1 + 2 = 3

My Red Flame and I hit a milestone of sorts this last week when we made it somewhat unscathed to our 3rd Anniversary. Horray! Why the above equation? No, I am not challenging your intellligence by seeing if you remember your basic addition. I was thinking just how significant those numbers were and how it worked out this particular way. One proposal, two kids and three years later here we are. It has been a wild three years filled with milestones and although not always easy (as those of you who have surpassed this mark can attest) we are in it for the long haul.

So my Russian Red Flame, hunk of a husband. You put up with alot and I am grateful for your patience with me. I am after all a Gemini. The girls and I love you and I am so looking forward to the next chapter in our lives. Here's to another equation.

Feeding time

Our own little turkey knew where the candy dish was, and even though she had to be up on her toes to get to it....she made it. Thank you Josh for having the camera ready when we found out what she was doing...I let her have another piece just so we could catch the way she got it on film.


We went up to My Aunt and Uncle's for Thanksgiving. Here's a shout out to my cousin Josh for eyeing my camera and getting so many cute pics of the festivities. I would not have had these cute ones of the girls without his help. Thank you cousin Josh!!!

Come and gone...

My brother Paul, wife Liane and little Mady- look even she is laughing at her Dad!



The girl cousins in all thier glory. Too bad it is my girls that cant seem to keep thier mouths bottle/binky free!



I could not get Artyom to dress up as the BIG, BAD, WOLF but at least he donned what I think of him as...my own personal Superman! (minus the tights...)

If you know Sofia and the story of her Monkey (named...monkey) you will know how fitting it was that she was one and the same for Halloween.




Just a few highlights from the Halloween night...Yes I know. Many of you are looking at your calendar and saying- well isnt it DECEMBER?! Yes, yes it is... and I will probley not have Christmas pics up until Valentines Day...Sue me.

AM/FM...Mama esho

THE BACKGROUND:

So heres the thing...

A few months ago, my dear husband tried to jump start our car after the battery died. Well, I asked him if he knew how to do it and he assured me that he did. Well when he came in to tell me that it was not the battery, I asked how he knew that. Well I tried to jump it and nothing happened...so I switched the cables and STILL nothing happened... If any of you know anything more than I do (which is the BARE MINIMUM) about cars you would know there is only one way to put on the +/- cables and Artyom tried both ways! Needless to say he completely fried my radio/CD player and we have not taken it in to replace it as of yet.

THE STORY:

I am missing my radio immensely due to the fact that it is the first one I have had in a car with an actual CD player and one that plays more than one station. Especially as the Christmas season is here, I miss hearing all the songs. So I decided to make my own music and have started to sing in the car when the girls are with me (ok. let's be honest- I sing even when they are NOT with me in the car). So I was singing "Angels we have heard on high" and it was awfully quite in the back seat. I finished the grand "Gloo-ooo-oriah" sighed and felt satisfied with hearing a Christmas Carol, albeit minus a radio when from the back seat I heard the sweetest voice say, "Esho Mama." (Again Mama) and that has made all the difference. All I want for Christmas? To hear my sweet say that to me esho, and esho, and esho....

Wanna card? Email your address!

As I am not very good at keeping up with everyone's addresses- Would you please just send me an email with your address or comment if you are comfortable-if in fact you would like a Christmas Card from the Martushev's?! I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

Oh yes I did...

Yep. 24 Questions for the 24 days of Christmas ahead of us...How would YOU answer?

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Gift bags baby! For those who know me, I have been doing better with this...consider yourself warned...and lucky! It used to be SOFT WRAP!!!

2. Real tree or Artificial?
Definitely real. I gotta go with the Oregonian in me on that one. Artificial is for sweetner...not for Christmas trees.

3. When do you put up the tree?
The last few years it has been the 1st of December. Gotta wait that extra day for November to end. You have to pay homage to the Turkey. I mean, come on. Many a bird DIE so we can have a holiday.

4.When do you take the tree down?
New Years-part of the start of a new year ahead...

5. Do you like eggnog?
Yum! Yep. My Dad keeps it in GALLONS-ready to drink over the holidays. No wonder I gain so much weight when I am home for Chrismas.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
Hmmm. Toss up between the MRE's (Meals ready to eat) and the gun from my Dad...What can I say? I grew up military.

7. Hardest person to buy for?
My husband. It should not be that hard, but the boy is TOUGH to buy for. He would rather have nothing at all which makes it even harder!

8. Easiest person to buy for?
My kids...oh yeah. To be 2 and 5 months! Dollar Store Christmas for us!

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
We were married in December and someone gave us one as a wedding gift. THANK YOU MEG!!!

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Gotta mail the yearly newsletter. It is sometimes the only coorespondence some of my family members recieve from me all year! I am a bit of a slacker!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
Hands down the canned ham...also from Daddy dearest- He tries, he really does. He just did not have much of a clue as to what to get a girl...He had 5 boys after all.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Charlie Brown's Christmas or the Grinch (old cartoon version) we quoted both as kids.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
When do I NOT shop for Christmas. I keep a list in my wallet and cross off the names as I go. This year however, everyone's gift will be the newsletter...Susprise! Happy Holidays!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Are you kidding?! My brother is getting a recycled Birthday present for Christmas. I think there is still an ongoing joke recycled present going around my family that has been circulating since the late 80's. Ah recycling- the only way to buy...

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
I love pepermint bark. So good. And for some reason Dutch Minties always taste better to me around December.

16. Lights on the tree?
Yes. I do love the lights. Only the white ones though. We had the color ones all growing up and I have since moved on...

17. Favorite Christmas Song?
I LOVE Let it Snow, White Christmas and O Holy Night. There really are not many that I do not love.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Well I have traveled alot through the years to go home- OREGON!! But I will never be a "vacationer" for Christmas.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
Can I sing the song while doing so? If yes, then more than likely I could.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
I dont have either at the moment. I usually try to put something there however.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?
As kids we always got to open ONE on Christmas Eve. I have kept this tradtion and the one is always going to be Christmas pj's to wear to bed and on Christmas morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
People who definitely do NOT have the Christmas spirit and cut you off in the parking lot while you are waiting for a space...with your blinker on...and 2 kids in the car... That and people who do not have a home to go to. It just makes me sad.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color.
Red RED, RED!!! Susprised? I have a Russian Theme: ornaments, food etc. each year to help my girls with thier culture.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner:
Wow. What is there not to love. I love Russian Blinchiki.

HELP!

Ok. SO I am trying to beautify our blog to reflect the season and I cannot get this dumb wall paper background changed. I have tried and tried. So. Sorry for the eyesore. I am working on it! If anyone has any suggestions, I am welcome to them.

It has begun...

I knew this day would come and I would be spending more time than I would have thought on my knees scrubbing the carpet...But it will all be worth it when we put away the #4 diapers and she goes into the next chapter of her life as a newly potty-trained toddler...ANY support and/or suggestions are greatly appreciated.


We thought the pink would help...Ill let you all know.

My Boy-

I was so certain that this one was going to be a boy...the pregnancy was polar opposite from my first, and I just had the woman intuition that this was our little man we were thinking it would be. Now I know that she was supposed to be here. Now 4 months have passed and I look at pictures like this and think why on earth I would ever hope she would have been a he.

I think oh I have picassa, I should really "doll" that picture up. But I look at it again and again and think, I love her just the way SHE is...Why shouldnt everyone else?

Vacation with kids?!

My oldest brother was married in October and dang it, he had to get hitched in Hawaii. So we decided to take the girls and make a memory out of it. Too bad were not Jon and Kate + 8- we would've had the whole thing paid for and could of had 2 weddings (sort-of). If you're not a fan of the show- don't start to watch...It will only cause bitterness in the end. 

ANYWAY! Here are just a few pics of the fun filled 5 days on Oahu. 

Autumn

I love this time of year...I used to not like it so much; October, Fall, Halloween... Until I had her-

Now that she is a October born girl, this time of year means so much more to me. And each time I look at her, I feel the same way. She means so much more to me too.

Sisters

I never had nor will never have what Sofia has so early on in life...A sister.

 Someone who will always be connected with her and hopefully be her best friend no matter what.

 They looked so comfy on the couch in thier pajamas that when Sofia asked to hold "Elwa"I thought if this is what it would be like for them always. Together, talking a language that only they can understand in thier pajamas....Telling secrets that are only between sisters. 

And for a moment i was jealous...

What a difference 3 months can make.

It was just 3 short months ago that we welcomed Ella to the world and here she is as happy as ever.

 She is such a sweet girl. Just wanted to spread the joy as I know after seeing her, one cannot help but smile in spite of themselves. 

You know you're tired when...

So Papa took the job on of calming Sofia down the other night while I had Ella in the other room with me. 

Amidst the wailing of Sof, I wondered what he would do to calm her from her tantrum and lull her back into cohesiveness with the world around us. 

When it suddenly occurred to me that it was quiet in the other room, I decided to investigate and see what brought on the sudden change. That was when I saw this...

 An order of "DONT MOVE!" was given and a memory was recorded. Good job Papa. 

Working 9-5- Yeah Right!!

With all the talk of the recent Economy woes, I have taken the action to get another job during the holidays. So for all those who are in Utah and would like to come in for some great holiday shopping and to say "HELLLOOO!" to me. Here's where you'll find me working a few nights a week.



Ill be at the downtown location on 900 East. It is back to my old stomping grounds when I worked there before. Great people, great place to work and fabulous decor. I dont believe I made much the last time I was there, but I sure did furnish our apartment pretty cute. Just had too much on my plate at the time to stay. Now I'm back and grateful there are still people there who like and remember me.

So here is the soundbyte for Pier 1- they have awesome stuff in store around the holidays. Come in and take a look!

What time did you say?

For those that know, my siblings and I are getting ready for our brothers wedding in Hawaii. Yes, we will be saying Aloha tomorrow in the wee hours of the morning and I am trying my best to be prepared.

I remember how easy it was to pack when I only had myself to worry about and how care free the trip was. My long time "let's go somewhere new!" roommate Brit may recall the many trips we have taken together; Vegas, Europe, Russia, Peru. She was always up for a new adventure. Now the adventure is trying to stay sane instead of biting my husbands head off as we try to get through the security at the airport only to wrestle with getting situated on the plane.

So with time ticking away, I look at the clock and count down the hours until we need to be on a plane.... This is how I perceive my clock looks everytime I look at it.

Hopefully you can see it clear enough. All the #'s have been switched to the word "now". I think Sofia must have the same clock.....

Traditions

Now that I have finally become a part of the "kid club" I have really been trying to start some family tradtions with the girls. Sofia is at the age that she remembers some of the smaller ones that I have tried to pass on from my childhood days. Here's the question...Can you tell me some of your own traditions that you do (or would like to start). I would love to hear them and if you don't mind possibly incorporate some into our family. Keep in mind that imitation is the best form of flattery! So list away- you might even find some we do interesting.

• Every Sunday morning we make pancakes: it varies on what kind depending on what I have in the fridge. Some of our favorites are blueberry, applesauce, peach and banana. Sofia says "see" and drags the chair to watch me make the batter.
• Now that Sofia is past her first Christmas, as kids we were allowed to open one present on Christmas Eve. Well be starting that tradition but having the girls open a "special" gift this year. Were going to have christmas pajamas each year. Artyom and I have matching and the girls will as well this year. So each year, the present our kids will open on Christmas Eve will always be thier Christmas Pajamas to put on and wear Christmas Day.
• Daddy/Daughter Date night- Artyom started this with Sofia when I just needed a break. Now we have decided that we need to do it with all of our kids. He takes Sofia out once a week for a night with Dad. It usually is only for an hour or two, but I love that he does it. It might get a bit complicated when Ella gets old enough to go and we add more to our brood, but we have already started the practice and want to keep it going.
• My girls (however many we end up having) will have christmas tree ornaments (all Russian ones). They get one each year and I put them in a box. I had heard of other moms doing this and then giving thier girls the ornaments when they get married. I loved the idea and am doing the same.
• Our tree is only decorated with Russian ornaments. I really try to incorporate our Russian culture and even try to keep the holidays that Russia celebrates.

Those are a few that I could think of...Please, list yours and lets brainstorm together!

Life's simple pleasures...

Granted, it would have been better if I could say this little outing was free...But she loved it so much (well worth the $2) that when we took her to the petting Zoo next to the horse rides, it took all 3 of us to tear her away from looking longingly through the fence to where "HER" horse stood...riderless once more.

Concert in the Park.

If you have not been to a concert in the park, please go. It is a great way to hear some fabulous music and spend some time with your family. We went to the "culture night" where a friend of ours was dancing in a Russian group. 

As most of the people were watching the dancers.....a few Russians we met were watching another Russian dancing queen...

Notice the shot I caught mid "jump

Blog Vomit

I am in no way making excuses for myself, but due to the fact that I have 2 kids, a husband, and work full time I rarely find the time to make up a creative blog entry let alone put in a picture as Sofia is often taking the garbage out of the can (she is doing this as I type...) and using the can as her personal shopping cart as she goes throughout our house which she mistakes as a Smith's.... Anyway. Excuse the blog vomit of entries one after the other and not spread out as I am taking advantage of some free time. 

Bragging rights...

So every parent has the right to brag about thier kids right? Well here is mine as I show off the talent of my friend Emily and her amazing talent for taking pictures.