Welcome Home! May Mayhem Commence

Our Martin family is complete again!

After getting our hopes up around one date, then continued delays, and being told it may be as long as three weeks more (a week after the expected homecoming), we were joyfully surprised when we got notice that Daniel would be home within 36 hours.

We had a great time painting the Welcome Home sign

Potatoes insisted on helping tape it up.  We also set out flailing tube guy, but he kept ducking out of the camera shot.

Potatoes dressed in his legitimate flight suit, a present from Grandmomma and Grandpa.  It even had velcro for daddy's patches.

There was no hesitation for Potatoes!

Zoey was, of course, over the moon.  She didn't pout as much this time as she usually does.  Probably because she knew if she went off pouting, Potatoes would steal all the attention.

He was overjoyed to see Uncle Ahgo, too.

And kept asking for Uncle Bryan, who came home the following evening.

We have had lots of Martin Mayhem since, including a Monster Truck Rally

Though it consumed the much needed nap time, Potatoes did not disappoint with his ability to rage.

He got a bit delirious at the end, but made it through, and only slept for about 30 minutes of our long ride home.

We have enjoyed cool weather and lots of sunshine.  We are soaking in as much time as we can of our Martin mayhem, while I continue to juggle an amazing season at work

We are so blessed!

Photo Drop

We are in the final countdown for Daniel's homecoming!!!

I am working my tail off, 

ehem....Jan is working her tail off....

to get the house in tiptop shape for his return.  I help when I have a free moment...

Potatoes has gone through not one, not two, but THREE growth spurts since Daniel left.  I cannot wait for him to see how big this boy is, and how much he talks!

Here are a few of our latest pictures so Daniel is not totally surprised!

From newest to oldest...

He is now truly a Potato Head

Raspberry fingers while singing, "mommy finger, mommy finger, where are you?"  When he gets to the daddy, he uses the funniest deep voice!

Why does he look so big?!?!

Silly string!

There are NO RULES

Two peas in a pod

Snuggle time

This kid parties even in his sleep

We had a crazy storm one Sunday, and everyone in our house was getting cabin fever.  We threw on our rain coats and boots and went to Ferry Park to play in what daddy calls, "doodoo water."  Soon, he began calling his footwear, "doodoo boots."  Classy, I know!

He loved it

Jan and I were the most coordinated.  Both Zoey and Xander took faceplants into the "doodoo water."  They both got baths when we got home!

My dad came for a quick last minute visit

He showed Xander some balancing techniques that were a huge hit

This face!

He was asking me to get off the phone and play soccer with him.  I listened as soon as I could snap the picture (I was talking to Daniel...).  Purely pitiful.

Sunday snuggles

We had a fun day trip to the Gulfarium with our friend, Lucy

These two!

Potatoes's first basketball game

 He asked for me to put the leash on him....so I obliged

We cannot WAIT for Daniel to join our shenanigans!

I am in complete denial that this will also mean saying goodbye to Jan.  We have had a truly amazing time over the past few months.
   
Puppy pictures asked for by her daddy

Showering Leaha and Stella with Love

I had the joy and pleasure of celebrating Leaha and Baby Stella this weekend with the help of Heather and Becky.

These two always make for a great time, and Becky is a killer party planner, so this was by far the smoothest and most relaxed event I have ever had the pleasure of helping to host.  Added benefit- they offered to throw it at their house!

Leaha is not keen on being the center of attention, so we focused the day on games with total participation, a relaxed atmosphere, and great music (courtesy of Heather- all songs had the word 'baby' in them, tricking many into sayignt he word and losing their pink pacifier).

We also played Pin the Poo on the diaper.  There were quite a few blowouts!

Angel, from Leaha's school, was the big winner of the day!  She won multiple games, including wracking it up in the Saran-Wrap Roll.  Leaha took home a $10 lottery ticket winner!

Becky decorated her house fantastically, with areas for signing diapers, addressing thank you cards, guessing games, and a beautiful photo booth.

These two are so fun!

Leaha has wonderful friends.  It was a really great group!

My mom traveled down for the day!

And we put her to work on last minute crafting before guests began to arrive.

I did what I know...I took on the food and beverages.

I was pretty proud of my onesie cake!

It was such a beautiful, fun filled day.

We can't wait to meet you, Baby Stella!

Isn't she beautiful???