Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Here's hoping this post finds you all happy and healthy!  I have decided to end this years blogging with a quick little note about our year and what I hope to accomplish in the New Year.  This past year has been another year filled with activities, birthdays, accomplishments and the odd quiet day sprinkled here and there.  The kids have grown up and continue to do so at a pace I am not so comfortable with.  Blake turned 11 in March and is becoming a young man.  Yes he does have his "childish" days and I will take them as they come because I know that they will end someday.  He has grown in all his sports as well, playing an amazing year in Peewee Lacrosse.  The game was a much more physical game this past year and exciting to watch.  He also has come into his own while taking his drum lessons.   This year he learnt how to play "Beat it" by Michael Jackson and even wrote his own music to drum too.  This to me is quite an accomplishment.  He will start the new year with a Winter Lacrosse Camp that runs from Jan-March where he will pick right up into the regular season.  He is an amazing kid and we are lucky that he is maturing so responsibly and we couldn't be more proud of his accomplishments this year!


Our middle daughter Grace who turned 10 in June has also had an amazing filled year.  Her #1 love is her music and this year was no exception.  She recorded her first song on CD this year in an actual recording studio and we soon realized that that is where she belongs.  She loved it and the song "Tomorrow" from Annie actually brought tears to my eyes!  All I could say is "that is my kid!!"  She also performed in the Grandstand show again this year with the Calgary Stampede.  As this was her second year we all knew the ropes a little better and were able to watch her perform beautifully.  She has grown up before our eyes and with each opportunity she encounters her wings get even bigger!  Grace expanded her talents this year by auditioning and landing a role in Storybook Theatre's production of "Annie" as one of the orphans.  She started rehearsals in August and the play ran in October for 18 shows.  We took part in helping out as much as we could with Storybook and as a result have also made them a big part of our lives now.  Grace has since been back in the recording studio, recording her second song of the year, this time taking her sister with her.  She will finish the year off and ring in the new year performing in the National Production of "The Wizard of Oz" playing here at the Jubilee from December 28th- January 2nd.   We are happy she loves what she does, because she surprises us everyday!  She is an amazing kid!


Ella, the baby which I cannot say for much longer turned 7 in March as well.  She is our head-strong, strong willed little young lady.  She has come a long way this year and we have noticed has developed her dad's sense of humour.  It is so fun to watch and crazy to hear some of the things that come out of her mouth so quickly.  She too has spread her wings a little more this year starting with her dance.  She is taking ballet, musical theatre, and tap.  She loves her teachers and that makes it so nice.  She also started vocal lessons with the same teacher Grace uses and the comments coming out of the studio is that Grace is our classical singer and Ella is our "Pop" star.  I totally can see that and is loving being in the studio as much as Grace does.  Their coach asked what we feed them at home or maybe simply it is in the water at our house but both girls can sing.  That is amazing and we are blessed.  She too recorded her first song on CD this year, singing "Honey Honey" from Mamma Mia.  The pictures we have from that shoot are priceless and the music amazing.  Ella LOVES school,  especially reading and has found herself second in her class for reading level.  We couldn't be more proud.  Most times she walks and reads and we are instructed to help steer her as she can't walk and read at the same time.  This kids has a book in her hands  almost all of the time.  I suspect if we let her eat while she read she'd do that too!  She is a smart cookie and I keep telling Greg she may have your humour but she has my brains!!  Ok not really!!


Greg and myself have also been keeping extremely busy.  Aside from the taxi driver title we have taken on some additional hobbies.  Since we had been working so closely with Storybook while Grace performed, Greg has landed a role in the Christmas Production of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer"  He plays Comet and Donner and after watching him, know that this will not be his last role.  In fact both him and Grace have been asked to audition for Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat


All in all, it has been an amazing, fun-filled year.  I know that this is not the end our our journey and we hope that the new year brings us just as much health, happiness and adventure.....


Merry Christmas to all and a Happy Healthy New Year


Tina

Choices.....

As I sit here and type up my post, I am reminded constantly about all the choices we have to make in life.  Left, right, up down, do I have time to make that call?   I have a good friend struggling with a choice or rather with a choice that someone else has made and it makes me realize all the hats we have to wear in one day.  This time of year doesn't help much and it is even harder to pull yourself out of feeling blue sometimes.  Society dictates how we are supposed to act and feel, when all we want to do sometimes is curl up in our beds and pull the blankets over our head.  I hope that the choices you have to make are easy and if not that the answer comes quickly.  I hope that this season brings you a nice new warm hat to wear and you learn to wear it proudly!  But most of all I hope you take the time for yourself, doing something you want to do just for you!

Awesome News

So we spent the weekend in our vehicle trying to tackle the weather and the crowds and at times getting frustrated and short with others out trying to do the same.  After getting home with thankfully quite a bit accomplished, we sat down to the computer to check off all we had done this weekend when an email came across that told us some amazing news.  Our daughter Grace had been chosen to play the part of one of the 12 munchkins in the upcoming show The Wizard of Oz running from December 28th- January 2nd at the Jubilee Auditorium.  It is again another amazing oppourtunity for her to embark on and we are so proud and excited to get to watch.  This was a great way to end our busy, crazy hectic schedule and we are thankful for all our blessings.....

Christmas at the Turner's

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Christmas.  It is my most favourite time of the year but this year I was having a difficult time getting into wanting to decorate.  We had the privilege of visiting the Lougheed House this past weekend to take in the "Days of Christmas"  I didn't need any more convincing to start my decorating after that.  This amazing house was decorated in many different ways and some of it was breathtaking.  We decided as a family that this year we would decorate "old-fashioned" like.  We used ribbon, handmade paper chains, homemade roses, sheets of music inked by us just to name a few.  It was fun and the result beautiful.  We also brought boughs of pine inside to add to the rustic feel and smell inside.  I think this has been the best Christmas decorating we have done so far ever and all of us just love how our house has transformed into days of past.  Here is a picture of our tree for you to enjoy and although it is hard to tell in the picture our tree is chocolate brown!

Yummy...

I wanted to use the new verraine glasses I got and what better way then on the kids!!!  It was not hard to put something together that looked good and I am can't wait to use these glasses that came with matching plates and spoons for other treats.  Just looking at the pics makes my mouth water, that and whip cream is a weakness of mine!!

My Love for IKEA...

I am a furniture junkie amongst other things.  IKEA is one of my weaknesses and you can usually see their website up and on my computer at least once a day.  I just love their "stuff".  Of course I tend to make many a trip there and usually do not come home empty handed.  This trip was no exception.  We are in the process (ok really I am in the process) of re-doing our basement.  Our kids are getting bigger and we are finding they are needing more space.  Up until now our basement has be used solely for the dayhome toys.  Since my dayhome kiddos too are getting bigger, the need for little stuff isn't needed anymore and it is time to bring out some other activities.  Basically I decided that this space can be better used hence the re-modeling!!  I will post pics when all is completed!!

Random Post...

I thought I would sit today and ramble on about life!  It has been a bit crazy here and I have been feeling the effects recently.  I have had a week that makes me wonder "why" a lot and how I can pull myself out of the fog.  A few or rather a lot of conversations with family and friends have helped me quite a bit and I am truly thankful for them.  I told the story the other day about how overwhelmed I was feeling with my schedule, christmas coming amongst other things and the revelation that I had while I was washing my daughter's hair in the bathtub.  It's the little things that should matter, like how lucky I was to be able to wash my daughter's hair in a warm bath with warm water.  I am lucky and somehow after that, I was able to put things back into perspective.  I truly am thankful for what I have, even my crazy, busy schedule.  So when you feel overwhelmed and stressed just think of your little things and be thankful for them!

Boo!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN...


We had a great night last night and hanging out with the kids is becoming so fun!!  Although we didn't get to roam the streets with Blake and Ella, we still got to catch up later and hear about their fun night.  I love walking the streets checking out all the decorations and costumes.  Grace this year was really into it and that made the whole night even better.  Another holiday down and time to get ready for the big one- CHRISTMAS!!  My weakness for sure!!  Did I mention that we saw a house fully decorated for christmas last night, tree and all!!!

Our "Annie" Family....

What an amazing journey!  Usually when one of our kids performs we take back seat to what is going on.  That wasn't what happened this time and it made this whole experience even more amazing.  Yes, Grace was the performer in the production of Annie, but we became friends with some wonderful people through the process.  It makes the whole process of "acting" become really real and it was sad to have to say good-bye for now.  We intend on keeping in touch because you can't walk just walk away from amazing people!  Thanks Jacqueline, Krista, Lynette, Jay, Russell as well as the rest of the cast, you made this whole experience truly life changing!!

A Scrapper's Life...

I can't tell you how excited I am to get to sit down (hopefully really soon) and use this amazing product.  Every month I get delivered to my door an fabulous kit.  I love that it has all the newest product, and lots of it.  I love getting to Micheals but I can't ever seem to get myself to a scrap booking store.  By ordering this monthly kit I don't have to worry about making any special trip.  I love that it comes packaged nicely with matching product from a particular line.  The kit always gets me in the mood to scrap, now all I have to do is find the time!

Happy 2nd Birthday Autum

Autum Rachel Voth......

Today my sweet niece turns 2!  I can't believe how fast time flies.  I remember holding her the day she was born, sitting at the hospital waiting.  Now she is on her way to becoming a very determined, head-strong little girl.  Yes she has a temper and is challenging at times but I still love her to death....Happy 2nd Birthday Autum, auntie loves you!!!

Growing Up...

I recieved the digital rights to my kids school photos today and had to sit back at take a look at them.  It is amazing how fast they are becoming so grown up.  I know it is inevietable but it still takes my breath away to see them getting so big.  My son, who is almost 12 is such a compassionate soul.  He is sensitive and loving and I love that about him.  I always know he is there with a hug or a story.  My middle child is 10 and she is driven, ambitious and yes sometimes "moody"!  We always made a comment about the red hair and temper, saying "one day that will get her far."  She is going places already and it continues to amaze us.  My youngest is 7 and follows rules to a "t".  Not sure why, but know that there is a reason.  As she continues to come into her own we see how she is particular, precise and determined.  We continue to watch, learn and grow with our kids always commenting how different all three are from each other.  It keeps us on our toes and allows us three different perspectives on life. It sure makes life fun! 

My Pride and Joy...

Blake, Grace and Ella........

As I start down this journey again with blogging, I find myself trying to focus more on my life story than anything else.  I realized quickly that blogging was a way for me to connect with others, but it is also a time for me to get to sit down and reflect on what life has to offer me and my family.  I love the path we are on, and although I admit it is not always the easiest,  it is the path that has made me who I am today and hopefully who my kids one day will become.  They are my pride and joy and they are the reason I do a lot of what I do.  Have you ever wondered what people will say about you when you are no longer on this earth?  I have and as crazy as that may sound, it helps me focus myself and strive to be a better me.  I want my kids to be proud of me, to be happy, healthy and content.  I want them to be selfless, kind, considerate and courageous.  So far, that is what they are and as one day I want them to be proud of me, I already am so proud of them!