Meeting Santa

Last Saturday, we got to take some pictures with Santa. They really came out good. Here's Briana and Alex.

Briana hugging Santa

This is my absolute favorite; Alex looking up at Santa

And finally, our family with Santa

Help us win a contest

A couple of months ago, I submitted this picture of Alex for a contest sponsored by Nationwide Insurance:

 

The picture was selected as a finalist and the public gets to choose the winning picture. Please help us win by voting (you can vote once a day until the contest ends on Dec. 9th). You do have to register the 1st time you vote, but after that, you just have to enter your email address. Go to www.onyoursideline.com, then click on "vote now" in the upper right. Enter your email address (and your personal info the 1st time you vote). You then might have to click on "Switch to Finalist Gallery". Alex's picture should be the 4th one from the left on the top row. Also, if you could, please forward the information to anyone you think would help. We would really appreciate it (and would love to be at the Rose Bowl in January.

Halloween in Hilliard 2009

We had trick or treating on Thursday, Oct. 29th (the cities around Columbus agree to have a standard day, especially when Halloween falls on the weekend). It's a huge event in our neighborhood. This year, Briana went as an Ohio State cheerleader, Alex was an Ohio State football player, and I (as usual) was Coach Tressel. The neighbors loved our family theme (Gretchen stayed back to pass out candy, but she was wearing an Ohio State sweatshirt). This was Alex's 1st year to walk to houses to get candy; he loved it!

Miley

On Wednesday, I took Briana to the Miley Cyrus concert at Nationwide Arena. I had never been around so many screaming young girls. The show was outstanding and we had a great time together.

 

Briana got to take a "virtual" picture with Miley.

I'm just now getting my hearing back.

It's official

Today is my 1st official day as an associate professor at Ohio State.

Our little man turned 2 yesterday

Hard to believe, but Alex had his 2nd birthday on Saturday. He woke up to his own train table, then opened his presents in the basement.

 At night, we had his cake (Cars). Briana had to help blow out the candles.

I love Alex more and more each day. His personality is really starting to develop. He is working extremely hard in his speech and OT classes and he started riding a "big bus" this past week to a school that will help him develop even more. I can't wait until he's old enough to go to games with me.

Briana's 1st soccer game

Even though she has been playing soccer for a year, Briana played her very first "real" game last Saturday (the 12th). Prior to this season, she played in a league where her "team" just divided up and played once a week (and practiced another day during the week). This is also the 1st time she had her very own uniform.

Although they don't "officially" keep score in her league, Briana's team lost 13-1. She did have a couple of good shots on goal that were saved by their goalie. Her team played a much closer game this weekend, losing 4-2. Briana played a quarter at goalie and had several saves. She is really playing hard and we are very proud of her. Most importantly, she is really starting to have fun playing the sport.

Our Labor Day Vacation!

Briana, Alex, and I flew to Wisconsin for Labor Day weekend. We wanted to go to the summer picnic at Aunt Kathy and Uncle Tom's house. Since it was a quick trip, Brian stayed home so he could get ready to go back to work on Tuesday (first day back since summer break). He also got to stay in his man cave and watch football all day on Saturday! The kids and I had a blast at Grandma and Grandpa's house. We went to the picnic on Saturday, Old World Wisconsin on Sunday, and hung out with my brother Scott, his wife Deanna, my sister Heidi, her daughter Samantha and her boyfriend Marty on Sunday night. We had a lot of fun in a short amount of time. It was great to see everyone.





Alex and Briana were so excited to be on the airplane to Wisconsin! We had a small plane with only two seats to a row. It was an exciting flight. Alex did OK until the last 20 minutes or so. Then, he gave the other passengers plenty to talk about!!!
Alex and I got to share a seat. Briana wanted to take our picture for the memory books!

Briana was so excited to see her grandparents!

Alex settled right in the very first night. This was his favorite spot in the house, right next to Grandpa!
Alex got to sleep in a big bed!



The first person that the grandkids went to at Aunt Kathy's house, Great Grandpa!

Alex had fun just wandering around and looking inside the coolers on the deck. Briana had lots of fun swimming in Aunt Kathy and Uncle Tom's pool. She also was introduced to tennis for the first time. It wasn't too bad since they were playing four on four.

We went to Old World Wisconsin with Samantha and Grandma (Grandpa had to stay home and dog sit). It was lots of fun.

Briana loves school-even schools from the olden days.

Alex and Grandma both liked the tram at Old World Wisconsin the best.

The kids really enjoyed visiting the last night on the porch with Heidi, Marty, and Samantha. It was a nice night to eat pizza and relax!
Just laughing with Aunt Deanna and hanging out on the porch. What a great summer night!
Don't worry, it's empty! The boy just gets into everything.

Uncle Scott sure has a way with babies! I guess it was all that practice with his own.

This is the dinosaur that has been in the family since before I was born. It now "lives" in Scott's backyard and decorates Deanna's flower garden.

Daddy was glad to have us home! (although I think he enjoyed his weekend "off", too)

Briana's 1st football game

Last night, Briana and I drove up to Bowling Green to see them play Troy University. One of my longtime friends, Maurea Crain coaches at Troy. I have known Maurea since 1986. He played basketball for me in high school, then after playing football at the University of Iowa, came back to University High School and was a coaching colleague of mine for a few years. Here he is in action before the game:

This game was pretty special because it was Briana's 1st football game. She has attended many other sporting events, but we have waited for football (it tends to be longer and much more crowded; plus it is a whole lot more expensive). Since Bowling Green has a smaller stadium and it wasn't crowded, it was a perfect "test" to see if she could make it through a whole game. They had a photo promotion before the game:

 

After the game, we waited for Coach Crain:

Briana was glad to see him:

 

I look forward to many more football games with her in the future. 

I love our new camera

Briana had her 1st soccer practice of the season last night so I took our new camera to try it out on action/sports shots. I love it! Here are some sample pictures:

 

  

  

  

We're going to be able to get some great pictures this season - stay tuned. 

My brick at Ohio Stadium

Last Christmas Briana and Alex purchased a brick for me at Ohio Stadium. I received a replica then, but the real one was finally installed at the Stadium last month:

 

The brick is just outside the south end zone gates. We will see it at every game.

  

What a great gift! 

1st day of 2nd grade

Briana started 2nd grade this morning. Here she is with her teacher, Mrs. Bragg:

 

The annual picture by her buckeye tree: 

In her "smart girl dress" (that's what she calls these types of dresses):

 

At her desk: 

My little baby is growing up quick. We are really proud of her!

We are ready for football season!

College football starts in less than 2 weeks, so the Turner family decided to take some family pictures on campus. It was a beautiful day in the low 70s and we took pictures by the stadium and Mirror Lake (in our Ohio State jerseys, of course).