Venting

Can I vent? I thought I had seen it all. I have been a jogger for years. I have had my fair share of people looking, honking, screaming, etc as I am minding my own business trying to get in some cardio. What is it about a jogger that makes people have the sudden urge to do these things? In fact, my PR in Provo was 4 honks and 3 whistles/yells in one run (not bad, huh?). I even got a phone number thrown at me once. Don’t worry I never called the guy. Today I got a new one to add to the list. I was jogging this morning (Saturday) in a nice little neighborhood. Apparently there was an unbelievable garage sale close by. Apparently no one could find it and apparently everyone thought I new where it was. So through an entire mile stretch of my run I kept getting stopped and asked if I knew where the sale was. Do I look like I am out looking for deals at garage sales? Just for the record, runners do not like it when drivers

1. pull up beside them, roll down their window, and flail their arms

2. pull right in front of them so if they keep running they will run into the car

3. creep up behind them and honk their horn to get the runner’s attention

I experienced all of these and had to stop, unplug my headphones, go up to the car and explain that I didn’t know the location of the sale. I was so bugged. I have vowed to run canals (not streets) every Saturday for the rest of my life! There aren’t any garage sales on canals right?

P.S. I am trying not to be sad that I am no longer receiving whistles but instead being asked about garage sales. Is this a sign of aging??

This week: awful start, awesome end

This week has been interesting. It started out horrible and ended great. I guess you really do need the bad to appreciate the good. Let's do the horrible first.

At the beginning of this week:
-I was sick, curled on the couch for 4 days (like lose 10 pounds worth of sick)
-diagnosed with the worst step my doctor has ever seen (he brought in all the other doctors and nurses to show them my "huge, nasty tonsils" - good thing I didn't mind)
-2 shots- one in the bum- ouch
-2 days worth of a sub at school - this is brutal - we all went to high school and know what happens when a sub is there...enough said!

At the end of this week:
-I am on my way to a full recovery- my throat doesn't hurt, I am not dizzy or feverish and I only have 8 days left on meds
-my students were excellent for the sub- not sure what happened- my classroom didn't look like a bomb blew up and I got many compliments from the subs about my classroom management- woohoo
-best one: I am an aunt again! Russ and Jodie (my bro and sis-in-law) had baby #3 on Thursday. Welcome to the family Brynlee!!

Mackenzie (my niece), Brynlee and me

Cute 2 day old Brynlee


We think these belong on some baby calendar!!

New Year's Resolutions

I am not a big new year's resolution kind of person. This year however, I asked Bryan to come up with some ideas for some resolutions for us as a couple. Everyone can improve their relationship, right? A few days later he shared his two ideas. Completely serious, he states these resolutions.

1. Give each other more back rubs.

2. Close the cereal bag better so it doesn't get stale.

I wasn't sure whether to be mad because he didn't take it seriously or flattered because he thinks that our biggest marital problem is stale cereal! I chose to be flattered. I am happy to report that this year the Martins will have good feeling backs and really fresh tasting cereal.

Extreme Makeover Bob and Tonna Edition

This week all the Martins went up to Eagar and gave Bryan's parents their Christmas present of a whole new bedroom. We had a blast doing it. Here are a few pictures of the action.

Ashlee admiring the room just after everyone finished painting.

Bryan and Matt cutting the crown molding. It only took the boys 2 hours and 30 mess-ups but they got it and it looks great!

Up goes the molding. Tonna is loving it already. At this point we are sure that she will cry by the time this thing is over.

Shelf time.

Matt accessorizing. He is very talented.


Here's the finished product. We know, it's awesome. Sadly, this is the only picture we took of the whole finished room.

Bob and Tonna seeing the room completed for the first time. Tonna's face says it all! The tears followed shortly.

One big happy (and tired) Martin family.