Trip back East - part 1

From August 6th through August 15th we spent time in Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania with our darling family. Here are some highlights of the first part of our trip:

6:30 a.m. on our way to the airport we blew a tire! We were so glad we left early.

Our 3-hour layover in Salt Lake City allowed us to have lunch with Grandma Turner.

The "mushroom park" was our first stop on Friday morning with the Shakespeare's. When the rest of the crew arrived Friday, we had a wonderful dinner together at Olive Garden (thankfully they had a corner room to give us!)

On Saturday morning it rained hard - fortunately we were able to spend some time at Jump City, a great place for kids in Ann Arbor.

We were so glad that the weather cleared up by Saturday evening becasue we had tickets to a Detroit Tigers game. They lost but we enjoyed the antics of the fans, especially the "beach ball bandits" who were in our section. We even stayed until after the game to watch the fireworks!

Commerica Park in Detroit is a beautiful place to watch a baseball game.

Sunday afternoon story time with Uncle Brigg.

Even though Marcie's birthday isn't until August 31st, her kids surprised her with some wonderful singing, home made key lime cheesecake, and some fun gift certificates.

Sailing, takes me away....

On Friday night July 10 we had a delightful experience. Our friends, Frank and Barbara Johnston, picked us up and drove us to Boston Harbor where they moor their sail boat. We spent a couple of hours out on the water with them - they provided dinner and fascinating conversations! We sailed out by Squaxin Island and had a wonderful view of Harstine Island as well. The weather was perfect - Mt. Raininer was visible in the distance but a bit milky so the pictures we took of it really didn't turn out that great.

Captain Frank making sure the boat was ship shape.

The sails were full of wind that night - couldn't ask for better weather - sunny and a good enough breeze to take us where we wanted to go!

Barbara J at the helm - we were just happy passengers at this point.

Marcie T was a bit nervous to take over, but did a fabulous job. She didn't even get sea sick.

Admiring one of the beautiful islands.

On Saturday the 11th we spent a bulk of the day with Young Single Adults from 4 stakes at the coast, city of Westport. It was a service project activity cleaning the beach from the 4th of July fireworks - we had a great time working on the beach and then the Westport Branch fixed us a yummy meal. It was wonderful to hear the crash of the ocean waves! Note our yellow "Mormon helping hands" shirts.

Several years ago Scott and Brigg went to an REI garage sale in Seattle at their headquarters and bought some great stuff at bargain prices. One such purchase was a pair of aqua socks for Scott since he's such a pansy when it comes to getting his feet cold! They came in handy working on the beach. Lovely!

dad's day

Father's Day 2009! You have a dad who loves and cherishes each one of you! When you were little we could hear the old VW bug coming down the street about a half a mile away. You kids would meet him at the kitchen door, he would drop his brief case, pull off his shoes and the four of you would tumble across the living room floor like bear cubs! It was my favorite part of the day to watch. Dad hated to leave for work in the morning if you were up, because it was always more fun to play than go to work. You three didn't help either, you would beg him to stay home. So we started keeping you up later at night (until you started in school), so that you would sleep later and he could leave for work without being begged to stay home. Saturday was our favorite day, and Monday was our favorite evening. We would work together and play together on Saturday, and Monday for home evening, we would pray, study the scriptures, sing songs till we were hoarse, and then play games. I couldn't have asked for a better dad for my children! He was/is the BEST!! And now he is great friend and Dad!

Christmas '08 with Zac, Hyrum and Buddy

Our six sweet kids

Hyrum and Dad

Hunter and Dad

Andrew, Pickle and Anne at Ko'olina
Dad's favorite place in Hawaii

This is where the name "Pickle" came from
Anne and Grandpa with their first picklenose snowman!

Dad and Brigg at High Rock (I think)

Dad's Princess home from her mission

Meg and Dad in "You Nork"

The boys favorite Saturday activity, rain, shine, snow, sleet, wind, leaves, mud - whatever!

In Memoriam

We are so grateful to have had some some quality time with Nolen and his family during the Memorial Day weekend. We could not anticipate that just the Saturday after saying good-bye to him in Utah, we would get the call saying he had suffered a heart attack and passed away. We will miss him very much - his calm and kind way. We are very grateful for the knowledge we have of eternal families and we are sure that we will be blessed again with Nolen's association.









A recent picture of Nolen and Shellee at a work party.

Nolen had a great love for motorcycle's and last year drove this one 1,000 miles in Baja California. This bike was outside at the front of the church where his funeral was held - with pictures of him all around it!

A friend followed the hearse on Nolen's motorcycle to the cemetery. After the dedication of the grave while we were all standing around visiting, this man popped several wheelies on the street and went down the road on his back wheel only! A tribute to Nolen.

His was a beautiful casket symbolic of the great outdoors Nolen loves so much.

Shellee receiving comfort from her Jamie during the viewing just before the funeral.

Shellee and her girls at the cemetery awaiting the dedication of the grave by Jett.

The beautiful casket in the open air.

Nolen, Jett and Amber at the luncheon for Brigg and Havalah's wedding a couple of years ago.

This picture typifies Nolen's life - one of service and helping out others. Here he is giving our grandson Hyrum a drink of juice at Brigg's wedding.

The way we'll always remember Nolen - a big smile on his face and enjoying life!

Memorial Day - part 2

On the Sunday before Memorial Day, we had a wonderful day at church in American Fork. At home we celebrated Uncle Nolen's 59th birthday with cake and ice cream! You can see he did quite well blowing out the candles - it was great to be together this night.
(As you know, we were shocked just a few days later to learn Nolen had a heart attack and passed away. We'll provide pictures of the funeral once we get back from Elko later this week)


















Enjoying birthday cake together!











Anyone remember playing in this ditch?!

Dad Turner's gravesite adorned with beautiful flowers.

Mom T and her 3 kids surrounding Dad T's head stone







After a great program at the Bluffdale cemetery, we went to Uncle Elmo's church for a Turner family reunion and had a great time.




Scott with a favorite cousin, Randy Turner















Scott and Nolen playing "attack each other with small marshmallows fired through PVC pipe"!




After a fun day at the park, we stopped back at the little Bluffdale cemetery with its colorful flowers. We had a wonderful day.

Memorial Day in Utah - part 1

For Memorial Day we had the opportunity to travel to Utah and be with family. Once we arrived in Salt Lake we did something we've never done before. Though we've been in the conference center dozens of times for conference, we've never taken an "official tour" of the building! But we did the Friday before Memorial Day. Here are some things we learned:
· It was dedicated in April 2000 (the whole Turner family was there!)
· It was finished in 3 years because there were as many as 1,000 workers at any one time working on the project
· From the podium to the back of the balcony is 130 yards or more than a football field
· There are no obstructed views in the conference center. The ceiling contains a beam made in Belgium that weighs 650 tons and smaller beams radiate out from it to help hold up the ceiling.
· Several 10 foot square skylights help light the center during the day
· Capacity is 21,000 and the center has 1,400,000 square feet
· Garden on the top of the center is 6 acres; the flowers and trees are planted in peat moss which is much lighter than dirt
· The heating and cooling system is so massive that it is located in a building 2 miles from the center

Marcie T crossing the street above the conference center - they had orange flags on both sides to help us get across without incident!














A view from the side of the center towards the Salt Lake Temple.

The fountain starts here on the roof and run down the side of the building, making a waterfall.

On the roof - 6 acres of trees and flowers and flowing water.












View from the top of the center towards the temple.










A great piece of art work depicting the stoning of Stephen in the book of Acts.



















Glasswork depicting Lehi's dream of the Tree of Life.

Saturday May 16, 2009

Dad had a "show your stuff" day at work before Mother's Day. It was part of public service recognition. Anyway, Dad took in his plum and rhubarb jam to share, and one of the ladies in his building brought card making stuff to share. Your dad made this mother's day card for me with his own hands. I was quite proud of his "craftiness"!!

Red plate just for you Meg!!

Highlight of the day was talking to all 3 kids!

Star Trek has its 7 of 9 - well today we went from 2 to 9 - that is of course in number of rhubarb plants! It was clear that the current two plants needed to be split up - but we never dreamed we would create 7 new plants from what we had! We may need some help next summer preparing all that jam:)

Roto looks a little tired after working hard today - he's a bit slanted off to the side!