Orlando Trip with the Sandovals!

Caitylnn & Marina as minnie brides

Kenny, Issac, Tylar with Buzz Lightyear

All the kiddos at lunch

Last weekend we loaded the family into the van and headed to Orlando to spend time with Danny, Vycci, Issac and Marina before they started their Disney week vacation. We had such a great time with each other, and the kids had a blast getting to know and play with their Colorado cousins!

On our first day, Saturday, we met up at Bahama Breeze for lunch. It was a beautiful day, and we got to eat lunch on the outside patio. Then we all headed to the hotel to check in and get settled before going to the movie theater to see High School Musical III. The kiddos LOVED it, and the adults (for the most part... CHAD) enjoyed it also. That evening we took the kids to the pool and ordered pizza for dinner.

Sunday morning we all got up and had a yummy Village Inn breakfast, and spent the rest of the day in Downtown Disney. I had no idea that there were so many things to do, so many shops, so many restaurants!! The highlights, for me, were the Once Upon a Toy toy store and the prehistoric times themed restaurant where we had lunch. The toy store was set up so that the kids could assemble some of the most popular toys; light sabers, Mr. Potato Head, princess jewelry boxes, and so on. Lunch was very fun - the restaurant was set up to have sections that were themed around prehistoric times... including a huge ice glacier in the middle of the restraint. A suprise for us was that they did a meteor shower show about every 20 minutes... and if you know our Kenny - he doesn't do too well with flashing lights and darkness. When the first show happened he shot over to my lap so quick, and Caitlynn hid under the table! Once they both realized it was all just a show, they were fine for the rest of the time.

After our late lunch we had to get on the road to head back to Jacksonville, and Danny, Vycci and the kids had to head to their Disney hotel to meet up with Danny's folks. We had such a wonderful time with them, and only wish we could have spent more time together!

Check out the link to more pictures...http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=bqyul5jc.9qvmghwk&x=0&y=-quosz0&localeid=en_US

Caitlynn's Pre-K Pics (4 yr old)

Take a look at the fun pics of our 4 yr old Caitlynn

Martin Fam Updates!

So, I've been behind the ball in getting some family updates posted... and decided to try to put them all up at once!!

Dance, Dance, Dance
Our BUG is in dance class! She is registered in pre-K ballet at her school, and has class every Tuesday morning. She absolutely loves it, and is absolutely adorable in her little pink leotard and tights :). Her lessons the past few weeks have been on the basic feet positions in ballet. My favorite to watch her do is "happy feet" (or first position)! Check out the pic -



Tylar, Chad & Football
Chad and Ty had the opportunity to go to a Jacksonville Jags game a few weeks ago, and had a blast! Tylar enjoyed his special time with his dad, and has now become a true Jags fan - against all of our best advice to stay true to his home town Broncos! Oh well, I guess we all choose our own way... and boy is he commiteed - he even cheered AGAINST the Broncos last weekend when they played the Jags. I seriously thought Chad was going to kick him out of the house for the night :)!! Check out the pics from the game -




Visiting Brando
In Chad's recent trip to Colorado he was able to spend some time with our Brandon! It was just in time for his 17th (yes... 17!) birthday, so shopping was also involved. Chad and Brandon had dinner at his Grandparents house in Westminister with his mom, Marisa & Marcus (and all thier kiddies), and Clayton. Caitlynn, the boys and I were all very jelous that Chad got to spend time with Brandon and the family, but were very happy that everyone seemed to have had a good time! Chad got a great shot of Brandon and Lilli -

Goodbye to our Timmay

Special friends, special memories...

The boys - 80's party 2003
Mardi Gras 2003
New Years Eve 2006
New Years Eve 2006
Redneck Party for Chad's B-day
Brian's Bachelor Party
Tim's Goodbye to Colorado Party
Guavaween 2003
Mardi Gras Party 2003

This week was very difficult for our family and for many of our very close friends, our Florida family, as we lost a very dear friend way before his time. Tim Erzinger departed this life on Wednesday, September 24th.

As many of you know, Chad and I were incredibly blessed to have met a wonderful group of people, including Tim, about a year after we moved to Florida… folks that were also from Denver. Having that, and the fact that most of us worked at the same place, in common brought us together and before too long we became family. Over the past 7 years we’ve been together through birthdays, holidays, many weddings (& some break-ups), and even had 3 babies join our special extended family. And while it is almost unreal to know that Tim will not be here on this earth to share continued life experiences, we also know that he is with our Heavenly Father now and that he will be with us in spirit.

It is unfortunate, but tragic events like this force us to realize just how fragile life is and sometimes causes us to take pause and reflect on the people and things that we value most in this life. I wanted to share a story about something that I experienced just yesterday that really strengthened my belief in knowing that we have to live this life fully and faithfully.

It started last Sunday when I was having a conversation with my mom Rolayne, talking about the trials of being a mother and how I was having a hard time with some things where my kids are concerned. She and I have always shared a special relationship, and this conversation was not unlike any other ending in a sharing of her testimony of our faith and advice to me to pray sincerely and specifically about the things I was struggling with. I guess there was one slight difference, as she told me about an article she read in a recent church publication about parenting. She told me that she was going to put the magazine in the mail so that I could read it.

I was gone for the better part of last week on a work trip to Boston, and when I came home yesterday the package with the magazine was at the doorstep. That evening I picked up the magazine, and before I opened it up to read I did pray. I prayed for not only being able to receive the fullness of the message of the article on parenting, but also for peace in my heart and mind about my good friend Tim’s death. As soon as I opened to the first page another article caught my eye titled May We So Live. More specifically, a passage jumped out at me that said – “How fragile life, how certain death. We do not know when we will be required to leave this mortal existence. And so I ask, “What are we doing with today?”” As you can imagine the article was about death, but more importantly it was about living life. There were many wonderful things in this article about how to live our lives more fully, but what struck me most was the message about how this life is full of opportunities, and many times we procrastinate what we can (and should) do today. How simple this message, how wonderful the implications of acting on it! I also read a comforting passage, something that I want to leave with anyone who is reading this blog, especially to my Florida family - I love you all so very much and hope this gives you peace and comfort.

“For we saw him, even on the right hand of god; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father – That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God. This is the knowledge that sustains. This is the truth that comforts. This is the assurance that guides those bowed down with grief out of the shadows and into the light. It is available to all.”

Brandon's Summer Job

Brandon has been quite busy at Nana and Papa's over the past 6 weeks... mowing GiGi and Nana & Papa's lawns, going to school, and as of late - helping Papa to rebuild the deck! For anyone that has been to my parents house, you know that the deck they've had in the back yard has been there since we moved in... BEFORE Brandon was even born! It's been around for family picnics, birthdays, graduations, and was always there to relax on while having a nice drink of sweet tea on a hot afternoon!

My dad and mom have been talking about wanting to rebuild thier deck for quite some time, and I am so happy that they were able to make it happen before this summer came to a close! In the last update I got from my dad, he says they are "...a few screws away from it being all done!"

It looks BEAUTIFUL! Check out the before and after snapshots!

Kenny's Bowling Day

Kenny, along with his and all of the Duval County ESE classes, got to kick off their Special Olympics activities with bowling today! Kenny was looking forward to this event for the past week, reminding Chad and I every day that it was coming up... and every morning checking in to see "is it Saturday yet?... is it my bowling time yet?" Usually Saturday mornings are pretty lazy around our house, but not today! Kenny had to be at the bowling alley this morning at 8 o'clock to register, and he was up at about 6 (dressed in the same thing he wore yesterday) to make sure he wasn't late!

Chad volunteered to take Kenny, and I stayed home with Tylar and Caitlynn. We wanted this to be Kenny's special time, and I think he really enjoyed being able to do something where he was the only and center of attention!

There were about 100 kids at the bowling alley, and each child got to play 2 games with about 5 kids on each lane. Playing without "bumpers", Kenny had a golf clap worthy 37 in the first game, and came through in a clutch in true Elway form, with a 62 in the second. Overall Kenny placed 2nd on his lane, being awarded a red ribbon for his accomplishment! Chad says that if it wasn't for "Johnny" pulling out a strike in the last frame, Kenny would have placed 1st. Oh well... if you take a look at the picture, he is very proud of his red ribbon!