My little entrepreneurs

We have a lot of toys but I would say a 1/4 falls into the junk category. So, before our junk hits the Goodwill Sophie thought it would be fun to have a sale. For family home evening we sat outside and sold their stuff for pennies to the neighborhood kids. The grand total $3.30!

We are having a major heat wave. Not the weather anyone really likes in April, but we had a taste of the summer. And it is fun in the sun.

Western Pennsylvania Trip

Hello Pittsburgh!

Heading up the incline, Mt. Washington.

So handsome

Nemacolin Woodlands Resort

They had a zoo on the resort grounds.

Enjoying the pool.

Great weather

A little nap to recharge for the evening events

Matt's qualifying agents. Thanks for doing so well guys, because of you we got to come!

Quincy's way of winning.

Ohiopyle State Park

Hiking

Lots of beautiful waterfalls

Enjoying the campfire.

This state park is known for its whitewater rafting.

We had a great trip and are looking forward to our many fun family adventures planned coming up in the next few months.

Easter Sunday

This dress was given to Sophie by her Grandmother right before she passed away four years ago. She is finally big enough to wear it.

Fun with the Easter baskets.

Sunday Best

Easter Weekend

We had my cousin, Susanne and her husband, Kendell and kids Smith and Luke come to visit from Fredericksburg, VA.

A very rainy Sat. forced us to go to the swinging Westminster Mall for entertainment.

An attempted bunny photo shoot

Another attempted group shot.

Susanne being her crazy self.
Thanks for visiting Martin Family it was a blast!

Sophie's Spring Swim Lessons

Being a California baby she was looking like she would have swimming in the bag by three, but with a move and new baby brother, 2007 summer was not spent at the pool. 2009 is going to be her year. I have her signed up for two months of lessons this spring and lots of swimming planned for the summer.

Swimming buddy Taylen

She willingly puts her face in and is learning to push off the side and glide to her teacher. It is a little painful to watch because if I had Sophie as a swim student I would do things a little bit more aggressive, hopefully she will let me teach her this summer.

The Food Shopping Test

I take myself as a thrifty shopper. I go to the grocery store about once every week and will honestly never buy anything not on sale. Lately, Matt is really questioning my shopping receipts and asking WHY? I am not sure why; the economy, we eat more? The one thing I know is that all the food I buy gets eaten. So, Matt took the challenge from me to do all the shopping for 1 month. Matt knows little about cooking, what me and the children eat all day, and the lay out of the grocery store. So, to help I typed a shopping list with categories for food groups. His first trip was this morning. He came almost two hours later very excited to have only spent $104 (I am a little impressed). But, he made some not so great tweaks to my list. He bought sliced cheese (11 slices for $3) I told him a block of cheese, but he said a block is six dollars. Yes Honey, but you get sliced cheese for about 20 sandwiches and lots of chunks for a child snack and shredded for dinners. Second change, frozen orange juice. He said he saved $3. I know that frozen is way cheaper! It just gets stuck in the sippy cups and it is the only juice my kids get once a day. So I may pay more but we don't buy any other type of beverage besides milk. He also got bone in(like a thousand little bones) chicken breast with skin. Yes, it is way cheaper but gross and I am the one that has to prepare it. One more thing when something is a really good sale like can food for 40c or cereal for $2 I buy like ten to put in my food storage. He only stuck to the list not buying any extras. One more thing he thinks we buy too much fresh fruit (have you every heard of such a thing). I love my husband to death and I am so glad he works so hard so I can stay home and spend his money! He is just wanting to save some more money for our upcoming new expense. If you actually read all this jabber then you get the reward in knowing baby #3 is on its way.

The Birthday Event

the only candle we had, just + 1

The only taste he took of the cupcake. He was not impressed with the homemade frosting.

The grand prize

He is ready to hit the links or just his sister's head.

Quincy is 2

Everyday Quincy leaves the baby stage and moves ahead to toddlerhood. He is still working on his vocabulary but blowing us away with his comprehension. Sophie and Quincy are becoming best friends which comes with good times and not so good times.