The Muench Bunch

One of our favorite places to eat has been the Grand Times Café in Boxholm. Linde and Julie have had so many catering jobs they aren't able to keep the restaraunt open very often. They have gone to just weekends. Some weekends, there is a full house and they cannot seat people, other times, we are the only family there. Karen and Orrie are regulars there also. We are trying to help keep it going. We invited our friends the Spillman’s to go out there to eat. They have become friends through our kids in school. Jayden and Makenna are in the same class. They also have two little boys, Braden is three years older than Jake and Alex is one year younger. We had the prime rib special which is always awesome. Following our meal, we had the Spillman’s come back to our place and let the kids play awhile. As a kid, we used to get together with families and neighbors all the time, at least once a month. I have some of the greatest memories growing up with our "pizza gang." There wer

Jake found a caterpillar and it was an instant friend. He carried that thing all over the place. I did not realize it was in the house until I noticed him flying his toy airplane all over the house with the caterpillar in it. “Look Mom, He’s flying.” Jake has quite the imagination!

Every so often, we try to get our classmates together for a “Girl’s Weekend.” It was decided this year we would meet in Des Moines and stay the weekend at the Marriott next to the Jordan Creek mall. We got a nice sized suite. It had a roomy kitchenette, 2 separate bedrooms, and a pull out couch. One by one the girls showed up with laughter and chatter, and of course food galore and drinks. Those who came, Paula, Jessica, Shawna, Jolene, Abby, and myself. We sat, mixed drinks, ate tons of dips, chips, and junk food, and visited and until wee hours of the night. Somewhere in the conversation, I mentioned needing a hair cut. Shawna is a beautician and jumped at the chance to cut my hair. It was voted I get a chopping. Jolene and Shawna ran to buy scissors and before long, I had a new doo . It was shorter, I liked that. I wasn't too thrilled with how she styled it, but I was so ready for a change. I was the entertainment for the night. Abby got her hair dyed too. It was kind of lik

Jake is a good artist and loves to draw. He sits down on a daily basis and draws on a doodle drawing board. He does it everyday several times when bored or watching tv. It is neat to see him put so much time and detail into his drawings. At school Jacob’s teacher said in the 9 years of teaching she has never seen a kid his age draw with such detail. He draws a lot of farm machinery and trucks. The funny thing, he cannot make his letters very well at all. I have been working with Jake on writing Jacob since he started school. I don’t think it has gotten any better. It will come, Jayden was a late writer too. I have also been doing lessons in the learning to read book. Jake is doing well. His attention span is soo short, it is hard. He can read several words now, but it is hard for him. He doesn't get frustrated, just doesn't like to do it very long. For the past two years or more, Jacob has a fascination with Richard Scary Busy People books. He loves to sit and look at all the l

Today we had Luke dedicated to the Lord. It was a very special day and we had our families all come down to be a part of it. We know that Luke is a gift from God and it is our duty to raise him according to God’s plan for him. As parents I hope we can guide him in the way of the Lord and teach him. We have been blessed with the gift of our children and want to do what is best for them. Both Grandparents and our family stood at the front of the church for the dedication. Luke looked so grown up and handsome in a little shirt and tie. Jacob amazed me at how well he stood up there still and even smiling. He too was in shirt and tie and little sport coat. Jayden also sang a beautiful solo, “Now is the time to Worship.” Following church we had a celebration for Luke and Karen's birthday at the Hidden Acres Family Center. We had a meal catered by Linde and Julie’s Café along with swimming in the pool.

Jake has anger issues. We cannot figure out why he gets so angry, he has a bad temper. I have always been one to stick to my word and I do not give in, no means no. That is why I don’t understand. He doesn’t get his way for whining or fits, so why does he keep doing it. He throws big fits over transitions. He also gets angry when we have to ask 10 times to do something and we finally get stern. If he wants something and cannot have, he also gets angry. We have really been working on this lately. We have a chart and he gets a gummy worm ( this is a big prize to him) at the end of the day if no fits. The chart has punishments for each fit. It is getting better, but he has a lot of anger. Funny part, his teacher at school says she never sees Jacob getting mad or throwing a fit. WOW.Jake has been going M,W,F to school, however the rest of the semester, I am going to have him go everyday. We will see if this makes a difference in all aspects.

Mark and I continue to go back and forth on whether to send Jake to Pre -K or to go to Kindergarten. I am for Kindergarten. My reason- Jake will already be one of the oldest in his class having a Nov birthday. He will be 2 years older than some kids in his class if we wait another year. Later, that will mean everyone may assume he got held back for something. Jake is also right on track academically. His only issues are staying focused and he is not as mature. Mark’s number one reason to hold Jake back is because of sports and size. Need I say more…. Cousin Rylie was held back a year and Jake would be in the same grade. Jake loves Rylie and he thinks of him as his best buddy. Rylie already thinks he is soo much older, bigger, and stronger than Jake. I don't want to have competition between them. It is going to be a hard decision and I keep praying we make the right choice.

Since Allie and I have close birthdays, we decided to take Allie out to eat at a restaurant, just Mark and I . We didn’t tell her where we were going, and we took her to a newer restaurant in Ames called “Legends”. It is on the top floor of an 11th floor building in campus town. It is kind of a nice sports bar type with an awesome view of the whole city of Ames. She enjoyed her outing without the siblings along.

Jayden seem to be the person in our family most prone to getting sick. She has had her share of stomach vomiting, at least 3 or 4 times a year.. Last week Jayden had a fever 4 days and now this week she has started a fever and sore throat. After 2 days of high fever, I took her to the doctor and found out she has strep throat. Jayden has missed so much school this year and tons of dance class.