Jessica & Michael are moving!!!

http://wordsinnyc.blogspot.com/


You can follow their blog at the link above. We wish them all the best and might have to pack up the kiddos and pay Aunt Jessica, Uncle Mike & Kitty Beef (their cat) a visit to the Big Apple :)

Good Luck guys! We love you!

Halloween Preview - 2009

Could be Mr. Tumnus... could be a cute little sheep ;) You will find out next month! :)

Erik & his little BEAR fans

To say Erik is a Chicago sports fan is putting it mildly. My husband is a HUGE Cubs, Bulls, Illini & Bears fan (anyone who has seen our basement can attest to this). He jokes that the girls are not allowed to wear any other team shirts besides Chicago teams - because he wants them to grow up Chicago fans. The EXCEPTION to this is Colorado State. Apparently the girls are allowed to wear the green & gold and support their Mom's University (thanks so much Erik). Needless to say with a lot of our family living in Illinois, the girls are supplied with many cute Chicago team outfits.

My wonderful family.

B-E-A-R-S!

Sorry this one is a little blurry - but look how cute my ladies are :)

Addy found an orange necklace somewhere, and kept asking me for a blue one to match her outfit. The poor kid hit her face on the coffee table Friday night - and got that little owie on her lip. :( Its almost 100% better!
Here is Avery telling us - she might be a Bears fan, but she will NOT support that BIG whiner Jay Cuttler that the Bears like to call their QB. Atta girl Turduckin!

Goodbye Dinner

Well on a sad note part of my family moved back to Dubai for another year overseas. We had a dinner last week to say goodbye to them and wish them well. Addison ADORES Jack & Tate. I love that she can actually interact with them, and they want to play with her and pick her up all the time.

Jack & Addison. Jack will be 6 at the end of October. He is super cute, and growing like a weed!! He just started Kindergarten!
Here is Addy with Aunt Tate. Tate turned 7 this past June and is such a sweetheart! Addison thinks she is fabulous (as you can tell from the picture). Tate is now in 2nd grade.

Super Model JP. I cannot believe how grown up my baby brother looks here!

The family @ Champps. Addison LOVES her Uncle Craig, and carries a picture of him in her purse. Its too cute!! If you ask Addy where her Pop-Pop is.. she will tell you "Pop-Pop is in Bye" (she is trying to say Dubai).

Addy & her Nana.

We miss you guys already! Glad you made it back safe!

Labor Day Weekend 2009 & Happy Anniversary to US!

First off - HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to my Erik!! We have been married 3 years today! Together for 7.5, married for 3, bought 2 houses, moved 4 times, both changed jobs, had 2 kids, 3 dogs.. and a partridge in a pear tree. ;) It has been a BUSY few years to say the least.. but wonderful! Erik and I have BIG plans for 2010 - no more pets, no more moving, no more changing jobs (if we can help it), no more kiddos - just a nice relaxing year with our friends & family. That is the plan anyway ;) HAPPY ANNIVERSARY BABES - I LOVE YOU DEARLY!!!

It was so nice to have a 3 day weekend!! It was gorgeous everyday and Addison spent most of it outside. She played on her slip n' slide most of Sunday (I forgot to take pictures :( ) and on Monday - Erik rigged up a water slide for Addison and she had a BLAST!!

Addy is getting so big - and it was amazing to watch her climb up the side of the play gym like she has been playing on it for years. I loved watching her, and seeing how happy just this little water slide made her ;)

Erik took this picture of the girls Sunday morning. Addison always wants to lay next to Avery and "take care of her". That is the latest thing; Addison will come up to me and tell me "Mommy - I will take care of my Avery" SO CUTE ;) Addison also placed that tiger on Avery. She is always giving her presents.

Martell Family Reunion 2009

A few weeks ago Avery and I flew to Savannah, GA to spend the weekend with my family. I haven't been to Savannah in YEARS, so it was wonderful to go out there - it brought back so many great memories from my childhood. It was also really important to me, for my Grandparents to meet Avery for the first time. Thanks a million to my Uncle Brad & Aunt Amy who made it possible for Avery and I to be there with everyone.

Avery was as AWESOME traveler!! I couldn't have asked for a better baby!! She didn't really sleep on the flights (much to my dismay) but she was super happy - and was a total sweetheart! We had a layover in Atlanta, and spent 3 wonderful days in Georgia.

Here are my grand-parents with my baby girl :) Addison & Avery are the only 2 Great-Grand children so far.

My wonderful Pop-Pop (and the reason - Avery has the middle name Frances)

My Dad & his brothers. My Uncles are HILARIOUS!! They are all super funny, and I think they are wonderful. From L-R: My Dad, Uncle Chris, Uncle Frank "Skeeter" & Uncle Brad.


We had a dinner for my grandparents at the club on Saturday night.

I love this picture of my Dad (Avery's Pop-Pop), Aunt Jessica & Miss Turduckin.


She is getting too darn big too fast!! She was hanging out with her Pop-Pop.

Avery & Pop-Pop.

My Brother In Law, Mike eating Scrapple for breakfast. This picture cracks me up because even though Michael looks disgusted.. he actually liked it. My Uncles decided they really wanted Scrapple for breakfast on one morning. When I asked what it was - I was told "mostly pork". If you know me - you would know this grosses me out beyond words!! I was then told when the butcher is done cutting the meat - they basically scrape all the left over bits (scraps) into a pot, and then package it - hence "Scrapple". You fry it up and eat it for breakfast. I could barely stomach the look of it (once I knew what it was). Apparently if you are thinking about trying Scrapple - you should dip it in maple syrup. At least that is what the word on the street is...

My cute cousins ;) From L-R: Hannah (holding Avery), Molly, Harrison & Christian. Molly & Hannah live in Bradenton, FL. Christian goes to Seton Hall and is a Sophomore this year, and Harrison lives in Greenwich, CT. I miss these guys!!

Great-Grandma snuggling with my little lady.

Just relaxing with the family -once everyone made it in. I cannot tell you how nice it was to see my family and just spend time in Savannah. We need to do it more often!!

Visit with Grandma Dana

We had a wonderful visit with Dana (Erik's Mom) who came into town from Illinois to spend some time with us and see the girls. Here were some pictures of our time together.

Dana & her 3rd Granddaughter
Trying to get a picture of all of us together - there was a better one of the 4 of us, but the flash didn't go off :(

3 generations of Landgrens (Poor Avery looks scared to death)

Love bug

Early morning playtime with Grandma. Addison now requests "coffee" for breakfast thanks to her Grandma. (Dana claims she never gave her any.. but I am not so sure ;) )

Avery's 4 month appt.

Miss Avery turned 4 months old on August 28. I cannot believe how fast she is growing up! I think this picture of her is too funny not to share :) She has just found her tongue and tries to lick everything in sight. Here are her official stats from her doctor's visit last week:

Weight - 16.9 lbs (90%)

Height - 26" (95%)

Head - 41 1/2 cm (60%)

She is the sweetest thing - I just adore her. Luckily she is still a very mellow, calm - chill baby! We need it with Addy Shea on our hands!!

New posts coming soon....

Sorry I have been BEYOND swamped at work & when I get home things have just been too busy & crazy to have time to post. I have new pictures of my trip out to Savannah to see my family, the goodbye dinner for my Dad, Step-Mom & kids (they are going back to Dubai for a year) as well as pictures of Dana's visit to CO to put up. I will do that this weekend.

Avery also had her 4 month appt. I will post her actual stats later, but I know she was 16.9lbs (90%), Length is 95%, and her head is in the 60%.

Hope all is well & I plan to post this weekend!