Cousin ITT.......

Okay seriously it might be the death of me......
THE BANGS!
We are in the process of growing Brooke's bangs out, something I think about stopping almost every day. Don't get me wrong I can definitely see the end vision and how it will make both our lives easier when we are all said and done, but for now it is a CONSTANT battle more so on my end than hers because there are a few things I don't understand...........

#1 How can it not drive her nuts that it just hangs over her eyes and pushing them to the side is seriously the LAST thing on her mind.
#2 Now that they are "getting" longer why does she feel it necessary to chew on them?
#3 Why does every liquid form of food get placed so strategically on those strands in order to form a crusted wad that then hangs in the middle of her forehead as if she was Squiggy from Laverne and Shirley?
#4 How is it that she agrees every morning to pull them back in a nice pony or clip but that pony or clip NEVER seems to stay in more than 10 minutes more or less the whole day?
#5 Why does it seem that the back of her hair grows like a horse's mane while these darn bangs grow at Telly Savalis speed?
#6 How after this long does she not have a determined part in her hair? Are you not allowed to have a part or long bangs with a double Colic? Because if that is the case someone educate me so I can stop the madness.......

Well you be the judge do you see any resemblance?????


I am just saying I can't wait for the day that everything is one length we can brush to the side, tuck behind the ear, shove in a pony, but until then I will still entertain the GI Jane cut if this doesn't progress! I just want to see a little more of this ..........
and a WHOLE lot less of this.......

Back in Action......Well Sort of....

So as you can tell from the last post the Munson Household took a digger in the health department the last few weeks so here is a synopsis of what has been going on over here since then......

We got a chance to relive some "glory days" when we hosted 7 couples from our college days and talk about old times as well as share in every body's present day excitements!! We got a chance to grill out, talk without being interrupted, play yard games, eat dinner at 8pm or when ever we felt like it, get ready to go out on the town at 10:30 PM (almost seems like a foreign thought as I type it now....), dance and sing to an 80's band and just have time to hang out with friends that we don't get to see too often! (Thanks to all the grandparents that made this event possible!)


This one I just had to add in there because poor Mike had no idea that I was taking this picture but none the less was so concentrated on perfecting his "air guitar" that nothing else seemed important at the moment~ haha!
But those good times were only short lived.......you see running a 10K race and then staying out until 3 am when you are fighting off a 2 week head cold isn't such a wise decision as it brings me to my next fun filled news...... I have come down with a case of the Shingles........ yup that is right apparently it isn't just an "elderly" disease, that I always envisioned it to be - unless this is God's simple way to say "ummm Cherie you are old now - try and make better choices" It all started with a little rash that I thought were bug bites since we have been living in the Amazon out here and can't leave our door without a bee keepers suit on, but then it moved into numbness, soreness and after three consultations have determined I am fighting off the shingles, apparently it is prompted by low immunity and fatigue (insert bad choices from above) RIDICULOUS - so hopefully the Munson third world plague will end soon as I have started up yet another antibiotic to ward off this next case of drama.......I swear by August if I am complaining about corns and bunions - I am seriously going to loose it.......

But prior to all that we did have an enjoyable 4th of July with all the regular local festivities that we have come to love.
We stared by enjoying the the fireworks - the kids did great, but wouldn't it be nice if for just this one day the sun set at 7:30 instead of 9:59? I am just saying it makes for a late night.....
I just have to share my favorite part, because I am sure I will forget about the sweetness that is Brady Munson when he is sneaking out of the house to meet his friends to t-pee some neighbors house...... Brady was a trooper during the fireworks - he is one that is easily alarmed by loud noises, but when the works got going he just parked it on my lap and smooshed his cheek against mine, I would then move my head away to talk with Chris or something and he immediately put his palm on my face and smacked our cheeks back together as if to say don't you dare separate skin during this scary moment - I secretly found it so endearing I would purposely pull my head away just so he could glue them back together again - Just wanted to eat the cuteness out of him that night.......Here is an example of the constant cheek to cheek action......

Then we hit the neighborhood pancake breakfast (always a hit on an early morning) and the parade next - I sometimes get confused as to what holiday we are celebrating as these kids walk away with a sack full of candy as if it were straight up Halloween from the parade!
We ventured off to the carnival where Brady got to go on his first "ride" he was all for it until it started to move and then he was all.....nope all set thanks. Brooke got "inked" and then we headed home for "family nap time" I mean I love me a carnival but I am just saying that nap time gives the parade and the carnival a run for it's money!!

We then headed West .......to the beach to finally enjoy some much anticipated summer weather and swimming! Brooke met the new neighbors lil girl and had a ball .........Brady was fascinated with the flying beetles that were in full force that day!



Hope everyone had a great Holiday weekend!!!

Serioulsy - are we on candid camera???

I keep waiting for someone to bop out their head and say "ha your on candid camera" and all this craziness that has been happening will disappear......

6/18/08 - School calls "can you pick Brady up he just threw up everywhere" I proceed to get him 3 minutes later the entire classroom has been evacuated and there is disinfectant everywhere! I go pick up the pool lil guy and he starts doing a gurgle in his throat, I immediately run to the bathroom tripping on a plastic elephant trying to get him over the toilet that is only 3 cm from the ground which is hard to balance while doing in heels....... Take Brady home to have him nap the rest of the day with Dad.

6/19/08 - Brady wakes up after eating a huge dinner, no fever, no sign of any sickness.......so off to school we go.......first sign of Brady "Umm you know you can't bring him today" "oh that is okay he hasn't puked and doesn't have a fever" "We have a policy that there is a 24 hour waiting period" - which yes makes sense when I think about it but I was having different thoughts as I was standing there fully dressed for the day at 8:03 and nowhere to go but home to take a 1/2 a day off to divide and conquer the day with hubbie.

6/20/08 - I am off in court for the day - Chris is home with the kids since we had to do some schedule flopping. I call at one of my breaks to let Chris know that I will most likely be here all day. As he sounds sorta sleepy I ask what's wrong? I just threw up - GREAT. Oh and by the way you have 6 4-year olds coming over for a movie night that I offered to host well before I knew what this week was going to entail or that I would be working.......okay have fun with that.

6/21/08 - Brady decides at 2 a.m. that the only place he will be comforted and fall asleep in if some portion of his skin is touching moms face - NO LIE. I would hear deep heavy snore move him to a pillow next to me - immediately up and whinny until he crawls his sweaty little body over my face and falls fast asleep - ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? Chalk up another 4 hour sleep night.

6/22/08 - Everything seems great - until approx 8pm when I feel a tinge of a sore throat.

6/23/08 - Woke up with a wool sweater in my mouth and a mm of a space available for air in one nostril. SWEET. Body achy, eyes watery, nose stuffed........GOOD TIMES - ended up taking the day off work and tried to recoup.

6/24/08 - Home from work due to some rescheduling.......Good times with the kids - both are home that day - 4 pm rolls around and Brooke says her belly hurts her - OH HERE WE GO.....
She pukes and is in bed at 6:54 a FIRST! So as I am putting a WILLING tired girl to bed I think okay Brady goes down in a 1/2 hour - I can go to bed early and shake this head cold.....go down to get Brady see that he is BUTT NAKED and running around dancing which I giggle at the cuteness until i look over and notice that the diaper he pulled off was full of poop - so I immediately have him in the tub and a can of resolve squirted all over my carpet.

SEE WHAT I MEAN - THE CAMERAS CAN COME OUT NOW - THE GIG IS UP YOU REALLY GOT US THIS TIME...........HAHA VERY FUNNY.....

but no cameras, no jokes, just a taste of reality.........

So today was quite stellar - I went to work, kids both went and STAYED at school everything is just ROSES - but I still will not cancel my date with the NyQuil bottle that I am so looking forward to.....

Cheers to a healthy rest of the week.

Dad's Diamond Day 2008!

Happy Fathers day Dad! It was a long sun drenched, sugar induced, day two of no naps for a one year old great day at the ball park. We celebrated Dad's special day with what else but a day at the diamond gorging on fried brownie bites and just enjoying a surprising pleasant day outdoors (we avoided the T-storms they were calling for!) Dad I hope you enjoyed it as much as the kids did! You are a great, amazingly patient, fun filled dad! Here are some pix to remember your "big day" :)

Brooke and Dad eating not so appealing choices in the food department!

For those fans of Zoolander.....This is Brady's "blue steel" look.......

Okay cotton candy - I don't get it, I don't know what the fascination is with inhaling a sticky cotton ball - I have never been a fan and can't comprehend how these kids think it is the greatest thing on earth - oh yeah its 100% SUGAR.....I guess I get why they would think it is cool...

The kids got to run the bases afterward - my pix are not fabulous - one downfall of not having an eye piece to look through on a camera in the blazing sun.....bu this is Brady bugs rounding first leaving Brooke and Dad in his dust (the boy was in heaven!) Notice Brooke staying ever so CLOSE to dad as the pig and the chipmunk mascot are at first base - still a sworn enemy to her!

Brady getting some "rad air" in the bounce house.....

Seriously folks put a fork in me - I am dunzo..... I need some sleep and I need it NOW!

Thunderstorms Schmunderstorms.......

I thought it was supposed to be "April showers"? It seems like we have been living in London lately, but hey it's June and mother nature you can't stop us from enjoying our summer! So in between the clouds and the stormy skies we have been trying to dart out whenever we can to capture a little summer solstice.

Commencing the summer season with what else but a tube of sunscreen to be applied at all moments (maybe those winter snow suits weren't so annoying after all) I mean its either sun screen or bug spray being slathered at all moments!

Fun at the park with Dad!
Hmmm....... I saw sister doing this but she somehow she got down from here and I can't seem to figure that part out!
A Boy and his hose - could he be any happier?
Making Ice cream floats in the "hot tub"
How many toddlers can we fit in a three foot pool?
Beating the heat and humidity!
Brady's first big experience in the "bounce house" this year. He loved it but would get nervous when the big kids would bounce too hard!
She looks forward to it every year!

Really at 4? We are in TROUBLE........

So in good ol' Billy Joel fashion Brooke came to us the other day and said "I'm moving out!" She really doesn't care for our "rules" lately and said she wanted to join another family since they probably don't have any........Well after another bout about something totally ridiculous and getting sent to her room she claims "I don't want to be part of this family I am leaving" So Dad said okay see ya pack your bags..... and low and behold she did! There is this lil thing with her Dora suitcase ready to leave town. She came and gave me a Brady and me a hug and said goodbye! As mad and annoyed as we were - you couldn't help but chuckle at this headstrong four year old is thinking she is going to show us up.....The rest of the plot goes as follows......

m: "so where are you going to go"

b: "I'm going to move into Isabelle's house"

m: "nope you can't move into their house they have their own family and their own rules - you can't go to any neighbors houses"

b: "okay fine I will figure something out"

So she heads off into our front lawn and just sits on the rock under our tree - of course Chris and I were peering out the window to watch for her next move. She then comes back to the door and comes in.....

b: "mom do you know any families that don't have two kids or any kids at all?"

m: "nope I sure don't"

b: "okay thanks I'm gonna go again"

15 more minutes back on the rock thinking, thinking.......this is when the plan starts to go south, so she had many things working against her at this point......it was almost 90 degrees and humid out, it was 15 minutes before we eat lunch, and Friday afternoon with everyone out at work and school........so she finally comes back to the door

b: "guys I have made my decision......"

m: "oh yeah whats that?"

b: "I have decided to stay with my family"

D: "and live by our rules?"

b: "yep and live by your rules - even if I don't like them"

Then she continued to give us both huge big bear hugs

m: "welcome home"

So a lot of drama for a four year old - but I think it was worth it she really thought things through and hopefully it will set in a little bit that every family has rules and not everyone likes those rules but we still follow them! But Chris and I are immediately researching local boarding schools..... :)

So two days later I catch a glimpse of the suitcase that was carelessly tossed to the side once we were all reunited......and I was ever so curious to find out what she really packed for herself.......this is what I found.

5 pairs of pajamas

2 shorts

1 scrapbook of her teachers from school that she made (a girl after my own heart!)

no food, no drink, no necessities .....but hey that is what mom and dad are for right???

Mixed Emotions.......

So everyone has a little bit of Red Wing Feva kicking right now......Husband was able to venture down to game five on Monday with dreams of seeing the Stanley Cup paraded in front of him as his favorite team pulls out a win at home.......But those dreams went up in smoke in the last 30 seconds when the wings couldn't hold on - How do I know this?? I wasn't necessarily at the game but instead I was home alone with a craft room of possibilities and what was I doing???? I was tuned into this stupid game wondering if my husband would be lighting cars on fire in celebration (I think that is what you do in D-town- haha) my crafting abilities are ashamed and embarrassed! I was only able to make it up until the first overtime before I started sawing logs......next thing I hear was the front door opening - look at the clock and it was 4:30 am - Chris was just getting home - so I think ....oh good they won and he got to stay down and celebrate yadda yadda......well come to find out that is just how long 3 OTs take and a 2 hour drive home after that. So here I sit today with mixed emotions, the wings play tonight if they win then great they have won the Stanley Cup and I get my husband back, but if they loose than game seven is Saturday and whadda ya know. Chris randomly has tickets to that game too! So a little bit of me thinks let them just win tonight and lets be done with it......and another part of me thinks I really hope they loose so Chris can have the "once in a lifetime" opportunity to go back to D-town and experience a game seven Stanley Cup game, no matter who wins and perhaps I can use Saturday night to plead my craft room for forgiveness.........

So not sure how to end this other than LETS GO REDWINGS.....I think.....

Just a few shots of the "Wingnuts"

Commencement Craziness.....

So Brooke had her "preschool graduation" last week - I know weird huh? I thought so too. So I figure I will show up it will be a 15 minute presentation say thanks to the teacher and we will be on our way right? Little did I know......


*They rented out an entire church
*When we walked in we were escorted to a certain side (based on who your teacher was) I almost responded "we are friends of the bride"
*Parents are in full on suits and ties and women in dresses and I kid you not one in a Bonnet as if she was going to sit on the Easter Bunnies lap afterwards.
*Then a music procession begins and a full 1/2 hour slide show begins, which btw you could purchase after the event for $3. What is this senior prom? (Seriously though it was really cute they took pix of the kids from all year and all their events and made this slide show that really solidifies how much I love where they go to school!)
*The kids are then led in into the church dressed in full graduation caps and led across the stage in a large motorcade to be applauded.
*Then they begin to present awards to the kids (each one got one in the detrimental era of no one looses) like class clown, most likely to be a "fill in the blank" Brooke took home the "sweetest girl award" - and as it was spoken I was so proud but then felt the need to almost protest and request that they accompany her home some nights :)
* Each teacher then gave tear filled speeches about how much they will miss these kids.....
*Then each kid is announced given a diploma and a public school welcome kit.
*Then we went downstairs to have a full on refreshments and treats.



I don't think my high school did that much for us.......Brooke was loving every minute of it! Brady on the other hand had enough after about an HOUR AND A HALF of the festivities (so much for my 15 minute theory!) So we headed out to dinner to celebrate her big jump into public schooling and she dawned her graduation cap during dinner like she was royalty. A few pix of the event and her admired teachers....

Her Favorite - Ms. Jen - she will hopefully come babysit for the kids this summer!

Ms. Stephanie - who she adores and tells me that she looks like the girl on the cover of my US magazine (Angelina - ha!)

Order of Importance......

Brady doesn't say a whole lot yet (we are working on it) but when he does it is about something he really feels passionately for.....his list of words in the order that they came to him is sort of telling and a little bit scary......



1. BALL
2. DA
3. MA
4. BAYBALL



I am just saying I don't mind Da being before Ma, but if that "bayball" moves up any higher on that list of hierarchy and pushes me towards the bottom we might just be repainting his room! :)



So as you can see 2 out of his 4 most commonly used words have to do with balls and sports of any kind......the boy is feverishly crazy about any item that includes a bat, a stick, a ball, a net, or a glove (bless his heart he walks around all day with Brooke's hot pink mitt). I don't know if it is in the genetic make up of boys but it is so funny to watch him go so crazy over anything sports related and then catch a glimpse of his sister out of the corner of my eye mouthing every word to every song of high school musical.......(thanks grandma for the CD it has been on NONSTOP!!!) So the Ball continues to be the #1 love of this little boy and I don't think it is going away anytime soon!


Cases in point.....

The best $1 I ever spent at a garage sale!

Brooke Says Buh Bye & Brady Is Our Browbeater!

Today was the last day of Brooke's farm school and it is just hard for someone to understand the concept that she is too big to go back next year. She is so excited about young fives, but has such an attachment to her teachers, I think it has finally sunk in this week that it was really coming to an end.....how do I know do you ask, ummm the nightly mourning she has been doing crying and hugging and hyperventilating about how much she will miss them. It just shows what an impact these teachers have on our children and how much they look up to them - so there were a lot of ......It's okay to miss someone, it will be alright, we can visit, they will miss you too, Brady will be going there soon and then you can see them all over again, etc....... So we managed to conclude the year end picnic with no tears today - we took pix of her with all her teachers so she can remember them - she wants to put them all in frames in her room, bless her heart......... The teachers were great and told her she could drop in anytime and just visit during the summer camps or next year. Some pix of her beloved teachers.......

Ms. C, Ms. Izenga (seriously the whole year and I still don't know how to spell it.....Ms. Pear and Ms Harlow.......

If only I could get a toddler to understand that missing someone gets easier every day because even though it's one day further from the last time you saw each other, it's one day closer to the next time you will........but before I finish that she is already asking "mom can I go out and play" sooooooo much for reasoning with a 4 year old.

I just thought I would include a pix of Nelly to remember - the ugliest cow on earth - what kind of cow has hair like a sheep dog???

and oh yeah we just found out her teacher at her other school, just turned in her resignation so as she is "pursuing other opportunities" we will be rocking a sobbing sad little girl to sleep and I am positive this won't be the last time...........(secretly I am trying to nab her for babysitting!!!)

Brady on the other hand has been sensitive to others in another arena.....it appears when lil ones get up in his grill at school he decides to bite them.......This occurred about 6 months ago when we took the binkie away, but now its back and I hate that he is possibly hurting someone, so we have been trying to do time out on the steps, but this kid kills me he doesn't cry, doesn't care - he just sits there with his head down and lip out and waits for us to come back - its takes everything I have not to go there and kiss him to death, nice punishment huh? Hopefully it's a phase, he might be cutting his molars, but no excuses -I just wish he wasn't so darn sweet when I am trying to discipline him.........22 months is way too young to know how to work your mother over!!! But it is working :) So unfortunately he now is a harden criminal and has a record on file at school and probably won't ever get a "real" job........(isn't this hilarious - an "accident report!)

Here's looking at you Kid.......

I hope the two of you remain friends and playmates forever....it is such a joy to see the two of you get along and care for each other. Don't get me wrong it isn't always happy go lucky we have our moments when the two have to go to their separate corners....trust me, but for the most part they truly enjoy each other. Brady constantly gives us the "where's Brooke sign" whenever she leaves the immediate vicinity of where he is. He truly idolizes her and tries so hard to fit into her world. Brooke sometimes lets him and this is my favorite time to sit back and watch.......She defiantly takes on the teacher role trying to teach him songs, work on his speech, show him how she believes it should be done. I hope she continues to clear the path for him and show him the way, because soon enough it will be Brady who will want to step up and protect his big sister~but until then I hope he always looks to his Big sis for some guidance.

There's no other love like the love for a brother. There's no other love like the love from a brother. ~Astrid Alauda

A day in the life of Brooke's Mind.....

1. Mom, Where in the world is Matt Lauer is sort of like Scooby Doo, it's a mystery that you have to solve.......

2.She is very attached to her teacher's (always has been) but one of her school's is coming to an end and she is an emotional basket case about it. She tells me at night that she is just sad about not seeing Ms. "fill in the blank" anymore and she just needs to cry and hug about it.....What will we do when she has a new teacher every year in "real school"

3. Mom I think I am going to fall in love with Addy.....

4. Mom you know who you should be nicer to more than your friends and your family?? THE EARTH...... you shouldn't even tear grass because that is like tearing a whole in the earth and then we might die. (are her Boulder roots rearing their head?)

5. Mom how come you never take me to see my boyfriend anymore? I really miss him (referring to "her Joey" who she hasn't seen in more than a year)

6. Mom did you find out if I go to young fives in the morning or the afternoon yet.....

We don't know yet which would you like?

Morning - if I go in the afternoon I probably won't have time to finish all my homework!

This last one isn't from Brooke but dear ol' Hubbie who pulled a "Munson" himself.....

While standing in line to get a picture and an autograph of some old sports hero he turns to the person behind him in line and asks "Do you mind taking a picture of me when we get up there" This falls under the "ohh I wish I wish I would have waited a few more seconds before I asked category" - Turns out the woman was Blind. wah wah wah......

Worst task ever!

Buying a car. Plain and simple. I mean you would think I would be all about it - it is "shopping" right? But not so much! There is nothing I like about it. Now I know this excites some people and they look forward to it...... but really I despise it. Everything about it:

The haggling, the research, the stereotypical sales person, the unknown in buying a used vehicle, the cost, the variety to choose from, the options, the warranties,the gas mileage EVERYTHING. Perhaps it's because I am just not a "car person" I really have no opinions on color, look, style etc.... I guess I request too items when looking at a car - good safety rating and can it get me from A to B. We unfortunately were in the position to purchase a car recently, and not for the fact that we wanted to - Good ol' Patty was laid to rest as Hubbie and Brooke took a digger from someone blatantly flailing out of their driveway and backing right into them! (No one was hurt :)) From the looks of the pix - it doesn't look that bad - but apparently a lot of damage underneath that the body shop even told us not to fix it......

So we were forced with the big decision mini van or another third row seat car...... and when it came down to it we settled on a good ol' four door sedan (it ain't a popular choice I know) but as we stare at the gas pump $3.99 today folks - unbelievable.....we asked ourselves do we really need an SUV or a MiniVan to haul ourselves to Meijers or softball practice for Pete's sake? I just can't stomach spending money on a car that will sit in our garage half the year since Chris works out of the house. Trust me if the kids car seats could attach to a moped we might have considered it. So hopefully this will carry us out a few more years until we get to that point of "hauling" kids, kid's friends, bikes, sporting equipment around town we will "sausage" ourselves in our lil' sedan and hopefully feel a sigh of relief when we are only spending $50 on a tank of gas (absurd - but true!) - But honestly I DREAD the next car shopping excursion that will come quicker than I could ever want!

Mama's Boy........

They say it's a boy or man characterized by unusual closeness to his mother and boy did they hit the nail on the head with that one! Brady bugs is my lil boyfriend and definitely a mama's boy! He is so insistent on particular things with me that I find it very endearing albeit very amusing! For example.......

* If he gets hurt, even in the slightest fashion, he will fake cry and point to his area of infraction and come over to me until I kiss the spot and then immediately turns off the waterworks and turns around to continue whatever he was doing at the time.

*He is very particular in how we read books - he must back it up on my lap and gets frustrated if my legs are not Indian style (oh pardon me criss cross applesauce for those of you who were offended) - he literally will pull one of my legs in if it is sticking out in the least.

*He is an early riser - which most mornings I don't mind so much because this is his "on time" he literally cuddles and boarders on making out with me for the entire 1/2 hour before we have to get moving for the day......I love that part of the reason I need to go up and take a shower is that he has literally coated me with slobber in attempts at cuddling and wrestling all morning.

*Most nights before bed we read and have a nightcap cocktail in the rocker while listening to some music and I am sure I "pet" and "coddle" him more than any human should - but last night as I was trying to make bedtime "efficient" he took my finger and just put it on his cheek and stroked it as I normally do then onto the forehead and the hair - it was like he was saying....."oh no you didn't just try to put me to bed without the relaxing finger massage......."

So I am sure that this mommas boy thing will become a problem if it continues at the rate it is when he is older and married but for now - I will revel in it and enjoy every second, because as with anything it will be gone before I know it.