Our Christmas Eve

Well Christmas is over...sad, because it is my favorite holiday season...happy the kids are back in school and I have a routine back!!!!! You all know how I love a routine! There are so many pictures to post b/c so much has gone on between Christmas Eve when I lasted posted and today, January 8. How could I have been away so long? I have missed getting on line and blogging. Emalie is 17 months old today and Zachery is 10 days shy of being 3. Wow our kids are growing up so fast. The kids were in a Christmas play at Church for the Gospel reading. Zachery is on the far right as a horse, Natalie just to the left of him as a sheep and Abbey is the shepard behind him.

Natalie

Abbey

Zachery

I have just decided now that if I can get 2 of the 4 kids smiling or looking at the camera the picture is good! The entire family dressed in purple for Christmas Eve Mass. Somehow I managed to miss a family picture at church. Emalie doesn't have an individual picture by the tree b/c I couldn't get her to stand by herself.

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.