Memoirs from a Modern Minivan Mom

The life of the Turners: Ryan, Julie, Ethan, Drew and Elise

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Bad habit



So I have this HORRIBLE habit. I bite my nails all the time. The only time I've ever had nice nails was all three of my pregnancies. I think that because I was so nauseous during my pregnancies, I wanted nothing near my mouth, so I wouldn't bite my nails. I would absolutely LOVE to get over this habit. There's nothing like a well-manicured hand (as I bite my nail).

I've done the fake nails before, and I hate how they completely ruin your nails underneath. They are also super expensive, something I don't have budgeted in my "Julie fund" every month:-) I've tried getting them manicured, thinking if they looked nice I would keep them that way. That lasted maybe a week (better than nothing I guess).

Does anyone have any good suggestions? Anyone? Please help!!!!! I'd love to get over this habit, so I can get on to correcting the next one on my list......ha!

Monday, October 8, 2007

60 Years!


Probably seems like all I post about lately is birthdays! Needless to say, starting in September we have a slew of 'em:-) Anyways, not to take away from any of them...cause we all know birthdays are special (at least in my family, growing up when your birthday arrived....you felt special all day).

Happy 60th Birthday Dad!

If any of you know my father, you know I am the luckiest girl in the world. I feel so blessed to have been born into the family that I was. My father is simply put...AMAZING. A few other words that come to mind are: leader, Godly example, faithful, loving, great sense of humor, fidgety (sorry had to throw that in Dad!), playful (with the grandkids), giving, generous, adventurous, entertainer, ....I could go on and on. This doesn't even begin to describe my dad. Anyways, hope you have a wonderful day Dad, so sorry we couldn't be there to help you celebrate.....but here's a little video so we can pretend we're there!

Love you to the moon and back:-)

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Happy Birthday Old Man

Today was Ryan's 30th birthday....he was a little depressed about turning 30, so of course I had to play it up:-) Check out the signs in our front yard:



Now if you look really close, you can see they put the wrong name on the liscense plate the old man has. His name is obviously not "Bryan"...but the lady I ordered the signs through thought I had said that over the phone. The sign on the left also had "Bryan" on it, but I was able to take the B off to make it "Ryan". I guess it will be more memorable now. We joked all day that Ryan had an imaginary friend named Bryan that was also turning 30. The funny part is that Ryan used to be called Bryan all the time growing up by people that didn't hear his name correctly. So this was actually pretty fitting for him.

Aside from the signs I bought him a couple gag gifts, this being one of them:



Yes, they are Depends. I was actually mad that he opened up the package and put them on, because they were expensive! I was planning on taking them back after he opened the gift, but he tore right into those suckers:-) So if anyone out there needs some Depends, give me a call......I have a whole bunch for you.

All joking aside, I am so thankful that God put this man in my life. He is the most wonderful husband and father...I know a lot of people say that, but I feel so blessed and lucky that he is a part of my life. I was going to make a list of 30 things I appreciate about him for his 30th birthday, but unfortunately never got around to it. One of these days I will do that. Here are a few I can come up with off the top of my head:

He is so grounded. Whenever things get heated between us, he is the calm, rational, grounded one. If it weren't for him I don't know if we would ever resolve conflict:-)

He keeps his faith and his family his top priorities. He truely does. He has been offered many lucrative positions in the past that would have required much more travel or time in the office, and he wants nothing to do with that. We are so blessed that he works from home. The kids get to see daddy at lunch and every day at 4pm when he's done working. How amazing is that!

He is completely motivated. The man wants something done he will make it happen.

He is a complete hands-on dad. He's the one rolling around on the floor playing body-slam with the boys. He changes diapers all the time. He feeds Elise for me. He gives me a night out every week while he takes care of the kids. He gives baths to the boys almost every night. I could go on and on.

He loves to take care of me. He is always asking if he can help me in any way and genuinely means it. When I was sick during my pregnancies, he was willing to do whatever it took to make me feel better (including running to the store several times in one night to try different medications/remedies).

Okay, I've GOT to get to bed. Exhausted. Can hardly read screen. Hope this even makes sense:-) I'll leave you with a picture of when we first started dating (over 12 years ago). Hilarious! Happy Birthday Ryan......we love you.