OH MY GOTH!

Sorry, if you're not fans of the Amazing Race but it started last Sunday and that was one of my favorite lines of the show which came from the super-goth couple that is competing.

I know it's been forever since I've written but things have been crazy busy at the Turner house. First of all, the kids and I had a great trip to Nevada to see my parents. The flights went smoothly and all I can say is a portable DVD player is every parents friend!! Snacks are pretty good too! The weather was awesome while we were there. It was sunny and in the 70s the whole time. It was actually hotter in TN where it was 90 degrees! Weird. We ate a lot of buffets, played at the golf course with my dad and watched a lot of TV with my mom! I definitely need to see them more often than every two years!

We got home from Nevada and Andrea and the kids came up from Alabama for their fall break which was sooooo much fun. We shopped pretty much every day and it felt like old times! I think we hit all our favorite malls in Nashville! I had the usual letdown after they left but they are coming back for Thanksgiving and the Turners, Beilsteins and Waltmans are all going to celebrate together! Jessica and I are already planning the menu and the different pies we want for the occasion! And, of course, I'm already searching down Black Friday ads for the day after Thanksgiving so we can go out shopping! One of my favorite days of the year!!! Of course, no one in my family needs a thing but it is all about the thrill of the hunt! It is definitely my favorite sport!!!

Let's see, after that the kids and I had a little down time but John was extremely busy going on interviews for his new job!!!!! Yes, it has finally happened - he said goodbye to Arvin Meritor and hello to Schrader Industries which is located in Springfield, TN. Yeah! We won't have to move! He had two interviews in TN and then actually had to fly on a whirlwind trip to Ireland to have the final interview with the CFO over there at their main office. He will actually have to go to Ireland twice a year and I am really excited to join him for one of the trips! He starts there on November 19th and I am really proud of him!!!

Then, we had Halloween which I have to admit kinda sucked this year! No Carlsons, no Beilsteins, no Dunhams! AAAAHHH! It all came down to Allison, Jessica, and I taking the little ones out. It was a good time but a much smaller crowd! Stephen had a ball - he was running from house to house and was sooo excited about getting candy. But, when he was done, he was done! All of a sudden, he just said, "I'm ready to go home," and that was it! Rachel had a friend over and they were allowed to go by themselves around the neighborhood so she was thrilled. Michelle went with a couple of friends to the bigger neighborhood down the street from us to see some other buddies. I told her to be home by 9:00 and not to vandalize (more importantly, to not get caught!). I'll post some pics soon!

The day after Halloween, John's mom, June, came to visit for a few days. I think she had a good time visiting with the kids. Stephen was thrilled to see her and she was happy about that. I'm not sure she was feeling too great while she was here but she was a trooper. We met up for dinner in Nashville on Saturday with John's sister, Diane and her husband, Joe. John's brother, Fred also came with his girlfriend, Tina. It was a lot of fun. They had gotten cowboy boots and a cowboy hat and were cracking me up!

Whew, so see - busy, busy, busy!! I am really enjoying all my TV shows but am nervous about this writers strike. The only good thing I'm hearing is that they are trying to up production on Big Brother and may start it in January when all the scripted shows will have to end.

All right guys, I've bored you enough for now!!

Later.