Family Pics Summer 09

Our friend Olga took our family pictures again (this time outside) and of course we had to pick the hottest day of the year to date and in the middle of the afternoon. The girls were troopers though and we got some pretty cute pics if I do say so myself.

They finally got the starburst they had been waiting for the entire shoot. I keep on reminding myself that they wont always be this little....


One of my favorites of the shoot. Ella just loves her Papa...I think he is pretty fond of her too! Go. Go see www.endlessmemoriesphoto.blogspot.com and you can see for yourself just how talented a friend we have. Thanks Olga!

Sofia's Pioneer Day

This is how Sofia is going to remember her Pioneer Day. Going down the Dora water slide, over and over and over again...and loving every minute of it



Artyom could not help but get in on the action. He and Luke had to set up a tarp at the end of the slide as they kept bouncing out of the pool part and had a rough patch of lawn burn.
Sofia had a wonderful time and loved spending time with her cousins. Thanks for the Pioneer Day Extravaganza!

Cousins

We are fortunate enough to have one of the girls cousins- Madalyn Mae living nearby to us and the chance to see the 2 little girls in action is pretty fun. Here were a few pics. Can you tell who is the cleaner cousin? Oh my sweet, sweet Ella. She loves to get dirty. Good thing she cleans up so quick and just as cute as ever. Her Uncle Russ dressed her this particular day and appropriately put her in aloha type garb to celebrate his visit.
Madalyn Mae
They were so cute just looking through the door...waiting for someone to walk past just so they could flash a grin at them.

Another candle...another year

My wonderful husband, the red flame from Russia...And Yes. He is really this happy.




Sofia cannot wait till her Birthday in October, so we let her blow out one of Mom's candles atop the all loved banana cake. (a request by yours truly). BIG thanks to Aunt Nannette for making it. It seriously is the best cake I have had in a long time.
I tried to keep Ella away from the flames. Luckily they did not put the # of candles I SHOULD have had. We would of had a problem on our hands.

Moments missed...

So I completely know why it is that I need to work. I like to work...I really do. I just wish I did not have to work so much. Cause when I do, I miss out on moments like these, when I should have been the one taking the pic and not someone else. Upside? The kids did have a fun playdate and Dad got some good one on two(?) time with the girls.

How do you say...?

We went to an International Food Night, a tradition that was started back with Liane and I were roommates and has followed with the fab five girls as have all gotten married. They never disappoint and last night's latest was no exception.

We were all enjoying our international cuisine and Sofia, sitting on a blanket, Said "Foohah" (or something to that effect) while rubbing her tummy.

Well the group had found out earlier that we were teaching Sofia Russian, so they assumed that was what she was speaking. However, when Sofia kept on repeating herself and the onlookers looked at me and I looked at Artyom (all with quizzical looks)...we were stumped.

She continued to repeat so I asked her if she was saying, Vfkusna (yummy in Russian) and she said, "Yeah, "Foohah!". Ok. Back to square one. Still don't know what language this is.

We all sat there a bid befuddled and I thought about it...."Sofia? I asked, Is this what Ni Hao Kai Lan Says? "(A chinese cartoon that she watches...) "Yeah!" she answers. "Foohah!"

"Its Chinese!" I announced to everyone. Everyone just started laughing. So we have our daughter that were trying to teach Russian who must think that one additional language is not enough. She is now onto Spanish and Chinese.

NOW who is the stumped one?

Fruits of an Bakery Auction's labor...

The Young Women in our ward had a Dinner Auction and there was a table of Baked Goods that my Red Flame would not keep far from. We bought a few bags and headed for home. Sofia got a treat before bed and somehow little Miss Ella got in the bag as well.

Just Look at the drool coming down that mouth...
We tried a couple of things to get her to give up the wafer type thing and I could have SWORN that a growl erruped from her throat.
Then it was back to chocolately bliss.

We managed to get her into her highchair and let her finish her yummy, chewy, chocolately, wafer, type thing with bliss.

A date with the tub and H2O followed soon after.

Nine months

All it took was nine months to make the miracle we call Ella. How amazing that is, and continues to be as I grow into this new role as a parent. I know this may not be interesting to many of you, but as this is an online journal of sorts, It is for Ella Diane to know...and you to read if you would like.

This time about a year ago, I was calling the doctor to let him know our 2nd girl had not come yet and although she was only 3 days late he wanted to induce due to my blood pressure elevating just slightly. I did not want them to take her, knowing she would come when she was ready. However, he asked that I call on Monday morning if she had not made it yet, so I did. He scheduled my inducement for the next morning. SO that was that...or so I thought.

The running joke is that Ella heard she was going to be taken before SHE wanted to be (a combination of the Pederson and Martushev stubborn streaks) and the fun began. Almost immediately after I hung up with the scheduling of my inducement the contractions began. Just a few contractions led to a call to Artyom (who had already left for work) to let him know that "...he might want to be on alert. No need to worry. Just letting you know honey." This was about 8:30AM Next call about an hour later: "Ok. You might want to come home after lunch. Let's say noon. That should be plenty of time." Fast forward about an hour later- "You need to come home NOW!!" It did not take him long to make it home, throw us all in the car (Thank goodness Baba was here visiting from Russia and was able to stay with Sofia) and as history has a habit of repeating itself, even telling the nurse that I "go really fast" did not convince them and I was at a 7.5 when we got to the hospital. I did get an epidural....dialated at 9 centimeters less than an hour later. Ouch. And the rest was cake. I must pause and say this really WAS a piece of cake considering my first experience...I drove myself to the hospital at 1:30 in the morning dialated at a 7...this time Artyom drove.

Our Ella joined us on July 7, 2008 and has been a wonderful baby and amazing addition to our family. So today I celebrate Ella. Celebrate her spirit, celebrate her goodness, celebrate her life.

Celebrate the fact that her parents ALSO made it to the year mark. Come on. Let's face it. The first birthday is a milestone for the parents as much as it is the child!

Happy Birthday my sweets. We all love you.

Too much?!

So I have been trying to post more to catch up, and have been succeeding....a bit too much?! I just do not want to overload all of the 5 total people who actually like to check and see what we are up to in our daily lives.

If I have overloaded you and it is a bit too much- call me out on it. What is the standard on when to update your blog? Once every how many days; 2, 5, 146??

I have more posts coming, so brace yourselves and read on!

Zoo

Although I did not put any pics of animals in this (I assume most of you have seen tigers, elephants and strange looking monkeys at least ONCE in your lives) I DID put pics of some pretty cute girls enjoying the afternoon with Mama and Papa at the Hogle Zoo. The Martushevs are Lovin Summer. Could a kid BE any more happy waiting for her sister to have her turn on the Carousel?
Artyom did such a great job at catching these candid shots each time we went around. Sofia got to pick her own animal to sit on and the Polar Bear it was!
Ella was not too sure about the little train at first...She got used to it quick.
Sofia on the other hand, barely looked at me as there were FAR too many other interesting things to see.

Day at the Museum

After seeing this pic. It FLOORED me how small Sofia was compared to this big "fish". Man.

We have a new family goal this Summer to have a bi-monthly activity with the girls. This particular stormy Saturday, we decided an indoor activity would be best, so we headed to the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point. I have not been to a Dinosaur Museum in a LONG time. It was grrreat! Especially seeing how HUGE these dinosaur bones were. THe girls had a great time.

Even Mom got in on the action. This was a cave or sorts. When I went in I was a tour guide of sorts. All the kids in the cave hovered around me and I led them through. It was pretty cute!
Check out Ella next to one of thier feet!

Bare minimum

Sofia was starting to potty train and she could not seem to get the undies off fast enough. SO in the comfort of her own home, she made it easier on herself. Well Sof likes to help me with dinner and when I requested she put some clothes on to help, this is what she came up with- the bare minimum. Well. Ok! Let's get to it sweet cheeks!

When sisters are given a marker...

THE CULPRIT


THE CANVAS
Ok. I must interject that I did not GIVE her a marker, she found a marker in the couch and since her sister Ella was next to her and there was not a coloring book near by- well Ella (or Ella's head rather) was her canvas.




She didnt seem to mind though....Ella my love, you will have your time. Hopefully soon there will be another smaller person (or person's head) for you to create your masterpiece on.