The Muench Bunch

Out of nowhere, a storm brewed up with high winds and rain. It looked like a hurricane. Jake and Daddy were driving the tractor down the road at the time and pulled into the cow barn. Mark didn’t know what it was, it was tornado like. Jayden, Luke and I went to the basement and the power went out. Jayden got very upset and was crying. She was most worried about Daddy and Jake. She told me she wanted to pray. She was on my lap shaking as she prayed. I prayed too and she was feeling better. It was over quick and we went back upstairs. Jake & dad came home not long after. Mark said Jake wasn’t even scared.

Shopping for school. This year I noticed shopping with Jayden is so much different than it used to be. She has always been my little shopper and I love taking her to the mall. Lately it has been kind of difficult and it isn’t much fun anymore. I am sure this is just the start of many years to come. Jayden has discovered she likes very few things, especially things that Mommy points out. If we are in a store and I see something cute and show her, she automatically doesn’t like it. I try to let her show me things she likes, but she has very few likes and some I really cringe at. I am trying very hard to let her have her own style. If I am shopping and I bring something home from the store for Jayden, 99% of the time she loves it, but if I showed her the same thing in the store, she would turn away.

Jake has spent many hours playing with Jayden. Sometimes he plays Barbie’s and other days they play construction blocks. It is so cute to hear them talk. Jake told JAyden he loved her. She said to him, I love you more. He said I love you more too. They have such a bond.

Luke has been rolling, he gets to his tummy and gets stuck. After being on his tummy for awhile, he cries for help. It really makes him mad. He has also been a big spitter. He spits up all the time. We go through tons of bibs in a day and never go a day without getting it on us. Luke is a smiley guy. Mark thinks he smiles more than the others as a baby. He looks at you and soon he is flashing a big sweet toothless grin. He is also extremely ticklish! He does a lot of screaming and squealing when laughing more so than giggles. Jake and Jayden love to make him laugh. Car rides are not a favorite. If he is sleeping he does great, after he is awake so long in the car, it turns into angry screams.

Jayden and Jacob have spent a lot of time together this summer. The first few weeks, they were not used to being together constantly and there were some arguments. Over time, they played more often and got along better. Lately we have been home a lot and they are together constantly. Today Mark took Jacob with him for a ride in the tractor and moving equipment around. Jayden was so lonesome for him, she kept telling me she missed Jacob and was so bored without him pacing the floor until he got back. They are going to have a hard time when school starts again. It rained Sat and Sunday dumping more unwanted rain. We got 2.5 inches just Sunday alone. We have had to vaccum a lot of water out of our back basement.

Taken Saturday, July 19 after a rain storm.

Recently RAGBRAI came by on our nearby highway. We enjoyed watching the thousands of bikers pass. We also got to see the farm tractors go by on their annual ride. Pretty cool to have two parades on our highway (E-26). Probably never will happen again. Jayden & Jake have spent a lot of time with Grandma and Grandpa Mawgee & Peepaw. They recently took the kids to a Raspberry festival where Jayden sang the National Anthem in a contest. Later this summer, they went to the county fair parade with them and got gallons of candy.

While I was on the computer, Jayden had put on an apron and put one on Jacob and carried a recipe book in to me. She informed me that she was making supper tonight, sub sandwiches and fruit salad. She wanted to do it all by herself. I got her a few ingredients ready and she did the rest. She filled out an order sheet of toppings for each person. It took her a long time and Jake only helped pull the grapes off the vine for her and eat most of them In the kitchen she was preparing each person’s sandwich and fruit and drink on a tray. It was awful cute. She is really quite a girl!!

Jake said to me,"Mommy, you are full of love."

I enjoy going to the family reunion, but it is so hard with young children, no matter how you do it. We slept in the camper. I worried about Luke as the camper was hot and humid and the air conditioner was right above Luke. Early in the morning, before anyone was awake, Jake headed out to the sand box. He played in it for hours the day before and toady he was up at sunlight ready for more. Today was fish fry for lunch. Suzy is really a great cook and entertainer and goes all out. THe kids spent a lot of time in the swimming pool and jumping on the giant trampoline. Later the big kids and adults played volleyball. One night was all we could do for this year, so we headed home with a tired bunch. When it was time to leave Jake was upset, wouldn’t say goodbye to anyone and pouted and fussed for a good half hour on the ride home. I think he wanted to move in.

Another year at the Burns and Weilbrenner’s for a big family reunion. It is neat that all our families can get together. We headed south and arrived late afternoon where everyone was heading to the little pond for fishing. The kids love this as they get to have their own fishing pole and find their own place around the pond to fish. Some are lucky and catch a few, others not so lucky. It was also a big wiener roast and meal out in the lawn chairs. Karen and Verna Mae make all kinds of goodies. It was a bit challenging with Luke. Jayden Wasn't afraid of touching worms or the fish. She liked to run around with Carly and Melanie. Jake had talked about going to Chan's house for the past year. He could not wait. HE jumped right in the sandbox and played for hours. He also played with his farm toys in the basement. Jake liked to be around Chandler and talked non-stop about him. He also was super impressed with Uncle Lavern’s tractor he refinished. *Mark told me Jake talked to Jim Ale

Luke goes through these days he fusses a lot and cries a lot and takes a couple very short naps all day. It is hard and very wearing! Luke rolls right to his tummy now when he sleeps. He sleeps that way all night long. He gets his fruit and cereal in the mornings and a vegetable baby food at night. He has been getting it for over a month and isn’t too crazy about food. He spits up a lot too. I started using cloth diapers. They have a liner on the inside and they are so soft. They are called “Fuzzi Bunz” I guess I am going a little green. Luke is a big drooler. He chews on everything, and often it is his hands. He slobbers and drools a lot. Still no teeth.

During our stay in Okoboji we enjoyed a little bike riding. Mark and I tool turns while the other stayed with Luke. Jake was too big for the bike infant seat, but still rode in it anyway. The kids liked riding the bikes a lot. This year was harder than last year for some reason. The kids liked swimming in the pool and playing on the beach, but not for a long period of time. Both kids got bored of the beach in a short time. That was kind of the main entertainment each day. Jayden was very helpful with Luke and especially Jacob. She would help give him a bath and get him dressed. During our stay we ate dinner at The Inn and we also went on a slow boat ride through our resort.

July 6-10 We went to Lake Okoboji and stayed at The Village West Resort. This year we took Baby Luke instead of taking our boat. Luke was a good baby. I think he really liked being in a new environment. He was happy most of the time. He liked stroller rides and took little naps when he needed to. We were most surprised at how much he liked the water. He loved it even if it was cold. We took him in the pool every day and he was a happy baby. We also spent some time on the beach. Luke sat in his “recliner” and once in awhile mom put his toes in the lake water. Jayden and Jake liked being in the pool the most. Jake loves the water, however he still wouldn’t put his head under.

We took a trip to Okoboji

At 1AM Jayden woke up in the night sick, she was throwing up all night and all day on the 4th and still sick on the 5th. She was so miserable and our whole family stayed home from the annual Williams celebration. It was even my class reunion and I missed it all. I was kind of bummed, but I felt bad for Jayden. She looks so forward to going. Mark took Jacob to Gowrie for their celebration and they had a great time. On the 5th, we went to the Anderlik’s for Maggie’s birthday party. Jayden took her can of chicken noodle soup for her supper. We took our annual pictures in front of the corn field. With all the rain, corn is about a month behind this year. We found a field that was planted in April, most were not until May.