They're Baaaaaack!!

We've been counting the days until Nicholas and his family would be back on their hometown Iowa soil! Whooo Hooo! Pictured here waiting for the Turner Taxi to pull up left to right: Addison, Grandpa Larry, eldest McKenzie, Grandma Judy, Trevor, Nicholas, new baby Tyler James and Kim. (a recap for those just joining the JT's blog) Nicholas and his family have been stationed in Hawaii for the past four years. Nick is an "UGLY" Marine helicopter pilot, just like his Dad, Larry, and has been deployed three times - the last two have been to the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, while his super wife, Kim, has taken fabulous care of their four kiddos. It wasn't too long ago that we all learned that for his next assignment, Nick would be one of the very honored and chosen few to fly the Presidential Helicopter! So, when he returned from the war in August, he and his family began the HUGE task of packing up their household to move back to the Mainland from the Islands. Check out Kim's blog for all the fun details of their past few weeks! WHEW!! It will take their household belongings and van 6 weeks to ship back to Virginia, where they will now live for the next 4 years. In the meantime, for the next month the entire family of 6 will be living out of their suitcases and visiting with family and friends in their home state of good ol' IOWA!

Nick's flight was due to land in DSM at 6:40 PM Monday night, so his folks drove to our place with Nick's truck (he had to leave it behind when they moved to Hawaii) and then we all drove to DSM. Jim and Larry drove the truck... and on their way they stopped to help a HUMONGOUS snapping turtle get across Panther Creek Road. Jim was going to try to pick it up, but he said it smelled just HORRIBLE!!!, so he just pushed it with his foot... ever so carefully to make sure he wouldn't get a toe bit off by this scary looking creature! He said it's shell was over a foot wide!
And Judy and I headed to the mall in their van to take a look at the dress she had ordered for a granddaughter's upcoming July wedding. (Congratulations again, Karen!!) Our niece, Karen, is Jim's sister, Jan's second oldest. They live in sunny, and HOT, Florida. The dress is a lovely shade of lavender and has a light sparkling bodice! Doesn't Judy look elegant?! She has such great taste! We wandered the mall a bit more, which of course builds up quite an appetite!
So... we got a bite to eat at a restaurant near the airport. Thanks, again, Judy and Larry!

When we got the airport, of course their flight was delayed.... so we waited and waited some more! But soon, Trevor could be seen running to take a seat on Grandpa's lap!

Getting our first peak at the newest addition to the family - all wrapped up like a bug in a rug!!

McKenzie and Nick waiting for their 12 bags, 2 strollers, 1 car seat and partridge in a pear tree!

Jim and Nick load it all into the bed of the truck... it ALL barely fit!

While Mom buckles and snaps all the car seats into place... Aunt Julie got her updated lesson in car seats today - ha! Good grief! - they remind me of puzzle pieces or the Rubik's cube!

All loaded and ready to head to Kim's folks near Ames, Iowa. Can you tell Nick has missed his truck?? Addi is looking up at him like, "What are doing up there, Daddy???!"

They'll all back to Turner Mountain (judy and larry's) in a couple of weeks. I'm sure we'll have a party of some sort! And Nick has been asked to be a guest speaker at his high school on Veteran's Day, November 10th.

In the words of Ty Pennington,

WELCOME HOME NICK TURNER FAMILY,

WELCOME HOME!!!!