A few photos

Here are a few photos of us and the girls. If you notice Madisen's picture, she is displaying one of the many looks she has.

We went to the orchard on Saturday and had a great time. Morgan(man child) was jumping off some hay mound. She launched herself from about five feet of the ground into some soft hay at the bottom. It was fun to watch her.

Do Things Only Come in Threes?!

This past week has been a challenging one. On Tuesday, I lost my wedding band. The following day I was in a fender-bender. Sunday, I locked the keys in the car. I trust that will be all that comes my way for a little while at least.

I did not think that losing my wedding ring would be that big of a deal. It is only a 60 or 70 dollar ring. It really does mean a tremendous amount to me. I have torn apart the couch. I did have a knife out ready to cut the bottom of the couch to retrieve the lost ring, but pulled a few staples instead. Carla got excited about me finding a little figurine that goes with some sweet street play house. It is NOT her toy; it is the girls toy?! I have yet to find that illusive ring. I have searched high and low for the thing.

Wednesday, my following someone closely during a heavy traffic time for many years took its toll. I did not do much damage to the other vehicle and they are willing to let me pay for the repairs out of my own pockets which are very deep. They called on Saturday to tell me that it would only be $250. A message was cut short on our answering machine from Myron about his repairs. It does not sound like good news. I have not called back, yet.

Sunday morning, I was praying at the beginning of Sunday School and had my hand in my pocket when I realized there was only the set of church keys. I called my wife out of class to see if they were in the car. Yes!!! They were in the ignition. A man at church has AAA and called and got the keys out for free. PTL.

On top of all this, I still have three motorcycles. One will get no attention until I sell another one. The one I have been monkeying with is running worse that when I got the thing. I am not too happy about it right now. Don't tell Carla, but I just emailed a man about a fourth motorcycle. It is only $25. If I can get my hands on this one, I can part it out and then have no problem taking the shotgun to the motorcycle that is not cooperating with me!!! :)

One last thing. Is it me or am I really out number in my home? I am attempting to make Morgan my man-child, but that is not working out as I planned. She is quite emotional at times. The youngest has already learned "the look" from her mother. Sunday morning while I was giving her sustanence, I did something that did not bode well with her and was pierced through with the look. I have seen the look a few times before, but was not sure if it were the look or maybe something else. I had always hoped that it was something else. I was sorely mistaken. She works every angle of being a girl. She cries at the drop of a hat. She can give you that look which causes a father to give pause and reconsider if I really want to chasten this poor little thing.

Three is a good number. Let us all hope that it is sufficient for my little world. Think good and happy thoughts!!! I can not get my post to check my spelling or grammar. You do need to know that Carla had not part in writing this.

LIFE CHANGES

You can tell that Carla and I do not take pictures with the girls very often. It is usually the girls that get all the action. I am adding a picture that was taken a year ago. I will have to warn you that the outfit Morgan is wearing is not my doing. Grandma Ree is trying to ruin my oldest daughter by putting a wretched cheerleader outfit on her. She will not be allowed to be a cheerleader while she is living at home. If she decides to get in the way of fans attempting to watching a game while at college, that is her prerogative. We do need to get an updated picture.

Oh, we did have one taken a few weeks ago. I was doing my Silly Sid character (a.k.a. Jerry Lewis) for a Sunday School Bus promotion. I kept the families that came to church for the picture entertained while they waited for their pics. After everyone was through, the photographer asked if we wanted ours taken. The picture revealed that my girls, all three, are possessed and I am a recovering drug addicted. Their eyes are glowing orange and I am definitely on some kind of downers or something. It is really bad.

Another reason I attempt to avoid the camera is that I am showing way too much forehead. Yes, I am admitting the fact that I am going bald. Hopefully completely bald by the time that I am forty so I can walk around with a sucker in my mouth all day and noone would even dare say a word about it. What?! Yes, my hair is chasing my back these days. I rarely wear a winter coat anymore. I don't really need one. I do frighten small children at the pool and few men will even pat me on the back when I hit a ball well at softball games.

I am loosing some hearing, but I still hear those softly spoken comments like Big Foot's brother, or Co Co has a relative. My students love me asking several times for an answer to be repeated. Dare they say even the softest of comments to one another and I nip it in the bud.

I am still recovering from a fall while playing flag football for p.e. two weeks ago. The elbow is still quite tender. I don't seem to move quite as quickly as I remember.

Things like food now get me quite excited and a nap is a cherished Sunday treat.

Life is grand. I see the new vigor of my girls and get excited to see what they will become. Hopefully a little bit more like their mother. I am tired. I might have to retire soon!

Good night.

First Entry

All is going well in the Martens' home. We have to very spirited girls. I am learning very quickly that neither of the girls are like their mother. The girls will cry at the drop of a hat and will become emotional very easily when tired. I asked Carla what has happened and she had no answers. I will definitely attempt to work at keeping their crying over "nothing" to a minimum. We are very thankful for our girls. Our oldest is being an example to our youngest, sometimes a good one and other times a not so good one. Madisen is talking like crazy. She is apparently filled with the Spirit, because she speaks in tongues quite often.

I now am a proud owner of a motorcycle or two or three. I have one that works and two that don't. I being the great entrpenuer have decided to buy a couple of bikes and turn around and make money on them. Ha! Ha! I should have listened to my father-in-law. I have enjoyed riding the one bike. The weather this summer has allowed me to put over 2000 miles on the one bike. I have yet to just go riding with my Harley group. :)

Carla has spent the summer buying clothes to look at. She intended to have Morgan's wardrobe taken care for the next year, but Morgan is pushing a size 5 already. She is only supposed to be in a size 3/4. She grew a 1/2 in. from June to September. WOW! She loves to be read to and has learned how to ride a bike that has training wheels. She believes she is going to marry Jackson Schoonover. I am keeping my eye on that boy. We are teaching her that all boys are yucky except daddy and grandpa.

Madisen has learned how to walk down the stairs, sometimes faster than she planned. She is learning to be more adventurous. I now am able to throw her in the air and she loves it. A month or two ago she would get worried when I would throw her up.

I am teaching several classes in school. I teach 6th grade Math, 7th grade Math and Health, 7/8th Science, 9/10 Science, and jr. hi. and sr. hi. p.e. I am busy, but I am enjoying working with young people.

Well, I better sign off. Thank you for reading my first blog.