Christmas Eve! Santa Arrives and Mommy and Kenden Feed Santa's Reindeer Before Bedtime!

Kenden was super excited about Santa this year, so we decided to NOT tell him all day on Christmas Eve that Santa was coming that night, for fear that he would be so wound up that he wouldn't nap during the day or sleep that night. We had such a nice day hanging out at the house, taking gifts to the neighbors and wrapping last minute gifts. That evening, Kenden and I went out on the front lawn and fed Santa's Reindeer! We sprinkled food on the lawn, and Kenden had a ball throwing the food.





Here are some pics of the den after Santa had arrived! I love the ones of the tree with no flash...

Turner Christmas Celebration: December 22, 2007

Kenden, Amanda, and Kristen



This year, we celebrated Christmas with Jeff's side of the family at our home a bit early, on the 22nd of December. We also celebrated our nephew Brandon's 15th Birthday. His real birthday is Christmas Day! We all gathered here at the house for food, fun and presents. Unfortunately because my camera battery was dead as a doornail, I only took about 4 pics that day. I did, however, get some good video, including my son saying "Gold, Frankincense, and Myyr", proving that he does listen to the books I read him at night before bed!

Merry Christmas to All...

So here we are on Christmas Eve already! This month has flown by, and in reality, so has this year. I wanted to take a minute to say Merry Christmas to our family and friends. I truly hope that you all enjoy the time you have with your family tonight and tomorrow, or whenever your celebration may take place. Family, the spirit of giving, and the birth of Christ is what Christmas is all about. I hope you all are able to sit back and relax, eat a lot, and take lots of pictures. I will be thinking of all of you tomorrow as you have your Christmas celebrations. If you travel, please be safe. All of you are a blessing to Jeff, Kenden, and I and we love you all! Merry Christmas everyone!

A Funny Christmas Story....

A long time ago, there was this very precocious 7 year old little boy who was very excited about Christmas. He'd asked for a train set, the big kind with long tracks that made lots of noise. His excitement continued to build as more and more wrapped presents were added under the tree. He could barely contain himself! One day, he decided to look under the tree to see if there were any presents for him. Lo and behold, there were quite a few, namely one very large, rectangular box! The suspense was KILLING him. He decided since no one was around, that he would gently pry open one end of the beautiful wrapping paper, just to see what it was. He double checked to make sure he was in the clear....no mom, no big brother, no sister, no dad....all systems were go. Ever so gently, he stuck his finger between the wrap and the tape and pulled...he peeled the wrapping paper back...and held his breath. There it was! The beautiful train and tracks he'd asked for! Satisfied, he gently refolded and taped the paper, as well as a 7 year old could.

Unknown to the little boy, his 21 year old brother discovered that a very little someone had been tampering with the presents. Namely, the large, rectangular one that the brother KNEW was the much wanted train set. You see, as hard as the little boy tried, he could not quite get that wrapping paper to look the way his mother had it when it was originally wrapped, and the 21 year old noticed this. The older brother decided to teach the snoopy little brother a lesson....

Fast forward to Christmas day....the little boy went to work opening that large, rectangular box with much anticipation. He could almost hear the train! Wrapping paper went flying....the little boy opened the box....only to find it full of BRICKS! Well, this was met with a great deal of crying from the little brother, and a great deal of laughter from the older brother! The train was hidden safely away in the attic!

Yes....this is a TRUE story! Jeff was the 7 year old, his brother Scott was the 21 year old! And Jeff is still the snoopy one, so I guess he didn't learn his lesson 25 years ago....hahaha! Hope you all got a good laugh out of that one!

Mommy, Cover Your Mouth!

Kenden and I have both had the crud of some sort or another for the past 2 weeks. He started with the runny nose and quickly upgraded to a nasty, congested cough. Mine has been more sinus related, although now, I am starting to wonder if it is more since I have started coughing. Kenden has been to the doc quite a few times in the last week, 3 times to be exact. He was diagnosed with Bronchiolitis and was even x-rayed to check for pneumonia. He is finally on the mend now and back in preschool, but in the meantime, with all the coughing he was doing, he was hearing, "Kenden, cover your mouth" a whole bunch from Jeff and I. Now, I have started to develop a lovely cough. Today, I was sitting on the couch while Kenden was playing on the floor about 6 feet away from me, when I started to have a coughing fit. He immediately looked up at me, noticed I was not covering my mouth, stopped what he was doing, came over and laid his hand on my knee and said, "Mommy! Cover your mouth peese!" with great emphasis. I had to laugh...at least Jeff and I know he HEARS us, even if he doesn't always listen!

OH NO! Mommy's the BIG 3-0!! Happy Birthday!

Yes, the rumor is true...I am 30 years old today! I definitely don't feel like it, though. However, I have to say that 30 ain't so bad...I am older and wiser and still look decent, so I will take it! We started celebrating this past Thursday by going to see the DAUGHTRY concert at the NORVA. Chris Daughtry was the BOMB...the concert was super! On Saturday, Jeff planned a birthday dinner for me and several friends at Zinc. Jeff and I were joined by Kelly and Sam, Ivan and Kari, Ken, and Crazy Uncle Jim. It was a wonderful time with wonderful friends. This morning, Kenden and Jeff presented me with my gifts...new black Nikes and a Nike warmup suit. I also got flowers from them as well as my best friend Hilary. I have gotten several phone calls as well...it has been a great day so far. Well, aside from Kenden trying to hit me and calling me a "crazy nut". Can you say Time Out Chair?

The first 30 years have been a great ride and I am looking forward to many, many more...Happy Birthday to me!

Amber and Jeff


Amber and Kelly


Happy Birthday Dear Amber!!


The Whole Crew and Amber with Crazy Uncle Jim

A Visit from the Jolly Ole' Elf Himself!

Santa came for a visit here at our home tonight! Jeff and I decided not to tell Kenden he was coming, for fear that Kenden would get so excited, that he wouldn't nap or do much of anything except talk about Santa all day. We had it all scheduled for 6:45...right on schedule, as you would expect Santa to be, the doorbell rang. Kenden was already in the foyer with his dump truck....so I opened the door, and there stood SANTA! Well, Kenden was frozen in his tracks. Couldn't talk, couldn't move. Jeff and I made a huge deal, but all Kenden could say is, "Mama!" Needless to say, he was not too impressed with Santa. I don't think he said one word (which is a big deal because Kenden talks non-stop). Santa would ask him a question, and Kenden would nod, usually nodding "No". Santa even brought Kenden some reindeer food for Christmas Eve, a jingle bell to hang on the tree, and a toy (prearranged with the 2 elves known as Mommy and Daddy). Once Santa left, Kenden was all about opening his present from Santa. As I type, he is sleeping with his new CARS Wingo Toy. I guess it should be interesting to see how our visit to Santa goes this year at McArthur Center....I have a feeling this will be the year of the crying picture....

Look Who's Here!


Mom, I am not so sure about this big guy in red!!



HO, HO, HO, Merry Christmas!!


Maybe Santa ain't so bad after all....I did get this cool gift from him!!

Frosty the Snowman and Toys for Tots!

Every year, our neighborhood has the Frosty the Snowman and Toys for Tots event in one of the parks. It is simple, you bring a toy for a needy child and donate it to the Marine's Toys For Tots, and you get to meet Frosty the Snowman! This is the first year we've taken Kenden and he was so excited. Well, I think the prospect of playing in the park was more exciting, but nonetheless, he was ready to go! Once he was up from his nap, he ate dinner and we put his Frosty sweater on, and off we went. Since the park is right around the corner from our house (literally), we pulled a "Britney Spears" and let Kenden ride on mommy's lap (in Britney's words, "We're from the country, ya'll!" hahahaha!) Anyway, 2 of America's finest Marines were there collecting toys, kids were running everywhere, the park was decorated with lights, and everyone was awaiting Frosty's arrival. We had a great time and Kenden wasn't afraid of Ole' Frosty at all. He even got a lollipop out of the deal. I think Kenden's main thing was running all over the place in the pitch dark while mommy and daddy tried to keep up with him without killing themselves on a piece of park equipment.

We had a great time and it is nice to do something for those less fortunate. That is what Christmas is all about. The spirit of giving and goodwill toward others.

Now, hopefully our Santa visit will be successful....it was last year, but things can change so we'll see....

O Christmas Tree!

Jeff, Kenden and I went to Hunt Club Farm last night, all bundled up, to get our Christmas Tree! I have 2 other trees in the house, but they are both artificial and I have always had a real tree and we LOVE having the real one in the den, with all the crazy ornaments and colored lights on it! So, off we went....Hunt Club did not disappoint, as usual. Not only did they have a Winter Wonderland full of lights and animals to see, but they also had a LIVE nativity scene (well, the animals were live), complete with a camel, a couple donkeys, some llamas, goats, and sheep! VERY cool! Kenden LOVED the camel. He wanted to know "what dat camel chewin' mama?" We had a great time finding our tree, and in true Turner form, we pretty much found our tree right off the bat. Jeff and I do NOT waste any time finding a tree. Kenden loved running through the lines of trees, and even fell down a few times and kept on going. Boy, was it COLD though!! We had such a great time!

Walking with Daddy to get the Tree


How About This Tree, Ma?



Kenden Checking out Santa in his Sleigh with all the Reindeer



Away In A Manger....

Happy Birthday Great Gran!

Happy Birthday Great Gran!! Hope your day is super special. I know Grammie came to see you and have lunch with you yesterday! Hope you loved my pictures that mommy sent along with Grammie to give to you. I love you very much and hope that Mommy and I can come to see you and Great Grandad after Christmas sometime. I will keep the pictures coming, as I know you love them! Love Kenden (and Mommy and Daddy, too!).

Happy Birthday Cousin Camden!

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear cousin CAMDEN!!!!! Happy 6th Birthday to youuuuuuu! Wanted to wish my cousin's son (my 2nd cousin, Kenden's 3rd cousin), Camden, a very happy 6th birthday! Hope your day is great and special! Can't believe how time has flown and you've grown from the tiny baby 8 weeks early in the hospital to the big boy you are today! Love you!

Kids Say the Darn-dest (and sweetest, most gut-wrenching) Things

Most of you know that in January of this year, Jeff's father passed away after having a total knee surgery. Well, ever since then, when I say prayers with Kenden at night before bedtime, the last thing we always say is "watch over Granddaddy up in Heaven". So last night, I had gotten Kenden's bath ready and he was in the office with Jeff. I walked in to get him and when I picked him up, he noticed that all these pictures were scrolling across the computer screen. Jeff has his screen set to show all the pics we've ever loaded onto the computer to flash up, one by one for about 5 seconds each, as the screen saver. Kenden and I were talking about each picture as it came up, like who was in the picture, and what everyone in the picture was doing. Up pops a picture of Jeff's dad, JC, holding Kenden when he was about 4 months old, and I said, "Look, it is Kenden with Grandddaddy" and as soon as those words left my mouth, Kenden pipes up with "Up in Heaven". Jeff and I just looked at each other, jaws dropped, both teary eyed. I am still floored as I type this....I guess it just goes to show that children know and understand more than they let on or communicate sometimes. Kenden has a special angel up in Heaven...his Granddaddy.....

Kenden and Blake have a Playdate!

Our friends Kelly, Sam and Blake Jennings came over for dinner and just to hang out last night! The boys had a great time together (Kenden and Blake) playing and eating dinner together! The other "boys" had a good time playing with Jeff's new car...haha! Anyway, it is so neat to see Kenden and Blake, who are only a year apart in age almost to the day, starting to really play together! And Kenden was so excited the "baby Blake" was coming to play that he kept asking, "Mommy, where is Baby Blake? He not here yet?!" I was so cute. They had a great time and Blake schooled Kenden on how to eat a variety of food!! Hope we can have more playdates soon! The first thing that Kenden talked about this morning was that "Kelwee, Sam, and Baby Blake" were here last night!

Jeff and Sam were watching college football in the den while the boys were eating dinner, and since Blake already knows the "touchdown" signal, he and Kenden started throwing their arms up everytime they heard the crowd cheer on TV, thinking that one of the teams scored a TOUCHDOWN!

Dada's Got a New Toy...

Jeff has been contemplating for a while (ever since he saw the new Ford Shelby GT500 Cobra) on whether to get rid of his Ford Mustang Saleen or not....well, he bit the bullet and did it...Grabber Orange with Ebony Racing Stripes. Out with the old, in with the new! Kenden is DELIGHTED with Daddy's new toy...

Drivin' Dada's Fast Car!



The Old....


.....VS. The NEW....

Thanksgiving Day at the Turners' House!

What a great day we had on Thursday! So much to be thankful for....we had a house full of people, from both sides of the family, as well as our friend, Ken Sellars, who'd had knee surgery the day before and was unable to make the trip to Northern VA to be with his family! He is like family to us, though, so the more the merrier! Mom and I decided to take the easy route this year and NOT make everything from scratch....all the food was WONDERFUL though! Thanks so much to everyone who brought something and helped make our job here easier, and the day tastier. The weather was beautiful, perfect for the "boys" to sit outside, deep frying our 2 turkeys! Kenden got to play outside quite a bit and as more people arrived, his excitement level continued to grow! Thank goodness he took his nap that day because even with the nap, by bedtime, he was in rare form!

Grammie, Papa, Tim, Carrie, Mommy, Daddy, and Kenden

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CHOW TIME BABY!!!



Hope that everyone had a wonderful, blessed Thanksgiving, no matter how big or small your celebration! I think in light of the loss of Jeff's father early this year, we realize that although he is SO greatly missed, we should all be thankful for one another and the time we have together. Enjoy your friends and family and be THANKFUL for them!

Happy Thanksgiving Friends and Family

Just wanted to take a quick minute to wish all our friends and family a very Happy Thanksgiving. If you are travelling, please drive safely. Enjoy the company you are with. I am thankful for each and every one of you. Can't wait to hear how all your holiday festivities go tomorrow! Eat lots of turkey and have fun! Love to all! The Turners, Amber, Jeff and Kenden

Thanksgiving Celebration at Big Boy School (AKA Goddard)!!

Today was Goddard's big Thanksgiving Celebration! The kids all brought food in and sat down to have Thanksgiving dinner (lunch) together at 11:30! I made Mac and Cheese, even though my son won't touch the stuff...the other kids seemed to love it! ha! I took Kenden this morning and came back to help the teacher and take pics of the kids eating together. When I got there at 11:45, Ms. Dawn had them all seated at the table and they were adorable. The menu consisted of rolls, turkey and cheese twists, mac and cheese, green beans, stuffing, mashed potatoes, mixed fruit, apple pie, and chocolate chip cookies. What a sweet sight to see when I showed up and all 11 children were seated at the table, patiently waiting to be served! So adorable! What a great memory for me!

Kenden's First REAL Haicut!

Yesterday, I took Kenden to get his very first REAL haircut at a salon! I have trimmed around the edges...around his ears, nape of his neck....but never really had it cut. I decided that the back and top were looking pretty shaggy and beyond what I could control with scissors without really jacking his hair up! Kenden did so good! He waited his turn so patiently, then when it was his turn, he sat in the chair and let the stylist trim with the clippers and scissors! He got a lollipop at the end and a card with a lock of his hair in it, commemorating his first big boy cut! He was so proud of himself and is already ready to go again! I had to explain that he had to let his hair grow some first before we could go back! These are pics of him post-cut!