My Precious Child is Turning 3!

Today we are preparing for the girl's big birthday bash tomorrow. My how our princesses have grown! This is Maddelyn at her 1st birthday party enjoying her cake! The journaling reads: In our family we have the tradition of the 1st birthday cake. It is made of chocolate and is completely covered in icing! We of course let you make a huge mess!

It amazes me how much she's changed in the last 2 years, but at the same time she is exactly the same just bigger. I mean it is amazing to watch her learn new things and develop into the person God designed her to be. I would have to say though from the time she was a baby we could already see that STRONG Martin personality. (Yep Nathan it's ALL from you! :P) She is the goofiest, ham-it-up kinda gal, but at he same time so determined and strong-willed! A perfect mix of the two! Well, maybe just a tad bit too much bull-headedness in there? Nathan says it's all from me, but no.....I've heard stories about him when he was little! I guess if we are pointing fingers at where her personality comes from we could look at Grandpa David as well? When he dedicated her at 2 weeks old, he said her name meant "strong tower." Yep, that did her in. She is definitely a strong tower kinda gal!

Enough joking, she is such a precious gift of God to us! I can honestly say that God knew what he was doing when he send me Maddelyn. She is what got me through Nathan's deployment. Yes, we but heads quite a bit, but she keeps me on my toes. She always has me thinking...well why does that happen...where does this come from...who made that happen...and so. She is such an intelligent child! I say that she is a Princess, but Drama Queen is much more like it. Everything to Maddelyn is extreme...really happy...really excited...really silly...or really mad. That is how she lives her life...to the fullest! I might get frustrated sometimes with her stubbornness, but I admire her. She is living out her life to miss nothing God set before. She is taking life by the throat and not letting go.

It is kind of sad to see my oldest turn three tomorrow, but in a way it is exciting to see this new phase in her life begin. She now is officially a "pre-schooler" oh my! I hope that she has a wonderful time tomorrow at her Princess party with her cousins who turn 4. We have lots of fun things to do and lots to prepare before then.

Makes you think!

Here are a few...Make-ya-Think's. Gave me a few chuckles so I thought I would pass them on! Thanks Thena for posting them on 2Peas tonight!

Why isn't phonetic spelled the way it sounds?

If you can't drink and drive, why do you need a driver's license to buy liquor, and why do bars have parking lots?

If 7-11 is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, why are there locks on the doors?

If nothing ever sticks to TEFLON, how do they make TEFLON stick to the pan?

Why do they put Braille dots on the keypad of the drive-up ATM?

Why do we drive on parkways and park on driveways?

Why is it that when you transport something by car, it's called a shipment, but when you transport something by ship, it's called cargo?

You know that little indestructible black box that is used on planes, why can't they make the whole plane out of the same substance?

Why is it that when you're driving and looking for an address, you turn down the volume on the radio?

Why is it called a TV "set" when you only get one?

Why does your nose run and your feet smell? Why does an alarm clock "go off" when it begins ringing?

Why is it called a "building" when it is already built?

Why do they call them "apartments" when they are all stuck together?

Why is the word "abbreviate" so long?

Why did kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

What is another word for "thesaurus?"

Why do we sing "take me out to the ball game", when we are already there?

Why are they called "stands" when they're made for sitting?

Why is there only "one" Monopolies Commission?

Why is it when two planes almost hit each other it is called a "near miss?" Shouldn't it be called a "near hit?"

Why are there interstate highways in Hawaii?

When it rains, why don't sheep shrink?

If "con" is the opposite of "pro," is Congress the opposite of progress?

Why do they lock gas station bathrooms, are they afraid someone might clean them?

If man evolved from monkeys and apes, why do we still have monkeys and apes?

Could it be that all those trick-or-treaters who wear sheets aren't going as ghosts, but as mattresses?

Whose cruel idea was it to put an "s" in the word lisp?

If a man is standing in the middle of a forest speaking and there is no woman around to hear him, is he still wrong?

Isn't it a bit unraveling that what doctors and lawyers call what they do "practice?"

Is there a Fedaral agency you're supposed to call if you see an endangered animal eating an endangered plant?

If a turtle looses it's shell is it homeless or naked?

How do they get deer to cross the roads at those yellow signs?


Maddelyn is getting so excited for her birthday! Everyday we have this battle of trying to convice her "Today is not your birthday...it's Saturday." Let's just say I hope after Saturday she will stop asking if it is her birthday! She has been on this since her Dad's birthday Feb. 13th! I finally got her to leave it be by telling her that when the snow went away...it gets warm outside...and the flowers come up out of the ground it will be almost your birthday. Well today it was almost 60, and we say flowers in the landscaping of the post office. So...she thought TODAY WAS THE DAY! We were in Walmart and she actually got mad at me for not stopping by the bakery to pick up a cake! LOL! I told her you will get a cake, I promise...but ON your birthday! WHEW! The energy...determination of an almost three year old!


I finished a custom order project today. It is a altered journal for an 11 year old girl! I hope she likes it! If I were a journal kinda person I might just have had to make me one ot match! This was the first time I have used Heidi Swapp fuzzy rub-ons and I love them! Should have known, ANOTHER great product by Heidi! GREAT designer!

Just wanted to say a HUGE "Happy Birthday to you...Happy Birthday to you....Happy Birthday dear Alicia Burns...Happy Birthday to you!" Lots of love Sweetie! Wish we could have been there!

Procrastination????

This represents what I have been swamped with the past 3 days...LAYOUTS! I have proudly completed 24 pages in the past 2 1/2 days! Yep you can say I kinda procrastinated a few deadlines..oops! I guess that is what happens during campaign season. These are just 2 of the 12 that went to Cropper's Corner today. These are for the Rob and Bob Spring Layout Class. I also completed an adorable altered Easter paint can...but of course forgot to take any pictures before I dropped it off at the store. Now only 2 more custom items for ebay and then I caught up...well for now maybe? It is amazing to me how much God has blessed my addiction...uhum..."hobby." I was telling my aunt today that last National Scrapbooking Day I was attending my first crop and in 1 year, I have gone from novice, to teaching classes, to designing for a store, to now I am on a design team and teaching at the same crop that got it all started last year. Amazing! Thank you God! :D

I just wanted to say a huge HOORAY for Heather Preckle. She is the Design Team Coordinator for A2Z as well as part owner and last week she was announced as a Hall of Fame winner! Woo-hoo! I knew she had the talent! Great job Heather! You guys have to go to her blog and see the amazing work she does. Inspiring! http://heatherpreckel.typepad.com/ Also wanted to say that Heather and Heidi, I'm praying for your dad!

Well, they say that politics is a grueling game..I realize now that it is. I can't spill all the beans but basically we have been hearing a bunch of slander aimed back at my hubby and the sad thing is that almost all of it is true. We actually had someone quote scripture to us! WOW! Nothing like pointing out "sin" to the pastor's kid! Anyone who knows Nathan personally would get a kick out of that! He is the MOST upstanding, conservative, honorable, faith-based, pro-America, pro-military, pro-family man I believe I have ever met....(I have never met Mr. Graham in person :P LOL!) So anyone who knows him knows that all of this being said is garbage and nothing but an attack on his integrity. So with that said, we would appreciate your prayers during this last 5 weeks of the primary for not only the strength to carry on, for God's will to be lived out in our lives, and for His provision, but for the patience to take this all with a HUGE grain of salt! :P It's ALL part of his perfect will!

My Silly, Silly Girls!

Here are a few pics of my silly, silly girls! They both were in a crazy mood that day, so the pictures are not the best. Oh well, we had a great time taking them! Emma had in her very first hairbow that day. My child has a well...... hair growth limitation??? LOL! I guess maybe just when comparing her to Maddelyn who was born with a head full! Emma has hair, just in the back! It kinda resembles a mullet! :P It took hair glue (yeah they really make that stuff!) and a rubber band but we got that pony tail to stay! Funny think is that even after the band is out, her hair doesn't budge! Alph-alpha!

We made a crazy trip over the past 48 hours. Nathan had to clear supply with the TN National Guard in order to transfer to Ohio. Well, bad thing was that they needed him to do it in person! They said we could wait to the middle of April...but with a May 2nd primary????? So left Thursday night at 10:30 after a function, traveled through the night to TN, completed the supply clearance, had lunch with friends, and then drove home! Yep, we made it in around 2:30 this morning. We definitely are NOT as young as we used to be!

Nathan made the Washington Times this week! It is a great article, you guys need to check it out. We have been told that there is a second story coming out as well sometime this next week. http://washingtontimes.com/national/20060322-122734-5218r.htm

Our baby is getting so big! I just can't believe that she is already 17 months old. We had these pics taken a couple of days ago and it hit me that our baby isn't much of a baby anymore. She is joining her sister in growing up way to fast. She knows several words already, but speaks more Emma-ish than anything else. But believe me she still gets her point across! She is such a joy in our lives and we praise God for her everyday! No matter how crazy the day might get, Emma's smile makes it all worth while! Her dimples are just too much for one to handle! She lives up to her name in the fullest - Emma (full of life) Grace (undeserved GIFT from God!)

Our precious little girls are having birthdays! My SIL came over last week and did a photo shoot with all three girls for birthday pictures. I can't believe that the twins will be 4 and Maddelyn will be 3 already! WOW! Amazing how that happens! This is a layout I did with a few of the goodies I picked up last weekend. too much fun! Thanks for looking!

You know you want one!!!!

So cute aren't they!!! These are the precious new additions to our ever busy family. Liberty is the proud new mommy of this little pack of pups and she is doing so well! A little protective at first as any new momma is, but now she doesn't care what you do with them as long as they aren't screaming! I have to admit that we are falling fast in love with these pups but we all know that we can't keep them. Hey...7 dogs....2 toddlers...A design team......and a congressional campaign? I mean I know I'm superwoman SOMETIMES, but even I can't do that forever! :D I would have to say my favorite right now is the cute speckled brown one that Liberty is cleaning in the picture. He is by far our biggest, so he has even more rolls and chubbiness to him! He also is quite a few shades lighter than his sisters and brothers, so he is always easy to spot. To cute huh! I will post more picks of the pups individually once they open their eyes.

Puppies!!!!!!

Well, she did it! We now are the proud new owners...or at least temporary owners of SIX beautiful puppies! She woke us up at 5:30 this morning having the first two and then waited another hour to have the next 4. We ended up with 3 blacks, 2 dark browns, and one speckled brown. So Liberty is the proud mommy of 2 girls and 4 boys! I will have to get some good pics of them in the light tomorrow for everyone to see. So cute they are! And they make those little grunting noises when their brothers and sisters knock them away from where they are eating! Too cute! Don't ask, we aren't keeping any! Anyone need a cute lab mix pup???? Once you see them you won't be able to turn them down!

Nathan started a poll on his campaign site of what to name them. You'll have to go and vote! http://martin4congress.com/

Busy at the Martin's.......again!

Well as you can probably tell by my lack of posts this week....we have been swamped around here. But of course not in a bad way, just busy! We had such a slammed weekend that the short-ones went to PA to stay with Grandma and Grandpa for the weekend. Oh, I am sure they are not missing us one bit though, We called yesterday to check on our dear ones and Maddelyn gets on the phone and says...out of breath..."Dad! We're jumping!" Well my dear in-laws I guess purchased a 8 foot by 8 foot blow-up jump ring for our girls to play in. but that's not it...they moved the furniture out and set it up in their formal living room for them! Yep...first time grandparents and obviously Maddelyn knows how to play them!! They are having a blast though and will probably cry when we pick them up!

We did have a great weekend though. Nathan and I went away for the first time together since he returned form Iraq. I used up my gift card to an all day spa and then he picked me up and headed to a dinner theater for the Seven Brides for Seven Brothers production.....my favorite! We also got to stay at the Hilton! Woo-hoo! Then, of course we had to hit up EVERY scrap store with-in 50 miles! :D It was great though. Not only did we have fun, but we got to spend some much needed relaxing moments as well as special couple time.

The big news here tonight is that we are getting PUPPIES! Yep, it is finally time for Liberty. Well if it isn't then she is one misserable dog for nothing? She is so unconfortable right now and just can't sit still. I think we'll have the wee ones by morning, but we'll see.

Here is a layout that I did of my girl and I. The journaling reads:
"I never knew being a mommy would be as wonderful as it is. You fill our days with joy and our hearts with warmth. Maddelyn you are a precious gift from God!" These pictures are of Maddelyn on my birthday 2 years ago. Man does she look like Emma Grace in these pictures? Or shall I say Emma looks an aweful lot like her big sister used to!

Getting Started with A2Z Essentials

I saw on Heather's Blog that she had updated the A2Z Website with a gallery of the newest layouts. I saw that the layouts I prepared for CHA were included, as well as my picture has been added to the Design Team Page! LOL! So I guess it's official now! I am so excited ot be working with such a great company! http://geta2z.com/team.shtml

Here is a layout that I did for CHA. It is using A2Z's gymnastics Paper from their Sports Line. I also used one of their monogram "g" 's but of couse they are not carrying them right now! So....look with envy, but they are not on the shelves currently.

Other news today is that Nathan was in the paper for his campaign. http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060307/NEWS01/603070310/1002
He spoke at the Sweet Basil Eatery Yesterday for the local Republican Weekly Candidate Lunch. He did a wonderful job and both the paper and news station picked it up! Tomorrow will be a big day for us on the campaign trail as Nathan is having his first Press confrence! I will let you all know how it went afterwards!

We are also pretty busy getting ready for our big girl to turn 3!!! WOW! So, today her Grandma took her to look at big girl bikes! Little did she know she was trying out her birthday present! She thought that she was there to play. She looked way too big sitting on that all of 12 inch bike!!! Hard to believe its almost been 3 years! Before I know it Emma will be trying out bikes as well!

Sweet Innocence

This picture has to be one of the cutest newborn pics I've seen in a long time. A customer who I did a 12x12 custom scrapbook for, sent me this pic of her newest baby. Way too cute. It just reminds you how precious and innocent those fresh from God are. Things like this just warm your heart, so I thought I'd share!

We had a cold, but wonderful day as a family today....something few and far between while campaigning! We went to Malabar Farms for their Maple Syrup Festival. It was a bit chilly but we learned a lot and got to spend some nice family time together. Did you know that it takes 50 gallons of tree sap to make 1 gallon of maple syrup? Yep....but it sure is good once they get it finished! And, another bit of info...Ohio is #4 in the U.S. for maple syrup production! Now, when that is the million $ question, you'll know the answer! Just make sure that I get a cut of it! The girls did have fun thought, and they got to ride a horse drawn wagon. Emma just kept saying "sssss" and "dog" but I think she got it? Maddelyn just kept asking where the pancakes were since we told her that we were going to see how they make pancake syrup.

Well, still no pups at campaign headquarters. Hmmmm? She's getting quite...plump, but no pups yet! We are taking dibs on how many she will have? I say 4, Nathan said 7. We'll see. From what I can figure, the pups will be 1/2 Black Lab, and 1/2 Jack-Russell Terrier??? LOL! No clue what that comes out like?? I'll keep you posted on the new arrivals.

Maddelyn and her cousins enjoying snowcones at the county fair. This layout has to be one of favorites, and I hope to submit it soon for publication.

Our precious Maddelyn at 10 months on her first Valentines Day.

Another Year Come and Gone

It's been a crazy year, but it's finally come to an end! As of yesterday at 12:12 pm I am now 24! I know...lol...a lady doesn't share her age! But, with as many things I have already seen in life - Married, 2 children, college grad, hubby in Iraq a year, and now a congressional canidate's wife - I feel much too old to be 24! LOL! I had a nice birthday with my family taking me out for dinner. Nathan and I will celebrate next weekend with a night away. He's such a romantic!

Today is a pretty busy one with things around here as well as preparing for the weekend. Weekends are always pretty busy during the campaign. On top of that I have been invited to a private crop...Thanks Alicia! So, I need to round up the scrap supplies. Oh what to take...lol! I am going to try to be prepared this time..yeah right! :) I told myself that I am going to have everything ready to go...the pics, paper, embellishments and all ready to go for each layout when I leave tomorrow night. That way I can spend less time sorting through stuff and more time scrap'n. We'll see though!

But of course all of this might be out the window since cold season has hit our house. Yep we had 2 sick girls up through the night last night. So with that said, you can plan all you want.......but then life happens!