The Munro Bunch

princess kate.

2012-02-10T22:24:00.000-08:00

She's here! Our newest niece, Kate Anne Munro, was born on February 8, 2012. Dave and Ashley clearly make the most adorable babies. Congratulations to Dave, Ash, and big sister Amy! We can't wait to snuggle with this perfect little girl very soon.

baptism and pottery.

2012-02-10T22:07:00.000-08:00

Last weekend was spent in Utah to see Caden get baptized. I am in awe that this guy is growing up so fast. Caden made a great decision to be baptized and we are so happy and proud of the little man he has become. It was Caden's turn to choose an activity since it was his special day. He chose to go to Color Me Mine and paint pottery. Jeb and Griff had family plans with their dad's side, so they stayed in Vegas. It was just Matt, myself and the four Munro kids. Painting pottery gave us a great chance to catch up.

Caden's snowboarder with the cool Volcom logo.

Ryan's owl

Maddi's princess that she painted for her baby sister. She is such a GREAT big sister.

The only picture I got of Ry-guy. :)

Gavin's perfect popcorn cup.

Gavin and Caden

Matt and Maddi. This little girl is growing into an amazing young woman. I don't think she yet realizes how much she is loved by her dad and our family. I think it would blow her away if she really understood the depth of it all. She and her brothers are precious to us.

It was another quick, but good weekend visit. The distance is extremely hard to manage at times for many reasons. I hope they all understand that we are trying our best to be there as much as possible.

election speech.

2012-02-03T09:42:00.000-08:00

Griff learned the hard way that even the best campaign strategies can be sabotaged by cute girls who promise pillow party reading time and extra recesses. He didn't win the election, but I am so proud of his efforts. (and I think he killed his speech!)

change.

2012-01-29T21:59:00.000-08:00

Griffin is running for fourth grade class mayor. Speeches, campaigning, and elections happen this week. Now, that's change I can get behind. Good luck, G!

(I'm Griffin's mom and I approve this message.)

ugh.

2012-01-25T22:29:00.000-08:00

Can I be candid? I mean, we're friends, right? I don't complain very often, but I gotta say, today sucked. I would say the highlight was locking my keys in my car...at school...in Henderson...not Green Valley, serious Henderson. Like, so far out, I could see Arizona. THAT was the highlight.

I know it's nothing serious. No one died, no one has cancer. There's lots to be thankful for. But today I throw in the towel. Hopefully, today will make me appreciate tomorrow a whole lot more.

On a good note, I got a good run in today and it kept me sane. And I found this and can totally relate to it.

Tomorrow is feeling better already.

take me down to nickel city.

2012-01-22T19:45:00.000-08:00

We headed to Utah for a quick weekend visit. It was pretty much a repeat of our last visit: going to the rodeo and watching Madison dominate in the barrel racing competition, grubbing at Los Hermanos, and playing at Nickel City. No one complained about the rerun visit, and I believe the Nickel City outing got more and more ridiculous as the night went on. Check out the progression in pictures.

new semester.

2012-01-20T10:00:00.000-08:00

I started my spring semester classes this past Wednesday. My Anatomy and Physiology II professor is no joke. I was overwhelmed after just going through the syllabus. At one point he said that in order to do well in his class, one must spend 20 hours of reading weekly outside of class. This is where my brain went numb. Ya know what made me feel better? This little nugget of epicosity.

Have a great weekend!

raising boys.

2012-01-18T21:54:00.000-08:00

" My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, 'You're tearing up the grass.', 'We're not raising grass,' Dad would reply. 'We're raising boys.'"

- Harmon Killebrew

griff's b-day.

2012-01-17T09:53:00.000-08:00

In the middle of the hectic holidays, a very special birthday happened. Griffin turned 10. We alternate years between family only birthday celebrations and friend parties, and thankfully, this was a family only year (I have barely recovered from Griffin's Nerf party from last year).

Red Raiders Spring 2011

Griffin chose Sushi Fever for his birthday dinner, and we enjoyed teppenyaki. It was a blast and our chef was a complete riot. The restaurant sang happy birthday to G and served him a huge (gnarly looking) scoop of tempura ice cream. He loved every minute of it.

Gavin and Griffin at the zoo - summer 2011

Griffin is a really special person. He is so much fun to be around and has one of the best senses of humor of anyone, adults included, that I know. He has a passion for life and has concrete goals for his future.He is a leader and a great friend.

Nickel City - December 2011

Griffin is also very sensitive. He is always concerned about other's feelings and tries to make everyone feel included no matter who is he with. This usually makes him the life of the party with everyone wanting to be around him.

Nicki and Sean's wedding- November 2011

Griffin won't admit it often, but he loves his brother, Jeb. He teases and antagonizes Jeb non stop, but if anyone else tries to bother Jeb, Griffin won't allow it.

Griffin and Jeb - Church Primary Program 2011

Griffin adores spending time with his step brothers and sister. Griff and Gavin (aka "G-Force") are usually found hanging out together whenever we see them. Family is very important to Griffin.

Griffin with the twins- summer 2011

Amy's 2nd birthday party - June 2011

Griff adores his little cousin, Amy. He was willing to go all out and wear pink proudly at her princess party and it made her so happy. He is really great with her and it's fun to see his soft side when he spends time with her.

At 10 years old, Griffin wants to be a chef and restaurant owner when he grows up. He plans to attend UNLV for his bachelors in hospitality management and then Le Cordon Bleu for culinary arts. He wants to own a chain of restaurants called "Griffin's Grubb" and assures us that family members will always eat free. He loves to cook on Monday nights with me, loves the Food Network, and Guy Fieri and Bobby Flay are his favorites. Griff is running for class mayor and is hoping for a win. He is very interested in Asian cultures. He likes baseball, playing video games, and reading.

G-man, we adore you! I know your tenth year will be amazing and full of goodness. Love you, big guy!

denver - part 2.

2012-01-13T21:59:00.000-08:00

During my trip to Denver, I was able to take in some culture at the Denver Art Museum.

I was ecstatic to see an original Picasso. I did my very best impression of Cameron from Ferris Bueller's Day Off. I stared and stared until it was engraved in my memory.

I adored the contemporary art. Some of it is crazy, but it is so interesting.

I also loved spending time viewing work by many different cultures. It is intriguing to see how different races, cultures, and faiths see the same world.

The traditional art is great too, especially the western paintings. This reminded me of Madison and how she loves horses. I could see her getting her boots on and going out into the snow to take of of these guys.

Thankfully, Matt wasn't working ALL the time.
We were able to take some great walks in the evenings and spend some much needed time together.
The holiday lights, the bike carriages, and chill in the air made the nights very much like a story book.

16th Street Mall at night.

And...a girl's gotta eat! SO glad this was recommended to us.

Mexican food is my favorite and this was excellent! It was packed and loud and fun. I loved it.

El Diablo - The tastiest tacos and sopes I have ever had! Amazing...

On Saturday morning, we headed out to get breakfast and to spend time at the book store.
We walked in the snow. It was cold, very cold.

That was a perfect end to a perfect trip and made this girl very happy. Thank you, Honey, for letting me tag along and thank you, Denver. I'm quite sure you'll see me again.

grateful.

2012-01-11T16:36:00.000-08:00

Today I subbed as a teacher's aide for a class with eight Autistic fourth and fifth grade boys. All but one were extremely well behaved and high functioning. As far as substituting goes, it was a breeze.

I believe children with special needs can share so much love and strength and bless the lives around them immensely. These boys really made it a great day for me, but there is an overwhelming gratitude in my heart right now to be able to come home to my two strong healthy boys. It was exactly what I needed today and I am grateful.

denver - part 1.

2012-01-10T20:33:00.000-08:00

Get ready for part one of photo overload.

I had the luxury of tagging along on Matt's last business trip to Denver. Because he was working the entire time, I was on my own to explore this beautiful city.

I saw and did more in just a few short days than Matt has in two years of monthly travels. I was in awe of the architecture and fell in love with the laid back vibe of the downtown area. I soaked in the art museum, talked to amazing locals, visited the Denver Mint, and walked and walked and walked. It was an incredible time.

16th Street Mall area

I couldn't get enough of that sky.

Denver Capital Building

Outside of the public library.

Denver World Trade Center

Denver Art Museum

Capital Building

Municipal Building

Colorado State Capital

Amazing architecture

Lower Downtown - LODO

The book store that I adore.

The EPA Headquarters. (Within seconds of snapping this picture, I was accosted by a large, manly, female security guard and informed that pictures of federal buildings are prohibited. Oops. I thought environmentalists were friendly.)

Oh, Denver. How I enjoyed you.

present.

2012-01-09T10:34:00.000-08:00

Before I blog about my awesome mini vacation or catch up on a very important birthday that happened in the middle of the December mayhem, I have to share my word for 2012.

I am a firm believer in goal setting. I adore new starts: new years, back to school, new birthday years, new months, and even new weeks. I love the feeling of starting fresh and challenging myself to reach a little farther than before. I also love to look back at my accomplishments, and even my failures, and figure out what I can do to improve or learn from the experience.

So new years resolutions are like a party for me. Planning, daydreaming, writing, and rewriting all the goals and hopes I have for the new year is something I adore. But I fell into a rut. My goals were usually pretty much the same. They were the ones everyone has. Eat healthy, exercise, drink more water, read my scriptures...blah, blah, blah. All good things, but if my goals are always the same, am I really improving? I say no. So, when a friend introduced me to a new spin on resolutions I instantly fell in love.

She suggested that I select a word for the year, a theme to remind me of how I want to live my life. A word or a mantra to focus on and in turn improve myself with.

I've had the words "prepare" and "learn" in the past and each had given me renewed focus on the goals I had set that year.

This year, I know what I needed to focus on most. You see, like any mom, I am a multi tasking machine. I am always trying to check things off of my to do list. I am great at it, but I do it to a fault. So much so that it causes worry, anxiousness, becoming sidetracked, and the terrible habit of not being punctual. It has become a hindrance rather than a blessing.

Lately, I have heard more often than not, "Mom, come sit with me." "Mom, let's play a game." "Mom, are you done on the computer yet?" I realize that I have a very small window of time that these two boys will want my attention because before you know it friends, sports, and girls will take my place.

My word for 2012 is "present". I want to be more mindful of where I am at the moment and more importantly, who I am with. I want to really look into the eyes of my children and see them and hear them. I want to NOT be answering texts and emails on my phone when I am at their baseball games or visiting with my mom. I want to hang on every word my husband says at dinner rather than thinking about the assignment I have due next week. I want to sit with a student I am tutoring and really listen to them rather than write a mental grocery list. I want to listen to my friends not just hear them. I want to pray without my mind wandering off.

Although multi tasking is useful, perhaps more can be accomplished if one is really present and mindful of the task at hand. If all my time energy is given to the present moment, maybe I will stop being anxious about the next...maybe I will be on time more.

My word for 2012 is present.

"You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment."

-- Henry David Thoreau

back home.

2012-01-08T12:43:00.000-08:00

Guess what great city I had the pleasure of exploring this week?

How about another hint?

Not sure yet? It was very pretty.

Here's a huge hint...

Still not sure? For sure this will give it away.

I had a blast. I have hundreds of pictures to upload and edit. Stay tuned.

nye.

2011-12-31T15:47:00.000-08:00

It's just hours from being over. 2011 went by at light speed.

Here's to learning new lessons, discovering new passions, developing new talents, traveling to new places, eating food we have never tried before, setting new goals to achieve, becoming better people, meeting new faces, and loving the old faces in our life a little more.

Wishing you a 2012 filled with success and happiness.

christmas goodness.

2011-12-28T23:21:00.000-08:00

The tree, the food, and my favorite people. I just noticed there are more pictures of food than people. Nice.

nana.

2011-12-27T22:44:00.000-08:00

One of the most special moments this Christmas Day was visiting my mom. She has been fighting to regain her health since the summer, and had a set back in early December. She is currently in a rehabilitation facility where she is being monitored and goes to physical therapy daily to improve her strength and stamina.

Matt, the boys, and I brought her some Christmas cheer. We brought a CD player, a CD with old traditional carols, presents, treats, and sparkling cider. What warmed her heart, and ours, the most was how the boys spent time with her. They talked with her, told her jokes, and showed her an

enormous amount of love.

She called the next morning to say thank you and that it was one of the most

dear things anyone has ever done for her.

When really, we were the ones that were blessed.

Nana, we love you.

very merry.

2011-12-24T14:49:00.000-08:00

Our glutenous Christmas Eve brunch with monkey bread, cinnamon rolls, fresh strawberries, sparkling cider, and bacon (I love how my kids think bacon is a special treat since I seldom let them have it) is done. We placed the characters in the nativity as we talked about each one's roll in that first Christmas. That led to a special conversation about love, family, and blessings that made me teary. Then, the boys opened one gift - they were so excited. Thank goodness for grandparents that are on the ball as I have yet to wrap a single one of Jeb and/or Griffin's gifts. I obviously work best under pressure.

Now, they are showered and handsome and off to spend the night with their dad and step mom.

Matthew has scored major points as he has informed me of dinner reservations tonight for two. Yes, two grown ups. Oh, and I will need to dress for the occasion. Where? That is a Christmas surprise. That boy has mad skills. He is off to do his traditional last minute Christmas shopping. I love him.

I am ready to soak in all the Christmas spirit I can this weekend, and I wish the same for you. From our home to yours, we wish you and your loved ones a holiday filled with peace, love, and happiness.

Merry Christmas!

utah christmas.

2011-12-20T11:52:00.000-08:00

Our visit to Utah to see the Munro kids was short, but sweet. It never seems to be long enough. The time sure flies between visits.

Madison has grown up so much since the summer. She is beautiful.

Matt wished he could have frozen this moment in time.

We were able to spend the day at Madison's rodeo. She was competing in the barrel races and did an amazing job. Maddi achieved her personal record time of 17.2! Check her out!

After the rodeo, we ate at our usual Utah favorite, Los Hermanos. We celebrated the two winter birthdays, Griffin and Caden. I wish I had a video of the servers scaring Griffin half to death as they started singing to them. MMMMMmm....fried ice cream.

Then (thanks to much prompting from Gavin) we headed over to Nickel City. Matt and I wanted to avoid video games this trip, as we did last time, but it turned out to be a lot of fun. The best part was giving each kid $5 in NICKELS that lasted them all night.

Craziness x 6.

We topped off our trip with attending church Sunday morning with the kids. Leaving is bittersweet and the drive back is always a bit melancholy, but we are grateful for the time spent together. If anyone can figure out a way to slow time down, let us know. :)

levels of christmas.

2011-12-20T11:43:00.001-08:00

I read this today and it hit deep in my soul. Good stuff.

"For Christmas is a beautiful time of the year. We love the excitement, the giving spirit, the special awareness of and appreciation for family and friends, the feelings of love and brotherhood that bless our gatherings at Christmastime.

In all the joyousness, it is well to reflect that Christmas comes in three levels:
Let’s call the first the 'Santa Claus level.' It’s the level of Christmas trees and holly, of whispered secrets and colorful packages, of candlelight and rich food and warm open houses. It’s carolers in the shopping malls, excited children, and weary but loving parents. It’s a lovely time of special warmth and caring and giving. It’s the level at which we eat too much and spend too much and do too much–and enjoy every minute of it. We love the Santa Claus level of Christmas.

But there’s a higher, more beautiful level. Let’s call it the 'Silent Night level.' It’s the level of all our glorious Christmas carols, of that beloved, familiar story: 'Now in those days there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus…' It’s the level of the crowded inn, and the silent holy moment in a dark stable when the Son of Man came to earth. It’s shepherds on a steep, bare hill near Bethlehem, angels with their glad tidings, a new star in the East, wise men traveling far in search of the Holy One. How beautiful and meaningful it is; how infinitely poorer we would be without this sacred second level of Christmas.

The trouble is, these two levels don’t last. They can’t. Twelve days of Christmas, at the first level, is about all most of us can stand. It’s too intense, too extravagant. The tree dries out and the needles fall. The candles burn down. The beautiful wrappings go out with he trash, the carolers are up on the ski slopes, the toys break, and the biggest day the stores in the entire year is exchange day, December 26.

The feast is over and the dieting begins. But the lonely and the hungry are with us still perhaps lonelier and hungrier than before.

Lovely and joyous as the first level of Christmas is, there will come a day, very soon, when Mother will put away the decorations and vacuum the living room and think, 'Thank goodness that’s over for another year.'

Even the second level, the level of the Baby Jesus, can’t last. How many times this season can you sing 'Silent Night'? The angels and the star and the shepherd, even the silent, sacred mystery of that holy night itself, can’t long satisfy humanity’s basic need. The man who keeps Christ in the manger will, in the end, be disappointed and empty.

No, for Christmas to last all year long, for it to grow in beauty and meaning and purpose, for it to have the power to change lives, we must celebrate it at the third level, that of the adult Christ. It is at this level–not as an infant–that our Savior brings His gifts of lasting joy, lasting peace, lasting hope. It was the adult Christ who reached out and touched the untouchable, who loved the unlovable, who so loved us all that even in His agony on the cross He prayed forgiveness for His enemies.

This is the Christ, creator of worlds without number, who wept, because so many of us lack affection and hate each other–and then who willingly gave His life for all of us, including those for whom He wept.

This is the Christ, the adult Christ, who gave us the perfect example, and asked us to follow Him.
Accepting that invitation is the way–the only way–to celebrate Christmas all year and all life long."

Oh every time I think of this I get that feeling once again. He is there. He loves us dearly. The adult Christ who gave His life for us.I was so grateful for that crystal clear realization to hit me there on my hard chair at church as my children and their scramble for markers and request for back rubs died down to slow motion around me. The true meaning of Christmas washed over me and filled me with love.Then of course yesterday I was overcome almost to tears with the amount of Christmas and motherhood busy-ness of this time of year.

May we all remember to be still enough to remember not only that tiny babe born in Bethlehem all those years ago, but that third level of the living, adult Christ this week and throughout the whole year.

pictures now...post later.

2011-12-19T14:29:00.000-08:00

california fun.

2011-11-23T18:06:00.000-08:00

We traveled to California a couple of weeks ago to see my beautiful niece, Nicole, get married. It was such a fun wedding and seeing old friends and all of my family was a treat. The weekend was filled with yummy food and great company...plus a special treat - Disneyland. It was Matt, Jeb, and Griff's first visit and my first in a loooong time. We had a blast!

On the way home we made a little detour and visited my old neighborhood. I got to show Matt and the guys the house I grew up in and have lunch at my very favorite pizza place.

Such a fun time! I'm grateful to share weekends like these with my three favorite people.

30 days of thankfulness.

2011-11-03T14:52:00.001-07:00

I am grateful for my husband and could list the many specific things I love about him, however it's the things he doesn't do that sometimes speak the loudest to my heart. He never asks me to be something I'm not, his vocabulary doesn't contain the words "you really should" or "you know what you need to do?". I am thankful he loves me for who I am.

45 days in 45 seconds.

2011-11-02T13:57:00.000-07:00

Wasn't it just summertime? Now we are into the holiday season and 2011 is wrapping up at warp speed. Since August, we have celebrated 2 birthdays here in Las Vegas (Matt and Jeb) and sent birthday wishes to 3 special Utah kiddos (Madison, Ryan, and Gavin). School started at the end of August - 4th grade for G- and J has turned into a 6th grade middle schooler. The boys had parts in the Primary Program a few weeks ago at church and did an awesome job. School is going well for me as I learn to love cadaver dissections and continue to find joy in being a public speaking tutor at the college. (<- These are things I never thought I would do.) Matt is still the traveling man- working hard in Denver and Atlanta as of late. Life is full of good things.

30 days of thankfulness.

2011-11-02T13:49:00.001-07:00

I am thankful for my children who have taught me to enjoy the present. No matter how we may long for an orderly life and a tidy home, and there will inevitibly be goals to achieve and deadlines to meet, every day greets us with moments of simplicity that we can choose to enjoy. In these moments, if we allow ourselves to be present, are where the sweetest memories are made. One day there won't be fingerprints on the wall and kids asking us to sit and watch cartoons, read a book, or play a board game with them. I am thankful to have these opportunities each day to stop working on my to do list and enjoy the present.

summer visit.

2011-08-15T10:57:00.001-07:00

We had a great weekend. With all these cute kids in your backseat, how could you not?!

We drove up to Utah Thursday and were able to see Madison compete in a rodeo. It was really neat watching her do that. (I can kick myself for not getting pictures of her!) She is truly in her element when on her horse. Madison has grown tremendously in the last few months. She carries herself with poise and a quiet confidence. She is thoughtful, always gracious and considerate of others. Maddie is quite the young lady.

On Friday, we ate at our favorite Utah restaurant, Los Hermanos, and then spent the day bowling and swimming. We purposely planned those activities because we wanted a chance to visit with the kids and catch up on everything they have been up to lately. It is always good to see all six kids pick up where they left off. There's never a moment wasted on feeling awkward or making small talk. Everyone interacts with each other like they just saw each other last week. That makes us feel really great.

On Saturday, we headed to the zoo. Ashley and Amy were in Salt Lake for a wedding, so it was the perfect opportunity to get everyone together. I am so thankful for Ashley who helped me plan everything! Aaron and his girlfriend, Tracy, came to the zoo too. They were awesome with the kids! It was so much fun to have us all together. We went to lunch after the zoo where the boys created the "bottomless soup bowl" lunch, right boys?
Then on to John and Aaron's house to see their adorable new puppy and celebrate the 5 birthdays in August and September. On Sunday morning, we attended church with the kids before heading home. The talks given were ones we needed to hear and it gave Matt and me strength and motivation for the drive home as well as the week ahead. Funny how Heavenly Father knows what we need to hear and when.

It was a weekend filled with laughs and tons of memories. From the moment the kids hopped in the car, they talked about old memories of vacations and birthday parties and time spent together before they moved. We talked about everything. I am so thankful for these six kids and the love they have for each other and for Matt and me. Having that knowledge makes the distance just a teeny bit easier. We are really blessed.

slow your roll, summer.

2011-08-06T18:21:00.001-07:00

It was a nutty July. I finally feel like I can breathe. I just wish summer would slow down a bit. The back to school store displays and TV commercials are making me a bit sad. There's a lot to be thankful for though.

Four weeks ago tomorrow, my mom called me on my way home from church because she was not feeling well. She felt she needed to go to the hospital, so I took her. Once there, we were told that mom had suffered a heart attack...two days prior. Not only am I amazed that they can tell exactly when it happened, but that it happened at all. She had an angeogram which showed her heart arteries were 95% blocked. Mom needed bypass surgery. She underwent the surgery which turned out to be a triple bypass, and suffered another heart attack on the table. This led to many complications and a long, drawn out recovery. Our family was told at one point that it didn't look good for her, and she may not make it. I am so grateful that our Heavenly Father had other plans for her.

Having a parent, or any loved one in the hospital is emotionally draining. It just wears your spirit down. I am so lucky to have had great support of friends and family. In the midst of all the hospital visits, I was trying to get through summer school. I took medical math and biology over the summer and at times, it felt like I just couldn't get it all done. Then, there's just the normal ever day stuff like dinners, housework, and being wife and mom to my family. I have to admit, not getting out of bed some days was pretty darn tempting! But, we made it. Mom is getting better day by day,school is over and I managed to get A's in both classes, and I have a few weeks to spend with all my boys before the craziness of fall starts again.

Life is good. No, Life is amazing.

party with the princess.

2011-07-03T17:13:00.001-07:00

It was cousin Amy's second birthday a few weeks ago, so we headed up to St. George to celebrate with the princess. My two boys ADORE that little girl! (I think the feeling is mutual) Ashley put together a darling party!
Even the big guy enjoyed a little bit of the pink stuff. :)

The table was adorable!
She is such a girly girl.

Oh the love!
I think we'd party with this princess any day.

dads.

2011-06-19T13:26:00.001-07:00

I had a fabulous dad. He was larger than life, loving, courageous, and hilarious. He ate what he wanted, did what he felt like, and was generous even when he didn't have enough. He was a man of integrity and his word was worth gold. If you were lucky enough to spend time with Jim Downs, it meant that you would be well fed and well loved. I miss him terribly every day and there are still times that I reach for the phone to tell him about something that the boys did, or ask advice, or just say hi. He taught me to drive, how to fish, and how to make every day feel like a holiday. It amazes me how much Matt is like my dad too. There are so many times that I shake my head because of some little thing that Matt said or did that is so similar to my dad whom he never met.
I know that Father's Day is bitter sweet for Matt since his children are far away. He is still finding balance and peace with that situation and learning how to be a dad at a distance. In our home, I really appreciate the love and support he shows Jeb and Griffn. He treats them as he would his own kids. And his work schedule is nuts! Matt works crazy hours to provide for us and happily does so. We love him dearly.
I am eternally grateful for the fact that I have been blessed with great dads for myself and my children. Happy Father's Day!

happy friday.

2011-06-17T12:23:00.001-07:00

jeb the hippie.

2011-06-14T10:36:00.000-07:00

Jeb's class put on an awesome play a few weeks ago. It went through each decade starting with the 50's. It was so good. The teachers and the students put a lot of time and effort into it and it showed.
Jeb was a hippie. He had the BEST line, "We have important social and political changes to make!" He delivered too. If there was an Oscar given at the elementary school level for best one liner, he'd be a shoe in.

Here is Jeb with a devoted fan, his Nana. He's obviously still in character. (Man, I love that kid!)

the end of an era.

2011-06-09T15:42:00.001-07:00

It's going to be two more years before these two will be going to school together again. (I LOVE the messy last-day-of-school hair)The boys are 14 1/2 months apart in age ( Yep, the "little one" is on the right). They are pretty much joined at the hip. They play together, have many of the same friends, go to and from their dad's house together, and have gone to school together most of their school careers. The school part of that equation ended yesterday when Jeb graduated from 5th grade. That means that they will be going to separate schools for the next two years.
Jeb will have middle school all to himself until Griffin gets there for 6th grade. By that time, Jeb will be an 8th grader and moving on to high school. Then, I will have a middle schooler and a high schooler and I don't want to think about that because that is just crazy.

For now I just want to enjoy the fact that both boys did very well in school this year. I am so proud of them both. Congratulations, Jeb and Griffin! Let the summer fun begin!

what just happened?

2011-06-04T20:08:00.000-07:00

The Red Raiders are the AA champions of the Summerlin South Little League...that's what just happened!

amy.

2011-05-31T16:34:00.000-07:00

This face melts my heart.
And she has a few other fans in our household.
Jeb and Griffin drop anything they're doing just to play with Miss Amy.Wouldn't you?

I would!

guns up.

2011-05-29T11:14:00.001-07:00

Guns up! (That's what the real Texas Tech Red Raiders fans say.)
It has been so much fun being a baseball mom this season. Our Red Raiders are an awesome group of kids that play great together. This team has amazing coaches and the most supportive, positive parents in the world.
At first, I wasn't sure how we would juggle so many practices (this coach loves long practices and holds several a week) with all the other things we have going on. It didn't take long to see that this coach was awesome and he knew how to turn a group of boys (and one girl) into a real team.

The Red Raiders have worked so hard this season and are now in the championships. I personally have seen Jeb and Griffin improve tremendously this season. They definitely had to play up, being on a team with a group of kids that play club ball and practice like it's their job.

The boys didn't like this season so much at first. I got a lot of complaints when it was time to head out to practice. It's funny how that changed once they started hitting and fielding about as good as the other boys.

They both had huge hits this last game. Griffin hit one to the fence! They were glowing on the ride home and said that it was the best game ever. What a great life lesson. If we stick with something even when it's tough, our hard work pays off. Nothing is fun until you're good at it. Right, Tiger Mother?

wranglers and 5th grade field day.

2011-04-11T10:14:00.001-07:00

Ok. I finally uploaded a few pictures. First.... two Fridays ago, the boys and I went to a Wranglers hockey game. It was so much fun. Griffin hooked us up! He participated in the Jump Rope for Heart program at school and raised enough money to get some free passes! For myself, the two boys and a friend of theirs it was just $6!! Yay! We always see friends at the games, so of course we ended up with a bunch of boys sitting with us.

This past week was Jeb's field day at school. Crazy how it can be 80 degrees and sunny all week and then it's cold and cloudy on field day. It happens every year. Of course this doesn't stop them all from getting soaked playing all the water games. This is Jeb's last field day at Goolsby. Where in the world does the time go?!

com 101.

2011-04-08T09:56:00.000-07:00

One of my mandatory classes is communications 101. I was dreading it at the beginning of the semester, but turns out, it's the class I enjoy the most. This is my persuasive speech on why Daylight Saving Time is a bad idea. I think it turned out pretty well. I was incredibly nervous! The sound and the video aren't in sync, so it's kind of like watching a kung fu movie. :)

baby bieber.

2011-04-05T18:36:00.000-07:00

At some point, I will have to find some time to upload new pictures. Until then, enjoy this video. Wish I knew this guy personally. Be sure to listen all the way to the Ludacris part. Hilarious.

sundays.

2011-03-27T22:00:00.001-07:00

I adore Sundays. There is something special about allowing yourself to stop and slow down for just a day. Devoting one day a week to focus on our blessings and the things that matter most in our lives seems to make the entire week just a little smoother and a whole lot sweeter. Happy Sunday!

the thick of thin things.

2011-03-16T14:30:00.000-07:00

It is very rare that I allow myself to stop. I feel that I am always on the go whether it be with kids, work, school, church or just keeping our home running smoothly. The times that I do find a break in all the busy-ness, I usually feel guilty about taking time to relax and do nothing. That guilt is so overwhelming that it pushes me back into momentum and I find things to keep working on.

My husband travels once a month for work, and my sons visit their dad overnight twice a week. When I find myself with a night alone in the house, just the dog and me, I go into overdrive. I start an organization project, I deep clean the house, I study, I workout...I do anything but sit still. That constant feeling of being on a timer is something I just can't shake.

Yesterday I found myself in that very spot. No husband or kids at home and I started thinking of what I needed to do. I checked my to do list, got into "go" gear (ha, ha - so Charlie Sheen!) when this unfamiliar feeling came over me. I'm not sure why, but I got the urge to do nothing. I only walked the dog, then settled in for a night of nothing. It was great. That nagging guilt I usually have to keep going didn't make an appearance. I was able to rest and renew myself and I know that when my family returns home, I will be a better wife and mom for having given myself a break.

I started to think about how we all rush through life with our to do lists (and I DO LOVE to do lists!) but we rarely stop to be still and soak up the moment. Folding laundry instead of playing Legos, working on a research paper instead of talking with loved ones...are we missing something? I want to stop being caught up in the thick of thin things and I want to be present. I want to stop and look at my sons when they talk to me instead of saying "MMhmm", I want to give my husband my undivided attention, I want to make my friends and family feel like they are the most interesting person I have ever spoken to, I want to quit checking my phone and start noticing sunsets. I want to learn to number my days. I want to be still.

It may be difficult at first. I will have to work hard to keep my mind from wandering to emails needing to sent or what to make for dinner, but I am determined to be present and enjoy the journey instead of always speeding up to reach my destination.

busy, busy.

2011-03-01T18:53:00.001-08:00

Life just doesn't seem to slow down. Lots of great things going on and all I have time to share is snippets...

* Baseball started for the boys and this coach likes looooong practices and lots of them.

* Matt has been slammed at work and traveling often. I appreciate his hard work so much.

* We just celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary! YAY!
We figure that between the two of us, we actually have 21 years of marriage COMBINED ;)

*I have a new calling in church. I miss my Sunday school kids. :(

*I am working for Clark County School District as a substitute teacher's aide. Nice change!

*School for me has been great but demanding. I'm the new book worm of the house. :)

*We were without a computer for 4 weeks when ours crashed recently. Thank goodness for brothers with the hook ups!

*Griffin just got accepted into the G.A.T.E. program at school. So proud of him!

*Jeb has a homework load just about as heavy as mine!

*There are so many 5th grade activities at school! Crazy year!

*And Sam...Sam is Sam and life is good.

big day.

2011-01-25T18:48:00.000-08:00

Well, as of today you can add full time student to my current positions held. I am a wife, mom, COO/CFO of the Munro household, real estate agent and.... college student. I wasn't nervous today, but there is a slight feeling of overwhelm settling in nicely this evening as I look over my class notes. Oh, and by the way, when did colleges start admitting 12 year olds to school?! The last time I was in school was in nineteen ninety ((cough, cough, gulp)) six. These kiddos I was in class with today were born in ninety two! Holy moly! Thank goodness grace and self confidence comes with age. :)

trust.

2011-01-18T11:46:00.000-08:00

I worry about my boys alot. They are smart, obedient, strong young men, but I can whip myself into a frenzy worrying if I'm doing enough to ensure their futures will be what they deserve. Today was one of those days. I took a long walk to be alone with my thoughts and poured my heart out to my Heavenly Father about all my worry I have been feeling for these two precious boys. He quietly reminded me that they were His children long before they were mine and He will take care of them. I just have to do my best. I found this poem too and it further reinforced His plan for our lives, and we need to be reminded of all the good that is in our day to day even when it can look pretty messy and chaotic in the trenches.

My life is but a weaving
between my Lord and me;
I cannot choose the colors,
He worketh steadily.
Oft times He weaveth sorrow,
And I, in foolish pride,
Forget He sees the upper,
And I the under side.

Not 'til the loom is silent
and the shuttles cease to fly,
Shall God unroll the canvas
and explain the reason why.
The dark threads are as needful
in the Weaver's skillful hand,
As the threads of gold and silver
in the pattern He has planned.
He knows, He loves, He cares,
nothing this truth can dim.
He gives His very best to those
who leave the choice with Him.

snow.

2011-01-03T10:55:00.000-08:00

Look what we woke up to today! Holy moly. We got a nice little dusting of snow. It happens every once in a while in Las Vegas, but it's always a treat. Jeb and Griffin bounced out of bed this morning and ran outside to play in the snow while they were still in their PJ's! I was soooo tempted to let them stay home!
Sam wasn't too sure about the snow at first, but he loved it once he was in it.

Fun way to start the week after the long holiday!

cowgirl up.

2011-01-01T09:00:00.000-08:00

Madison is becoming quite the cowgirl.
This looks like something out of a catalog, doesn't it?

Most little girls only dream of getting a horse of their very own and she has one. She loves her horse, Sonny, and they are like two peas in a pod. They just look like they were made for each other. They go together perfectly!

Madison sure knows what she's doing. She was happy to show her dad all about horses. She is so much fun to watch and we are thrilled that she has been given such a great opportunity to pursue something she loves so much.

Look at these boots and spurs. That's the real deal.

Check her out....

christmas 2010.

2010-12-31T13:38:00.001-08:00

What a fun Christmas! I can't believe it came and went so fast!

It was a wonderfully quiet Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with just the boys, Matt, my mom and me. We had a candle lit Christmas Eve dinner, played games, the boys opened a gift, we got our fill of treats, and then we all got ready for Santa to come. My mom spent the night which was really special. It gave us a chance to visit and spend time together. Our Christmas morning was one to remember with lots of gifts, hot chocolate, and fun.

Jeb and Griffin spent Christmas evening with their dad and Matt and I drove up to St. George where we had dinner with the whole Munro crew. Dave and Ashley hosted Christmas dinner and it was perfect. The dinner was delicious, the table setting beautiful, and the company couldn't have been better. Little Amy got all of our attention. We played with her, read books, and got our fill of Amy snuggles. Matt and I (and our dog, Sam!!) stayed in St. George overnight then headed up to see the Munro kiddos in Mapleton the next day.

Robby and Patti kindly opened their home to us and we spent time with all the kiddos. We delivered their gifts and they showed us all the fun presents they got for Christmas. Gavin got a drum set and Caden got an electric guitar. They gave us quite the show! Their house literally vibrated. Their mom is a saint. Sunday dinner was wonderful and we really enjoyed the time we had with the kids.

On our last day there, we were able to see Madison's horse lesson. What an amazing thing that was! It's bittersweet to have the kids so far away. Bitter because we can't see them as often as we used to, but sweet because they have some really great opportunities where they live. Madison's horse riding is one of those sweet opportunities. She has gotten really good and she loves it with every ounce of her. She smiles from ear to ear when she rides. Matt was overwhelmed with pride and awe as he watched Maddi with her horse, Sonny. It was a very special time for him. We really appreciated Robby allowing us to tag along and be a part of that day.

We headed back to St. George and had dinner with Dave, Ashley, Amy, Neil and Kate. Then, we caravaned down to LV with Matt's parents and they stayed a couple of days with us. It was such a relaxing visit. We literally hung out for two days.

We are way blessed to have so many incredible people in our lives. Trips and holidays like this one make us even more grateful for all the good things we have been afforded. This was a sweet way to end 2010. Can't wait to see what 2011 holds in store for us!

christmastime in the city.

2010-12-31T13:26:00.000-08:00

We have been having such a fun Christmas vacation! Relaxing, eating, catching up with friends and family, eating....did I mention eating? :)

We love to visit the Bellagio Hotel's botanical garden every year to see their amazing decorations. It is one of the only times we go into "the city" and it's something to look forward to.

Me and my handsome men. They are getting so big!

Breathtaking!

I want this for our tree!

Nana and her boys.

Such a fun time! I can't wait to see next year's display.

merry christmas.

2010-12-24T21:45:00.000-08:00

... from our "bunch" to yours!

we elfed ourself.

2010-12-19T22:26:00.000-08:00

christmas presence.

2010-12-19T16:56:00.000-08:00

Where the heck did this month go? Where did this year go for that matter? I am amazed that we are 6 days until Christmas and less than two weeks from 2011. I have tried to slow down this holiday season and focus on why and what we are celebrating. In everything our family has done, I have tried to make this Christmas about Christ. There have been many discussions about presents with the boys. Receiving gifts and making wish lists is probably the thing that kids look forward to most. I've stopped Jeb and Griffin several times when they have gone on and on about what they were hoping for for Christmas, and reminded them that it's so much more than the presents on Christmas morning. We talked extensively about it at church today, telling the children that Jesus is the best gift we could ever receive. They know this to be true, but they almost answer dutifully with sullen eyes. You know that look. The "I know, I know" look. I think it will be something that they personally have to gain a testimony of as they mature. No one can give them that, they'll need to find it for themselves.
A special moment we had this week had to do with our "Christmas Jar". We have kept a mason jar on the kitchen counter since January and we have filled it with pennies and spare change through out the year. It filled up slowly but by last week it was reaching the brim and we counted the change. It totaled $32. Not a lot of money, but pretty good for spare pennies. We talked about what to do with the money. We decided to give it to someone we felt needed it. The boys and I set out to find the one person... but how we would know who that person was, we weren't sure.
The boys looked for anyone holding a "will work" sign. It seems like over the past few weeks we have seen men and women almost everywhere holding signs. They were at every stoplight, intersection, and strip mall. Tonight however, not one person could be found. I suggested that maybe the person we were meant to give the jar to wasn't out that night. We went home. We tried again the next afternoon after school, and again not one person asking for change was seen. We started home when Jeb noticed a woman walking through the desert pushing a shopping cart. She could be any one's grandma. Her hair was wrapped carefully in a scarf, her shoes were worn through, and a tattered winter coat was the only thing keeping her warm. Her plastic grocery bags and a suitcase in the cart were carefully and neatly arranged. She was dirty, but somehow she took pride in what she had and took care of her meager belongings. We stopped the car and took a gift bag filled with scriptures, some can food, a hygiene kit, and a sweatshirt to the woman. We said hello and she looked startled but quickly smiled sweetly at the boys. We asked if we could give her a gift and she meekly said yes. We gave the bag to her along with a Christmas card with the money we saved from the jar. She thanked us profusely, and said that she stayed at the mission and could share some of the food and other items with people there "that really needed it". I was blown away. Here a woman who had nothing wanted to give what she had just received. She wanted to share this little gift with others. Jeb and Griffin were so tender with the lady. They wished her a merry Christmas and talked with her for a moment. I watched their eyes as they realized what she had and how she lived. I think she taught us a lesson in giving and gratitude that day. She reminded us that it's not about the presents, but about His presence.

D.A.R.E Graduation

2010-12-16T16:38:00.000-08:00

We are the proud parents of a D.A.R.E graduate. Jeb and his class had a wonderful ceremony Monday as they all pledged to stay away from drugs and alcohol, have a good attitude, and make good choices. Former baseball player, Frank Thomas of the Chicago White Sox, was their guest speaker and he gave the kids great advice. I love that he said, " we need more leaders, there's too many followers". This is something that we have been talking to the boys about consistently, and we are grateful and proud when their teachers comment to us that they are indeed leaders of their peers.

Congratulations, Jeb!

busy having fun.

2010-12-12T15:15:00.000-08:00

We've been enjoying a great December! It has been busy, but filled with wonderful activities like celebrating Hanukkah! The guys LOVED the potato latkes. They were so yummy! They also liked playing with the dredel.

We learned alot about the holiday and how there are many different winter celebrations for people of different cultures and faiths. (Don't you love the ehow printout?!)

The boys have an "Advent Activity Jar" that they have been picking from every morning. The jar is filled with fun things to do for each day in December like make gingerbread houses and fort building. They always have something to look forward to and get really excited about each activity. We also read a scripture every day about our Savior's birth

We built a heck of a fort in the boys' bedroom and strung Christmas lights through it. We ate a treat and read a Christmas story.

We still haven't taken the fort down yet!

Then, there was the Las Vegas Wranglers hockey game. Jeb got a free ticket from DARE and family members were only $10 each. We had a ton of fun and the boys had a great group of friends there. They danced like crazy! They even got on the "jumbo tron" for the whole arena to see!

(Yes, that is my son above with a popcorn bucket on his head and "shades".)

This is the move that got them on the big screen!

A little bit of "Blue Steel" goes a long way when you're as cute as this guy.

The best group of friends! All such great kids!

Then it was time for Griffin's 9th birthday party. Another Nerf party and let me tell you, this party was nuts! There is a huge difference in 10 to 12 year old boys and 7-9 year old boys. I compared the younger boys to "puppies on crack" on my Facebook status yesterday. Oh Mylanta, the house was noisier, the chaos was swirling, and the excitement level was off the charts. We had a lot of fun but I must confess, I am happy we do friend parties every other year and I'm good for a while. :)

Oh, December, you have been wonderfully busy. And oh look, it's just the 12th!

thankful thursday.

2010-12-02T22:46:00.000-08:00

I am thankful for a short sale negotiator at B of A that is helpful, courteous, and wonderful. She is the 12th (yes, 12th!) that I have had assigned to me on a problem file (that I've worked on for more than a year) that is not just trying to do a good job, but going above and beyond to push this file through. I seriously thank the Lord for Ms. Hawkes every day.

georgia on my mind.

2010-11-29T20:33:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago Jeb's class had a "State Pageant". All the kids got a different state and then they had a fashion show of sorts with all the facts they learned about their state on sandwich boards they wore. Jeb got Georgia. He worked really hard on researching Georgia and putting all kinds of great facts about it on this sandwich board. He did an awesome job!

I love the fact that he was persuaded by a certain mom close to his heart to include a picture of the Real Housewives of Atlanta!

Nice job, Jeb!

the most wonderful time of the year.

2010-11-28T13:46:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving weekend has been absolutely glorious. Our Thanksgiving dinner for our "little family" of four was great. The days to follow have been filled with movies, leftovers, long walks, projects, and more leftovers. It has been a fantastic time to enjoy each other and focus on what we have.

This is my absolute favorite time of the holidays- the time leading up to Christmas day. So much to do, look forward to, and reflect on. I just can't believe 2010 has flown by!

Our Christmas tree is up and the other decorations are slowly being set out. We've been cleaning, organizing, and purging as we get ready for the holiday. It will feel so great to start the year off organized and fresh! We are ready for a great holiday season.

be grateful.

2010-11-25T19:36:00.000-08:00

While I am full of turkey and nibbling on a peice of apple pie I am thinking about what I am thankful for.

a loving husband
healthy, happy kids
a warm home
our needs being met
having a bit less than we have had in the past because we are so grateful for what we have now
a loving mom
fantastic in laws
extended family
the sound of kids laughing
the sound of boys wrestling and tearing up the house
friends
church
the Savior and His Atonement
our salvation
a Heavenly Father that knows and loves us
a warm bed
food on the table
clothes to wear
hot showers
friendly people
our jobs
time with the boys
date nights
Sam the dog
Tiki the dog
babies
grandparents
good neighbors
teachers that care about our kids
life
love
silliness
hard work
days of rest
holidays
miracles
2010
new beginnings
changes
progress
waking up
exercise
the scriptures
deep thoughts
reflecting on what you're thankful for. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

give thanks.

2010-11-24T08:31:00.000-08:00

We are ready for a quiet Thanksgiving. It's just the four of us this year and we are looking forward to a restful day together. Our home looks and feels like Thanksgiving...

We have been talking about the things we are thankful for. For family night, the boys listened to a CD of the story of the Pilgrims making their way to America. We wrote what we are thankful for on leaves and put them up in our kitchen. Griffin is thankful for all the important things... like indoor toilets.

~Happy Thanksgiving!

rocky mountain high.

2010-11-23T11:07:00.000-08:00

Matt was on a business trip to Denver for three weeks. His company was kind enough to fly me out to see him on the weekends he was there. Not only are we grateful for his job, but a company that is thoughtful and made sure we had time together during this long trip!

We had a blast seeing everything from Rocky Mountain National Park to the Stanley Hotel (the real life Shining) to Vail and Boulder and everything in between. Colorado is a beautiful state and it has it all. The fun of a big city with art museums, sports, restaurants, and concerts and the beauty of the outdoors that we absolutely fell in love with. It also has ELK! Everywhere! We were told it was the tail end of mating season (ha!) and they were still hanging around town. I certainly won't mind tagging along on business trips there!

Matt's trip was successful and we are really proud of him. We saw a lot of great things, but I think the one thing we all enjoyed seeing was this:

st.george visit.

2010-11-11T20:17:00.000-08:00

Last week, we took advantage of a staff development day that fell on a Monday and headed to St. George to visit our wonderful Dave, Ashley, and Amy. They just moved to St. George and we were dying to see them again.

This picture cracks me up. She looks like a character from Dr. Seuss! She loved Griff's cheeks!

The boys and I had a wonderful time visiting with Ash and Amy. Their new home is beautiful and so comfy. The boys adore their baby cousin and had the greatest time playing with her. Then we headed to where else? The Cracker Barrel for an early dinner. We had yummy comfort food and a great time looking around their gift shop. They have so many specialty items like lotions and candy that were popular long ago.

The turkey hat Griffin REALLY wanted.

How could you NOT want to go visit this sweetie as much as you could?!

" How the heck did my cousin FIT in my toy?!"

The drive is easy, but it now feels like a special occassion to go see the "other Munros". It will be something we will do alot of!

denver.

2010-11-10T08:59:00.000-08:00

Matt has been traveling now for a week and he has a week and a half to go before coming home. We miss him terribly when he's gone, but we are forever thankful for a job and the hard work he's putting in.

a very late halloween post.

2010-11-10T01:24:00.000-08:00

We have been running nonstop since November 1st!

We all had a great Halloween weekend filled with two trunk or treats, a Halloween dinner, and trick or treating! Griffin's "Killer Elmo" costume turned out amazing, and more importantly, he was thrilled with it. We took Jeb, Griffin and 5 of their closest friends out to trick or treat. I think everyone got their fill of Halloween...until next year!

autumn sunsets.

2010-10-25T18:09:00.000-07:00

These were taken from our balcony Sunday evening. Does it get any better than this?

old dog.

2010-10-22T08:30:00.000-07:00

Our sweet, old dog Tiki just turned 12. We thought that was 84 in dog years, but because of her size and breed, we read that it's more like 92. She a geriatric doggy!

She as been such a wonderful dog for the last 11 and a half years. She has been so patient with babies, children, and other dogs. She is aging quickly all of a sudden and it makes me a little sad. Her eyesight is going, you can see how hazed her pupils are from cataracts. Her hearing is almost gone. There are days that she doesn't notice that we've come home from being gone and just keeps sleeping. She's scared us when she didn't get up. Matt and I both have walked over and shook her to make sure she was just sleeping. What a relief when she was!

Her tummy is sensitive. She get nauseous a lot. (ooh and the GAS!) Tiki sleeps almost all day and her fur is so white now. I worry about her sometimes. Still she has such a sweet disposition and is never grumpy. She loves to lay on the cool tile and bask in the sun from the window.

She still has a lot of spunk in her. Especially since losing a ton of weight. She plays with our puppy, Samson, every morning. Her daily little walks around the neighborhood make her so happy (Sam gets 1 to 3 miles a day, Tiki gets a little block because her arthritis is so bad!). And if there's a chance of sneaking out, she will and she bolts! She truly has 9 lives and has been lost and found multiple times.

Still she is one of the sweetest dogs I've ever had and she has been a permanent fixture in our home. The boys don't remember not having her and even their older brother and sister, Josh and Stephanie, grew up with her. We all love this old girl so much.

Thanks, little Tiki for being such a great part of our family. We hope you stay with us for a few more years!

clams? yes, please.

2010-10-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

I am just discovering cooking. I never found it enjoyable, relaxing, or anything I wanted to do for fun at the end of a long day. In my former life, it was all about crock pots and take out. However, over the past couple of months I have found more time and a little confidence in the kitchen and have really enjoyed discovering that I can cook.

I was inspired Saturday evening at the grocery store when I saw these yummy littleneck clams. Never have I made clams and really only had eaten them a few times in my life. I quickly Googled recipes on my phone and find out that it's one of the easiest things to make. (I'm a firm believer in Google. I believe that in this day and age we can do anything from deliver a baby to change oil on our car just by doing a quick Google search. Can you imagine how dangerous our parent would've been if they had the internet?!)

What a yummy treat on a cold, rainy fall evening. MMMMmmmmm....Can you smell them yet?

HERE is the easy and delicious recipe I found online. I added a 1/4 cup of chicken broth, a dash of olive oil, and used cooking wine instead. The cooking wine is a touch saltier than drinking wine, so beware.

Serve with some crusty French bread and your guests will think you are the most gourmet chef they know! It's also a great date night recipe. Trust me, girls. ;)

Enjoy!

operation organized. kitchen part 1.

2010-10-20T08:30:00.000-07:00

As we quickly approach the end of 2010 (where the HECK did it go???) I am in full swing of what I am calling "Operation Organized". I have always done my best to keep a clean home, but have forever longed for a home that looks like Jeff Lewis from Flipping Out lives there. Yep, that's what I want. Cans facing the same way. Clothes hung according to color. No clutter to be seen anywhere. Ahhhhhhhhh.....Will it ever be that OCD? Probably not, but a girl can dream.

I have some personal goals that I want to achieve in the new year and before I embark on those, I want January to begin from a place of being neatly organized inside and out. For the next ninety days I will pick a corner of my home each week to focus on and organize closets and drawers and cabinets to my little hearts content. I will file, purge, add more systems in place and pay attention to every detail until you'd expect Zoila to come around the corner with El Pollo Loco for lunch (That's just for you, Anne Jackson!)

This week started in the kitchen. I pitched old things cleaned out junk drawers, and added baskets to hold what was left. I rotated dinnerware, gave baking utensil their own home, and cleaned behind every corner. I still have more to do and I love it. It feels so good. Here's a little glimpse...

And the best part, is now that I've declared it, I must stick with it! Nothing like accountability to motivate. Now to find a place for those Nerf guns...

nerf has taken over our life.

2010-10-19T08:34:00.000-07:00

Jeb and Griffin love Nerf guns. Let me restate that. Jeb and Griffin LOOOOOOVE Nerf guns. Hold on a minute....Jeb is obsessed with Nerf guns and Griffin has a serious addiction to them. That clarifies the situation much better.

They use to keep their arsenal in a big toy box in their room, but now their collection is so large they keep it in their step brothers' bedroom. You see, the Munro boys aren't here so that allows Jeb and Griffin to utilize that space. The room that we lovingly referred to as the "twins room" is now lovingly referred to as the "Nerf room". It's a little crazy. All of their friends are equally enamoured by Nerf. There's YouTube videos made by 8 to 10 year olds devoted to Nerf guns and these kids have a following! I'm not sure if we need to start a support group or not.

I had to have the boys clean up the "Nerf room" this weekend, because it was out of control. It's still a little crazy, but at least its' organized a bit. This is what it's been looking like for days. All the neighborhood boys come over to play and they run in there, grab their weapon of choice and head out and after awhile, it ends up like this:

After a little organizing, this is what it presently looks like:

Wait for it...

(In case you're wondering, the gray things in the back are homemade riot shields because you never know when you'll need one in the suburbs, right?) Oh, and yes, I am the mother that said her children would never play with toy guns. Yep, that mom. Wow, have things changed.

scary.

2010-10-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

Our fabulous neighbors had their annual Halloween bash Friday night. It is an event the boys look forward to every year just like Christmas and it never disappoints. Anne Jackson should seriously consider a party planning business because she is the BEST. She's really that good.

Here are the boys dressed in their ghoulish glory.

I would not want to run into them in a dark ally.... or in our kitchen in the middle of the night for that matter. :)

so cute, you could eat 'em up.

2010-10-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

These little turkey sliders are quickly becoming a household favorite. They are quick and healthy and my boys ask for them weekly. They are seriously easy and oh so yummy.

Here's the recipe:

2 lbs. ground turkey
1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon of worstchestersire
dash of cinnamon
salt and pepper

( I have to warn you, I don't measure very well. It's usually a dash of this and a bit of that so if watch the condiments so your turkey doesn't get too thin.)

Combine all condiments into bowl with ground turkey. Knead with hands until thoroughly mixed. Make golf ball size patties and cook in frying pan until browned.

We use Rhodes dinner rolls. I bake them while the meat is cooking and they are warm and fresh and add to the cute little Bun Boy look! We like to serve them with with spicy chipotle sweet potato fries. So good and GOOD for you!

Wouldn't these be great at a party? A whole little tray of them! Go make these today! It's the simplest thing you'll do for dinner and your family will love you for it.

spooky little girl like me.

2010-10-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

Ooh....I love this spooky time of year. I really do. The boys are at such a fun age. There are so many parties and activities for them to get excited about. They love Halloween and the gorier and grosser and the scarier the better. Griffin feels that my Halloween decorating is not nearly scary enough for his taste. Thank goodness he has his dad's house to visit. That's more his style. You know...severed body parts, coffins, and tombstones. That's OK. I've come to find out that I'm not a freakishly scary decorator, but rather more Pottery Barn meets the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland kind of girl...on a budget!

I like a vintage look and it was easy to find this season. I didn't spend very much at all. I used what we had, shopped around the house, got ideas online, and picked up some cheap stuff from Target and the dollar store. I think I added about $15 worth to my decoration collection. I'm pretty happy with the end result too....and so is Griffin. He admitted so. :)

Mantles are so much fun to decorate. Combining a mix of spooky items with cob webs all over is always a great way to do something simple that has a big impact. If you have any old family photos, put them in the mix. I used one of my grandmother. It helped accomplish the haunted mansion look I was going for. A little scary sophistication perhaps? Thanks, Grandma! I also love these vine pumpkins I got in the dollar section at Target. The black glitter sign with orange and black ribbon is a dollar store find.

I adore these labels I picked up (at Target, of course!) for $2.00. They have that classy, creepy look I love and make the simplest things a touch more festive. I turned an old Bath and Body bottle into "Poison". I used some glass vases of all sizes I had already and added whatever looked good inside, pumpkins, skulls, black leaves...be creative!

This is my $1.99 skull from Target that I put with our old decorations in our big vase we keep on the island. (Doesn't the quote below it just complete the Halloween theme?)

The boys are happy with the little bit of Halloween we have and that makes me very happy. I adore fall, but I think I said that about summer too!

utah.

2010-10-15T17:17:00.000-07:00

We had the honor of being at Matt's twin boys' baptisms last weekend. It was a quick trip, but a lot of fun to be surrounded by the Munro side of the family. We were so busy that I literally FORGOT to take pictures! UGH! I do that all the time, but thankfully there were other Munros there to be sure the event was properly documented.

This gem is the only picture that ended up on our camera. (I am guessing Madison took it on our way back to our hotel to go swimming.)

At least you can kind of see how handsome Jeb looked in his church clothes! (Don't you love calling them church clothes?! It's not dress clothes, but CHURCH clothes. I find this funny because Matt and I still say, "Do you need your church clothes ironed?" Anyway..... )

Thank goodness other Munros were on the ball and snapped some really good shots. We even took a few family pictures. We were very overdue. They were taken by Matt's ex wife's husband's sister's fiance - I think. (That sounds very Ferris Bueller like!) We were elated that they offered. SO kind of them! The background was perfect, but we're a little squinty. We are a cute bunch though, right?
This is everyone and then some. The happy little guy Madison is holding is the Munro children's new baby brother. How sweet is it that she wanted to include him too?!

We had a fun visit with the kids. The hotel we stayed at had a little indoor pool that we invaded. Imagine how LOUD 6 crazy kids are in an enclosed pool area.

It was such a great weekend and we really appreciated Patti and Robby and their extended families making us feel so warm and welcomed. It couldn't have been better.

jeb's 10th birthday.

2010-09-29T11:13:00.000-07:00

Jeb is 10. I can not believe how quickly the time went. Wasn't he just born? Amazing that a decade has past and I can't imagine my life not knowing him. He is such a fun person to be around and it is truly a joy and privilege to be his mom. This year was his turn for a friend birthay party (we alternate years between family parties and friend parties) and what a great year to have a bunch of boys over. Jeb's friends and Nerf guns have been his life lately and he was in 7th heaven to have a full day to spend with his favorite people doing his favorite things.

Look at all these cute guys!

This is all the guys giving their meanest, toughest, hardest looks.... still pretty cute!

He had a great time playing Nerf, eating pizza and cupcakes, killing a pinata, and of course, opening gifts. His friends know him well and really spoiled the heck out of him.

Even Griffin got to invite some buddies to the party. He was pretty excited about that.

They all had a blast and, man oh man, this was a good group of boys. A very fun party!

Ten things I love about Jeb:

1. He can hold a great conversation about just about anything.

2. He is very compassionate and thoughtful towards others.

3. He is passionate about the things he loves.

4. He is extremely family oriented.

5. He is a great friend.

6. He has become confident and secure with who he is.

7. He has a lady killer smile complete with dimples.

8. He is helpful and likes to cook. What a catch he'll be!

9. Not a day goes by that he doesn't stop and ask if I'm " having a hard day." He wants to make sure I'm happy. SO kind.

10. He is funny and can make me laugh. Some of the things he comes up with make me scratch my head at where he gets it!

Happy birthday, Jeb! I love you! May this year be the greatest year yet of your sweet, little life!

summer wrap up.

2010-09-05T17:25:00.000-07:00

Summer has officially ended and the boys have been in school for a week. It was such a very busy, wonderful end of summer, that I have neglected this blog for about a month!

Matt and I drove up to Utah at the end of July to pick up the Munro kids and take them back to Las Vegas for a week of visiting. We were sad that Madison wasn't able to come down. She had broken her leg on a trampoline the week before. Poor girl! However, we were fortunate enough to spend a wonderful day with Maddie at Color Me Mine- a pottery painting place. Such fun! It was great to sit and talk with her for hours. She has become such a sweet young woman, and has really grown up alot over the past few months. We went to lunch a Los Hermanos (of course!) and returned her back to her mom, got the boys, and headed to LV.

It was a great week of lots and lots of swimming, games, Nerf gun wars, and boy stuff. We packed as much as we could into their trip and made sure each boy had some special one on one time with their dad. Gavin, who was very homesick for his mom, was a trooper. He hung in there and ,whether he admits it or not, had some fun. Thank you, Gavin.

It was a great summer and we are off to a wonderful school year. I have to admit, that even though I adored this summer and we didn't get nearly enough of it, the structure and schedule of fall and back to school are very welcomed right now.

we are farmers.

2010-07-24T16:08:00.000-07:00

Our family is on the path to provident living. We started an herb garden and a small veggie garden. One day soon we will have pumpkins, squash, peppers, and maybe watermelon if that lazy fruit ever gets itself growing. Our pumpkins are growing like crazy. I'm thinking we may have our own little jack 'o lanterns this year. Yep, we're totally organic that way.

fabulous fridays.

2010-07-24T15:34:00.000-07:00

The boys and I have declared Fridays to be "Fabulous Fun Tourist Fridays". I get all my work done by noon and Jeb, Griff and I forget that we are locals and head out to enjoy the Las Vegas sites just like tourists.
Our goal is to visit the less known sites, the places rich in Vegas history, and the things that are unique to our city. So far, it has been a blast. Last week we headed down to the Lied Discovery Museum for a free admission day (Thanks Target!!) and while we were there drove through old downtown. We visited the neon sign bone yard (I sooo want to do family pictures there). It was so cool to see the nostalgic hotel signs.
After that we found the Slidin' Thru Vegas lunch truck and had delicious gourmet sliders for lunch- quite the dining experience with it's comic book cartoon wrapped exterior, friendly owner, and yummy food, I highly recommend it . We topped off our tour with a visit to the Pin Ball Hall of Fame- a must do! Free admission and most games are just a quarter. There are at least 100 pin ball machines from the 1940's to present as well as the old arcade classics like Donkey Kong and Pac Man. The boys thought this was heaven! Add a couple of Slurpees to the mix and it was old school summer fun. Man oh man, I love this summer!

We are excited to keep this summer tradition going. It has been so much fun!

lazy blogging.

2010-07-11T16:10:00.000-07:00

Loving these lyrics right now. Pause the music on the side bar, press play, and get ready to be accoustified. Yeah, that's really not a word.

4th of july weekend.

2010-07-05T10:52:00.000-07:00

happiness.

2010-06-27T20:52:00.000-07:00

It's been a great day. I am so grateful for my husband who makes me so happy and two wonderful little boys with kind hearts. I am a very lucky (and happy) girl.

Here's to a great week ahead!

why buy the cow?

2010-06-22T22:43:00.001-07:00

I have had the opportunity to meet some beautiful women lately that have had a commonality and it breaks my heart. These women are all very young, early twenties, and seem to have a hole in their heart that just can't be filled. They are starved for family, clinging to the men in their life that offer a glimpse of what home and marriage and stability looks like. They are "playing house" in real life, "pretending" in every sense of the word to be married. They write cute status updates on Facebook about their date with their "hubby" or having a quiet night with "the family". You can see so plainly that they crave a home life, and they dream of a day when their prince charming will sweep them off their feet and marry them. But it doesn't happen. It won't.

These girls are wonderful girlfriends, doing all the right things and striving to please their boyfriends. They go out of their way to baby their men, love them after a long day at work, care for other women's children, and willingly put their own needs and their feelings on the back burner of life. They live each day ultimately unfulfilled. It almost seems to be an epidemic.
I wish I could write a letter to them. I want to tell them that they are valuable and that they have worth far more than they know. I want to tell them that it is okay to walk away and wait for the man that will treat them like the princess they are. I want to tell them that they are full of promise and hope and that they don't have to give their love away. It's their most selfless gift and it should be saved for a man of honor. I want to tell them that they are a daughter of God and He sees them as they are: priceless. I want these young girls to know that love is reciprocated, it accepts us for who we are, it is patient, and it's not afraid to commit.

If this is you, you are beautiful. You are valuable. You deserve more.

see sam sit.

2010-06-22T16:25:00.000-07:00

Look who graduated today. Congratulations, Sam. Good dog.

june fun.

2010-06-22T11:28:00.001-07:00

What a great summer it has been so far. Yes, I am still deeply enamored with the slower pace and the warm weather. We are still getting a lot done, though! Now that the boys are back from vacation with their dad, we have settled into a great routine. Our mantra has been "mornings are for getting things done, and afternoons are for having fun". The boys have chores to do every morning, some reading and learning time, time for a skill drill (whatever task or goal they are currently working on), exercise, and then they are free to play for the rest of the day. While this is going on I work on my real estate business, then home duties, then I too am free!

Earlier this month we celebrated my birthday by going to lunch and then having a little pool party. I haven't had a swim party since I was 12 years old! We swam and laid by the pool all day. It was perfect! My mom, the boys, Ashley and Amy all helped me celebrate. Friends and family stopped by to drop off gifts and cards throughout the day and I received so many texts and emails and calls. I just felt pretty darn loved. It was the best birthday I've ever had.

And how cute is this face? Doesn't she just make you melt?
We celebrated Father's Day all weekend long starting with a late night dinner Saturday at Yard House, then church Sunday morning, a lazy Sunday afternoon, and a little family party that night. Matt said that this was the BEST Father's Day he has ever had! Do you sense a theme here? :) His highlight of course was hearing from his kiddos who called to wish him a happy father's day.
We had a fun little party and the boys loved being gift givers as well as giving Matt lots of hugs and love all evening. Jeb and Griffin adore their dad,but they also adore their step dad. We are so lucky to have Matt. He is an amazing step dad that loves them like his own. Matt's favorite gift? A new iron. He cracks me up!
Man, oh man, I love summertime.

happy father's day weekend!

2010-06-17T17:58:00.000-07:00

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Hope all the kids out there show their dads lots of love this father's day! Here's a little something with our very own dad, Neil Munro. We love you, Neil! (remember to pause the music on the sidebar before playing, yo!)

If you can't view it, click the link below:
http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/P3FZf6FeLg3jLbIC

school year wrap up.

2010-06-07T11:42:00.001-07:00

Summer is here and I am so head over heels in love with this laid back time of year! It has been 5 days of swimming, s'mores, movies, and lots of hanging out together as a family. But before it gets too far into the summer, I want to jot down a few things that I don't want to forget about the school year.

Jeb's amazing year as a fourth grader. He had an incredible teacher, Mr. Hoshibata, who was very patient yet pushed him to be the best he could. Jeb went from being a B, C student to being an A, B student and the Vice President of his class.

Griffin had to roll with the punches this year! He started off second grade in a great class with lots of friends and a sweet teacher, and was moved to another class within the first week. The school saw a huge jump in the student population and hired new teachers to deal with the over crowding. Because Griffin is a great student, they felt he would be a good candidate to move to another class with a new teacher. He was wonderful and finished off the year with straight A's for the 4th consecutive year (his entire academic career!). He also received the "Ideal Student Award" and was the only student in his class to be on the A Honor Roll.

Nevada Quest! Holy Mackerel what a huge project! It is the equivalent of a 4th grader's thesis. There were so many parts to it, and it took alot of time and energy out of Jeb ( and mom). We saw many late nights trying to complete everything, but he got it done and received an A. Way to go!

Field Days! Mr. Shenkberger, Goolsby's P.E. teacher, makes Field Day an event to look forward to all year! The kids participate in tons of sports, races, games, and obstacle courses and always have a blast. The cotton candy station was a big hit too!

Trunk or treat, class birthday parties, holiday parties, and just regular Fridays are some of my most favorite times to be a mom. It is so fun to see the kids interact with each other. Their school makes these special occasions so fun and lots of memories are made.

Jeb and a friend at Halloween.

Night in Venice- The great festival that Goolsby does every year. There is always lots of good food, games, friends, Italian sodas (my favorite!), and basket raffles. Who could forget that this was the year that the boys won the HUGE Lego basket full of every Lego imaginable. It was like Christmas!

End of the year parties- both Jeb and Griffin's classes know how to party! Jeb had a big pot luck with pizza, cake, snacks, and soda. Mr. Hoshibata's parties are great because he just lets the kids hang out. Griff's class had a very cute play followed by hot dogs and nachos. Both were so much fun!

I know next year will bring many more memories, friends, and fun. We are blessed to have a great school, dedicated teachers, and wonderful friends! Now, let summer begin!

congratulations, dave.

2010-05-27T12:59:00.000-07:00

Congrats to this cute couple for all their hard work! Dave was promoted to store manager at Target and that means he will be getting his own store soon. These two are just waiting for the relocation department to call them and to find out where they will be moving. We are sooo proud of you! BUT...We are OK with relo taking a little time to make that call because we love living so close to you and to the little munchkin. :)

Great job, Dave!

rock star.

2010-05-15T15:35:00.001-07:00

Is it just me, or is there a definite resemblance here?

good morning.

2010-05-14T10:43:00.000-07:00

Last night, the boys played a great baseball game. Both Jeb and Griffin were focused and played to the best of their ability. It was a blast. I adore going to their games, and I love to watch them have fun doing something they love. What I don't love is getting home at 8pm, and working on homework until 9:30 at night. That's just way too late. So when it reached about 9- still too late- I decreed that the night was to be wrapped up and homework would have to wait until morning.

So this morning, my little zombies dutifully walked downstairs and sat with empty stares on their faces. What to do? There was a ton of homework to finish and a spelling test to study for and these guys looked like they were ready to conk out on me. Here was my plan: grab a big blanket and cuddle for a few minutes, then grab a bowl of our favorite organic granola and milk for each of them (brain food as Jeb calls it), and start plowing through it all. And ya know what? We got it all done. We were a little late getting to class, but we got it all done and the boys were smiling and joking around when I dropped them off. That's what counts. It was a good morning. Mission accomplished. It must have been the granola.

sam the man.

2010-05-13T19:59:00.000-07:00

Our little dog, Samson, got fixed today. He's recovering like nothing happen, and he does look pretty endearing with his gigantic satellite dish around his head. The boys are following him around saying, "tune in Tokyo, come in". Gotta love the one ear up. We can't get that ear down to save our life. We should have named him Radar.

Yes, that is a Baby Bjorn he's in. What about it?

Man oh man, we love that little dog.

2010-05-13T09:04:00.000-07:00

Blessed are those that can GIVE

without remembering

and receive without forgetting.

Have a great Thursday!

lists.

2010-05-12T09:56:00.000-07:00

I have always been a list maker, even when I was a kid. There has always been a constant "to do" list in my purse and it actually has grown into a "to do" notebook these days.

Today's list?

Find homes for two sets of buyers
Transfer my real estate license to another broker (good move...more on that later)
Fit in some Census work (yep, I'm doing that part time)
Attend Griffin's field day at school
Schedule church responsibilities
Clean house
Finish the monster Nevada Quest project with Jeb so he can turn it in Friday- it's like a thesis! HUGE!
Follow up on my 5 short sale files still pending- short sales should be LONG sales!
Laundry
Errands
Pay bills

What's on your list today? Are you like me and have a never ending checklist that you keep adding to?

what you don't see.

2010-05-11T13:00:00.001-07:00

Have you ever felt like you had a lot of catching up to do? Like your friends and neighbors are better looking, better moms, have cleaner houses, a more successful business, and make Martha Stewart look like an amateur? Better yet, how about those girls that have like 9 kids and still wear a size 0? They just pop one out and they leave the hospital in their size 2 501's. The article below made alot of sense to me, and made me laugh. We all need to keep this in mind.

What You Don't See

by Tiffany Gee Lewis

What you don't see, when we all march into church on Sunday morning, is the chaos of the morning that happened just 10 minutes earlier.What you don't see, when you look at my four little boys in their suits, is that the 7-year-old is wearing Dad's socks because we couldn't find his. And they go all the way up to his knees.What you don't see, when I pull out the lovely quiet book I made a few years back, is that below it, in my church bag, are five baggies of smashed raisins because I haven't cleaned out the bag for months.When you enter my house, with its shining entryway, you don't see the three loads of laundry dumped on my bed. Or the dirty pots I stashed in the oven. And you will never see the interior of my minivan, not until I find the time to vacuum it out.
When you admire the hand-sewn pajamas I made for all the kids, we don't talk about the three nights I got no sleep to make those.If you look on my blog, you will see pictures of homemade chicken noodle soup with homemade noodles. You won't see my confession to popping in a frozen pizza THREE times last week for dinner.Or the night we ate Cheerios for dinner, dry, because we were out of milk. There is a zoom on my camera for a reason. There is a delete button for a reason.I don't think we're all playing a part. We naturally want to put our best selves forward, so that is what other people see. They don't see what's going on behind the scenes. I like to think that good parenting is like a duck on the water. What you see is the gentle, almost effortless gliding, not the furious paddling that happens underneath.I keep a mental list of about ten people I want to stalk by camera, from morning to night, to see how they do it all. Are they up at 4 a.m.? Can they survive on three hours of sleep? Do they have a housekeeper? Because I drop balls just as fast as I can grab them. My intentions are of pure gold, but they come out as tinkling brass, at best.I started a blog last fall. I dragged my feet into it for many reasons. One of the main reasons I hesitated was I didn't want to be another contributor to the cyberspace guiltosphere out there. Especially where mothers are concerned, do we need one more reason to feel guilty?Because from the looks of things, other families are happier, their houses are cleaner, their marriages are better, their clothes are more stylish and their craftiness is even more crafty. Their lives are perfectly lovely, while my kids are running around screaming in their diapers.My worst fears were confirmed last week when I got an e-mail from a friend who asked, "How do you do it all? Your column, your blog, all the things you do with your children? You're amazing!"I looked around at my house, at the six bins of winter clothes waiting to be transported to the garage, at the sewing projects stacked against the wall, at the state of the toothpaste crusted to the sink ... I let things go, a lot of things.A spanking-clean house is not a high priority for me. I'm a big believer in mud and its importance in a child's life. The time I take to write is time away from scrubbing that bathroom sink. I would rather read with my kids than shop at the mall, so I am certainly not up-to-date on the latest styles. I've been listening to the same music for 20 years because I can't seem to keep up with the latest music scene. And I require a lot of sleep.We all have priorities. For some, it is keeping a spotless house, and they are good at it. For others, it is writing, or exercising, or serving others. And yes, there are some who seem to do it all, the Benjamin Franklins of the world. I tell myself I don't have to be them. And also, Benjamin Franklin was not much of a family man. Even he let things go.What we don't see, when we look at each other on Sunday, or on blogs, or in our shiny kitchens, is that we all have different talents and unique situations. I tell my kids all the time: Life is not a race. The only person you are competing against is yourself.What we forget to see, when admiring others, is our own personal finish line.

madison.

2010-05-10T09:46:00.000-07:00

Madison Munro has got to be one of the coolest people in the world. She is a girl that can definitely hold her own, and she has to because she is surrounded by boys~ 4 Brothers, 1 dad, 1 step dad, 2 step brothers, many uncles, and grandfathers....just surrounded...and they all adore her.

Madison has an incredible light that emanates from her, a smile that will melt your heart and make your day, and a laugh that is absolutely contagious. She is movie star beautiful and has an inner beauty that is even more attractive.

Maddi is a talented horse back rider, a straight A student, a huge help to her mom, a wonderful big sister, and a good friend. My favorite times with Mads are when she comes to visit and we sneak out and leave all the boys for just a while and take a walk or a drive somewhere. She can hold a great conversation and we laugh so hard! We talk about Madison every day here in Las Vegas. We miss not seeing her often, but know that she is growing and becoming a wonderful young woman.

The Lord has great plans for Madison. It will be such a joy to watch how her life unfolds.

my mothers.

2010-05-09T15:26:00.000-07:00

I have been blessed to have some wonderful examples of mothers in my life. All three are so different, but I appreciate each of them so much.
My mom, Ermie: Born in Germany during World War II, she has been a survivor since day one. She remembers an impoverished, war stricken Germany as her very first memories. She came to the states at 18, taught herself to speak, read, and write English and received her citizenship. She raised us all to speak our minds honestly, work hard, and most of all the love the Lord. Her faith in Jesus Christ, which she passed to us, has helped us through times of trial. She taught us to pray when everything else fails. She is one of my very best friends. She is a wonderful woman and I adore her.My mother in law, Kate: She embodies class and is a wonderful example of how to balance a successful home life and a successful career. She is more than patient, kindly listening and loving in every circumstance. Kate has a wonderful way about her that makes you want to share your heart and thoughts with her, yet she is careful to never say, "you should" or "you need to". She gently guides her children to a place they need to be and somehow makes them feel that they arrived there themselves. She has shared the fullness of the gospel with me, answered my endless questions, and accepted me into her family in a way I could never have imagined.
My "other mother in law", Sandi: She is a spit fire and a woman who has drive and an amazing work ethic. Even after the divorce, she continues to love and support me as a mom and friend. She is always willing to help and jump in whenever needed. She is more prepared than a boy scout, with a purse filled with everything you would ever need if stranded on a desert isle! She is a planner, organizer, and practical but still has stories of roller skating in the house when her kids were teenagers. She got a tattoo as her 50th birthday gift to herself. She is a wonderful Grammy to the boys and a great friend if you are lucky enough to have her in your life.

Thank you all for teaching me and loving me into the mother I am today. I love you!

motherhood is divine and beautiful.

2010-05-08T15:25:00.000-07:00

my boys.

2010-05-08T14:37:00.000-07:00

I have the honor of being a mom to two very special and wonderful young men. Each day I say thank you to our Heavenly Father for allowing me to be their mom. They are such kind, strong spirits, so different with very unique gifts and talents. I love them both far more than I could ever express and am my happiest when I am watching them as they learn and experience life.

Jeb, thank you for being such a wonderfully kind young man. I appreciate your sweetness and genuine concern for others. I love our long conversations and how you are always ready and willing to help. You are becoming such a great person and growing into an amazing man. You have come so far since you were the scared little boy who was always anxious and worried. You have confidence and strength and are a wonderful example and leader to your family and peers.

Griffin, you are growing up so fast!I always forget that you are just eight. You seem like a teenager already. You have so many great qualities and have found talents that I never knew you had. Thank you for loving your family and friends as deeply as you do. You look out for everyone that you love and never stop caring for people no matter what. You have a great sense of humor that has cheered all of us up when we have felt down!
Thank you both for giving me the honor of being your mom. You two have been the most wonderful gift I have ever received and I am eternally grateful for you. I share you two with many, many people who love you and will always play a big role in your lives, but I am happy to know that I will always have the privilege of holding the title of "Mom".

Love, Mom

hard worker.

2010-05-07T10:12:00.000-07:00

Matt is an incredible worker and once he sets his mind to something and believes in a company or product, it blows me away what he can accomplish.
He started at HOM Solutions thinking it would be a small "stop over". A good enough thing until a really good thing came along. But here we are, only seven months later and he has completely turned the Las Vegas division around. He has taken this small position and turned it into a potential long term career, in spite of this difficult job market.
Matt started out in a senior project manager type position and within the last 60 days is now the Las Vegas division president. He has been putting in 12 to 14 hour days and senior management and peers are noticing his work.
Last month, Matt quadrupled the revenue for Las Vegas and has introduced several programs and policies that have helped the division become more efficient and run more smoothly. His employees love to work for him and have amazing respect for him.
I know that the countless hours and hard work he is putting in now will pave the way for good things in the future. Matt, I am so proud of you and appreciate all you do for us and the example that you are setting for the boys!

lemonade.

2010-04-25T19:50:00.000-07:00

Man oh man, it's heating up in Las Vegas and I sure am feeling like some lemonade. As we were coming home from church today, there were a bunch of neighborhood kids with a lemonade stand of their own. Of course we stopped! During the warm months this is one of the things that our kids look forward to doing. It's one of my favorite summer memories because they get so excited, and all six of them work so well as a team. We just need four more cute Munro kids to come visit and we'll be open for business!

holy legos, batman.

2010-04-16T22:23:00.001-07:00

Jeb and Griffin are two happy boys tonight. Each year their school has a huge fundraiser called "A Night in Venice". The best part of the night is that each class puts together themed baskets to raffle off. Jeb and Griffin always have their eye on the Lego baskets that are so popular each year. In years past we flooded the raffle boxes with tickets, didn't win, and the guys were really disappointed.

So this year, it was going to be different. Each boy got only 5 tickets to put wherever he pleased, and that was it. When it was time to draw the winning tickets, the boys crowded around the stage and listened anxiously. Holy cow! I wish I had a picture of their faces when they drew Jeb's name for the Lego basket! They were BOTH thrilled.

We have to get to bed for an early baseball game tomorrow, but how can we with the entire bonus room flooded with Legos?! It's like Christmas!

Congratulations, Jeb and Griff. You have been very patient and understanding the past couple of years and you really deserve this. I am so happy for you.

skinny tiki.

2010-04-14T19:04:00.000-07:00

Our old dog, Tiki, has lost a ton of weight and is acting like a little puppy! She loves her new playmate, Samson, and tries to keep up with him the best she can. Since Nana moved to her new apartment, there's no one to give Tiki treats and table scraps, and her figure shows it!

easter 2010.

2010-04-14T18:48:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful spring break which led to a fantastic Easter Sunday. The week was filled with lunch with the grandmas, a trip to the arcade, special drop donuts on conference Saturday, and a yummy Easter dinner on Sunday. We were so blessed to share the day with family. We played, ate, and had a great time. Our niece, Amy, looked beautiful in her purple Easter dress and the boys looked handsome in their new shirts from G-Ma and G-Pa (thank you!). Hope your Easter was as wonderful as ours!

P.S. Uncle Thom looks cranky in these pics, but he's really a push over. :)

happy easter weekend!

2010-04-02T16:45:00.001-07:00

web cam.

2010-03-30T18:42:00.000-07:00

Hmmmm......I started going through pictures on the computer and I came across these. It looks like somebody is figuring out the web cam. I love the second one. When the toungue is out, that's concentration at it's finest.