A July Whirlwind.....

WOW - really August already???
July was a BUSY month for us - hence a few weeks from my last update..... we have had a revolving bed and breakfast happening for most of the month and then had two child free weekends so that schedule doesn't lend me much time for uploading photos and debriefing..... so this one might be a long one in order to recap some of the ins and outs of the last few weeks!

We started out with Brady Bug's second b-day (you know the only day in July that it rained!) we are two for two with the weather..... He got lots of goodies and able to spend the day with family and friends!
Grandpa and Grandma were in town from AZ and the kids got to spend some great quality time with them :) They did the beach, the pool, the zoo, parks, movie nights......let's just say they didn't want for much


Next we had a EMERGENCY Nanny 911 episode at our house when we had a break in the action and Ms. B could download all her naughty behavior into one hellaious night! It was unbelievable ....most kids when put in their room normally try to come out and make amends - oh not our "lil angel" she would come out of her room with such force and get in our face as if she was an umpire in the major leagues getting ready to throw Joe Torres out of the game (imagine spit flying from rapid talking, head bobbing, hands on hips) this chick doesn't hold back...... I seriously can't imagine who she got this from (silence mom and dad - I was at least in my teens NOT 4) So we had thrown down the hammer and took EVERY possession out of her room (unfortunately placed in our room that now looks like a flea market) to be earned back each day, unless we have another episode where then Mom and Dad get to pick items to be given away to kids who can behave :) So far so good ........ These pix are just to remind me of her ridiculous behavior as well as capture the cleanest her room has ever looked. The first night after "the incident" the two items she took back were her beloved boom box that she jams out to CONSTANTLY and her blankie......So as the days improve her room looks a little less like solitary confinement and our room is starting to look a lot less like a Salvation Army donation center......OH Vey.....

Notice her Pink radio and her ratty blanket were the first to come back!

M&D the lucky recipients of the drama......The rest of the days are filled with swimming, girls nights, escapes with hubbie and that was July folks.......Looking forward to soaking up every last inch of summer that is left!

Why didn't you people tell me???

As evidenced by both his birthday parties Brady isn't much of a sweets guy! If a cookie and a piece of fruit were on his plate he would grab the piece of fruit every time, or say it was a cupcake vs. a salty chip.... sodium induced cruncher wins every time! But recently Brady has started to unravel the wonderful world of of the "ice cream cone" Before he would take bites of ours here and there but really could have cared less about it - but as we have been making Ms. Lisa's and The Front Porch a regular routine when leaving Grandmas house he is all about having a big ol' cone and seems to be enjoying every last lick. I watch the cuteness as he licks, sometimes getting brain freeze, and grinning ear to ear at me - I feel like he is thinking......Seriously why was I holding out? That piece o' fruit has got nothing on this dairy like fantasy! Here is just some evidence of his new love........

"Seriously people that was AWESOME!!"

Seriously Brady you don't even understand what you have to encounter still.......
Chubby Hubby
Grasshopper pie
Moose Tracks
Chunky Monkey
Peanut butter/Chocolate
I am so glad you are finally taking life by the CONE and forcing your mutha to participate in devouring a few scoops in light of your new treasure!

I've been Schooled......

High School Musical'ed..........that is......
I know both soundtracks backwards and forwards - they are catchy toons; Brooke and her friends listen to it constantly, I see the paraphernalia EVERYWHERE and I know of the teen idols from reading my ever informative US magazine, but I had no idea what all the hype was about! Brooke has seen the movies, which I will be honest wasn't that crazy about.......she is four right.....do we really need her to grow up any faster than she is (god help us!!) I myself have never seen the movies but everyone related it to the modern day Grease. Well I remember Grease being pretty grown up and I remember it being a special day that I got to watch the real version (not edited for TV) when they actually showed the rest of the sleepover pillow fight scene and they didn't bleep out words to "look at me I'm Sandra Dee" - So I was perplexed at why toddlers were so infatuated with this new phenomenon. Well I found out this weekend finally. We took Brooke to a local play production of HSM 1. (yup there are two - and a third on it's way) and I am slightly embarrassed to say I LOVED IT!! We had second row seats and to watch the girls eyes BUG out of their head as these "idols" were in breathing distance was priceless..... and I was relieved to find out the story line is really innocent, yes much like Grease, to some extent - these two meet while on vacation and find out they love to dance and sing - but then must part after summer......come to find out they go to the same high school, shes a science nerd, he's a jock and don't want to let their "clicks" down by trying out for the musical...... (sound a lil familiar?) but you know what there was no T-Birds drinking, there was no pink ladies getting knocked up and smoking, there was no "hydromatic", there was no "tell me about it stud" it was a sweet story with a good morale! So what I think I am saying is that I may be hooked myself - I am never one to hide that I love a good musical - but would it be weird if I run out to Target and purchase me a HSM T-Shirt so I can wear it the next day at Work as if I just went to a Bon Jovi concert? But enough about my Jazz hands wanna be dream - Brooke LOVED it too and even started asking about how you get to do shows and is that something she could do someday etc.....which for me was the best part - exposing her to theatre etc....... But in her mind I think the best part for her was getting Troy, Gariellela, Sharpay, and Taylor's autographs and pictures - it was hilarious these high school kids thought they were rock stars they all had their own sharpies etc......The only disturbing part was that Sharpay, the character, Brooke always seems to pick to play when they are acting it out in our backyard I find out is the bossy, demanding one.....hmmmm how IRONIC!!!! So I must thank my neighbor for convincing me to be exposed to this underground world that is HSM...... Here are some pix of the event.....

Brooke with her friends Elle and Chillie....

Brooke trying desperately to get Sharpay's autograph....

Victory - she got Taylor's autograph.....

Wow this photo shoot went better than Santa Claus!

The girls showing off their autographs...

Runs in the family.......

Good one CoCo.......apparently Brooklyn isn't the only cousin ITT in the family Cousin Coco is having some issues as well.......now I know she looks up to you but I am sure I will snap prior to getting to this point. :)

A big day for my LIL' MAN!

Happy 2nd Birthday Brady Boy! - Wow ALL those people sure aren't lying (it does go really fast!) I can't even believe that you are a straight up Toddler! You had a GREAT YEAR, pretty much all that you have accomplished you have done so this year since the first 12 months you were in a sleepy coma and wanted for NOTHING. Not any more you have awoken and are ready to roll........Things you have embarked on during your second year of life....

• Giving up the dear ol' Bottle and giving the ol' Vitamin D a whirl



• Finally lifting that melon enough to crawl



• Making mom and dad wait an eternity to see you walk.



• Mastered the Fred Flinstone "twinkle toes" run (come on you all remember when he tried to bowl, Fred that is, when he would tippy toe down the lane - well that is my butterball's run!)



• Actually eating MORE than just fruit - your a salty snacker like your Mom. You loved Bacon, Salami, chips, crackers - Bring on the Sodium!



• Playing with your sister - she had been waiting SOOOOO long for this to come about. You pretty much just follow her lead and try to hang with her - I give you credit someday my man the tables will turn just be patient - you won't be playing princess and rocking out to HSM for too much longer.



• You became OBSESSED with "THE BALL" You love to watch ALL sports, especially your Dad play softball...... My favorite thing that you do is to play "air bat" like some adults (insert Mike Hoehn) like to play air guitar. We will be in the car, at the kitchen table, in the grocery cart and you always swinging your air bat with your hands and making a "bat cracking" sound. Bless your heart!



• Laid your Binky to rest for Good - we are all proud of you - I never thought it would happen!



• You love your books and your puzzles



• You are starting to talk a little - I am sure there will be more to come in the next year! Note - you just gained the term NO one day before your birthday - how appropriate as we enter in what is commonly known as the Terrible Twos! ha.

But honestly terrible or not - bring it on I am ready to see you grow, progress, succeed, live, laugh, learn, it might be more work for mom and dad - but I can't imagine anything more rewarding than seeing my little boyfriend make something of himself. Bugs I LOVE you to pieces and wish the best for you in the next year to come....... mommy.

But I am still baffled at how you went from this.......

to this......

Happy 2nd Birthday Brady!

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???