Cade William Curtis Martin

Introducing the newest member of our family. Cade William Curtis was born about 2 am this morning. He weighed 7 pounds 3 oz and was 19 1/2 inches. Born at 36 weeks. After a very long labor and very intense!!! Julie, Aaron, Riley and Cade are all doing good. What a great Christmas present!

Santa comes for Jesus' birthday

We are trying so hard to instil in the kids that Jesus is the reason for the Christmas season. We have told them that Santa comes on Jesus' birthday. It's so cute to have Zachery ask if it's His birthday yet. This is our annual Christmas visit.
Santa also came to church. Here he is with Natalie.

Zachery and Santa.

Santa, Daddy and Emalie.

Abbey and Santa.

And yet some more randomness

So I do have the coolest most hop kid on the block!
Our first real snow fall and Natalie climbed up the swingset. Her faithful companion Max is at the bottom.

Abbey couldn't wait to get outside.

Zachery all bundled up. It's so hard to keep gloves on this kid.

I love this picture of the kids. Abbey and Natalie are really playing Wii and Zachery and Emalie think they are. It's so cute! And just the freak that I am....reverse birth order! Oh I love to live in a square box!

At the Dino eating joint in KC.

Riley in the sand.

Randomness

I was trying to clear out my blog picture file and cam across some odds and ends. Hope you enjoy. Why yes Zachery, its perfectly normal to ride the pet cow!

And yes mom, I am perfectly safe standing atop of the saddle!

See...I'm just fine!

Emalie and Zachery when she was 2 weeks old.

Emalie and Zachery in October. They love to watch videos like this.

I tell you that these two are peas in a pod. It's just amazing to see how fast the kids grow.

And here is my boy and me! I just love his smile!

Decorating our tree

We got our tree put soon after Thanksgiving. It was a late night project-we started at 8:00 after the kids' bath. They were so excited to stay up so late! There was a height requirement for all breakable ornaments to stay out of reach of Emalie. The girls made sure everyone adhered to the rule! I just love that they are in their pjs. Natalie showing Emalie that ornament "Way up there"

Abbey hanging her ornaments.

Now who wouldn't want to get this present under the tree?

Happy Birthday Riley

On Thursday December 11th my niece Riley turned 3! She celebrated with a candyland birthday party. We love you and hope you had a good day! Jeremey, Julie and Baby Riley
Julie and Riley last fall

Zachery and Riley

Riley this summer.

Happy Birthday Trinity

On Sunday, December 7, my niece Trinity turned 2. Happy Birthday big girl! Trinity at 1 day old.

Trinity and Emalie this summer.

Trinity exploring butterflies at home.

Trinity and her mommy!

Jeremey's Rite of Acceptance and November Catch up

On Sunday November 30 Jeremey made his Rite of Acceptance to officially begin the process of joining the Church. It was such a special day for him and a gift from God for the both of us. I am so proud of him and thankful to God that he has led Jeremey on this path. He will join the Church at Easter! Jeremey, Jessica and Father Mike.

Natalie the Scarecrow at her Thanksgiving feast.

I do cook! Even breakfast pancakes! Zachery loves them, especially since he has a book about Curious George and how he makes pancakes!

I forgot to post this picture of the girls before their dance recital. And they are even holding hands!

Here they are before going to watch Joslyn in her Christmas Musical.

Girls Christmas Dance

Girls Christmas Dance

Courthouse turns 100

Last Saturday we celebrated our courthouse's 100th birthday. The Girl Scouts got to be part of the celebration as they lined the walkway for the Color Guard. Then they got to release balloons. Abbey got a special ribbon for participating.

Abbey, Mom and Natalie
Abbey with her Girl Scout sash.

This is our beatiful courthouse.

Waiting for the balloon release.

Farm Day

Last Friday was Natalie's field trip to the Farm. It was fun, but cold. Zachery, Emalie and I only stayed for the story and to get a picture of Natalie on the horse. The first 3 pictures are of the kids listening to the story.

Natalie and her horse ride!

Hello....Is anybody there?

No don't go...come back...really I'm here. I've been here all along...just really busy....doing....well...nothing in particular...feeding, bathing, cooking, cleaning up after, taxiing, reading to, care for, and loving the kids...but really I'm here! I can't believe I have been away for so long, 17 days of no posting, What has gotten into me? Oh yeah, parenting! And just to think that November is National Blog Month, you can sign up and post everyday in Nov. Well I have truly missed that boat!
Trying to think of things we have done this month:
Wakita Turkey Dinner and 8 pies and 1 cranberry salad
Julie came home with her family
The girls went with Aunt B, Uncle Dick, Nana and Papa to watch our cousin Joslyn in the Christmas Story.
There have been Girl Scout meetings, Dr. appts for check ups, music practice for Abbey's Christmas program on the 2nd, dance and gymnastic practice and a kidnapping involving the kids and I and Grandpa Brown!
The Danville Turkey Dinner is this Sunday and 5 more pies and 2 craft items.

Also autumn crafts. The big kids got to paint with real paint and Emalie got to paint with pudding.

Feels good on my teeth...by the way I now have 4 on top and 2 on the bottom with 2 more trying to break through down there.

Look, I can do the silly spoon on your nose trick too!

And I am using a spoon! Talented I know!

Thank goodness mom remembered to take off my shirt!