quick update

Here's how Willa's prized Christmas present is doing today...

And just to show that art reflects life, take a look at that belly...

...as cute as they are, the pens are now stored on top of the fridge.

*gasp!*

I'm finally digging myself out of the mountain of life that has been on top of the Martins since Christmas ended.
In an unusual series of events, I got a job! It was just for a month and it was processing payroll; which is probably better than processing chicken parts--unless you get to sit down in chicken factories.
I took the work because the same time that Minnesota State University was furloughing for two weeks a friend needed help completing all the year end work payrolls require. It was kismet and I felt like when the fates combine that well, you got to take advantage of it.
But I can't tell you how happy I am to resume my life as trophy wife. Which is funny, because in all my growing years, I never wanted to be a Stay-At-Home-Mom. I pictured myself as a highly capable working mother, saving the world and making dinner.
Sadly, I couldn't cut it the real world. But in my defense, I was working 10 hour days at a physically demanding job that didn't require a high school degree. But in rebuttal to my defense: That's the real world.
*sigh*
So, now I'm back to the easy life of constant cleaning, cooking, driving, shopping, policing, loving, and diaper changing. I just now have twice the cooking, cleaning, shopping...etc. because as good a superman that my husband is, things where starting to get a bit desperate around here.
Ahh, yes, Life is good!

Snow Day 2010

In an effort to catch up in at least this part of Martin life:

Sometime in the middle of December it snowed.
A super lot.
Here it is in pictures...

Digging out a place for the car.

Digging out neighbors' cars.

Done digging.

What we do when snowed in for three days...

A fort!

The aftermath.

Bloomin' Winter

We caught Santa at the garden store Bachman's. He told the children a story about the best gifts being homemade and then took Christmas wishes on his lap. Even Emma talked with him. While there, we picked up some paper whites. Watching them bloom and grow was therapeutic to our inbound souls.

Just starting

Green and growing in the winter.

Fall Round Up

This Fall was eventful, but not very photogenic. Or rather, I didn't take out the camera a whole lot. These are some of the pictures of the doings that the Martin's did.

Enoch and Calvin played on the Park and Rec soccer team...

Willa found the little used lipstick in the car and used it...

Enoch's 1st grade class went to the Children's Theatre and saw the 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins and made these fabulous hats...

We went to a wildlife park and made stick forts...

We bought and brought home a magical pumpkin...

...that slowly carved itself.
Here it is with creepy, gaping eyes...

...which slowly turned into a malicious smile...

...until we finally threw it away and went to celebrate Halloween in South Dakota.

Where Addie, Willa, Enoch, Emma, Ollie, and Henry raked the leaves...

Enoch, Henry, Calvin, Oliver, Emma, and Addie.

OllieWallie in leaves.

And Aunt Kirsti threw a Halloween Party...

Candy corn bingo.

Complete with donuts on a string! Emma vs. Haddassah...

And a little pumpkin startled out of her fit by the camera...

There was so much excitement that we couldn't possibly pack it all in and stay awake...

So Aunt Kirsti, Uncle JB, Addie, Henry, and Ollie decided to continue the fun in Minneapolis over Thanksgiving. We ate turkey and trimmings in Maple Grove with Aunt Cheryl and Uncle Kyle. Then on Saturday (after some good shopping on Friday) we went to Como Zoo...

And enjoyed the beautiful flowers...

And the sleepy sloth...

And each other...

Then we took quick naps and took the train downtown to see the elves at Macy's...

And took the train back...

We said our sad good byes to the Meyers and concluded our Fall by bringing the tree up from the basement and inviting Christmas and winter into our home...

Thus ends Martin Fall 2010.
Merry Christmas!

Na na Na na Na na Na...

BATMAN!

It's his Halloween costume from three years ago and he wears it pretty much everyday.

Martin Quote

[During Family Home Evening, we were reviewing pictures from Christ's life from the Gospel Art Kit (Sometimes FHE gets planned on the spot). I held up a picture of Christ's birth.]

Mommy: What is this a picture of?

Children: Jesus.

Mommy: Which one is Jesus?

Enoch: The baby that's glowing.