When did we become Jewish?

Is it our family or is Christmas is no longer exclusive to December 25th? It seems that the holiday is taking on the form of Hanukkah in the sense that it is more like "eight crazy nights", instead of Christmas morning! We had a Christmas event every night since last Thursday. They are all good fun and a great way to get to see everyone over the holidays. I am afraid Brooke will not understand what the heck is going on Wednesday when it will be the first time in a week that there hasn't been a pile of gifts for her to open! We had a successful Christmas - we were able to make it over to Chicago to see family and friends and had safe travels in order to make it home Christmas Eve. Brooke was able to put cookies and carrots out for Santa and apparently start a new Munson tradition. According to her cousin Jake you are suppose to put out shoes by the fireplace and Santa will fill them with candy. (its suppose to be some St. Nicks day tradition? Thanks Jakers - Santa will be happy he has to remember one more thing! :) ) So all in all it has been a really pleasurable Xmas - Brooke loved the gifts/Santa/parties etc.... She was happy Santa remembered her dentist tools she asked for .....when she opened them she said "Mom he really is magic, he remembered!" Brady on the other hand wasn't so needy give the boy some ribbon and he was good to go! So I am not sure if I am suppose to sign off with a "Deck the halls with balls of Holly" or if I should convert to " Oh Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah,Come light the menorah. Let's have a party, We'll all dance the hora. " Either way I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays

5 months old today!!

In a blink of an eye all of a sudden we have this lil man at home, definitely no longer an infant! He is in total BABY mode. He is starting to roll (not all the way) but soon he will gather the strength to get that last shoulder over! He giggles and blows bubbles all the time and really doesn't like when people aren't in eyeshot of him. He loves holding toys and slobbering all over everything! He is also boldly aware that his parents take way too many pictures and everytime we pull the camera out he goes into stone cold no smile phase. I feel like he is thinking to himself "seriously again with that silver box? Why are they always waving that stupid thing in my face and blinding me with that flash of liht?" (ahhh Brady - give in cuz your Mutha' sure won't!) We have cut out feeding him at night and it is heavenly! (who cares that we have to replace that binky 3 times a night - the fact that I am not up feeding is worth it!) He is sleeping good for the most part 7-7 with a feeding at about 10:30 - so no huge complaints other than its just happening WAY TOO FAST!! Happy 5 month bday Brady!

Third Times a Charm!

So here we go - off to see Santa and what a relief - it is the first year that I didn't have to accompany Brooke onto the big ol' jolly guy's lap!! So three years it took to get rid of the tears and fears that apparently have stricken her in prior years. Don't get me wrong she wasn't running with joy to get to him by any means - but she did take keen notice of all the boys and girls that went before her and looked at me and said "mom I think I can do it!" Bless her heart! So she let Brady go first (haha what a thoughtful sista.... or perhaps a frighten one) but when she saw Brady up there she joined him immediately....Also take note she opted for the seat on the couch instead straight up on his lap! Baby steps...... Santa was real nice and Brooke proceeded to tell him that she wanted dentist tools which got a chuckle from the bowl full of jelly! Santa proclaimed it was the first request for it but he will see what he can do! And who couldn't enjoy a trip to Santa when they get a free present from him! So I think it is starting to sink in as she says to me in the car on the way home "mom I should take a nap today because Santa will be watching" oh I will be soo sad when December 26th is here and we have no more bargaining tools..... Doesn't the Easter bunny bribe with good behavior????

It Ain't so EASY.....

On a snowy icy day I thought it would be a nice idea to break out the "EASY bake oven" Brooke got for her birthday.....She loves to help us cook and I told her we were making cake so she was so on board with that idea! I guess I don't really recall having one as a child - perhaps I always wanted one...And I am sure I thought I was an abused child for not having one - but as an adult I now realize there was really nothing to be that upset over!! :) So I can't say the label didn't warn me "for ages 8 and up" but like every mother I thought - My kid can handle this - its not like I am going to leave her to whip up items with an oven by herself - No I thought this would be something fun we can do together......Well in hindsight some things I didn't consider:
1. Who was the ingenious fool who thought it was a good idea to cook food by lightbulb? (and um yeah that's singular!) So the first instructions please preheat for 24 hours.....(really 15-20 minutes) but in Toddler time that is A LOT of time!
2. The cake batter was enough to fill a teaspoon measuring cup - and after 1/2 of that falls out of the bowl from a toddler like stirring frenzy there was enough batter to barey cover the pan
3. Next direction please cook for 10 minutes - also an eternity in a toddlers mind and lets face it in the day and age of microwave ovens - Puhlease!
4. Next let cool for 15 minutes - are you kidding me this cake that is the diameter of a life saver is now taking over an hour from start to finish - I think to myself "Man this better taste good!"
5. Something that is crafted in such an elegant purple and pink oven could turn out to look like this? Bless its heart!
6. But to see a three year old barely contain herself as she presented it to her dad and told him she made it all by herself was worth all the effort....
So the oven that wasn't so "easy" sure was a big hit in someone's eyes!

Sponge Bob SQUARE HEAD!

Why do I find it so weird that everyone in my family except me has a perfectly shaped, large, SQUARE head?? It amazes me I only can produce kids with the same head as my husband? My kids have inherited so little from me but it is just unreal how similar Chris, Brooke and Brady's head is - Its hard to tell from a front view picture but there is just a whole lot of back door cranial space happening......So feeling like the odd man out...... all I have to rave about is that both kids got my big Fred Flinstone toe!! :) Which I am sure they will hate me for later! :)


Case #1 Brady = Square Mom= Peanut circle?
Case #2 Brooklyn's baby square head - she will be happy she has long hair to
cover the protruding back door skull :)

Ahhh and case #3 where it all begins with good ol' hubbies nogin! Is it weird that Chris and Brady wear the same size baseball hat already? Haha!

Don't get me wrong I love every one of their lil cubed heads!!

Thankful for many things....

Is it me or are the holidays a lot of work? Don't get me wrong I love every thing about each individual holiday but they seem to be getting more hectic each year! I have to say I have no right to be a grinch since I had to do so little in preparation for the Holiday, but as our families grow its just a lot of managing. I think back and wonder how my mom did it for so long, hosting every single holiday in her home for a group of probably about 20! I hope I gain her organization and spirit for the years to come when I no doubt will be hosting the shindigs! So here are a few things I am thankful for this past weekend:
1. A healthy and some what "sane" family.
2. 65 degree weather in November in the Midwest (almost unheard of!)
3. A Turkey day walk on the beach with the kids.
4. All my Christmas decorations and lights are already up! (I am seriously considering being one of those people who leave them up year round just to avoid doing it all over again next year!)
5. Being able to enjoy two turkey feasts and only having to provide an appetizer to each one!
6. While shopping on black Friday, I am thankful Kohls was out of the item we were searching for, hence avoiding the hour long ( I kid you not!) line to check out.....People are nuts!
7. Also shopping on black Friday sans a Toddler!
8. The holiday feasts are subsiding for a few weeks - this body can't take any more desserts!
9. Hopefully creating some traditions with the kids (I apologize now kids my cooking skills are not spectacular!) Don't mind a random stand up of James Arness in the backround - haha.
10. Christmas is only a month away, since I have to explain everyday to Brooke that no today is not Christmas in response to "But Mom you told me Christmas was after Thanksgiving" -- it will be nice when she grasps the concept of time :)

11. A hubbie who randomly thinks he is McSteamy or someone out of GQ....haha

So I hope everyone enjoyed the Thanksgiving weekend and good luck with preparing for the next round of Holiday events!

THE END IS NEAR!

Well my maternity leave is coming to an end, and although I was lucky enough to have a large chunk of time with Brady it has gone by surprisingly fast! I have enjoyed every moment with him and can't believe he is over 4 months old! As I return to work this Monday I have mixed emotions......
I will miss the daily routines that I have come accustom to during my leave:
1. Sleeping in until 7-7:30 every morning!
2. Having every day as an open slate.
3. Visiting with friends, lunches, playdates.
4. Scrapbooking on Tuesdays and Thursdays (Brooke is at school) (amazingly enough I am still not caught up! Did I honestly think I would be?)
5. Playing with the kids until their hearts are content.
6. Showering is optional!

On the other hand I look forward to things that this new job will bring:
1. Adult conversation! (beyond talking with hubbie)
2. Getting my brain back in business - I will admit it has become a lil foggy.
3. Accomplishing some work related goals, and hopefully streamling my job to three days a week.
4.Three day weekends!
5. Yoga at lunch.
6. Jimmy Johns which just opened less than a mile from my office!
7. Oh yeah and a paycheck (don't be fooled it really should have been #1 on the list! - isn't it for everyone!)

So Brady, my boy, I will miss you dearly during the day as I ship back out to the real world - but I look forward to you staying home with your Dad and having some boy time. I am sure you are not upset that you will probably be watching sports related stuff instead of Oprah with your Mom! (oh, but we still have Fridays!) :)

The house of brotherly love....

Brooke has always loved "baby brother" But in the beginning she was a lil shall we say dominant??? "Umm Brooke could you please not lay on top of your Brother" "Umm Brooke Brady can hear you fine you don't really need to scream at the top of your lungs right in his ear" and so forth..... I will have to say I have definitely seen her slow down lately with him and perhaps maybe even understand the word "gentle" We have finally reached a point where I feel comfortable leaving them in the same room together and not fear for Brady's life! She is always wanting to take care of him now and telling me "mom its okay go ahead and shower and I will watch him" Which I can now safely do as we had a few trial runs of me peeking through a closed door. Deep down she has true love for him and vice versa - she is the first one he smiles at and laughs at every morning, he will contort his body and roll all over the room just in order to follow her every move. Mom you will love this - she has him giggling every time she does this YashaShamudia dance....Don't ask me how but she remembers YashaShamudia!! I guess I am just enjoying their admiration for eachother because I know sooner than later it will be all "Mom Brady is on my side of the imaginary line that I drew in the back seat of the car!" or "Brooke get out of my room my friends and I are playing xbox!" or "Mom I swear I am not touching him as her finger is millimeters away from his face" :) I guess like any parent my ideal world is for them to be friends and perhaps they can go back and read this as I hear "Mom I can't believe you are making me take the bus to school and Brooke gets to drive!"

DOUBLE VISION!

Its weird how our kids just turn out looking the way they do....Sometimes spitting images of their mother other times spitting images of their father or even a good mixture of both! Brooklyn and Brady definitely look like their father and the Munson side of the family but as Brady is getting older it amazes me how much they are spitting images of eachother.....Brady is pretty much the dark haired version of his sister! It is really apparent when we look back on baby pictures of Brooke. A lot of people don't see it cuz they only envision what Brooke looks like now but I have a daily reminder of her as a baby every day as I take a gander at Brady....Take a look for yourself! FYI Brooke is the one in the Red Wing Jammies!

Munson Candy addicts fall off the wagon!

Happy Halloween everyone! Well it was a successful night of trick or treating and gorging on candy! Brady was just a wad of clothes who had no choice in the matter who of course slept through another event. Brooke was the polar opposite ....so excited about the whole event that it seemed like she was hosting the oscars - she had multiple costume changes - the night started out with her being a giraffe and ended up with her being a zebra....(kudos to g'ma Novacek for all her bargains!) Brooke made the transition from amateur to pro this year - She hit about 25 houses and was mad when we called it quits after that. Chris and I were literally running to keep up with her. She thought it was so cool that her friends Anthony, Luci, and her got to go up to the door all by themselves and do the whole shabang. She by no means needed our help this year! Its still a joy to see her have so much fun and enjoying the holiday as every kid should!

Proof Grandparents make lasting impressions!

Brooke always enjoys her special time with her grandparents but she had a few funny memories yesterday that I thought I would share.

Brooke while in bathroom = "mom I need help wiping - I got a MAJOR MAJOR poop in here"
Mom = "where did you hear the word major from?"
Brooke= "That's what Grandpa calls his poop!"
haha.
In all fairness to my dad he was describing a poop that Brady had not his own :)

Brooke while driving home yesterday = "mom can we go to the hardware store?"
Mom = "Brooke do you even know what a hardware store is?"
Brooke = "Yes its where Papa always has to go to buy weird stuff"

Just proof that these lil people idolize their grandparents and listen to every word!

Run Chris Run....

Well about five months of intense training and 26 miles later Chris finished his first marathon in Chicago!! Way to Go!!! We are all proud of him and he did amazing despite a bad case of tendanidus in both of his knees and a freezing cold October morn. He finished in 4 hours 31 minutes, which is great (even though Oprah beat him by 10 minutes or so :) ) Chris really did a great job of setting a goal and accomplishing it he stuck to his training schedule despite our hectic summer (ie leaving to go run while we were in the hospital for the birth of our son!) and it seemed to pay off. He ran the race with one of our neighbors and his good friend Whit from college. As much as his I-pod served as a motivation and distraction so did these two people! The wives and husbands also were downtown cheering them on - we got to see them at several different mile markers and yes I would like to say that is a sassy new bag I am wearing but nope its a sweet breast pump that I was fortunate enough to lug around the city of Chicago for the day! (Brady I hope you appreciate your mutha!) - It was a fun event for all and we couldn't be more proud of his accomplishment! Chris is slowly recovering - to say the least he was a little bit sore :) But nothing a lil R&R won't take care of over time. So we will see if he gets the itch next year for New York!! Congrats Hubbie!

She is practically off to College!

Well Brooke is now 3...... Going on 25.......She had her birthday party this weekend and was besides herself with all the excitement! It was full on Dora the Explorer party - I mean this Dora chick is EVERYWHERE - I seriously think she may be better marketed than the ever so "overmarketed" KISS! :) The weather gods were on our side this weekend as we hosted 20 kids under the age of 6! Luckily we were able to stay outside because we were expecting mass chaos but actually we were pleasantly surprised that everything whet smoother than we ever expected (kudos to the the masters of ceremonies i.e. grandparents!) its an added bonus that Brooke's Grandma is a teacher and deals with masses of toddlers everyday!! So to look back and reflect on Brooke's second year of her life.... There were definitely ups and downs! She has really learned to test us but has also proved that she is a big girl and can handle and understand a lot more than we give her credit for. She endured a lot in the last year, learning the English language over and beyond the word NO!, dealing with a preggo mom who couldn't do all the things she asked, potty training, sleeping in a big bed, birth of a baby brother and gaining her independence! All in all she is a highlarious kid and we couldn't be happier (most of the time :) ) so we look forward to the 3rd year with our baby girl and for all of those of you who are going to reply and tell me three is much worse than two - I will politely ignore you and try not to think about it! Happy 3rd Birthday Bwookie! May all your wishes come true!

Costco sales plummet!!

Rumor has it Costco's sales are on the decline and the Munson household couldn't be happier! You see we no longer have to buy diapers for lil miss B - she is down to one pull up at night and in my eyes fully potty trained! She has been doing it for quite some time now but it was a struggle. After Brady was born there was a definite set back and she used it as a bargaining tool to get to us (which of course drove us nuts!) So we decided to lay down the gauntlet and hit below the belt - we told her she was no longer able to wear pink until she could use the potty all day. I know it seems harsh but trust me we tried the "potty party" "the sticker chart" the whole nine yards but she didn't care....She wanted to be in diapers like her new baby brother...So she was and is still going through a fierce PINK stage.....So needless to say two days later she was dry as a bone and hasn't looked back and actually I am glad the pink outfits are back in the mix - let me tell you I had trouble for those two days to pull together an outfit that didn't consist of any pink! So as much as the public bathrooms are an annoyance I am proud to say that we won't be donating our life savings to Costco....hmmmm extra $$ .....My mind has already spent it! :) Congrats and way to go Brooklyn!! However can I make a suggestion to the nice folks over at Costco.....Could you consider carrying "Husky" diapers so our lil Brady could squeeze his snausage rolls in them!!

Put on your rally Caps....

So I have heard that it has been 19 years since the Tigers have been in the playoffs - so needless to say Chris has Tiger Fever! I guess I can hop on board as well since my loyalty to Chicago teams aren't a factor this year :) Anyway we have tickets to this Saturday's game (game 4) it could be a clenching game for either team at this point. Yep, Chris was online and got playoff tix the minute they were offered.... I was told "Cherie when in the world am I ever going to experience this again?" Not that I minded it just gave me flashbacks of a similar conversation....."Cherie it is KISS' FAREWELL tour after this one they are done" and I think all of you can chuckle along with me on that one! I believe Kiss is now scheduling their 12th FAREWELL tour.....Anywho Chris has already brainwashed the kids to thinking the Tigers are the only baseball team that exists, Brooke thinks it's cool just cuz she gets to "RRRRRR" at the screen and Brady well he really doesn't have a say in it yet :) So I hope everyone else is enjoying the playoffs - I haven't seen much of Chris lately since the Munsons are living in the 1930's and don't have cable so Chris has been camped out at our neighbors house enjoying the festivities. GO TIGERS!

Just when you least expect it.............

Some people say good things come to those that wait! Well my wait is over.....I have recently accepted a CFO position for a physical therapy practice that was a client of mine via Plane & Moran. So as much as I loved the firm I was working for - this new gig just kind of fell into my lap and was TOO GOOD to pass up! This PT practice was a client of mine who contacted me on my maternity leave just within the past few weeks and they played on my every weakness....It is only a 30 hour a week position, full health insurance coverage (does that even exist anymore?), a full workout room in the basement of the building that is to be used at leisure, a yoga studio, and a massage parlor all attached and available for use!! Oh yeah and more $$ (hmmm twist my arm!) I will definitely miss the social aspect of the big firm I was at - but let me tell you saying goodbye to good ol' tax season and 60 hour work weeks - lets just say there were not too many tears being shed. They are really trying to respect my maternity situation (since I was not scheduled to go back until December 11th, but they in turn already let the previous guy go and need somebody soon.) so we are working out a gig where I will work a day a week just to get my feet wet during November and then will be full force end of November. So as much as everyone hates the "new job" feeling and the thoughts of "I don't know what I am doing" I look forward to other things that surely out weigh them.....more quality family time, new job challenges, no working Saturdays, a WINTER VACATION! (oh Brady if you were only a little older Chris and I would be sooooo Vail bound! But perhaps Boyne will do - I know Colorado snob I will always be!) So it happened really fast but we are all very excited about it - of course Brooke was all upset because the new building I would be working in wasn't pink! (ahh the stressful thoughts of a 3 yr old!) So I will be keeping you posted and letting you know how it goes - but definitely looking forward to the change! So for all of you who I prepare returns for let me get you the number for H&R block :) haha we will see if I still have it in me!

The Turkey is Done!

Well our lil' butterball is chubbin' out everyday - Butterball has become a lil name that has stuck with him and he responds to it as much as his own name! Brooke told the lady at the grocery store the other day that "we call him "butterballs!" " haha He is changing in a blink of an eye. Again we have created a lil' mini Chris - He is starting to show such personality and smiling and giggling. He is a dream baby who wants for nothing except to eat every 3 or 4 hours - other than that he is content to just hang and listen to his crazy sister babble about anything and everything. Brooke loves him to death (literally - sometimes she is a bit to excitable and rough with him but all with good intent!) She is turning three in a few weeks and is so much fun to have around she constantly surpises us with what she says and understands (note to mom and dad - watch what we say!) i.e. Brooke "Whats up dude?" Mom - "Where did you hear that?" Brooke "That is how you talk on the phone" haha.

All the cool kids are doing it.......

Okay Giving it a try....Blog Blog Blog - That's all I hear about these days -Embarrased to admit in the day of the blackberry and PDA's I still love and rely on my three ring binder/planner to stay organized and connected...but in trying to stay up with the times, I thought I would give it a whirl.....Also thought it would be a nice way to stay connected with family and friends who are spreading out in every direction! Here is a recent photo of the family up at Lake Geneva this August.