Halloween

So since this is my very own personal blog and I can say anything I want on it.....here you go...

Ok so what is the big deal around these parts (missouri....rogersville). Halloween just happened to fall on a Sunday this year and it seemed to be a huge deal to everyone. I don't get it. It actually was very annoying. Uh are we not allowed to trick or treat the neighborhood on Sunday? I mean I get that it's Sunday, but really? Anyway I could go on, but I'm guessing you can tell where I stand on this.

So in true Halloween fashion the Martins did what we do, Sunday or not, on Halloween:) We had lots of trick or treaters, some small and cute and some big and even a little too big! haha But hey I am just fine with a 60 year old lady dressed up as an M&M holding her treat bag out for some candy (although, I gave away play-doh this year, I'm sure she'll have fun with that). Here are some pictures of our fun costumes!

So I didn't mean...

for that last post to last all year!!! haha

I've been busying myself with a new blog I've created with some girlfriends and putting alot of thought and time into it. You can find it at realitiesofasahm.blogspot.com or click the link on the side of the page. I think it's pretty entertaining and even at times, inspirational:)

As far as the Martin's...This is what WE have been doing lately

Matthew started his first day of PRESCHOOL and of course he loves it! He is so so so SMART! I have to be very careful around him. He picks up on EVERYTHING!

Kenny is just proving to be an amazing Kindergartener! He is learning how to read, really really well AND he is quite the ladies man, which I'm not too excited about, however I can see why the girls adore him:) He also started playing basketball. He was "scouted" out basically, and I was so flattered I agreed to let him join.

Belle is just enjoying time with Mommy during the day while the boys are away, AND she is potty trained! Wahoo! Still a couple of accidents here and there but doing really well! She will be 3 in about one month! Ugh I can't believe it!

I took my FIRST ever cab ride! In Chicago no doubt! A little nerve racking and not something I could ever get use to, but it was fun while it lasted!

AND DADDY turned 33! So fun to celebrate him! He is working super hard for Turblex which is now called Siemens, and is amazing at everything he does...except for picking up his socks and putting them in the laundry basket;)jkjk. Really proud of this guy! I know he'll do great things no matter where life leads us!

Post of the YEAR....at least for me.

The day has finally come. The day he has been waiting for and the day I have been dreading. First day of Kindergarten.

I held his hand as we walked to the bus stop, for me not for him. I kissed his cheek a million times, and he wiped it off. I hugged him tight, told him to be nice and then I let him go. He walked so proudly onto that bus, sat down and smiled out of the window as we waved him goodbye.

I'm jealous of the woman he will be spending all of his day with. Jealous that she gets to see his smiles, know exactly what he is doing, hug him if he is sad and see his eyes light up as she teaches him so many new things. The mommy in me wants so much to hold on. Hold on to his innocence and never let the world hurt him in any way. But the mommy in me also wants to share this amazing gift I've been given, with the world.

I love this boy. This boy who has blessed my life in so many ways. This boy who will some day grow to be a man. This boy, I will forever call my son.

North Carolina!

Somehow

me getting restless

always translates into me

doing something totally random and spontaneous. I've always wanted to just get on a plane and go somewhere, and so that's what I did. I have so many friends I want to see but most of them Matt would kill me if I went and he didn't get to come too! For weeks Matt has had this scheduled business trip to Canada and I decided it was the perfect time for me to go see my Jaz....and just for the record Matt did say "I wanna come".  It was a whirlwind of a trip. I left on Monday and came home on Thursday. I felt like I was there forever though. Jaz took me to the beach, we went on a ferry, walked out on a pier, ate at Bojangles, talked, cried, met all of Jaz's family AND I got to see Kody, Allie and Ron (Amanda's children and dad)! All of THAT in just two and a half days! An adventure is what I was going for and an adventure is what I got! When I got home I was completly exhausted and it's taken me days to come out of it but it was worth EVERY minute!

   

Happenings:

I've been sitting at the computer for over an hour looking at everyone else's blogs and decided I should probably update my own:) The end of June through the first week of July is always so busy for us...Fathers Day, Kenny's Bday, Our Anniversary and 4th of July and then more Bdays after that...We really tried to keep everything low key this year, and that is so hard for me to do! So in honor of my new simplistic attitude, which by the way I am so over by the end of this post, here is just a little bit of the fun we've been having:

"Happy Days" we went to this cute little cafe here in Rogersville with GPa Martin and GMa Miller.

 Pretty yummy! And so fun to be in their company!

Very casual 4th...as you can tell by my lack of concern in the hair and wardrobe department, and Belles SB pj pants and festive top! Perfect night

If I were a good wife this picture would have it's own post, however I never get wrapped up in the details of anything and so here it is! Our 8 year anniversary picture! Wahoo! Seriously he is taking me somewhere amazing for 10 years! Either that, or a huge diamond would be fine too;) In all honesty I'm sure we will just head to Branson again! LOL

Kennys bday party pic! But look at the excitement in Bubbies face. You would have thought it was his birthday. I love it!

Kind of a funny pic, but he is trying to show off his amazing muscles! He was so brave the day he got his 5yr shots...not a tear at all! My new hero! Kenny will be 6 this next Wednesday!

I could look into Bubbie's eyes ALL day long!

Doll Face

I love that he proudly wears his "my wife is hot" t shirt!....it's the best gift I've ever given him;) A little dirty in this pic (just the way I like him) from doing "man" things out in the garage:)

My friend Mandy had the kids over today and did face paintings and made snow cones! They LOVED it! What a fun fun idea!

Life...

has changed just a little bit:) I finished my first semester of nursing school and was just begining to really enjoy the first part of my three week break, however I was hit by a sweep of emotion and couldn't help but feel that "this" (being home with the kids) is where I should be. The last five months have been filled with intense stress coupled with large amounts of guilt....with not a whole lot of reward for any of us. So I made the difficult decision to put school off. Difficult because I've worked so extremely hard to get where I am. At the same time I've learned great lessons of appreciation for my family. I am so grateful for my three beautiful babes and their amazing father, who isn't just a baby daddy, but my best friend too;) So here's to stepping back into motherhood!!!

Rebellion:)

Anyone who knows me knows that I have a little bit of a rebellious spirit. Not intentionally, in fact I try really hard to be good, but sometimes I just can't help myself.  I always want to be a "lady" and say the right things and do the right things but I think I just get board...and before I know it I've done something "off colored" again;) So below are some pictures of me sabotaging poor Amy. We were supposed to be at an activity for RS (church) in Branson for the night.  We made it to the hotel but we just couldn't "make" it to the meetings. Branson is so full of shopping and food, our inner bad girls came out. We did have great excuses overall for not attending our meetings. Like when we got to the hotel NO one was around and we just didn't know where to go. Also we were NOT told that we were to wear Sunday dress. AND on Sat morning there was NOT a DROP of hot water (which is a whole other story that I have major biff with). There was NO way we were taking freezing cold showers just to go to the meeting in t-shirt and jeans while everyone else was dressed up! AND not showering.....ewww....was not an option. So we  shopped, ate AND slept in! So for all of you who went and were uplifted by the meetings...just know that Amy and I enjoyed ourselves too:)

TICK TOCK

It's 1:30 AM. It's been awhile since I've stayed up this late.  I'm completely exhausted and feel so beat up from life that I can't sleep. The house is a disaster and today is Sunday. I hate having a messy home on Sundays. It puts me and everyone else in a terrible mood and then no one wants to go to church. I started to clean and then I found myself having thoughts of wishing I were a child again, wishing I could just go to bed and know that my mom would take care of everything, wishing I weren't the only one who cared about the physical and emotional state of our home...(ok actually Matt does care about that, however he stops caring after a certain time of night :). I feel like I keep running out of time. Time to spend with my kids, time to hold my husband, time to study and prepare for class, time to pray, time hang out with my girlfriends. I keep watching the clock begging for it to stop for a little bit. It mocks me and keeps on ticking...............Now that I've complained and had a pitty party for myself I guess I'll go clean. The only time we have is the time we use. Annoying. Ughhhhh

Matthew Lee...we call him Bubbie

Matthew and I share the same birthday! He was born on my 25th birthday and turned the big 4 this year! We had  so much fun celebrating him!

I also had fun celebrating this years birthday with great friends and good food! My girlfriends showered me with the most amazing gifts and I talked to every one of my best girlfriends on the phone that day, and that in and of itself was so much fun! I love you all!

No worries the tears in my eyes are because of Amy. She made me 3 journals made from the material of Amanda's prom dresses. It really caught me off guard and  it took me a little bit to contain myself. After a few minutes I was geeking it up again..

Groundhog Day!!!

So Mr. Groundhog saw his shadow and now we will have a dreaded 6 more weeks of winter? Whatever...I am so over it. I'm ready for the sunshine, picnic, park playing, throw the kids outside kind of weather! For real. We've had a stressful couple of months but we've been able to find some fun in that stress too...Thank goodness:)

Matt and Belle with the flu the week of Christmas

Matt's broken leg:(

Our good ol swimming pool from last summer has now been turned into an ice skating adventure!


                                                           

I couldn't stop laughing when all three of them came out of the play room dressed like little girls!

Polar Bear PJ's with Grandpa!

A girl with a gun...always a good sign.