The Muench Bunch

This is our 4 th  year celebrating New Year’s Eve in Des Moines. We went down for lunch, spent the afternoon wandering the Jordan Creek mall, then check in to our hotel. We stayed at the Residence Inn Marriott suite. Our room was huge, two bedroom two bath with full kitchen. It was great! We went to the pool for awhile then back in the room showered and ordered out for Chinese food. We put in a DVD for the boys and a DVD for Jayden, Mark, and I. Traditionally we also decorate a pre-made gingerbread house. It was a very cozy room and relaxed evening away. We celebrated the New Year with new York at 11:00 so we could be in bed by midnight. ">

Each year I photograph the boys wearing Daddy’s blue shirt and tie. Each year they grow a little more and the shirt fits them a little different.

It was a very cold day.  First thing this morning we surprised the kids with a package contacting Mickey mouse shirts and disney trading ins and let them guess what that was all about. “We’re going to Disneyworld?” Jake asked. Surprise! After it sunk in, they were excited. Spent the morning trying to get the house back in order. Wrapping paper, boxes, toy packages, clothes, new presents scattered through the house! Each time we went somewhere we came back with the back of the tahoe full of stuff.  The boys have been playing non stop with their new toys. They love the Bruders and our living room has been taken over. Mid afternoon we went to Karen’s to see Kellie who was stopping on her way back home to MN.

In the afternoon we headed to Karen and Orrie's for our Christmas gathering with family. Karen was planning a nice meal to eat at 3:00. Orrie had Tim out fixing fence on this cold Christmas day, so we all waited patiently for their return. Karen had soups, chicken noodles, ham, and we all brought enough desserts for a week. After the meal, we played games, the game Jayden got was the big hit "headhandz." Each player wears a headband with a word attached. You cannot see your word and ask questions to try and figure out what you are. It made for a lot of laughs. The rest of the night was gift opening, Orrie's reading through Romans, more games, and eating more desserts. The kids all enjoy cousin time. They are quite the bunch and they all enjoy each other.

Christmas morning is always filled with excitement. Mark and I woke before the kids around 7:30 , which rarely happens. The kids excitedly peeked under the tree to see what Santa had left for them. Jake had his Bruder tow truck and jeep he was hoping for. Luke got his Bruder backhoe and fork lift he wanted. Jayden found her bridle and spur straps for her horse. I whipped up some blueberry muffins while the stockings were opened. Then each of the kids had 3 gifts to open. Daddy and I did pretty good not overdoing on gifts this year for the kids, however I think we both splurged on each other.  Mark got me an open hearts diamond necklace that is so pretty. That was a big unexpected surprise. The kids and him also got me an ipad, something I thought would be nice to have in this day and age. If nothing else, I need it to keep me organized.  Jayden and I picked out a framed cowboy picture for one of Daddy’s gifts. The kids were excited and entertained all morning.

Christmas Eve each year we spend with my side of the family. This year we started at Wade and Carina’s for lunch with  munchies in their newly remodeled kitchen. We had all the gift opening to follow. Carina ad the kids attempted to put together the John Deere lego farm set for ages 5 and over. That was tedious and difficult for us adults. Later I caught Luke playing princess with Alivia and got some adorable video of them dancing. They both were feeling like royalty once they got dressed for church, little prince and little princess. After church neither of them wanted to change out of their good clothes. At 5:00 we went into Williams to the candlelight church service. Then we went back to mom and dad’s for soup dinner and games. We had bingo with prizes and ended the night with Peepaw reading the Christmas story of Jesus' birth. 

   On Christmas eve eve, we let the kids open the gifts they got for one another. We made it kind of a special sibling Christmas exchange. The kids had gone earlier in the month to Target to shop for each other with a $10 spending limit. It was quite a mix trying to keep things a secret. Jayden and Luke shopped for Jacob while I shopped with Jacob for Jayden and Luke, then we switched. They had so much fun picking out something special for each other and were so pleased with what they found. They couldn’t wait for them to receive the gift. Back at home they each wrapped the gift on their own. Tonight they took turns handing out the gift the choose. It was neat to see who was more excited, the giver or receiver . 

Yesterday was a  day home with the family. Jake was up ate some breakfast and was the first one outside again. He played outside most of the day and rode in the tractor with Mark in the afternoon.  The drifts get so tall west of our buildings. The giant drifts were perfect for making snow forts. The kids dug some pretty good sized forts. I helped them dig until my back couldn’t take any more. I used to make snow forts when i was a kid with John and Angie. Those were some good times. n>

One nice thing about the kids being home on break, is lots of help in the kitchen. We made so many Christmas goodies, it was crazy! With all 3 kids helping, we baked and created all day. Some of the goodies went to neighbors. I had the kids take the neighbor across the road his goodies by way of the sled. it was a pretty cute sight.

The kids have gotten to see Santa a couple times this December. None of them were planned, just happen to be at the right place at the right time. Jake always gave me a look and told me he wasn’t going to sit on a strangers lap. Luke gave Santa his wish list and told him what he would really like. He was not the least bit shy, course he is not a shy child. We try to keep the focus on celebrating Jesus, so Santa isn't the center of Christmas in our home.

Snow day! The news had been forecasting a snow blizzard for several days with snowfall expected 5 to 10 inches and lots of blowing, so we were all prepared for a snow day. It snowed all night and started blowing. The kids were so excited when they woke up. This was our first snow of the winter and it came with a vengeance. Jake was so excited to get outside I barely got breakfast in him and he was dressed and out the door.  First thing Jake did was plop down in the snow and make a snow angel. There was a lot of snow and drifts. The wind was blowing cold and fiercely! The wind was strong and continued to pick up to 50 mph. Jake was out by 7:30 in the morning and the temps were cold. It wasn’t long and Luke was up and eager to go out. Then Mark and Jayden went out to do chores. The boys played outside in the cold wind. There faces were always wet as the wind would blow snow in their faces. I kept thinking they would get cold and just come in. Not the case, I had to make them come insid

Luke finally got to see his Mallory. Once her family moved and we haven't been to MOPS we hardly see them.We met my friend Lisa, Madden, and Mallory at the mall in Des Moines. We took them to the play place to run and play while we chatted. We ate at the food court then I took Luke to his doctor appointment to have his belly button checked. He has had a herniated belly button since he was born and soon will need to repair it.

 Tonight was Jayden’s first concert at the high school as a junior higher. She wasn’t as excited about this concert as ones in the past. There are around 75 students in the junior high choir. Prior to the concert was a potato bar. Mark had to change our tire that went flat when we got there. The concert was nice, lots of real Christmas music which was refreshing.  I took my annual picture of Jayden with her friends. The girls are dressing older and skimpier as they grow.  They are such lovely girls.