The Turner Follies

Turner is hilarious to us, and lately we've laughed so hard at some of her comments we have tried to write them down for posterity's sake.  This post may be updated from time to time as we add to what we like to call "The Turner Follies".

Updated 6/28/12
The power of a song
Crossing the bay on the way to the beach last week, Turner asked me, "That's the bay?  Is that where the watermelons grow?"  Then she started singing, "Down by the bay, down by the bay...where the watermelons grow, where the watermelons grow..."

Old like Tootsie
On the way to the beach we stopped at a less than appealing location in south Alabama to visit the restroom.  It was basically an outside entrance bathroom, between two cinderblock buildings (one a restaurant, one a gas station).  Turner said, "Mom, this bathroom looks funny."  I just told her it was old, but it would be fine.  She said, "Old like Tootsie?" 

What's in a name?
Mark and Turner walked past the band-aids in Publix and he asked her if she knew who the frog was on the band-aid box.  She said, "Yes, Hermit the frog."  (That would be Kermit...)

We've raised her right!
Turner is always telling us how she wants to grow up and live in the house across the street from us, she doesn't want to live far away from us, etc.  I rest assured that when she's a teen she will not continue to feel this way!  But, the other night at dinner we somehow got on the topic of her going to college and she said, "Guess where I am going to college?"  We asked where and she said, "Where Mommy went to college."  We questioned her on why not Mississippi State, etc. and she said, "I want to go to Auburn.  Then I can just walk down the hallway to Daddy's office and kiss him and hug him."  We took it a step further and said what if Daddy worked at another school, and she said she'd basically follow him anywhere.  We asked what would happpen if he worked for "Alabama Roll Tide" (what she calls that other university) and she immediately responded, "Daddy, you wouldn't do that."  She's being raised right I tell you!

Her sweet spirit
This one is old, but I found it in my planner where I had it recorded and I wanted to share.  One day last summer we were having a discussion about God being always present with us wherever we are.  Turner was dealing with some intense fears related to bad weather and she was not totally comforted by my encouragement.  She said, "But, I want to see Jesus in person."

Updated 6/17/12 What's that you say?
When Turner was much younger, Mark and I ordered some of our favorite cartoons from our childhood, with hopes of sharing them with Turner when she was older.  I ordered a DVD of the Smurfs (my Saturday morning tradition with my Daddy) and Mark ordered a DVD of the original eleven episodes of Fat Albert.  A few months ago Mark dug out the Fat Albert series and Turner has really taken an interest!  She loves the characters and the songs and we've watched the DVD more than a few times in the car.  A few weeks ago, while we were eating out in Andalusia for Mother's Day, Turner looked across the table at my 90 year old grandmother and asked, "Mema, have you ever seen Fat Albert?  I just love that show!"

The basic idea was correct...
When we passed by a Wendy's restaurant, Turner said, "Mommy, sometime soon we need to stop and get a "snowy" at that place right there."  I do believe she was referring to a Frosty!

At least she knows to pray!
One night, Mark was at work and Turner and I were sitting at our bar eating dinner.  She asked if we could go outside after dinner and I didn't answer her right away.  I noticed out of the corner of my eye she was mumbling something and when I turned my head toward her she started giggling.  She asked me if I knew what she had said, and I answered that I didn't.  She explained, "Mommy, I was saying, 'God please make her say yes, please make her say yes'...sometimes I do that when I don't get my way!"

Gotta love grandparents!
Turner is very excited that we will have the opportunity to fly up to Chicago to spend a few days with Mark after he attends a conference there in late July.  But, even as we discuss Chicago, she continues to ask if we will ever take her with us to New York, and specifically for her 5th birthday. (We can tell we have a traveler on our hands - which makes us happy!)   I told her that I imagined our next trip would need to be to Disney World since she's at the age where I think she would love that experience.  I explained that Disney World was one of Pop and Tootsie's favorite places on earth and that they'd probably want to go with us.  Turner said, "I thought Pop's favorite place was the Dollar Tree?!"   You must know that my Dad takes Turner to the Dollar Tree every single time we go to Andalusia.  Mainly to buy her chewing gum, but she always leaves with lots of random toys. 

Our little redneck secret
Sometimes Mark and I get a craving to go to the Golden Corral.  I know, we clean up nice and put on a good front, but we are just a couple of small town redneck kids at heart.  We decided on this as our dinner option a few weeks ago and pumped up Turner on the way there as far as what options were available on the buffet for her dinner.  She is obviously our child and has an appreciation for the buffet experience, because her first plate consisted of spaghetti, broccoli and cheese, and re-fried beans/nachos. There were other plates, just as randomly designed and she couldn't believe that you could get something from the everlasting chocolate fountain, ice-cream machine, and the dessert bar!  This summer they are even making cotton candy on the dessert bar - seriously!!??  Don't think for a minute that I am implying that I didn't partake...it's just a little strange to serve in a restaurant.  But, we really cracked up when midway through dinner Turner said, "Wow, this parfait is awesome!"

I love how Turner makes us laugh!!

Loving the beach!

We arrived in Seagrove Beach today to join Tootsie, Pop, and BB who have been here since Sunday.  It has been a busy couple of weeks and this has definitely been something I've been looking forward to!

We hit the beach quickly after our arrival and I was tickled at Turner's willingness to pose without even being asked!  She has such a flair for the dramatic - all I asked for her to do was look my direction and smile.  She gave me nearly 30 seconds of modeling that looked like we were on a photo shoot!

There's a storm brewing in the gulf so the waves are mighty!

BB kept throwing popcorn at Turner but Turner couldn't see her doing it...she told BB, "I've got my eye on you!" Too bad I caught it on camera!

After dinner, Turner asked me to braid her hair and then BB followed by asking me to braid hers!  Turner thought BB needed some bows but then determined she looked "scary" with the bows!

Turner went for a bike ride and we all intended to get ice cream across the street, which Turned into a hour long adventure around Hwy 30A. We finally determined that we'd purchase our own at Publix and build our own sundaes. I think we came out better for it!

I am looking forward to a few more days down here in my favorite place with some of my favorite people!  My favorite man and sweet husband is at home working hard and I hate he can't be down here with us though!   We love you Da-Dee!

Fun visit with a friend!

Turner enjoyed a visit with our friend Joshua Haines last week! These two don't see each other as much as we'd like since the 8 hour time difference from Auburn to Orlando makes for infrequent visits.

But, it was so fun to watch them pick right up and run off into the yard playing together. They ended up playing Twister, which provided me with some hilarious photo ops, and at some point during the evening ended up laying on a pillow and under blankets in a tent in my foyer. In the picture you'll notice the camping lantern all aglow as Joshua reads to Turner. They were too cute!!

Annie, Hua, Matthew, and Christina - we missed y'all but hope to see you on the next trip to AU!  Lolli and Pops - thank you for bringing us dinner and spending your evening with us! 

This pic is just included as random fun - we are loving the sprinkler this summer on random afternoons when we don't have time to make the pool!

A priceless Father's Day moment

We decided to allow Turner to skip her naps this weekend, with her understanding that this deal is only good if she doesn't get cranky, and doesn't argue when bedtime is a little earlier than normal.   Today she asked Mark to watch Snow White with her and they made a huge bowl of popcorn and curled up in the "big red chair".  Mark fell asleep within 30 minutes, but Turner continued to watch for about an hour.  At one particularly scary part I saw her move over near him, and about 10 min later this is what I found. Guess we still need those naps after all - or maybe Daddy is just really a comfy snuggle buddy.  (I think both are true...)

Happy Father's Day to my sweet husband and one amazing daddy.  

I love to see the joy he gets from playing with Turner.  It makes me smile to hear the nostalgia he expresses as we realize that with each new independence it means she needs us less and less.  Mark you are Turner's hero and my perfect helpmate.  We love you lots!

Also, happy Father's Day to my sweet Daddy and to my sweet Father-in-law.  They are two of the finest men and two of the best daddies on this planet.  I am just thankful that they are ours!!

VBS!

Turner really enjoyed her first Vacation Bible School last week!  She wasn't quite sure what to expect on the first day, but by the second day she was eager to share how much fun she'd had that morning!  I was a little surprised that her very favorite activity each day was the missions class.  I expected her to enjoy the crafts or music the most, but was encouraged that daily she told me, "Mommy, you would love missions!  Can you come tomorrow to the mission class?"

Turner with her "second family" whom she stays with each day when I am at work!

I got a text from a friend during the day on Tuesday, sharing that Turner had been selected to go up on stage to lead with motions and singing!  She didn't totally love this because she wasn't confident with the motions, but she does love being onstage!

I also want to note (mainly for my record keeping) the pink hair bow that turner has clipped in her hair.  This is the second gift given to her by a special friend, Jaydan, from her preschool class.  He gave her a bracelet for Valentine's Day and I asked her whether he brought one to all the little girls (he didn't).  Obviously he has a special friendship with Turner and I was so grateful that Mrs. Amy reported that Turner accepted this gift graciously and clipped it right in her hair and wore it all day!  I was proud of her gracious spirit!

Turner had a blast at the family fun night on Wednesday night!  She does love a water slide and what she called a "cone of ice"!  (Kona Ice traveling sno-cone truck!)

As always I am amazed by the time, effort, and energy that churches put into this massive outreach effort!  Turner's heart was blessed and so was her Mommy's! 

Camp War Eagle and Pep Rally Time!

We've enjoyed going to the Camp War Eagle pep rallies again this summer!  The first three pictures are from the first pep rally, and the rest are from the second when my mom and sister were in town visiting.   

If you don't know "The Nun", it's obvious you've never been to Camp War Eagle.  She is a dear friend and sweet Auburn lady who has been a devoted part of the Camp War Eagle program since it's beginnings back in 1995.  She is not on Mark's staff and has no reason to participate in this program other than her love for Auburn and her desire to see the freshmen grow to love her alma mater as much as she does.  (By the way, she's not a real nun at all.  Nunnelly is her last name!)

Last pep rally, she surprised me by saying (on the mic), "Sarah, can you get Turner down here to the field?"  If you know the Nun, you know I didn't hesitate in scooping Turner up and running her down there.  I had no idea why we were being beckoned, but I wouldn't dream of not doing what she asked!  Unbeknownst to me (and to Mark because she knows him well and knows he wouldn't have wanted any attention to be drawn to us at CWE), she had brought Turner a special whistle and called her down on the field to cheer with the cheerleaders and help Nun with "crowd control".  Turner was a bit overwhelmed and wouldn't get too far away from the hedges where I was squatting.  But she ended up having a great time! Ironically, she had pitched a fit to wear her AU cheerleader uniform (I had something else in mind) and it wasn't worth me arguing with her about it.  I was SO grateful she had it on this particular evening!

Mark, Turner, and Nun. 

She is enjoying the pep rallies this year and Mark and I are waiting the moment (fully expecting it to be this summer) when we have to clarify some of the cursing in the Auburn cheers.  :)  I remember at some point, not sure how old I was, when I learned that the words "hit em high, hit em low" weren't actually a part of the Auburn Fight Song!  Just part of it I guess!

Tootsie turns 60!

Monday, May 21st was my mom's 60th birthday! I hate that her birthday comes as such a crazy time for all of us (usually the last couple of days of school for us both)!  This year was no different, and we knew ahead of time we wouldn't be able to spend her special day with her in person. 

Thankfully, my mom has been a part of one school faculty for nearly 40 years, and while the faces have changed through the years there is no denying that the AMS school faculty is a family.  They really went out of their way to honor my mom for her birthday, making it a fun experience for everyone!

 My dad was present to snap some pictures and he sent them to me throughout the day. Pardon the picture quality but I think you'll get the idea!

My maiden name is Stone, so they creatively chose the "Stone Ages" as the theme of the day.  The picture below is completely hilarious, as this would be her principal and assistant principal.  I almost died when I looked more closely at the poster on the door (note my mom's face plastered over the model). 

This is the media specialist, dressed up like my mom.  Notice the white hair, scarf, and obnoxious Auburn attire!

They greeted her at her car with a wheelchair!

There were many more of these signs lining the school driveway!  The first one here is just a funny about Mom, but the last one is what she says every. single. morning. on the school announcements. 
She has been known to make me want to curse when she types this in a random email or says it one the phone when I am venting about something...so this sign really made me laugh!

Happy Birthday Tootsie!  We love you lots!  Though your hair might make you look 60, we all know you'll never act that old!!

AMS staff - thank you for making this such a special day for my mom!  I appreciate you!

Talladega

For Christmas, you may remember that we gave my dad a coupon for the Dale Jarrett NASCAR Racing Experience.  He has been so excited about this opportunity and we made sure to find a date in May that most of the family could make the trip to Talladega to watch him drive.

On Saturday, May 19th Turner and I made the trek to Talladega and arrived just in time to see the introduction and make a few posters in support of Pop before we all headed out on the track. 

Pop suited up in a real fire suit and looked like a real driver!

Turner and several other kids got to give the call, "Gentlemen, start your engines!"

These next two are my two favorite pictures of my dad.  Such a handsome fella.

And he's off!  He did six laps I think and his top speed was 169mph!  He about gave my sister and mother heart failure in one of the turns by getting too close to the wall, thankfully I didn't see that!

Here's a video of part of one of his laps!
                                                        

Pop we were so proud to be there to cheer you on!