The Muench Bunch

 We have a tradition of going to a hotel to celebrate the New Year. It is something different that gets us out of the house and always a fun time. Jayden left to fly back and spend New Years with Noah and his family. We asked Ali's family to join us this time. We met in Ames at a hotel where we got a couple rooms and went for pizza. Old Chicago pizza was attached to our hotel, so we didn't even have to leave. The kids spent a lot of time in the pool. The hot tub was crammed with teenage couples. They looked to be around 17 and a little too affectionate. I was determined to get some hot tub time in, so I scooted myself in along with Ali. I felt like the chaperone mom as the kids got a little less cozy. The evening went fast with Ali and Blake arriving after 7PM. We brought Christmas presents to exchange, brought some games and a ton of food. I saw Bridget have her first screaming, crying, temper tantrum when she got her phone taken away. These kids and their phones, it is like r

 This pandemic has caused some of the craziest things I have ever heard. Because 2 air traffic control personnel tested positive, they shut down the flight control center, delaying, cancelling, and diverting flights. All that just to bleach and wipe down a small area. 55 cancelled flights and 33 delays! Really people?   Jayden just so happened to be one of those people! She was checked in waiting at her gate to depart Des Moines for Dallas when the announcement came that her flight was delayed. All passengers rushed to get their refunds and book another flight. Jayden being wise, got online instead of standing in line and booked one of the only flights out, however it would be the next day. She drove all the way home sad and disappointed. Her boy has been anxiously awaiting her arrival. They are just lost without one another. I was happy to have one more day with Jayden home. In order to book the new flight, she had to pay an extra $200 on top of the original flight fee.  DALLAS - Hund

  For the Month of December our church has decided to give through the community each week leading up to Christmas. The first week, they provided meals to all the staff at the local hospital. The meals were brought in from various nice restaurants. They served 1500 meals during the week. The second week, the church had tables of gift cards $20 each to various business's such as Target, Subway, Casey''s, Dutch Oven, Perfect Games, Restaurants, etc. Each church member was to take a card and give it to someone who could really use it. Jake and I were there that Sunday and I took my card to give to a friend who has been making lots of hospital trips to St. Louis for her daughter. Jake was going to give his to a friend who needs money to buy gas just to get to school. He asked me if some people would keep it for themselves. I said, there might be a few, but they would feel the heavy guilt and most likely they wouldn't be able to. If they have a good heart, they would not eve

 Having covid, you are supposed to isolate/quarantine for 10 days if you test positive and 14 days if you have been exposed. Mark and I  stayed in for the two weeks. It was hard, no running to the store, no seeing friends, going to church, eating out, taking Christmas goodies to the neighbors. We were homebound. I was never sick, I had my energy and went about the day as normal. I enjoyed playing toys and fetch with Sage and letting her sit on my lap.  I just felt stuck. I don't see how people can isolate in their homes in fear of this virus. How could you stay home, never go out to a restaurant, buy groceries online and pick them up in your car, watch church online, and zoom your appointments and meetings? Ugh, it is so not healthy. 2 weeks was all I could stand and after that I was ready to get out! To play it safe around my parents, we waited the 14 days. We celebrated Christmas with Mark's family first on the 26th and my family on the 27th. On the 28th Jayden and I went on

 December 26th, we celebrated Christmas with the Muench side. All the families gathered at Grandma and Grandpa Muench's as tradition. There is always an assortment of good food and dishes brought from several families. Then there are presents for everyone followed by hone videos.              December 27th, we celebrated the Wahlert family Christmas at the Grandparents. There was food, bingo, gifts and more gifts. It was fun with Levi's  excitement and Sage the puppy napping on laps.             

       Christmas looked very different this year due to covid. I know many people have chosen not to get together with family due to the risk of getting sick. We had to postpone our plans just a few days because we were the ones with the covid. We did not want to share the virus with family. Traditionally we go to Williams for Christmas Eve and to Mark's parents Christmas day. On Christmas Eve Jayden and I spent most of the day cooking and baking. We made a variety of goodies. She found a sugar cookie recipe for green cookies and called them "Grinchmas cookies". The batch made so many, she baked 8 dozen cookies. We watched our church service online, followed by a soup supper.  Jayden gave her Christmas presents out for us to open early. She put so much time, thought, and money into each personal gift. She really went all out and gave the perfect gifts. She had them ordered back in August.  She worked with a jewelry guy and  and had custom cross necklaces made with the boy

         Tuesday, Dec 15 Finally my Jayden returned for winter break along with Noah. It was so great to hear the sound of her loud truck pull in the driveway, even if it was 2:30AM. I heard it a good half mile before she arrived because I am a light sleeper. I met them at the door and got them situated. Jayden brought her pup Sage home for Christmas break too. I didn't like the thought of a dog in my house. I wondered where she would stay and how I would keep her off the carpet. I didn't want her to smell, shed, or pee. She was so darn cute, it only took a few minutes and my plan went out the door. She had free roam of the house and was so much fun. She would play fetch and slide across the kitchen floor. She loves her toys and plays with them and carries them all over. She was almost perfect. She had a few accidents on my carpet, which was very upsetting. 3 accidents in 1 month wasn't too bad. I just wish it wasn't on my carpet. Luke loved every minute of Sage. She is