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.