We had a wonderful family day picking apples and pumpkins. The kids had a blast. I posted a few photos but you can CLICK HERE to see all of them.
Although he looks like he is into apple picking. Carter was more excited about pulling/pushing the wagon!
Hannah tried to take a bite out of each apple, but stopped when we told her she needed to save them for a pie.
CRABBY APPLE
Pumpkin or Baby?
Tonight we went to watch a high school football game. Our friend, Mike Robinson, is the coach for the team and we have really wanted to go to a game and tonight was such a perfect night.
It was also Homecoming!!
The girls had a BLAST!! At one point the people behind us were using some bad language and next thing I know the girls are sitting in the bleachers singing Jesus Loves Me. Way to go girls!!
Hugs!
At the end of the night the bleachers had cleared out and the kids thought that was great. Here you see the two boys watching the silly girls bounce around!! I think they will all sleep well tonight!!
Our church is offering a women's bible study and I decided that I should NOT take it on because I didn't want to make my plate too full. We are going to be having a new baby soon so I decided to limit the activities I was going to be involved in. Well, I guess God was really leading me to the study because I had five different people from different places approach me about the same study. So I decided to give it a try. 
Just when I thought everyday life couldn't get worse, the dishwasher breaks!! So I will not be blogging until it is fixed. I usually run the dishwasher twice a day so you can imagine how many dishes I have to wash. Not to mention that with this HUGE belly it makes it very difficult to stand in front of the sink for a long period of time. So if anyone feels like washing dishes you are more then welcome to stop by!!I know it sounds funny, but I feel so happy and exhausted right now!! This morning I cleaned and took a nap. Thanks to Brian for taking care of the kidos!! We ate lunch and then I was off to the grocery store. It was a very long and heavy trip to the store. The cart was almost impossible to turn toward the end. I will pat myself on the back for a moment and share that I saved $87 using my coupons today.
Tonight was wonderful!! It was totally last minute but we had a little Steelers party. The Hostetter Family came over and brought with them some delicious apple dumplings. I had the most wonderful time visiting with Jena while the men watched football and the kids ran around. It was such a relaxing evening with sloppy joes, macaroni, and chips. I did have a pregnancy moment and forget to put the evaporated milk in my macaroni, but I caught it about 10 minutes into baking and it came out okay. Then, our new neighbors, Brian and Dana, joined us with their little girl Grace. Hannah and Grace have a ton of fun together. They usually tell Carter what to do. Although tonight Carter had Owen to back him up. Anyway I am just feeling so grateful and happy tonight. I just feel like the Lord has really blessed our family with these friendships. Brian and I were just talking the other night about really wanting to entertain more and next thing you know we are entertaining and loving every moment. Well, almost every moment. I think we would like to forget the moments where all 4 kids were screaming at the top of their lungs. Just to hear themselves yell. YIKES!!
Thanks to everyone that made tonight so special!! Next time I will try and take a photo. Whoops!
This morning we got up and went over to Mount Calvary to enjoy an all you can eat breakfast. After eating Brian was given the assignment to bid on this really beautiful wooden rocking fire engine. Unfortunately he was out bid. We also went over to the kids festival and had lots of fun walking around and visiting with our friends. Hannah Grace really wants to go on the blow up jumping things, but she will only go if Carter goes, but Carter is too small. Maybe next year??
Carter had a lot of fun on the playground. At one point I caught him under the jungle gym looking up... when I looked to see what he was looking at I saw 3 young girls in skirts. I really hope that he isn't trying to look up skirts at this young age!! He is still my baby!!
Hannah is looking very sad because she missed out on the lollipop rings. Kacy was so sweet to offer Hannah Grace some licks, but Hannah didn't want to share.
The Girls. It makes me so happy that we have found a church home where the kids have made such wonderful friends. Not to mention the wonderful friends that Brian and I have made. It is a blessing to have tons of love and support. I look forward to building many memories here.
I am also grateful that Hannah Grace hasn't noticed Isaac yet. For those of you who don't know Isaac is already spoken for... he is Kacy's boyfriend. I just love that it is so important to the girls to have boyfriends, but the boys really want nothing to do with this activity.
Hannah Grace and Kacy eating a snack under the table. The boys were paying attention to them so they thought they would play hard to get under the table. Too Cute!! I just love watching them develop into little people with personalities and opinions of their own.
So my younger brother, Tom, who works and lives in Boston, Mass. decided to take a trip out to visit our Mom in Portland, OR. However, days before the arrival he tells my Mom that for fun he entered them in a Ride & Tie race in Cool, CA. For those of you not familar with a Ride & Tie it is a race between teams. Each team has 3 members -- 2 humans & 1 horse. The rider gallops past the runner, then gets off, ties the horse to a tree and starts running. The 1st runner finds the horse, gallops past the second runner and then ties the horse and starts running. They continue "leap frogging" this way to the finish line. Interesting fact: This sport was born in the old West when two men and one horse chased a horse theif to get their horse back. 
Today was a typical Thursday, but after picking Hannah Grace up from school I decided to take the kids to Wendy's for a kids meal/special treat. The kids were so excited!! Although I also wanted to stop at this great costume shop Brian noticed today while in Hershey. So I decided to drive thru and eat while driving to the shop. As I get in line at the drive-thru there are about 6 cars in front of me that have not ordered. While waiting Hannah asks if I will wash her hands, which is a very concerning phrase. How could her hands get dirty while sitting in her car seat belted in? Should I panic? I finally discover that she had taken out a school project she made and had taken it apart. This meant that she had glue and yarn stuck to her fingers and hands. Thank goodness she didn't touch anything in the car like her brother or the car seat. Moreover, I am not in a state of panic now, but I assess my situation and realize that getting out of the drive-thru line to wash her hands is a BAD IDEA! I now have about 5 cars behind me. So I tell Hannah to fold her hands in her lap and I will wash them in a moment. I am constantly reminding her as we wait and also praying that she doesn't glue her hands together! So I finally get to the speaker and order the meals. I paid. Got the food. Pulled into a parking spot to washed Hannah's hands.
As a mom I ALWAYS have wet wipes on hand. It took about 4-5 wipes to clean up the mess. Now, I decide that while I am parked I should hand out the food. As I hand out the food I realize we have NO STRAWS. Hannah Grace is now crying that her tummy hurts because she is so thirsty and well there is NO way I am giving her an open container of Sprite in the car. So my options are:
#1 - Go in the Drive thru again and tell them that I need a straw, which I have done before.
or
#2 - Park car outside the door. Leave kids in the car and grab a straw.
or
#3 - Take everyone out of the car and go in for a straw.
Okay so none of the options are looking like a good idea. There are still 10-15 cars in line at the drive-thru and I am thinking of a ton of reasons why option 2 would be a BAD IDEA. As for option #3 I am thinking this is why I didn't take them in the restaurant in the first place. Still not sure how to resolve the conflict I decide to drive up to the door. Just then a man walked out the door and I spoke before even thinking about it, "Sir, would you please grab me a straw? I have two small children in the car and it would be such a great help." Needless to say this was the 'angel' of the day. He went in and brought out a few straws with a smile on his face and said, "glad to help. looks like you have your hands full." Meanwhile both kids are crying and I'm holding my belly so the baby doesn't fall out as I am jumping out of the car.
So I just want to say Thank You! I am sure this man is not reading my blog, but I am just so grateful for nice people!! As a non-mother I never realized the everyday challenges of kids. Now I am just so grateful to all those who do and lend a helping hand. It was so easy for this man to pick up a straw, but for me I would have had to unload the kids, get them across the street safely, get a straw, explain why we are not staying at Wendy's and then get the kids back to the car and buckled. So thank you!!! Your good deed made my day so wonderful!
So after the straw fiasco I drove to Cocoa Costumes or so I thought. I pulled up only to realize that Brian misread the sign that said Cocoa Couture. I can understand because they were having a Grand Opening and it is almost Halloween and the couture part of the sign was a very small font. Nonetheless it was just another funny part to our usual Thursday afternoon.
Sidebar: Have you thought about how ridiculous it is that I feel the need to hold the baby in. I mean truly if the baby would just fall out during normal daily activities, labor won't be such a big deal.
Today Carter was playing with his trucks on the table. He had them all set up and was having a great time. Next thing I know Hannah comes in and as you can see all the trucks are on the floor. She has other plans for Carter.
She decides that Carter needs to be playing kitchen. Good little buddy just plays along to make her happy.
Tonight Hannah had Awana Cubbies. Since tonight was the first official night they called up each of the kids individually who had a birthday in September so they could sing Happy Birthday to them. So Hannah was called up and they started to sing and Hannah Grace said, " No. No. Do not sing Happy Birthday to me. I already had a birthday at my house. It isn't my birthday." The leaders tried to explain to Hannah that they were singing to all the children with a birthday in September. Finally, they told Hannah that she could sit down if she didn't want them to sing to her. So she did!
Daddy helps Hannah prepare for Cubbies.
Brian and Carter are playing football. Brian taught Carter how to put his fingers down. As you can see Carter doesn't really understand. Carter puts both index fingers down because he knows he needs to use two fingers, but he doesn't want to use two on the same hand. Cute Cute.
Have you ever been in a situation where you didn't have the words to reply? Yesterday I was waiting in a line with Hannah Grace when a man asked me, "Do you know if it is a boy or girl?" To which I responded, "No. We did not find out the sex of the baby. So we would love a healthy boy or girl." The man smiled and spoke again, " As long as it is a boy or a girl and not a goat."
WHAT?? WHAT?? WHAT??
I was just standing there with a clueless expression on my face. Was this man trying to imply that I sleep with goats? Is this an old saying I am unfamiliar with? I have no idea what the man was talking about and I didn't even know how to respond. Wow it was a very awkward moment!! I know that I have said some "stupid" things in my day, but I truly hope none of them came out like the comment above. I would like to run into this man again and just ask why?
On another note, today we had a wonderful morning at church!! They had a focus on music worship with a southern gospel group. I never realized the love I have for southern gospel until recently. A good friend, Jeff, loves the southern gospel and I heard it at his birthday party and really enjoyed it. Now again I hear it at church this morning and I am just so in love with the sound!! The baby was even dancing to the music. We did miss the Coleman family this morning!!
This morning Brian had some work to do so I went to a local park to walk with Jena and Owen. We had a really nice time chatting and the kids were hilarious. Hannah and Carter taught Owen how to kick while riding in the stroller. They also enjoyed some fresh banana muffins that Hannah and I baked this morning. Hannah added her special touch to the muffins by using princess muffin paper. I just love watching Hannah Grace grow up everyday!!
This looks like a photo of Carter baking, but really he just wanted to eat some of the raisins. Funny Guy!
Now here is the serious baker! She made two types of cookies today. The first was a healthy cookie if there is such a thing. They were Chocolate Chip, Raisin, Sunflower seed and Oatmeal cookies. The kids love them and I think they are good for a 'healthy cookie'. Next we made one of our favorites the Oatmeal Raisin cookies. Yummy!!
After baking we went to Harrisburg with Brian and got to hang out with the Coleman Clan for a little while. I just love to watch the three kids play!! Anna is like the sister Hannah always wanted!! Today they were playing Mommy. Hannah was the mommy and Anna was the baby. Hannah would buckle Anna in the stroller and push her around. Then Hannah would give her a drink of milk, pretend to change her diaper, and give her toys. Although the BEST part and I so wish I had a camera was Hannah trying to carry Anna. The only problem is they are almost the same size?! It was very cute watching Hannah trying to lift Anna out of the stroller. I think they both thought it was a great plan, but they never could figure out how to execute it.
Well I must run!! Both kids are awake and it sounds like "quiet time" is getting to be very LOUD!!
We are having a great weekend!! Friday night we went to a local art gallery. It was a really nice time. The kids didn't really care about the art, but they LOVED listening to the live string band. Saturday we had big plans of pony rides and pumpkins, but on our way out the door we realized that the festival is really next weekend. Oops! So we went to lunch with the Coleman family and then settled for a walk around the town. 
I apologize to all my loyal readers that I have been slacking in my blog entries. I can make a couple of great excuses; my husband has been working on the computer 24-7, I have 2 kids and am ready to pop with baby #3, or I am just plain lazy. I shouldn't say that I am lazy, but I have been distracted with so many 'projects' lately. For example, taking everything out of the kitchen cabinets so I can scrub them inside and out which also goes along with alphabetizing all my spices. I made a comment to my doctor this week about my crazy nesting activities and she replied, "we don't become alarmed until you start to alphabetize your neighbors spices." So to the neighbors you are warned if I come knocking.
We don't really have any news at the Turk house. Brian went to Cincinnati, OH for 4 days to go golfing with my Dad. It is a yearly tradition that they meet up with the same group of guys every year. The younger guys this year decided they want to start some more traditions like having a trophy that is passed to the winner every year and making a scrap book with photos, which I can totally picture my husband sitting at the table with a glue gun. right?! NOT! Maybe he will go visit the Oakes' so he can use the endless supply of scrapbook tools and get some great pointers.
The kids are doing great!! Thanks to the Montgomery Family the kids are also very wet!! Along with a gift for baby Turk they wanted to send the kids a little something. Well, I would hardly call it a "little" something. More like a huge, wet something. The above photo is the new Step 2 Water Park that the kids are just loving!! Today Hannah had her friend Kacy over to play and shared the new water park with her. During the visit I also got to visit with Jen and Carter really loves baby Trey!! He is just so fascinated with him. I hope that he is the same with baby Turk!!
I would also like to add that along with getting my kids really wet for 2 days in a row now. Brian and I were able to enjoy a dinner alone while the kids played with the water park on the other side of the screen door. It was like free babysitting. Thanks Montgomery Family!
Well I must get back to my busy life. Both kids are awake and trying to get their exhausted Daddy to wake up on the couch. So I better distract them or send them out to the water park once again. Hope everyone is loving the fall weather as much as we are!! Oh that is another excuse I have been spending most days outside in this GREAT fall weather!!
Today was Hannah's 1st day of school. It was a short day and I was with her for the entire day, but it was very serious for Hannah.
She woke up and ate a good breakfast and then she cleaned up all the dishes. Above she is putting her orange juice glass in the sink. Please note that the cup has no lid. This is because Hannah is in school now and she doesn't need a lid. Her idea not mine.
Hannah listens to the teachers talking during her first assembly. The first thing Hannah Grace told me at the assembly was, "Look Momma they use a microphone just like me." Please refer to the birthday blog photos for a look at Hannah's microphone.
This is Hannah eating snack at the table. You may note Hannah's Cubby in the background. All in all we had a great time. We read some books, played in the kitchen, played blocks, talked to the teachers, and met lots of kids. Hannah has 16 kids in her classroom and 2 teachers that were wonderful. Hannah can't wait to go back next week. She told me next time that she will go to school by herself and I should go to my school and she will see me later. WOW! They grow up so fast.
Today Hannah Grace is 3 years old!! She has grown up so fast!! 
Hannah woke up to Mommy singing Happy Birthday and then she went to find her first gift of the day. A package with a princess balloon attached.
"What is it Mommy?" Hannah asks.
Hannah found a shirt to wear for the day that said " Make it Fun Play Dress Up" and then she found her "sprinkle necklaces" and a crown. I love that Hannah calls anything fancy "sprinkles". She got to be a birthday princess which was a dream come true for her!!
Birthday Bubble Bath
Ready for the World!!
Linking fingers while eating her birthday sprinkle donut at the Fractured Prune.
Trip to Toys R Us. Hannah got a gift card from Uncle B and Auntie A, which she called a credit card. She went shopping and picked out all the things that she wanted, put them up on the counter and then paid the woman with her card. Our little shopper.
Too cute for words. She loves her new "fancy shoes"!!
Can we open the presents now?? 
Sharing with Anna
Reading Cards
Hannah loves to be the star of the show!! She even thanked all the guests using her new microphone.
Watching Kipper with Daddy before bed.
Today may have been the highlight of the month! This morning I took the kids to Wolgemuth Park to meet a friend from church. I wasn't sure that I wanted to go because I have just been feeling so uncomfortable lately but I am so glad that I went. I had the most wonderful time!! I feel like I am finally beginning to make this place home. I just felt like I went to the park with an old friend and we had a great time visiting and the kids played so well together. Although next time I think I might have to take 2 baby doll strollers. It was a very hot item!!
I am just so glad that God has blessed us with a church home and friends that share our love for the Lord.
Speaking of good friends tonight Jeff and Anna came over for dinner. I just can't believe how fast they grow. Anna kept calling her Daddy, Jeff. I just think it is so funny how they learn we have another name. When Hannah plays house she is Mommy and her name is Nancy Turk. I think that is so funny. She also calls Carter, Brian Turk when they play house. Anyway Anna was so cute we have a huge flag in the basement and she was trying so hard to get the other kids to salute the flag. She finally gave up... they just didn't get it. Anyway it was a great day and night and I am so grateful for the friends that we have. Praise God!
Brian is such an awesome husband and I know I don't give him the credit that I should. When we met Brian was such the gentleman. While we were dating we lived about an hour and fifteen minutes from each other, which made things a little more challenging. I remember the first time we went out, which happened to be a totally last minute decision. I told Brian that we should meet at the movie theater between our houses, but Brian almost canceled the date because he said that he wanted to pick me up for our first date. Now instead of the commute time challenge we have the 2 kids challenge, which would be that they aren't welcome on date nights. wink.wink.
