Happy 27 Big Ones

Today was Shaun's birthday 27th to be exact.  Shaun went to work as normal but while he was away working Ryker and I made him an angel food cake with strawberries (his favorite) Then I got a babysitter and we headed out to BJ's because Shaun has never been there. We enjoyed a quiet, yummy evening together. Since Shaun and I have known each other so long I have been able to celebrate many birthdays with him. I remember going to his 7th and 8th birthday parties then from 12 on up I have been there, I even ruined his surprise 16th party..oops. I plan on celebrating many more as well!! 

He has never had a pazookie so of course he has to have one for his birthday!! White chocolate.

"who stole the pazookie from the Birthday Boy"  

"who me"

"yes you"

"It couldn't be"

"Then who"

This was before we went to eat, Happy Birthday Dad!!

Ryker loves to help blow out the candles

Now for a few fun facts about Shaun!!!!

#1-  He loves making his videos!! Shaun discovered his talent in Highschool and hasn't stopped since!! 

#2  Shauns love for Seinfeld. I love embarrassing photos and this is one of them. Shaun did his hair like Kramer, for what, I'm not sure!! He did have a party in Highschool  when it was the last episode and right now he owns all 9 seasons on DVD!!

# 3- Shaun LOVES sports, I mean love loves!! He would watch it all day everyday if I would let him and he loves all teams in Arizona. So even at a young age he wore hats, shirts, jackets etc.. with all his favorite sports teams.

Oh look he still does to this day, and what a nice wife to dress up with him!!!

#4-  I think this goes without mention his OBSESSION with Disneyland! He is so excited every time we go you would think it had been years since he has been there, but really this man goes once or twice a year!!! 

Still loves those tea cups!!!

Oh so many more fun things about Shaun but I think you get the picture.  Happy Day Shaun!!

GREENS

So I am a lazy mom sometimes and even though Amelia is 6 months I was not looking forward to starting solids actually, runny baby food. But Amelia wasn't drinking very much for some reason and I thought she might be hungry so I got out the green beans and MMMMM she devoured!! So on to baby food we are and I tried green beans, peas, squash and carrots. She didn't like the squash or carrots  but gobbled the peas and green beans. So maybe there is hope for Amelia and she will like green veggies because her mom and brother don't!!! My dollie is growing up so fast =(    Don't you just want to squeeze those cheeks, I DO!!

Behold Your Little Ones

The church just came out with this new book for Nursery. I already ordered one and got it today and it is awesome. Perfect for FHE!! Even thought they might be using it in Nursery, it sure doesn't hurts our kids to talk about everything again right. It has the lesson, a colored picture for every lesson and a cute activity.  It is only $5.50 and if you order it off LDS.org shipping is free.  They might even have it at The Beehive house. I would say you could use this from ages 6 and under, so it is not just for Nursery age kids.  Though some of you would really enjoy this. =)

Amazing Speech

Yes most you know by now I watch Fox news 24/7 and I'm way to obsessed with politics. I had mutual tonight but tivoed the big speech and couldn't wait to watch it!!  I really love everything about Sarah Palin. She can hold her own and is a great speaker.  BUT the mom in me does have a hard time letting go on the fact that she has 5 kids. If they were all grow or even teenagers I would feel a little better, but a newborn.  As I watched her on stage with her family I sort of felt bad for them. Yes she has a good heart and wants to help her state of Alaska and now our country but she has little ones that need her as well.  I guess I just feel guilty leaving my precious Amelia 8 hours a week.  But I really think she will help McCain and I'm supporting them through and through.  I do feel bad that her family is in the spotlight and being ripped to shreds.  Ok enough with political blogging (well for tonight) =)

Last Call for Sunsplash!!

Labor day is the last day Sunsplash is open for the season. Shaun got like 9 free tickets from work so we had to use them. My cousin Shel and her hubby Casey and little boy Lane came along and we still had tickets to give away so my brother Ethan (who is not in the pic because he ran into the wave pool) and sister Sarah invited Shelleys brother, Jefferson and sister Marcie to come along so it was a huge family event. We had so much fun going down the big slides, the lazy river, the adults got to go on the toilet bowl looking ride (holy fun), the wave pool and last but not least the lilly pads. Well their should be a sign in front of those saying "18 and younger" We thought it would be fun for me and Shelley to race, then Shaun and Casey.  Later that night I  told Shaun I think I messed up my shoulder and back. his back hut as well. Then I talked with Shelley the next day and come to find out her back hurt and Casey went to the chiropractor!!! So note to self: get in shape before going to sunsplash!!!  Well we had a blast and can't wait till next summer to go again!!!

This was Ryker favorite thing.  Lane and Ryker had so much fun!!!

You would have thought Shaun needed to go to the chiropractor!!

6 Adults, No kids = FUN

Well we finally pulled it off. After months of talking about it, we finally convinced all our families to watch our kids over night and let mommies and daddies have a little fun. We drove up to Roosevelt lake Friday afternoon. The girls planned lovely meals and we got up north set up camp and ate some dinner. We have no camping gear so we had to borrow some from my parents. Well my mom handed me a "2 man" tent and I grabbed some other stuff. So I didn't look at the tent bag but went we opened it up it was really a "junior" size tent,  so someone 6 ft and taller (shaun) could not even fit!!! Shaun didn't find it to funny but luckily we brought a blow up mattress so we just slept under the stars.

The next morning we woke up and got ready for some fun on the lake.  It is such a big lake so we drove around for awhile, going pretty far from our dock. Lee was the first to jump in and wakeboard, he got a few good minutes then Amanda was having a hard time starting the boat up!! Yup you guessed it, the boat was broke and we are all alone in the middle of the lake. After trying to flag someone down for awhile these nice guys in a pontoon boat towed us to the nearest dock. While Lee went to get the truck and trailer the rest of us had to man-handle the boat with ropes as we were fighting the strong wind!! Only 2 scrapped knees and one stubbed toe, we pulled the boat from the dock onto the trailer and we laughed every minute!! I had so much fun and so glad we were able to go. The weather was perfect the company was ok, just kidding SO FUN!!!!   Hope to do it again!!!

Girls, don't kill me for posting this, I totally look the worst so I'm taking one for the team!! 

McCain and Palin

So I was watching Fox news all morning waiting for McCains VP pick. I was shocked to see he picked never heard of woman from Alaska!! I sat watching the whole speech and I'm so excited to have her running with McCain. She is so inspiring and think she will do wonders for the campaign.  McCain was not my first choice but I would rather have him that Obama. Now that he has a young typical soccer mom, she will relate with the more conservative crowd again. She is a 44 yr old mom of 5 kids. He oldest son is in the army and then  3 daughters and a 4 month old, YES a 4 month old son with down syndrome!! He husband of 20 years must be a wonderful supportive husband and dad. I don't think I could do something this big and still have a family, heck sometimes I feel like I can't run a preschool and have 2 kids let alone be VP. But one day I hope to contribute to our community. She started in the PTSO at her kids school, then city council, Mayor, Governor and now Vice President!! I love it and honestly I always said the Presidents of the United States is a mans job but I don't mind a woman VP!!! Let the debates begin!!! I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!

Simple Sacrament Time Book

I saw this on someone's blog and thought it was cute and cheap (I really don't like the word cheap) so I'll say inexpensive. I bought a 10 pack of name tag badges at Staples for like $3.00 bucks. I have lots of scrapbook paper at home so I just picked out a few sheets and cut them to fit inside. Then for FHE we went through some old Friends with Ryker and he got to pick out pictures that reminded him of Jesus and the Sacrament. Then he glued them on the paper and poof and little quiet time book Ryker can flip through during the Sacrament.  I hope that someone will find this useful and give it a try. =) 

Thank you Dr. Phil

I normally don't watch Dr. Phil but I turned on the TV and he was on dealing with a family with a wild young boy, so of course I started to listen. Well that segment was about over and the next guest was a mom with 4 kids and to the point of wanting to leave her kids. I can't imagine walking out on my family!!  Not for good anyways, but for and hour here and their YES. This lady just chased her wild kids around all day and never took time for her or had hobbies. She was very pretty and took good care of herself in the looks department.  Stylish clothes, long hair with highlights, nails done etc. But she still wasn't happy. Bottom line Dr Phil said she needed to find a hobby and accomplish things. He said take up painting, tennis, crafts, cooking whatever but learn some new things and have fun with it. I ALWAY remind Shaun when he tells me I have to much craft stuff, that crafting, scrapbooking and sewing etc.. is therapy for me, I love finishing little projects here and their.  I've been saying this for years and now I have the proof, because whatever Dr. Phil says goes right =)    I'm so grateful for talents and hobbies and it is important for us moms not to lose ourselves when we have our kids. Because one day when they are all grown up, and no one is in the house then what will you do. I will hopefully be sewing cute dresses for my granddaughters or making a special treat for my kids and families.   Ok Happy Day to one and All. 

These are 3 of the millions of things I would like to make.

 

More Kid Pics!!

I know what your are thinking, I post so many pictures of my kids but they do take up a good portion of my life so I guess it is fitting to blog about them right!!!

Everyone asked me "oh is Ryker in your preschool class", um I tried it this year for the first week and he was the worst kid out of all 19 (I don't have them all at once)kids so he started his own preschool this week and loves it.  Dear Ms. Aleks, for taking him on!! This is his first day of school. So handsome if I do say so myself!!

I love this picture, Ryker was reading his favorite book to Amelia. She seriously loves him. No one make her smile as much as he does. But he loves her just as much, he is an older protective brother who is so sweet to his sister!!

Amelia is learning new tricks, she is sitting up by herself. Ok she is still a little tipsy but can last a few mins. She also started rolling over a few weeks ago. Next is crawling... EEK!!!

Hot Lips!! I just die laughing at her when she plays with her tongue, she sticks is up so it looks like she has these huge lips. I think it is funny because if you really know what she looks like, she has ity-bity lips!!  Oh and she has her first ear infection =(  I took her to the Dr Friday after a terrible night Thursday, which is not like her. She is a great sleeper so I knew something had to be wrong! Well that is the latest this week in the Martineau home.

Life Made Simple!!

So in efforts to save our family a little money in the food area I decided (and yes I'm just now doing this after being married for 5 years) to plan out all our meals for a week and make a grocery list according to that. Before I would just buy random things and then never really have all the ingredients for good meals so we ate alot of bean and cheese burritos.  So now I only buy what we need and have started saving and not wasting food. Also with preschool starting up I'm pretty tired in the afternoon so I figure if I'm going to make lasagna or something, might as well make 2 batches and freeze one. Oh how nice it has been. So this week I made lasagna, enchiladas, taco soup and this yummy crock pot chicken stuff (we call it yummy chicken). So now next week when I'm tired and lazy I can pull something out and throw it in the oven!! I'm sure most of you are doing this and think I'm a dummy for just now getting with it. But shame on you for not telling my years ago!! If you guys have any suggestions on some meals that can be frozen let me know. If you want any recipes for some of the things I made let me know. My recipes are WAY easy and very good.  

*disclaimer* these are not pictures of my food =) I wish I had the green casserole dish though!!

Ryker boy, oh I mean the spiderman

I just got some new crayons for Ryker and every time he gets a new box what does he do? Yes take off all the paper. So we end up with papers and little pieces of crayons where his nails (claws) have scrapped. Then after all that he colors for like 5 mins.  Oh well at least the unwrapping part took him 15 mins.  I do love this boy but we have good days and BAD days. Today started out bad, as we were at a Back to School Breakfast with ward gals. He was the only kid turning off lights, standing on a big box, with another kid in it, etc.. But at least he makes me laugh. Here are a few things from today.

*he is no longer Ryker, he is the Spiderman, as he says it and everyone else must be one to. I'm Leonardo from the Ninja Turtles, Aunt Kebs is the hulk, Aunt Wuggie is the Batman and so forth. He runs in the room very serious saying "come on superheros, lets save the day" then runs off and wants us to follow him as we save the world.

*i was cutting his fingernails (after the crayon incident) and as I was cutting he would say, "ow mom your cutting my claws off. I need them"

*I put a pork roast in the crock pot for dinner (I found a yummy recipe for shredded pork sandwiches) so he was hungry a little early so I made him a sandwich and of course he only wanted the bread.  I finally got him to take a BIG bite and as he was chewing and he was getting tears in his eyes, I said "what is wrong"  he replied "mom I don't like worms"  Shredded pork does look like a pot full of worms. I felt so bad and was laughing so i just made him chicken nuggets.

*every night we have to make sure his closet is closed because he says Randall for Monsters Inc comes in his room to take him.

*oh and Amelia is not Baby Sister anymore, she is super girl

Spidy and Super girl (her mouth is always open like a little bird)

Sew mama sew!!

So a few months ago I made Amelia a cute little dress. Well by the time I finished it, she was to big for it =(   (Amelia is a big girl, or my momba jomba as I like to call her)  But I got her first skirt done and it fit!!!  It is my first one and I'm not a great sewer, but I'm trying.  I love the colors navy blue and hot pink together!! No I did not make the shirt. I hope to keep making more, so easy and "sew" fun.  (I'm such a dork)

Handyman- smandyman

This has been my preschool room for the past 3 year. Well in July sometime, the toilet over-flowed and all that water crept under all this flooring. So we had to instantly move everything out and rip up all the flooring =(    Well with little time and little money I decided I would put in the new flooring myself!!!  

This is what is underneath, it made the room dark and dungeon like. No good for preschoolers.

So with the help of my mom, a little from my dad. Here ya go nice new flooring!! It took several hours and I have to measure and cute each of the outside layer of vinyl pieces. They are 18 x 18  better than the 12 x 12 I was going to do!!!!  It looks like real tile right, well it is just the stick-n-peel.  So now you are not as impressed with me but seriously it still took some work!!

Feeling Like I'm in Highschool Again!!!

So one of my most favorite things to do ever is go to the lake. Well I love the ocean, ponds, streams, rivers anything with water. I love H2O!!!  In Highschool I went to the lake often, with friends and my brothers friends. I'm happy just sitting and hanging out but I LOVE to tube as well. Thank you so much Porters for the fun time. You have no idea how much I  miss going. It has been years.  

The lake was beautiful and had such a pretty sunset! Ryker, Deli and Eden looking for fish.

Shaun went to the lake maybe 3 times his whole life, he knows how much I love it so hopefully I can convert him to loving in just as much. He tried wake boarding for the first time and got up on like his 2nd try. He did so good I was proud of him!!!

MEMORY!!

So I'm copying many of my friends who have this on their blog.  Leave a comment about a memory you have of me!!  It can be nice, mean, sad, happy,  whatever. If you thought I talked to much in highschool (Megann) tell me about it!! =)  I would love to hear what you all have to say. So don't make me look like a fool with no friends, leave a comment!! =)

A Whole 5 Years

Yesterday was our 5 yr anniversary. I can't believe it has even been that long, because I feel like I just graduated from Highschool.  I wasn't going to blog about this but after what happened last night I couldn't help it. So I'm on the Enrichment committee  in my ward and we had and activity last night of course. It was way fun and I went because I knew we were going to go out tonight to celebrate. Shaun worked on wedding stuff anyways. So I get home at 9:00 which was a first and Shaun was finishing up his work. I hear Ryker still awake in his bed.  So of course Shaun and I wanted to spend sometime together but Ryker keep getting out of bed etc.  Shaun and I always watch our wedding video on our anniversary, so I go to pull it out and Ryker is asking what we are going to watch. We told him we got married 5 years ago and it was a video of that day. We started to watch and Ryker loved it, when I came out of the temple in my wedding dress he yells, "mom you are a princess".  Then we hear Amelia waking up. I usually wake her up at 11:00 to feed her but she just knew she was missing out so I went and go her out of bed and feed her as we all watched our video. As I was holding my sweet baby girl and watching Ryker make cute faces during the video. Shaun and I looked at each other and can't believe how blessed we are 5 years later. I normally don't like when people get on their blog and make everything seem perfect, don't get me wrong has it been work, yes. Would I trade it for anything, no!! Marriage is hard work, raising children is hard work but we know the wonderful rewards that come from it.  Ok this is way to long and if you are even still reading this, thanks =)

July 17th, 2003  (yes we were crazy to get married in the summer)

Newlyweds. This was 6 months later. We both worked full time and went to school in the evenings. We saw each other on the weekends. Seriously.

2 years later 2005, we welcomed Ryker into our family. 

4 1/2 years later 2008 we have our beautiful daughter.

July 2008- I wonder what will happen in the next 5 years!!