Christmas Eve Surprise

This evening as we were wrapping presents we received a knock on the door around 10:30. No one was there but this adorable house was left behind with a note that said. "Merry Christmas to the Turley family! I'll see you on Sunday but you won't see me!" We have absolutely no idea who it could have been but it was so much fun to have that surprise. Also, we are totally AmaZeD at the detail that went into this little house. It is hard to capture on camera but I did my best. Notice the gumdrop light at the top. A quite impressive little detail.

Also above you will notice the detail that went into the fence along the front including the gate. Below is the the best view of the elk which is shaped out of frosting. Wow, the time that it must have taken to make that. The little rock (jellybean) wall along the side. Sooo cute.
The roof top was beautiful, I don't even know what they used to make it. The picture below I took to capture the bird in the bottom left corner sitting on another portion of rock wall. This bird is also made from frosting and there were several of them. I am amazed at the time someone spent on creating this masterpiece and then they gave it away and won't even get any credit for it. Well, if they happen to read my blog I want them to know that we LOVED it and we APPRECIATE the fine craftsmanship. Thank you so much for sharing it with us.

Another fun thing I received today which wasnt a total surprise. This basket of handmade soaps. At our Relief Society meeting in December we did a white elephant exchange where we had to write down a service that we could do for someone else as our gift. Well, the gift that I received was that she would make me some handmade soaps. So, today this basket came filled with the most beautiful soaps I have ever seen. The colors are so vibrant and they smell heavenly. I almost couldnt believe that they were handmade. However, they are and Ila Reynolds I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am so happy to be the recipient of such a beautiful gift.

I had to take a picture of a few of my favorites close-up. Aren't they just beautiful?

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Christmas Goodies

There are many wonderful things about Christmas. One of them being the shared goodies between neighbors, friends & family. This is one goodie that we received and thoroughly enjoyed. Merry Christmas, hope you are enjoying this season of giving.

You can see where he gets it

Just so you know Richard & Camdon are both color blind. Camdon is the most like his father of all our children. He is built like him & he is funny like him. He has Richard's middle name & he looks the most like him. Well, here is something else they both have in common. Neither one of them sees anything wrong with these outfit combinations. They are both plaid was their response. What's wrong with that?

Terrie Farnes - A classy Lady

I am saddened to say that Terrie Farnes, one of the best people on earth has passed on to the other side. She was surrounded by loved ones as she left this earthly existence today. She is one of the most giving, caring, fun, classy ladies there ever was. She will be deeply missed. Love you Terrie!

HaPPy BirthDaY ToDD

Today is my brother's birthday! He lives out of state & we don't get to see him a whole lot. But...... he will be coming for a visit in just 2 short days!!!! I am pretty stoked about seeing him & his sweet family.

Here is the goofball! He always been so good at making funny faces & talking with strange accents. He does an awesome scooby-doo impersonation!
Here is the cute family I mentioned.

Last Christmas when they were here. Todd & Laura took Jaron & Trevon hiking.

A recent vacation for him to the beach. Just love this picture. Oh and did I mention that I love him too! Happy Birthday Todd!

(P.S. - If you are my sibling & I didnt get a birthday post done for you. Please don't feel slighted. I just happened to have a few minutes this morning and really needed an update anyway. Love you all!)

TrUnk Or TrEaT

Last night was our wards Halloween Party. We had a great time as always. It was a great turn out. Here is Camdon who dressed as a pirate. He was pretty fierce with his weapons. I think he had 4 swords and a gun. ScArEy!

I went as a clown & had so much fun with it. I won 1st place for Best Costume & also an award for 'Most Jolly'. I was pretty excited!
Trevon went as Tigger. He won 3rd place for Best Costume. He was probably the warmest one there. LOL

Richard came up with this all on his own. I thought it was very creative on his part. Not sure if you can see the knife that is stabbing the cereal box but he was a 'Cereal Killer'. Funny, eh?

Jaron was original as all get out.

He was a 'Sports Fan'

Uh-huh-ya that's what I said.

They had some really fun games for the kids to play.

Another fun game.

Tiffany & Randy were Little Red Riding Hood & the Big Bad Wolf dressed as grandma. They borrowed our costumes and so you can imagine that I was excited that they took 2nd place for Best Costume. (Oh-ya!)

The kids all sure enjoyed the candy. Look at this cute Irish baby!

After that party was over we took a car load of boys to a SpOOk aLLeY. Here we are getting ready to go in.

This wolf (who I happen to know) snuck up behind me just as I was coming out of the spook alley and scared me again. Guess he thought I needed to scream one more time. LOL - thanks Ryan! I thought Richard's camera skills here were stealthy.

HaPPy HaLLoween to all our Friends & Family. We are gearing up today for 2 Halloween parties today. Camdon is having one this afternoon with his friends. Jaron & Trevon are having one tonight with their friends. Pictures to come.

Pumpkin Carving

We carved our pumpkins last night for Family Home Evenening. We had a great time doing it! I couldn't get a picture of Trevon with his eyes open so I had him just look down. lol He did a silly face on his pumpkin.

Camdon was very creative with his. He did a bumblebee with a spider in the upper left corner. It is hard to see how great it looks in this picture but you get the idea.
I knew Richard wouldn't carve a pumpkin but I hoped Jaron would. No such luck, he wasn't interested either so I got to do two. I went with a spider theme on mine.Here we are with our pumpkins.

Trevon being silly.

Cousins Weekend for the Girls

This last weekend I had the pleasure of heading up to the happening town of Joseph City where my cousin Terrie lives. A big group of us girls got together to celebrate our love for her. Terrie has been battling cancer for several years. There have been up's & down's along the cancer road. She has recently been told that it has spread to areas of her body where it is uncurable. This saddens me deeply. She is such a loving mother, wife, friend, sister, daughter, cousin & so on. When I met Richard's extended family for the very first time she is the one I remember most. She was so friendly and gave me the biggest, warmest hug when I met her. I've never forgotten it. Here she is below with her daughter Malisa. Don't they look like they could be sisters?

Here is our big group that came for the celebration.
This is Auntie Kaye & her daughter Rachel.

Carrie & Tiffani put together a necklace that each of us made. We stamped Terries favorite scripture on it which is D&C 84:88 if you are interested in looking it up.

More work on the necklaces.

Aunt Teeny who is Terrie's mother. The party was at her house and she was gracious enough to let us all crash at her place.

Terrie & I have always had so many sililarities. We were remembering some of them. Years ago when we lived in ShowLow & were camping together she went in to town to our house to shower & do laundry. She discovered that we had the same shampoo & conditioner, same hairspray & same air freshner. Wierd, huh? Then she went to do laundry & we had the same detergent. At one point we both had denim couches that were the same. We bought our boys who are the same age the same shirt for school one year. Strange! A few years ago when visiting them for Thanksgiving I noticed that she had the same basket that I did kept in the same place on top of her refrigerator holding the same thing, lightbulbs. When helping her set the table that year we realized that her dinner napkins matched a tablecloth that I had at home. I know, wierd! Then another time when visiting them I walked up to her house & noticed that their front porch light matched the new one we had just purchased for our house. The list goes on & on. Terrie, I guess we should have been twins. Love ya and oh, I think you have great taste!

Terrie with her sweet husband Cary.

Another group shot before we headed home.

Terrie & Cary

Isn't she just the cutest little pregnant lady? This is Julie who is married to Terrie's brother Chuck.

Terrie with her daughter in law Kristie & grand daughter Haley.

I took Trevon with me so he could hang out with his cousins. These boys are all the same age. They are also named after their great grandpa "Warren Oliver Hardy"

Lance Warren

Trevon Oliver

Gabel Hardy

Silly boys!

Zale traveled home with us and she & Trevon had fun taking pictures of us in the car.

Trevon finishing his book.

Cute Zale, my niece.

The leaves were turning this beautiful golden yellow and I was happy that I got to see them.

Isn't it just breathtaking?

Oh and we stopped by ShowLow on our way up there to see my sister & her cute kids. Here is Kamrielle modeling her new winter gear. When she tried it all on at the store she told her mom, 'Don't I look like Aunt Marcy?'. You know I love that!!!!

Trevon playing with Carder.

Me loving on Carder. Sweet boy!

He is a monkey and sure keeps LoraLeigh busy.

Another great weekend to put in the memory bank.