Addendum to previous post: About 5pm one of Tess's classmates called and invited her over to spend the night. She was thrilled, Kate was heart broken.
When I say heart broken, I mean devastated. Complete anguish. Total mental breakdown.
Her crying was gutteral, to the point of almost throwing up. Sometimes Kate is a pretty good fake cryer, but this time it was genuine. It made my heart break seeing her so sad. She really wanted her sister to stay home.....but more importantly, she wanted to have a friend to hang out with too.
"Whhhhhhy can't I be big toooooo?"
"Eeeevverrrybooooddy's bigger than meee!"
"I waaaaannnnnt to grow up toooooooo!"
"It's taaaaakking soooo looong!"
So I held her tight, let her scream(she was seriously scream-crying) and promised to buy her anything she wanted to eat for our "party" tonight.
Sometimes money can buy happiness. It has cost me 15 bucks, but we are happy!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Martens 2009 year in review
For the past 11 years I have written a family Christmas letter to recap what we've been up to for the last year. Usually I enjoy looking back over the calendar and remembering things that made our year special. For some reason, this year I wasn't feelin' it.......so, no letter.
However, just in case you were thinking "Bummer, I wish she would have written that letter. I would have really enjoyed reading it........."
Wish granted.
Here is a recap of some of the high-lights...and low-lights of 2009.
In January Kate broke her arm. I know, it still makes me cringe. She had just turned 3, but handled it like a 30 year old.....so very brave. We altered a lot of shirts to go over that purple cast, and we were so thankful for the modern technology that made the cast waterproof!
February and March were filled with activities that kept us busy, but aren't exciting enough to detail for you. You're welcome.
After 20 + years of wearing contacts, I had Lasik done in April. I can honestly say it has changed my life. Totally worth the money. If you have been considering having Lasik done, but you need to hear from a satisfied customer first.....CALL ME.
May was the Martens first volunteer gig as a family. We did the Walk for the Homeless and had a blast. We got groovy tie dye t-shirts and froze our niblets off, all for a great cause. Can't wait to walk in 2010. Have your pledge money ready!
June was the annual Martens/Greiner family trip to Bennett Spring State Park. Both sets of parents, Andy's sister Missy and her husband Ben, and our family of 5, spent three days "roughing it." We stay in a cabin with my parents and Andy's family camps. Fly fishing, nature hikes, camp fires, and swimming are all part of the fun. We reserved our cabin for June 2010 when we left in June 2009. That's how fun it is.
July 7th our Jane Gracen celebrated her first birthday! Mid-July nine Martens family members(our five, plus parents, sis and bro) drove for 17 hours to get to Montrose Colorado, where four more family members were waiting for us! If you ever wondered if a one year old can hold a grudge....they can! Jane didn't look us in the eye or smile at us for at least 24 hours after we unstrapped her from her carseat. Two more family members driving out a few days later completed our posse of 15 and we became complete tourists for seven fun filled days. And yes, I would do it again.
Lordy, was August rough. We had barely been back from Colorado for a week when the horrific happened, and Andy's uncle Jim died unexpectedly. That made our time as a family out in Colorado even more special. We are still not over this loss. Tess started school and gave her first piano solo at church. I started leading a Bible Study with the junior and senior high school students at church. I may have the title as teacher, but trust me, I am learning way more than I am teaching. Oh yeah, I became a blogger this month.
In September, Tess turned 8 years old, Andy turned 33, and Kate started pre-school. I love how much Kate enjoys school, and how much she is learning without even realizing it! She gets to attend a gymnastics class every Monday after school, and is amazing. There is no fear of flinging her little body any which way the teacher asks. While other kids are still learning to sommersault, Kate is doing flips, cartwheels, bridges(a backwards bend), and jumps on a trampoline. It's funny how she looks like a Martens, but is built low to the ground with muscular little legs, like a Greiner. Kate also joined the cherub choir at church. (see video post from early December) It makes my heart almost burst with love when I hear her singing songs that I sang as a child. Father Abraham, had many sons. Many sons had Father Abraham. I am one of them and so are you...so let's all praise the Lord! Sing it with me, now!
In October, the Martens family, minus Jane, went to visit the dentist. We all came back sqeaky clean, but Andy and Tess were the only ones that got a gold star for perfect teeth. I always have procedures on a "to do" list, but this year Kate had a teeny, tiny cavity. She handled it better than most adults. Tess is still trying to lose some baby teeth, only three so far.
November, Tess had her tonsils and adenoids removed, and nasal turbinates cauterized. After some pain, there was a big gain, as she can clearly breathe through her nose for the first time in years. She also hasn't had a cold since, even though almost everyone else in the world has. oops, hope I didn't just jinx her. I turned the big 3-5 this month and feel pretty darn good about it. I've decided it's time to start caring about things.....like health and fitness....so went for a complete physical and found out my health (blood work) is better now than 7 years ago. The fitness part, not so much.
December went fast, and is coming to a end in just a few hours. On December 5th, Andy and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary at The Elms. This was a well planned TOTAL surprise to me. The girls were in on the surprise the entire time and gave nothing away. I'm not sure if it's a good thing or not that my girls are such amazing secret keepers. On December 27th, Kate turned 4 years old and woke up on the 28th asking if she was still 4.
We are truly blessed, and we know it. The most important thing we can do in 2010, is continue to Praise God for His amazing grace, and teach our children to do the same.
However, just in case you were thinking "Bummer, I wish she would have written that letter. I would have really enjoyed reading it........."
Wish granted.
Here is a recap of some of the high-lights...and low-lights of 2009.
In January Kate broke her arm. I know, it still makes me cringe. She had just turned 3, but handled it like a 30 year old.....so very brave. We altered a lot of shirts to go over that purple cast, and we were so thankful for the modern technology that made the cast waterproof!
February and March were filled with activities that kept us busy, but aren't exciting enough to detail for you. You're welcome.
After 20 + years of wearing contacts, I had Lasik done in April. I can honestly say it has changed my life. Totally worth the money. If you have been considering having Lasik done, but you need to hear from a satisfied customer first.....CALL ME.
May was the Martens first volunteer gig as a family. We did the Walk for the Homeless and had a blast. We got groovy tie dye t-shirts and froze our niblets off, all for a great cause. Can't wait to walk in 2010. Have your pledge money ready!
June was the annual Martens/Greiner family trip to Bennett Spring State Park. Both sets of parents, Andy's sister Missy and her husband Ben, and our family of 5, spent three days "roughing it." We stay in a cabin with my parents and Andy's family camps. Fly fishing, nature hikes, camp fires, and swimming are all part of the fun. We reserved our cabin for June 2010 when we left in June 2009. That's how fun it is.
July 7th our Jane Gracen celebrated her first birthday! Mid-July nine Martens family members(our five, plus parents, sis and bro) drove for 17 hours to get to Montrose Colorado, where four more family members were waiting for us! If you ever wondered if a one year old can hold a grudge....they can! Jane didn't look us in the eye or smile at us for at least 24 hours after we unstrapped her from her carseat. Two more family members driving out a few days later completed our posse of 15 and we became complete tourists for seven fun filled days. And yes, I would do it again.
Lordy, was August rough. We had barely been back from Colorado for a week when the horrific happened, and Andy's uncle Jim died unexpectedly. That made our time as a family out in Colorado even more special. We are still not over this loss. Tess started school and gave her first piano solo at church. I started leading a Bible Study with the junior and senior high school students at church. I may have the title as teacher, but trust me, I am learning way more than I am teaching. Oh yeah, I became a blogger this month.
In September, Tess turned 8 years old, Andy turned 33, and Kate started pre-school. I love how much Kate enjoys school, and how much she is learning without even realizing it! She gets to attend a gymnastics class every Monday after school, and is amazing. There is no fear of flinging her little body any which way the teacher asks. While other kids are still learning to sommersault, Kate is doing flips, cartwheels, bridges(a backwards bend), and jumps on a trampoline. It's funny how she looks like a Martens, but is built low to the ground with muscular little legs, like a Greiner. Kate also joined the cherub choir at church. (see video post from early December) It makes my heart almost burst with love when I hear her singing songs that I sang as a child. Father Abraham, had many sons. Many sons had Father Abraham. I am one of them and so are you...so let's all praise the Lord! Sing it with me, now!
In October, the Martens family, minus Jane, went to visit the dentist. We all came back sqeaky clean, but Andy and Tess were the only ones that got a gold star for perfect teeth. I always have procedures on a "to do" list, but this year Kate had a teeny, tiny cavity. She handled it better than most adults. Tess is still trying to lose some baby teeth, only three so far.
November, Tess had her tonsils and adenoids removed, and nasal turbinates cauterized. After some pain, there was a big gain, as she can clearly breathe through her nose for the first time in years. She also hasn't had a cold since, even though almost everyone else in the world has. oops, hope I didn't just jinx her. I turned the big 3-5 this month and feel pretty darn good about it. I've decided it's time to start caring about things.....like health and fitness....so went for a complete physical and found out my health (blood work) is better now than 7 years ago. The fitness part, not so much.
December went fast, and is coming to a end in just a few hours. On December 5th, Andy and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary at The Elms. This was a well planned TOTAL surprise to me. The girls were in on the surprise the entire time and gave nothing away. I'm not sure if it's a good thing or not that my girls are such amazing secret keepers. On December 27th, Kate turned 4 years old and woke up on the 28th asking if she was still 4.
We are truly blessed, and we know it. The most important thing we can do in 2010, is continue to Praise God for His amazing grace, and teach our children to do the same.
Hey Sarah, what are you doing for New Years Eve?
Same thing I did last year, and the year before that.....just hangin' with my girls!
For the third year in a row Andy is working for the Fire Department, and we are at home, trying to make today feel somehow "different" than every other day.
So far it isn't working.
I'm still doing laundry, picking up each room a bazillion times trying to keep the new Christmas toys from over-taking the house, breaking up "fights" between the sisters, getting into fights with them myself over picking up toys, cleaning their rooms, stop shouting while Jane's napping, and so on and so on and so on......Isn't it a wonder that I can stay so down to earth amidst all this glamour?
So I am ready to stop feeling sorry for myself and start making this day what it really is......a gift. There are so many people that would give anything to have the kind of blah day that we are having! 2009 was a good year for this family, and I know that is a blessing, considering it was filled with hardships and loss for so many others.
Tonight we are going to splurge and order pizza, bake some cookies, drink some sparkling apple cider(that "comes in a wine bottle!" exclaims Kate) and try to stay awake long enough to see the clock turn 12:00am.........well, maybe the clocks in New York are the ones we will go by.
For the third year in a row Andy is working for the Fire Department, and we are at home, trying to make today feel somehow "different" than every other day.
So far it isn't working.
I'm still doing laundry, picking up each room a bazillion times trying to keep the new Christmas toys from over-taking the house, breaking up "fights" between the sisters, getting into fights with them myself over picking up toys, cleaning their rooms, stop shouting while Jane's napping, and so on and so on and so on......Isn't it a wonder that I can stay so down to earth amidst all this glamour?
So I am ready to stop feeling sorry for myself and start making this day what it really is......a gift. There are so many people that would give anything to have the kind of blah day that we are having! 2009 was a good year for this family, and I know that is a blessing, considering it was filled with hardships and loss for so many others.
Tonight we are going to splurge and order pizza, bake some cookies, drink some sparkling apple cider(that "comes in a wine bottle!" exclaims Kate) and try to stay awake long enough to see the clock turn 12:00am.........well, maybe the clocks in New York are the ones we will go by.
Monday, December 28, 2009
4 Reasons Why Kate is Great!
Happy Birthday to my favorite 4 year old!
Last night the Martens/Greiner families took a much needed break from Christmas to celebrate our Kate Sinclaire Martens turning 4 years old. Even though there are still signs of Christmas everywhere....and I do mean EVERYWHERE in our house, we made the party as non-Christmasy as we could. We served her favorite meal, spaghetti, to about 20 people(we sure missed the family and friends that couldn't come for one reason or another....mostly due to the weather!) and had a great time opening (more!) gifts. This birthday has been much anticipated because it makes her one year closer to being "big like Tess" which is her ultimate goal. I don't have the heart to remind her that Tess gets older every year too. So to keep it fair amongst the girls.....something I will forever be trying to do.....I will list the 4 things I love about Kate. (I did the 8 things I love about Tess for her 8th birthday, just in case you are a newbie to this blog)
The 4 things I love about Kate:
1. She is perfectly comfortable(and confident) playing dinosaurs and trucks while wearing her Sleeping Beauty dress, make-up, and loads of jewelry.
2. Even when she is scared/shy she says "My brain is telling me to be brave!"
3. "Guess what.......Chicken Butt!" It is funny every time.
4. She will tell you, with all seriousness, that she wants to be a lion when she grows up.
I love you my wonderful child.
Last night the Martens/Greiner families took a much needed break from Christmas to celebrate our Kate Sinclaire Martens turning 4 years old. Even though there are still signs of Christmas everywhere....and I do mean EVERYWHERE in our house, we made the party as non-Christmasy as we could. We served her favorite meal, spaghetti, to about 20 people(we sure missed the family and friends that couldn't come for one reason or another....mostly due to the weather!) and had a great time opening (more!) gifts. This birthday has been much anticipated because it makes her one year closer to being "big like Tess" which is her ultimate goal. I don't have the heart to remind her that Tess gets older every year too. So to keep it fair amongst the girls.....something I will forever be trying to do.....I will list the 4 things I love about Kate. (I did the 8 things I love about Tess for her 8th birthday, just in case you are a newbie to this blog)
The 4 things I love about Kate:
1. She is perfectly comfortable(and confident) playing dinosaurs and trucks while wearing her Sleeping Beauty dress, make-up, and loads of jewelry.
2. Even when she is scared/shy she says "My brain is telling me to be brave!"
3. "Guess what.......Chicken Butt!" It is funny every time.
4. She will tell you, with all seriousness, that she wants to be a lion when she grows up.
I love you my wonderful child.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!
Another slight change in plans.....
This beautiful wintry wonderland has made us captives in our home. The plan had been for us to travel north of St Joseph to my grandma's house in Oregon, Missouri. When we heard of the potential for a snowy Christmas we wondered if we would make it. After getting out last night to go to Christmas Eve services, we knew that our travel plans were not going to happen.
Instead of heading north, my parents and brother headed the 3 blocks south to our house, for the day. We had soup and chili for lunch, played Nintendo Wii (Thank You Santa) and the girls got to spread their Christmas gifts all over the house as they played with them throughout the day. Right after lunch, we bundled them up for a good 20 minutes of outside time playing in the snow. My mother even did a snow angel and I got it on film......priceless!
It was a great day.
The only thing that could have made it better is if we'd had the man of the house at home with us. God bless the people that worked today....and please, please keep them safe through the night. The roads are getting bad again, and I worry that the fire department will get called out to help the late night travelers. I am so thankful that I didn't have to brave the snowy roads, at the crack of dawn, to get into the city for work this morning.
Merry CHRISTmas! 3 Christmas get-togethers done, 3 more to go!
And don't even forget about the Birthday party we are having on Sunday for our Kate.
There is SO MUCH to celebrate in Crazytown!!
This beautiful wintry wonderland has made us captives in our home. The plan had been for us to travel north of St Joseph to my grandma's house in Oregon, Missouri. When we heard of the potential for a snowy Christmas we wondered if we would make it. After getting out last night to go to Christmas Eve services, we knew that our travel plans were not going to happen.
Instead of heading north, my parents and brother headed the 3 blocks south to our house, for the day. We had soup and chili for lunch, played Nintendo Wii (Thank You Santa) and the girls got to spread their Christmas gifts all over the house as they played with them throughout the day. Right after lunch, we bundled them up for a good 20 minutes of outside time playing in the snow. My mother even did a snow angel and I got it on film......priceless!
It was a great day.
The only thing that could have made it better is if we'd had the man of the house at home with us. God bless the people that worked today....and please, please keep them safe through the night. The roads are getting bad again, and I worry that the fire department will get called out to help the late night travelers. I am so thankful that I didn't have to brave the snowy roads, at the crack of dawn, to get into the city for work this morning.
Merry CHRISTmas! 3 Christmas get-togethers done, 3 more to go!
And don't even forget about the Birthday party we are having on Sunday for our Kate.
There is SO MUCH to celebrate in Crazytown!!
Please be kind and rewind!
I need everyone to rewind their minds and pretend like this post is from yesterday.....
All day I dreamt of a relaxing night, with the girls to bed, Andy and I watching the winter forecast on the news,then quietly drifting off to sleep....by 10. You see, for the first time in 8 years, Andy and I had nothing to assemble, put stickers on, un-package, or wrap this Christmas Eve. Either it was already done, or didn't need further alteration before being placed under the tree.
Needless to say, the plan did not go as planned.
We had to re-arrange the schedule for the evening after it took my brother an hour and a half to drive from his home in Westport to my parent's house in Kearney.....Praise God that he made it safely......but this put our traditional Christmas Eve schedule off schedule. The gift giving didn't get started until after the Christmas Eve service, putting us home a wee bit late.....like 10.
I wanted to use my quiet, relaxing Christmas Eve to write about some of my favorite things about Christmas time--especially some highlights from this year.
--Wrapping presents has been waaaayyyy more fun this year. I have a three year old learning how to cut with scissors. BIG help. I also have an 8 year old that loves to spell. Another BIG helper writing on the gift tags. Both are learning the joys of how to properly use a tape dispenser. Not to forget our 18 month old that thinks running through the middle of the mess is hysterical.
--I love eating Christmas goodies baked/made by someone else. Enough said.
--We have received two gifts to Heifer International in our honor. I love the teaching and learning opportunity this gift brings to talk about the needs of people in other parts of the world. A flock of chickens and a sheep were purchased in our name. Love love love that.
--Totally feel like we nailed the gifts for the girls. I know we spend more than we should, but that is how we were each raised....to spend money at Christmas. As long as our bills get paid, our favorite charities get gifts, and we don't go into debt, then we will keep the mantra that it is only money. Two of my favorite words.....Christmas Club.
--Metro North, shopping mecca of the northland, has been the place we take the girls to visit Santa for the last 8 years. We started with Tess at 3 months old, and haven't missed a year, specifically because it has been the same guy every year. I love the continuity and it just makes our Santa pics photo album special. After standing in line (why do we always manage to show up just as they are putting up the "Santa needs a break...be back in one hour" sign) for hours we realized that our Santa had been re-assigned to East Hills mall in St Joseph! The horror! I'm pretty sure that is why Jane is crying in her picture.
--Sitting in my living room with a hot beverage, reading, with the tree lights on. I don't know about you, but our tree lights get turned on the minute we wake up and stay on until we go to bed. It just feels like the right way to waste electricity, if ever there was one.
I could probably do this all night, but because it is Christmas Eve (wink wink nudge nudge) I need to get to bed......can't skimp on the beauty sleep.
Hope Santa can find your house in all this snow!
Sarah
All day I dreamt of a relaxing night, with the girls to bed, Andy and I watching the winter forecast on the news,then quietly drifting off to sleep....by 10. You see, for the first time in 8 years, Andy and I had nothing to assemble, put stickers on, un-package, or wrap this Christmas Eve. Either it was already done, or didn't need further alteration before being placed under the tree.
Needless to say, the plan did not go as planned.
We had to re-arrange the schedule for the evening after it took my brother an hour and a half to drive from his home in Westport to my parent's house in Kearney.....Praise God that he made it safely......but this put our traditional Christmas Eve schedule off schedule. The gift giving didn't get started until after the Christmas Eve service, putting us home a wee bit late.....like 10.
I wanted to use my quiet, relaxing Christmas Eve to write about some of my favorite things about Christmas time--especially some highlights from this year.
--Wrapping presents has been waaaayyyy more fun this year. I have a three year old learning how to cut with scissors. BIG help. I also have an 8 year old that loves to spell. Another BIG helper writing on the gift tags. Both are learning the joys of how to properly use a tape dispenser. Not to forget our 18 month old that thinks running through the middle of the mess is hysterical.
--I love eating Christmas goodies baked/made by someone else. Enough said.
--We have received two gifts to Heifer International in our honor. I love the teaching and learning opportunity this gift brings to talk about the needs of people in other parts of the world. A flock of chickens and a sheep were purchased in our name. Love love love that.
--Totally feel like we nailed the gifts for the girls. I know we spend more than we should, but that is how we were each raised....to spend money at Christmas. As long as our bills get paid, our favorite charities get gifts, and we don't go into debt, then we will keep the mantra that it is only money. Two of my favorite words.....Christmas Club.
--Metro North, shopping mecca of the northland, has been the place we take the girls to visit Santa for the last 8 years. We started with Tess at 3 months old, and haven't missed a year, specifically because it has been the same guy every year. I love the continuity and it just makes our Santa pics photo album special. After standing in line (why do we always manage to show up just as they are putting up the "Santa needs a break...be back in one hour" sign) for hours we realized that our Santa had been re-assigned to East Hills mall in St Joseph! The horror! I'm pretty sure that is why Jane is crying in her picture.
--Sitting in my living room with a hot beverage, reading, with the tree lights on. I don't know about you, but our tree lights get turned on the minute we wake up and stay on until we go to bed. It just feels like the right way to waste electricity, if ever there was one.
I could probably do this all night, but because it is Christmas Eve (wink wink nudge nudge) I need to get to bed......can't skimp on the beauty sleep.
Hope Santa can find your house in all this snow!
Sarah
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Sing it Mary J!
I also want to mention that Mary J. Blige just sang on the Today show.
She is such a rockstar.
The epitomy of cool.
She is such a rockstar.
The epitomy of cool.
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