Family Pictures 2009.....

Last Friday we had family pictures taken in Quincy. Staci Faw took them and did an EXCELLENT job. Aniston really liked her too, which helped her ham up to the camera. We had a four generation picture taken when Aniston was about 9 months old, so we decided it was time again. It was SO cold. After the pictures we went to Gram and Poppy's house to warm up with hot chocolate.

Like I said....a total ham.

Four generation picture 2009.

We wanted a generation picture with Poppy too.

Aniston and her great grandparents.

I LOVE this picture.

LOVE this one too.

My two favorite people.

Martinez Family 2009.

Thanksgiving....

I'm finally getting around to posting about our Thanksgiving. It was great. We had a later dinner at dad's house this year and there was a ton of family there. My grandparents came up from Vancouver, dad's best friend Jerry and his family, Taleah and her family, Betsy and Dustin, and us of course! Aniston and Kaiya played no stop the entire time we were there and definatly wore each other out. Kaiya finally met her match in some one who can keep up with her.

Aniston and her namesake Poppy Lee.

Snacks to keep her happy before dinner.

Grandma Carolyn and the two girls.

Owen wiggled out of his little pants.

Aniston showing Grandma how her camera should be used.

Aniston and Kaiya spent a long time running and crawling up and down the hallway. Every kid has LOVED this hallway and running around it through the living room.

Friday mom and I went to North Bend and spent the day getting me new work clothes. Of course Aniston ended up with a few new outfits. We spent Friday night in Bellevue and had dinner at the Crab Pot. It was so nice to get away and have girl time with my mom. Saturday we did Bell Square and a few shops in Issaquah.

Erik and I were looking at the calendar last week and can't believe Christmas is only 23 days away....and every weekend before we have at least 2 things planned. It definately snuck up on us this year....but thanks to the internet....our shopping is 90 percent done and will be shipped to my office. Aniston came home tonight to find the house decorated for Christmas. Her response was "my like Christmas!". She is very excited to help with the tree on Saturday and watch daddy put up the lights this weekend as well.

No Picture Update......

Sorry, no pictures this time. I am HORRIBLE about grabbing the camera and just taking snapshots. The big news in the Martinez household is....Aniston's potty trained!! WOO HOO!! We had given up trying and knew that when she was ready, it would happen...and it did! She came home from daycare two weeks ago announcing she is no longer going to wear diapers, sat on the potty and has been potty trained since. We are lucky to have a half bath off the living room so we just leave the light on in there and she goes when she needs to. My little girl is growing up so fast!

Two weekends ago Erik and I spent three nights in Seattle and mom stayed at our house with Aniston. Erik had Lasik surgery in Bellevue on Saturday and is completely healed. Sunday was his follow up appointment and he already had 20/15 vision. They said two days after that it would be even better. He loves it. He still has a little trouble driving at night with the headlights coming at him but other than that, he's doing great.

Last weekend we spent Sunday in Quincy. Erik and Uncle C wanted to go to the gun club for the Quincy Turkey Shoot. They did well. Erik won a turkey and we got to see some friends we hadn't seen in quite awhile. Aniston did so well. It was SO cold but she was a little trooper and kept wanting to stand outside and watch the boys shooting. She kept cheering on Grandpa and everyone thought it was pretty cute. After the shoot we went to dad's for dinner and the boys shot more clay pigeons off the canyon.

We're going to spend Thanksgiving at dad's this year. Of course the boys are looking forward to more shooting of pigeons so dad is on his way to Cabelas to stock up. It's so nice to have the canyon in the backyard so they can just walk out back and do boy things. Mom and I are heading to North Bend/Bellevue on Friday. I haven't bought any clothes for myself in over a year and am in desperate need. We're going to make a weekend of it and spend the night in Bellevue. When we were over there for Erik's surgery we had dinner with our good friends Nick and Betsie and she told me to try using Hotwire.com. I did and got the Red Lion in Bellevue for only $50 a night! Through Red Lion personally the room was $109 a night! I'm definately hooked! I have such a hard time justifying spending money on myself...but with mom there, I know she'll convince me that I need it and help get over the guilt. It's so funny as I don't have ANY problems spending money on Erik, Aniston or the house....but not myself. Mom said all mommy's go through the same thing and she still has problems with it and I've been out of the house for 10 years.

We hope everyone is doing well, is healthy and ready for the holiday season. I can't get over how every year the time seems to go by faster and faster. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and I PROMISE to have pictures of Thanksgiving on here.

Love, the MTZ's

First Halloween Party of the Year......

Today is Aniston's first Halloween party for the year. All the little kiddos were wearing their costumes to school today for their party. Aniston is a little ballerina since we have a ton of money in dance clothes and she refuses to go.

I wish you could see that her shoes are covered in glitter.

Uncle Dodo....

Sunday was Erik's graduation party. Unfortunately, with 30 people in my house....I didn't get pictures of the party because I was busy playing hostess. Dan came up from Vancouver for the weekend and as you can see....Aniston LOVES her Uncle Dodo. I think he kinda likes her too.

Pumpkin Carving Party.....

Saturday Aniston and I went to Gram and Poppy's in Quincy to carve pumpkins. It was so much fun. We carved pumpkins, drank hot cider and had Zach's pizza for lunch. It doesn't get much better than that.

Aniston got down to business "cleaning" out her pumpkin. She "cleaned" it for about an hour.

Gram picking out the pumpkin seeds.

Gram's kitty.

My monster.

Aniston's "smirk".

Aunt Alison's "Garfield".

Poppy's kitty.

The Perfect Pumpkin.....

Saturday Aniston and I went to get some pumpkins for the front porch. A plant store here in town has a great selection and a straw maze for the kids. Aniston thought it was a hoot.

And in true Halloween spirit....a black kitty showed up and actually let Aniston near it.

We ended up with 3 pumpkins. As Aniston says "the daddy one, mommy one and baby one".

"I Dance Mommy"........

Last Thursday I took Aniston to dance class. The teacher said we could watch the class and if Aniston was interested, I could sign her up. Well, Aniston got a glimpse of the "big girls" (a few teenage girls that help with the toddler group) and I didn't see her again for an hour. She told me "I dance mommy" and took off with the "big girls" for the hour class. She had a blast. But, I was in BIG trouble because she didn't have tap shoes like the other girls. How do you explain to a 2 year old that I hadn't gotten them because I was waiting to see if she'd like it. So I just nodded, said sorry and immediately ordered her dance stuff with rush shipping that night.

Her clothes came yesterday and here she is trying on her tutu and tap shoes. Class is tonight and she is SO excited.

Last week Miss Jenn (her teacher) was trying to teach the girls how to tap their little shoes...Aniston wouldn't do it in class but started doing it last night as soon as her tap shoes were on. Apparently it just doesn't work without the tap shoes!

Aniston and Daddy.....

A few nights ago Aniston and Erik were laying on the couch snacking on goldfish crackers. I thought it was too cute.

Apparently the fish are flying.

"My Little Helper....."

Saturday Aniston and I met mom, Gram, Poppy, Uncle Eric, Auntie B, Auntie Kylie and a few friends in Quincy for Farmer Consumer Awareness Day. We do the parade every year and Aniston was looking forward to seeing all the animals this year. After the parade we always go to the high school to do the petting zoo, shop the craft boothes and visit. Mom got Aniston the cutest little apron since she loves helping me in the kitchen.

Tuesday is Uncle C's birthday so when he came down Sunday to watch the game with us....Aniston and I had a cake waiting for him. Aniston is the official "stirrer".

Don't you love the outfit?! Matching jersey's with daddy, mommy's "slipelers" and her apron.

This picture is for Nana!