Christmas Morning With the Little Ones

Very first thing in the morning. They were planning on coming up the stairs to Christmas but Holly slept on the couch so they couldn't sneak past her.

They first had to wake-up Aunt PJ
\
Then Grandpa Tony

Then....they were expected to pose on the staircase for a pre-Christmas extravaganza
photo,

Not once but several times




Then finally Annika lost it...




Older and wiser, Max stayed patient and hopeful


Finally, the payoff

Halloween

I can't imagine NOT dressing up for Halloween!!!

Happy Birthday Holly

This has been in the planning for a year now. The artist is Jennifer Tolman and I commissioned her to do a whimsical painting of Max and Annika! Is it adorable? Holly took the photos but she didn't know it was done and that she was getting it this week or what the final picture would look like.

PJ Loses in the Semi-Finals

PJ had a great season but her arm got to her in the semi-final match.
We're proud of you for having such a great season!
This is the photo taken by Ashley Franscell for the Daily Herald.

PJ Takes First Place 3rd Singles Tri-Region

Off to state this weekend where she will be one of 2 No. 1 seeds.

PJ's First Homecoming

Finally. The big day arrived. Dress ordered 3 months early-- perfectly planned, perfectly worried, perfectly excited.

When Tony and I took our bike ride this morning, all through our ride we saw groups of teenagers out on their day-dates. It was homecoming for the Orem and Timpanogos High Schools. We saw groups biking up the canyon, playing in the park, at the golf course and the miniature golf park.

Go For It!

Today's Lesson For Everyone

A group of people were listening to the Rabbi teach. They asked him, "What is heaven like?"
"Heaven is a big round table piled high with delicious food and people sitting around the table, but they can't bend their arms."

"Then what is hell?" the people asked.
"Heaven is a big round table piled high with delicious food and people sitting around the table, but they can't bend their arms."
The people were confused and asked, "Rabbi, then what is the difference between Heaven and hell?"

"The difference is is that in heaven people feed each other."

Summer's Gone

A highly symbolic title for my life. Literally, I have moved through the third cycle of life...and Monday morning I start a real job. Fifty-two students are waiting for me to teach them Socratic Seminar at Maeser Preparatory Academy. My hours will be 7:30 until 11:30 so I will still have time to be a mom, wife, grandma, daughter and writer. Thank goodness I have house cleaners! I only wish I had a cook. But it's ok, because Tony is in his watermelon and cottage cheese and fresh corn phase accompanied by the occasional(relatively speaking) pint of HD ice cream. I only wish I could post my salary so you know why I haven't hired a cook!

xxoo mom

Highlight of LA

I had an amazing short week in LA. A significant editor gave me her card and asked to see my revised manuscript. But that was the little stuff. The funnest experience was meeting Ruth's daughter and son-in-law:

One morning while returning to the hotel, I felt an immediate impression to cross the street at a certain point. It was Olympic Blvd., an incredibly busy 4 laner that resembles more of a freeway as it passes under Century City. But there was a lull in traffic; I looked both ways several times and ran across. At the exact spot where I crossed, there was a wallet laying in the middle of the road. There is no center island, just a small in-between the passing lanes. A wallet. Yippee, a chance to return it to its owner. The contents held a driver's license, an American Express credit card, a social security card and an insurance card. Ruth, the woman whose picture I looked at was born in 1925, and I could feel her anxiety over her lost wallet. Sort of the same way I felt with the lost dog Kolo. Remember that one girls?

Her address was posted on everything but not a phone number in sight. Called Tony to search the internet for her number, enlisted the help of the concierge, searched the LA phone book. Called a phone number with the same initial. Wrong person. There was the number of the insurance agent who insured Ruth. I gave him a call, no answer, left a message. I knew everything would be ok, because I could always send Ruth her wallet, but again, I could feel her angst.

Later that day: an ecstatic phone call from Jeff, Ruth's son-in-law. They shared the same insurance agent and he had contacted Jeff. Ruth had been extremely worried about her lost identification.

Later that night, Jeff and Ruth's daughter met me in the lobby of the Century Plaza Hotel. They were so grateful. We talked for a short while. Jeff moved toward me and I thought he was going to hug me but instead he was trying to give me money. pfffff.

Silly man! I told him to put it in Ruth's wallet and surprise her.

Happy Birthday PJ

Off to her lake/tubing/water skiing party




Her birthday began at 12:01 a.m. when the friends came to pick her up for breakfast.


And so much more mature!

Violin Kindling

My friend went to school at the U of U and lived on the Avenues in an old house with a giant fireplace. One of her roommates worked at Peter Prier violins. When anyone made a violin that was the slightest, (even 1 millimeter) off, in measurement, it didn't sound right and was scrapped. She brought these home to burn in the fireplace. There were times when you would walk into the room and the fireplace would be full of perfectly looking, good violins--but they were not.

They weren't in tune or didn't have the capacity to be in tune and were therefore not able to fill the measure of their creation.

Beauty

After teaching a 3 week unit on Beauty and truth based on John Keat's "Ode on a Grecian Urn" I have been struck by beauty as never before. Therefore, this photo of irises under crystal. The hillside is dotted with these beautiful irises in different colors. But I love that all the bulbs or tubes were either gifts or picked up when I saw a "free iris" sign.

Jillian is 20!

I am so thankful for Jillian who has made it to year 20! We went out to dinner and came home to eat the Jill-requested cake: rainbow chip with rainbow chip frosting from the can!!! I couldn't stand for that and added fresh whip cream to the frosting and it ended up pretty tasty. And for those of you who haven't seen Kenny--Voila.

Faith

Our dear friends Audrey and Nate are moving from the neighborhood. Their decision was based on the expenses incurred and future expenses from the care of their daughter Saylor. Saylor--that is a whole other story that needs to be told by her mother-and it will be told. But just for the record, Saylor was the first child born in a program for in utero fetuses with spina bifida. Within the womb, Saylor had her first operation.

Nate and Audrey felt they were doing the right thing. They were down scaling considerably and were trying to purchase run-down homes that Nate would have to remodel. Yet, when they tried to buy three different houses and all three offers fell through, they became a little discouraged, but only for a day. Because after the discouragement,or the trial of faith, they found a different house, one that is far nicer, in a far better neighborhood and a house that has made them feel relief because they didn't get any of the other homes.

xxoo mom

UNCLE!

I concede! I do look almost 50!!!




Pictures from the Queen of May





Flowers all the way from Indiana


Homemade Lasagne from Tony!


The florist and cake decorator


An extra special day because PJ gave a Mother's Day talk and Brett came to listen

Happy Birthday To Me!

I woke up this morning smiling--profoundly grateful to be alive and well on my 49th birthday; to have been blessed to be here at this time and place and the great blessing of life and living that I have shared with everyone I love. I am blessed to still have my parents living, my husband, all my children, my sisters.

Do You Love This Face?

You do, don't you? But it isn't young or wrinkle free, is it? Would it be the same if it was?

Last night, dad and I attended a function where we ran into an old friend who is younger than I am. When she said hello, there was something different that I couldn't quite grasp. She looked angry and harsh but it threw me because she was just as friendly as always.

As dad and I were sitting behind the woman he whispered to me, "Did the lady," and he pointed her out, "have some kind of facial surgery? It looks like she was in an accident." Dad could see clearly that she'd had some kind of face-lift/tightening and I thought she just looked angry.

So, what's the point of growing old? Growing, learning, softening with your body and your face. Acceptance, gratitude, pleasure. And becoming as beautiful as grandma.

My Birthday is in Three Days

Here is what I'm asking as a present from each of my daughters:

*Please thoughtfully and prayerfully consider your goals in different aspects of your life, write them down and share them with me:
*spiritual
*physical
*mental
*emotional
*career -if applicable
*family

Or create your own categories!! And have fun with this because I will! I will accept email attachments. There may be valuable prizes for different winning aspects of your goal setting!!!

In Every Book...

In every book is a little vacation. This was quoted at a talk today that I heard on literacy.

I am so proud of the readers that you girls are. I wanted to share some important details about reading with children. Holly, you are already a whiz at this and I think Mandi, Jillian, and Pj (someday) you will all do the same for your children. Here they are:
*Reading is to the mind like exercise is for the body
*Children that are read to have 4 to 5000 more words in their vocabulary
*Nursery rhymes are very important and rhyming words are the beginning recognitions of the flow of language and rhymes are critical to language acquisition
*Implement a strict bedtime but allow child to stay up another half hour to hour for reading
*Give books for birthdays and holidays
*Listen to CD's instead of watching DVD's in the car and at home to foster imagination
*Do library and bookstore story time
* Get children their own library card when age eligible
*keep books in the car-reachable from child's car seat
*Child should have own place for books or bookshelf
*REaders are 300% more likely to: attend plays, museums, exercise, volunteer, not pick their nose (chuckle-not really)
*Two book recommendations on the importance of reading to children: Read to Your Bunny by Rosemary Wells and Reading Magic: Why Reading aloud to our children will change their lives forever-I haven't read either yet

There you have it! Now who wouldn't read to their children?

Another Endeavor Almost Over

Tomorrow, I start my last week of school. It has been a growing, wonderful, trying and humbling experience.

A year ago, I met the minister of education for the country of Uganda at a soiree at Glenda's house. Glenda asked her to come and tell her conversion story and the story of becoming the head of education for her country. It was a wonderful evening and at the end of the night I asked the woman if I could come and teach English in Africa for a summer. She was quite pleased when she heard I would do it as a volunteer.

I have thought of this teaching certificate as more than becoming a high school English teacher, but a skill that will allow all types of new adventures. Where will this take me? What will I learn? What will I be able to give?

Education is so much more than a degree and a job, it is a way of life.

PJ's Little Man Friend

His name is Brett and we all think he's pretty adorable. Especially when he donned the apron and asked Dad's advice on how to make the cookies just right. Dad feels very fatherly when someone will take his cookie technique secrets to heart.

The Lemon Tree

My beautiful lemon tree has had some ups and downs. But with some serious nurturing I am happy to share with you these beautiful blossoms that smell incredible. I am just hoping that we get a lemon someday. Soon.

A Puppy in the House--Almost

Iggy actually lives at Jillian's house but came for a visit and a reminder of how adorable puppies are.

Clear Memory

Tonight, while Tony and I were changing/preparing to go out for dinner and the basketball game, PJ came in and sat on our bed. She's fifteen and a half now, and I don't think she's come in and sat on our bed like that since she was a little girl.

It took me back to memories of sitting in my dad's and mom's room while they got ready to go out for the night. I'm not sure it was the anticipation and excitement of having them gone for the evening or the magic that happens when mom transforms from a mom to a woman who goes out for fun. A woman with a different life. Mom would put on make-up and a fur trimmed outfit and high-heeled, even slingback shoes. Dad put on a tie, some cologne and re-combed his hair.

Even as kids, we pause for the ritual or maybe we're drawn into our parent's subtle anticipation. It's just a memory that is so clear and dear-from two angles.

Be All That You Can Be

Tonight we went to dinner and I met three women-a molecular biologist whose interest lies in gene therapy, -a computer scientist with a master's degree who was one of the first women in the field in 1971 and -a woman who is a mother of seven children. They were all equally vital, intelligent women. We've come a long way baby. (A rather famous jingle for a Virginia Slims cigarette commercial that espoused the advancement of women. The cigarettes of course don't work, but the jingle does).

I Much Rather Write Than Be Written About

I have never been described as an athlete. At 48 years old I am honored. I also want you to know that I laughed rather hysterically at this. I threw in a picture to show my amusing athleticism. Enjoy. Recipe not included.

Daily Herald 1-13-09
Karen Hoag-Lifestyle Editor

Besides being a wife, mom and grandma, Orem's Pat Martinez is a student teacher, writer and athlete.
Presently, Pat is focusing on student teaching because she's so impressed with the students at Spanish Fork High School. She has five classes there. "The kids are wonderful, intelligent and dedicated to their education," says Pat. "I am very impressed with the feeling at Spanish Fork High. ...



"I recently sat poolside with a woman who said teenagers no longer had respect for education, but I was able to tell her my experience was different. Kids are still great in 2009."

She said substituting for a friend at Timpanogos High School a few years ago gave her the same great experience and "in part was what inspired me to go into education."

With English degree in hand, Pat returned to Brigham Young University for her teaching certification. "I will be 49 when I have my own classes," she says. "I would encourage women like myself, who have raised a family and have great experience with their children and other children, to consider this mid-life career change."

Pat and her husband, Tony, have four children and two grandchildren. One daughter, Paloma, age 15, is still at home. "Deciding to teach was, in part, to prepare me for when everyone leaves home," says Pat.

In addition to all these roles, Pat writes historical fiction. And Pat's personality really comes out when she talks about her passions: ocean and surf kayaking.

And yes, she cooks for her family. The basis for the dish she shares is quinoa (pronounced keen-wa), a high-protein grain available at health food stores or health food sections of most supermarkets.

"This is a tremendously healthy meal and can be made with any variety of vegetables," Pat says. "For the kind of demands and the kind of lifestyle I want to live, I want optimum nutrition.

"I like to make food that allows for flexibility and spontaneity -- what happens to be in the fridge or what is fresh from the market.

"My daughter requested this recipe just yesterday!"