Eight is Great!

Logan Quinn Turner turned 8 years old! 

This was such a big day for him, and we are so proud of the kid he is. 

Earlier in January, this crazy crew of boys got together with their parents for the "Baptism preview night" at the ward. There are so many boys in this group of 8 year olds (some not pictured because they had just turned 8 at the end of 2019), and they will make QUITE the group of missionaries in 10 more years. 

Henry Robinson, Ford Platt, Logan, Davis Casperson, Graham Jenkins, Pierce Welch, Jack Thompson, Emmett Jenkins.

Over the course of the few weeks leading up to Logan's birthday and baptism day, we had the sister missionaries come teach Logan some pre-baptism lessons. He knows quite a bit about what it means to join Christ's church, and we have had talks and lessons about it with him. But Logan learns better when it's NOT mom and dad doing the teaching. :) We knew he would love to have these fun ladies focusing on him and making it more fun to learn. He loved it! The Sisters did a wonderful job too. One was from American Samoa, and brought such a strong and loving spirit with her. She played her ukelele while they sang together in our home.

Logan's actual birthday fell on a tuesday, so he got to enjoy a fun day with friends at school. I think that's exactly the way he wanted it, since he's such a social butterfly. He woke up to us singing Happy Birthday and a new tshirt for his birthday.

Ryan went early in the morning to snag some yummy donuts for breakfast.

8 is great!!

Boston and I went to eat lunch with Logan that day. 

His class sang Happy Birthday to him as well.

Logan asked for a chocolate peanut butter cake... so that's what he got!

He chose a birthday dinner at Red Robin with a rootbeer float as his special treat!

The Dunlavys came over for cake and ice cream and to celebrate Logan. 

He opened his presents - one of which was a special one that Ryan had picked out for him! It was definitely the favorite.

He also got a shooting target game.

He also got a framed picture of Christ that Grace chose for Logan. She wanted him to have a picture of Christ next to his bed like she has had.

Logan received some packages in the mail as well. One was a pin sent from Aunt Jessi. All these things got him so excited for his baptism a few days later!

Fun Things

 Grace has been loving using her rock tumbler. It's such a neat surprise to see what colors emerge after each round of tumbling.

Grace played out in the snow and had the cutest little ringlets. She's had those since she was little.

January 5th - This little man was so handsome on sunday for church that I had to capture some of those snow-flurry-smiles. 

January 11th - Grace's friend Wren planned an '80s dance party. Just for fun! These girls had a blast together!

January 31st - We got a brand new baby cousin!! Morgan Lindsey Goates. Sweetest little thing.

Boston and I had a fun lunch together, playing with the 

And another lunch at Noodles & Co. 

A Fresh New Year! {2020}

 Typically when I blog, I write the post as if I was speaking in the present, or very recent past. I journal as if I had written it at the time those memories happened. However in this case I am writing it in September of 2020... and I only pause to mention that fact because of how ironic it is to be writing about "a fresh new year" like this year had so much going for it. Usually a new year DOES in fact mean new beginnings, good changes, making ourselves better, growing, learning, achieving goals, making new memories, and all the hope that a new year brings. Especially one such as "2020" where you THINK it would mean this year will be the year for seeing our past-selves in a new light and moving forward in a better direction. Right?!?... Well it turned out to be the strangest, most dramatic, most disheartening year. I promise I will explain more as I get to the posts in March. But basically the life we were living in January of this year was completely turned upside down in a matter of weeks. We did in fact make new memories this year. We did in fact grow and learn and achieve goals... but not at all the way we wanted to or even the lessons we ever wanted to learn. haha! But it is what it is. The year 2020 will forever go down in history as [possibly] the worst. the strangest, and most anxiety-inducing year in anyone's memory. It did indeed give us pause, and force us to gain perspective, just as the "2020" numbers would entail. And in the words of President Nelson at the end of 2018, he said it so well (as a Prophet always does!) when he prophesied our need to: "Eat your vitamin pills. Get your rest. There's much more to come." Boy did he know it!...

I have no idea what we were doing, but I guess I took funny face photos of the kids one day.

We used the Goates' giftcards and enjoyed our favorite dinner place! Thanks, Ben and Amanda!

Ryan and I grabbed a treat together at Sips.

Snow ball fight!!

Boston randomly caught a picture of my left ear and I figured I'd include it. You can see how well my scar was healing (just 5 months after my surgery), the hair is growing back, and you can just barely spy my new hearing aid! I got it in November 2019 and it's actually been a great help. Wearing it makes me feel like a whole person again.

Grace's class made their own x-ray by using oil on paper and then drawing each of the bones in the hand and wrist. Pretty cool!

Boston's preschool class with Ms Lisa drew self-portraits and answered questions about themselves. So cute to keep these memories!

With Lindsey's help, I came up with a new chore chart for us the start as of January 1st. We have struggled to find a system that works for everyone and that we stick to consistently. I put a lot of time and effort into each detail and the kids were excited to get started. I'd say it worked really well for the few few months... then it was kind of hit or miss after march/april came and life was turned upside down. 

Santa Clause is comin' to town... plus Grandparents too!

After spending the weekend before Christmas with Salt Lake, we headed home on monday the 24th and brought Nana and Bompa with us! We were so excited to have them join us for the holiday. It's the first time they've ever come to us for Christmas and we hoped it would be memorable. Unfortunately... Logan was really, really sick. Fevers, awful cough, such a terrible stuffy nose that he would gag and throw up throughout the day, and just generally feeling miserable. I felt so bad for him! He still tried to be a part of some fun though, like making snowflakes with Nana (to decorate our kitchen), and playing games with us.

All of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day it snowed these big beautiful snowflakes. It was so fluffy and perfect, like cotton balls were falling from the sky slowly all day. So picturesque! 

I'd been wanting to make some homemade bread bowls lately so on Christmas Eve I baked some for the first time and filled them with homemade broccoli soup!! Mmm it was good. Just right for a winter evening.

 

We also made my mom's famous caramel popcorn which I've never had the bravery to try by myself. Mmm it turned out so good.

The kids set out treats and milk for Santa and the reindeer and headed off to bed! 

HE CAME!!! We woke up to turn the lights on and light the fire, and there were so many special things set out! There was also a big, dirty boot print on the hearth... Santa must have forgotten to wipe his feet. I would have gotten after him if I hadn't been asleep.

After the kids opened their stockings, we enjoyed some YUMMY breakfast! Ham and hashbrown casserole plus sticky buns.

Opening presents is SO much fun!! Santa brought Logan beyblades. He was pretty stoked! Mom and Dad gave Logan an EZroller, a fingerprint activity book, a frisbee, and some other little items. 

All 3 kids took turns opening up presents for them to SHARE as well: 4 laser tag guns, Dragons playmobil sets, new Usborne books, 2 CrazyFort building sets, and a floating soccer ball. Nana and Bompa gave Logan a cool gaming device (like a gameboy) that has over 100 games preloaded on it! Grandma and Grandpa got him a new Osmo game for the iPad.

Santa brought Grace a Space Station playmobil set!! She was SO happy and couldn't believe her eyes. Mom and Dad got her an MP3 player and a speaker! (preloaded with songs too). Nana and Bompa gave Grace some American Girl outfits and accessories! Grandma and Grandpa gave her 2 Lego Creations books with some neat STEM creations to work on.

Santa brought Boston the coolest 3-year-old-toy ever: the Paw Patrol tower and ALL of the characters and vehicles. He was SO happy! Mom and Dad weren't nearly as cool and got him some books, a puzzle piece activity, a frisbee and glow in the dark starts for his ceiling. Grandma and Grandpa gave Boston a Take-Apart car toy with an electric drill. Nana and Bompa gave him 

Nana and Bompa brought some Christmas gifts for each other as well: Snowshoes! 

Ryan got a book from his favorite series he was excited about! I got a foot massager which we both use equally. :) 

Boston was super excited to use one of the gifts Ben and Amanda's family sent us: a melting snowman that melts into hot milk and makes hot chocolate. So cute! They also sent a couple new games (Taco vs Burrito and Pizza Party), plus giftcards to our favorite restaurants (Cafe Rio and Pizza Pie Cafe). They were so thoughtful!

Grace enjoyed some alone time playing in the snow outside. She built her very own Wall-E. So cute! She was quite proud of herself and put him on a sled to pull it around.

The day was a fun one! Unfortunately this is how Logan spent most of the holiday. Doing breathing treatments and resting. He was not feeling well and wasn't himself. We felt so bad for the poor kid!

The rest of the week, Ryan was able to be home with us. It was so great to have all of that family time. Play, build our new toy things, eat, sleep, repeat. 

On New Years' Eve, Utah played in the Valero Alamo Bowl against Texas. They lost, unfortunately... but it was still fun to watch our Runnin' Utes!

It wouldn't be New Years' Eve without are waffles and ice cream!!

My dear friend Susie Warren sent us the sweetest surprise in the mail. This Paradise ornament, shaped like a Ponderosa Pine, She was so sweet to think of us and to still include us in her Paradise family.

My friend Lisa Hymas created this cute little ornament to show all of the books we read this year. So fun!

We had a great week, being together as a family, having my parents in our home for a few days, eating lots of yummy things, making memories, and celebrating the Savior's birth and life, We love Jesus Christ and know that all the things we love in this life come to us because of HIM.