Wise words

I am a fan of "lists". I don't make them very often, but when I do I accomplish a lot. I like this list. It has a lot of simple pleasures on it. Eric writes me sweet messages on the shower glass every now and then. I get that "natural" high and life carries herself a little better.

I have been strangely busy with nonsense lately. I miss you blog and hope that you are not "quitting me". (sick inside joke!) Tate and Gabe just started soccer, Coleman is starting spring tennis, the weather will eventually get lots warmer and we will venture to new and sometimes old, exciting places.... all of which will allow for better blog posts and happy times for the Martinis family. (o;

Until then, adieu!!

Sweet nothings

This grainy pic is a group of my dearest high school friends. We were in Cancun for our Senior trip. I am in the middle.... the chick in the red. I had many "groups" of high school friends and spent a lot of time trying to juggle my different and loved groups of friends. I was never completely satisfied with my friendship situations, but now looking back I was very blessed and have managed to keep in touch (even before facebook) with MANY of my friends.

My high school nickname was Wanj. Most of my friends from all the different groups called me Wanj and most of their parents did too. It was sweet and very endearing. Yesterday I wished a boy I went to elementary, middle and high school with a happy birthday. He replied back, "Thanks Wanj. You are still the best." I know he means it and is made me feel young and happy.

A lot of my closest high school friends still call me Wanj, but I had forgotten that most of the people in my very large high school also called me that as well. Growing up in Oklahoma was a very positive experience for me. People are religious, sports crazy, loyal and generally good. The Bible belt is a good place to raise a family. It was hard for my parents to move there, but it was good for our family and definitely good for me. I received an excellent education, made many lasting friends, was provided with many leadership and travel opportunities, and was very prepared for college and life. I guess my "sweet nothing" for the day is that memories are important and friends are the spice of life! I have always been blessed with good, lasting friends and am so thankful for all those who have been put into my life to better and enrich it.

My second sweet nothing (if you will) came at school today. I had a meeting about Tate's progress and plan in school (his section 504). At the end of the meeting, Tate's teacher Mrs. Fawley pulled me aside and asked how Eric was doing. She expressed her concern and happiness that Eric was doing better. She then told me that she prays for Eric every night. I was so touched. I almost started to cry. I thought to myself, Tate's teacher prays for Eric every night. That is really special.

Mrs. Fawley is a VERY sweet lady and a perfect match for Tate. He has been so blessed with sensitive, caring and thoughtful teachers. I truly believe Eric has been able to recover so well because of all the prayers and concern for him and his well being. Eric and our family is loved and cared about by many. Another great blessing indeed. We are definitely being watched over and taken care of. It is a good feeling!

Life is good!! (O:

P.S. Can you see Wanj on my bum? Pretty funny. (Go WWT!!)

Wise words

One day I will surprise many... (o;

My darling sleepies

If you know me well, you know I don't venture to the doctor all that often. Lately I have been somewhat of a regular.... I guess it is good to get our moneys worth from our insurance. We have really used and needed them this year.... Geez. It is like Cigna is my new BFF from Hades. Ick!

So, today I get a call from the school nurse..... oops! Back up... on Saturday it was BEAUTIFUL. We went to the castle park to celebrate the warmer weather and Gabe hurt his eye. He fell down and made friends with the mulch WITH his eye. Ouch! Being that he is a 7 year old squirmy child, he rubbed and rubbed his eye until it was bloodshot and grotesque looking....

His eye continued to hurt but not really worth mentioning until today when.... ring ring ring. You know who it is. I ask Gabriel, "Do you need to go to the doctor?" (please no... please NO!!). He says, "I think so. It REALLY hurts.." Darn.

The eye doc examines him (alone... and I rarely allow that to happen) and she finds a stinking sliver in his eye. Ouch! No wonder it hurt. She gets it out and we are on our way. Modern medicine really can be so amazing and convenient.

I am driving home. I am tired. Finn is soooo grumpy and tired. Gabe is a little traumatized and TIRED. I see the droopy eyelids. I drive slower. I see the looooong blinks. I drive even slower (and get honked at... Hey! Kiss my bum!! Can't you see I am putting my kids in the sleeper hold!!) AND...... I succeed!!!!

Aren't they cute.... AND they were perfect little angels when we went out for Eric darling's birthday. In fact, they basically woke up and we went out to eat. They stuffed themselves and now, they are asleep again (or just really really quiet....) Life is good. (o;

Happy birthday to my darling and love Eric. I am so thankful for him and the wonderful life he has given us. He is thoughtful, kind, loving, handsome, fun, hunky and a whole lot more. Today could have been a very sad day, but instead it is a great day of celebration and a remembrance of all the blessings we enjoy. I love you! Happy birthday!

Another successful St. Paddy's day lunch!

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
~an old Irish Blessing

Bad habits???

We picked up some bad habits and our teeth are paying the price!
Ick!

Thanks Daddy for the fun, spooky surprises!
We love you!

Wise words

Our week in words

Let's see....last week was a little crazy. Gabe hurt his leg at recess and had to go and have it looked at (which also required x-rays). No break thank goodness but days of misery ensued. Finn jumped down the stairs and landed on his face. It is the biggest bump EVER and I should have taken him in asap, but I waited and the swelling continued. Why do I need to learn lessons along the way I will never know. I am a smart gal. I should have looked at his head and sprinted to the doc. Needless to say, he went to the doctor for a rash a couple days later (that they think is SCABIES!! Yuck!) and then had to do a skull fracture exam. It was painful to watch so I can imagine what poor Finn had to endure..... It was awful. AWFUL!! I wanted to grab him and run. But...., I am scared. What if he has a crack in his noggin??? All is well, but my little darling has a caveman forehead and is getting two black eyes. Awful.

Eric went to the Haunt Convention and we were left prisoners of the house. Gabe couldn't walk so here we stayed. The ironic thing is I planned a day in DC with the boys. Found a good place for lunch, was excited about the prospects of seeing a single museum, happy about spending uninterrupted time with my boys...... and no. It did not happen. We were all disappointed, especially Coleman. He just about went stir crazy which makes me even crazier because he stalks..... You know the kind. Our basement majorly flooded and will have to be fixed soon or the damage will spread. I was so tired and grateful to have Eric home to help with the chaos. It is terrible to see water pouring into your house and all over our beautiful, cozy carpet. Darn. We have a lot of fix-it issues in the house. Lots. Ick!!

The weather is getting warmer but not warm enough. Spring is teasing us. Daylight savings has left us in a slump. Eric's neck is slowly slowly slowly getting better. He is in pain all day, every day and I wish he didn't have to endure that. Healing takes so much time and robs us of some of our sanity. I am still struggling with my foot and have forgotten how it feels to walk normally. Now you may wonder, do I have anything positive to say??? Nope. Awww...

Just kidding. We have been having regular family home evening. Our chickens lay three eggs a day. The guineas are still alive. The bulbs are poking out of the ground. The boys are helping more around the house and not complaining about it. I remembered to pay everyone for their report cards. I am yelling less, loving more and praying often. I went to the temple last month and plan to go this month as well. The boys are all enjoying or enjoyed their winter sports without any push from us. Miracle. Coleman and Tate are doing wonderful in piano. I have decided to start Gabe for the 2011-12 school year. Speaking of, Gabe is doing better at school, happier at home, sleeping like a log, eating more, and maturing at a good rate. So, with that.... life is good!

Wise words

I can almost smell it...

Maryland is definitely a state that has four distinctive seasons. Winter lasts longer in some states. Summer in others, but Maryland is typically a calendar perfect state with the right amount of spring, summer, fall and even winter. (Eric would disagree with the winter part, but this is MY blog.... lol!) The thing I like best about the turning of the seasons is that each has a unique and pleasant smell. I like the smell of Spring the most. I can't describe it, but it is wonderful, exciting and makes you look forward to a long awaited and glorious Spring. The weather has started to warm up and even some bulbs are peaking through the gray dirt, but the smell has yet to arrive. I caught little whiffs of it, but the smell is not everywhere and I am so looking forward to it. It is still to early so I will be patient. However, I will keep my nose to the wind.... wishing and waiting.

March weather does come in a like a lion and out like a lamb in ole Maryland. I don't think we have seen the last of cold weather and even snowflakes. I am not counting my chickens before they hatch, but I do know the smell of Spring is right around the corner. I remember last year I took my boys out to the school bus one morning and Tate looked at me and said, "Do you smell that?! It smells like spring." I knew it wasn't just me.... So, spring please come soon. We love you so!

Let's go fly a kite....

Lately the boys have been fascinated with kite flying. We have had kites laying around the house for eons, but nobody has cared or taken the slightest bit of interest.... until now. The ironic part of this is I finally donated MANY of the old kites that have been collecting dust and dreaming of happy children. Coleman and Tate found the last forgotten kite and the intent to fly a kite began.

It was a windy day. In fact it was a "weather/wind advisory day when they made the first attempt. The gusts had actually blown people over so I wasn't sure how they would manage to fly a kite in such strong winds, but... a lesson learned. Tate was in about 10 minutes later, unhappy with a sad story to tell.... The kite was now in the tree having a party in the wind. Coleman was upset and we promised to buy another kite SOON.

"Soon" actually became sooner rather than later (miracle!!) Within two days we made a trip to Target, bought a kite and the next day Eric had to go to Costco and found that with spring approaching, they were selling very cool kites. I love Costco. You never know what you might find.... Bless them! Eric brought home THREE unique, big, AMAZING kites. The boys were soooo happy, but the wind was gone. (I am glad.... I hate the wind with all our big trees on our property! Ick!!) On Wednesday of this week, the wind made a visit. The boys were so happy. Eric had a meeting that was close to home so even he was home to greet the wind with new kites. I had to take Gabe to tutoring, but I decided that we would go late so he could have some time outside with his kite as well. Karma would understand. (o;

The boys LOVE their kites and we can't wait to take them in a place with fewer trees. Trees are definitely a problem.... I am sure we will have a lot more kite posts as the weather gets warmer and tricks are learned etc. I will even look into taking them to Kite Festival in DC this year. You can see the most amazing kites and tricks there. People come from all over the country and even world to show off their kites and all that they can do. Eric learned how to kite surf last year and if my boys keep up their interest in both surfing and kites, that will definitely be on the agenda.

P.S. Did I mention that Eric and I are going to Costa Rica in July. I am VERY excited. I know that this has nothing to do with kites, but the thought of surfing prompted the thought! We are in the OBX one week and then come home only to leave a few days later. Yea!! Can't get enough beach time in!!

Wise words

We love you SpongeBob. (o;
Finn really loves you which makes you extra special!