FAMILY GENERATIONS

Today in sacrament meeting, the speaker was really awesome. He had great things to say about temples and family legacies throughout the generations. The thing that I thought was wonderful is he mentioned something about how we can learn from our ancestors. I just thought of my childhood and how much of an influence my Grandma and Grandpa Turner were to me. Honestly, I don't know where I would be without them. My Grandma always sent me letters and birthday cards and she would always write that I am a daughter of God and He loves me. She wrote I needed to be a good example for my family and I needed to go to church and read my scriptures. I always thought it was preachy, but I found all the letters after both of them had passed away, and I realized that it really affected my life. I knew I was loved, not only by Heavenly Father, but also by them. All of that "preaching" finally sunk in and even though I didn't realize it at the time, it gave me direction in my life. I don't think I would have known as strongly as I do that I am a daughter of God and he loves me if my Grandma didn't tell me that all the time. And how would she have known that I needed to hear that if she didn't learn it from someone else? I will be forever grateful for what my grandparents did for me when I was younger. I wish I would have realized it more fully when they were still alive so I could personally tell them thank you. I'm sure they know. I just wish I could tell them. What a great legacy to live up to. They were the strong happy family that I didn't have growing up. Even though they weren't there every day, I could feel their love for me and my brothers and sisters. I miss them terribly, but I am so thankful for their love and support they gave me while they were here. I can only hope to be the same kind of person they were. But I have their example to learn from.

CHEWY?

Years ago when my nephew, Kolton, first saw Star Wars he asked "Who's taller, Heather or Chewbacca?". Of course that became my nickname along with Big Bird or whoever else was super tall! Anyway, Asher and Hallie saw Star Wars for the first time and Mark casually

mentioned that Kolton used to call me Chewbacca because I was so tall. Well, the next day I was minding my own business in the dining room and Ash peeked his head around the corner and said, "HEY CHEWY!". He thought he was hilarious! He took off into the living room laughing his head off. Honestly, I was stunned! Seriously? Did Asher really just call me Chewy? Then he peeks around the corner again calling me Chewy, running away laughing hysterically. Wow, he really did call me Chewy! Then Hallie joins in teasing me. She poked her head around the other corner and said, "HI CHEWY!". They took turns calling me this wonderful nickname, all the while laughing so hard they could barely breathe! Then I had to have Mark come in and hear what they were saying. All he could do was laugh with them. Wonderful...now EVERYONE is calling me Chewy! It was quite funny. There little giggles were priceless. I guess I will forever be called Chewbacca, there's no getting out of it now!

OUTER SPACE

Asher is completely obsessed with outer space after his preschool teacher showed him a movie about it. I got online to find pics of what space looks like. I also wanted to show him where the planets are located in the universe. Here are a few of the pictures I found from the Hubble telescope. Pretty cool.

Asher is going to be testing on April 19th for his yellow striped belt for karate. Not quite the yellow belt, but at least he feels like he is progressing! He's doing really well in karate. Hallie is getting better at dance too. At first I thought there was no hope for her, but all of a sudden she has really caught on! I think it is because she always practices her routine at home and tries to perfect it. Then when she gets to dance class she really does great. It also helps that she is the only one who shows up for dance so it's a lot of one on one time!

It is snowing as I am typing this. Snowing in April? And it is even sticking to the ground. I hope it warms up so we can actually do some camping this year! Crazy Idaho weather.

SNOWMOBILING

The other day we took our kids snowmobiling. Asher LOVES snowmobiles, but as soon as he got on and Mark went too fast, he wanted to go home! It was kinda funny. Hallie loved it. I couldn't go fast enough for her. She's quite daring. Asher is daring on his four wheeler, which kinda scares me. This winter we had a huge snowpile in the middle of our cul-da-sac and Asher tried to climb it on his four wheeler!! It was very steep and Mark had to stop him before he got too far. I thought he'd like to go fast on Mark's sled, but he totally chickened out! It was fun anyway. Mark loves all the new snow in the mountains because he can go snowmobiling later in the year, but I wish it would melt! He's totally taking advantage of every Saturday because I told him he couldn't go every Saturday next year! I know, what a mean wife, right? Just Kidding! It would just be nice to have him home on a Sturday once in a while.

I'VE BEEN TAGGED....HERE WE GO!

My sisters have been giving me a hard time because I have not updated my blog. Goodness. Anyway, BOTH Robbie and Jennifer tagged me.

TEN YEARS AGO??? Honestly, my life was not that interesting 10 yrs ago. I had just turned 16 and began dating. That was the big milestone at the time. I was doing highschool things with highschool friends and although it was fun, I'm soooo glad that it is over!

5 THINGS ON MY TO TO LIST:

1. Start spring cleaning! (My yard is STILL full of junk from the oldies who lived here before us!)
2. Be more on top of things with Primary. After all, the Pres. has to be responsible, right?
3. Just like Jennifer, CALL PEOPLE BACK! Ever since I have been Primary Pres, my phone rings off the hook! Now I let my answering machine answer because anyone important to me calls my cell.
4. Grocery shopping...like always.
5. Plan our fun summer activities!

WHAT WOULD I DO IF I WERE SUDDENLY MADE A MILLIONARE?

Once again, like my sister Jennifer, I would buy my grandparent's property in Bedford (AKA Zion...hee hee!). So many good memories there. I would also invest so I could have enough money to build my dream home and what ever else my heart desires!

4 BAD HABITS:

1. Procrastination. I wait until I can wait no longer to get certain things done.
2. I'm a night owl. Mark hates it.
3. Playing too many computer games.
4. Not telling Mark about events until last minute (Procrastination!).

5 JOBS I'VE HAD:

1. Full time Mom (okay, not really a job, but I have to fill these numbers in!)
2. Full time wife (once again, not a real job!)
3. Gottschalks-that job sucked. But I learned more about shoes!
4. Once Upon a Child - This is where I worked the majority of my working years.
5. Believe it or not, I've only had 2 jobs my entire life!

PLACES I'VE LIVED:

Idaho Falls, ID

THINGS I LIKE TO DO:

Sadly, I have fallen into the MOM TRAP where the only thing I do is be a mom. After talking to my friend Shannon, we are both on the path to rediscovery! I'm glad I'm not the only one. Anyway, I still love snowboarding even though I haven't been for years. Spending time with family is fun. I love four wheeling & snowmobiling with our kids. This year I want to start hiking again. I love hiking. I like anything outdoors, such as camping, riding bikes, rollerblading, swimming, the list could go on. I also like going out on dates with Mark! That doesn't happen too often because we usually end up taking the kids. Anyway, I just enjoy having fun!

*AFRO BO*

Mark wanted to grow Bo an afro. Well, here it is (so far!). He looks completely ridiculous! I kinda feel bad for him because he knows he looks stupid. He came home from the groomers really mad. He kept rubbing his hair on the floor trying to get it off. It was so funny! His ears were matted pretty badly so we

had his ears shaved off which doesn't help the ridiculousness of it. Hallie calls him Bon Jovi and Asher calls him Afro. Everyone who sees him can't help but laugh! Quite funny.

At the groomers Mark got a lot of funny stares. There is also a picture of Meg at the bottom. She is such a cute dog. Everyone gawks at her but laughs at Bo... can't help it, really. Such a seventies look.

Now Bo begs for attention so he can feel better about himself! Owell.

HELLO NEW YEAR!

Asher and Hallie got kiddie digital cameras for Christmas so I thought I would share some of their pics. Not too bad, huh? Christmas was quite fun this year. Mark and I were fighting over whether we should buy a digital camera or a video recorder. He bought me a camera. How cool is that? It was sweet of him to put my want in front of his. Asher and Hallie got spoiled, of course. My family came over Christmas Eve. It's really great to be able to spend such happy moments together. We went to the in-laws on Christmas. They got a Wii. Kevin had to stand in line forever waiting for the store to open so he could get one of the fourty.

Well, this year has been kinda boring...same old stuff. I was so INCREDIBLY sick on New Years Eve, AGAIN! I should just plan on staying home this next New Year's and then maybe I won't get sick!

Clifford and Share are now living in Idaho Falls, which is great. Litttle Clifford is so cute! I can't believe how much he has grown up from the last time I saw him. I just think it is so great having family close by.

There's a lot of talk of all the snow we have gotten this year. Asher is the one to thank! He prays for snow every single night. This year is unbelievable! It's just like when I was a kid. How spectacular. I love the snow but I'm really ready for it to start melting. I'm not used to so much snow so close to my birthday!

A NEW FOUR WHEELER

This is Asher on his old four wheeler. This lucky kid is getting a new one for his birthday this next Saturday. We got a good deal on it because it was an '06 and they needed room for their '08s. It is a little 90 cc instead of a 50 cc. Hallie can now have Asher's old one all to herself!

I was taking Asher to karate in Rigby. On the way there, we passed Ucon. Asher's brain is a little sponge and he remembers everything. Anyway, he told me all about Clifford and Share and how they used to live in Ucon, but not anymore because they live in Boise which "is like FIVE hours away!". I told him they were moving back after Christmas. Then he tells me that when they move back they are going to have another baby. According to Asher, it will be a girl because they don't have a girl yet. Not only will it be a girl, but it will be a Baby Share. They have a Baby Clifford, it only makes sense to have a Baby Share! When they have a girl and it is not a Baby Share, I think Asher might be disappointed.

I also have to brag about my nieces for a minute. Mckenzie and Kelsie are the best babysitters ever! My kids always have so much fun with them. The other day Kelsie babysat and made snowflakes with my kids and put them on our Christmas tree. Asher and Hallie were so proud of them. It's the small things that make a big difference. THANK YOU MCKENZIE AND KELSIE FOR BEING SO GREAT!

CHECK UP WITH DR. JUDD

Wednesday the 12th Asher had an appointment with his cardiologist. Things look really good. His chest x-ray looked great, which means his heart is not enlarged. His EKG was perfect, pulses in his feet were good and strong, and his blood pressure was fantastic. Dr. Judd could not hear a heart murmur anymore which means that his bicuspid valve in his heart (which is supposed to be tricuspid) is working fine. However, he still has that scar tissue which is blocking his aorta artery. Instead of talking about doing another surgery when he is big enough (about 80 lbs) it sounds like we can wait into his teen years. And I was worried he wouldn't be able to ride amusement park rides, but he can. That restriction is only for people with heart muscle problems. Asher's heart only has "plumbing" issues, so he's fine. That means we can still take our kids to Lagoon and Disney Land! Yay! That was the best cardio check up yet!

Asher will be turning 5 in a week. Time flies by so fast! In pictures from a year ago he looks like a little toddler, and Hallie looks like a little baby! Now they look like little kids. Crazy.

THANKSGIVING

Halloween is over and Christmas is the next holiday on every one's mind. However, I enjoy Thanksgiving because it reminds us of things we are thankful for. I am so thankful for all that I do have. We finally have a house of our own, our kids are the best kids ever (it must be the red hair!), and I'm happy that Asher can do karate and Hallie can dance. I'm thankful to be able to give them that opportunity to build their self-esteem, to let them know they can do anything they put their mind to. And by encouraging them, they know Mark and I are there for them in all things. What a great blessing that is for our children. Thanksgiving also reminds me that it is nice to slow down around this holiday season and enjoy each moment. I also love Asher and Hallie showing me the fun indian and pilgrim crafts they created at preschool! That is so much fun to hear them sing the silly songs that go along with the crafts. It's a great time to gather with your family and enjoy each other's company because you know by the end of the holiday season, you won't want to see them again for a long time! Okay, just kidding. Families are great.

This is absolutely hilarious! I was at Leo's the other day with Shan and her kids and Hallie really needed to use the restroom. There was a lady in the large stall with her little boy. I was waiting outside the stall for Hallie to finish when I heard the little boy yell " MOM!!! Your butt looks FAT when you sit down!!!" She responded by yelling at him in a very hushed voice "Don't look at my butt! Turn around. That's not nice at all!" I couldn't help myself. I busted out laughing, hoping Hallie would at least unlock the stall door so I would have a place to hide until I could pull it together. Unfortunately I ended up outside still waiting for Hallie, hiding my face as the lady and her son exited their stall. I felt bad for laughing, but I could not hold it back! WOW! Kids are fun, aren't they?