DIY or BUST

Ok. For those of you who have been fortunate enough to be around me the last 6 months, since getting the house, I have been so giddy to finally start projects.

Just 3 little letters...DIY- Do it Yourself and boy am I obsessed!!! I love it. Unfortunately, I do not have the creative genius that I find out there in Blog land (kuddos to y'all who do!) but I will be posting some things I have attempted lately for your viewing pleasure.

Keep posted! One will be a fabulous (and cheap!) neighbors, co-workers, etc. gift. I for one have found that since moving into a home, it is kinda the "thing to do" at X-mas.

Here is to starting new traditions and adding just one (or many) more things to my plate. Busy hands are happy hands!

Free is a very good price...

Call me one of those who "takes advantage" i.e. when you go to a place when they have thier neverending pasta bowl? Better believe my last bowl is going to be "to-go". So growing up we kept the saying of "Free is a very good price" (compliments of the late? Tom Petersen guy)saying as a sort of motto in our home. If it was free (and yes, such a thing still exists) you get it...two if you can.

It was in this spirit that when asked if we wanted to go to our friends Company Picnic at the Canby Fairgrounds where everything (from the food, to the rides, to the entertainment) was FREE. Well, you did not have to ask us twice. Here are a few highlights (pics stolen from Sare's blog as my camera is still holding mine hostage).

The price? We must have waited about 45+ minutes for these ponies to let us have our turn to ride. We kept on having to drag Sofia back as each time the tiny gate would open, she was using those arms (blockers courtesy of her Russian DNA) to get through to the front. Good thing she is cute. I think that is what saved her...

She was a might happy camper when it was her turn...I think she was gloating to all the other kids in the line...check out the yawner in the background...yeah, it was somthing like that.

Ella would have gone on this one by herself, but it was the mom who was a bit shy about it. Maybe if they could have duct taped her into the saddle...but I didnt mind going with her. It gave me a front seat to her grins and giggles for her first pony ride.

When lunch time rolled around, we had to beg, bribe and threaten Sofia to eat. I'm told one day she will find eating more enjoyable and not such a chore anymore. This pic was caught when I told her she had to finish her hamburger and then we would go on the pony rides...She stuffed the entire thing into her mouth. Were talking a full hamburger (she stuffed about 1/2 of one in).
All I could do was pray she did not choke and kept on repeating- Chew Maka, Chew!

Ella on the other hand....

This girl WENT TO TOWN on this corn. I did not even have enough time to put on a bib before she was gnarling at it with her few teeth she has. I think I even heard a growl escape her lips as I put the bib on (midway through the feast of corn). Girlfriend can eat...Now if I can only figure out where it all goes. 90% for height...10% for weight. I DO feed her! Really I do!

Moral of the story: Stand clear when you utter the word "Free" around the Martushev's...We tend to get our money's worth.

NOT impressed with Mr. Chuck

Sofia has had so many little friend birthday parties lately! There are just alot of kids born about the same time of year as her. She cracks me up in that just about every other day, she asks whose birthday it is. She will go through her list of friends and more often than not, there is one more that has a birthday party we will be attending.

More than a few weeks ago (September to be correct...I know I'm a BIT behind ok?) we went to her buddy's Luke and Stevie's combined birthday party at Chuck E. Cheeses. So call me a mom, but I was giddy with excitement to see her first meeting with the 2nd place mouse (behind the big guy himself...y'all know which mouse I am referring...) Anyway. We started off great!



We had some cake...



Sofia helped the boys open presents from us- I had to think back to what I got for my birthdays to figure out what to get them...they are after all boys and not into that whole barrette thing so much.


We played some games....


Then HE came out. I was so excited for Sofia to see him and get a picture with THE Mouse. Instead when her eyes set foot on him, what I got was a TERRIFIED little girl who was running for the hills and as far away from Chuck as possible. Steve (the younger of the two boys) hid underneath our table and Sofia was a close second. This is where I am a horrible mom. I was laughing hysterically!! With my Sofia in my arms in a death grip, I was trying to soothe her in between the laughter. Finally Chuck took a break and it was back to playing games. Until....


Break time over. I tried my best to prepare Sofia (as I spotted him first) by crouching down and calmly telling her that I did not want her to get upset bu Chuck E. Cheese was back out. She barely heard the last word and RAN FULL SPEED screaming the entire way to the first pair of open (and furthest away) arms she could find.


This time I let her be soothed by another Baba as I grabbed the camera. I could not get Sof to look at me. Her face was BURIED in that soothing yet leathal shoulder only a Russian Grandma can have (years of using it as a blocking mechanism to get on the bus). Notice the little boy? That is Stevie trying to pry Sofia's death grip from HIS Baba so he can have a turn (one in the same who hid underneath the table the first go around).


Needless to say it was NOT the scenario I had expected. Here's how the conversation went on the way home.


Us: "Sofia, how did you like Chuck E. Cheeses?"


Sof: "Mama, I do NOT like Chuck E. Cheese"


Us: "But did you have fun at the party?"


Sof: "Yes, but Mama, I do NOT like Chuck E. Cheese, Im scared of him!"


Us: "Ellichka, how did you like Chuck E. Cheese?"


Ella: (insert big ole grin here) "Cheese!"


She had no problem with him at all....


I guess Disneyland (even if we could afford it) is out of the question for a few years...

A taste to tempt the palate...

First off, how the heck do you spell palate? I hope it came across correctly, palate (as in mouth, tastebuds, etc.) and not pallet (like freight).

Anyhoo! Since I cannot seem to figure out why my camera will not down load the gizzilion pics that I have waiting to be posted. I have chosen to steal, er borrow some that Sare took while we were up there and has graciously posted on her blog. Here is just of the many memories we made while at Grandpas house. Ill get some more soon.

The ever gorgeous Multnomah Falls... Sofia was into pinching cheeks this whole trip....is she trying to tell me something?

They had this little concession stand and the ice cream is a fav to the girls (especially on sore gums while you are teething). This is Ella when we gave her a bite of the cookie (if you know our Ella you know she LOVES her food....)

This is Ella when we took away the cookie to wipe the mess off of her face! NOT happy.

The girls. They love thier Aunt Sarah. Im telling ya. Both girls went to her the second they met her. I really believe kids see inside people. They know thier peeps when they meet one.

I will never, ever in a million years grow tired of seeing The Red Flame with on of our kids (however many there will be) on his shoulders. There is just something about seeing a Papa carry his child. Call it pioneerish irony, but I love it.

I quit trying to get Sofia to not do acrobatics on the railing when other people started taking pictures of her as well as us. She has no fear, man. Flexible little pixie isnt she?

Such a small number to descibe such a big girl...

You're three Sofia. Today you are three years old. Many of my friends are relishing the fact that they have thier youngest who has already surpassed this landmark and yet I am staring it in the face. Will I be a young enough mom to be "cool" when you are older? Will you keep me young? Will you always need me?

Remembering when you were born is not hard to do.

• You came 11 days early, much similar to your personality now, in that you JUST CANT WAIT!
• Although I could not see it (which was probley a good thing) you had been so excited to take your first breath, that you wrapped yourself around the umbilical cord and Dr. Tanner literally had to unravel you before you could cry.
  
• They took you so quick to make sure you were ok, Papa was the first face you saw, but I knew you when I saw you. YOU were mine.
  

And today as you turn three, you may only remember it as just another day, but here are a few things that have happened so far.

• You have noticed that Mama has exceeded the number of kisses that normally get laid on you.
  
• Extra hugs have been given every time you pass by and I love yous are abounding.
  
• When asked what you wanted as your "Birthday Breakfast" you said Kasha- like Baba (your Russian Grandma). Which means made with a whole lotta love and a bit too much sugar.
  
• You keep on singing Happy Birthday to yourself, although I wonder if you comprehend what a special day this is for you and our family. This was the day 3 years ago that I first felt like we were a start to a family.
  

Happy Birthday my sweets. You do make things interesting! I love your energy, I love your spunk, I love you!


HAPPY THIRD BIRTHDAY SOFIA!

I heart my Maka....

This is a teaser of sorts as it was taken at the Oregon Coast (another place I heart....).

Yes, I still need to post the trip.

Yes, I know I have been taking forever (or it seems so).

Yes, it is because I am busier than all get out...and no, I am not exaggerating.

No, I have not forgotten.

For those of you who are wondering why we would call Sofia- Maka. Ask Artyom. He said that in one of the cities he served his mission in that is what they would call the little kids.

He started it...I continued it. And it stuck. Yes, you guessed it. I heart her as well.

When the cat's away.....

So does anyone else think the girls had a great time while we were out on a date? I found these on the girl's "Lara's" facebook page. And play they did!