Cute as a Button

Margaret Campbell Harris

Almost 10 Months Old

She totally hams it up as soon as the camera comes out

I could just eat her up

Princess Party - Happy 3rd Birthday Madison

Madison's 3rd Birthday Cake - made by her Mom, Kimberly (who has got mad talent)

Avery trying to figure out if this kid is trying to steal her crown...

I just thought this view from behind was cute, them sitting there alone playing...

Olivia looking less than thrilled that Mommy asked to take her photo

Brad sitting at the Kiddie Table - adorable

Olivia after she made her crown and got her "goodie" bag

Enjoying cupcakes

Doing what she does best...making a mess, all while finding a way to be adorable

Spring Chicken? I think NOT

Annapolis, Maryland

Friday Morning around 8am I picked up Linds and we merged onto the always busy 95N, in route to Annapolis, Maryland to celebrate Allison's Bachelorette Weekend. We arrived in Annapolis around 2pm (we stopped in Alexandria to pick up several other ladies), just in time for drinks on the dock, and lunch at Pussers Grill. The food was good, but the Dock Bar was FABULOUS, I love Annapolis.

A short walk from our house

Our house...sleeps 6 total, but not this weekend, it slept 10!

Very appropriate - "B" for BACHELORETTE

Then we all headed over to the house we rented for the weekend, socialized and enjoyed some spirits, and by spirits, I mean SEVERAL bottles of...

Heather prepared the Mexican Shrimp Cocktail Appetizer for us and then made some Lime Chicken Soft Tacos for dinner - delicious. Allison and I sat up on the deck and talked for hours while the other girls caught some zzzz's. I slept in a closet on a mattress...funny, but oddly comfortable.

The girls

The house had two bedrooms and we had ten girls - we had to get creative. Saturday Morning we took our time getting up and moving, and then all spent the day on a private beach, I got a crazy amount of sun and had a great time just relaxing and gabbing with the ladies.

 

The view from our private beach...

Saturday Night we got all decked out and grabbed cabs, destination - downtown Annapolis for 7:30pm dinner reservations.

Dinner took a long, long time and it was basically 10pm by the time we walked into our first bar. We had a great night of celebrating and dancing. But man oh man, I am OLD. I got about 4 hours of sleep Saturday night and had to drive home Sunday morning feeling less than "with it".

The "Bride to Be" and Indira

A few of the other ladies...

Brad had already put the girls down for their nap by the time I got home, so I was able to rest a bit and gear up for our neighbors (Madison) 3rd Birthday Party (Princess Theme).

Allison had to salute every time we saw a sailor...

Mexican Shrimp Cocktail

Prep Time - 15 minutes

Ready In - 3 hours & 15 minutes

2 pounds cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined

1 tablespoon crushed garlic
1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1 1/2 cups tomato and clam juice cocktail (or Spicy V8 Juice)
1/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce, or to taste
1/4 cup prepared horseradish
salt to taste
1 ripe avocado - peeled, pitted and chopped
 
Place the shrimp in a large bowl. Stir garlic, red onion, and cilantro. Mix in tomato and clam juice cocktail, ketchup, lime juice, hot pepper sauce, and horseradish. Season with salt. Gently stir in avocado. Cover, and refrigerate 2 to 3 hours. Serve in one large bowl or ladle into individual bowls.

I tried...I really did.

So I made it to Kohls, late and without Olivia ("I don't want to go shopping with you, I want my Daddy"), but what matters most is that I made it...A few things that would have been nice to know ahead of time.

1) Kohls Cash ended yesterday - so I lost out - big time.
2) When Jumping Beans has a sale like this, and it starts on Sunday, you best get your buns there on Sunday or Monday, because its slim pickings, especially in the 4-6X sizes.
3) What size Olivia wears...

So I ended up buying a few different sizes in the bottoms, I got a pair or two of leggings, two pairs of fleece pants, two pairs of jeans and three pairs of cords (they are the softest cords EVER, and I love that they don't have a real zipper and snap, with potty training that is a pain in the neck). But I am not married to any of them EXCEPT the cords and the brown leggings, so I am hoping those fit, the others are likely going back. And as for shirts...I really struggled...it just isn't my style. Take a peek...

So I bought a few shirts, brought them home and had Brad vote on them...most of them are going back, but there were a few that made the cut, and lucky for me, the ones that I also bought for Avery are the ones that made the cut, so low and behold they will have at least one matching shirt for the Fall.

And since Kohls shares a parking lot with Target, and I couldn't resist, and thank the Lord I didn't try, the summer clearance is in full swing. I snatched up several bathing suits for Olivia for the next few summers $5.00 per suit, B-A-R-G-A-I-N. (Side Note: 9pm on a Wednesday is a FABULOUS time to shop at Target). I quickly ran through the other clearance section and found several adorable t-shirts and dresses for next summer, and hopefully the summer after that. And I realized, Target is much more my style...take a look.

So I think I might end up taking several of the Kohls pieces back and I am going to wait until Target brings out their Fall Long-Sleeve options and go from there, and of course there is the Molly-Leigh Outlet Shopping Trip planned for September-October that will hopefully fill in the gaps. And of course the big Lands End purchase should help too - lets hope Target comes through.

Now don't go thinking I am all down in the mouth about Kohls...sure, it didn't work out as well as I would have hoped for Olivia's Fall Wardrobe, HOWEVER, I found a dress I can wear to one of the two rehersal dinners I have coming up, and after trying on all my appropriate dresses and finding out that not a single one of them fits over this large and in charge bod, and after crying all the way home from my parents house (where my dresses are living these days), so I am PUMPED about the Kohls dress, its super aforable and cute. And Kohls has an amazing selection of jewlery as well, so there you have it. In a panic I ordered two dresses from JCrew the instant my tear stained face arrived home from my parents house after the dress trying on-none fitting debacle.

Here is one of the JCrew dresses

And here is the second one, but I ordered it in Brown

Who knows if they will fit - fingers crossed, but worst case, I have another option now, whereas earlier my pickings were S-L-I-M.

Wish Her Luck

My dear friend Molly is entering the workforce again today after having Sweet Baby Campbell last November. Today is her first day back on the job and Campbell's first day at daycare, so if you get a second, would you think happy thoughts for both of them, I sure know I will be thinking about them today. If I know Campbell and Molly, I know they will be just fine, Campbell will charm all her new friends and Molly will do great!

I'm Gonna Do It

I am going to venture out to Kohls tonight and pick up some fall clothing for Olivia, they are having a fabulous sale on their Jumping Beans line, which is basically mix n match tops and bottoms. $4.99 per piece...can't beat that with a stick. I have remained fairly loyal to Carters, Gap Kids and Target, but the girls come home from school looking like little homeless kids, they are FILTHY.  So spending even $8-$10 per piece is just too much for it to be ruined after 1-2 wears, so I am going to do it, I am going to try out the Jumping Beans line and see what they have to offer for Olivia's Fall Wardrobe.

I will let you know how it goes, I am even thinking about taking Olivia with me so she can help me pick some of her clothes out, she loves to go "Olivia Shopping". Want a peek into her Christmas Wish List...

Doesn't every three year old need Purple Slippers?

An Umbrella - she wants a Dora Umbrella, but I am going to try and sway her to the Polka Dot/Monogrammed look, one that will last a little longer.

Photo's By Sascha

The Turner Family

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

August 2010

The Brad Turner Family

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

August 2010

I can remember when...

you fit in the palm of my hand...

Felt so good in it...no bigger than the minute

How it amazes me...you're changing with every blink

Faster than a flower blooms...they grow up all too soon

So let them be little...'cause they're only that way for a while

Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day

Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle, oh just let them be little

I've never felt so much in one little tender touch

I live for those kisses, prayers and your wishes

Happy 18 Months Avery

Avery - 1 Week Old

Our little hippo is 18 months old, can you believe it? Where does the time go? Especially all that extra time she allows you to spend awake (at 5:30am)? I mean seriously people, how is she already 18 months old?

At 18 Months Old...

you love the beach...

you love your momma

you love Riley, and you happen to call all dogs Riley

you love to color and blow bubbles and can clearly ask to do both

you go to bed between 7pm and 8pm, usually around 7:30pm

you wake up around 5:30am, and lately have been waking up happy, and end up talking yourself back to sleep until closer to 6:30am

your two favorite words are "milk" and "nack" (aka Snack)

you love your PawPaw, you and he are buddies

you ask about "Lala" every morning and would run and beat down her door if we would let you

you give great kisses, and love to kiss "boo-boos"

We don't yet know how much you weigh, etc, your 18 Month Check up isn't for a few more weeks since we delayed your 15 Month Check up because you were sick.

Avery's Half Birthday Cupcakes for her "friends" at school

Olivia finishing her rendition of Happy Half Birthday Avery...with a big "Ta-Da"...can't you just hear it?

(yes, her dress does indeed appear a tad on the short side...note to self, stop dressing your 3 year old like a little hussy, or at the very least, stop capturing it on "film")

Olivia enjoying Avery's cupcakes...Avery had to miss out due to a severe diaper rash that required her to soak in the tubbie...poor darling, that is the last thing anyone wants to have on their Half Birthday...a sore bum.

Happy Half Birthday my Sweet Avery Girl...I love you to the moon and back.