Sledding

The kids had been begging to go outside and go sledding, so Monday morning we got the gear on and headed across the cul-de-sac to a little hill. It was nice to just be right there! There is no snow on any of the roads around here, but TONS still all over up on the hill where we're staying. When we got there the first night it took like 20 mins of effort to even get my car to their driveway through the snow. Anyway, Tanner had the 5 hour flu Monday morning and was taking a long nap so he missed out on the sledding.

Merry Christmas!

Tanner and Kamryn came in just after 7:30 and then we woke up Payton and Blake and headed out to the family room!



The kids were excited about Utah and loved their sweats to travel in. (FYI-Costco for like 16 bucks for a set right now!)


That afternoon Grandma and Grandpa Martin came down to bring the kids gifts and Tricia and her family came along for fun. We played games for hours while the kids ran around outside and played lots of Barbies....I had planned on Breakfast for dinner that night but since they all had a big breakfast that morning we just whipped up some grilled cheese sandwiches and some salad.


Late in the afternoon we looked out back and saw a rainbow! It was much brighter in real life.

We had a great Christmas and I'm sad it's over....have a happy New Year!

Christmas Eve...

We had Christmas Eve dinner at my Mom's tonight and it was SO GOOD!!! One Argentina tradition that has stuck with our family is my Mom making Melanessa either for Thanksgiving or for Christmas. It is the ONE thing I can eat and eat and even go back for more just to savor the taste even though my tummy is so full. When new "in laws" are married into the family they just don't get it. I think it's starting to grow on them, but mostly they used to say it tastes like nothing. Well, it's my kind of nothing, and I don't like red meat any other way! I should have gotten a good pic of it. We did our gift exchanges there and then all our jammies showed up mysteriously at the door! (it's my own little family tradition to have them ding dong ditched at the door on Christmas Eve) I should have got a pic...since extra cousins are in town visiting there was a big pile of little presents. Anyway, it was a fun night and we headed home around 9:45! We are really off schedule around here lately and have been sleeping in a bit.....when Tanner was going to bed he asked me, "Mom, is it okay if we wake up early tomorrow, like 7 something?" My body is stuck on going to bed after midnight....this has got to change or I'm in for it when school starts back up!

Three Three Year Olds....all a few weeks apart! Payton, Makenzie, Hailey

David and David happened to show up in the SAME shirt!

Fast asleep on Tanner's floor....Kamryn was in the middle, but she decided her bed was more comfy....smart one.

Since it's after midnight already I went to take a peak and look who came! I can't wait for morning and the big surprise! We're headed to SNOW to visit cousins and the kids don't know yet! That's the SPECIAL gift on the fireplace. They have to unwrap it to find out where we're going....

Annual Martin Family Christmas Party

It was Peggy's (Brian's mom) turn to host this year and she did a great job! The kids LOVE when we get together-even though everyone is pretty close by, they don't get enough cousin time! We had a fun night that ended with a Santa Visit....

(with grandma mckown)

Kamryn's Preschool Program

Last week we got to go see Kamryn's class sing some Christmas songs....here's a little clip. I was trying to get her and her friend Brandon both in it, so that's why it looks like I'm focusing on Arianna in the middle....(even though I'd have to admit that she was HILARIOUS to watch....I should have filmed "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"-the people in the front row had a slight hearing loss after that one! It was cute.)

So proud...

Kamryn was so proud of her work she did at school today. Miss Terra (the best teacher ever!) helped them write a Christmas note. It was titled "The Christmas Spirit" then it read, "Thank you for taking care of me. I love you. 2008" She was on cloud nine. As she walked in said, "Mom, Miss Terra said I can write like a FIRST GRADER!" Her writing was very neat also.

Christmas treats

I was going to be lazy and not do treats this year, but I changed my mind and I'm glad I did, but I cut my list like in half to save me some sanity and now I'm sad that I did! I regret not being able to bring these yummy truffles to more people this year! I for sure will plan better and make LOTS more next year to share. Oh boy, these we're good, and the few saved for us got eaten mostly by Kamryn and I the next day!

The kids were being dorks for the picture, and so I told them to smile for reals, and this was what I got?!?! Still a little goofy, but oh well, we had a fun night!

Merry Christmas

Can you believe we only have TEN days left!!!

blondie...

Blake's hair is SO blonde compared to my others as babies. It almost has a glitter glisten to it in the sunlight. But in every picture I take it always looks so much more brown than it looks in real life. Here is one of my favorites that Maggie took for us. She of course has a much nicer camera and so his hair looks true to color here. And I just love this little face in this pic. His shirt was all wet from multiple spit ups before it was his turn, but you can hardly tell....

Jammie Time

After we cleaned rooms tonight I left and told the kids to get their jammies on. Then all ran out to the family room and thought it was pretty funny that they all had Tanner's pj's on. (I guess it could have been more funny if they all came out in the girls nightgowns!) Blake was already in Tanner's jammie bottoms from 6 years ago, so we had 4 kids in Tanner's pj's. They thought they were pretty cool, and the girls looked like they could pass as long haired boys:

Sunday Night Movie

Usually we head to the basement for a movie, but tonight wanted to enjoy our tree, so we turned on the lights and relaxed with some popcorn for a movie. The kids got to stay up til 8 also so they could see the end-so they were in heaven! (and SO tired and ready for bed by then end!)

As soon as these teeth pop through, he just might bite his own fingers off...

Blake and Tanner

6 Months

Blake was 6 months yesterday! We just love him. He has been such a good baby. He was sleeping through the night by 2 1/2 months, but started waking up again at 4 months when we had to switch up his schedule to gain weight. We are still trying to break this habit...I'm trying extra hard this week, so I'm hoping it'll be worth the extra sleep I'm loosing now when he decides he can go all night again!

He can sit up for a while, but he'd rather be on a mission and try and get moving around, so I think he quits sitting on purpose! (just like I think he drops his bottle on purpose! haha) HE tries SO hard to crawl. I think he'll be crawling by Christmas. I forget when Payton started, but Tanner was about this same age, and Kamryn was 9+ months.

He did great for shots at the Doctors today (even though mom left his binky at home!)-here's his latest stats:

40% for Weight: 17 lbs
96% for Height: 29.25 inches

Weight is steady, and his height jumped from 85-96. The doctor even measured twice to be sure! Compared to Tanner, Blake is over two inches longer at 6 months! But my girls have been in the upper 90's for years, so I wasn't too surprise to have another tall kid.