It's "more better"

First off, Thank you Tonya for commenting awhile back on the B-day posts. I hope you guys read the blog. I know it is kind of a cop-out by putting "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" on the family blog and not always calling (almost as bad as an e-card or post of Facebook!) but I wanted you to know we think of you on your special day.

Second, Thanks to Krystal for giving the idea for a new way of Christmas listing fun for the Pederson Clan. So here's the way it will go until further notice (note: this will start in 2011).

THE PLAN: We will now only give to one person/family each. It will be on a rotating basis, so unless we all go senile and every, single one of us cannot recall which sibling we gave to last year, we should ALWAYS, yes, ALWAYS know who we will be giving to.

HOW? Glad you asked. It will rotate by the sibling who is under you. You just keep rotating DOWN based on the sibling order. (Think about when Dad would tell us to "count off" each time we got in the Van). Same concept. So for 2011, Jon will give to Dave, Dave will give to Charity, Charity will give to Ryan and so on...THEN the next year, you just give to the next sibling down.

EXAMPLE: 2011's order is above. In 2012- Jon will give to Charity (the next sibling down on the list), Dave will give to Ryan, Charity will give to Paul, and so on...
Then in 2013- yep. You guessed it! We rotate again. Jon will give to Ryan, Dave will give to Paul, Charity will give to Russ, etc.

I hope this is ok with everyone. I think its a great alternative to the way we have been doing it, and a few people with larger families that I have talked to do it this way with great success. Leave a comment (hint, hint) if you have any qualms about it. I warn you, once posted they are open and fair game to the many jokes and comments your siblings may want to throw out at you and the suggestions may automatically be vetoed, but be sure they will at least be taken into consideration...

Its just one more click of the mouse

Dad,

You will now find what is happening with the Martushev's on the blog list to your right. Recently, my computer has decided that it no longer will allow me to copy and paste what I put in the Martushev Family Blog over to the Ped Fam Blog. Yes, it is rather annoying, but now there will not be double posts of everything that I chose to say/post. This way I can post more on the Ped Fam Blog if it pertains to the Ped Fam and keep the Martushev Blog seperate.
Hopefully you will not find this too confusing or in convenient in any way. After all, its just one more click of the mouse....

The girls, Red Flame and I cannot wait to see you!

Charity

Amended Christmas List-2010

Ok Guys. Here is the thing...I made an executive decision and changed the list (albeit so slightly) to accomodate a gift that we were being given by a certain sibling who we were NOT supposed to be given to this year.

Confused anyone yet?

So here is the list- note: the only people that were affected by the change were Ryan/Tonya (positively) and Paul/Liane (indifferent to the change...fingers crossed). By the way, if any of you would like to carry on this wonderful tradition that Dad dumps, er so gently persuades and delicately puts into my lap each year- FEEL FREE. ") If not, I completely understand and will try to be better at 2011's list. Also, feel free to get me your "preferences" as to whom you would like to give to in 2011 if you want. It might be fun to see which siblings are one anothers "favorites!"

Christmas List 2010

Jon/Heidi- Charity& Artyom/Ryan & Tonya

Dave/Krystal- Paul&Liane/Russ

Charity/Artyom- Paul & Liane/Russ

Ryan/Tonya- Charity&Artyom/Dave&Krystal

Paul/Liane- Jon&Heidi/Dave&Krystal

Russ- Ryan&Tonya/Jon&Heidi

MASON, MASON HE'S OUR MAN...

Too bad your aunt forgot to tell you HAPPY B-DAY! Sigh. Ok Kid. Here goes...
I hope you had a wonderful birthday and got to see your Dad. He has sure missed you and the rest of your siblings. I hope you love your new house and get to pick out your room (to share with your brothers of course!) I hope you had fun on the road trip from Pennsylvania to Utah, to Idaho, to Oregon. I SURE DID!!!

Last of all I hope you had a wonderful day on the day of your birth...were sure glad you decided to join our family!!! We love you man!

Charity, Artyom, Sofia (who misses you terribly!!) and Ella

Another Birthday

Im not even quite sure if anyone really reads these Birthday posts, but know they are out there!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEVON!!! I can now say, I will SEE (and meet!) you soon! For those of you who don't know, Ill be helping out Tonya drive her crew from PA to UT. Yep! Its Oregon or Bust for this family and I know Ryan could not be happier to have his kids and wife in the same place as he is once again.

So Devon, have a great birthday. In just a few weeks, you will be wishing you were back at your Birthday day instead of in a car in the middle of nowhere...Ill do my best to keep it fun!

love you!

Charity, Artyom, Sofia and Ella.

Happy Birthday Mady!

I am super excited for this one, because we will actually be able to celebrate with you pretty girl!! You are a cutie and we love having you nearby to play with Sofia and Ella. Ella loves to hear you say "Ella" each time we come over and the girls are so lucky to have you as thier cousin!!

HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY MADY!

WE LOVE YOU!!!

Charity, Artyom, Sofia, Ella

Lauren!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETIE!!!

We hope you had a wonderful day.

Charity, Artyom, Sofia and Ella.

Way TWO fast

Really?! We brought you home 2 years ago?! Hardly seems possible that 2 years have come and gone and that the time just keeps speeding up on me!

You are such a blessing to us and I think back about how badly I wanted you in our family. I could not be a happier mama.

You had a great time at your party. Although you were a bit shy when it came to being sung to and blowing out the candles. You DID however, feel better once you started to eat your cake. Aunt Diane made you a cake reminiscent of a b-day I had in Utah when I was about 5? I thought is only appropriate you have the same. Circle of b-days past- complete.

BELATED!!!

Tonya,

Ok. I suck. You called this morning to touch base and if I would have been a GOOD sister-in-law I would have remembered to tell you HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Sorry. We got onto other subjects and I totally forgot...

Anyway! Hope you had a great one. Cant wait to see you guys this Fall. We miss our cousins!!!

The Martushev's

Archived

Ok. I admit it. Im not the greatest at keeping up on our blog, although I have every intention of doing so...I know, I know, no need to remind me where good intentions lead. I had to dig in my archive of pics to find these and am just now getting them up for Grandpa and whoever else might feel so inclined to look at them to see.

So. Here are a few of our 4th of July parade morning. Ella was mesmorized by the marching band and decided to walk along side them for a few hundred feet or so. She would have for the duration if her mean mama did not make her come back to our group. Not before she basked in the compliments over her little outfit which one mother stated, "was SO americanna". Hmm. Ok. I just thought they were cute and cheap. Who knew 2 bandanas and some ribbon could look so adorable?! Maybe it was the kids that were modeling them....

I came out the good mama when I let her keep the slightly too big cowboy hat on, because parting with that erupted screams louder than other onlookers were wanting to hear. On that note, Happy August and I hope you had a great July!

Even Princesses have to eat...

Little Miss Ella in her tu-tu cute, princessey way having a snack.

She's 2 Cute!!

Happy Birthday Miss Ella. You came to our family just 2 short years ago and are already growing up way too fast for me...

We love you!!!

Mom, Dad and big sister Sofia.

Can't be

A post without pics, but one that had to be recorded and transferred from my memory to paper. Albeit before I forget with the hectic day to day life how it went, what exactly was said and how she is growing up WAY too fast right before my eyes...

We got our carpet cleaned the other day and told the girls they could not walk on it until it was dry. We made a game out of it with slippers and many a Mom and Dad holding girls with the more than normal frequency of trips to the bathroom for potty breaks, for water, a snack, etc. Well our little miss Sofia could not quite resist the temptation to touch down on the wet carpet and started to walk on it. When I told her, "Maka! You can't walk on the carpet with your bare feet kiddo." She looked up at me with utter astonishment that I would make such a blunder and said, "But mama, they're not BEAR feet...they're GIRL feet."

I stood corrected.

Now it can't be that I am the only Mom who hears stuff like this come out of thier child's mouth and think that it is priceless. But to me, it really was.

Day late...Day Older...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KRYSTAL!

I hope this finds you "post B-day" with a ton of fun memories from your kids, husband and friends and family. We hope you had a great one! Cannot wait to see you guys in just a few weeks!!! Horray!

We love you,

The Martushevs

Brothers Ped...

So you two...I totally forgot to call, write, send homing pigeon, etc. on your birthday.. So sorry! I hope you had a wonderful day- the both of you! I will be sure to make up for the loss of the "Happy Birthday" song over the phone and have the girls sing to you when you move to Oregon and the first chance we have to come and see you!

We love you!!

The Martushevs

Photographer in the Family...

Here is a few pic that Josh Hansen took of Madalyn Mae- and one of her parents as well. Just thought I would pass along the cuteness!

Before...

Before I was a Mother...I only wiped my own bottom.

Before I was a Mother...I looked at a screaming toddler in the grocery store and rolled my eyes. Now Im the one getting the dirty looks.

Before I was a Mother...my shoulders (and clothes) were stain free.

Before I was a Mother...I slept through the night consistently and slept in on Saturdays.

Before I was a Mother...I never carried a toy and/or candy in my purse...just in case.

Before I was a Mother...I never knew the names of the characters of Dora, Ni-hao Kilan, and every other cartoon...and sang along with the theme songs.

Before I was a Mother...I never found long forgotten sippy cups with curdled milk surprise waiting for me in the corners of rooms.

Before I was a Mother...I showered in privacy.

Before I was a Mother...I never knew the magical power my hugs and kisses had on "ouchies".

Before I was a Mother...I used the bathroom without an audience asking questions.

Before I was a Mother...I thought the only "foreign language" I knew was Russian.

Before I was a Mother...I did less laundry.

Before I was a Mother...I didnt worry about someone so much in the middle of the night that I had to go and check on them, and feel thier chest...just to be sure.

Before I was a Mother...I remembered things.

Before I was a Mother...I didnt wait in anticipation to hear someone say "I love you" or call me "so and so's Mom".

Before I was a Mother...I didnt understand how you could love someone(s) so much more than you love yourself and be willing to do anything to keep them safe.

Before I was a Mother...I never knew I could love and appreciate mine that much more.

Before I was a Mother...I thought I knew...

Happy Mother's Day to each and every woman out there that is a Mother; mother figure, Aunt, Grandma, etc. (biological or not) to someone else. I adore you.

Little Miss Independent

Ella has been so great at being our little Miss Independent at eating, sleeping, entertaining herself, etc. So when she wanted a pudding, I figured it would turn out this way...and yet, I did'nt even care.


Big sister Sofia just watched as she smeared herself with the chocolatey goodness and did not want ANYTHING to do with the mess. Sofia is a the little princess stage and getting so messy was "beneath" her. ")

I don't think Ella minded the mess...After all, it got her a bath. And this girl LOVES the H2O.

Synchronized screaming

I wanted "the picture" for our bathroom. You know the one...The one you see in your head that you think you can (attempt) to take and make it look EXACTLY like you see it in your head without paying an arm and a leg for a professional to do it for you.
It took 2 different bath visits, and as I learned rather quickly. Giving the girls a bath is perhaps NOT the easiest time to try to take a picture. Ella loves the water and when Sofia is not terrorizing Ella with the bath shark, she is having her own fun on the opposite end of the tub. Here are some the "honorable mentions"
After a few botched attempts, I found a stroke of genius and scared the girls with one of my "unscary" boos and took the shot as the girls had thier synchronized screams...with smiles. This little beauty is now in a sepia tint, 11 x 14 print, hanging in our bathroom... Ahh. The sweet feeling of success.

Happy Easter

We are lucky enough to have family that makes sure we are never without company on holidays, etc. Today was no exception. Josh was good enough to get some pics (and post them super quick!) of the festivities. My Aunt Diane also got the girls the sweetest dresses for Easter. They had a quick little fashion show for everyone. My two cutie patooties!

Its April...Have you done YOUR Xmas shopping yet?

Ok Family,

I figured I would have to post this at least a dozen more times to avoid the emails, calls, text messaged, homing pigeons, Jedi mind tricks, etc. that head my way each year as you guys (and I mean that literally SIL's) frantically try to get your shopping done.

So this will serve as #2 in the dozen times that it will be sent prior to the December 24 deadline. After all, let's face it. If you have not done it by then, you'll be like Jon and Heidi waiting for thier present in April. (and yes, that would be my bad...although there IS a story behind the tale- theres ALWAYS a story...). So this is as much for my benefit as it is yours. Here is the list for 2010.

*as a side note, if you have not deciphered that Dad honors me with the "list making" each year. You might want to think about who you want to give or be giving to you in 2011. I accept cash...although am not below other forms of bribery. ")

On to the LIST:

Jon/Heidi Charity & Artyom/ Ryan & Tonya

Dave/Krystal Paul & Liane/ Russ

Charity/Artyom Paul & Liane/ Russ

Ryan/Tonya Jon & Heidi / Dave & Krystal

Paul/Liane Charity & Artyom/ Dave & Krystal

Russ Ryan & Tonya / Jon & Heidi

More Family Time!

Seriously, I have some great family here. Tonight we celebrated my Aunt's Birthday. As we walked into Olive Garden to greet the rest of the clan, Sofia made our prescence known to the entire restaurant with both hands in the air exclaimed, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY NANA!!! WERE HERE NANA! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!" And if you know our Sofia, you know that she does not have the quietest voice...The whole area just started to laugh.
Ahh Sofia. She was so excited about the birthday party since I told her. She could not wait. She even started us all off with Happy Birthday (we practiced a few times on the way over). She even helped Nana blow out the candles. Heres a few pics that once again I have cousin Josh to thank for!

Frosting...with just a bit of cookies.

It was a family day today! My Aunt (who the girls call "Nana") and one of my cousins, Jessica were nice enough to take the girls so I could get my haircut (which another cousin, Jenny did) and while the girls were there, one of the many fun things they did was make Easter Bunny cookies. The girls basically ate frosting with a bite or two of cookie. And with help of yet another cousin, Josh I got a few (ok...a lot) of great pics to show the "fruit of thier labors"

The Red Flame turns 32!

Happy Birthday Artyom! I am sorry you had to go to an emergency Dentist appointment on your special day, and even more sorry at the bill that followed...boo. HOWEVER, you showed me your true colors when I asked what you wanted to do, and you put us first. Saying we should take the girls to McDonalds and let them play. I was glad we went to Paul and Liane's instead and just played! Thank you Pablo for the wonderful Twinkie tiered b-day cake with match candle. Hilarious!

Thank you for being such a wonderful Dad. The girls and I adore you.

Cousins

We had a family get together for 6 birthdays!! It was fun to get some of my cousins and the second generation (our kids) all in the same house and watch them play together. My cousin Josh got some great pics!! I have so many posts of my kids on here, I thought cousins should be included as well...Ok. not sure why that line is there. Sorry.

I mentioned this was for 6 b-days right? That equals ALOT of cake!!

Cute one of Sam (Justin and Anna's son) and Ella. Justin and Anna are expecting again by the way. #2 due in October.
Sofia giving a cheezy grin.
Sofia and Ella- cutie sisters.
Another one of Sam Pederson
Ella reading the Ensign...or maybe just looking at the pictures.


Cutie pa tootie Mady (Paul and Liane's who are ALSO expecting #2 in June). Starting to see a pattern here?

Sam's close up.

Aunt Charity reading with the girls.

*Matt (another of my cousins0 and his wife Veronica are ALSO expecting #2 in October as well I think. And another cousin is also expecting. Ryan and Tonya just had #5 so including the newest addition Brooklyn, were set up to have 5 new second generation cousins this year!!! Our own mini Baby Boom. Sadly, I am not one of them. In case you were wondering.