Hunting

Hey, I'm hunting for a good pic of the floorplan and house we want to build. I think I need to take a pic of the lot we are pushing to buy also. We need lots of prayers that this all goes through! We want this so badly and we are needing to settle already! Plus, this ward is a keeper! We love it and we don't want to leave. So, stay tuned. Hopefully I'll have some pics next week.

I LOVE VALENTINES DAY

For those who know me best, you'd guess right away why I love Feb. 14th. And it's not because of what our friend Matt Gibbens says about me! (theres only a pinch..... or more of truth in that! Although I am a very lovey dovey person! ) ;P

The truth is, I'm a bit obsessed with hearts. I've loved hearts since I was a little girl. I would draw them on my homework, Kyle Murphy's papers in 2nd grade when I'd pass his desk, in my peanut butter sandwiches, doodle them on my note books, sign them with my name and I notice them in clouds and rocks, I collect them in jewelry, and whatever I can get my hands on, and once I even wrote a poem about all the diffrent hearts there are.

You can always find some great thing in a heart shape during the "Love Season".

We don't do anything crazy at our house on this day. Just happy jestures.

My hubby granted me a pedicure, which I'm way excited for. I love it when my feet are super cute! And he made me a personalized CD. He said I had to figure out the "meaning" behind each song. So it's like a puzzle of love! or a test??? I'm not sure which.

For Branden, I gave him his own package of Reeses hearts and the gift of me not spending unnessisary money.

For the boys, their own piggy banks shaped like sports balls. Nothing says love like lessons in savings!!

And on this day you get extra special love from those who love you most and you can give out extra special love without it being weird. So from me to you..................

I'm just going to say it!

"I LOVE YOU"

Another favorite thing

Pres. Gordon B. Hinkely. Is it possible to be connected and feel emotion from someone hundreds of miles away from you?? I think so! I have never felt so much love radiate from anyone who I've never seen face to face. 2 or 3 confrences ago, the camera stayed on him at the end of confrence and he raised his cane in the air and gave a big smile. As I watched him interact with those around him, I got chills, a big smile and cryed. Right then, I knew he loved and cared about me. Just as my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ do. I thank the O God for our Prophet!

I simply remember my favorite things....

As my stud of a husband was checking out the new look on my blog, I noticed that I really don't have a lot of pics or info of him.

Here are a few of my favorites things about him. He is a hard worker. He is very supportive and has incouraged me in finding my little place in this big world. He taught himself how to play guitar in 1 year and yes, he is enjoyable to listen to! He caresses my back almost every night which I absolutely LOVE! (He has great hands.) He gives fabulous hugs and kisses. He is a home builder (which is really handy, especially since we are building a new one. (more info to come) His smile and laugh.

I could go on and on but there is one more thing that really makes me happy; He gives me no worries when I'm out and about day or evening. There's no issue when leaving the kids with him. I come home and the kids are happy (cause he played with them), they're fed, with homework, baths, dishes done and the house is clean!

It's GREAT! From what I've heard from family and friends and seen with my own eyes, this is a rarity. Amazing? Yes he is!!!

Disclaimer: My husband is in no way perfect (neither am I) and he can really put the urge in me to hit him over the head with a 2x4 or bop him one like on the V8 commercial! But my heart literally swells when I think of all my favorite things about him, ".......and then I don't feel so bad!"

I need help

ok, number 1: I need a pic of michelles new hair ASAP!!! and number 2: I need to "cutesie up" and personalize the layout and design of my blog. Especially since I will have this as a link on my official "sugarjane" website. How the heck can I spruce it up and make it look so stink'n fabulous. Sara, Michelle, Brittney! You're pages are so cute and mine are not so much. Please help!!!!! I think I need some advice on how to do good set ups for my posts too. Their just kinda all over and not very neat and tidy. My snow one took and hour to put together. Not good for productivity's sake.
Love Mandi

Snow, snow, snow, snow, SNOW

Brock with Grandma trying on all his cute beanie and gloves. Brock was distracted by my Dad's dog Nacho.

The boy's 1st experience in the snow was very short. About 10 minutes. We drove up to Cedar Canyon and man was is windy. As you can see by the look on their faces, they were facing the wind and just a note..... It was Hecka Cold!!!!!

"It's hard to smile when the snow is blowing in our eyes and up our noses!!!"

Snow Princess Amber

Here is my sister Amber the snow princess. Doesn't she just look picture perfect. It made me realize after the fact that I should have taken off my sunglasses for the pictures that are up next.

Aunty Amb and Brock. He didn't know what the heck was going on. Just sat there they whole time with a straight face. I think he was just focusing on breathing with the wind being and strong as it was.

Me and my Brockers, again, just like, "what the heck is all this crazy stuff and why are we out here in the feezing cold!"

My Dad. Having fun watching my kids freak out about the snow.







Branson's favorite thing about Christmas...........



His 2 minute sled ride before the wind picked up enought and blew so much snow around that you couldn't see 5 feet in front of you. You could call it Blizzardy even..... Although I'm probably way off considering I've never even lived in snow.

Amber and I trying to keep warm by huddling together. Did I mention it was so COLD and windy!!!

Look very closely.........

Can you see the snow blowing into our faces??? That face is Branden saying "ahhhh!!!" by the way. The pelting snow flurries is why I kept on my protective eye gear!! :P

Our drive home. No, it's not a metor shower. That's the snow zooming by the car. We are only driving like 15 miles an hour.
I said it was like a blizzard, but my dad just laughed at me. He went to Billings, Montana on his mission so I'm pretty sure he's been in a real blizzard.
But can you blame me? I'm from southern Arizona, and blowing snow and freezing cold air equals blizzard to me. :D

See the white splotches....... thats snow on my camera lens. Ain't it purdy? I was trying to capture what we were driving in, but it didn't quite work out. It was a "had to be there" moment.
So, despite all that, it was so beautiful and I was sad that the weather was so crazy. I was really looking forward to playing in the snow with my boys, which never happened. But the boys loved it and after all, that's what matters. Right?

a collage of pics.

So first here is a duo of pics with my very best and most treasured friend Michelle and her perfectly adorable son Dax.

Do you not love how in the 1st pic Brock is ready and cheesing and in a 2nd go for Dax, Brock is so like, "I was ready the 1st time." He almost looks like he's sticking his nose in the air.

The boys had tons of fun playing together. Here is Brock pushing Dax around in his highchair. I'm guessing by the look on Dax's face that he's not quite sure why he's moving.

Happy New Year!!!!

Spencer and I took the kids to see the St. George fireworks. They weren't great. But the kids had fun being up at midnight and drinking hot chocolate. Here they all are from left to right: Branson, Ashley (she was freezing), James, Spencer, Kaylee, and Riley. They all are too crazy. I love 'em!!!

Me and my favorite brother named Spencer. I like to call him Spinner though.

SOOOO SAD!!!!

Ok, here's the low down.
We're having some "issues" and a situation has arised where we have to move out of the "stupid house that I love" .... "already???" you say! Yes, but it's ok. We are going to do everything in our power to stay in the ward we are in though. It's the greatest ward EVER!!! I know I just started a fire of "whats going on?" but I will fill you all in when we figure everything out and the stresses of Christmas, and work and moving and "situations" are no longer stresses but adventures!
So that is why you haven't seen me post any pics of the house. But, if you all want to still see pics of the house, I'll post some. I just didn't want to be like... "here is my great house!" and then have to post later the "issues" but I have no problem posting if you all still want to see!
I love you all. Thanks for being friends that I can count on and trust and feel safe with. I've had some other "family/friend" issues lately too and I've decided that people that are truely great friends..... or in other words....unofficial family, are you guys!! (Plus a few choice others that I have around here)................ AND YOU ARE ALL TOO FAR AWAY!!!! Or is it, Im too far away. Either way, it sucks! And sometimes is soooo sad.

Here we are getting ready to go "Trick or Treating" Honestly, I am over the whole asking for candy form neighbors. You know, we teach our kids....."Don't ever take candy from a stranger!!" And here we are once a year walking them up to strangers and having our kids ask for candy from them!!! Does that make any sense??? It doesn't to me. But oh well, we sure do love dressing up!!!!

Ahhhhh. It's the Drool Monster!!

I never found a costume for Brock that I loved so I just put him in the stoller for his 1st trick or treating.

About 20 minutes before we got home, I gave him a tootsie roll sucker and as you can see, he really enjoyed eating it.

His shirt was SOAKED with sticky drool and he was so content and proud of the reaction he got out of me, he had no problem giving me a big, toothy grin!

1st Hair cut

Before the hair cut. Ok so, with little Dax getting his 1st hair cut at 3 months old, I thought, "Hey, for Brock's 1st birthday, I'll give him a hair cut too." But did he really need it! NO!!!! As you can see.

After the hair cut.
What an amazing diffrence!! Hahahha

The fuzzy hair that was no longer on his head. It seriously felt like duck fuzz.

And check out his calicks?or is it cowlicks??? I have no clue but seriously when his hair his just the right length, he gets the Alfalfa thing going on. He also has one just in the front of his hair line on his forhead. Totally funny.

I love cupcakes..................................... You want some???

A not so quick, quicky.

Ok I've typed "quicky" like 4 times and it's starting too look and sound like a made up word. I must be tired!!!!

The news is that there really isn't any. Life has been crazy but uneventful if that makes any sence at all.

Ok, there is news, Brock is totally walking, well practically running. It's hilarious and he thinks he's such a big shot. I love it!

We have Stake confrence tomarrow and Branden is using it as his "one free Sunday to go to a sports bar with brothers, nephews and friends, drink all the Dr. Pepper and watch all the football he can handle" day. ( His comment was, "....I figured this would be the best Sunday to us it because I don't have to worry about finding a sub for my class or anything" ) Makes sense I guess. We made a deal a few years ago that during football season he would get one "free ditch church day" (oh, how lovely that sounds) and I would get to not be made as a hornet on crack when he ditched. (unlike a few other times before this deal when he would decide the day of while I was trying to get our family ready for church. I didn't ever handle the news well.) Anyways, I will be not crazy enough or brave enough to attempt to sit in an extra long meeting with 3 crazy boys. I will be sleeping in, throwing dinner in the crockpot, folding laundry and putting some cute new pics up on my blog all the while playing my favorite church cds as soothing background noise. I really need that great stuff that Michelle and Eddie give Sammy. Then I could attempt with confidence, or better yet, just have Michelle and Eddie there. Their like magic with my boys. I still have yet to see them sit so still at anytime besides when their in an exasted, sleeping coma. So, the short of the long........ There will be more pics very, very soon. And as Michelles request, some pics of the new house. Love you guys!

A year of Brock

So here is a few of my most favorite pics of my youngest Brock Ryan Turley, or "Brockers" as we call him. He was an easy pregnancy and that trend has continued since his birth on
October 10,2007.

So, the story of how he got his name. All during my pregnancy, I searched and pondered a name. I have a gazillion names I like but all the ones I wanted.... Branden vetoed! I was so frustrated. And so with hopes that when I saw my precious baby boy, I would know immediately the just right name for him. As soon as he was here, Branden said "OK lets name him. I'm not going home till he has a name."

"Awe crap!" Was my thought. I wasn't ready to decide and I wanted to look at him and be with him a bit. But, my husband insisted. So we started to go through the names I loved and he didn't. Vetoed again of course! Then Branden said that we should each pic our favorite names (minus the ones he vetoed of course) and that's what it'll be. Oh don't feel to bad for me. I vetoed a few names of my own that Branden loved too.

We both liked the name "Spencer", after my brother but we also agreed he didn't look like a "Spencer".

So I said "Ryan" and he said "Brock". We both love the name Ryan but there was already a Ryan Turley so we did Brock first. And Branden talked me into it by saying. "His initials are great! B.R.T. And for all you missionaries out there... you know what that stand for!!! I was sold.

After a week of being at home with him, I wasn't so sure. And I told Branden I wanted to change his name. "To what" he asked. "I Don't KNOW!" was my reply.

But I dare say his name fits him, and Branden was right.

Shhhhh. Don't tell him I said so. Although, when I call his name over and over to quickly..... I sound like a giant chicken..... "BROCK! brockbrockbrockbrock!" I can't help but laugh when it happens.

And that's just what Brock does.. He makes me laugh and smile every day!

At first it was because he was so small and after all he did provide the great meds with the arrival of his adorable face. Then at around 3 months or so, he decided that sleeping almost through the night was an absolute must and then really made me happy with sleeping all night by 5 months. Smiles all around, All the time!!!

His nickname is "Lion" because that's what he sounded like when he would get upset.... a roaring lion, and then when he would eat..... a lion that was famished! So funny to hear.

When he 1st tried to crawl he would get up on all 4's like a big stinker bug. He loves getting into the cabinets under my bathroom sink and under the kitchen sink. He loves Branden bouncing him to sleep with "Kelly Clarkson" singing to him.

He loves to head butt, but not kiss's, unless his Aunt Mariesa is giving him something messy and sugary to eat. Sugar for sugar.

I am so excited to watch him grow every day. I can't wait till he's walking and talking! I will be sure to put some pics up next week of his birthday. He will be getting his 1st hair cut and you all definitely need to see an updated pic. He is so cute with his 4 little teeth!

Water+ dirt= A whole lot of FUN!!!

Nothing like a Mud bath

to make you feel good!!!!

And just a note...

mud does stain! James' shirt and

Branson's shorts are forever now

a muddy tan color.

Here is my studly and happy boy JP at his 1st game of the flag football season.

Go Cardinals!!!!

He loves playing and we love watching.

My favorite moments are when the boys get a little over zealous and take down the other player instead of pulling their flag.

Another........ How???

Do any of you know how to change the background to your blog without actually changing your whole set up? I just don't want it to be white. Hmmmm.

I found it!!!

I have changed my title and will be sticking with this one! I have a plan! Although very slow in developing, it is moving forward (about as fast as a peanut butter being pumped through a straw!) But moving non the less. I am desperately wanting to have my own custom bead bracelets website. Were the customer can shop through pics of beads and accessories and even arrange them into a pattern they love and Voila! fabulous custom bracelet! So, one of my things on my "To D0" check list was to come up with a name for my dream company. Sugar Jane it is! It took me 2 years to think this one up. It had to be just right and when Amber was helping me brain storm I said to her " The name is simple, and so me, and it's probably right under my nose but I haven't figured it out yet".
So whats behind the name??? Well, I am! Sugar is what my Dad used to call me when I was little ( a nickname that I loved) and sometimes he does now....but rarely, plus, sugar is great! Who doesn't love sugar???? Jane is my middle name (which I inherited from my Grammie Bates, whom I love so much and miss terribly!) so there it is. Plus I do love the way it sounds. Also, you know in the movie "How to loose a guy in 10 days" and the add phrase for the Winston Diamond Company is "frost yourself"... Well, mine is, "sugar yourself" or something along those lines.

My ultimate goal with this is to be able to have charity bead bracelets (with customizing as an option). And ones that people see and go "ohhhh, I want one of those!" And be able to set it up in such a way that the percentage of proceeds is a lot more than "$1 of this purchase goes too......." I want to be able to make a difference and do something good for others.

How How?????

How do I add all my fabulous friends' blogs links to mine???? Help I'm totally blog illiterate!

How???

How in the heck do I get my pics in the right order? Do I need to enter it in backwards?