Sisters

I have a hard time thinking that my little family is complete. I know for medical, health, social, and psychological reasons I should be done. I was actually comforted by the fact that my sister-in-law Liz said that the mormon 4 kid family is the new 8 (truly wise verbage). Because I agree that in this day and age it is a lot more difficult to raise a large family. I admire greatly those who still do. Truthfully, I wish I was one of them. Even just one more…. I think, to be serious, that one of my biggest hang-ups with not having any more kids is the fact that my girls won’t have a gaggle of sisters. I grew up with 5 other sisters and I can’t tell you how much I love each and every single one. I try to imagine what life would be like if my mom had stopped at child #4 and I get sad. Now, I know that some girls have all brothers, or one brother, or no sister and they grow up fine and can probably tell me all sorts of wonderful childhood experiences with their siblings. But I think my opinion really only comes from the root of my experience. I know my sisters are a rare breed. We don’t bicker, backbite, wine, or complain about each other (although I remember many fights as a child). We can be blunt and love to tease but we truly get along well and would do anything for each other. We want to be in each other’s lives, we make efforts to do so. And even though we span an age gap of 14 years, they are still all my best friends.

 I love you girls. Can my girls have as good as experience with just having each other?

My First Mtn Bike Ride in Medford

So I have lived here for over 2 years and I finally dusted off my Mtn Bike and tried a ride here in town (while 3 out of 4 kids were in school). I rode my bike for the first time since arriving here just a month ago when my sister and her boyfriend were in town and we rode up by Fish Lake. I didn’t know of any trails in Medford and was thrilled to realize there is a trail I can take from my house to the top of Roxy Ann with little coverage on paved roads. My friends who took me even brought a bike trailer for her (not me) to drag Ethan up to the top. You can see the whole valley in 360 degree panorama! It was awesome and while up there we did the loop twice! Ethan could have done without the second loop. He was miffed. My feet throbbed (due to the lovely RA) but not to the degree that I had to stop. It was such a great trip. This coming Friday we are going to do some bike paths in Ashland.

Picking Blackberries

So one evening this past month we couldn’t get ahold of my in-laws at their home. We assumed they must be up at the ranch getting the 2nd cut done on the north field. The sun was setting and it was a beautiful evening so Brian suggested we all go for the drive out to the ranch. We drive out to the north field and find Roger and Rozanne. Roger is baling the hay and Rozanne is moving bales out of his way when necessary and then picking blackberries when not needed. Their farm has large stretches of blackberries that were ripe for the picking all summer and not even a fraction were picked! We needed more time and more manpower.

 

 The kids hopped out of the car and helped Nana pick blackberries. She instructed them on the importance of the size, shape, and color of the blackberries she was picking. I thought this moment was so precious.

 Then, I went up to see if I could help and I started screaming hysterically after I noticed the Spider #1 on the left. I could have put my hand into its web, AND, more importantly, what if my kids had? Brian starts laughing saying that it’s a big spider but don’t expect to see that kind of thing all the time. So I proceed to pick a few more berries and then come across Spider #2 on the right. By this point I feel like ants, spiders, lions, and tigers are crawling all over my body and the serene mood and special family moment is completely lost.

 The whole family is giggling at me and all Lizzie can say is that she wants to catch a bug and take it home. NOT THOSE BUGS! I exclaim. Then Nana and the girls go on a bug huntinig expedition, where we are able to catch one moth but that is it (and we lost it by the time we got to the car).

Then Brian notices some ducks in the canal. Could it be? Our ducks! Aaaah….Sophie and I start to run towards them to check them out and they flew away into the sunset.

 This evening was a beautiful family moment….minus the spiders.

First Day of School

Here are my kids on their first day of school.

This is Andrew on his first day in his stylish new school clothes and those expensive shoes. He also got a transformers lunchbox. I forgot I have to be smart enough to be prepared with food for my son by 7am every morning. So far so good. Thank goodness he is easy.

This is Lizzie with Mrs. Retzlaff. They are getting along wonderfully and I am thrilled to see Lizzie is playing with other kids and not being shy. Mrs. Retzlaff is warm and friendly, just what Lizzie needs.

Here is Sophie with Mrs. Schmoor. Sophie loves her teacher and already as a half dozen friends in her class. She is my social butterfly who everybody loves!

Then after they all went there various ways I went home and sat in silence (while Ethan took his nap) at the house. I didn’t do a thing but vegetate. I turned on mindless Entertainment TV (I needed my Britney Spears fix). I felt like the weight of a 1000 pounds had been lifted. Then I missed my kids and kept checking the clock to see when they would all be home. I am sure glad for school so that I miss and appreciate them and sure glad for summer when they are here around me at all times.  My kids are growing up…Ethan just looked at me and picked his nose. I guess he is home for another 4 long years….now he is smiling at me (I think it’s gas!)

I Give In To My Little Ballerinas

So to complicate my life a little more, I am allowing my daughters to take ballet. It’s just an introductory course with an introductory price (then we will see if they have hooked me).

 Regardless, the girls love having to abide by the dress code (pink leotards, hair in buns) and they look forward to their weekly lesson with their friends.

I snapped these pictures prior to their lesson getting started. More to come…..

…or not…..I just told Lizzy that I was putting her picture on my computer about her ballet classes and she replied, “I hate ballet!”

Arrrghhhh…

We Dine on Spanish Paella

Paella (IPA: [pa'eʎa]) is a rice dish, it is traditionally eaten on Sundays. The name paella is the word for “frying pan” in Catalan/Valencian (Spain) [from Latin patella].

Paella is usually garnished with vegetables and meat or seafood. The three main ingredients are rice, saffron, and olive oil.

 Legends about its origin

There is an old story of how the Moorish kings’ servants created rice dishes by mixing the leftovers from royal banquets in large pots to take home. In the Arab countries, it is often wrongly believed that the word paella originates from the Arabic word baqiyah, meaning leftovers. The story about the word ‘paella’ deriving from ‘para ella’ (for her) is obviously wrong too, even though it is said that most paellas are made by men cooking once a week for their wives. The origin of the name paella in the valencian and catalan word for frying pan is beyond any possible doubt.

Paella is generally cooked in a paella pan, which is a large, shallow, flat pan. First the meat, and then the vegetables are stir fried in olive oil; subsequently water is added and brought to a boil, and left boiling for half an hour or so. (This, however, is not the sole method utilized in the preparation. Many chefs add the water, allow it to come to the boil and at that moment add the rice.

 

Otherwise the water may evaporate leaving not enough liquid in which to cook the rice.) Later, after checking the obtained broth flavour and adding salt if required, the rice is added. Real paella rice is never stir-fried in oil, as pilaf. Once the rice is nearly done, the paella is removed from the heat and left to absorb the remaining water. Traditional paella has a crispy, caramelized, toasted bottom (called socarrat in Valencian) that is considered a delicacy. To achieve a socarrat, one needs only to turn up the heat to high and listen to the bottom of the rice toast. Once the aroma of toasted rice comes from the pan, the heat is removed once again. The paella is ready to be served after having cooled for several minutes.

 Brian had paella on his Mormon Mission to Spain weekly. It was his favorite dish and while were were there on a belated honeymoon in 1999, we were served many paella dishes by some of his favorite families. His childhood friend Joe Davis moved back to Medford recently and Joe married a wonderful girl from Spain. Her name is Monica and I absolutely adore her and their little girl Sarah. Although Sarah is just barely two she gets along great playing with my girls. Well, Monica and Joe treated us to a wonderful home cooked Spanish Paella dish. I felt a little guilty letting her cook for us as she is 8 months pregnant. But she was adamant that we come and that she cook us “real food.” We loved it! I can still taste the shrimp and mussells right now!

March IV (Final)

While in Utah we made our 2nd annual swim trip to the Lehi Recreational pool and this time I had a gaggle of Martin ladies with me. The kids loved the water features and even Ethan got into the spirit of pool time. I remember when Sophie was a babe and I would take her to the pool. She would turn purple and start shivering instantly. This was largely in part to the fact she still does not have any body fat on her bones (she takes after her Nana Hall). Ethan, on the other hand, has nearly 30 pounds of blubber keeping him warm and he was delightful for the 2 hours we were there.

Teenager Chelsea got a high school job at an ice cream shop. The catch: it is a shop where you mix all the ingredients raw and then add nitrous oxide as a freezing element and there you have it-ICE CREAM! What Martin has ever turned down ice cream (besides Andrew Martin Hall)? I worked at a burger/shake shop called Stan’s Drive-In on 900 East in front of the old “Palace” when I was in college. I must have had a cheeseburger and shake twice weekly for 4 years. Ummm can we say “bad for your body!!!” And yeah, I did know better. But come on, how do you say no to a cookie dough/oreo combination ice cream shake or those yummy big fries with the secret seasoning salt. MMMmmmmmm…..yummy even today! Words of advice for my children who will be prone to liking food as much as their mother and father, “DON’T WORK IN FAST FOOD!!!”

For another celebration of my sister Christina’s birthday we went to CHUCK-E-CHEESE Pizza House. Now, we all know that Tina adores my children and would do anything she could for them. So, instead of choosing an adult place for dinner (which we ended up doing anyways later), it was a kids fest! Brian splurged as we all know he will and bought enough coins to last 2 hours and the kids (and adults) got all of those urges out of them to play like kids. It was hillarious to see us adults trying to do better than Andrew at some of these games. The kids ended up with a gazillion tickets which of course probably cost $50 dollars in cash and they received 2 cent tootsie rolls and stickers that cost millions of tickets each! They didn’t care. Neither did I. It was fun to be there with them. But, I am sure glad that this place does not exist in Medford.

Our Utah trip would not be complete without a picture of Teddy Dog in it. The poor dog put up with my kids antics for a week and survived (much to my dismay). I am ready for that growling, peeing, nibbling, cuddly furball to bite the dust (my mom too!).

Prior to the wedding, we ladies decided to “pamper” ourselves with a little girls outing for Pedicures/Manicures. The only problem is Martin girls are cheap. So when we called around to find the best price it ended up being some hair and nail technical college. We all go and find out we get to dip our feet (no joke) in a bucket of cool water, have some girl trying too hard to file our feet to oblivian, and then take an hour to paint our nails. It was no pampering, if anything, the biggest, most hillarious joke we could have played on ourselves! But-we were all together.

What a fun month!

Labor Day

We had a great labor day and felt very loved as we were invited by many friends to participate in many different events. The kids were delighted in knowing they got to swim most of the day. Andrew and Sophie learned how to do some high flying acrobatics while Lizzie looked on.

 Then, as if that wasn’t enough, then the kids dazzled us with their amazing magician abilities. Our kids and their friends all dressed up and they put on quite the show!

Michelle Brings a Boy

 My sister Michelle is amazing. She is 27, single, fit, sassy, sexy, comical, spiritual,  cheerful, positive, smart, charitable, and most importantly…in love:) She brought her beau to Oregon to get the full screening from her big sister Jilly and her ruthless brother-in-law Brian! Andrew Cardon took all of the poking and prodding from us in stride. He remained ever cheerful and full of quick witted banter with Brian even as he was ruthlessly pressed about the “M” word. Andrew is from Arizona, an RM who served in Italy (and isn’t the Italian language so romantic!), is a graduate of BYU, works in SLC, and has a wonderful family whom my sister Michelle loves. He also showed his true colors when he went and supported my sister as she ran a marathon. She was completing the last few miles and was starting to struggle when Andrew surprised her and ran the last few miles with her. What a guy!

When Michelle mentioned she had some time off and wanted to come to visit her sister,  Andrew said he wanted to tag along. Then, when room opened up in the car, my parents said they too wanted to tag along. So picture my dad, mom, Andrew, Michelle, and Chelsea the chaperone all sandwhiched in a honda accord with 4 days worth of luggage with them! Then, poor Andrew put up with the fact that we stuck him away from the rest of the family in the unfinished section of the basement on an old futon. He still smiled every day (or was it a forced smile through the back pain)?

While they were here they were able to have a visit to the ranch where they each had a ride on the horses (including Chelsea the chaperone).

We also went up to Lake of the Woods to the Hall cabin for some Mtn Biking and swimming! And by the way, the most hillarious event up there was when my mom stepped into the lifeboat that Sophie was sitting in, popped Sophie up in the air and my mom toppled over backwards, HILLARIOUS! The best was the repeat occurence on the second attempt, and then, on the 3rd try…SUCCESS!

 They also humored us and came and observed both Brian and I in our horseback lessons. At least the lessons were out in the beautiful Applegate Valley and it was a fun ride. By the way, check out my form!

 

It was especially fun to have some fun female time with my mommy. And yes, it was too short of time to chat with my mommy. We also enjoyed ourselves at some local restaurants!

I think that the thing that may have been the biggest factor in my approval of Andrew was the fact that I found out that he was related to one of the greatest men I know, Parley Hamblin. Parley is a dear friend of my in-laws, a former stake president, mission president, and now patriarch of our stake. If this worked out with my sister and Andrew, and we somehow became related to this great man and his wonderful wife whom I adore, both Brian and I agree that we might be able to ride on the coat tails of Parley & Katherine into heaven!

Regardless we had a great visit. We liked Andrew. And aren’t they a cute couple?

Neglected Nettie

Poor Negleted Nettie, Not a post about sweet Nettie. Not a mention of Nettie. Not even the littlest Note about Nettie. What’s a Nettie to do? She would Never make a comment on a blog about it! Nice Nettie would Never do that! Neither would Nettie request an ode to Nettie!

Aahhh….poor Nettie. We should pay tribute to Nettie.

Nice Nettie: She is sincerely one of the friendliest gals around.

Nighttime Nettie: Nettie doesn’t know that a traditional work day ends at 5pm. How about 2am, 3am, oh, let’s just stay all night! But have you seen her work? It’s amazing!

Noisy Nettie: Have you heard her laugh?

Nonconformity of a Martin Nettie: Nettie is certainly not the classic Martin girl. She actually likes grass roots bands, art, and fashion (although she is tutoring the youngest in her fine wisdom).

Nursemaid Nettie: Only she would entertain all of the kids at my brother’s wedding while the rest of us gorged ourselves on good food and visiting.

Non-nosy Nettie: She is the only Martin girl who knows how to keep her mouth shut! Does anyone really know what Nettie is thinking?

Nails Nettie: Nettie does Not Necessarily Need her Nails done to feel complete. After her first Pedicure (if you can call it a pedicure) she No longer Needed another (I don’t blame you).

Nervous Nettie: The B word makes her Nervous. (B-O-Y-S)

Nacho Nettie: What Martin doesn’t like food from Mi Ranchito! Plus–she’s a quarter hispanic and doesn’t she look it!

Navigation Nettie: Come on, she’s got class zipping around town in her adorable Jetta. Her snazzy VW epitomizes the gal!

Nautical Nettie: Nettie loves swimsuits, suntans, and swimming-j/k But she sure is a good aunt in the pool with her favorite nieces and nephews.

Noble Nettie: She truly has Noble qualities and is a daughter of God.

Nonathletic Nettie: Never put Nettie on a basketball court, baseball diamond, but I’ve heard possibly on a tennis court!

Nauseous Nettie: Nettie has more real ear infections and sore throats than anyone I know. Could it be related to Nighttime Nettie?

Nanny Nettie: Nettie loves to snuggle with her Sophie, her Lizzy, her Andrew, and her Ethan. She loves to help at dinnertime, bathtime, and bedtime. But ask her to help you wake kids up in the morning and get them all out the door by 7a.m. Not going to happen!

Nickname Nettie: How cool would it be to have the Nickname Nettie, Nettles, Net, Netster, Nettie Spaghetti?

Nurse Nettie-NOT

No-show Nettie: Only Nettie would claim not to come to Oregon because she has to work (and then can be found in NYC, Bahamas, Florida, California, and at any rock band concert-we don’t blame you!)

Nonstick Nettie: Only she can razz Brian and take his teasing insults in stride and throw them right back at him. He can’t get them to stick. She’s amazing (I am still trying to learn this fine art).

Nostrils Nettie: Love that nose!

Northpole Nettie: Certainly her favorite season of clothing-fall/winter. And boy has she got style!

 Nonfiction Nettie: What was the last book you read Nettie?

Needle Knitting Nettie (we will give it an honorary “N”): Her tigers are crucial to my boys. We love your stitchin’ ability. Bedtime isn’t the same without them.

Nit-picky Nettie: As a child she would eat a very specific list of foods and nothing else. She basically ate lots of cold cereal.

Nonprofit Nettie: I mean come on, she is the poor struggling artist in the family. Not the rich nurse!

Nocturnal Nettie: Ask her roommates.

Nutritious Nettie: Nettie knows that a bowl of cereal CAN BE EATEN on the freeway while driving to work. And she is the only Martin who will join our family for some good sushi!

Nordic Nettie: A very good snowboarder.

Noodle Nettie: I’ve heard stories about a late night, her nostrils, some cousins and a spaghetti noodle.

Neat Nettie: Her roommate (and sister) find her very organized and orderly–NOT!

 Nylon Nettie: Boy when this girl dresses up she is one hot sexy gal!

Nomadic Nettie: Where’s Nettie going to live in 6 months?  Not in the home she was going to build on the land she sort-of bought!

Narcotic Nettie: Don’t give her a pair of tweezers and tell her just to “lightly touch-up” your eyebrows.

Nuts and bolts Nettie: Certainly the one to go to with any music question and I-pod related question, because hey, she’s owned 3 already.

 Love ya Nettie-

March III

No trip to Utah is complete without a trip to Mi Ranchito in Orem. It is the Martin family restaurant favorite and there usually has to be an occasion to coincide with the trip (so we don’t leave without a free dessert!!!). This time the occasion was a belated birthday for Brian and an on time birthday for Christina. Regardless the occasion, the chips and salsa are divine and I just love their enchiladas! The whole family was together on this occasion which made it super special (almost a mexican thanksgiving you might say!). The kids got a hold of the camera can you tell?

Despite the fact that Easter was 4 weeks away, that never stopped my mom from starting early with regards to celebrating holidays! She was bound and determined to have her grandkids have a Grammie style Easter Egg Hunt (complete with 900 eggs). So, we had not one but 3 different hunts which my children enjoyed immensely. It was a beautiful sight to see colorful eggs dispersed across the snow. Each of my kids made a haul.

Cameron and Rachel flew into town for the festivities. It was great to see them and I am such a lucky gal to have such wonderful sister-in-laws. Rachel really is an amazing gal! Who would have thought when my brothers were these little punks that Russell would tower over Cameron but Cameron would have more hair than Russell? One is definitely Woolley, the other Martin. I guess poor Andrew is destined to <6 ft of height but lots of hair on his chest! Whereas Ethan will have 2 hairs on his chest but be >6ft.

We stopped for a visit at Toodie and Roys and were able to have a wonderful dinner prepared by Toodie. Despite her knack for loving a good restaurant and frequent visits to such places, she really is an amazing cook and when we get to go to her house for dinner we know it will be a delicious feast.

Speaking of feasts we also got together with the Hall clan that was in town for a delicious meal of enchiladas verde at the Lamberts. Brian and Doug Roberts spent the entire evening talking politics and we women talked about shopping, children, babies, etc. while our own children ran rampant around Liz’s house. Since this visit, my husband’s cousin Sarah and Doug moved to Texas. A great opportunity for them, a sad loss for us as we won’t get to visit in Utah with them on our trips through town.

After these events Andrew was ready to call it a night and collapsed sideways into bed, complete with a sucker still in his mouth!

March (Part II)

March included a trip to Utah for the wedding of my brother Russell to his bride Nicole. The wedding was beautiful and warmed us all on a very cold, chilly March morning. It was so bitter cold and the wind was blowing so hard that we couldn’t take any pictures outside after the wedding. And even getting to the Mt. Timpanogos Temple that morning was difficult as the roads were snow packed and full of traffic. 

The luncheon was at my parents ward house and my mom and dad put on a feast. The menu included roast beef, mashers, salad, and a toffee covered cake dessert were divine. Nettie and Chelsea spent the entire luncheon entertaining the kids.

The reception was held at Somewhere Inn Time. We had a great turnout of family and friends.

 

 Ethan loved to snuggle with his Papa Martin and by the end of the event, Sophie had had enough.

Chelsea made a treasure box for Andrew and jewelry boxes for the girls in her woods class. These presents greeted the kids as they got home from the wedding festivities, complete with treasures inside.

Summer Swim Days

We  have spent a great deal of time in the sun enjoying our friends’ and neighbors’ swimming pools. Andrew has learned to swim well enough that he can swim across the length of the pool. Lizzy has gone from just floating in the water with a floatie on to practicing swimming under water in the 3 ft section. Sophie can do front flips off the edge of the pool and jump off the diving board with her floatie. She has on 2 occasions forgotten she didn’t have a floatie on and did one of her fancy jumps only to be in a panic! Thank goodness for mommy lifeguards! Ethan loves to just dip his lower half. He kicks his feet and then, after about 10 minutes, is done. At this point he is definitely showing signs of his Grandpa Martin’s dislike for water. But at least Ethan actually got in his swim trunks more than grandpa did, which was only twice!