And So It Begins

So, I've decided to put into action my goal to "one day" run a marathon. I'm now training to run a marathon on Jan. 3rd just outside of Las Vegas (so Jenny and Betsy, I sure do hope to see you guys while I'm there!!). In any case, I've only been training for a couple of weeks now, but so far, so good.
Or as good as it can be considering I have to train the whole time while pushing both Izak and Landon. And let me tell you, more than the physical pushing of the two is the constant mediating between them. But, the other day, I had a non-mediation run with the boys and I swear I ran 5 minutes/mile faster!

Let me give you a little glimpse into how it is running with Izak and Landon....

Pant, Pant, "Izak, keep good space", Pant, Pant, "Izak, you need to keep good space", Pant, Pant, "Izak if you keep good space we can go swimming (or to the park or watch a movie or get a cookie....) when we get home", Pant, Pant, "Izak, remember you're trying to earn your reward", Pant, Pant, "Izak, if you don't stop pushing (or touching or smashing or hitting) Landon you're going to have to have a time out when we get home", Pant, Pant, "Izak, stop touching Landon right now" (In not the most pleasant voice ever).

Times that by 100 and you've got the idea. Seriously. But we've got to do something while Dave is at school for 12 hours a day, right?

My Nose Is Growing

I've never understood those parents that lie to their children. You know, like about Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny, stuff like that...
So a couple of weeks ago Dave taught Izak that if he yells "Alicazip" it will open/close the garage door. So anytime we're going somewhere now, Izak will yell "Alicazip" and the garage door magically opens/closes. Well, the other day I was in the kitchen and I heard Izak in the garage yelling "Alicazip" over and over again. Each time Izak yelled "Alicazip" he got louder and louder trying to convince that door to close. A few minutes later, Izak finally came in with a confused look of defeat on his little face. He explained to me that he had been yelling "Alicazip" to close the garage door but it wouldn't close and inquired as to why it wasn't working. So, I told him the truth.
He OBVIOUSLY wasn't yelling loud enough.

Battered Brother Syndrome

I'm afraid Landon has Battered Brother Syndrome (BBS in the DSM-IV for all you LCSWs out there). Izak knocks him around time after time, but Landon just keeps going back to him. For example, this morning Izak kicked him so he was sent to his room for time out. Within 30 seconds Landon had crawled over to Izak's closed door and was knocking on it to have Izak let him in the room. Like I said, Battered Brother Syndrome.

Nomads No More

After being homeless for way too long, we have finally settled into our new home. We're super excited about our new house as it has many features that we have never before experienced. Here are some of the highlights of our new home, just to name a few:
1. 2 car garage
2. a fenced back yard
3. a walk in closet
4. bathrooms INSIDE the home
5. washer/dryer
6. running water

The list could go on, but you get the picture...speaking of pictures, here are a few (okay, a lot-so you don't have to check them out if you don't want to as I'm sure we're more excited about our new home than you are-so we won't be offended)...


Don't be fooled, it's only clean because of my lack of cooking abilities


You know you've never had a dining room table when your 3-year-old says you're having a party every time you eat at the table instead of the counter


Dave's throne


Landon's not even sleeping in the bottom bunk yet, but has already fallen off more times than I can count


Spare bedroom for when YOU come to visit us!


Where Dave will learn how to become a doctor


Our dresser weighs 400 lbs alone-no joke!


Our couches passed the test-Dave's mom sat on them instead of the floor!


Monkey bathroom for the monkey boys


Our patio (in the backyard)-Dave's perfected the art of grilling


Izak and Dave's babysitter

Do It Or Else...

You'd think I'd be a posting fool with no job and a husband home to help all the time, but apparently instead I'm just a slacker...I promise I'm going to post an update of our lives here in the sweltering heat of AZ with pictures of our new place later this week, but figured I need a little motivation to post, so here it is, unless I get 10 responses to this post, I'm throwing in the towel, writing this blogging thing off, and turning my back on the world, that's right, you heard me, now get a postin'!

Here are the directions....

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I have together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember...

Well, what are you waiting for? Do you really want me to stop blogging? I mean, what would you do with all your free time if you didn't have this AMAZINGLY interesting blog to read? Seriously, start writing!

And the misery continues...

I've been thinking lately about the lame situation the Sargeant put us in, and decided that it would be important to document how much he has really messed up this time. And of course, everyone knows, there's no better documentation than pictures. So, here are a few pictures that show just how much we continue to suffer due to that dang Sargeant:


Izak and Landon being forced to play at the pool with their cousins Mara, Asher, & Eden


Child labor laws being broken-poor Izak had to help Papa drive the tractor for hours


Don't be fooled by the smiles in this one-anyone that knows my dad knows that just having to spend time with him is pure TORTURE


My Grandma & Grandpa Lloyd said if we didn't visit them, they'd take us out of their inheritance


Dave's Grandma & Grandpa Mellot shoved our favorite candy down our throats while we were there


Unfortunately, I did not have my camera available for these other incidents, but they were just as traumatizing as the other recorded events:
*Visited my long lost best friend (we were best friends from 6th grade through my senior year of high school)
*Visited Jenna and Kevin in Boise and had to eat a bunch of good food and play fun games
*Had no choice but to eat my mom's amazing cooking morning and night

That Sargeant picked the wrong people to mess with!

Moping Around with Nothing To Do

So, for those who don't know, the lovely Sargeant with whom we've had the privilege to work, once again decided to play a trick on our little family. Yep, that's right, Dave did not end up going to Officer Training. This means that we are homeless and incomeless (good word isn't it?!) for quite a while. So, in true Martell fashion, we've been mourning our awful situation as we hope you will for us too. We've been having an awful time, cursing the name of the Sargeant and living in a cardboard box. See for yourselves...


Bryce Canyon


Zion National Park


We decided to torture ourselves by going to Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, St. George, Las Vegas (where we got to meet up with one of my favorite people ever-Betsy!), Park City, floating down the Provo River, and we'll be leaving for Oregon on Friday. As you can tell, our lives have been RUINED by that dang Sargeant!