Asha

Has new photo's she took on her blog. Check them out...at your own risk...

Attempt #2

What about if we all tried to get together the weekend of the 20-22nd of June??? I think I talked to most of you and you acted like you thought it would work. I have a few more to contact but thought I would give it a try here. Anyway, try and plan for it. Also, just a little reminder that newsletters are coming up to be due...

Martins of AL or MO

Hey Mom
Are we related to any Martins from AL or MO?

Jellys at the beach

We went to the beach yesterday. When we got there Santa Monica animal control was there. She said there had been a report of a jellyfish. Okay. I thought they didn't come ashore around here much, although in the gulf you do have a problem with them. Saw lots of dolphins really jumping around. Then about an hour later, sure enough, there was a washed up jelly fish about the size of a dinner plate, on the beach. I flipped it over so it's tentacles were under it and the boys and gathering crowd had fun touching the top of it. We then got a bucket and threw it away. Didn't want someone to step on it. Didn't have my camera, but it was clear, and you could see a bit of colored parts in the middle, but not much as it was dead. I would've thought it to be gooier than it was. As it was the top was quite solid and rubbery feeling.

Just so everyone who doesn't know

knows. We are having a boy.

Happy Birthday Chester!!!!

I guess you now realize that you are the age your mother was when we all moved to Idaho approx. 30 years ago. You were only two and quite a handful! I know everyone tells you that you were the "unwanted" child but that is by no way true. I just was not quite ready to be pregnant again at that time but I soon learned that that was what Heavenly Father wanted me to do. In fact you and Truman are amost exactly two years apart, further than any of the others. And because Dad had moved to Sedalia and I was still in Waynesville trying to sale a home, and with the four other children I was induced about three weeks early. I had gone up to visit Dad and was staying in a trailer with these four little ones that would not leave the phones alone, we still had operators that would answer them when picked up back then. All I wanted to do was have a baby so finally Dr. Stockwood decided he could induce me. I know I was not in labor very long and when it was time for your delivery Dad was busy at the office and could not come over so I delivered alone, again. He came over soon after delivery and as I was nursing you for the first time I had been talking to Dad, not paying much attention to you, and when I looked down you had turned blue. Dad called for the nurse and a stethoscope. The nurse took you back to the nursery where they removed a mucous plug from your nose and you were fine after that. You had these long eyelases. dark hair and blue eyes, I thought a really pretty baby. We did go back to Waynesville for a few days but by June we had moved to Sedalia where Dad bought us a home so we could move all together. You were a good baby and always happy. Happy Birthday to you and may your children bring you as much happiness as my children bring me. Luv Mom and Dad

Inside the Jazz Locker Room

IN between the wedding luncheon (Brett's brothers') and the reception we killed some time by going over to the Jazz Practice facility. The kids had fun putting on the players shoes, considering most of them are atleast a size 12 to 17. Kyle Korver has an inscription of Prov 3:5-6 (he is pretty religious) so I got a pic of that and tan just loves AK 47 so he sat in his chair.

i gotta booger

Since no one else posts anything you get more baby pics

My Address

Mom,

New address is:

Blk 101
Pasir Ris Street 12
#04-01
Singapore 510101
Phone is +65 8189 9769

Memorial Day Weekend

So after finding out that a few of you are going to be out of town, and having some difficult with our own scheduling, I think that it might be better to reschedule the family get together for some other time. I don't like doing this, cause we haven't seen most of you for a few months now, but I think that it would be better. So let us know when would work and let's plan on that.

whoops

Sorry wrong week. I am going to the wedding on the 24th and I really hope to see you all on Memorial Day weekend not this one. (:

Redhead I have pics of your dear ones coming soon. (can't find my camera today) Sad to say we are down one cat. When we moved up her in January we brought our cat and within three weeks our cat, one of your cat's and Sierra all were gone. A sad month for pets. But the remaining are doing well. My kids give Suzie walks and play with her allot. She is so good she just runs around with them but never runs off. She thinks Truman is a little ify but is always ready for a belly rub from the rest of us. I would like to offer to care for Suzie for the rest of her days. It did not take long for Alyssa, Logan, well and me to fall completely in love. (Just a thought) Let me know when you are coming through.

For all of you coming this weekend let me know your plans. We were going to service the boat but after the snow fall on Monday we have reconsidered. We will have to do some other stuff. Like Bear World, Movies, and maybe if I can get it lined up some dirt biking. Truman and I have to go to Logan for a wedding on Saturday but the house is open for whoever.

NEWSLETTER

Newsletter deadline is June 1. Hope to hear from you all.

The Art of Sleeping

A Letter to my Neighbors

Here is a letter to my neighbors. Let me know what you think of it in general and if I should change the language of anything. If you don't know the situation then don't comment unless you feel enlightened.

Mrs Grutman:

I am writing this letter instead of talking to you face to face in an attempt to keep tempers under control. I want your harassing phone calls, messages, and yelling at my children to stop.

I have no doubt that you can hear us when we are home as we can hear EVERYTHING that you do upstairs. I can hear your cats jumping off of furniture and playing, we hear snoring from your bedroom at night, we hear every step you take, every time you flush the toilet, speaking, etc. It is not my problem that you have made a choice to live in a multi-family dwelling and on top of that one that not only is loud in general but seems to amplify every sound made. If one was to listen to you they would suppose that we do nothing but stomp around and yell and slam doors all day and night. This is completely untrue. There are three times as many of us that live here as there are of you upstairs. Mathematically that would mean we make three times as much noise as you do. You are complaining about every day living noises that I have no control over. Toys get dropped, kids sometimes don’t get along, chairs get pushed over or slid along the floor, things fall off of the bed, kids wait until the last minute to use the restroom and have to make a dash for it. This is all daily living noise and again, I have no control over that. Yes, occasionally my kids run in their home. Get over it. It is their home just as much as it is your and they can play in it and if I were a rude and uncaring neighbor I would let them run all of the time. As it stands, if someone runs I remind them to walk next time. Yes, occasionally a door gets slammed. Generally this is by the 2 year old who doesn’t know better. At best it happens once a day. Again, get over it. These things are your problem, not mine and I have done everything I am willing to do to accommodate you. I am not going to yell at my children or get onto them for playing and living in their own home just to make you happy at their expense.

Ironically, you tend to complain the most when we have been home the least. We have been so busy that we have been gone more than we have been home recently, and yet you still complain. If it was just my family that you have complained about I would be more sympathetic. But, as it is, you have complained about several of your neighbors including calling the police several times on the next door neighbors. What you fail to comprehend is that you are the one who has the problem. You complain about everyone around you, but no one else is complaining about them. No one is breaking the law. We are quiet after 10:00pm and are only up before 8:00am during the week when the kids have school. You live in a multi-family dwelling and therefore, between the hours of 8am-10pm you should expect to hear some noise from your neighbors.

You can vilify my family all you want. You are so totally unconnected to me that I just don’t care. We have continued to be polite and tried to keep the noise to a minimum. At first we were so concerned about your complaints that we took drastic steps in the house to try and keep you satisfied, but to no avail. Still, you complain and we were making ourselves and our children miserable. After speaking with the landlords we realized that this is our home too, and we need to feel comfortable and be able to live in our home as we see fit without worrying about a neighbor who is in your own words “sensitive to noise.” It still baffles me as to why you would live in a multi-family dwelling when you are so unable to cope with the sounds your neighbors make, not only in the same building as you but also next door.

As to your son coming home from school, again, I just don’t care. I am not subjecting him to anything and if you think he is more exhausted than my husband who works 12-15 hours a day on average, then comes home and has to listen to the noise your family makes over our heads, you are quite mistaken. We hear everything you do, including putting your shoes on first thing in the morning when you get up, and clomping around in them. Your noise level has increased drastically over the months, and we can only assume it is in an attempt to “get even” or make us uncomfortable. We haven’t complained about this, or said anything about it. We understand that we are living in a multi-family dwelling and we expect that we will hear some noise from who ever lives above us. We however, have done nothing of the sort and have continued to try and be polite and accommodate you to a reasonable level. We have put off saying anything in response to your complaints in an effort to keep the peace, but enough is enough. I want you to stop harassing me, stop leaving me messages on my door, and above all stop yelling at my children. If you have a problem with something they are doing you can come down and talk to me, but you will not yell at them. They have every right to be in the back yard playing. If you don’t like it shut your window, or go sit in your front room so you don’t have to hear them. I would also suggest you invest in some earplugs, or move into a quiet retirement community, or better yet, a single family dwelling where you share no walls or ceilings/floors with anyone.

We will be moving shortly and while I would never wish anyone ill, I can only hope that the next tenants here are the sort that really don’t care about your wishes, play loud music during all hours of the day and night, have wild parties with their friends late into the evening, play the drums or are in a band, etc. You get the point. I have mailed a copy of this letter to our landlords to keep them abreast of the situation.

To the Mom of all of Us

Mom,
Wow, really what can we say about you? You have truly been a shining star in all of our lives. You have taught us many things in life, by example, by patience and by long suffering. You are a woman of value, who understands her calling in life and has been willing to sacrifice for the love of your children. As Elder Ballard said in his recent conference talk, Daughters of God, "the joy of motherhood comes in moments". I am sure that is how you have felt on numerous occassions . I know I have. I love that I can now know what you dealt with on numerous occassions and relate to being a mother. It truly is a feat to have to raise children, and you did it with 8 of us!!! (plus a few here and there). Thanks for all you do, for being the example that you are and for showing us love unconditionally. We love and appreciate you!!!

Happy Mother's Day

Bouquets of Flowers to you all. These are pictures taken at the Botanical Gardens a week ago. Chris do you recognize the purple flower?

I thought I was posting on this site and actually I was on Chris'. So my Mother's Day wish to all is found on her site. Luv to all. MOM

Ari

is now one week old!! where does the time go. eats like a little piggy and already sleeping 7-8 hours a night. Mommy is happy with this.

my life is so boring and im not sure why im posting this and some other random news and i also wonder how long this title can be.... hmmm

im bored. my life is boring. and it just so happens that we are staying past 2 weeks into june, according to the ward choir leader, because my mom still has to play until then. bravo.
oh great, more cousins. my mom is taking a nap and there isnt really anyone here at the mo. i think they all died. my homework is also very boring and i hate my geom teacher. cant wait to see you all. just kidding. HEY WHO EVER IS AT GRANDPARENTS HOUSE HOW ARE MY ANIMALS?! yeah if you could call me and let me talk to my dog, that would be great. if my brothers watch curious george one more time, off with their heads. But i like the music on it (its jack johnson by the way.. you should check it out). The end.

I like my brother!!

Asha finally decided she liked having a little brother and spent an hour demanding to hold him. She even pushed him back to the baby room (nursery) in his wheel barrow (cot). Here are some photos of brother and sister.

Check out photos Asha took on her blog.

He's Here!!

Little Ari Ethan joined us at 450 am Singapore time. Pris was 41 + weeks, so we decided to go the induction route again. She went really fast; from 4 to 10 in about 15 minutes once labor kicked in. Ari weighs 8lbs 1 oz, has light brown hair and not sure on the eye color. Both mom and son are resting at the moment.

HAPPY B-DAY Quentin 2

Happy birthday. It is about time we can see a picture of how big you have gotten. Hope Mom and Dad make you a big cake for the occasion. We love you all. GM

Birthday Wishes and Baby?

Happy Birthday CALEB!!! Tell your parents to let you eat as much frosting as you want.

John, have you had the baby yet??? Mom called a few days ago and thought Pris was in labor but I have yet to see a post, or pictures of your baby for that matter. Any news?

For Sarah