sad to see it end...

As much as I love Fall, I really am sad to see summer come to an end. It seems at the end of every summer John and I look back and feel like we didn't do as much as we'd like. For example, we wanted to go camping all summer but never did. We have a long list of things we didn't quite get to. I guess that just leaves a lot more things to do next summer.  

We did have a GREAT summer! We had two main goals and we completed them both: build a pergola and paint our adirondack chairs.The chairs were a huge pain, but we got them done! As for the pergola, it was quite an ordeal! It took A LOT of work, but it was well worth it! I have to hand it to John, when ever he does a project he goes all out and does such nice work! It it were up to me, we'd have all the projects done in 1/2 the time, but the quality wouldn't even compare!! For example, with the pergola John had us stain the stupid boards at least four times!!! Seriously, I would have put one coat on and called it good!! I know I did my fair share of complaining, but truthfully I'm must more satisfied because of all the hard work! We really enjoyed our patio this summer. We had a few BBQs (wish we could of had more) and ate most of our dinners outside. It was also nice having a shaded area for Eleanor to play outside. She spent many hours with sidewalk chalk, the hose, bubbles and anything else she could haul out there!!

We also really enjoyed all our flower pots! This was the first year they all lasted the entire season. I was surprised at the few flowers Eleanor pulled. She loved smelling and touching them.  

And, this summer was our first attempt to a vegetable garden. Our favorite was the swish chard and the basil leaves! I've made TONS of pesto, both creamy and regular. I also made a lot of Creamy Tomato Basil Soup. Soooo good!! We let a lot of banana peppers go to waste. Our tomato plants were a little late, but we're still getting some good ones. Our squash struggled a little. I think we got maybe 4 zucchini and about 6 summer squash. Overall we were both pleased with our efforts. Nothing beats fresh veggies our of the garden!! Next year we are definitely going to add a lot of green beans, more tomato plants and work on our squash. 

FALL AND WINTER PHOTO SESSIONS

Hello!! The past few weeks I've had quite a few people ask to take family photos. I guess it's already that time of year to start thinking about family Christmas cards and take advantage of the beautiful fall colors!

I want to make sure I can schedule everyone, so I thought I'd offer a discount of those that schedule before October 10th( only scheduled, does not have to be taken before the 10th).  The cost for those that schedule prior to Oct. 10th will be $140(includes cd with at least 20 images and 4x6 proofs). Anything scheduled after the 10th will be $175 (will also include cd and proofs).

Please email me at martin.julie.anne@gmail.com to schedule. Thanks and I look forward to working with all of you!!!

who cares what you're wearing...

So, this morning I was leaving a message on John's cell phone seeing if he wanted to go to Ikea later today. Eleanor was playing right by me but left into her room right after I hung up the phone. A few minutes pass and she brings be shirt #1: a pink turtle neck. I put it on her. A few more minutes and she brings me shirt #2: a blue turtle neck. Next, she appears with shirt #3: a teenage mutant ninja turtles shirt (thanks Aunt Sara!!). Then she comes in with her elephant pjs and her pink cowboy boots on.  Lastly, she walks in with a "Miller Beer" hat on.  Finally, she was ready for Ikea.  Gotta love her style!!

arizona...

We just got back from a great weekend in Arizona!! 

We got in late Thursday afternoon just in time for Amy's bridal shower. The shower was at Elizabeth's house and it was so much fun!! It was nice seeing so many friends and family and catching up with everyone.  Sara,Jeff and Elyse put together a great video/game of Davey answering questions about Amy. Davey came up with some pretty funny answers!! They are such a cute couple and we can't wait for the big day!! 

While all the girls were at the bridal shower, my dad got a suite at the Diamondbacks game for all the boys and kids.  John said it was a lot of fun. Eleanor had a good time seeing all her cousins. She is still talking about the "basketball" game. 

Friday night we celebrated Stacey, Dad and Eleanor's birthday. We had another carnival party complete with TONS of prizes and Halloween pjs for all the grandkids. I loved being with the entire family. It is so much fun seeing all the cousins playing together. Eleanor LOVES all her cousins. She is constantly talking about all her cousins and is always asking to go to Mimi's house. (The other day I was asking her if she was a big girl or a baby and her response was, "I'm Lydia and McKenna".)

After the party we headed over to Amanda and Theron's house to play games. The girls killed the boys in  Taboo. For those that don't know, Sara, Amy and I rock at Taboo. I can honestly say we have NEVER lost this game. We used to play this ALL the time with the missionaries in Chile. 

Saturday was Eleanor's actual birthday and I totally forgot about it! We went out to breakfast with Sara+Dick, Jeff+Elyse, Dad and Stacy and while we were waiting to be seated John reminded me that it was Eleanor's birthday. I felt kind of bad because we left her home with Amy, but I'm sure she had more fun watching Charlotte's Web with Amy and Davey.

As you can see from the photos, Eleanor sported Dora band aids all weekend. This is her new thing. She loves wearing them. Oh and she also found a little doll's dress that she called her "new dress" and she loved wearing that around everywhere as well. And, I just realized she has candy in her mouth in both photos. I think she ate nearly a pound of See's chocolates over the weekend!!

Later that afternoon we went dress shopping for Amy's wedding. We started off with Eleanor but had to send her home with John and Dad because she was being horrible! She was running all over the place and hiding in the dressing rooms. She was hiding in a dressing room and told Amy to "get out of my house". Geeze, I wonder why I HATE shopping!! 

After shopping I met up with John at Jeff's house to watch the last big of the Utah football game. When I got there I had to laugh...Dad, Theron, Ashley and Jeff were all in one room watching the BYU game and John was alone in another room watching Utah. Gotta love his dedication!!

After the game Mom and Dad took Eleanor to see Mama Mia for her birthday. My mom has been wanting to take Eleanor to see this so I've been having Eleanor listen to ABBA a lot. I started laughing when I saw my parent's walk in the door a  good 45 minutes before the show should have ended. I guess Eleanor was a little to hyper for the rest of the audience! Of course she had her popcorn, drink and candy, but that didn't keep her too occupied.  They did say she enjoyed the movie and had fun.

For dinner we had to make our traditional stop at Flancers for the BLTs. I love that place!!

Saturday night we planned on going bowling but ended up playing games. Jeff came up with a great Taboo championship and it was a blast!!! Sara and John were up against each other for the final round and Sara came out the winner! It was supper intense! 

We were all so sad to leave on Sunday!! I hate when trips go by so fast!! Thanks to everyone for having and hanging out with us!

the kitchen...

Ever since we've moved into our house I've wanted to paint the kitchen. I always loved the color, Silver Sage from Restoration Hardware, but was afraid it was too similar to my original color. A few weeks ago I couldn't stand it any longer and I finally did it!! When I told John I was going to paint he decided he would hang bead board. I also got new light fixtures (the little chandelier is my favorite, unfortunately it doesn't show up too well in the photos). We also painted a chalkboard on one of our walls and made a frame for it.  I still have some things to hang on the wall, I'm just waiting for them to arrive (I'll post more photos when I get them hung). So here you have it, our much needed kitchen makeover!

eleanor's birthday carnival...

Saturday we celebrated Eleanor's birthday carnival style. We made a little carnival in the backyard complete with a beanbag toss, a blow up jumping toy, balloon popping with darts, pin the nose on the clown, tickets, fun prizes, an awesome cake (thanks aunt Jay), sparklers, corn dogs & hamburgers, jar full of bubble gum, a pinata stuffed with 40lbs. of candy, lights and plenty of family and friends!! We had such a fun night seeing all our family and friends. Eleanor was a little preoccupied with being held by Mimi, but I think overall she had a good time. This year she didn't freak about the pinata (thanks Sara and Dick for NOT getting an animal), but was a little freaked out about the sparklers on her cake. All summer she's been obsessed with fireworks, so I thought they would be a hit. We had such a fun night seeing all our friends and family. I always wish I had more time to talk to everyone!

horrible parents...

This past week our poor Eleanor has been on her own. John and I have been busy painting our kitchen and hanging bead board. Poor Eleanor has been left to fend for herself. Two nights in a row we left her alone in the family room watching Annie and found her dead asleep on the couch. It broke my heart both times this happened! I always feel guilty when she doesn't get a bath or her teeth brushed at night. Hopefully we can finish things up in the next day or two and she won't have to be our little orphan Ella!

utah...

John and I are both so excited for this year's football season!! Saturday was the first home game and it was such a great game!! We met up with our friends, Blake and Becky, for dinner before the big game. Tradition is to go to Ruth's Diner, but we were running a little late so we ate at Paradise. I wasn't able to pick up tickets until Thursday and the only tickets they had left were way up in the standing room. Luckily we found some open seats (it was a sold out game) a few rows below and didn't have to stand the entire game! I'm so glad that all the home games this year are during the night.  The weather was 'football perfect' and we stomped on UNLV. After the game we watched the fireworks. It was such a fun evening. I LOVE college football and can't wait for our next home game!!

annie...

I think I've talked about how much Eleanor LOVES Annie. Well, today John and I have been working on a few projects around the house and she's been in the front room watching Annie all day! A few minutes ago John and I were in our room and could hear that Eleanor was in the kitchen. I went to check on her and she had gone into the kitchen to grab the broom. She took the broom into the family room and started dancing with it to Annie. It was on the part where Annie gets busted for sneaking out and she starts sweeping. Right when the song was over Eleanor then took the broom back into the kitchen. I swear, this little girl has a mind of her own and I LOVE seeing it come through!!

leftovers...

Tonight after dinner I asked Eleanor if she was done eating. Without hesitation she simply said, "I need a box". I about died laughing!! 

ogden visit...

Friday Tiffany and I went up to Ogden to visit Carrie and her new little baby, Lacie. I forget how tiny and precious newborns are! Lacie was so much fun to hold. Carrie's mom was so nice and took us all out for lunch. It was so much fun getting together. Just before we were leaving I remembered I had my camera with me and we were able to get a few shots of Lacie. 

happy gas+belle and sebastian=rollercoasters

Yesterday I had to get a crown done at the dentist office. I HATE going to the dentist. I've never had strong teeth and it seems like no matter how much/often I brush I always have  cavities! When I got married I started going to the dentist John went to as a child. I really like Dr. Bateman and trust everything he does, but what I really like about him is that he was the first dentist to give me the happy gas! I swear, I don't think I would have my dislike for the dentist if I could of had this gas from the start. My new trick is taking my ipod with me and turn it up as loud as possible (I can not stand the sound of the drill right in my head!). Yesterday I decided to listen to belle and sebastian and together with the gas it was kind of tripy! I seriously felt like I was on a roller coaster the entire two hours! I'm sure my Dr. thought I was a complete nut when my legs and arms kept flying up in the air. Oh well, it made my dentist experience much more pleasant!

cousins...

Last week we got to have Ty over to play. Eleanor was so excited! She LOVES Ty and is always talking about him. I took them to get their photobooth photos and they were so funny. I love the bottom photo, it reminds me of a photo taken of Jeff and I when we were close to these ages. I really wish we lived closer to all of Eleanor's cousins. You can just tell there is a special little bond with cousins. 

about eleanor...

Today I called John to tell him some funny thing Eleanor was saying and doing. After we got talking on the phone we decided we need to do better at writing down some of these things. So for the record...

Yesterday we were driving in the car and she said, "Mama, cars coming". Of course, being Eleanor, she had to repeat it about a hundred times before we got home. And first thing this morning when we got in the car and started driving she said it again.

Today I took her to pick out some new underwear (going to give this potty training a try). I let her look at all the underwear and pick out which ones she wanted. At first she choose some pink ones then as we were leaving the isle she spotted some dinosaur underwear, the same ones Ty has. Once she saw those she no longer wanted the pink ones and ONLY wanted the dinosaurs. 

We then went over to the bank and right when I pull up to the drive up window Eleanor informs me she wants a diet coke and fries. She settled for the sucker.

Oh and my favorite right now is she watching her watch the movie Annie. She LOVES it. It wasn't until this month that she would sit longer then 5 minutes to watch a movie. I can't count how many times a day she ask, "watch Annie mom's bed" (I only let her watch it once a day). She even knows most of the songs. Her favorite is "Lets go to the Movies" and she can sing a good portion.

She can also sing "I am a Child of God" and can get through most of it without any help. She LOVES her music and calls the mix I made for her on my ipod her "favorite songs". Some of those songs are "Once there was a Snowman", "All you need is Love", "Hello Hello".

A couple of weeks ago she was asking for some of my diet pepsi (which she calls diet coke) and I told her no. She then asked for "DIET MILK".

Things are ALWAYS going missing around our house due to Eleanor putting everything she can find in all her bags. She'll walk around the house and put the most random things in grocery bags, purses and her backpacks.  She will also do this right before we leave the house. She tries to grab as much junk possible and wants to take it with her in the car.  

Each night when going to bed she has to take at least 3 things with her into her crib. Last night it was a play plate, a book and an old pair of jps.

She always asks me to "hold you on couch". She likes to lay together and rub my chin/neck area. She actually does this to most people. 

She's never taken a pacifier but has always sucked on her bottom lip when she gets tired.

Every morning when she gets up she asks for "Bo" (her dog Bear) hugs him and says, "I miss you Bo".

She  calls most candy "gum" and has been put in timeout numerous times for sneaking into the draw to get gum or asking for it 20,000 times a day!

salem days...

Each summer we look forward to Salem days with John's Grandparents and extended family.  This year we got up at 6:00 am so we could be there in time for the 7am fireman breakfast. After breakfast we all went back to Grandma's house and hung out until the parade started. Eleanor got to play with a ton of little girls and got in a lot of Grandma Hatch time. She loves sitting on Grandma Hatch's lap and patting her neck. 

Of course the parade was a big hit with Eleanor. It's fun to see how she's caught on to the whole parade thing. The first one this year she just kind of sat and watched, but now thanks to John's coaching, she's a parade-candy-catching pro!! Speaking of John, he was so excited at this parade because a nursery was passing out plants and John got one. I love his expression in this photo!

After the parade we had to rush home for me to get up to the U for my final critique. I was really happy with my critique and even happier to finish up another semester!  I wish I could take all my classes in the summer, they are so much more relax and a lot less time! 

Then after my critique we all headed down to the Lehi park for a family reunion with Grandma Hatch's family. It was fun seeing a lot of family and getting to know a few more people. John has some really fun extended family. Last summer at the reunion I found out that the lady who watches Eleanor at the gym's daycare is John's cousin.  The funny thing is Eleanor has always LOVED Ann, and it all made sense once we found out they were related!!

We left the reunion and headed back up down to Salem/Payson area. We went to Lana's for a little bit and let Eleanor and Quinn play.  It was so much fun for the two of them. They don't get to see each other that much, but they seem to always play pretty good together when they do see each other. I'm sure they will have a ton of fun on the cruise in a few months!!

We were afraid the fireworks were going to be cancelled because of all the rain and lighting, but they weren't!!!  I really think Salem has the best firework show in Utah. And it's great because Grandma's house is right off the lake and the fireworks are directly above us. This year we had to crowd under the deck because of the rain, but it was still so much fun! Right before it started raining we were all laying on the grass and eating cupcakes. Well, leave it to Eleanor to step right on the sheet of cupcakes and slide across them all! It was quite funny!!! I wish I had a good photo of it!  

Every year I forget they do a 5k run before breakfast, next year I'll try better to remember!!

deer valley...

Every summer I look forward to the outdoor symphony concerts at Deer Valley. This year John had to do community service with Goldman Sachs and got assigned for the Broadway night. When volunteering he had to be there a few hours early, which was nice for us because he was able to lay our blanket out early and get a good spot. While he was setting up my mom, Eleanor and I went to the store and stocked up on some goodies for the concert. It was such a beautiful evening and the music was great. Eleanor got into the music and enjoyed dancing and clapping! This really is one of my favorite summer activities to do with John and I'm already looking forward to next years!!