The Muench Bunch

We are going to be in the month of October tomorrow and still not in the field. Harvest has not begun for us. We just got 2 inches of unneeded rain. I am dreading all the meals to the field and the long harvest. I just hope to get in the field soon and pray for a safe smooth harvest. It is not off to a good start. Mark was hoping to start this week and today it rains.  Recently I observed the boys thinking of one another and buying something for each other. Luke made some money cleaning a stall and sweeping. As soon as the money was in his hands, he was all about spending it. He picked out a matchbox toy for himself and one for Jacob. With his own money, that was a big deal. He was so happy when he gave it to Jake and Jake was so happy to get it. Moments like that are just priceless. They even hugged each other said thanks and I love you. I want to put that moment in a box and pull it out when they are arguing. Today, Jake did the same for Luke. I don’t know which boy is happier, th

 Last night I heard on the news that their were two attempted abductions, one in Gowrie and one in Dayton. The  descriptions  were similar of the men and vehicle. The man wore a black ski mask and drives an old white van. This gives me chills. The murder of Kathlynn is still so fresh in everyone’s mind in the community of Dayton. We all live a little different watching our kids like a hawk and being more protective. This just makes the grip a little tighter. It is sad to be fearful in a small Iowa town. It makes me so sad and we are praying they will find them before they hurt anyone. With all the latest technology and drones, you would think they could get these guys. Luke was educated at school on Stranger Danger and told me that he didn’t go outside because,”the bad guys come out at night.”  Living in fear is no way to live. 

9/28/14 Grandma Connie sent a message to the KCCI television station about Jayden’s Stars for Troops. The Honor flight was coming up and they thought it would tie in to the story well. Jayden and Grandma put together 400 stars for the Honor Flight Veterans. Recently Eric from KCCI called and talked to Jadyen over the phone. He asked her tons of questions about it. At the end he aksed ,"would it be ok to come out and interview you in a week." Jayden told him yes, but as soon as she got off the phone she told me she wanted to say no, but didn’t know how to tell him. For the next 4 days, she fretted over it and continually told me she did not want to do this. She said she felt like Dad and I were making her. I also think she felt like Grandma lined the interview up so it didn't feel as special. She also felt like it was never  her project, or her idea, it was more something that she was just helping with. It has been an amazing project and I am glad Grandma has helped her w

 9/27/14 The serpentine girls were asked to perform at the last and final Johnny Hopkins rodeo. The rodeo is the Tuff N Nuff miniature Rodeo Association. They buck mini bulls with kids of all ages. He has bulls that tiny kids ride and the bull just walks slowly out. He has them in all sizes and levels to learn on.  They also has barrel racing. Today was the National Finals of the series. The girls got to the arena 3 hours early so they could practice. They performed and did a wonderful job. It was a beautiful day sunny and warm. Since Michelle stopped coaching, Sadie and Amanda took over coaching the girls team. They have big plasn next season to completely leave Dayton and coach serpentine for Johnny Hopkins rodoe. That is going to upset a lot of people!  Since it was such a great day, we decided to head home and jump a couple more horses in the trailer and go trail riding. This time Mark and I took Jake and went to Brushy Creek. We went on a nice ride to the river, crossed and let o

 Jayden makse me laugh, she can dissect a frog and be fascinated by it, however making hamburger patties with raw meat just grosses her out. She has been eager to try new things in the kitchen, coming up with ideas off the internet. Today she made pizza burgers. She had to mash pork sausage and hamburger meat together and form patties. She wore sterile gloves and was still grossed out. The last few days the weather has been amazing. I love this time of year! Fall is here with 75 degree days. We have tried to be outdoors as much as possible once we are done with school. Riding horses and just being outside makes for a great end to the day.

 The kids will play together when they are bored and can be quite content. They are also incredibly creative with their imagination. They love to farm together. This meaning play with the 1:64 scale toys, mostly hot wheels and farm equipment. Over the years we have accumulated, through birthdays and Christmas, quite the assortment. They can fill the basement toy room floor with farms, cities, and airports.

9/20/14 The last youth rodeo of the year. The kids were looking forward to competing and I was looking forward to my last rodeo duties. I am resigning as rodeo speed event director. My duties and expectations kept growing and more and more was put on me and I just didn't like the way things were handles. Next year I am looking forward to watching my kids participate in a lawn chair with my camera.  It wasn’t supposed to rain today. It rained in the night, so right away we knew things would be wet and muddy. We got the horses out of the pen at the crack of dawn (6:30) before they had a chance to roll or get muddy. It was clear, until we pulled into the arena, then the rain started. It went from light sprinkle to light rain on and off right up until the rodeo started. It rained on and off in the beginning, then it let up, the sun came out and got hot. We kept the horses in the trailer as long as possible to keep them dry. Jayden had Tex for sperpentine and flag race, and ace for b

 Luke was in the homecoming parade for the new school homecoming. The Southeast Webster Grand schools has joined with Praire Valley and the school is now Southeast Valley. It has been a controversial move and many were surprised at how quickly it all happened. Just another reason I am glad to be homeschooling. The schools changed their name, color, and mascot. They held the first ever homecoming parade. His class marched down the street along with all the other classes and sports teams. Times are changing and schools are closing or having to merge.  Tonight was my high school’s very last homecoming to ever be held at Northeast Hamilton in Blairsburg. I wanted the whole family to go and see where I went to school and be in on the night. We got to the school and took a tour. I could recall every classroom and what teacher I had. I could remember the old school building elementary rooms and teachers. The middle school science room with Mr. Honoman, and the high school chemistry room,

 I had to go to the doctor again for a bee sting. Last Saturday I got stung and this past Sunday I got stung again. Both times I was stung while at the Dayton arena. The bees are thick after the big Labor day weekend rodeo. There were kids getting stung too. Both times, I reacted by having a big red swollen arm. The first time it was from armpit to elbow. This time from wrist to elbow. It gets hot, swollen, and itchier than anything. Both times I had to go to the doctor and be put on antibiotics. What worried me was when my arm would start to ache. The doctor said cellulitis. What a pain to have to go to the doctor and through such trouble over a little sweat bee.

9/15/14 I took the Serpentine team group photos again this year. Serpentine has had its ups and downs. There were some situations that I felt were not handled well, but overall I was pleased with it. Jayden has improved her riding so much and I think the hours of practice for serpentine definitely added to that. Maneuvering through a pattern to music with other horses while carrying a flag, no doubt made her a better rider. The camaraderie of the girls has been neat too. It is similar to being on a sports team. The girls ages range from 12 to 16. The girls all have horses in common and have grown a friendship over the years, some more than others.

 Mark went to a Ranch Rodeo in Dayton. The kids and I went to church then went to watch him. He was having a good day, roping well, and his team won several events. He got to pick out his prizes and picked pink and purple.  It was a nice day until I got another bee sting.  I met my parents in Story City to get Jake, who stayed with them a couple nights. My Dad was still moving pretty slow from his surgery. The kids rode the old carousel. It is quite unique, the original one, very vintage and it still has a music player that plays as the carousel runs. We got some fun Scandinavian photos in.

 Today we dissected a bull frog. We waited until Luke got home so all three kids got in on the dissection. None of them were at all grossed out. Not even Jayden when something she cut splattered  in her face. I think I have some true science kids. The tongue was the most fascinating as a frog tongue is attached at the front of the mouth instead of at the back like we have. The eyeballs were as hard as a plastic bead. It was interesting and they all really got into it.

Today we remember 9/11 and the twin towers. Each year on this day, I go back in my mind to that day and I can recall precise details. It will be forever in my memory.  It turned cold and fall way too fast. It has been lingering in the 50 to 60’s. It has also been raining. In the afternoon Spillman’s came with the big camper. The kids all rode horses. After some last minute planning, Spillman’s left their big horse trailer camper for Jayden and Makenna to sleep in. and Jake went home with them. I figured opportunities like this are rare and sometimes you just have to go with it. So the kids won’t have school in the morning, but that is one of the joys of homeschool. You get to pick and choose when you take a day off. And what better than to let the kids be kids. Jayden and Makenna rode horses, then stalled her 3 horses and stayed in a camper. A horse sleepover, how fun is that! Jake got to spend the night and then go set out deer tents in the timber for hunting with the Spillman boys

JMO The iphone. The iphone 6 was just released and some people are crazy enough to stand in line for all hours in the night to be the first to get in the door to get one. Most people today own an iphone, or at least something very similar. I do not own one yet, nor do I want one. I am sure at some point, I will own one. Soon enough that will be the only option. Jayden really would like her own and Mark has an Android, which is basically the same thing, different company. What is an iphone? A camera, computer, telephone, radio, answering machine, all in the palm of your hand. It can do so many things, it is really quite amazing. You can make phone calls, text, browse the internet, facebook, check emails, watch tv, listen to the radio or any kind of music, take videos, watch tv or movies, read a book, take photos, and so many other things. Why would I not want one? They are extremely addicting, most people can’t leave them alone. To have one means, constant messages and emails that you

Jacob gave his first presentation at his 4-H club. He gave it on gun safety and did a great job. He was able to use his 4H fair poster he made on Gun Safety. 

Today Jayden and Jacob participated in a Jonny Hopkins Tuff E Nuff rodeo. The rodeo has barrel racing and miniature bull riding. Some of  the bulls are not much larger than a dog and act like a big pet. They wobble out and trot a little for the youngest kids group. There are all different ranks of bulls. In barrel racing, there were several age groups. The rodeo is all about the kids. They have a grand entry where all the kids names are announced as they enter the arena. Jacob has finally learned how to use two hands when barrel racing at a lope and can lope now without holding the saddle horn. Next he needs to practice going tighter around the barrels. Jayden was having a pretty good run,but knocked the third barrel. It was nice for me as I got to sit in a chair and watch without having to be in the arena helping. I even got to take pictures, so I took lots. It was a nice day, warmed up to 70’s. Without a breeze, we were plenty hot. Back home, Mark and I rode horses and Tony roped the

Today it was cool and in the 60’s. It was also kind of a driizley day. A drastic change from yesterdays heat index of 100. It made it feel like we went from summer to fall overnight. Only in Iowa does that happen.

Jake loves to mow. I  showed him once this summer, then he took off and has been mowing on his own all summer. He looks forward to it, he just can't get enough. He does an excellent job and is fast. He has mowed both grandparents yards and looks forward to his next opportunity. He has to stick a large rock behind him in the seat to hold enough weight in the seat to keep the mower from shutting down. I love having the break from mowing as it is hard on my back. Jake is going to be quite the tractor driver someday.

I think everyone in our family would like to trade lives with Coco the cat. Talk about a spoiled cat! He has such a good life. He comes in in the mornings and takes anywhere from a 4 hour to an 8 hour nap in the house. Usually on one of the kids laps for some of the time. These photos are from May to September. I think this cat loves us as much as we love him.