Grandpa.

Just the other day Logan and Cody were looking at our Christmas tree and one of the ordaments had my name spelled wrong. It was spelled Janelle and as you should know it should be Jenelle. Cody noticed that it was spelled wrong- smart boy. But when we were talking about it, it made me think of Grandpa. I don't remember when it started- definitely grade school sometime, but he decided that my name should now be just "E". In my entire name I have a total of 6 E's in it. Grandpa thought that was a lot, then came the name "E". Grandpa was such a wonderful Grandpa. I loved watching him and Grandma and how much you can see that they love each other. He was a quiet but very ornery person! I loved that when ever I called them, they were always both on the phone.

My best friend and I spent a summer in Alaska hoping to make money working in the canaries in between school years. We were frustrated because none of the job opportunites were working out. I remember getting a letter just from Grandpa in the mail. It was a just a note in his own writing encouraging me not to give up. I loved that note and still have it. He was a great Grandpa and I feel blessed by having him for the time that we did.

He died Christmas night and Aunt Wendy was gracious enough to watch my kids while Jeff and I drove to Salem to be with him. Saturday morning while eating pancakes with Uncle Jeff and Aunt Wendy, Logan stopped and realized while she was here and her mom wasn't. So she asked Uncle Jeff, how is Great Grandpa? Uncle Jeff told her that he was in heaven now. After a moment, Logan said: "I guess he is looking down on us from heaven watching us eat pancakes then!" Got to love that!!

Our annual trek out to get the XMAS tree! This year we actually started a little ealier then normal. We got our tree the day after Thanksgiving! It has been lot's of fun getting ready for XMAS and the kids are so excited!! Here's a couple of pictures with our tree!! Merry Christmas!

Hunting 2009

We had a blast hunting this year! Yes- Terry was the only one who got a deer this year! He was so excited and very proud. Here are some pictures from our hunting trip. And yes, we did get 5 inches of snow! That was fun to camp in. Make sure you look at the small blue tarp in between the 2 big tents. That is my friend Stacey's, which this was her first time hunting, and she braved it all night long in that small tent with 5 inches of snow on top!!

Logan did get to shoot her first shotgun! We all had a little bit of target practice, but the kids spent most of there time looking for the shells in the snow. Kept them busy for hours!!

Cody started flag football this year. After a kind of rough start in the beginning, he now loves it!! It is so fun to watch him!

The kids found a preying mantis in the yard this week. They really wanted to keep it, but after looking up on the internet on what they eat: flies, grasshoppers, and moths, we decided to let it go. They named him spikey!! I did not need anymore animals at our house!!!

School Days!

I for one am so glad that school is back. Logan is a 3rd grader this year and Cody is a first grader. So yes they are both in school all day! Here are pictures from the first day of school!!

The puppies are almost 3 weeks old now!! Wow how time flies. They are now walking, eyes are open, and they pee and poop a lot!! But they are so cute and fun. Dakota is such a good mom. She really surprised me by how well she is taking care of her pups! Here are some pictures.

The Puppies Are Here!!

Our day started out with Terry going to work for a friend, thinking the puppies probably wouldn't come until this afternoon or maybe the next day. Shortly after 11a, my third child Avery and I (the only ones at home) helped Dakota deliver the first puppy!! It was quite exciting and I'm sure Avery won't ever forget today. Dakota did a wonderful job, such a good mom!! We ended up with a total of 10 puppies!! 4 chocolate (all females), 3 black (2 females, 1 male), and 3 Blond (2 males, 1 female). We were so excited to see all 3 colors. They are so fun to watch.

Logan was very excited to get out of school early and to see the puppies being born. Cody was grossed out pretty much the whole time. It was and is an awesome experience!!!

Our new pets

For about the last week we have had new vistors in our front yard. We've been feeding them everynight for the last week. As a duck hunter this pains be gratefully because I don't get to see this many ducks when I'm hunting. Maybe this fall I will just hunt in my front yard!!

Yes, we are pregnant!!

No, not me, our dog Dakota. She is really showing the signs of being pregnant and she is due around the first of June!! We are so excited and the kids can't wait to see the puppies!! More information and pictures to come after the puppies are here!! We are hoping to get all 3 colors, blond, black, and chocolate!!

Cody was born at 748pm on May 1st 2003. He was 10 lbs 4oz. and 22 inches long. He is now a very big 6 year old. My how time flies!! He had a very busy day on the 1st, starting with donuts for everyone in his class on Friday morning, followed by lunch with Grandpa and Avery at Elmers. Which Cody used to call it Elmo's when he was 2. Then for dinner he chose to go to Red Robins with Logan and of course, his cousin Avery. Saturday was busy with T-Ball, but we managed to fit in his birthday party Saturday night with friends and family. We had a lot of fun celebrating his birthday!!

Spring Break

Spring Break was good and busy for us! Monday and Tuesday Terry and I had to work, but the kids kept busy with Grandma! She is one of the best Grandmas, she took them to the Aquatic Center on Monday, which of course the kids said was the best. And on Tuesday she took them to JJ Jump. Which I thought she was really brave for that one. Tuesday night Logan and I headed over to our friends house for a girls night sleep over!! We had a lot of fun and was great to spend time with them. Terry and Cody stayed at home and did guy stuff!! On Wednesday Terry and I were both off, so we headed off to the zoo. We only got very lightly sprinkled on with rain, but we had a lot of fun.

Thursday and Friday we ran errands and hung around home. Saturday my Mom, kids and I were headed to Salem to visit the Grandparents. It was my Grandpa's 94th birthday. So we did there errands for them and took him out to lunch! It was really great seeing them. Happy Birthday Grandpa!!

Okay, so I haven't posted in awhile. It's been a little busy around here. Plus I just don't have the talent of writing so fluently like some people (Jess!) But here's what's been happening in a nutshell around here. I will start with Christmas? We got snowed in, so XMAS Eve in Longview didn't happen, XMAS day was with the Puller's at there house. Lot's of fun on the 4 wheeler!

I guess that brings us into January which brought us back to school - YEAH! I just remember being glad to get out of the house and no kids for a couple of hours. January also brought us to a really fun sock - hop that was put on at our kids elementary school. They dressed up in the 50's and was actually really fun!! I teared up though, when one of Cody's many girlfriends asked him to dance. It was really cute. January also brought lot's of birthday's in my family. Happy B-day to Terry on the 29th!!

Okay, so now into February, (are you getting all of this Jess?) That came with lot's of Valentine Parties at school and lot's of homework for both of my kids this month. Logan is doing really well in school, but we are also starting an outside tutor with her. She is going to work with a friend of ours who is a retired school teacher and she is really excited, but nervous. She told me last night that she prayed about it and felt better. She did that all on her own too, she is growing up way too fast! Cody is doing good in school too! He is learning to read and loves to play at recess. So far with my work schedule I have been volunteering in Logan's class on Thursday's and Cody's on Fridays. It's fun getting to know the kids in there class!

More b-days in February- mine was the 10th and my dad's was the 17th!

Okay, now we are finally into March!! More fun in March, but can I say Happy Anniversary to me and my hubby on the 6th!!!! Yep, we have made it to 10 years!! Hopefully we get to go out to dinner and celebrate on Friday!! Love you honey!!

Dakota is still our dog, however somedays I wish she wasn't. She really needs to have a litter of puppies soon, or we are going to get her fixed. She is way to crazy for me for being 2 years old!!

So that's the Martin's in a nutshell over the last few months, sorry for not updating sooner, but I promise to be better about that. I'm sure I will get reminders from a certain someone!!!