The Martin Family: 2012

The hamster died...

Kate's hamster died....yes I know it lasted less then a month but it was loved while it was here (I think over loved) haha! Natalie was very upset when it wasn't moving but it was still breathing when we got up on its last day. She went to the computer and google searched "how to make a sick hamster feel better". She asked me to read through the search to see what I could do to help it. At that point I had to have the conversation with the girls that the hamster was probably going to die. About an hour later it did so Natalie again went on the Internet and found a picture of a hamster that she thought looked like ours and saved it to her background on the computer. She said she did that so we would never forget what it looked like. Now while Natalie was crying on and off all day Kate was very happy to get a new hamster. It didn't seem to phase Kate that her hamster died she was just ready to go pick out a new one.

The next day Paul and I asked if we could just throw the hamster in the trash and Kate said that was fine but Natalie didn't want it to end up in a landfill so we buried it in the backyard. I asked if Natalie wanted to say anything before we buried it she said "no" and seemed to be OK with it passing. (which is good)

I should probably say that it died because one, it was a baby so it was really tiny and the girls wanted to play with it all the time so inadvertently it got squashed a couple of times. I think the final stray was the girls let it out in their room but didn't put a towel under the door so it made it's way out into the living area and buster had a couple of mins alone with it. It wasn't dead when I figured out what buster was playing with but it was soaking wet so it defiantly spent some time in his mouth. Two days later it died. We have gotten another hamster but this ones is 4 times the size of the last one and it is really aggressive. It has bitten almost everyone in the house and the girls don't even ask to play with it. So this one might just survive! We are going to try and start handling it with gloves but if it doesn't calm down we might be taking it back and try and get one that is some what in between that last two as far as personality goes.

Summer Fun

I am loving summer here. The weather is so nice and my girls love being outside! Brooke loves to be outside...every time any door opens she bolts over to it to try and get outside before the door closes. She also loves water. She wants to be in the yard when the sprinklers come on so she can play in the water everyday! We decided not to set up the big pool this year but I think it will defiantly go up next year!

The girls are always playing with the neighbors!

4th of July

Our 4th of July was fantastic! We had a block party and blocked off the road so the kids could play and ride their bikes in the street. It has been so nice living in this neighborhood because everyone is so friendly. We got to hang out with the neighbors we knew and meet the ones we didn't know yet!

Brooke helped us celebrate in the early evening but was in bed when all the fireworks started. She did sleep through all the noise which was good but I think she will love to see the fireworks next year!

Natalie loved to ride her bike in the street and barely got off it that day! Now everyday all I hear is "can I ride my bike in the street?"

My in-laws spent the 4th with us and the kids loved having Grandpa and Grandma Sherry there because they brought a lot of fireworks with them.

Kate and her best friend....

Water balloon toss at and the block party....

Love nannie's face in this picture!

Do you think Kate picked out her own helmet? haha

Kate's b-day

Katelyn's b-day was so fun! Now that I am a stay at home mom I got to plan the party make the invites and make the decorations for the party. I was so excited about doing it and I think it turned out great.

Kate getting her hamster on her b-day! Natalie wanted to surprise her!

Kate holding the little baby hamster for the first time.

The hamster's new home!

Candy bar......

What would a party be with out a bounce house!

OK I froze water balloons to keep the drinks cold and not end up with a hugh water mess when the ice melted. Almost every mom at the party thought this was a horrible idea because they thought the kids would think they are fun and start throwing them at each other! I can see their point!

Random

Some random photos and yes I know they are mostly of Brooke but she is so darn cute!

hangin with dad....

way to tired to eat......

I can get on the table now.....

Natalie ready for school.....

Got caught eating her foot....

Photo shoot

I know I am way behind on the blog so here is a photo shoot we had taken back at the end of April. I will be posting more tonight as soon as my camera is charged. Also there will be little text and mostly pictures because I am so far behind but everyone mostly looks at the pictures anyways!!