I honestly don't know what it is that allows me to believe it's possible to go away for a week with five other adults and one energetic two year old and do any relaxing. But relaxing is boring, right? AND, at the last minute, we had three more join our crew! My Mom's youngest brother Jan and his two kiddos - Elliot and Jessica - drove down from Sioux Falls to hang out for the week. And, as evidenced by the 1,121 photos I took, we had A BALL. (That number is actually NOT an exaggeration. I got a little shutter-happy.)
I'll spare you (and your computers) the heartache and TRY to post only my favorites -- but it's still a lot, so click below if you have the stomach for it.
After six years, four schools, and (at LEAST) two changes of the major... Becky is a graduate! Becky is a graduate!
She decided not to walk, but we celebrated anyhow. Mom and I planned a party for Becky and her friends, and we had such a good time celebrating her latest and greatest accomplishment. The cake - above - is the Journey 'O Becky. It starts at Fremont High School, winds through various community colleges and part-time jobs, and ends with one very successful Razorback!
A few group pics from the grad party:
We've all but given up on getting a family pic that includes a looking, smiling, not-squirming Colt. I don't even remember how many "takes" we did to get THIS one.
Grandpa Martin is always trying to put Colt to work. Some of you may remember when he taught Colt how to make coffee back at Christmas time. This time, it was dog walking. And - true to form - it didn't take Colt long to catch on and start taking his dog walking VERY seriously. He "walked" Chip all weekend! Here they are taking a little stroll during the graduation party.
Keith and Don were able to come over for the party and it was so good to see them. (We actually got to go out with them that night to see a band - which we NEVER do. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for keeping The Monkey for us!)
And - as a bonus - a Hood Family self-portrait:
Sunday, we finally got out of bed and got our act together - and headed to War Eagle for the craft fair. Mom and I decided that it was about 2 parts Craft Fair, 1 part Flea Market - but Top Notch People-Watching! Sadly, I don't have many pictures of our adventures - though I'll tell you that I don't think these people know they're strange, so I'd feel a little awkward sneaking a picture of them - but I'm happy to share this little gem with you:
THAT is a dog. Wearing a hat. And sunglasses. This poor little dog was "modeling" for a booth selling these things. The hat and sunglasses come as a set, attached - so the dog has very little choice but to suffer on through. Poor thing. I scratched his ears and rubbed his tummy in a futile effort to restore some of his doggie dignity.
We had fun walking through the booths and enjoying our "cultural experience". I could have taken photos of all the crafts with misspellings or apostrophe abuse - but it would take me all day to post them all...
Later on we went to dinner to celebrate Mother's Day and Becky's birthday (a little early) - she turns 24 on Thursday. Somehow I don't have a picture of all of us at dinner, but what I do have is possibly the funniest photo ever taken of Colt. I don't even know how to prepare you for this - it hurts me I laugh so hard.
The plan: A nice photo of Mama and Colt on Mother's Day. Paw takes the camera and prompts Colt to "smile!" (which we all do, but all also know is just something you say - Colt usually has zero interest in smiling for a camera.)
The result:
Not that you can tell from the mini-Mickey Rooney look and the 110% cheeseball attitude in that photo, but my kid usually looks more like this...
Ya know, like Jeff.
Jeff snapped that shot and we all rolled. I am still laughing at it. I couldn't get him to do that again in a million years.
A few more outtakes...
And we got it.
Happy Mama's Day!
Before Grandma left town she had to squeeze in some bathtime - as she is convinced Colt's little life is unfulfilled without it!
We already miss you Grandma and Grandpa Martin - see you in July!
Becky and I got the chance to spend last night in the company of several hundred veterans and their sweethearts for a Valentines for Veterans concert featuring Mr. Aaron Tippin. He played to a sold out audience at the Walton Arts Center here in Fayetteville.
The Valentines for Veterans Concert Series began in 2007 as a way to pay tribute to veterans and provide a way for veterans and their sweethearts to spend time together. Most Americans are largely unaware of the staggering divorce rate blamed on Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. The concerts are the VA's way of helping couples take care of each other around Valentine's Day.
And the Arkansas Gold Star Families were invited to attend as special guests. We had VIP seating in the second row and we were invited to show up early and get backstage to meet Aaron Tippin before the show.
As you can see, I will need MUCH more red carpet experience before I can be expected to know which camera I should look at and when...
After meeting Aaron - to whom I'll now refer as if we are old friends - we were escorted to our seats by a handsome young UA ROTC cadet named Clint. We quickly observed that we were two of the youngest people in the entire, packed theater. Retired vets from all five branches filled the place. We were just a couple of pups down front enjoying the show.
It was quite the Who's Who event. Mayor Jordan was part of the welcome, Jake & Woody from a local morning radio show were there to introduce Aaron - it was quite the thing. To start the festivities, they played each of "The Songs", and Becky and I hooped and hollered and HOOAHed like animals when they played the Army Song. (Mom - your favorite!) And much of the evening was sprinkled with Army/Navy or Navy/Marines comments boisterously yelled from random audience members.
After several unsuccessful attempts at a self-portrait, we politely asked the lady in front of us to take our picture.
And though I've attended my share of concerts and should know better, I filled my camera with about 75 pictures that all look exactly like this:
Someone should really develop a good way to take pictures at concerts that don't end up as really bright close ups of the backs of the heads of the people in front of you. Honestly. You can't even really see his cool American Flag guitar. You'll just have to take my word for it.
It's so cool the way Aaron has committed his time and energy to the troops deployed and separated from their families and to the veterans back home -- and to writing good, honest, patriotic songs that mean an awful lot to people. He's not the biggest star out there, but he knows what he stands for and where he comes from -- and he gives so much back.
While I am a card-carrying Country Music fan and knew nearly every word to every song, Becky politely clapped along and had a good time. I think the only songs she had even heard of were Kiss This and the Jerry Reed cover he did as part of his encore - East Bound and Down. But we had a great night and got to meet several other Gold Star Families from Arkansas. OH! And Aaron totally winked at me.
Didn't I just write a mulligan entry a few weeks ago? It was the Christmas Break that wouldn't end when a combination of bad weather and toddler sickness had us cooped up for almost an entire extra week at the beginning of January. The work/school/eating/sleeping schedule was completely out the window and just when I thought we were solidly back on track, here life went and happened again.
Geez, it seems like forever ago now, but last weekend I spent the weekend in Cabot as a guest judge at the Cabot Classic. In a former life, I was a drama kid at Cabot High School and their annual tournament gives me a chance to go back "home", reconnect with old friends, and brush up on my Sylvia Plath. Oh, those days. I spent nearly every weekend of my high school tenure on a bus with 60 or so of my closest drama nerd friends traveling to various schools around the state of Arkansas to compete in tournaments. And though I'm a little rusty these days, I once knew everysinglesyllable of RENT- like any other self-respecting drama kid of the late 90s.
Why are entire years strewn On the cutting room floor of memories? When single frames from one magic night Forever flicker in close-up on the 3D IMAX of my mind.
The tournament this year was a ball, I judged a few rounds and caught up with a few old friends. And the rest of the weekend I got to spend time with my friends David and Jennie and other friends from the church I grew up in. I've known David since 4th grade Sunday School and his wife Jennie since they started dating during our freshman year in college. They were so sweet to let me crash at their house for the weekend and let me tag along to a cook-out with more old church friends on Saturday night. Who says you can't go home?
While I was in Cabot, I got the news that my Grandma had passed away in Huron. I immediately made plans to join Mom and Dad, and Becky in Huron for funeral services. Driving to Huron and back meant that I would be away from home Tuesday morning until Saturday afternoon. If you're doing the math, that means I was home for about 2 of the last 10 days. It was a long week. A hard one. But it's always good to see family. And unfortunately, funerals tend to bring everyone home. After we dropped Mom at the airport in Kansas City - Dad, Becky and I got back to Fayetteville Saturday just in time for supper with my boys.
So at home, things are more or less back to normal. Well, they will be as soon as I get our taxes filed and figure out who taught Colt to giggle when he passes gas.
Outside, however, is a different story. Schools were closed again late last week as we had ICE STORM v.2010. Ugh. Nowhere near the damage of last year. But what a pain. And quite possibly the most snow I have seen in Fayetteville in the 10 years I've lived here. Look here, Mother Nature, I REALLY need my family to get back to school and work so let's play nice this week, huh?
I honestly don't know why it still knocks me off track when things aren't "normal". When's the last time I had two normal days in a row? Ha. Certainly not in the last month! 2010 has been quite the whirlwind so far. I purposely made only one quantifiable New Year's Resolution this year - no french fries. No french fries in 2010. Which seemed OK until it dawned on me about halfway through January that "no french fries" would certainly mean "no cheese fries". I lost a little bit of steam at that point, but I still haven't broken it. Though, let me be clear that I'm certainly not on any kind of health food kick. In the interest of full disclosure, I confess that so far in 2010 I have eaten a Frito Burrito at each of threedifferent restaurants -- and now that I think of it, in three different states! *BIG sigh*
I KNOW I've mentioned my unhealthy obsession with love for Frito Burritos here before. And it's not going anywhere. Last week I mentioned it to a coworker and she sent me the link for Hungry Girl. Evidently, there's a website out there that is trying to destroy me is focused on providing fun, realistic food advice to people like me. And Hungry Girl recently posted on this very topic! Her post not only divulges the nutritional information for the Sonic version - don't worry, I looked away - but it also gives a recipe for an alternative, healthier version. But in my rudimentary food experience I have learned that the "low cal" version rarely holds a candle to The Real Thing. And what am I saving those arteries for anyway? I think eating the turkey-chili-fat-free-cheese version might break my spirit.
And then this past week I discovered that both Taco John's (in South Dakota) and Taco Bell (in Missouri somewhere... in a truck stop...) now have their versions of the Frito Burrito. What can I say? I'm weak. What I lack in physical strength, punctuality, and patience for grammatical errors I make up for in taste bud intensity. It's a curse. If only I could find a way to put a productive spin on this. I'm more than willing to sacrifice myself for the greater good that is market research. Maybe I could travel the country - the world! - testing different versions of Frito Burritos. I could write a book. I could be my own twisted and slightly pathetic version of a food critic. Oh, wouldn't my parents be proud.
But hey! No french fries!
And as for Resolutions, if the 'french fries' thing doesn't work out I always have the usual backups:
Get more sleep and/or go to bed earlier. RIGHT. And besides, sometimes my most productive minutes of the day are between the hours of 10pm and 1am.
Lose weight and/or eat healthier. aka - Finally fit back into that other half of my closet I try not to think about too much and try even harder to casually overlook while I get dressed in the morning. But oh yeah, there's the Frito Burrito thing. Dang.
Save money. *Another BIG sigh*
I better get started.
And with that, I wash my hands of you, January. Nice knowin' ya. And to you, February, best of luck.
I know. It's cheesy and cliche. But that doesn't make it untrue.
a time to be born, and a time to die.
We are leaving today to head into the icy tundra that is Northwest Arkansas. We've spent the week in Huron, South Dakota visiting family and friends, and honoring and remembering my Grandma Martin. Though things like Facebook and this blog seem to shorten the miles between us sometimes, it is so nice to see and hug the people you love. This family of Martins is scattered literally across the world, but it's always cool to see them back "home" in Huron.
My favorite moment of the week was during the Rosary service Wednesday night. While the priest spoke about my Grandma and her role as a mother and grandmother, and how important it is to remember and honor that huge part of her life, I couldn't help but be a little distracted by my cousin Kimberly's new baby Connor, cooing in the aisle across from me. I thought about how cool it was that during this service to honor my Grandma who spent her life raising 10 children and loving on her 20 grandchildren and nearly as many great-grandchildren, that the happy sound of one those little lives could be heard amongst the priest's words. We were there because my Grandma is no longer here with us, but here was this little baby, Grandma's newest great-grandchild, right there with the rest of the family as they remembered and mourned their Mom, Grandma, Aunt, Sister, and Friend.
Funerals aren't my favorite. Obviously. But this week has been a time of visiting with family, telling old stories, looking through photos, and making some new memories.
a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.
We (Mom, Dad, Becky and I) arrived in Huron, South Dakota a few hours ago and will be here all week to visit family and attend memorial services in honor of my Grandma who passed away Friday night. Be thinking about the Martins this week as we are together from all over the world to celebrate the life of a very special lady.
Four Generations. December 2008. Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The first time Grandma Martin met her (then!) newest great-grandchild. (Colt - 6 months old)
________________________________________
Jean Martin, age 87, of Huron, died Friday, January 22, 2010, at Huron Regional Medical Center. Her funeral mass will be celebrated at 11 AM Thursday, January 28, 2010, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church with the Rev. Terry Anderson as celebrant. Burial will be in the St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery at Cavour. Visitation will be from 1 to 8 PM Wednesday, January 27th at the Kuhler Funeral Home with a Scripture Service and Rosary at 7 PM, led by the Rev. Shane Stevens. Memorials may be directed to the Presentation Sisters of Aberdeen or the Holy Trinity Catholic School.
E. Jean O’Rourke Martin was born October 24, 1922, at Mobile, Alabama, to Michael Vincent and May (Stockman) O’Rourke. She grew up in Mobile and graduated from Murphy High School. She was employed at Brookley Army Air Field in Mobile after graduation, where she met her future husband, Edmund Thomas Martin. They corresponded during the war and were married on March 4, 1946, shortly after his return to the United States.
Jean and Edmund lived in Granby, Colorado for a little more than two years before moving to Huron in 1948. They made Huron their home, where Jean soon became a busy mother raising her children, and an active volunteer in P.T.A., and Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. She taught piano lessons, including lessons to all of her daughters.
Jean returned to work outside the home after her children were older and was employed for many years at the Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service, now the Natural Resources Conservation Service. She volunteered as a Pink Lady for many years through the Huron Regional Medical Center Auxiliary, and also was a volunteer in the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, the Huron Concert Association and the Huron Symphony League. A member of Holy Trinity Catholic Parish, she was active in parish activities, including Catholic Daughters and the Altar Society. Jean was also a member of the Y.W.C.A., TOPS, the Huron Area Senior Center and PEO Chapter CH.
Jean enjoyed playing Scrabble and in addition to her membership in a local Scrabble club and the National Scrabble Association, she competed in state Scrabble. She was a world traveler and had traveled to many locations in Europe and Asia, and had most recently walked on the Great Wall of China.
Jean was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Edmund; her son, Paul; three grandsons, Mark Wigington, Tom Martin and Sherlock Hirning Jr.; three brothers; and two sisters.
She is survived by her children, Katherine (Richard) Wigington of Huron, Edmund “Frank” (Candis) Martin of San Antonio, Texas, David (Susan) Martin of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, John of Sioux Falls and (Sheryl) Martin of Vermillion, Marie (Dr. Sherlock) Hirning of Chadron, Nebraska, Elaine (Jon) Hilton of Huron, Daniel (Diana) Martin of Derwood, Maryland, Janet Sargent of Mitchell, Nebraska, and Brian (Sang Ju) of Aviano, Italy; her daughter-in-law, Robyn Martin of Phoenix, Arizona; 20 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law Betty Bergstrom of Huron and Audrey O’Rourke of Grand Island, Nebraska; her brother-in-law, Robert Still of Mobile, Alabama; and many nieces and nephews.
I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do. - Helen Keller
My cousin Alex Martin lives in Maryland with his parents Dan (my dad's younger brother) and Diana. He recently launched Alex's Art Loft as a place to tell his story and showcase his artwork, and I am blown away. Alex is only 16 years old and is such an inspirational guy.
I am a person with autism who uses art to communicate. The art on the cards in my loft dates back to 1999 when I was only 6 years old. I have created artwork using many mediums, such as pastels, paint, chalk, markers, mosaics, fabric, stencils, stamps, and more. Last year I worked with charcoal and tolerated the black dust which got all over me. Since I have sensory problems, this was a breakthrough!
His site features his artwork and you can purchase his prints on everything from cards and invitations to mugs and t-shirts. And a portion of all proceeds goes to the organization of your choice. And you can even send his artwork as an email greeting for free. Very cool.
This is my favorite - it's called "Inside a Kaleidoscope":
Alex created a special card for Valentine's Day this year - to honor Tom. There's a really sweet Valentine's Day story behind it, but you'll have to go to Alex's website for the details. In the meantime, here's "Remembering Tom":
Here's another favorite:
And here it is on my squirt:
Be sure to check out the site at http://alexartloft.org/ and his fan page on Facebook. There are many more designs and he's always adding new ones -- and don't forget to sign the guestbook to let him know you dropped by!
Disability is not a brave struggle or 'courage in the face of adversity.' Disability is an art. It's an ingenious way to live. - Neil Marcus
So I feel like I may have slacked a little on the holidays this year and I can't quite put my finger on it. Let's see, I spent Thanksgiving - the unofficial kickoff of the holiday season - in sunny Africa. Which just kinda started off Holiday Season 2009 on a different page than years past. I must have been relying on Turkey Day for "the spirit" more than I realized. I got back from my trip just in time for December and I felt so behind. I hadn't started my shopping, I hadn't decorated the house. The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas always seems to fly by in a blur of parties and baking and shopping and traveling -- and I couldn't quite keep up.
I convinced myself that a tree was not in the cards for us this year. Honestly, I didn't think it would be any fun for Colt to have to stare at a big, beautiful, shiny, blinking, dangling temptation every day for a month but get his hands spanked every time he indulged. So we didn't put up a Christmas tree. I did put up our stockings - which are one of my favorite things about Christmas anyhow. And we went to visit Santa. We didn't go completely humbug.
This time of year always carries with it a kind of heightened level of emotion. Families are together. Or not. It's the end of one year, beginning of the next so it's a perfect time to reflect on both the memorable and forgettable moments of the past twelve months and beat yourself up about them. And this year, the emotion was not lost on me. I teared up at each and every clip I saw of a deployed soldier wishing his family back home a Merry Christmas. And I subjected myself to the last ten minutes of Marley & Me about seven times. What a mess.
And on top of everything. The Pampers - Silent Night TV spot. It absolutely melts me into a pathetic little puddle of mush. And I usually see it twelve hundred times around the holidays. But this year - nothing. Not once. You know, this should actually be at the top of the list of pathetic reasons I feel like The Grinch this year. I didn't get my regular injection of peaceful widdle sweeping babies.
Told you.
So anyway. I am committed. Christmas 2010 will be different. We will decorate a tree. We will go see Christmas lights and leave cookies for Santa. We will take pictures in our jammies. Next year, Colt will be old enough to really get into things and I look forward to seeing the magic of Christmas through a whole new set of eyes.
***
Now that I've put a good, solid damper on things -- let's try to refocus. Despite my, ahem, minimalist attitude about Christmas this year, we had a holiday full of family and fun and memories.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! "Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas... perhaps... means a little bit more."
We left on the 22nd for Hood Christmas in Arkadelphia. It is the only time of year that all the Hoods get together in one place and these days there are 14 of us! The Atlanta Hoods made it to town right before us and we attended the 2nd Annual Holiday Steak Night at the Teeds'. Last year, Frank and John grilled steak for everyone (they kindly grilled me a chicken breast) and it was such a big hit that I believe it's here to stay.
Several months back I innocently suggested to Sarah and Lynn that we attempt a family photo at Christmas this year as the last time a photo was taken of all the Hoods was at Pop and Grandmother's 50th anniversary in 2004. Well I guess that's not even true because there's a photo of all of us at our wedding in 2006. Either way, it was high time. Little did I know how entertaining taking a photo of 14 people could be! We should do it EVERY year! If I had thought about it I would have been taking photos OF the photo taking - priceless! We don't have proofs yet, but of course I'll post them when I get them.
Colt was pretty excited about being allowed to rip things apart when it came time to open presents. It didn't take him too long to get the hang of it. Santa (and Aunt Lynn, Aunt Sarah, Courtney, and Grandmother!) was very good to him this year and we had a lot of fun.
That cellphone was a gift from Aunt Sarah. I have no idea how he knows how to hold it... so accurately...
Colt has been all about the kitchen lately, mostly trying his hardest to sit or stand in the 10 inch space between my feet at all times. I can't blame him. The kitchen has all kinds of interesting noises and smells and stuff to bang together. And Grandmother was more than happy to oblige. Here they are making meringue.
Colt spent most of his time chasing Grandmother around the kitchen or dancing up and down the hallway to the music pouring out of the Barney music game Grandmother left out for him. Quite the musical little guy. Once he figured out how to push the buttons and turn the pages on Barney - it was all over. I love that you don't have to teach babies to dance. They just bounce their little bottoms and wave their hands. Adorable.
The weather was downright crappy while we were in Arkadelphia. It literally rained the entire time.
See Arkansas in there, under all the "weather"? See the part where the yellow circle of Severe T'Storms Possible overlaps the red circle of Flash Flooding Possible? Yeah, that would be Arkadelphia. It rained over 10 inches in the 48 hours we were there. TEN. INCHES. And it was getting worse. The forecast for late on the 24th was looking like snow as we approached Northwest Arkansas so we loaded up and tried to beat the weather back to our house.
We made it back before it started snowing, and we woke up to the first White Christmas for Fayetteville since the 70s. Christmas Day was nice and quiet at our own house. We napped a little and played in the snow a little. Merry Christmas, Buddy!
The next day (the 26th) Grandma and Grandpa Martin and Aunt Becky arrived from San Antonio to celebrate the second half of Christmas! That night Grandma and Grandpa helped Santa assemble Colt's new tricycle.
And the next morning was another round of presents and wrapping paper and BOWS!
Aunt Laura sent Colt some shakers from Botswana. They are used in traditional Setswana dancing, wrapped around your feet. I think Colt is definitely getting the hang of them...
Grandma and Grandpa were able to stay for several days and it was so nice to get to visit with them. I missed their visit in November while I was in Africa so I hadn't seen them in a few months. And they got to spend a few days spoiling the little guy.
Grandma Martin thinks it is borderline child abuse that we don't give Colt baths. (He takes showers with Jeff. I don't remember who told us about this technique but we've done it since day one and it is CRAZY efficient.) So. Guess what Colt got for Christmas from Grandma!
And Grandpa's contribution. Always with the coffee. Over the course of a few days, Grandpa taught Colt how to use our coffeemaker. (And everyone knows you have to wear protective gear when making coffee.)
A lot of good food and a few movies later it was time for Grandma and Grandpa to head home. Merry Christmas everyone!
(We had to go over to Becky's apartment to take our family photo in front of a Christmas tree.)
***
Dear Santa,
I wasn't very good this year, but I sure appreciate all the laughs you sent me anyway. It's all I truly wanted for Christmas this year and you delivered - as always.
