2013 In the Rear View, Welcome 2014!

For those who read our family blog it is obvious that my post activity was low.  This is not to suggest our activity was low and not jam packed, because it was packed indeed.  I praise God for his faithfulness in providing work and occasional rest and leisure time for which our family finds important.  You can see the outdoors and activity is a large part of our lives in addition to family time.

Since I did not post much, I am going out of 2013 with a mega picture post of experiences.  There was so many highlights only to name a few:

• Every waking day with my lovely wife and wonder children Amber and Sean - I praise God for you both every day!
• Family 10k run at the Miracle Mile for Kids 2013
• John's 50th birthday fishing trip on the East Side Sierras (East Walker and Lower Owens River)
• June family camp at Gold Lakes Basin and Salmon Creek Campground
• Summer surf trip at Brendan's in Del Mar with Sean and Debbie
• Seeing Amber rip  it up in volleyball and basketball seasons
• Seanyboy experiencing new sports and passions including Puma swim team this year
• Pittsburgh trip with the wifey and visiting my Uncle Al and Aunt Nancy
• Kendra and Daniels wedding celebration at Red Rocks!
• Christmas Dinner together at the house with the family fully present (except Richard!)
• Big Sean becoming a grandfather to Ellie
• Living everyday in the company of my parents 
• We miss our friend Doris Schonert but enjoyed the time with her daughter to celebrate her life. May God rest your soul Doris...
• Experiencing community with Korey, Christina, and Gavin, our neighbors and family
• Loved this past week in Ventura camping together and enjoying the visit of John, Donna, my brother Sean in uniform, and my parents this afternoon.  This time capped the year and was an amazing time to celebrate family...

I praise God for the experiences of this life and the wonder of his creation.  God willing, there is much more to go and look forward to 2014.  Every day is simply a gift so lets suck the life out of every day.  Bless you all and thanks for reading...

Here are a bunch of pictures (sorry if I did not get you all in the pics!):

Easter Sunday celebrated at Lopez Lake Camp - sweet reflection and prayer on a hike

Celebrating our beloved brother in law John Otis' 50th birthday on the east side Sierra fishing trip

JO showing his skills!

Seany with the men on the trip and showing his skills quickly...

East Side views

Tag team!  Seany on the net...

Seany boys first 10k run

The Martin family at the finish line MMK13

Amber growing in her work...

Amber on the beach scene in Pismo

Amber really growing in 2013

Summer Camping trip heading out...

Salmon Lake Campground

Downtown Reno on the Truckee

Camp critters

Coveted ride in Irish Hills with my wifey...

Seany in the water doing his swim team passion!

One of Seany's new skills

One of Ambers new music skills

Donna and John on the beach...

Del Mar weekend surf trip with the family

Del Mar trip to Brendan's with Sean and Debbie too!

Harvest Season!

Harvest celebration!

My beautiful wife...

End of summer craziness at the wedding celebration 

Wedding weekend of Kendra and Daniel!

New nickname for the former BEAST

Fishing with the officer team from my work!

Seanyboy cutting loose in the vineyard!

Seany boy pinning it at Tinleys Triathlon...

Mammals...

Brothers Martin 1st and 2nd at Tinley's Triathlon 2013

End of Summer time with family...

My sisters with me and dad...

Some of my favorite peeps, Korey, TT, and Gavin!!!

Long date trip in PA

Fishing in PA?

Falling Water tour in 2013

Big Sean on his bird!

Christmas vacation on the Gold Coast Ventura

Evening surf with my son...

Sunny December ride with the wifey

Thank you God for the joy of family and friends...

Martin Family Surfing

My brother and I have always loved the water and surfed since a young age.  We just loved being in the water, and every kind be it rivers, lakes, and ocean experiences.  We hope to pass on the baton to my kids and have them enjoy it and make it part of their life experience.  Here is a long overdue post and photograph back in early summer in Ventura.

I promised the kids some level of safari this summer which now includes Ventura this weekend and then North San Diego in August.  Looking very much forward to the times...

(Seanyboy, Amber, yours truly, and big Sean)

Praise God for these experiences and family times.  Hope you all are having a great summer...

Totally Thirteen!

In the year 2013, on the 13th day, our millennium baby Amber turned the age of 13!  

We had the great privilege to celebrate our daughters birthday yesterday evening with family.  At her request, we made sliders with brie cheese, mac'n cheese (by grandma) and TT made some great carrots with an amazing salad.  It was a fine meal in honer of our young jewel turning her first teenage year...

Amber got her wish of spending the day with her mother and her Aunt Debbie shopping for one of her favorite things, stylish clothing.  When she arrived back, she insisted on having me sit so that she could show me everything that she purchased with her own money.

Her is a stunning picture of my teenage daughter Amber - she is indeed a precious jewel and gift...

Over the past year, Amber has been exploring and practicing her gift of singing and music.  We chose to gift her a recording mic so that she could continue more effectively in that.  It was fun and enjoyable to listen to her belt it out last night.  

Did I tell you that my daughter turned thirteen this weekend!?  You are my little girl Amber, no matter what age!

I am so grateful to God for the giving of this wonderful daughter.  She is so full of life in everything that she does.  She is a a leader, a giver, friend to many, and gives her best efforts at everything she does.  We delight in watching her grow.  

Your family and friends love you dearly Amber and grateful for the way your life has touched us all.  We wish you a very Happy Thirteenth Birthday and many to come.

Double Digits!

Our beloved son is ten years of age today!  It has been a delight to watch him grow and we cannot believe it has been ten years already.  All birthdays are a celebration but we believe 10 is a big one.  We had the joy to celebrate with family this past evening with his favorite meal -  tacos.

After dinner he received his first coming of age gift in the form of a .22 caliber rifle (Marlin Model 60).  This is a Martin tradition and the next steps is firearm safety and then some respectful use and training of how to fire it...

We love this young man dearly.  He loves to read, enjoys adventure, surfing, fishing, the natural world, and he has always wanted a firearm of his own.  He now gets his chance.  Looking forward to the time together and the instructions on this.

Happy Birthday Seanyboy!  Your family loves you!  God bless you and keep you always!

In Loving Memory, Jonny Kleven

Jonny Kleven

Mike Easter - 2012 Masters National Champion!

 

Is this a bike race our a gun show!?

 

Our cousin Mike Easter worked hard this season on top of everything he has going and pulled of the big win in Bend at Nationals.  Yep, Nationals Master Criterium Champion.  God gifted Mike with a big engine, skill, and determination.  He put it to use in Bend this year!  We are all proud of you Mike...

   

Read about what went down here in Mikes own words:  

http://cyclingillustrated.com/winning-a-national-championship-by-mike-easter-time-factory-team/

Mammoth 2012

Mammoth 2012, a set on Flickr.

Another Mammoth Adventure for the Martin Clan. This year we asked the Haycraft family to join in the fun. It was a great time and fun indeed. Much fishing, hiking, mountainbiking, and just spending quality time with the kiddos.

Praise God. We really enjoyed his landscape on the east side this year!