So, updates on the latest...

Recently:

I got a new van. Yay me! I spend so much time in the car shuttling kids everywhere that I decided I wanted something more comfy. Also, I wanted lots more space for when we travel. I went back to the full size van, like I had before--only this one's much nicer. It's like a rolling house--about as big, too. The kids think it's really cool. I think it's cool because it has so much space and cost about 1/3 the price tag of an SUV big enough to haul us all around. And no, it's not purple. It's plum.

What else? Hmmm.... The kids are doing great at school. Eliza is in 5th grade, Emma 3rd, Lydia 1st, Caleb is in preschool and Sophia is turning 3 this Friday. We call her Napoleon, because she's a teeny-tiny DICTATOR! She truly thinks she should be in charge of everything and everyone. I have to choose my battles with that one very carefully. She gets away with so much more than the older ones ever did!

The girls are busy in dance and various activities. Eliza is in Ballet and Jazz (she'll be starting Pre-Pointe next year which from what I understand means she'll start dancing on her tippy toes with those really uncomfortable looking shoes, which I am certain are very expensive), and recently started Agility training with Duke (our australian shepherd), she's also taking sewing classes and is getting ready to graduate from Primary this year! Crazy...

Emma is also in Ballet and Jazz. She sang a solo in front of about 800 people for the community Christmas production. Who would have thought that shy little Emma would be a performer? She has a great little voice. I want to get her into voice training soon. She loves to sing and dance. She is loving Activity Days at church.

Lydia is our silly goose. She's full of giggles and drama. She is taking 1 ballet class and has promised me that she will dance in the recital. Previous recitals have seen her either melt down and refuse to go on stage or stand perfectly still on the stage staring with deer in the headlights eyes--shaking her head no, while the whole class just danced around her. That one was much funnier than the meltdown. We think she might like to play soccer.

Caleb is hanging out with me for one more year. He's a little guy for his age and his birthday was just after the cutoff for kindergarten--so we decided to wait until next year and get some preschool time in first. Maybe he'll grow some and catch up a bit with the other boys. He's loving preschool and is eager to do everything accept play with his little sister who loves to torment him. "Bubby.... I gonna take yo toys" "Bubby....I gonna sit in yo seat"

But before you feel too bad for him, just remember she learned how to torment from watching him annoy his older sisters. So he basically has it coming.

Right around Sophie's 2nd birthday, when I historically would be having another baby--but wasn't, I decided I needed something in my arms and on my lap. That's when Harry joined the family. His full name is Harold Lawrence, so that I have something to call him when he's in trouble. But also because it stands for Harry Larry, which makes me snicker every time I say it. And that's pretty much the whole point. I like to put his bangs in a pony tail to mess with him--and cause it makes me laugh. He's pretty much my shadow--mostly because he has to watch out for Sophia and Jim who are both fond of playing practical jokes on him to see him do his scooby-do run in place when he's scared and can't get traction.

Duke is one of the kids--a hairy smelly one. He sulks if he doesn't get to go with us to drop the kids off in the morning and is starting to get the hang of agility training. It will be fun to see he and his girl running in the agility competitions. We've figured out he'll do anything for string cheese and now that he's neutered he's not so distracted by the females at class.

The dogs had to wear those cones on their heads for 10 days. It was pathetic and hilarious. Harry gave us many entertaining moments as we watched him desperately trying to bite the edge of the cone to get it off--and licking the inside of the cone while it was pressed up against his stitches. That was funny.

Duke was just pathetic. I took his off after about a week because I had bruises up the back of my legs from him running into my calves while following me around the house. He was very grateful to have it off. Now they are both much better behaved.

Well, the girls have a dance performance on Saturday. So I'll be sure to post pictures from that. For now, consider yourselves up-to-date on the happenings at the AZ Turner household.