What a Trip!!

Kansas was so...much fun! Dad, Ashley, Claudia, Ava and I took a trip to Kansas to visit Grandma, Grandad and all of our other relatives that we have not seen in such a long time! We were going the entire time A huge thank you to Aunt Debbie, Dad and Grandma who had a whole itinerary planned for our week of stay. Ava was grumpy a lot of the time because this itinerary did not hold a spot for "NAPS"! However, she, along with all of us had an absolute BLAST! We had so many outings there wasn't very much time to breathe! We were at Uncle David and Aunt Beverly's, pretty much just to sleep!

We began with a trip to Bontanica. These Gardens resemble Duke Gardens and Ava and Claudia loved the butterfly house as well as the huge Coy in the ponds!

We aso had the opprotunity to visit the Sedgewick County Zoo (the best zoo I have ever been to). This was Ava's first trip and she loved it! The animals were amazing to her. She even had the chance to pet a few! Claudia and I hadn't ben in a few years either. Claudia loved the tigers...wonder why??? (Geaux Tigas)

Dad, Grandma, Aunt Debbie and Claudia took a trip to see the "Keeper of the Plains" one evening. Ava and I were too tired to go so we retired early. Thankfully, Claudia and Ash took a bunch of pictures. I had the chance to see it during the day but when the culdrons are lit it is breath taking. What an inspirational monument.


Exploration place was a fabulous museum with so many hands on activities for kids. Ava and Claudia played "princesses for a day" in their thrones and Ashley and Claudia experienced a true Kansas tornado in the simulator!

The "Chuckwagon" was fantastic! Train and horse and carriage rides, a barbeque dinner and show...Who could ask for more?? Well, Ashley even got on stage and performed her infamous "Orange Blosom Special". What a way to end the night!

Dad and Ashley (after fighting a sinus infection) even had a chance to "Jam" in Old Town!
We miss you already and love you Martin Family! See you real soon!

It has been an exciting few months! We have had many happenings and have barely had time to think. Claudia had her 14th birthday with a huge group of eighth graders towards the middle of March. Although the weather wasn't ideal for a party outside, we made due under the picnic shelter. I think all the kids had a good time anyway.

The next to happen a weekend later was Ava's first birthday. Ava and Susanna celebrated togehter this year and it was a huge bash barbecue, cake and much, much more! Thank you to Jessie for making it all possible. The girls had a great time playing together and with the other babies and adults. I can not believe these girls are one already! Where has the time gone?

The eighth grade had their Passion Play which the other eighth grade teacher and I directed and choreographed. They did a fabulous job and truly showed the spectators how fantastic middle schoolers can be! Claudia was a narrator and spoke with such elegance and poise. She has so much talent when it comes to drama and public speaking.

After the Passion Play, the girls and I took off to Carolina Beach where we had Easter with Dad, Beca and Steven. Richard got to come out on Friday night and we got to experience a taste of the Wilmington night life. We took a day trip to Orton Plantation and Southport. Ava and Claudia both love the ferry. Ava especially liked feeding the seagulls off of the back of the boat. Orton Plantation's azaleas were in full bloom and the weather was absolutely gorgeous. We could not have asked for a better day!

Finally, on Sunday we spent Easter with mom in Raleigh. We enjoyed lots of good food and company. Ava's favorite was the mashed cauliflower! The next big event will be Claudia's eighth grade graduation in May. Mimi and Grandmama are coming for the big day! We are so excited but sad at the same time. It is the end of an era but only for a short time. Ava will be there before I know it. I hope the time doesn't pass by too quickly!

Love to all!!

It has been a crazy few months. There is not much more I can do but show you in pictures, "the order in which they occured"!!

We took a "trip" to Victoria Woods the other day..."The house that Dad built".

Richard had his birthday (the first time that my best friend's and I have had all the babies together) they really should write a book about us!!

Lourdes went to Charlotte and showed up with a vegence. Shamrock rules!

Ava has almost made it to her first birthday. Susanna and Ava are planning their first birthday together. March 28th the festivities will begin! Happy birthday princesses!!

Beca's Graduation

Beca is now a college graduate and has earned her Bachelors of Arts in Psychology. She plans to attend graduate school in the spring. We all traveled to Greenville to see her departmental graduation. Mom, Claudia, Ava, Richard and I stayed at the Third Street Inn which was a beautiful bed and breakfast. After graduation we went to Beca's favorite Indian restaurant and then antique shopping. It was really a weekend of fun!

Christmas was full of many events this year. We began Christmas at Carolina Beach where we spent the weekend with Dad. The condo was decorated beautifully and the weather was so warm we walked on the beach in bare feet. It was so much fun. Ava really enjoyed watching the waves and all of the "geez" (doggies) that were walking along the beach.

On Sunday we were off to Louisiana. We had a very long ride ahead of us and I was a little worried at first becuase it was Ava's firs long car ride. However, she was amazing the whole way down. She slept, ate and played. We took turns sitting in the back seat with her. We stopped South of Atlanta both on the way there and the way back. It was nice to break the trip into two days.

While we were there we stayed with Richard's mom and dad. We love spending time with Mimi and Popee Marc. Claudia got to spend time with her cousins and they had a sleepover one night. We had Mimi's Christmas on December 23rd. It was so nice to have all of the family together and have those that had not yet met Ava have the chance to meet her! We went to Gwen and Brent's on Christmas Day and Ava was very sick. You would never know it though, she is such a good baby even when she is not feeling well.

On New Years Eve Santa came at the Rutkowski House and we had Christmas with Mom, Beca, Ashley and Steven on New Year's Day. It was really fun having all of these Christmas's this year. We cooked the traditional cabbage and black eyed peas and enjoyed many desserts which were given to me by my students. We exchanged persents and had a great time! It is amazing to think it is 2009 already. Ava will be 1 soon and Claudia 14! Time is flying.

Wishing all of you a very Happy and porsporous New Year!

Hloween and More!

Ava and Susanna!

Sweet Pea!

A lot has happened in the past few weeks. We had Halloween and Ava was a "Sweet Pea". She looked so cute in her "pea pod" costume. The Gonzalez's, Claudia, Ava and I took a trip to the pumpkin patch. Hill Ridge Farms is a great place to take kids and where I used to go as a kid for field trips in grade school. Needless to say, a lot has changed there since then. The girls had a fun time together. Ava played in the "corn house", sat in the pumpkin patch and had fun with Susanna taking pictures in their costumes.

Richard and I got to take a much needed weekend to Myrtle for our anniversary. We played golf, enjoyed the sights and SLEPT!!

One of Ava's teachers gave her a "new do" today. She had two pig tails when I picked her up! She looked adorable and reminded me of when Beca was her age. Linda Rice used to put Beca's hair in pig tails just like this!

School Days

Now that school has resumed for Claudia and I, it was time for Ava to be off to her new school as well. She is going to the Chidren's Academy across the street from our neighborhood and we are very pleased so far. She has been doing well and enjoys the interaction with the other babies. Claudia and I pick her up every day and she is always very hapy to see us.

She is eating solids twice a day now and really likes grapes and plums. Her favorite vegetable is still seweet potatoes. She is also really starting to like the Johnny Jump Up. Anything where she can "stand up" in she loves. She always wants to stand. I hope she crawls before she walks!

Claudia is enjoying eighth grade. I can't believe she will be in high school next year. Amazing how quickly time flies!

Sick Baby :(

Ava has had a cold and has recently developed a fever. You would never be able to tell she was sick if her head wasn't hot.

She is sitting up and her Aunt Beca taught her to shake her head "no". It is so cute!

Here is a photo of the sick baby and big Sister.