Marten News

Disconnected!

2011-07-30T06:52:00.000-07:00

I haven't done a very good job of keeping up with my New Year's resolution...a post a day for 2011.

I'm transitioning between jobs and had the opportunity to work very little this summer so that I could fully enjoy summer life with the kids. I wanted to spend as little time on the computer and really "disconnect" from screens. The result has been fantastic. We're swimming and hiking and playing with friends and just hanging out and it's been wonderful!

In an effort to "catch up" and recapture some of our summer memories, I am going to try to post a bit each day. I guess my blog will actually be going backwards for a while.

A Beautiful Sunset!

2011-07-29T23:00:00.000-07:00

A Sunset with Friends!

2011-07-29T22:45:00.000-07:00

Maya and Kai's cousin Kayleigh has been staying with us this week. For her final night with us, we decided to watch the sunset with friends. The kids played in the sand, jumped the waves, ran up and down the dunes many times, and just had a great time.

Just a note that there are no pictures of Kai today. He got to spend the night at his grandparents house with his younger cousins Ely and Evan. He was quite chuffed to be the "oldest" for once.

Max the Maniac!

2011-07-25T19:32:00.000-07:00

In April, we started to notice that Hunter was becoming quite depressed without his beloved companion Benny. He hated to be left alone in the house, wanted to go everywhere with us, and just wasn't himself. We decided to take the plunge and welcome a yellow lab puppy into our family. The kids named him Max from the children's cartoon "Max and Ruby". He now has many nicknames including Max the Maniac, Mackers, Macaroni and Cheese, and the list goes on.

Wow how one forgets how much work a lab puppy is. Max is now 5 months old, is 50+ pounds, and is turning into such a great dog. He loves to be around us all the time and truely loves his brother Hunter. They play constantly. He's hiking, swimming, and just being the lovely crazy puppy that he is. Here are a couple of recent pictures of our Mackers.

Max the Pup!

2011-04-16T20:04:00.000-07:00

Getting Max!

2011-04-16T19:40:00.000-07:00

This morning we surprised Maya and kai. We had them look at a picture of some puppies on the computer and asked if they would like one. Need I say more? They screamed and jumped around the room in pure excitement and surprise.

We proceeded with our Earth day plans and left from the Earth day festival to "the middle of nowhere" in Illinois to pick up our new addition. We drove through rain and wind for what seemed to be hours before reaching our destination. Max was living on a farm...the only only house on a country mile block. He had been born into a litter of 5 yellow lab male puppies. How perfect...we specifically wanted a yellow male pup. Now was the hard part. There were 4 remaining puppies and the kids had the difficult job of choosing which one was going to join our family. Laurie (the dogs' owner) was wonderful and let us hang out in the barn for almost 2 hours playing with the puppies and trying our hardest to narrow down our choice to just one. Each dog had a different colored collar which helped a bit to figure out which dog was which.

They ended up choosing Max (the puppy with the red collar). He was the largest in the litter and right in the middle in terms of temperament...not too rambunctious, not too shy. He was a perfect mix of soft and cuddly and crazy puppy.

He did great on the long ride home. He fell asleep in my arms and stayed there for most of the trip.

When we arrived home, Hunter and Cheeks were the only unhappy ones. Hunter jumped on the couch and hid behind me like a big baby...I think he actually frothed (sp) at the mouth a couple of times paired with some pretty intense growls. Time will tell, but I'm sure they'll be friends soon. Hoping anyway.

By the way, Max is exactly 8 weeks old and still has his puppy blue eyes. What a cutie!!

It's April and 80 Degrees!

2011-04-10T21:17:00.000-07:00

Today was absolutely beautiful! We got a true glimpse of summer as the temp. reached into the 80's. We decided the beach was a must. We headed to Beverly Shores where we had the beach completely to ourselves.

Kai built this amazing cascading waterfall/pond thing out of sand while Maya spent her time digging a huge hole to reach water. Hunter just ran wild and spent much of his time fetching stuff in the water.

It certainly felt strange being at the beach without Benson today. This was by far his favorite place to be and was the first time we ever had Hunter at the beach without Benny. We sure do miss him.

"

2011-04-10T20:55:00.001-07:00

Macaroni and Cheese...Japaneese Style

2011-04-06T21:33:00.000-07:00

One of the units studied in Kindergarten is Japan. How fitting that they are studying about this country during such a sad and trying time for all of those living in Japan. It has given her a new awareness and appreciation for this country.

Maya's Didi and Papa visited her class to share with the kids some Japaneese customs and all about everyday life. The kids learned about taking their shoes off before entering any house, dressing in Komono's, and eating with chopsticks to name a few.

Today during lunch, Maya declared that she would not be needing a fork for her mac and cheese, but rather a set of chopsticks.

Even though it took nearly 40 minutes, she finished every last bite using her chopsticks.

A Magic Show!

2011-03-31T21:31:00.000-07:00

"Green Eggs and Ham" x 2

2011-03-23T21:26:00.000-07:00

Maya has become quite the reader this year. Her favorite book to read is Green Eggs and Ham. Tonight, I found Maya and Kai sitting next to each other, each reading this book. It was just precious.

Happy Birthday Papa!

2011-03-20T20:52:00.000-07:00

In Loving Memory!

2011-03-19T20:14:00.000-07:00

This morning, Benson's very big heart struggled. He passed away peacefully with Dominic and me lying beside him.

Less than 24 hours ago, I walked with Benny and Hunter through the woods of Chelberg farm, one of Benny's favorite places. He got to go on one last fantastic walk, ride in the car one last time, and just hang out with the family. We couln't have written a better ending for our wonderful friend and soul buddy. No suffering, no pain, and with loved ones by his side.

Today, our hearts feel empty and full. Empty from the great pain of our loss, yet full with with memories of 12 1/2 fantastic years of his presence. Benson was the most giving, unselfish, patient, and eternally happy being I have ever known. I will use my memories of him as an example of how I want to live my life. I am forever grateful to have known such a fantastic dog and companion.

This picture was taken at my parent's cottage, another of Benny's favorite places. I love how dirty he is from swimming and exploring through the woods. I like to think that whereever he is right now, he's swimming, running, chasing squirrels, and sitting on "his spot" on a great big fluffy couch.

Our tribute to Benny...

My heart is feeling heavy
As my eyes fill up with tears
Thinking about our Benny
And his 12 ½ amazing years.

I so wish he were here
For he would know the trick
He’d quietly lie beside me
And give my tears a gentle lick.

He always read our minds
And knew just how to act
Is it possible he understood emotions?
We think that’s a fact.

His irresistible smile
The sticks he’d love to fetch
He loved to play the piano
And snowballs he would catch.

To list his favorite things
Is very easy to do
Woods, walks, the beach to swim
And riding in the car to name a few.

He lay with us for for stories
He also loved to sing
He claimed “his spot” upon our couch
As if he were a king.

He loved his brother Hunter
And even tolerated cheeks
He used his bark to tattle
He certainly wasn’t meek.

Oh how much he taught us
He had a real knack
Tolerance and unconditional love
He always had our back.

Benson loved to live
He truly was our best friend
We love and miss him deeply
His legacy will never end!

Benny, you will forever have a place in our hearts. We love you booties!

Our First Taste of Spring!

2011-03-16T21:06:00.000-07:00

Today felt just like spring. After school, we decided to take full advantage of a sunny warmish day and ride our bikes to Dairy Queen. Our little Dairy Queen that is the closest to our house just opened this month for the season.

As I was getting the bikes out of the garage, I needed to move our large extension ladder that was blocking access. As I was moving the ladder, I somehow hit something with the ladder and consequently, the ladder knocked me so hard in the eye I about passed out. It bled horribly and immediatly produced a swollen bump the size of a small egg on my eyebrow. After 10 minutes of stopping the bleeding and icing the swelling, I downed a couple of ibuprophen, donned my sunglasses, and rode my bike to dairy queen with the kids, just as I promised.

Unfortunately, I think I'm going to have quite a shiner of a black eye.

"My Scrapbook For When I Go To College!"

2011-03-15T20:55:00.000-07:00

Today, Maya spent the afternoon taking pictures around the house. When I asked her what she was doing, she replied "I'm taking pictures to make a scrapbook for when I go to college so I can remember my house and my family. Mommy, should I take a picture of my body so I remember how little I was?"

I'm just wondering, why is she thinking about college already? Can we just get through Kindergarten first!

Here are a few pictures courtesy of Maya. She felt it was important to include her dresser and desk. She also took pictures of Cheeks, Hunter, the living room, the vase of flowers on the kitchen table, and many additional shots of me, her brother, and herself. I can't wait to put these all together into a scrapbook. Absolutely priceless!

Nanny's Visit!

2011-03-11T20:38:00.000-08:00

We are having a great time with Nanny. Today, we just hung out around the house. One of our smoke alarms was making a high pitch occasional beeping sound, alerting us of a low battery. After taking every single alarm apart one at a time, we were still hearing the beeping...which was making the dogs (especially Hunter) CRAZY!

After a trip to the store for 9V batteries, we finally realized it was our carbon monoxide alarm, which takes AA batteries that we already had on hand at home.

I have to say I have a lot of respect for my mother n law. Take a look of the photo of Maya and both dogs on the couch with her. I love the one where Hunter is actually sitting on top of her absolutely terrified of the beeping sound. What patience Nanny has!

Tomorrow we will celebrate Nanny's birthday with a trip to our local Indian restaurant followed by Annie the musical...can't wait!

The Snowman!

2011-02-16T21:39:00.001-08:00

A Day In The Snow!

2011-02-16T21:27:00.000-08:00

What does 45 degrees with snow on the ground mean? Great snowman making conditions. The kids, their friend Jordan, the dogs, and I put on our snow gear and walked to our neighborhood park where we spent the next two hours playing in the snow and on the playgound equipment. We all made a snowman together. Afterwards, Maya and Jordan worked dillengently on their walls for the snowball fight while Kai crafted a "trophy" out of snow. Benson even got involved in the snowball fight attempting to catch every snowball within reach.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T21:40:00.000-08:00

Winter Bliss!

2011-02-13T21:23:00.000-08:00

We hit 40 degress today and it felt like a spring day. What a great day to take the dogs for a walk. I actually left the house without a coat! I think the pics show just how much Benny and Hunter enjoyed their outdoor time today.

A Pool Party!

2011-02-12T21:12:00.000-08:00

Today the kids and I went to a pool party for Morgan's Birthday. Maya and Morgan went to preschool together. The kids had a good time, although I have so say the water was absolutely freezing!!! It didn't matter though, because where there's water and kids, good times are had by all!

Kai's Valentine's Day Party!

2011-02-11T21:02:00.000-08:00

Today was kai's preschool Valentine's Day Party. It's a bit sad knowing that this will be my last preschool party as he is moving on to Kindergarten next year. The kids seemed to have a great time. They played musical hearts, parachute games, made heart crafts, and ate more sugar and sweets that I thought was possible.

FYI: Maya talked Dom into driving her to school today. She was so excited to be "a drive".

A Ride to School and A Donut!

2011-02-10T20:50:00.000-08:00

To say it's cold today is an understatement. That's because the outside temp. this morning was registering at negative 2 (and that's without the wind chill)! I decided it was much too cold to wait at the bus stop so I offered to drive Maya to school. Of course we had to leave about 10 minutes early so we could stop at the local food mart two blocks from school for some yummy donuts.

Now that Maya has gotten a glimpse of "being a drive" as she calls it, she no longer wants to ride the bus in the morning and only wants us to drive her. She's in for a rude awakening tomorrow when she finds out she'll once again be waiting at the bus stop and taking the bus.

We Got Mailboxes In Our Mailbox!

2011-02-09T20:46:00.000-08:00

The kids are always so excited to open their annual Valentine's Day surprise from Nanny. Maya and Kai each received a personalized mailbox filled with yummy sweats! Thanks Nanny for always thinking of us and being so thoughtful! Happy Valentine's Day!

More Snow!

2011-02-08T21:45:00.000-08:00

How is it possible that we got another 6-8 inches of snow today? We're running out of places to dump this stuff!

Hunter and His Shoes!

2011-02-07T20:38:00.000-08:00

Hunter loves to pick up the first shoe in sight every time anybody enters out home. This is to guarantee that he gets the attention first (even if the attention is negative and telling him to drop the shoe).

We are always spending a few extra moments each morning finding the other match to a pair of shoes. The shoes are never chewed, rather placed in a variety of spots around the house. Today, I was looking for one of Dom's shoes and said to Hunter... " Hunter, where is Dom's shoe?" He immediately responded by running into the kitchen and bringing me one of Dom's old boots that was next to the kitchen door. Even though it wasn't the right shoe, you gotta love a dog who listens!

The Built-In Shades Hat!

2011-02-06T20:31:00.000-08:00

Two of Kai's favorite gifts from Arizona were a hat with built-in sunglasses (they litterally slide up and down using a lever on the side of the hat), and a quartz rock.

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

2011-02-05T19:44:00.000-08:00

Today we joined Maya's "China sisters" and their families in China Town to celebrate the Chinese New Year. We ate great food, watched beautiful dances, and observed an authentic lion dance. Kai said that his favorite part was when the Lion spit out the lettuce and it flew all over. Happy Year of the rabbit!

The Snow The Storm Left Behind!

2011-02-05T09:39:00.000-08:00

I Have to Look My Best!

2011-02-04T21:30:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, Maya spiked a fever again late last night...this time only to 101, but nevertheless, it's still a fever. By morning, she was again fever free and appeared to be feeling much better. Very lethargic, but better. Let's hope the fever's gone for good.

My parents called to tell us that they would be arriving at our house around 5:00p.m. The kids asked all day..."how much longer until they're here?".

Maya wore her jams most of the day and told me that she wanted to get dressed. Her exact words were "I have to look my best for Didi and Papa!" She found one of her China dresses and decided it would be perfect for the occasion.

My parents arrived safely, and spent the evening with us playing princess monopoly and eating a roast dinner.

Following Didi and Papa's Journey!

2011-02-03T19:19:00.000-08:00

For those of you who don't know, my mom and dad have spent the past 6 weeks in Arizona with my sister and her family. They were able to be there for the birth of their 4th grandchild, baby Evan. We have all missed them terribly and are excited that they are on their journey home. Fortunately, they're not in a hurry and can take their time as they "follow" the storm rather than fight with it on the way home.

Just recently, Papa sent the kids a package in the mail that contained a kitchen table bird book, and a map of the United States. On the map were two bold black lines. One showing our usual drive down to Miami and the other showing their route to Arizona. This gave the kids a better idea of just how far Phoenix is considering they remember all too well our 22 hour treks to Nanny's house in Miami.

Every day, my parents call the kids and let them know their travel route for that day. The kids take turns following their journey back by recording it on the map in red marker. They're counting the days and can't wait to see their Didi and Papa again.

FYI, schools were out again today. Maya's been fever free for 24 hours so our fingers are crossed that she can go to school tomorrow.

The Blizzard Has Arrived!

2011-02-02T21:14:00.000-08:00

We didn't get hit as hard as Chicago, but we definately got our fair share. Everything is closed today. Our local newspaper even announced that they would be combining Wednesday's issue with Thursday's as a result of the storm. Our local schools are closed, all Chicago area schools are closed, Dom's work is closed, and Maya's still sick.

The Blizzard is Beginning!

2011-02-01T21:10:00.000-08:00

We're expected to experience one of the worst winter storms in Chicago history. They're predicting waves up to 25 feet crashing along the Chicago shore line conbined with up to two feet of snow and extremely strong winds. Sounds fun! Early this afternoon, this is what Hunter looked like waiting to come inside.

Maya's Sick and Kai's Bored!

2011-01-31T22:44:00.000-08:00

I knew it was only a matter of time until Maya would catch the nasty Kindergarten "bug" that's been going around. She still has a high fever and cough.

Kai on the other hand is feeling well, but very bored without his best friend to play with. This evening, when I entered the living room, I found Kai like this! He had turned the couch into a jungle land with all of his stuffed animals. I love the way he put his "Kai" sign around the neck of his tiger. Can you tell which animal isn't stuffed? It's kind of like find Waldo!

103.5!

2011-01-30T21:01:00.000-08:00

This was the temp that Maya woke with this morning. Ugggg! Worse yet, it only goes down to 102 while on tylenol or motrin. According to neighbors and moms of fellow kindergartners in her class, this is the virus that's been going around. We're expecting a minimum of a 3 day fever but we're hoping for the best.

A Bath With A Side of Shaving Cream!

2011-01-29T11:19:00.000-08:00

Pajama Day and Playing Office!

2011-01-28T14:17:00.000-08:00

Today, Kai got to wear his PJ's to school for Pajama day. He thought it was quite cool! Later in the afternoon, the kids had a playdate and played school office. They each had their own desk and work station and of course thier own phones.

Sure Wish I Had A Snow Blower!

2011-01-27T22:15:00.000-08:00

Cheeks, I Really Don't Think You Want to Go Out Today!

2011-01-26T22:09:00.000-08:00

Cheeks loves nothing more than to explore outside a couple of hours every day. That is, however, until there's a foot of snow on the ground. Today she shot out of the slightly opened door, but didn't budge past the door step. Within seconds, she was begging to come inside. Don't worry Cheeks, Spring is right around the corner.

Kai the Performer!

2011-01-25T21:04:00.000-08:00

Kai will find a way to perform any chance he gets. He dresses up daily, sings, dances, and plays instruments. Take a good look everyone, for this face may just make a future appearance on the Grammy stage!

My New Commute!

2011-01-24T21:53:00.000-08:00

I just recently started a new job working in an Illinois school district as an OT. Yes, I'm finally one of those "commuters". Considering I'm on the road by 6:20a.m., the commute's been relatively easy with little to no traffic. It also helps that I LOVE being back in the school setting again and working with such a diverse group of staff and students.

Yum Yum Dim Sum!

2011-01-23T20:57:00.000-08:00

Today we ventured to China Town in Chicago for some great food and good company. Looking forward to Chinese New Year!

Ballet Class!

2011-01-22T20:42:00.000-08:00

Maya and Kai have been taking ballet for the past 4 months and absolutely LOVE to dance. They often participate in their very own "home-based" classes on a regular basis. Gotta love Kai's outfit today... a rainbow speedo swimsuit borrowed from Maya's wardrobe.

A Stove or a Baby's Changing Table!

2011-01-21T14:11:00.000-08:00

After spending the afternoon at a friend's house this week, Maya asked if she could have her own playroom so that she could have a room for her babies. Since her "own" playroom" isn't really possible, we decided to get creative and make a baby area in her existing playroom. This involved turning the stove (something the kids really don't play with anymore), into a dresser/changing table. She was thrilled with the idea. We neatly folded all of her doll clothes and placed them on the racks in the "oven". Then we padded the surface of the oven with a cushion and changing pad. Now she has a changing station for her baby, a frig, sink, and kitchen adjacent for bottles and feeding, and a pack-n-play on the other side for her baby's sleeping area. Problem solved!

Revamping the Playroom!

2011-01-20T21:45:00.000-08:00

Everytime we clean and re-arrange the playroom, it always ends up looking a bit more "grown-up" than before. Old toys get bagged and recycled to make room for new ones. As excited as I am to gain more space from toy invasions, it saddens me to see the kids grow up so quickly.

I'm Making a Craft!

2011-01-19T21:30:00.000-08:00

As Maya and I were playing in the playroom today, Kai disappeared upstairs. When I hollered upstairs and asked what he was doing, he yelled back "I'm just making a craft!". A little bit later, he returned to the playroom with his homemade dinasaurs. He said, "Mommy, how do you like my T-Rex and Brontasaurus? I made them using paper plates and paper".

I love Kai's never-ending creativity and his joy in making things out of everyday products. As a result, he never wants to throw anything away, always saying "Hey, I could make a craft out of that!".

Taking a Rest With Hunter!

2011-01-18T22:00:00.000-08:00

One Crowded Bed!

2011-01-17T22:30:00.000-08:00

When I went to check on the kids before going to bed this evening, this is how I found Maya...and Hunter...and Cheeks the cat.

A Sledding We Will Go!

2011-01-16T20:30:00.000-08:00

Thanks Auntie Debbie and Uncle Rick for our new sleds. We love them!

Giving Mommy the Night Off!

2011-01-15T22:30:00.000-08:00

Tonight after the kids were ready for bed, Maya announced that she and Kai were going to "give Mommy the night off" from cleaning. Using their OWN initiatives, they picked up the playroom, their bedroom, the living room, and then proceeded to empty a huge hamper of clean clothes and put them away in their room. Thank you so much kids for such a nice surprise (even if it may have been a ploy to stay up late). Since it was officially my "night off", I sat on the couch and watched T.V. with no cleaning to worry about!

Post Zumba Attire!

2011-01-14T20:17:00.001-08:00

Tonight, the kids and I made up our very own Zumba class in our living room. We danced, we "grooved", made up routines, and laughed a lot! When we were finished, Kai briefly disappeared to his playroom and returned wearing this. His exact words were..."Mommy, I got too hot in my shirt from Zumba so I put this on instead." Perhaps he'll be setting a new trend in active wear!

The Prince and Princess Show!

2011-01-13T20:06:00.000-08:00

Lake Effect Snow = No School = Playdate With Friends!

2011-01-12T20:01:00.000-08:00

Maya and Her "Office Dog"!

2011-01-11T20:18:00.000-08:00

Me: "Maya, why is Hunter on a leash inside the house and tied to the stair railing?"

Maya: "Because he's my office dog!"

As you can see in the picture, Hunter looks absolutely thrilled to be Maya's office dog.

Benny and His Cat Toy!

2011-01-10T20:14:00.000-08:00

Benson has a bucket full of exciting dog toys...stuffed animals, balls, squeaky sticks, and tug of war ropes. How interesting that his favorite toy is Cheeks the cat's Christmas present. He delicately carries it in his mouth making sure not to damage it in any way and plays with it daily.

The Human Basketball Hoop!

2011-01-09T20:09:00.000-08:00

My Little Chefs!

2011-01-08T20:17:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Baby Evan!

2011-01-07T18:46:00.000-08:00

Today, we celebrate the birth of our new nephew/cousin...baby Evan. We think he's absolutely precious! Mom and baby are healthy and well! In this picture is Evan's big brother Ely seeing his new brother for the first time.

Hand-Made 3-D Glasses.

2011-01-07T11:24:00.000-08:00

We celebrated New Year's Day at the movies watching Tangled (a fantastic movie by the way). The kids decided to save their snack boxes, and today, were able to turn the boxes into wearable glasses with a bit of paper and glue.

Cheeks, Don't You Know That Curiousity Killed the Cat?

2011-01-06T22:29:00.000-08:00

Our cat Cheeks discovered a whole new level of exploration tonight...on top of the living room/kitchen wall!

Groovy Shoes!

2011-01-05T19:18:00.000-08:00

Maya wears her new shoes every day...regardless of the style or color of her outfit. I only wish that they made these in my size as I would surely own a pair. Thanks Didi for a lovely Christmas present!

A Wagon for My Spiderman Car!

2011-01-04T20:54:00.000-08:00

"Papa, I want to make a wagon for my Spiderman car!" ...and so they did.

A Toy Story Event!

2011-01-03T19:26:00.000-08:00

Hand made table and chairs by Maya and Papa; Hand made centerpiece by Maya from Didi's stash; Jesse doll from Nanny; Woody doll from a great garage sale find by Kai; Afternoon picnic shared by all....Priceless!

A Look Out Our Kitchen Window!

2011-01-02T21:16:00.000-08:00

A New Year!

2011-01-01T21:06:00.000-08:00

Happy 2011! I have been inspired by a couple of friends and fellow bloggers to try a new idea for the year 2011. I will attempt to add a photo or comment for every day of this year. For anyone who follows this blog, you know this will be extremely difficult for me as my entries are not regular. I am trying to record as many memories as possible for not only myself, but for Maya and Kai and thought this might hold me a bit more accountable.

So here is my first entry for the new year. As I walked into our living room, I loved seeing my two beloved dogs, Benson and Hunter, sprawled out on the couch for a New Year's day snooze. I think one of my new year's resolutions will be to slow down, relax, and savor the little things in life. I may just have to join them for an afternoon rest.

More Christmas Eve Pics!

2010-12-31T21:00:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve!

2010-12-31T20:39:00.000-08:00

Didi and Papa spent the night at our house to help celebrate Christmas eve and experience the magic of Christmas morning. On Christmas Eve, we thought we'd try something new and had fondue for dinner. It was actually quite yummy. We also made cookies and had a cookie-painting party to decorate. I think the adults enjoyed the paiting even more than the kids...according to Maya...we all "got carried away". Later in the evening, the door bell rang and maya and kai discovered a package laying on the doorstep. It containted new jams (a pair each for Maya and kai) and a lovely poem from Elfie...our resident elf who has been residing at the Marten household for the duration of December. This was his second year with us so he's becoming quite the member of the family. We ended the evening with leaving reindeer food on our front snow covered yard, and preparing Santa's cookies and milk. Unfortunately, Cheeks the cat stole a couple of sips of Santa's milk. Don't worry, I poured Santa a clean glass of milk before his arrival.

Tracking Santa!

2010-12-31T19:04:00.000-08:00

Cookies with Nanny!

2010-12-16T21:30:00.000-08:00

A Chat with Santa!

2010-12-16T21:21:00.000-08:00

Kai's Preschool Christmas Program!

2010-12-15T21:38:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T20:26:00.000-08:00

Keeping up with a fairly new tradition, we once again ventured to Michigan to spend Thanksgiving at my parents' cottage. We were warmed by the heat of the wood burning stove and enjoyed beautiful naturesque views from the simple, quaint, two bedroom abode.

Our Thanksgiving feast was lovely (thanks to my mom). I was in charge of the pre-dinner snacks (hmmm...is somebody trying to tell me something about my cooking?). After dinner, Dom offered to do all of the dishes by hand (there's not a dishwasher at the cottage!) and recruited Maya and Kai as two eager helpers to be the "dryers".

The kids played endless games with their DiDi and Papa and even put on a 30min+ production of Annie. Kai made quite the turkey out of playdough and Maya and Kai completed a masterpiece on the old-fashioned lite brite (you know the one...we all had it growing up ...after 30 minutes of use it was hot enough to start a fire...but amazingly, never did).

Anyway, overall a very memorable Thanksgiving.

Kai's Jack-O-Lantern!

2010-10-30T22:18:00.000-07:00

Maya's Jack-O-Lantern!

2010-10-30T10:31:00.000-07:00

Spider Man and Annie!

2010-10-25T20:57:00.000-07:00

The Pumpkin Patch Halloween Party!

2010-10-24T21:42:00.000-07:00

Tonight, we had a great time picking the perfect pumpkins, jumping, eating a yummy halloween feast, and dancing with friends.

Thank you Eric and Kristi for a fun and memorable night.

Thanks also to Kristi for the beautiful photos of my adorable Annie and handsome Prince Naveen.

Halloween Happenings!

2010-10-23T22:50:00.000-07:00

Tonight, we went to a neighborhood costume party. Dom and I actually dressed up as a 1920's flapper/gangster pair. Maya pulled off an awesome Annie look-a-like and Kai was the handsome Prince Naveen. We had a great time celebrating with the neighbors.

A Wet End to Fall Soccer!

2010-10-23T20:31:00.000-07:00

Today marked the end of Maya's fall soccer season. It started to rain 10 minutes before her game and continued to rain for the entire match. The kids seemed to tolerate the weather much better than the parents on the sidelines.

Roller - Skiing!

2010-10-20T20:42:00.000-07:00

Donut Eating Tinker Bell!

2010-10-19T20:38:00.000-07:00

As I walked into the kitchen today, this is how I found Kai. When I asked what he was doing, he simply stated that he was Tinker Bell eating a donut.

A Neighborhood Halloween Preview!

2010-10-17T20:44:00.000-07:00

When the kids went out to play today, they quickly realized that all of the kids were sporting halloween costumes. They raced inside and put on costumes of their own. Funny thing though...Halloween's not for another two weeks!

Fall Fun!

2010-10-14T21:09:00.000-07:00

A Stab at Manual Mode!

2010-10-05T21:06:00.000-07:00

I was inspired by my friend Marti's blog to try a new mode on my camera. Since I began using my new camera last Christmas, I have mostly been an auto, Av, or self-portrait kind of photographer, always skipping over the big "M" on my wheel of choices.

Today, I told the kids that they had to help me to be a better photographer...that today I was trying a new mode on my camera and that they, of course, would need to be my subjects. After a few grunts and groans, they reluctantly agreed. Well...I had to promise that they could play with the neighbors across the street if they helped me take just a couple of good shots. Bribery always works.

Anyway, I really had no idea what I was doing, but I think I got a couple of good photos. The one of our cat eating grass is a bit freaky if you ask me. Her exposed teeth make her look vicious. She actually is a wonderfully sweet cat.

Pure Joy!

2010-10-01T21:22:00.000-07:00

Kai Man!

2010-10-01T21:00:00.000-07:00

Some Cousins and a Lightning McQueen Car!

2010-09-29T21:08:00.001-07:00

Family!

2010-09-29T20:55:00.000-07:00

I promised my mom that I would take some pictures of her grandkids for her birthday present. Given that my sister, brother-n-law, and favorite nephew live all the way in Phoenix, it isn't often that the cousins get to spend time together. These pictures aren't perfect by any means, but I thought they caputred just how much these kids love each other.

Even More B-Day Pics!

2010-09-19T22:21:00.000-07:00

More Birthday Party Pics!

2010-09-19T22:18:00.000-07:00

Happy 6th Birthday Maya!!!

2010-09-19T22:11:00.000-07:00

I can't believe our favorite girl is "6" today. We celebrated big time with a good Ole Cowgirl/Cowboy themed party. A huge thanks to our friends Colleen and Randy for hosting such an amazing afternoon full of hayrides, horse rides, potato sack races, games, and a real gold hunt. Fun was definately had by all!

A Cowgirl and a Cowboy!

2010-09-19T21:37:00.000-07:00

A Boy and His Balloons!

2010-09-19T21:12:00.000-07:00

The Princess and the Princess!

2010-09-12T21:18:00.000-07:00

More First Day of Preschool Pics!

2010-09-08T20:31:00.000-07:00

Kai's First Day of Preschool!

2010-09-08T19:59:00.001-07:00

After an evening of packing his Toy Story backpack, picking out an outfit to wear, and talking all about preschool, his special day finally arrived.

Kai was so excited to get ready for school that he decided to wear his new backpack to Maya's bus stop this morning. He told me is was "for practice". Of course it wasn't to show all the neighbors his cool new Toy Story backpack and to talk about his first day of school. At the bus stop, we were greeted with the best pumpkin and cinnamon doughnuts from our local apple orchard, compliments of our neighbor Deb and her daughter Anna. What a great treat for Kai on this special day.

After Maya got on the bus, it was time for me to drive Kai to school. He happily jumped out of the car and headed for the entrance. He was welcomed to school by his very own Didi which put a huge smile on his face. When we got downstairs, Kai found his cubby, walked into his classroom and found his name tag, and immediately began playing in the "happy home" area. He finally turned to me and said "O.K. mommy, you can get out of here now". Wow, when did Kai grow up.

As I left his preschool room, I suddenly realized that this would be the first time ever that both of our kids are in school at the same time. I have to admit this thought did bring a tear to my eye.

When Maya and I picked up Kai from school, he immediately told us all about a dinasour hunt that he had gone on. He also quickly reminded me that the dinaours were pretend and not real. It was very obvious that he absolutely LOVED his first day of school. We celebrated by going out to lunch to Daily Queen where we met Papa.

Kai, we are so proud of you for being so brave and independent on your first day of preschool. Mommy and Daddy love you so much.

Maya's First Kindergarten Assignment!

2010-08-26T20:42:00.000-07:00

O.K., so how cruel is this...for Maya's first assignment, she had to bring in a baby picture of herself . What are the kindergarten teachers thinking? We just had to put our girl on a bus for the first time and face the reality that she is now in the school system's hands for the next 13 years. The last think I wanted to do on her second day of school was to look at pictures of Maya at 9 months old. She was so little then, so helpless, in so much need of her mommy and daddy. I may have even shed a few tears in the process.

Fortunately, the assingment is done. The picture that Maya and I chose is truely the Maya that I remember at that age. I just love the way she used to suck her thumb and look so innocent.

Kai's First Soccer Practice!

2010-08-25T20:03:00.000-07:00

It's finally Kai's turn. After two seasons of patiently sitting on the sidelines at Maya's soccer practices and games, Kai is now old enough to play on his own team. Today was his first practice. He was a bit nervous to meet his coach, but she turned out to be great. Kai tried so hard and listened to everything Coach Carrie had to say. Congrats Kai on your first soccer experience. And by the way, nice choice on your Toy Story soccer ball.

More First Day Pics!

2010-08-25T19:53:00.000-07:00

Maya's First Day of Kindergarten!

2010-08-25T19:21:00.000-07:00

I can't believe we put our daughter on a real school bus this morning (at 7:30 a.m....ugggg) and waved as the bus disappeared from sight. I can't speak for Dom, but I was certainly trying my hardest to hold back tears as our little girl was on her way to Kindergarten.

Of course Dom, Kai, and I followed the bus to her school in order to greet her just outside her new classroom. The halls were filled with parents all excitedly waiting to get a picture of their child's first day. Maya bravely hung her bag on the hook, put her extra pair of gym shoes in her cubby, and entered her classroom. Fortunately, her best friend from preschool and a neighbor girl are in her class. She sat in her seat and began to color a picture as I waved goodbye and walked out of the classroom.

At 11:10, Kai, my dad, and I waited outside of our house for the bus to drop Maya off. Maya excitedly pranced off the bus and could barely wait to tell us about her day. Her first words were "Mommy, I love school...I want to go back right now". Those are the exact words I was hoping to hear. Congrats Maya, on being so brave on your first day of school.

Happy Birthday Benson!

2010-06-26T19:22:00.000-07:00

Today our beloved yellow lab Benson turned 12 years old! Where has the time gone! He continues to be the best dog in the world and adds so much joy to our lives.

To celebrate his birthday, the kids picked out some yummy dog treats at our local feed and garden center. We all wore birthday hats (much to Hunter's chagrin) and sang happy birthday to which Benson joined in (he loves to sing along by barking during his favorite songs). We then took Benny and Hunter on a long walk around the neighborhood.

Happy birthday Benny...we love you so much!

As you'll see in the pictures, Benny and the kids proudly wore their birthday hats. Hunter...not so much.