Merry Christmas!!

Here are some of my favorites! We went to Portrait Innovations again this year. I was very pleased, again! They're not the absolute best, but you get a lot for your money, and I think our pics turned out great!

This probably would have been our Christmas picture if it wasn't for the lighting. Unfortunately, after they took the dark (you know, the side shots) pics of Renee, the flash wasn't working correctly. So, we had to go back in and re-do our Christmas pic.

Poor Squirrel did so good during the shoot. Unfortunately, every time they took a picture the flash would bother her eyes. The poor thing just toughed through it though! She was so patient and cooperative, we were very proud of her!
Cutie pie!
I thought the egg shell blue background was so dumb. Most people wear red and green, or classic black or white for Christmas pics. That blue doesn't really match! Ew! Though, my sister (Juli) loved it!

Cute us.

This was our Christmas card.

Love this one! That's a real smile on Renee's face because she got to have her pig in the picture!

My beautiful girl.

Her poor watery eyes.

Love this smile!!

She tried so hard to hold it!

Her new thing

This is what she always wants to do now! Mommy, can we play a game? Between Adam's new iTouch and my computer, this kid is going to be the biggest nerd!

Don't forget, my little nerd is not even 3 yet!!

Crisp walk

We went for a walk yesterday.

Here's my cheeseball with a veggie stick in her mouth.

Silly Meadow (the 16 month old I watch 3 days a week)

Walkin'

Making Room

We were at Costco last week when she saw some toys that literally took her breath away. It was so cute, she looked up and said, 'Wow!' in a breathless voice. There was a kitchen, a doll house, and a Little Mommy set. The kitchen and doll house were pretty cool, but the Little Mommy set was the best. It was affordable, and it's totally 'her' right now. She loves her babies, and loves taking care of them. The set includes a rocking bassinet, a highchair, and a stroller. It comes with a baby.....to add to the 6 she carts around! So, we talked about it and decided she needs to give away a lot of her toys first. She was so genuinely sad when we left without the set, she cried the saddest, sobbing cry. My mom was at Costco the day after our visit and picked up the set.

My sister, Juli, said it right when she said it's harder for the mommy to give away the cute first toys that her first born played with. Really, Renee was begging us to give away her Dora toys, but it made me sad to do it! So, we went through her toys on Sunday and cut out about half, if not more. Her basket of Dora toys is no longer overflowing, we're giving away all of the People toys, and cut out a lot of her random toys. It sure is nice, and Adam loves it! She knows, now that her toys are on their way out, that it's time for her new baby set. We've told her she'll have to wait for her birthday (Decemba' 20th), to which she whines a little telling us she doesn't want a birthday. To an almost 3 year old I'm sure Decemba' 20th is forever away, but she'll be fine.....and I know she'll remember all about the set too!

Before, and I don't think I even got all of the toys in the picture!

After, a level basket of Dora toys, and only 1 large Dora house.

Random toys (in her bedroom), all contained in the basket!

Kriss Kut

Check this out. The name is not just a coincidence, my father-in-law made this! Christmas is coming up, what a great gift for man in your life......or woman for that matter! ;-)

http://krisskut.webs.com/

Tomatoes anyone?

Please take some. This is my bounty, yes they're green, but they are slowly but surely turning red. Some might need some help with that, which you do by wrapping them in newspaper (so I'm told). I've got 5 red ones in the fridge too! Let me know if you want some! Don't forget about fried GREEN tomatoes! ;-)

Billy and Kate's Miracle!

This is my newest baby nephew! William Kai Martin. We're calling him Kai. My older brother, Billy and his wife Kate live in Taiwan. They're both 37, Kate is a cancer survivor, and this is their miracle! He was born September 11th around 7:30am (not sure of the exact time). That would have been around 4:30pm on September 10th here in the Northwest.

He weighed 9 pounds 2 ounces, and was 20 inches long, what a big boy! Kate is recovering well, and Kai is a boob man! Billy is over the moon. Now they just need to move back here!

Sweet baby boy Kai

Proud Daddy

Gorgeous! Sweet Mommy and baby Kai

Faith, I don't know how you do it with your sisters living so far away. I've been bawling since yesterday afternoon, I don't know how I'm going to wait to meet this little Peanut! We're hoping, and praying, for a Christmas visit!

I'm glad I don't have fur

Echo and Recon, trying to stay cool. I set up the fan to blow on them.

Kimber, roasting.
Mom, I'm hot.

ps. those tiles are 12x12, that gives you and idea of how incredibly fat my cats are......I love it! ;-)

Secret garden......kinda'

A little corner of my backyard. You'd never know it was there until you got closer. ;-)

Behind the shed, past the Locust and the (volunteer) Birch (I think?) trees, and through the spider webs, on the top tier of the flower beds......

Are 4 tomato plants!

Brandywine tomatoes! Amy & Ryan's neighbor (Lauren) gave me 4 starter plants. It took me forever to get them in the ground, but once I did they really took off. I've been wondering if they'd produce anything, then all of a sudden I found tomatoes today! I just hope they grow big enough to eat!

Cute little guys

Uncle Chucky & Funny Uncle Lenny

Uncle Chuck & I

The many faces of Lentard

Notice, my face is the exact same in every pic. I know my good angles!

Finally! A smile!

Uncle Lenny & Uncle Chucky in town

Two of Adam's uncles are in town (Luann's brothers).

Uncle Lenny and Squirrely

Renee & Uncle Chucky

Beautiful picture of Renee & Auntie Amy

One more cute one of Uncle Chucky & Squirrely

Cute kids

It's too hot to do anything so, of course, we went to Busters last night.

Sharing Oreos.

Renee and Hayden. What a cutie!!
Silly boy.

Sweet, HAPPY, Kylie!

Squirrely

My gorgeous Shirley Temple.

Lap top

Lap top.

I love you.

Adam asked me when I will be updating the blog. Ha! I told him when he buys me my very own lap top (w/tons of memory for pics/lightning speed ram for uploading pics/and super lightning speed wireless capabilities!!!).......oh, and not to mention, when I have more than 2.4 minutes to sit down......so, here's an update just for you honey.

Lap top.

ps. can anyone figure out the 'Lap top' reference? It's kind of an inside joke w/ us. ;-)

Ahhhhh, vacation.....

Wait, what? Why, oh why is it so much work to prepare for a vacation? Oh, I know! I've got two extra family members staying with us, we went camping last weekend, I babysit 3 days a week! And I do all of this MEDICATION FREE!!! Can you believe that? I'm sure some of you can, but I know a lot of you out there think I'm totally nuts! Maybe I am....ok, yes, I am.

Anyhoodles...... We're heading out on Wednesday when Adam gets home from work. We'll stay somewhere in Southern Oregon, then get up at the butt crack of dawn to make the 10+ hour drive to Salinas to stay with my Uncle Alan (Aunt Monica will be in Santa Maria already) for the night, then head to Santa Maria on Friday morning. We'll stay in a hotel Fri. and Sat. in the Shell Beach or Santa Maria area. We're having a big 90th birthday party for my Grandpa Jack (mommy's daddy), and basically a big family reunion! I'm very excited to see everyone. Sunday we're heading even farther south to Santa Barbara (my parent's old stomping grounds) to visit and play in the pool at Uncle Richard's house. I'm glad we're doing this, it wasn't in our original plans, but we made it work. We'll be spending some good quality time with our 30 somethings cousins, and kids and Uncle Richard. It will be sad to be there without our sweet Aunt Devon who passed away in 2007, but I'm happy she left such a wonderful family for us to be with! On Monday we'll head back up to Salinas to spend a day (and night) with Aunt Monica and Uncle Alan again (unfortunately we'll just miss cousin Kyle and his preggo wife Rachel, and cousin Shayla while we're at the house, but we will see them at the party). On Tuesday we'll make the long trip home so that Adam can relax before returning to work on Thursday. We'll be doing all of this in our truck with Renee and our niece Valarie (who turns 18 on the 17th).

Even though Daniel and Neeka are staying with us, Debbie is awesome enough to stay at the house with (them and) the animals and all my plants. THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH DEBBIE!!!! I'm so sad Debbie couldn't come with us, her youngest Jack (born March 16th) is named after the birthday boy (Grandpa Jack). I really wish she and her 5 kids (and Jeremy too...I guess ;-p~) could all come down with us, but it is SUCH a relief to know my animals (little shits that they are) will be taken care of, and that my plants won't die. Yay!

Well, wish us luck on our drive! Pray for our safety (and sanity for that matter), and that we make it there and back feeling happy and healthy! ;-)

This is how much dirty fun was had while camping last weekend!

Peace out!

ps. Really, I'll go private when we get back....I'll have the time to actually 'do' it then.

Rae Ann would be so proud

Silly girl playing with her Dora toys.

Let's take a closer look.....

Baby brother is in his bed. Dora and her cousin Daisy are also taking naps, the sled dog is in a 'bed'....even the newspaper is resting happily on the lawn chair. Abuela is standing next to the dinner table, and Papi is sitting on the couch enjoying some cake. Oh, watch out Papi! Swiper is sneaking up behind you!! Swiper no swiping!

Gross! My poor roses. They're diseased, and apparently covered in aphids!
And this is why Rae Ann (and all the other hippies out there) would be so proud! I've actually wanted a clothes line for a long time, but I hate how stiff the clothes are when they come off the line. I guess I could just dry my own and hang everything else up, right? So, I just fashioned this rope to the swing set, the arbor, and the gazebo. Hey, it works. ;-) Now I just need to get some clothes pins.

I'm doing this to save money, reduce our energy use, and because Adam likes it. ;-) I'm afraid of what our electric bill will look like this month! With Daniel on the computer 24/7, and just extra people around, there's a lot more dish washing, laundry, and electricity running through the house.