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Thanks!

Just Can't Wait to get on the Road Again...

After lots of Guerard family fun, we headed down the road (10 minutes!) to the Isle of Palms for some Folse family time at the beach. Gammy and Pops, Niki, Uncle Clete and Ryan all joined us.

The kids loved the beach! And I loved it, too, because they entertained themselves out there. We had a great time playing, swimming, coloring, reading, eating delicious food, telling stories, enjoying the porch and devouring WAY too much ice cream!

One crazy story from the beach time...

Turner and I shared the blue room in the house. Several months ago, some birds flew into the house through the dryer vent, where there was an opening. The birds all died, and my poor aunt found them and had to clean the whole house out and dispose of the birds. YUCK! (There is a whole blog worth of stories from her trip, I am sure!). Anyway, we had all put the incident behind us. Especially my mom, who is deathly afraid of birds...literally.

So...flash forward...I had just changed Parker's diaper in his room and headed back to mine to get something. I leaned down by the bed to pick it up, and I smelled a really foul smell. I assumed it was from changing Parker's diaper (something lingering in the air or something). Anyway, I got up, re-washed my hands and forgot all about it.

The next day, I was packing some stuff and happened to be sitting on the floor in the same area by the bed. I smelled the same smell. What was it? So, I started looking. And lo and behold, there was a DEAD bird IN the bedside table drawer! I have NEVER in my life screamed like I did at that moment! Poor Thomas had to clean and bleach everything, and my mom was ready to pack it up and go home...

Now, we can laugh about it! And we can also pray there are no more "fowl" surprises at 811 Ocean! Parker loved the beach, and it was so much nicer this year, because he didn't EAT the beach!

Turner got her first real pedicure. It was so special, because we've talked about doing it for almost a year. Since my mom, sister and I were all together, we finally scheduled it and took her.

That day before we left, she was sitting on the floor drawing something diligently on a notepad. I asked her what she was drawing, and she said, "Three big toenails -- one with a flower on it, one with a butterfly and one with polka dots. I am trying to decide what I want them to paint on my toes!" To see what she decided, keep on reading...

The Folse Girls!

TA-DA! Pink with lavender (not to EVER be confused with purple) polka dots!

Story Hour with Popsie

TRUCK! DIRT! WATER! HEAVEN!

Gammy had to work all week (boo!), but she managed to find a little time to join us on the beach!

Baking (and Bathing) Beauty

Fresh local corn, field peas and butter beans...YUM!

This kid is double fisted when it comes to corn on the cob!

Sweet girl!

Precious Boy!

Cousin Ryan ROCKED at playing with the kids. They adore him.

Turner and Me

Our sea turtle! Quite an amazing feat if you could have seen how many times Parker jumped on the poor guy!

For the beauty of the earth...for the beauty of the skies...

Fun Family Times!

Ice Cream Run(s)

Turner's favorite activity in the evenings was to go get ice cream. She tried to explain how important it was for her to try ALL the flavors, so she could decide on a favorite. She had cookie dough, rainbow sherbet, rocky road and birthday cake. Her favorite??? Well, the jury is still out...she probably needs to try a few more before she really decides...

On the Road Again...

After Sumter, my road warriors and I headed south to spend some quality time with our Guerard side of the family! We had lots of fun and the kids did great.

The one funny (if not dirty) story of the weekend was the first morning we woke up at Nana and Grandad's house. Parker was calling my name, and I went in to get him. He was standing in the Pack-n-Play, DIAPER-LESS, grinning from ear to ear.

He had managed to pull his diaper off for the first time, go #2 in the corner of his bed, go #1 in the middle and was standing pressed up against the mesh side, spouting a perfectly round puddle on the carpet in front of him. Needless to say, if we didn't laugh, we might have cried! :) Thankfully, Nana had a great sense of humor and an even better carpet cleaning plan!

We played LOTS, fed the birds, picked up hickory nuts, read books, painted toenails, told stories, hunted eggs, swam with Mary and shared lots of delicious meals!

Turner and Mary

Everything Mary did, Turner tried to do! Including dive for sticks and jump in the deep end. They had a blast!

Parker and Aunt Robin

Parker hung out with Uncle Ted and the "DAWG" and had a fun Boys' morning!

Parker helping Nana fold laundry

Turner at Alhambra Hall

My pumper!

TRUCKS!!!!!!!!

Parker and Grandad found the perfect spot in the sandbox at Alhambra Hall. Every few minutes, Parker would stand up and his whole body would shake as he pointed and reveled in all the "TRUCKS!!!" It was better than Christmas morning!

ACK-HOE!

Parker and Mimi playing Creep Mouse

T-U-R-N-E-R!

The Turners
We had the privilege of driving to Sumter for a visit with our Grandy Turner recently. My Turner was thrilled to go back to "Grandy's apartment" and repeatedly asked if we could stay in our "own apartment" when we saw her.

It was so fun to be there and watch both kids love on her. We topped off the visit with our traditional trip to IHOP. Waffles all around! :)

We love our Grandy!

Turner's Twin?

Today after rest time, Turner and I were lying in bed talking...

She said, "Mom, you're not going to believe this! I forgot to tell you. Did you know that there is another girl with my SAME name at preschool?"

"No -- Really? With your same exact name?"

"Yeah, with my SAME name! I could not believe it. Last year at Lunch Bunch, the teacher would read off the names from that little notebook thingy, and she would call for a 'Turner JER-RARD!' Someone has my same name!"

"Did you see her? What did you do?"

"Well, I didn't do anything, and I never met her. But, when they were done with the list, Mrs. Jackson would come over and tell me to sit down every time."

...I tried to gently explain to Turner that some people pronounced our name as JER-RARD and that I thought maybe -- JUST MAYBE -- they were meaning to say "GRR-RARD."

Hmmm...she still doesn't buy it and is thoroughly convinced she has a name twin at PTCUMC Preschool!

(Sorry, child, I hate to tell you that they broke the mold, and YOU are definitely the ONLY Turner Guerard this world can handle!)

Recovering Toilet Brush Wielder!

Much to my dismay, Parker was proudly wielding the toilet brush the other morning . As soon as I noticed his latest plaything of choice, I quickly scolded him, saying "Parker, NO. We do not play with the toilet brush. It's yucky!"

Turner jumped right in and said, "Parker, listen to Mommy on that one...believe me...I used to do that. But, I gave up doing that... thank goodness."

I love you, my precious toilet brush man and my sweet "recovering" toilet brush wielding daughter!

Conway Cousins!

Two celebrities came to PTC today, and one of their biggest fans, Turner Guerard, was in hog heaven! Claire and Caroline rode down from Social Circle, where they were visiting their grandparents, today. What a treat to get to play, eat and swim with them! You can't tell from this picture, but Turner was beside herself, because they all wore polka dotted bathing suits! :)

Thanks, girls and Jenny, for making the trip down south! It was a wonderful day!