Thankful

I had planned on doing a post each day about what I was thankful for but life happens.  I have had a wonderful week which started off with church Sunday.  My husband Chuck got the opportunity to preach Sunday night and did an amazing job.  After we had been married about a year he came to me and said he was dropping out of college which he had one year to go to be in the ministry.  I wasn't sure if that was a good idea and didn't see him being a youth pastor or pastor.  Well 12 yrs. later here we are and he is the Associate Pastor of our church and God has blessed him.  It is all God and without Him Chuck wouldn't be the preacher he is today.  I am proud to be his wife. I am thankful for a husband who loves the Lord first and then me and our children. 

Monday was my ending to a weekend of cakes.  I had the privilage of making a gender cake for my friend Whitnee.  I am thankful she trusted me with knowing the sex of her baby when she herself did not even know.  She has two little girls Ashlee and Anna.  Her husband and her wanted a boy very badly and God blessed her with Jett which she soon found out that evening.  I'm thankful God blessed her with a healthy baby boy.  I can't wait to meet baby Jett in April.

We have spent almost every night this week at one of my sister in-laws house.  I love hanging out with my sister in-laws and their family.  We have a good time playing games and laughing together.  They are unique in their own way and there is never a dull moment and for that I am thankful.  My sister in-law Trish and her family came up for Thanksgiving.  Ashley has grown so much in the last couple of months and is a beautiful healthy little girl.  God has blessed us with such a special little girl and continues to answer our prayers for her each day.  She is taking steps now and I am so thankful that we serve an awesome, powerful God.  

My Aunt Brenda came over Tuesday with my Grandpa and Brandi.  My Grandpa lives in South Padre so I only get to see him about once a year.  They came over and hung out for a while.  I am thankful for my Aunt Brenda she kinda keeps my dad's side of the family in order.  I would probably never see them if it weren't for her.  My children love her and she is a wonderful aunt to them and for that I am thankful.  I was happy to get to see Brandi she is married to my cousin.  They are expecting their first baby in February 19th but I am holding out for the 22nd.  I have found a new friend in Brandi and I am thankful for that.  I just wish she lived a little closer. 

                                 Jackson, Joshua, Katelyn, Great Grandpa Richard, Payton, and Isaac

 

Katelyn, Brandi, and Payton\

                                                    Aunt Brenda, Jackson, and Katelyn

I am thankful for friends who will get up and go shopping with me at 4am in the morning.  Friday morning was Black Friday and yes I took part in it.  I don't know if it's the thrill of the race to get to the store to get the best deal on the perfect Christmas gift or just the fact it's become tradition.  My sister in-laws invited me to go one year and I had so much fun so I have been doing it every year since.  The last couple of years I have gone with my mom and sister but they were in Texas this year.  I was sad I couldn't be with them for the holidays but I decided I was an adult and didn't need my mommy or sister.  I asked a couple of my friends to go with me and two of them took on the challenge.  My friends Leah and Heather both went shopping with me yesterday morning.  This was the first year for both of them so I got the privilage of breaking them in.  They loved it and we had a great time together.  We went to lunch at Olive Garden to end the day of shopping.  I say end the day of shopping cause when you start at 4am you feel like you have shopped all day by the time lunch rolls around.  I came home to my husband just finishing up getting the tree put together ready for me to decorate.  Last year I decided I wanted to have a snow tree this year so I sprayed the tree down with fake snow and got the lights on.  I stopped there due to the fact I was exhausted from shopping all morning.  I took a nap and then we went to my sister in-law Kathy's house for some more games.  I did not get my tree done but today is a new day and that is my goal.  I love Christmas it is my favorite holiday so I will post pictures once I get all my decorations up.

The thing I am most thankful for is my salvation.  I am thankful that I have a God who loves me and gave His son to die for me.  I am so not worthy of his love and mercy He shows me each day.   I am also thankful for my three children.  God has blessed me with the three best kids a mom could ever ask for.  They are each unique in their own way.  Joshua is most like his momma.  He loves to talk, be around people, he knows no stranger, and will always give you a hug.   Isaac can be the funniest kid in the world.  He makes me laugh and I love that about him.  He also can be very grumpy and you just let him be.  He wants to do whatever his big brother does.  Then there's Katelyn she is the princess of the family.  She has her daddy and brothers wrapped around her finger.  She is a happy girl and loves her baby dolls.  She is my little monkey.  She has no fear and climbs on everything.  I can't even count the many times she has fallen but she is a tough little girl.  I can't imagine my life without them.

 

 

Busy last couple of weeks

I have been so crazy busy the last couple of weeks.  When I started this blog I was thinking I would be blogging several times a week.  Well life happens and before you know it you realize it's been like 2 weeks since your last blog.  Last week Isaac had broken a tooth in the back of his mouth at grandma's house while I was being crafty hanging with friends.  He was in a lot of pain all weekend so I called the dentist on Monday and the earliest they could get him an appointment was Thursday afternoon.  I was worried about infection so asked if there was anyway to get him in earlier.  The receptionist said to bring him in at 7:45am Tuesday and we could wait for an opening.  My Tuesday's are so busy due to the fact I have Jackson, Payton, and the boys have P.E. along with regular daily activities.  Thankfully daddy was more than willing to take Isaac and wait for an opening so I didn't have to take 5 kids to a dentist office and wait.  Anyway they went and the dentist sent him to a pediatric dentist because he couldn't do what needed to be done.  Chuck came in later that afternoon and informed me that I needed to get him in to the pediatrician for a physical because he was scheduled for surgery Thursday morning.   My heart sank, as a mother you never want your child to go through surgery and have to be put under with anesthesia.  This has always been a fear of mine not necessarily the surgery but the fact that they wouldn't be able to ever wake him up.  We arrived at the hospital for surgery at 10am on Thursday, got all the paper work filled out, and they took us back to the room to prep him.  They put him in a gown that was too big and some warm socks for his feet.  He was so cute and yet so clueless to what was about to happen.  I thought about taking pictures but then decided against it, it's not something he's going to want to remember nor I.  He colored with his daddy while getting very loopy from the medicine they gave him to drink to relax him.  Thirty minutes later they were taking him back to give him the anesthesia and IV for surgery.  I had such a peace when they took him, I didn't get emotional and cry like I had almost done several times a day leading up to this.  I'm thankful I have a Savior who has given me the Holy Spirit to comfort me in times like these.  I knew God was in control over Isaac and his surgery.  Surgery went great, he was in a lot of pain after surgery for a few hours but then was back to his old self.  It's amazing how fast kids bounce back. 

I have had several cakes these last to weeks.  It amazes me how God knows just exactly when to place these cake orders in my life.  It gets to be overwhelming at times but I am thankful for this talent God has blessed me with.  I don't make much money off making cakes but it helps with our finances. 

Joshua had his Spar Wars for Martial Arts yesterday.  We were up at PMA from 1pm-4pm.  He didn't get to fight as much as I thought he would since there weren't very many kids in his weight division.  He was amazing and kicked butt.  He has worked so hard to get to where he is and I am definitely a proud mama.  God has blessed him for his hard work.  I can't wait to see him grow and become a stronger and better Martial Artisit.

                     This was a twins 1st birthday.  Katelyn and Connor, I thought it turned out really cute. 

 

This was for my friends daughter Carolina's 4th birthday. 

This was for an 11 year old birthday party.  She requested a bowling pin.  I designed it around the invitation and added the bowling ball.

 

The icing was a hot pink with  light pink tiara's and border.  I made the tiara's out of royal icing.  I made the top tiara also out of royal icing, thought it turned out really cute.  This was my first time to make a tiara.

Catch up time

It has been a busy but great week for us.  I started off the week in a baking mood so I tried out a new cake recipe which turned out to be a huge hit.  Of course it involved peanut butter and chocolate who doesn't love that.  I made one with cream cheese icing and the other with chocolate icing. 

                                   Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cake with Cream Cheese Icing

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cake with Chocolate Icing

This was what the inside looked like with a peanut butter icing filling.

Katelyn started a preschool class this week which was on Wednesday and Friday.  My friend Amanda is teaching several of the toddlers from church.  Katelyn had so much fun and loved it.  She learned what the letter C says it's so cute to hear her say the sound.

 

Katie Bug already to go to Ms. Amanda's house

Thursday was such a beautiful day so I took the kids to the park.  Oh yeah can't forget about Bruiser and Tiger.  Isaac has his lift (learning is fun together) class on Thursdays.  So I have an hour to burn while he is in his class.  The weather in the last couple of months has been raining or cold so we haven't been able to do the park.  I was so thankful for the nice weather so the kids could run off some energy and then the boys were off to PE at the YMCA. 

 

Friday night my friend Amy had a stampin' up party.  I wasn't sure it I would like it but wanted to go for my friend.    I had so much fun.  I never thought I could make my own cards and a little gift box but I did.  It was easier than I thought it would be.  I had a good time just hanging out with my friends.  We decided to get together once a month, I can't wait for next month to when we make our Christmas cards.

Amy

Heather and Leah

Chan, Me, and Shannon

 

These are my creations.  I love them too cute!!

When I got home Friday night I still had a cake to do for my cousin Brandi.  So as you can imagine it was a long night.  She is pregnant with her first baby and it's a girl.  I am so excited  and can't wait for her to have Ruth.  The colors of her baby shower were yellow and green.  She gave me liberty to do whatever as long as it had a giraffe.  I wanted it to be girly.  I finally came up with a design that would incorporate her colors and the giraffe.   She loved it.  As I was making the cake and putting it all together little did I know there was something going on outside my house.  Some of the teenage girls from my church decided to decorate my van and driveway.  Joshua was so excited when we walked out Saturday morning and saw it.  Isaac on the other hand was really upset by it.  He thought they were being mean to us and I couldn't for the life of me get him to believe otherwise.  After we got home from taking Joshua to Martial Arts I couldn't find him anywhere in the house.  I walked out the front door and there he was on top of the van washing the windows.   He cracks me up sometimes.                                                                                                                        

                  

Brandi's baby shower cake. 

 

 

This was just one side of the van

This is my Katie Bug she looked like a little princess this morning for church.  I couldn't resist a picture.

  

Just another day

Due to the time change all of us in the Munson household are still trying to get used to it.  This morning the boys were up, dressed, at breakfast, watched a little tv, and were ready for school at 7:30.   I'm usually dragging them out of bed at this time to start school at 8:30 but not today.  So it was funny when Joshua told me he was ready to start his school day and looked at the clock noticing it was only 7:30.  I said well let's start early so we can be done earlier especially since they have P.E. on Tuesdays.  We learned about the season fall today along with our other school work.  Jackson and Katelyn did a fall coloring page.  The boys journaled about their favorite thing to do in the fall and then had to draw a picture about it.  They crack me up sometimes with the things they come up with.  Joshua's was over carving pumpkins which I think he has done maybe once in his life.  Isaac was all about getting the candy at the fall festival's we attended.   Tuesday's are always a little crazy since I have Payton and Jackson while my sister works.  On top of that I think Katelyn has a UTI so she has been having accidents all day.  I am going to try to get her in to our pediatrician tomorrow.  Even though it's been a crazy day filled with all sorts of surprises I am thankful for my life.  I love that I get to stay home and teach my kids even though there are days I want to quit.  I love that I get to watch my nephew and niece while my sister works.  I am truly blessed. 

Joshua doing his math

Katelyn coloring her fall page

Jackson coloring his fall page.  I just love how he holds his crayon.

I didn't get a picture of Isaac for some reason today  :(  He did do school today. 

Am I Crazy???

I'm sitting here wondering.  Am I crazy?  Have I lost my ever lovin' mind?  Am I going to regret this decision?  I guess only time will tell.  So your probably wondering what I'm talking about and thinking "she really has lost her mind."  For a couple of years now my boys have been begging for a pet and I have been completely against it.  I am not a pet lover.  I just don't care for animals and could go my whole life without ever owning another one.  Chuck has been talking about getting the boys a puppy for Christmas.  My children are very blessed and need absolutely nothing for Christmas.  I received an email through my homeschool loop yesterday afternoon, I bet you'll never guess what it was for.  Puppies for sale!  Well just out of curiosity I emailed the lady and asked her to email me pictures.  She did and I showed them to Chuck and he was like email her back, see if we can go look at them.  So I did and we went to look at two males puppies today.  When we get there my husband of course fell in love with them.  I have to admit they are cute 9 week old Chorkies (1/2 Yorkie, 1/2 Chihuau).So after spending 30-45 minutes with them and talking to the lady Chuck decided this was what he wanted.  Most people would pick the one puppy they like the most and head home but not my husband, noooo.  He says we need them both, that way the boys will have their own.  So me being the awesome wife and mother I am agreed to taking both puppies home.  Not really.  I think that most moms will do whatever to see the joy that something like this brings to their child as long as it's not going to harm them.  It was truly a blessing from God how it all worked out.  The price of the dogs had been taken down 1/2 price due to her stepdad going into the hospital.  Then when I spoke with her this morning she dropped the price another $25 so we could use the money to buy a crate.  When we got to her house and began talking about purchasing both she started adding items.  She gave us two goody bags full of potty pads, a brand new collar and leash for each of them, several play toys, and a bag of food.  Then if that wasn't enough she called her mom and asked if we could have the crate that she brought them over in.  She said yes!!!  On top of all this they already have had their shots, been wormed, dew claws removed, and their tails cropped.  God is awesome!!!  We surprised the boys with them tonight.  Joshua's face was priceless I think he thought he was seeing things. 

They are so funny.  We told them they were getting an early

Christmas present and they wanted to hide their eyes. 

Surprise!!!!

Joshua with his puppy we picked just for him.

Joshua's puppy

 

Isaac with his puppy we picked just for him.

Isaac's puppy is more rambunctious than Joshua's so he is perfect for Isaac.

I just love seeing my Isaac giggling

Joshua lovin' on his dog.  You would never in a

million years catch me letting a dog lick my face.

Fall Festival

I took Isaac and Katelyn to my mom's church last night for their fall festival..  My kids had so much fun and came home with more than enough candy.  I was amazed at all the different rooms they had set up with games for the kids.  There were so many people there it was a little overwhelming but it was worth it for the kids.  We even ran into people from our own church there so that was fun for the kids.  Joshua had martial arts and was going to come when he got finished but decided to go home and hang out with his dad.  I guess he is starting to get a little too old for certain things.  He would have never in the past turned down a chance of getting candy and playing games to go home.  Makes me sit back and wonder when did he start getting too big for things like this.  I'm glad he is old enough to hang out with his dad and share common interest.

                                                              Isaac flipping flap jacks

Katelyn trying to flip her flap jacks

Slinging stones at Goliah

The doctor and nurse fixing up Isaac's wound. 

Well I should say giving him a wound.  He was a little skeptical and first and wouldn't walk into the "ER" room afraid of what they were going to do.  Once he found out it was fake he was all for it.

Isaac and Charity's wounds.

bowling!!!!

Cookie Walk!  Uncle Kyle sure is having fun.

 Find the matching animals in the corn.

Isaac had fun golfing.  He even got a hole in one on one of the courses.

Aunt Kelly and the cutest Lady Bug ever!

Katelyn was getting her face painted with a mouth full of chocolate.

Isaac got a basketball and a rainbow painted on his face.  Of course we will just show the manly basketball.

Jackson and Katelyn racing through the obstacle course.  They were just giggling, so cute.

Isaac putting out the fire in the house.