Well At Least Something is Done!!!

 Jack has been so excited to make our gingerbread house for the past month. I'm not sure if he had more fun making it or destroying it. Yes it is already destroyed. It never looked too cute so I wasn't devastated when I caught him sawing at it with a plastic knife. 

Man Jack has been a load of fun and trouble this Holiday Season. I have tried to help Jack understand that Christmas is not only about getting but also about giving. I'm not too sure that the concept has hit home. I have tried to bring him to the stores to have him pick out the gifts that would be given by him, but most the time he just would add to his list of things he wanted Santa to bring him. But last week Shawn had his work Christmas party. There was one other child at the party, but he was 6 plus years older than Jack. That didn't bother Jack though, he instantly made best friends with Skyler. At the end of the party Shawn handed out everyone's work bonus and a gift. Well since Jack's little friend was not an employee he didn't get a gift.  Of course the little boy understood, but Jack kept saying Skyler didn't get a present. All the sudden Jack was gone so I went looking for him. When I found him he had collected a pile of "things" and was trying to wrap them so Skyler would have a gift. After a little bit of help it was wrapped and ready to deliver. Though Skyler wasn't too exited about a night light and some weird odds and ends Jack was beaming. I then realized that Jack might have a small idea of the true meaning of Christmas.

In Loving Memory of Grandma Munk

Shawn's Sweet Grandma passed away on Tuesday night. She had suffered for the past few years from Alzheimer's disease and it was a blessing to see her not struggle anymore.

We were so grateful that we spent some time up on the farm last month and got to be with her. She was the kind of Grandma that spent most of her time cooking up something good in the kitchen. She was tough and a hard worker. She made everyone around her feel special and loved. They live in Logan, UT and often times they would travel all the way down to St. George to cheer on Shawn in a baseball game. Shawn always knew Grandma was in the stands when he heard "Give him the dark one." (classic) Her house was always clean and organized. She grew a wonderful vegetable and flower garden. Shawn insisted, when we got married, that I learned how to make milk toast just like Grandma Munk. I have the recipe but it never tastes as good as it ever does when she makes it. She had a wonderful marriage. She took care of Grandpa everyday they were together, until this past year when Grandpa has had to return the favor. When we were up there the last time I was so impressed with the love they had for one another. The song long line of love, by Micheal Marten Murphy kept coming to mind.

Bought a beautiful diamond ring,
Offered it to the sweetest thing I know
And she said she would take it
Started makin? some wedding plans
She looked at me and she took my hand and said
Are you sure we can make it
I said my granddad's still in love with my grandma
I said my Dad still thinks my Mom's the
Sweetest thing he ever saw

I come from a long line of love
When the times get hard, we don't give up
Forever's in my heart and in my blood
You see I come from a long line of love

Years went by and we had a son
Now he thinks that he's found someone for him
And they're planning a wedding
He called me up on the phone today
Just to see what I had to say to him
Did I think he was ready?
I said what his grandfather used to say to me
It's been handed down for ages, it runs in the family....

Grandma you will be sorely missed down here on earth, but we know you will continue to brighten lives on the other side. Until we meet again, we love you Grandma.

Fall Happenings

Well it seems as though I have gotten a bit behind on my blogging. So to catch up we will sum it up as fall happenings. Because even though I haven't posted, it doesn't mean we haven't had a very eventful past few weeks.

OUR TRIP TO THE MUNK FAMILY FARM

We ran away for a few days and relaxed on Shawn's Grandpa's farm. We had so much fun just tinkering around, riding the 4-wheeler, visiting with family, and stopping by a few of Shawn's favorite spots in Cache Valley. We had a hard time coming back to reality. It was a great get away. 

Feeding the calf's

Playing in the cotton seed

Hiding in the corn

Grandpa and Grandma Munk are such great people. Thanks for letting us stay.

A picture of the old barn

Jack got to help plow the corn with cousin Cam. He  loved every minute of it.

OKTOBER FEST

Shawn organized a great concert in the backyard with a  few of our local best singer/guitarist. It was fun and entertaining. Shawn was the opening act, Josh (my Brother) followed, Lyndi (A high school friend, picture below) closed it up. They were all amazing. Since I wasn't blessed with any sort of musical talent I will have to enjoy others! I loved to hear them play, I could have listened for hours.

COUSINS CAME TO TOWN

Shawn's sister Krista was in town from Oregon. We got the kids together for a quick snap shot. We needed a new photo with the new additions Jude and Ali.

THE HALLOWEEN BASH

Every year this party gets bigger and bigger. There were still people we felt bad not inviting, but our house could only hold so many. We had a costume contest, chili cook off, kid games and pumpkin carving. It was crazy fun!

FIRST YEAR OF TRUCK-OR-TREATING

Cousin's Boston and Jocelyn were in town and got to join in the fun.

Silly jack the dragon

Scary Jack skeleton and Sally

Grandpa and Bat Girl Jocey

We dressed up as the characters from HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON. Shawn was Hiccup (with a sweet hat, that he made all by himself. You never would have guessed) I was Astrid and Jack was a the Gronkle Dragon, missing the wings and mask. He liked the costume just like that.

 

 HALLOWEEN

We spent most of Halloween night in my parents neighborhood. They go all out my mom rented a cotton candy maker and they had homemade doughnuts across the street, other houses had games, root beer, hot dogs... bounce houses. It was a party, Jack had a ball. They ended the night with The Nightmare Before Christmas on the front lawn. Jack has enough candy to sustain the three sweet tooth's that live in our house for about a month. 

Blurry, I know, but it was classic. Shawn was in his element.

Okay where did I get this man. I doubt any of you can top this photo. He is wearing tights and chatting with the ladies. He is the best. I think I will keep him.

Another classic, the three grand kids sucking down root beer, in their costumes while watching The Nightmare Before Christmas.  Boston you are great, love it!

The loot

Well there you have it. Fall is my favorite time of the year. When we were going to bed last night I told Jack that Halloween was over we will have to wait until next year and do it all over again and he just burst out crying "I don't want it to be over" :( I love my little man, he makes life so much fun.

St. George Marathon 2010

My five months of training paid off. I had a great run and finished the marathon in 4 hours and 6 min. I felt great and enjoyed most of it. The last 5 miles were long and I was glad when it all came to an end. I learned a lot from training for this marathon. I didn't think I would ever have the mental strength to complete such a task, but I learned that if you want something bad enough you can make your body do it. I learned to have self discipline. There were many mornings that my alarm would go off  at 4:00 and I wanted so badly to shut it off but I knew Sue would be there waiting, so I got up anyway.  I learned that if you turn up your music loud enough or get into a conversation long enough you can push though pain and boredom from running.  I learned what an awesome friend I have made through all of this, Sue never missed a run and pushed me when I needed it. I also learned what a supportive husband and son I have. Jack got use to me not being there when he woke up most mornings and Shawn didn't complain too much about putting up with a tired wife 24/7. I got teary eyed both times when I saw them on the marathon trail cheering for me. I loved their support, along with my parents, brother,Shawn's parents, sister-in-law, neighbors and friends, thanks for coming out to cheer me on.

PRESCHOOL

 

This is a classic first day of school picture. 

So there you have it Jack started preschool. I think he liked it but it was also a bit overwhelming. I have been prepping him that Mom's don't get to go to preschool, he has to do it by himself. He was really brave and hung his back pack up and headed in with no tears, yeah! 

When I showed up to pick him up he looked so cute waiting for me. He was so excited to tell me about everything and made sure I knew he missed me. The best part was when he got in the car and said, " Mom I feel like I'm going to cry." Then he just let it all out, sobbing and sobbing. Man he is too much like me! After he got all of his crying out he said, "I was so... nervous."  You got to love this kid. 

He has since told me that he had fun at recess and got to play duck, duck, goose. The real test will be if he will go back on Thursday :) Wish us luck.

Adding Them to The List

I have always been a big fan of children books. It is my favorite time of the day when Jack  and I can snuggle on the reading chair and devour book after book (Shawn and I fight over who gets to read the bedtime stories.) Most the time I get more out of them than he does. I remember when he was too young to hold his head up I would still read him books before he went to bed. Just yesterday we ran across these two books and I fell in love with them. They are a must reads, especially since Jack is starting school in the next week and his character will have a chance to bloom. 

I have seen this book many times but never sat down to read it. The rainbow fish teaches sharing and the way we feel when we share with others.

Second is " It's Okay to Be Different" it nearly brought tears to my eyes. It touches on all the ways we are different and teaches that it's okay, and good to not all be the same. Jack got out of the book that when skunks are mad they spray stinky stray, go figure.
 

The House that Built Me

                                                 (These are the only pictures I have of the house)


I can still vividly remember the feeling of shutting the door to the house on 1196 No. Trinnaman Ln. 13 years ago this month, there wasn't a dry eye around. We were excited to move to a new town and a new house, especially to a house that actually had more than one bathroom. But when that door shut it closed a chapter of my life. That is where my childhood stayed.

What got me thinking about this was the song by Maranda Lambert, "The House that Built Me." It brings a tear to my eye every time I hear it. I would give anything to knock on that door and walk inside my old house. Go play in my old room, that wasn't even a real room. I honestly lived in a hole in the attic. But I loved it, The door was no more that 4 feet tall and 2 1/2 feet wide. It was a cluttery mess but a lot of memories happened there. I would love to eat dinner in our little kitchen, and watch my mom cut hair out in "the shop."  I would go and hide in the blankets in the closet under the stairs. And last I would go out back and climb in the trees.  If I was lucky it would be cherry season.

I could tell you everything about that house, I know every nook and cranny.  I remember riding Carly's Purple banana seat bike in the garage, in circle for hours. Sitting on the fence watching my Dad rope, having races in the front yard with our dog Dingy, swinging from the barn rope swing, getting my fingers pinched in the fence, hitting tennis balls against the side of the garage, letting parachute men off the balcony of Dad's shop. I miss playing night games with the Colledge Boy's (our neighbors. Not really college boys, come on we were 10), I miss riding our bikes to Harts and stopping at grandma's, then trying to ride while holding a drink, that was tricky. It is amazing the memories that come flooding back.

In the song she talks about the dog the was buried under the oak tree. Our dog daisy was buried in the back corner along with at least 20 cat, a few rabbits, and a Turkey. I made sure that my Dad buried everyone of them, back by Daisy.

The freedom we had was crazy. It's not like living in a neighborhood, you can roam and climb and build. We had tree forts in trees all over the place. I had such great childhood.

The song talks about Mom cutting up pictures from Better Homes and Garden Magazine and Daddy giving life to Mama's dreams. We all want bigger and better, which is a good thing, we have to have dreams and work for things, that is what makes us grow. But I miss that simple life, I honestly believe life runs a little bit slower on 1196 No. Trinnaman Ln. and I am glad I grew up there.

Back Tracking the Fun

For the 24th of JULY our family had a bitty reunion. Just the siblings, the parents, the kiddos and my Dads brother and his Fam. We have been doing this for the past few years. Every year we meet in a new place. This year it was at The Little America in down town SLC. We enjoyed the 24th celebrations and relaxed at the pool side. We ate at a lot of yummy places and slept in until 8:00 both mornings. It was great. There was a great baby pool that Jack nearly lived in. He practiced up on his cannon ball and dunking his head under the water. As long as the pool is no deeper than 2 feet he has no fear. Anything deeper he is the biggest chicken. He is one silly boy. We had fun staying up late chatting with cousins and reminiscing the good ol' days. My parents were super generous and paid for nearly everything, Thanks Mom and Dad. We had a ball!