Generations

I was summoned by my Dad and went home for a quick weekend trip to OR. We were only missing Russ who could not get out of classes in Nursing School and he was missed.
We joked all weekend that we were living like some polygamist family since between the 2 houses that were next door we were housing 10 adults and 16 kids all under the age of 14...It was crazy awesome. The kids went back and forth between the two houses and all the moms (myself and all my sisters in law) took care of the kids regardless if it was yours or not! Loved every minute of it.

We got a quick pic of the whole gang and I could not help but think of how proud my Mom must be to see all these grandkids. Her family, her posterity, her life. Her memory lives on in each one of us and I can see parts of her in each one of us- not only the kids, but the grandikids as well. What a family I have. I am indeed blessed.

Memory Catcher Books- my first review

I recently made a Memory Catcher Book for a dear family friend, Paul Puffer. My Dad delivered the book to his wife, Carma and shortly after I recived a wonderful card in the mail within it contained the sweetest words I could have ever heard. In the note she said how proud I make my Mom and Dad. It was JUST what I needed to hear and I loved it.

Please. If you are considering doing something like this to either accent a photo book you have done, or if you just think it might be good idea. Please reach out to me. Getting her note, reminded me of why I feel so passionately about these Memory Catcher Books.

Here it is... my first review

-I have laughed! I have cried! I have throughly ENJOYED this book so far as I have been able to read (and I'm only through the first 15 pages!)

-It brings a lively hope beyond what I ever anticipated...

-I am relishing every note, comment, picture, event.

 

I am also in the process of making one for another family friend, Jon Birk. Please help by contributing to his book so this family can have some of the same responses. Thank you!

Ella- EYES.

We have  blondie in our family. Our little Miss Ella is the blond stereotype to a "T". I have tried different ways to get her attention (which is a struggle at times) and found the best way is to simply say, "Ella- EYES" Then that cute little head turns towards me and her beautiful baby blues get BIG like saucers and its only then, that I know she is listening.

When we went out to Plaksey's Bday lunch last weekend while we were in Oregon, I must have had to say "Ella-EYES" a few times cause my friends started to giggle and I explained what it was I was saying and more importantly why I was saying it. Come to find out-it was quite similar to what Plaksey does with HIS blue eyes when he wants something from Sarah. So here they are. The two blondies showing off thier big blues.

...at a glance, she may look terrified. But she really wasnt. LOL!

Bday lunch with the Ukranian

Yep. We half Russians met up with our Ukranian friend for his bday and went to Famous Dave's BBQ. It was so fun to see the girls hang out with friends that have known the girls since they were born. Good food!! Sofia even branched out from her hamburger norm and got the BBQ Chicken. She ate up every bit! Good times. Good food. Good friends.

Pelmeni- It's whats for dinner.

My Dad has been going back and forth from Oregon to Utah ALOT the last several months with Aunt Diane's poor health and passing, then the dissolving of her estate. The great part of the whole ordeal is that he has been able to stay with us and the girl's have LOVED having Grandpa here.
I'm not sure if it is a good or a bad thing, but staying with someone longer than a few days you start to see thier "patterns" in alot of areas. One of ours that my Dad noticed about our Family? I was SO not kidding about the sour cream thing.

I mentioned once before that there is at any one time at lest THREE tubs of sour cream in our fridge...and no, I am not exaggerating. I remember one of the many moments that I knew my girls had some Russian influence in thier lives when Sofia asked to have sour cream with bread for dinner...something that Artyom does quite frequently. hehe.

So my Dad and I were running to the store and I was getting random things, as we passed the Dairy aisle, my Dad asked if we needed sour cream...I was quick and ready to reply when I looked at his face-good joke Dad. Well done.

So our favorite thing to have with our sour cream? PELMENI!! We have our fave fillers (some have different kinds of meat, some cabbage with egg, some potato) and the other night Sofia requested Pelmeni. She helped make dinner and had to take a pic of it before we gobbled it all down! Seriously. my two girls can PUT SOME PELMENI DOWN! :) And better yet? Dinner literally involves boiling some water. DONE!

2013-Resolutions

I thought I would post our personal and family goals for this year...Maybe it will motivate me to cross more off the list!

MARTUSHEV FAMILY RESOLUTIONS-2013

 

Charity

-Read Book of Mormon Daily

-Hold FHE weekly-always include lesson (no matter how short)

-Exercise 3x a week

-Give Sofia and Ella a sibling

-Run a 5k and a 10k (5K DONE!!)

-One project a month (pinterest)

-Complete 2 memory catcher books (1 Memory Catcher Book completed!!)

  

Artyom

-Visit family/friends in Russia

-Get a “new” car (DONE!)

-Finish basement and downstairs bedroom

 

Family

-Chore chart for the family

-Vaca somewhere we have not been before with the girls (Yellowstone?)

-Family outings twice a month

-Date night once a week-even if it’s a trip to the store

Another Resolution- CROSSED OFF THE LIST

Let's be up front and honest...I am NOT a runner. I believe there are certain people in this world that are genetically manufactured to run long distances and I am just NOT one of those people. I like to run- but not Forrest Gump Run...
So for whatever reason I decided to put a 5K and a 10K on my 2013 Year's Resolution list. Basically it was to help me get back into the gym...and it worked!! My 5K was coming up and although I was not exactly where I wanted to be, I was pretty determinded. The morning of the race, I woke up to this...

It was about 8 inches of snow on the ground...NICE.

 SO I grabbed a big bowl of oatmeal and put on my game face! See? Thats my " I'm just soo excited to race in the frigid cold!!" face.

 

That is I WAS... Until I got to the race and realized I did not have any gloves...I was a bit concerned....

HOWEVER! All's well that ends well...and I did end, well finish. I even beat my time on the treadmill! I assumed it was due to the fact that I wanted to be back in my warm car as QUICKLY as HUMANLY POSSIBLE. I know, I know, less than pretty pic, but hey- I'd been running...and I suck at trying to take a pic of myself.

I dont know what I am more proud of- that medal with the foot stamp on it...or the satisfaction of crossing off the list another resolution when I got home.

There's ALWAYS time for a Fashion show

I have a VERY girly girl in my little Miss Sofia. She never passes up an opportunity to put on a fashion show either at our own house, or when we go and visit at relatives...you may have seen the post at Uncle Kent's and Aunt Bettys...
So yesterday when we were at Nana's for Easter Dinner, I was not at all suprised when the girls announced that the fashion show would start in a few seconds. Jenny put on "Vogue" by Madonna, Nana was the M.C. and each girl got to strut her stuff, parading around the living room, including getting on the "stage" (fireplace) and posing for the paparazzi (all of us) as we clapped and took pics with our camera phones. I loved it! Even little Miss Callie (who is just over 1) and Elijah got in on the action.
I laughed extra hard watching Ella get into it and "pose" which got a laugh out of the entire crowd. It was hilarious! IT ended up being a bunch of silly faces with her hands at different contorted angles. Too funny. Eli had my phone playing "pigs" (angry birds) so I was grateful that Artyom and Cuncle Josh snapped a few pics of the fun.

Sigh. I LOVE having cousins near by. Can't we just find a piece of land and turn it into  a Pederson Compound...I woulndnt mind...