Christmas with the Turleys

Well Christmas with the Turley's is a fun time. We have had the tradition of having breakfast at my Grandma Turleys for Pancakes and on special occasion German Pancakes which are my personal favorite. But since my Grandma has passed away we have been going to my oldest sister's house for a Carroll breakfast. They call it Egg's al la Golden Rod or basically a egg white sauce with sausage. put over my sisters fantastic homemade bread toasted and buttered torn in pieces. Its awesome. But I think next year I want to bring some German Pancakes for old time sakes.

After Breakfast we all go to the living room for opening presents. We are in a rotation for gift giving. I had my sister Melissa. It was more difficult this year as she lives in Florida. I hope to get a picture of her son Damien with the gift I sent. She said he's been carrying the box around the house for weeks. Saying "is it christmas yet?" the opening part is kind of like a mad house. But we have little helpers to pass presents out. It was funny cause some of the littler ones wanted to help but they couldn't read the names. Afterward Matt had all our gifts stacked on his lap and he fell asleep. I had to get a picture of that. And of me of course in front of my parents christmas tree.


I have 11 Nieces and Nephews so far. Paige is the baby on the floor. She'll turn 1 a month after I have my baby. She's got the biggest cheeks and so much hair. Her mom says its really hard to control. The other two are Melissa's oldest daughters. They are the oldest Grandkids too. Savannah and Chloe. Savannah lives in Florida with her mom and Chloe lives here with her dad. They are such opposites. Its finda funny. Chloe said she wanted leggings for Christmas and Savannah wanted makeup. That was easy to do.







Matt and I got a family gift for ourselves. A Kitchenaid. I made my first two loaves of bread this morning. It was nice to get out of the shower with the smell of homemade bread in the house. They didn't turn out that bad either. It was White Bread. Now I need some wheat so I can make a little more healthier type of bread.










Matt and I had a great Christmas overall except for the part were we don't get a Christmas break and had to be to work the next day. Sometimes I wish I was still in school just so I can have that break from life again. Oh my sister got us a DDR that is a two person mat that just plugs into the TV so we don't have to have a gaming system. Its not as advanced as the gaming system ones but It does the job for my little workouts. Me and my mom tried it the other day and we both were breathing heavy after a few trys. I think it will help me out when I want this baby to drop and get ready to be brought into the world. Do a little dancing and she'll come right out!





Anyway I've got all my christmas stuff put away already . I feel I have things to get ready for the baby and having a lot of extra stuff around the house is making me anxious. a month and a half is not a long time expecially when I don't know when she'll decide its time to make her enterence. oh yeah Matt just found out he gets 3 days off paternity leave. So that will help a bit. I love the season but time to start planning for the baby!

Early Christmas Present

So Matt got me some Wahl clippers for christmas so I can cut his hair. I've been refusing cause it scares me to even trim my own whispies away. But for Christmas Eve we got them out and I watched a video on cutting hair and we went for it. I should have taken a before and after picture but the christmas card photo will have to do. I have to say I didn't do to bad for my first try. I had it on the hights number guard we have and went to town. I think I'll have to learn to blend a little later from someone that knows. I used the ear clippers and well he has a little bit of a bald spot above each ear but he said it would be ok cause it would be back to normal in about a week. I hope so. I did get the after picture. It's late and he's tired so his eyes are all red. The hair doesn't look half bad though.

After he got out of the shower and it dried I don't think I did that bad of a job. It still makes me nervous but I think I could get a hang of it. If anyone has any good tips please let me know. Next time I'll try to get some before, during and after photos. Then maybe I can get some better critiques to improve upon. Matt thinks he's going bald. He might now that I cut it but no way. He's got lots of hair!!!

Here's to saving money on haircuts. Maybe he'll learn to die and give me highlights... Thats a scary thought...

Merry Christmas!

I've seen a few of these and I think this is all I'm going to get to this year. I hope this is ok as our Christmas card to all our Friends and Family.

Merry Christmas and Happy New year!

Random things

We had our hometeachers over yesterday and if anyone hasn't got the message yet it is about kids and babies. Such a great lesson for Matt and I since ours is coming soon. One thing he said that was interesting is that one of his friends just had a baby and their mother told them that we need more good people having kids. Because well if we're afriad of the future we need to teach our kids well because they are our future.

My sister had her baby on the 14th. Little Kash Joshua was 6 lbs 2 oz 18 inches long. Matt and I went to see him at the hospital on Saturday. He's so little. It's going to be way fun to have cousin's so close together in age. They'll be best friends.

My work had it's Holiday party this weekend. It was a nice evening. The picture is of me and Christi Well's my most favorite RAE. She got me the stoller and car seat that I wanted. I work with her out of Texas. Thanks so much to Christi!!! Something Christi sent me today was a quote by Charlse Schurtz the Peanuts guy. He said there's no need to worry about the end of the world as it's already tomorrow in Australia.

We made GingerBread houses with my family on Sunday. It was a fun time. We gave out awards like we do for pumpkin carvings and mine won the most christmas like/ Christmas Vacation house from National Lampoons Christmas Vacation.

Update on how I'm doing. The UTI is gone Thank Goodness!! They put me on a pill for my sugar levels but they seem to be helping. So I guess I'm ok with it. I wish I could have pulled it off by diet and excersice but that didn't work. I had another ultra sound today to make sure the placenta was in the right place and it is thankfully. If it wasn't I would have to have a C-Section. We got to see some more of our baby. She's about 3.5 lbs and the tech said she has a little bit of hair. Again she liked to stay hidden. We didn't get the good face shot that the tech likes to get but they were fun anyway! I'm 31 weeks only a few more to go. I started the 2 week appointments. Almost there!!!

Pregnancy Whoa's

Well I wish I could say that my pregnancy has been the best thing and that I'd love to do it over and over. .. but this little baby of mine has put me in the hospital two times and gave me diabetes.
I seem to catch every cold or sickness around as well. It stinks.

I've started my every two week visits. I think all these prenatal visits are just so you can hear the heart beat so you know it's still worth all the pain. I know I'll feel differently when she finally does come but until then man I don't know...

This last trip to the hospital was aweful. If anyone has experienced a UTI, I'm really sorry. It started Sunday with a vengence. I had to run in from the car to the house coming home from church only to have like a drop come out that hurt so bad. then be in the bathroom every 5-10 minutes. for the same worthless drop and the pain! so we finally went over to the OB triage and waited a little bit for some comfort. they gave me some vicadin (sp) for the pain and that was wonderful. Made me sleepy but relaxed me enough so I didnt' still have to get up every few minutes.

My urine had blood in it so they were concerned that I might have kidney stones but the ultra sound they had me get didn't show any signs of one. Not that it would as teh ultra sound tech said they would have to be really big for her to be able to see anything. They can't do the cat scan when your pregnant because its x ray's.

We were there for 3 hours. not as bad as the last one. OB Triage is way better then having to go through the emergency room!

I thought I was doing better this morning but as soon as I got to work I could feel it come on again. The dang medicine my doctor gave me isn't working as fast as I would like. I don't know what to do. I think I'll give it one more day by 3:00 tomorrow if its not better I'm going to call and see if there is anything else they can give me. Cause sleeping on the toilet because Laying down for 5 minutes then having to get up again is just not worth it. So I'm here with the lap top trying to keep my self busy while sitting on the comode! Its not to bad I have a blanket around me and I read in my book as well.

I know not everyone wants to hear this or if I should have even said anything but well I guess if anyone has any advice or something that might make me feel better. Please feel free to comment and let me know.

Getting Bigger

So you can see I have 79 more days Yippee!.

Something I found funny.

I was at church the other day talking with a friend about my baby and how far a long I am and she was saying how well I looked for only having a few months left. It's true I don't feel as big as I should . But I'm comparing myself to my sister who is due on the 28th of December. So I'm not to big... But today at work I was walking down one of the aisle's and then on my way back on of the girls I work with stopped me and asked "when are you due again, When you walked by I saw your tummy before I saw you." That made me laugh. I guess it has to do with what I'm wearing. The picture is what I was wearing today. I do look like the baby is coming!.

Oh and I went to AZ Mills today for lunch and to get a quick Christmas gift for my niece and I found out that in front of Sports Authority they have two parking spaces for Mothers-to-be and mother's with Infants. That was the coolest thing! It reminded me when I was in England at one of the grocery stores where they had parking spaces for pregnant, mothers with kids and older people.

And yes I put up the christmas tree on Sunday. Christmas is just to pretty and fun a holiday to not start early.

Thanksgiving with Matts Parents

It's nice to have family close enough to see each set in one weekend. We had Thanksgiving Dinner with my family and then we left early Friday to come up to see Matts Parents for the weekend in Snowflake. I'll add some pictures later. We ate lots of left overs. Matt helped his brother build his house. And I showed Matt's mom how to blog and get her pictures off her camera. I might have gotten a new friend online.

We watched Shrek the Third. It was a good one. We also got to watch Matt's best friends baby while they went to the temple. I think they were preparing us for our own.

On the couch: Maryann, Chelsea, Matthew, Julie

I was Tagged! Thanks DaNelle

4 Places I've worked...

1. Hancock Fabrics
2. Power Postal
3. Brown Property Management
4. First National Bank

4 Places I've Lived...

1. Gilbert, AZ
2. Rexburg, ID for one year of Ricks College before it was BYU Idaho
3. Phoenix, AZ, where I met my husband
4. Tempe, AZ Where we both live and work. We have such an easy commute!

4 Favorite TV Shows...

Well since we don't have a television I don't get to see much.

1. 24 I have to make an effort to watch this at my Brother in Laws house. It is defiantly my favorite
2. Extreme Make-Over Home Edition - The house that was done in Gilbert a few years ago was built on the street I lived on.
3. What Not To Wear
4. Shows I used to watch - Smallville, Gilmore Girls

4 Movies I want to see...

1. Becoming Jane - I wanted to see it when it got to the dollars but I even missed that chance.
2. RATATOUILLE
3. August Rush- Looks really good
4. I wanted to see American Gangster but well maybe if it comes out on TV oh wait I don't have a TV...

4 Favorite Foods...

1. Vietnamese- Matt introduced me to this little restaurant on Extension and Southern. I love it
2. Mexican- Give me a Chimichanga and I'll be happy
3. Ice Cream-
4. I really like everything at Thanksgiving Dinner. Since that is on my mind these days!

4 Weird things about me...

1. I hate it when Matt doesn't put the lid down on the toilet because I think the water particles from the toilet are going to get into the air and on to my toothbrush.
2. I have two Toothbrushes- One for the morning and one at night. I almost got into the habit of another one just in case I need one during the middle of the day.
3. I'm really laid back and can just sit around all day and not feel bad about doing it.
4. I'm a sucker for those hand message people at the malls. I'm good at saying I can't buy though.

4 Places I'd Rather be...

1. I love being at home
2. Bora Bora
3. In a Hot Tub
4. On a Cruise in the Caribbean- We went on a cruise for our honeymoon it was awesome!

4 People I'm tagging...

1. Michelle Hall
2. Cindy Whatcott
3. Linae McCoy
4. Jamie Taylor

Christmas Concert

Matt and I are in a Christmas Choir again this year. We performed last year at the Mesa Arts Center and this year we're going to be at Gammage. Below is the information on the concert. It was truely amazing last year. We'd love to see you there and share in the Christmas Spirit.

TICKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE for the 2nd Annual Spire Music ChristmasConcert featuring acapella group Two Five Nine!On Saturday, December 8 the 150-voice Spire Chorus and Orchestra willonce again present traditional Christmas carols and favorites tocelebrate the season in grand fashion. Acapella group Two Five Ninewill also make a comeback appearance to perform several holiday favorites throughout the evening. This year's concert will take place at ASU Gammage and will run one night only. Last year sold out in justa few days and those who missed it regretted it, so get your tickets today! Tickets start at just $7. They are available:In person: ASU Gammage Box Office - Apache and Mill Ave. in TempeBy phone: 480.965.3434Online: Ticketmasterhttp://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1E003F69B6F65895?artistid=1174590&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=201Note: Ticketmaster "convenience charges" will apply for phone andonline orders. To avoid these charges, purchase your tickets inperson at the box office.Spire Chorus and Orchestra - A Christmas CelebrationASU Gammage - Tempe, AZSaturday, December 8, 7:30 pmMore info, visit www.spiremusic.org/performances.php

Name Meanings

I just was thinking about names and what they meant, so I google searched Name Meanings. Here is my little families name meanings
Matthew - God's Gift - Origin - Hebrew
Heather - A Flowering Plant - Origin - English
Baby Kathryn - Pure, Virginal - Origin- Celtic/Gaelic

I got it off the site: http://www.name-meanings.com

Its interesting to see how a name fits the person. I can see baby Kathryn being the purest little baby. Just coming from Heaven in the presence of angels. I just have to live up to that in being her Angel mother.

Other news I'm 26 weeks today. I read she should be about 2 lbs now and about 9 inches head to rump. I read also that if she's premuture she could actually live from this time forward. No worries but just a relief to be out of that scarry time. I definelty am pregnant I'm getting rounder and rounder each day! Its kind of fun. except for the ugliness that comes with being all fat . Matt still thinks I'm pretty though. I just have to remember that he still loves me and that I don't need to worry. He really is God's Gift to me.

Halloween Festivities

Well, Halloween is come and gone. I can't believe it's already November. I have 3 more months. Till the baby. It seems I've been pregnant forever!!

We went to lots of Halloween parties this year.

We went to my sisters ward party before babysitting for another sister.

My work goes all out for Halloween and has decorating contests and trick or treating in the afteroon. My sister Rachel came with her daughters Rory and Paige. Rory was a Bat and Paige was a Cat.

Matt got asked to do two ward parties to do balloons. The first one was for a friend of mine. We were the hit of the night. hour long waits for balloons and we were the last to leave! Then our own ward party we got there at 6 and left by 7:30. Not nearly as many kids!

Matt is always the balloon twister for halloween and I get to be what ever I want. This year I found a really cute outfit that was for Elizabeth in the last Pirates Movie. Everyone at work called a Geisha.

We had our traditional family pumpkin carving night. This year we actually used a pattern. I think its cheating to do that but it sure looked good. Matt and mine was the headless horseman. Igor was done by my brother law Jared Brimhall .

We're on our way to Thanksgiving and Christmas . I can't believe the holidays are already here.

Kentucky Trip

Matt and I had the best 5 day vacation to Kentucky. We went to a leadership development conference that was amazing. Jam packed with the best teaching on leadership ever.

We also got to see some of the country going to and from Louisville and Matt's brothers house in Springfield. We took some back country roads to get there and man was it beautiful. They actually have a fall season. As you can see of some of the pictures I added. I got to meet a sister in law Hisako and her three cute kids. Ken, Erika, and Anna. We had a lot of fun with them.

We got to go to a baptism Sunday evening with them and my Cousins that are in the same branch. They had two kids give the talks. It was fun to hear the real accents.

My Cousin's got a baby cow on Monday. It was so cute. It was like a big dog but soon to be a huge cow.

Kentucky

We are about 20 minutes away from leaving for Kentucky for a Leadership convention and to visit some of mine and Matthews Family. I've never been to Kentucky. I'm so excited to go see a new place. Did I mention I love to travel and see new places!

This is Matt's oldest brother Ted and his family who we will stay with for some of the time we are there. I've never met the rest of the family. I've been told his kids look Japanese but have the southern drawl. Matt says its really funny to look at them and here them talk.

I'll get some pictures of the country while we are there. I've seen some pictures and it is just beautiful. I may not want to come back!

Singing

We just got back from a Elders Quorum activity of Singing karaoke. Matt same a Weird Al song and I sang a Little Mermaid song. It wasn't the best activity but we both did our part of singing. I had all the little girls come up and sing with me. I had fun but Matt said you couldn't even hear me.

Matt and I sang in church a few weeks ago. It was nice, we even had a few people get leaky eyes cause they felt the spirit so much. I really do like to share that talent. It scares me at first but then when I am actually up there I really like to just sing all I can.

We were in a Christmas program last year with about 100 or so singers. It was amazing. We performed at the Mesa Center for the Arts with the group 259. I'll let you all know if we do it again.

Matt Playing with Nieces and Nephews

I just know Matt is going to be a great Dad. I can see it in how he plays with my nieces and nephews. He's just a big kid at heart. I'm so excited to be able to play with our own kid coming soon

First Christmas

Our first Christmas together as a married couple. Its the Turley family tradition to get pajamas on Christmas Eve, so we have something cute to wear on Christmas morning. This year I'm going to try to get us some PJ's with feet on them...

This is it

Since a lot of the people I look up to in life have one of these Blog things I think I need to get on the same page. Like they say find someone who has what you want and do what they do. So here goes.
I probably should have my husband do this as he's the webdesigner but maybe I can take a stab at it. I'm not sure what I'm doing so lets see if this first post actually does something...