Popcorn! Peanuts! 5 cents a bag!

To Serve and Protect

So, mothering should have the same motto as being in law enforcement..."To serve and protect." On Monday, we got a call that we had to pick our children up immediately. To spare all the details and to respect privacy of others, I will spare further narration on said topic and am thankful that my children are safe.
It is during times of stress, such as not having daycare all of a sudden and wondering how you're going to care for kids and go to work, worrying that your kids may have been an in unsafe situation, frustrated that they don't have little voices to tell you...the truly trying times of life, when that rollercoaster is down and not up...is when I most love being married to Dan. There is no one other than Dan that I would want to partner with to solve the problems that life throws at you.
This week, Dan and I have had a chance to really see and be reminded of how much Jack and Kate depend on us, how it is our job to keep them safe and what an awesome, enormous, sometimes scary but exhilirating job parenting can be. How have we been blessed with such an awesome responsibility? And, I choose the word awesome to imply both "large" and "super cool!"
To Jack and Kate, we love you more than we could ever explain. You are the best gifts we have ever received and our life is forever changed for the better because of you both. Know that we are always looking out for you and are doing our best to raise you to be the best people you can be. XOXO!

The value of a dollar

Too good to be through...The Nifty Thrity...Second Time Around...Whatever the name of the Thrift Store, the Turpins love it and it has come to be a favorite pasttime and hobby of ours. Now...I must preface by saying that the thrift stores are different here...we don't know why but they are AWESOME! Anyways...we were thrilled today when Jack demonstrated to us that all his tagging along with us over the past two years has paid off. Today, he found a Little Tikes Bus with ALL the people that go in it, in tact, in great condition for $3.00. He put it in the cart himself so of course, we had to get it for him! A little bath for the bus and the people with bleach and soap...we're good to go. I am so glad at this tender age he already knows the value of a dollar and how to stretch it. That a boy...Suze Orman would be proud.
P.S. For those of you that don't know, I will be featured at some point in the "Can I Afford It?" segment of the Suze Orman Show...I don't know when it will air but I do know that my question will be the first one during that segment. What a fun experience!

I Heart Dad!

Town Lake Bridge

If you haven't visited before, Austin has a fantastic 10 mile loop around downtown that people enjoy walking, biking, and running on. Jack had a blast saying "HI!" to the people walking across the bridge as he explored, played, and took on the role of the "Welcome Wagon." Bless his sweet heart.

Fun Family Sunday in Austin

After a very busy couple of weeks, we were excited to sleep in and spend the day together. Cleaning and laundry could wait...we were going to have fun! As is Turpin style, we spent some of the afternoon going to some thrift stores and then headed to the Austin Children's Museum. They had a bunch of hands-on arts and crafts for the kiddos, we made hats! We walked around Town Lake after. To cool off, Dan and Jack shared a gelato on 2nd Street. A perfect day...it may be hot here but it doesn't seem so bad when we do fun things you can only do in Austin.

Jack's Hawaiian Luau

Presents Everywhere!

The calm after the storm














Jack's birthday party was a Hawaiian theme (Thanks Dollar Tree!) this year. We tried to stay cool in the hot hot sun by providing several pools for kids to play in, a plunge slide (a crowd favorite), and cans of Lone Star for the adults. We had a bouncy house for kids to jump in, had a potato sack race, and attempted a water balloon toss. I blew up 100 balloons and they lasted maybe 8 seconds. Oh well! Thanks to Duane and Lourdes (affectionately known as "Lou Lou" to Jack) for giving Jack a HUGE palm tree pinata. It was bigger than some of the trees in our backyard and all the 17 kids in attendance had fun hitting it (with the exception of Sweet Baby Dylan, one month old now, he cuddled with Kate and brought her her first rose, so sweet!) Thanks to Aunt Jen and Uncle Kris for coming early to help set up, for making a zillion skewers of fruit and making the show run smoothly. We couldn't do it without you! Jack opened presents after everyone went home, the dining room was filled with fun toys and tissue paper. Thanks everyone, especially to the Fay Family for providing Jack with his favorite toy this year...the Little People Dump Truck. He even took it to bed with him tonight!

Kater-Tot!

Uncle Kris and I had a great time playing together at Jack's party...He was making me laugh and laugh. He also gave me a great new nickname..."Kater-Tot!" I love it, even though I am not quite sure what a "Tater Tot" is. I guess I'll figure it out in a few years!

Woooooaaaaaaahhhhh!

I'm TWO!

I am 2!
Hair: Blondish Brown
Eyes: Blue
Height: Getting taller everyday
Weight: About 26 pounds or so
Activity Level: Off the charts
Smiles: Plenty
Favorite Drink: Milk
Favorite Food: Cheese
Favorite Dessert: Cookies
Favorite Pasttime: Coloring and Swimming
Favorite Toy: Matchbox Cars and Legos
Specialties: Throwing dirty diapers in the trash, getting diapers for Mom and Dad when they change Kate's diaper, closing doors, turning lights on and off, requesting "Elmo" and pointing to the tv, sleeping late, giving zerberts, and going outside via the dog door.

Happy 2nd Birthday Jack!

2 years old!

1 year old!

Newborn Jack!
Jack,
Wow...Time flies when you're having fun. I can't help but look at you today and be amazed at the past two years, how WE have grown and developed and continue to fall madly in love with you everyday. Although sometimes I wish for a bit more sleep, I wouldn't trade any moment I have had with you, especially cuddling in bed together in the morning and watching Elmo (over and over and over again!). You have an endless love for life already, have an enormous amount of curiousity and demonstrate your sweet heart daily, especially when interacting with your little sister. You have already been such a great big brother in just seven short months. I love you so much and can't wait for you to give me another zerbert! Happy Birthday to you Jack!!!
Love, Mom
P.S. Many thanks and much love to Dan. Without him, this would still be a dream. XOXO.

Happy Birthday Dad/Dan!

Happy Birthday Dan! Wishing you a great day and year filled with much love and more sleep than you got this past year! You are a wonderful father, husband, and friend and the world is a better place because of you! Happy 39th! We love you!
Jack, Kate, Murph, Finn and Cage

Sly little devil!

Kate was hanging out with her future suitor, Dylan Hanley last night. Just as soon as Dylan had calmed down after a brief bout of crying, thanks to a pacifier (poor little guy at 3 weeks is still trying to figure out day and nights), she decided to flirt a little and pull it out of his mouth. Wow Kate, go for the gusto! Dylan handled it pretty well and we all got a great laugh.

Can you ever get enough photos? Not me!

As you can see, Brian and Liz are full of love for their little baby. My question is...How can they both look so good when they claim they aren't sleeping? I think they're the best looking couple with a 3-week old! I don't know what eye cream they use but I want some!

Thanks Brian!

Liz and Brian brought 3- week old Sweet Baby Dylan (Kate's boyfriend) over and we broke in Dan's smoker with salmon (yummy!). Brian being the "Jack of All Trades" taught Dan how to smoke the salmon to perfection and also brought over all his photography gear. We had a great time with them and loved taking photos of the kiddos. We are so happy Dylan is here. We plan to enjoy the hills and valleys of parenting with Liz and Brian and hope that Jack, Kate and Dylan will be lifelong friends. It takes a village and we are glad they are in ours!