Carlsbad, California..... Another Hall Family Adventure (aka. Martin Family Adventure)

Brian and Jill, out of the goodness of their hearts, invited the Martin family up to Carlsbad, California to spend a week all together in a beach house. The main purpose of the trip was to give their four children the California theme park experience. Nineteen of us, everyone on the Martin side except for Russell and Nicole, packed into the four bedroom house for the week and got set for fun. We enjoyed eating, talking, laughing, card games, movies, sleep, the beach, and theme parks. Among the list of parks that various family groups attended were Wildlife Safari, Disneyland, Legoland, and SeaWorld. There was never a dull moment and I feel confident that everyone had a great time all together. Thanks once again Jill and Brian for the great trip.

While visiting Cameron and Rachel's house we took some family pictures. Here is Mom and Dad Martin

Ethan and Andrew

Brian, Jill, Andrew, Lizzy, Sophie, and Ethan

Cameron, Rachel, and Baby Candice

Andrew and Michelle

Brett and Dy

Nettie

Chelsea

The Six sisters all together

Ethan playing whatever card game he wants

Sofie with Aunt Michelle giving her Poker face

Lombard Street

Streets of San Francisco

Some of the Amazing Lego cities

Look some buffalo

Ethan and I on the Safari

Ethan Driving the Lego Safari truck

Easter with the Cardon's

So my parents came up to Utah for my nephew Jacob’s baptism. We had fun spending time with them as well as with Christin’s family. Since it was Easter weekend Michelle and I decided to make Easter dinner for the family, with the help of Grandma and Grandpa Woolley. Now when the Martin’s get together food is always in abundance and we do a good job of polishing most things off, now with that mentality we prepared the dinner for my family only to remember that my family all eat like birds. Needless to say we had a few leftover, but the time was spent talking and laughing. We took a quick photo and the parents headed out to the airport. With it being such a beautiful day Michelle and I, along with Nettie, Rachael, and Aubrey, went on a walk around the neighborhood and had fun taking some photos with Nettie’s new camera.

The Fam eating dinner

More of the Fam eating dinner

The Maxfield's and Cardon's

Andrew, Michelle, Aubrey, and Rachael on our Easter walk

Nettie, Michelle, Aubrey, and Rachael

The Sisters, Michelle, and Nettie... So Cute!

And then Andrew the brother with his weird sister, Rachael.

Wicked San Francisco

For Michelle’s 30th birthday we decided to go down to San Francisco and see Wicked. We had tried to get tickets in Utah, but when we realized it was still playing in California and you could get cheaper tickets we decided to make it a vacation and birthday celebration. We left on a Wednesday after Michelle got off of work, traveled half way, and then arrived Thursday early afternoon. We enjoyed a Vietnamese dinner and walk through the streets of San Francisco before going to WICKED. We were both excited. Michelle had seen it in New York and I, being a music lover, had heard the music over and over again. It was great to finally see the whole story in all of its glory. It was well worth the trip. The next few days were spent riding the trolley cars, shopping, Chinatown, Fisherman’s Warf, Ghirardelli Square, good food, and the list could go on. We enjoyed a visit from Michelle’s sister and brother-in-law along with his parents for a quick 24 hour visit along with being able to ride the trolley car down to church. We finished the trip with a visit to an old roommate’s house, Tim Fife and his wife Cami. After some homemade pizza, some Wii, talking, and then sleep, we were back on the road to return to real life.

Classic look of Michelle on vacations, the BAG woman

Our very expensive dessert before seeing Wicked

The theater where we saw Wicked

Us just before seeing Wicked

A look at the stage before Wicked starts

Michelle loved these flowers and just had to get a picture

Ding, ding, ding goes the Trolley

Michelle and I on the trolley. Michelle just loved singing the song (the above caption)

Michelle and I at the bottom of Lombard Street

Breakfast with Jill and Brian along with his parents

Michelle, Me, Brian, and Jill at there hotel before they left back to Oregon
Me at Golden Gate Park

Michelle by this cool bridge in Golden Gate Park

Michelle and I on the beach. It was windy.

Tennis

I am just finishing up my second round of tennis lesson. Nettie and I started last November and have loved every single minute of it. I look forward to every Saturday morning. Most of the teachers are tennis pros themselves and love teaching us. This round a few more of our friends joined us. This last Saturday, one of our coaches encouraged us to take this class 2-3 times. I like to think that I have gotten better but I am afraid that when I play a real game I will look like a fool. Anyways, it has been a lot of fun and I can’t wait for summer when I can play outside.

Happy Valentine's Day! ....... A Little Late

Saturday morning I woke up to the most wonderful surprise when I opened our bedroom door. There on the kitchen counter was the most beautiful bouquet of deep red roses and white gerber daisies. Andrew had left to work hours before and I had not expected anything from him. I was shocked and overcome with emotions. He made my day. I love him so much. I appreciate everything that he has done for me. He is always going out of his way to make sure that I am happy. I am so happy to be married to such a wonderful husband. Thanks again for everything you do for me. I LOVE YOU!

Beauty and the Beast

Andrew and I were able to see the production of Beauty and the Beast put on by Wood Cross High School. We were invited by one of the parents I work with in transplant. Her mother and mother-in-law were the directors and set managers and her little 5 year old daughter was in the play. The play was fantastic from start to finish.

There were a few bumps along the way- my favorite was the library scene were Belle is looking at a all of the books and the back drop came down late. I am amazed at their talent. I am grateful that they have amazing teachers who are willing to teach and coach them. Maddy was in several scenes including: the different town scenes as a little girl and also during the feast as an ice cube. She was so stinkin’ cute. You could tell she loved every minute of it. Her mom told me that from the minute she wakes up each day she begs her to take her to the high school for practice.

Jazz it Up!!!

So I hope everyone is impressed that it hasn't been months since our last blogging experience and that you only have one post to read instead of a billion.


So Tuesday night Dy and Brett called to let us know that they were given four tickets to the Jazz game and wanted to know if we could go. I was suppose to be in a class till 7:20pm, but I cut out at 6:30pm and met Michelle to go to the game. since we were going to count it as a date night we decided to go fancy and pick up some Wendy's on the way there. Don't worry we brought our Fun cash with us so we could make sure to continue to stay within our new budget. We ended up being about a half hour late for the game, but they were in the end of the first quarter when we sat down. Our seats were row 27 the best I have ever had, not that I have been to a lot of games, but when you are use to sitting two rows from the very back of the upper section anything would be better. Unfortunately the Jazz lost by a few points, but we enjoyed hanging out with Dy and Brett all the same. As we finished our five mile trek back to the car Michelle noticed a pink envelope on the windshield. We got a parking ticket for parking too close to a fire hydrant we didn't even know was there and for your information Michelle was the one that drove and parked. Needless to say $37 went down the drain. To celebrate our good fortune we decided that we would take a trip to San Francisco, CA to to see: WICKED and just have some fun. I have wanted to see it ever since Michelle introduced me to the music when we first met, with failed attempts to get tickets here in Salt Lake we decided to head out of town. That very night we purchased the tickets and that was that. Now we just have to figure out all that we are going to do the 4 days we will have in California. We don't want to do too much because we will be back in California two months later for a whole week in San Diego with Michelle's Family. We'll be sure to post about those adventures when the time comes. Other than that the only other thing is that if you noticed from the picture above I got glasses. Now according to the eye doctor I don't NEED the glasses or have to WEAR them because my vision is considered normal, but I am slightly near sided with a slight astigmatism that can make seeing at night, far away,or when I am tired a little problem and could bother me. Well, let me just say I am tired a lot and driving at night bothered me enough to pay to go to the doctor so I decided to get those fine glasses. Michelle came with me to help pick them out, but I ended up choosing the first pair I tried on. Although I don't need to wear them all the time the fact that people think I look smarter (maybe just in the right light), hotter (that's what Michelle says), and mature-er (I know hard to believe) gives me a little more reason to put them on, oh and the fact that things look clearer doesn't hurt either.

Another New Year...... Lots of posts!

So this post is just a few weeks late, but as those of you who follow our blog it isn't surprising that most of the events get posted at one time for hours of reading enjoyment......... Since I wrote that first line another month has almost past and it is really about time we get something up here. I have heard enough from others on how we need to give them something to look at so we have decided to get it done. Both Michelle and I, yes you heard right, Michelle included, will be writing posts and they will get posted today before midnight. I hope you find all the new ones and don't skip out on following our adventurous lives. If you are reading this post then just know that eight other posts are now up and ready featuring topics on: Michelle’s Bosch, booties, Thanksgiving in AZ, Martin Christmas party, graham cracker house making with the Maxfields, old roommate Christmas party, Candice Anne Martin’s baby blessing, Christmas Eve and Day, and Sledding. You won’t be disappointed. As this is a New Year I think my one New Year’s Resolution will be to blog on a more regular basis so you don’t have to go out of your minds wondering what we are up to. Let me know how I did at the end of this year.