were 89 days over 100 and 36 over 110. I stopped watching the count down on the news. We have Monsoons that come from the Gulf of California (Mexico)-it is only 2 hours away. It is also only 4 hours to San Diego. You can't go out in August- except for brief moments like this after the storm has passed. Look at this puddle left over. Good thing school starts August 7th because August is a waste but October is heaven and we have a week off for fall break to enjoy it.

Do you need a ride?

Everyday I take Josie and Lilly on a little ride. We take Lilly to Pre-school on the bike (3mile round trip) and then we try to end the day with a little ride through the neighborhood or down to Aunt Tracie's house. It is really cute to look back at them in the trailer. Lilly is just chattering away and Josie sort of hums when I get going fast. It is finally in the low 90's and it is pleasant to be on a bike. Yippee!!!

B.Y.Whew!

Dave and I actually got away! Can I tell you that it didn't matter that it was a football game- it was just far away!

It wasn't just any football game according to the Tanner boys- right? UCLA vs BYU and all of them a little torn on who to root for. Anyways- Dave and I took a late flight from Phoenix to CA on Friday night and flew home Sunday morning. It was short but sweet. We had all of Saturday totally kid free. It was the first time in 17 months for me to be with out a little person. Seventeen months!!! That is a really long time to be an uninterrupted mom! To never have more than 3 hours to your self it hard. You mothers out there get it. To have uninterrupted sleep is heaven. To not be "the keeper of all pleasure and pain" as Collen would say. We left our kids with my wonderful sister. (I found out later that both of mine ended up in her bed.) Kirsten started the day with a fabulous homemade breakfast, Megan showed us around the mansions of the Rich & Famous on the way to Santa Monica (our meeting point), Dave's friend hooked us up with a limo ride to and from the game, and Kirsten finished the day for us at a great little cookie and ice cream place near UCLA. It was the most care free Saturday I can remember in the last 2 years. I slept in. I didn't have to feed, please, get after, or worry about anything. I sort of wish the game would have turned out different but it didn't matter much to me- I just sat on the bench, the entire time, and watched it undisturbed. It was fun!

Angee

B.Y.Whew-Continued

Sweet Potatoe Pie

Need I say more!

Rapunzel Rapunzel let down thy long hair!

"Oh mom how did you know I always wanted to be Rapunzel?" exclaimed Lilly. She is all drama. All dressed up and ready to go to her best friend's Princess Party. Check out her pose. Hats off to Aunt Suzy who picked out the costumes for us at her neighbor's Factory Outlet. (Dresses for something like $7) Anyways- the rest of the week was full of many thanks for the most beautiful purple dress ever- Ha! I got a few dresses saved for special occasions. You never know when you are going to be invited to attend a ball or have to let your hair down- right.

Angee

Lilly with her "juicy peach"

Lilly taking a break at the park with her baby sister Josie- better known as Juicy Peach. During the first month of Josie's life - Lilly insisted on calling her Juicy Peach. When asked what her new baby sister's name was, she would simple say Juicy. She told everyone at church, at preschool, and even the grocery store clerk all about her little sister Juicy Peach. Lilly's sunbeam teacher hesitantly asked me what the new baby's name was and just laughed her head off when I told her. She told us that she almost believed Lilly because Lilly was so put out that the teacher had kept asking her to repeat the name. She told me that Lilly got all huffy and said "I already told you her name is Juicy!" Here is Lilly rubbing her face on Josie- "She feels as soft as peach" is her usual comment. Josie is absolutely entertained by Lilly. Lilly is absolutely in love with her sister.

Welcome. Welcome.

Well, it's taken us forever to finally get a blog up, but I'm sure you'll admit that a few lines of copy and some blurry photos were well worth the wait. We certainly do. In any case, enjoy. We hope to do a much better job sharing our life with family and friends... starting... NOW.