The Muench Bunch

Oh to be 5 and let the imagination run wild. Jake has been all about dressing the part lately. On one particular day, he was decked out in boots, spurs, cowboy belt, cowboy hat, and found a texas ranger sheriff badge and a pair of handcuffs. To top it off, he chased the bad guys on his John Deere gator. Sometimes the gator got stuck and pushing it is no fun.

The second week of school Jake lost his first tooth. He lost it while eating jello. Can you imagine how loose that was. It was all great timing as the kids were learning about the letter “T’ for the week and spent some time talking about teeth and brushing. The tooth fairy brought a $1 bill. Jake was so excited about his dollar, but wasn’t so thrilled when he realized all the tiny little things he could buy with it. Now he is saving up his money.

Jayden has my eyes, she went for a summer check and doc said she needs glasses. So far Jayden keeps them in the case and only wears them at school. She looks pretty cute.

We decided to take the kids to the Iowa state fair for the last day. Cousins Libby and Abby Anderlik were showing their Collie dogs in the 4-H dog show in the morning. We sat patiently waiting for over 2 hours to see Libby show her dog. It was over in a matter of seconds. We didn't stay for the remaining classes the girls were in. We walked through the various buildings and saw the animals, 4-H projects and butter cow. We ate plenty, including a funnel cake and ice cream. The highlights for the kids were the Old Mill boat ride, Jake also go tot ride the sky ride, and the best for all 3 was "Little Hands on the Farm." This was a super cute area for young kids to plant, harvest and sell crops. It is all hands on and the kids loved it. Luke slpet a long nap in his stroller and we were tired and on the way home by 4.

This hasn't been a very good week for us. The week started with a flat tire as we were leaving for church. Another day our babysitter stole our cash and other items. Then, I ran over the neighbors dog. Can the week get any worse. I am ready for this week to end. Thank goodness for fun kids. They can always make you laugh and smile. Here Jake and Rylie were dressed as girls by Jayden.

The first day of school went well. The kids were up by 6:30 AM, very sluggish, but dressed and ready for pictures with time to spare. This would be Jayden's first day wearing her new glasses too. I said a prayer and sent them on their way. I am proud of me as I really wanted to follow the bus and walk them to class and make sure they got where they needed to be, Jake in particular. Luke watched from the window wishing he could go too. After school the kids were excited to tell of their day. Jake summed up his day in one sentence and you have to pry information out of him. He doesn't tell you anything unless you ask specific details. Mark and I also gave Allie her very own cell phone after school. She was so excited. The school day went well, however during the day I had lots of errands to run and had our babysitter Chelsey watch Luke. She has been coming on and off Tuesday and Thursdays all summer. After she left, we discovered we had been victims of theft. The rest of the nig

In the evening we decided to enjoy the beautiful day and headed to Brushy Creek with the truck full of bikes. We have one adult bike, Jayden's bike, Jake's bike, a wagon that attaches to a big bike for Luke, and a tag along bike for Jake to ride with the adult bike. We took turns with the kids riding all around the camp area. Jayden rode all over. Jake rode his little bike without training wheels for awhile. He is getting really good, but one big wobble and he crosses his arms and says he is not riding the bike anymore. He had the most fun on the tag along. Once Jake was on the tag along behind me and we rode by 3 deer. They were running along beside us leaping through the tall grass. It was pretty awesome. We grilled and let the kids play at the playground. It was the most perfect weather and nice evening. We all enjoyed it so much.

The summer days at home without someplace to go are getting long and boring for the kids. Mom can only think of so many things to do. In one day, we built forts in the living room, painted pictures, and played beauty shop. Today we decided to visit Grandma and Grandpa W. (A.K.A Mawgee and Pepaw). The kids enjoyed the change and Grandma always has the best toys, all of them from numerous garage sales. We even enjoyed root beer floats outside. On Saturday we went to cousin Jaynie's 8th birthday party, the on to Wade and Carina's Anniversary/ new garage party. The kids stayed back at the birthday party while Mark and I went on. The party was a good size crowd, all Wade's buddies and even a band. Not many people there I knew.

We are down to the last few days of summer break before the kids start school. This week has been a hot one and very humid. Luke has been enjoying chasing his brother and sister around and also loves to be outside no matter how hot. He is a busy boy into everything and makes big messes for mom. Jake likes to run the gator around the yard until the battery is dead. He also recently likes riding his bike, which we need to get those training wheels off for good. Jake likes to act the part, so if he is riding his bike (motorcycle) he has to wear a red bandanna around his head as he says he is a Harely guy. If he is riding a horse, he has to have his cowboy hat, boots, and spurs on. For the entire summer he has wanted to wear blue jeans even on the hottest of days, because that is what daddy wears. He also has to wear a button down shirt like dad. Jayden has been keeping busy doing chores for mom, every chore earns a marble, 25 marbles earns a small prize. She is a hard worker!! She is a bi

On Sunday August 9, 2009, hail struck an area 2 miles wide and 150 miles long from Ida Grove to Eldora missing our farm by 15 miles. The damage was devastating as we drove around to see for ourselves. Our photos were taken in Callendar. We have never seen such damage in our lifetime. Bean fields looked like a mowed hay field. Corn fields looked like the had just been harvested. Trees and grass ditches were stripped. We have been counting our blessings that it missed us.

Finding things to entertain the kids, why not try paint. I had a wooden tractor I found at a garage sale for 25 cents and gave it to Jake to paint. With some tape to make lines, he made a pretty good John Deere tractor. Luke got his first experience with paint and did awesome. He spent a long time with the paint and brush holding it right and everything. He was a natural. After some time, he decided fingers in the paint are fun too.

Luke’s favorite place to get into is the refrigerator. He has always been very intruiged by it. He cannot open it by himself and usually just looks everything over. Once in awhile he grabs and egg and I have told him many times, no eggs. I decided to keep the eggs in their original carton to keep him from getting into them. One particular day I left him in the fridge for a couple minutes and came back to see him with the whole carton on the floor, pocking and crushing each and every one. He had yolk all over. He was wearing only a diaper and stuck his fingers in the yolk and rubbed it around on my floor. He was so guilty and didn’t stop when he was caught. I was not happy, yet laughing and got out the video camera for a good laugh later in life.

Numerous times during the summer Jayden and Jacob have gone to spend the night at the Gradnparents. I think they stayed over night at both sets about equal times. When they are gone, the house is empty and quiet, except for one little toddler boy. Luke! He is so lonesome without his siblings and that means mommy is supposed to entertain. Luke spend a lot of time whinning at mommy's leg. I decided to capture some of those faces while he is clinging to my leg. "Moooommmmmmyyyy"

Before school started Mark & I wanted to take Allie school shopping. She had already shopped with her mom, so she didn’t have a big list. We got some clothes at the mall and a graphics calculator. Then we went out to eat. It was a nice night to just be able to talk with Allie without the little kids. I know she enjoyed it a lot too.

I took all 3 kids to the doctor, checked Jake's tonsils, and Luke had his 18 month appointment. We sat in that tiny exam room for over a half hour waiting on the doctor. In a room that small with Jake who was hopping all around pretending he was a raccoon, and Luke running around in a diaper trying to open drawers and get into the doctors tools, was not fun. Jayden had to sit patiently and wait with us also. Luke is a healthy growing boy at 24 lbs. and 32 1/2 inches tall and a head circum. of 52 (lots of brains). He had to get two shots, one in each arm. Jayden asked to wait outside the door as she is too tenderhearted to see her baby brother get stuck. Luke let out a squeal, but never cried.

Luke has been a fan of Elmo and Cookie Monster. He doesn't really watch them on tv, but he knows who they are and loves to see them in books and on clothes. I couldn't resist the Elmo and Cookie monster pajams and t-shirts I found. Luke will proudly point to his shirt on his tummy and say "cookie' or "Amo". He is starting to say more things and does the most adorable airplane sound.