Long-term Babysitting Opportunity

One more post for the day...then I have to do some other things. This past year, Eric and I have been blessed to have our friends/family volunteer to watch Malakai during our wedding photo shoots which is usually an all day event. We've had numerous discussions about how we wanted this coming summer (2009) to look like for him. We have been praying for an individual who is willing to watch Malakai at our house for several Saturdays (or Fridays or Sundays, depending when the weddings are) over the summer. My peak season starts at the end of April and runs to the end of October. This would be a paid position, of course. I know there are many people who read my blog so if you or someone you know would be interested in this position (and would have a heart for 1-year old boy with lots of energy!) please call me 717-394-3043 or email me at rmartin79@paonline.com and we can see if you would be a good fit for us and for Malakai.

Landis Family Christmas

This past Sunday we spent the day with my immediate family. It is so fun to see Clayton and Malakai interacting more as cousins. We enjoyed a scrumptious dinner (thanks, Mom!) and then had a whirlwind of gift openings before Malakai desperately needed a nap. The focus definitely shifts as our families grow. Here's a few pictures from our day.


How many more twisties to undo??



The farmer hard at work






Farmer takes a break


Clayton's new tool box




My brother, Wendall, his wife, Emily & 2 1/2 year old Clayton


Cousins...Clayton & Malakai


Do I have to wear this thing, Dad?


Safety First!


Look out! I can't steer this thing!


Stocking goodies



Grandpa & Grandma with their two grandsons


The boys with Great Grandpa & Grandma Brubaker

Christmas on Ross Street

The three of us opened up gifts on Christmas morning. Honestly, a cardboard box and tissue paper was all Malakai really needed to make his day merry. He was such a riot! After his morning nap, we went to my parents' for lunch with my grandparents and then up to Mechanicsburg for the extended Martin family gathering. It was a long but fun day.

As far as gifts went, this year Eric and I went shopping back in November when we went to Swiss Woods Bed & Breakfast and had a little get away. So we wrapped up the things we had picked out that day. But last night Eric got some new roller blades so he can get a better workout when he's walking Gideon. He really was like a little kid with a new toy. This morning was the trial run and he had a blast. He thinks he's going to be sore until he gets used to working a whole new group of muscles though. We also got a bike seat for Malakai so he can ride with us now. I haven't ridden my bike since I've been a mom and we used to ride often.

My "after Christmas" gift, kind of to myself, is a new elliptical trainer. That's right, folks! I am committed to a healthy lifestyle which includes regular exercise and I need a little push in this department. We've been talking about it for awhile and decided there is no more wasting time! We looked at the one we want last night and I think we're bringing it home tonight. I'm sure there will be more stories to come on this subject. So the Martin family is getting in shape so that we have more energy, more joy, and less laziness in our lives. Can I get an "AMEN!"

As a side note, we are also remodeling our bathroom this week. The peach tile from who-knows-when has got to go. Eric is so excited to tear into this project with me. So there is lots of change coming this year in many aspects of our lives.

Yippee! Tissue paper!!





Can I PLEEEAASSSSE have one of my Christmas snacks??

Martin Family Christmas

Hi everyone! I know it's been quite awhile since I last updated my blog. We haven't had much time to sit around and do nothing if you know what I mean. It seemed that almost every day last week we had a family get together somewhere and what fun it was to enjoy little Malakai this year over the holidays! He is loving his new toys and taking a few steps here and there. So this year, we were at Eric's parents' for Christmas Eve. Here are a few shots from our time together.

Mom & Dad are going to a bed and breakfast!


Our little drummer boy


The smiling videographer...


Kelly is excited about her new Nalgene


Tirza helps Uncle Eric open his gifts


This was Eric's shirt as a little boy



Playdough...what a great invention!


The newlyweds...Darrel & Kelly

Let's Party!

Last night we had 16 adults and 5 children in our house to help celebrate Malakai's first birthday. Now to some of you that's not a big crowd, but if you've ever been to our home before, you know it's on the smaller side. But we had a grand time laughing and loving each other. Malakai got this adorable hand puppy named "Sunny" from my cousin, Marv and his wife, Dori. The adults were having a good time with him too. I've always loved birthdays ever since I can remember. Some of you know I have a very active "card ministry" and if I know when your birthday is, you better believe you'll have a card waiting for you in the mail that day. We hope we can celebrate Malakai's life in a great way each year. His life truly is a miracle.

Gift Faces

I love watching little kids open up gifts at Christmas. Some of their facial expressions say more than a thousand words. Here is Malakai and his cousin, Clayton with their gifts at the Brubaker family Christmas get together.

How many decorators...

...does it take to decorate a birthday cake? 4 is the correct answer. My parents came in on Friday night and wanted to drive around looking at Christmas lights. The show was so disappointing this year. Usually, the spot we go to has some of the best displays but I guess everyone is trying to "Go Green" this year and Christmas lights was one luxury that they could do without. Malakai thought it was fun for about 15 minutes and then decided he was done to, so he was making it known that he wanted to go home. Once we got him to bed we all got busy piling on icing and little decorations for "Sammy" the snowman. He turned out great and actually we had to make two...since he had two parties. We are now booking orders for 1-year old birthday cakes for 2009 :) Call 1-800-UMM-CAKE!

Get Your Party Hat On...

Sunday we got together with our families and celebrated Malakai's first birthday (3 days early). What a fun afternoon we had watching him open his gifts, (all he really wanted to do was tear into the tissue paper), play with his cousin, Tirza, and eat his first cake. He had quite a sugar high as later on we watched him spinning and spinning on the floor...kinda looked like a break dancer :) Eric & I and Grandpa & Grandma Landis made a snowman cake together and we were really pleased with how it turned out. Here's a little window into our fiesta.

BrentMore Christmas Party

Last night I had the opportunity to go along to Eric's company Christmas shindig downtown Lancaster at the Press Room. We had some incredible eats and lots of laughs. I always look forward to this every year as the company continues to grow and multiply. Most of the faces are the same, but there are always a few newbies. This year, BrentMore (which happens to be a remodeling, roofing, & HVAC company if you need some work done:) said goodbye to Bob Kreider, their president and founder. It was a special time of sharing memories, words of appreciation, praying for him and his wife, Danielle and releasing them into the next steps of their journey. He has poured so much into the men (and woman...we love you, Anna!) that are employed by BrentMore which numbers almost 20 now! He was quick to say that this is just the beginning for this young company...there is much more in store and that is so exciting. Here's a little window into our evening together.

"Open Mic" time...





...the unmistakable roar of laughter









The Serious...

The Silly...

Details

Here are a few details from one of my 5D sessions...

Trial Run

I have been wanting to get another camera for quite some time now and have been looking at the Canon 5D but wanted to play around with one before I went and invested a lot of money into it. Last weekend, a friend of mine told me I could borrow his to see if I liked it. (Knowing full well, I'd totally dig it and want to get one of my own!) So this week, I've taken some portraits of my two favorite subjects (Malakai & Gideon) quite often. My absolute favorite is Eric, but he's not home when the sun is out these days which is when I need to be shooting. I've been having fun and don't want to give it back (Dean, don't worry...I won't steal your baby!) So hopefully by the time my next busy wedding season comes around there will be a new member of my Canon family.

Fat Camp

That's right, the month of December is usually when I enroll in the annual Fat Camp. It's impossible to resist all the holiday yummies that seem to be present at every get together. Yesterday, my mom and I made a whole bakery's worth of Christmas cookies. I don't know how many dozen we made, but we fired the oven up at 10am and didn't turn it off until 5pm. A long day for sure, but lots of good cookies to show for our hard work.

The Woodsmen...

On Saturday, the holiday festivities began at our house. We continued our family tradition of cutting down a Christmas tree to bring home and decorate. This year we even have a bird's nest in ours! Malakai came along to help us pick one out. When it was all decorated, he just stared at it wondering why in the world we have a real evergreen tree in the middle of our living room. This is my favorite time of year and it's so much fun to have a little boy to share all the specialness with. Happy Monday...