Some Serious Spring Fever

Yeah...so I guess my kids are desperate to get outside!! Gordon came up to the sliding glass door and plastered himself against it lamenting, "I just have to go outside today, MOM!!" I conceded but with some reservations...it's starting to "look" like spring...as in there is actual sunshine...but it sure doesn't feel like spring-so everyone had to have hats/hoods, coats/sweatshirts, and gloves...it did look a little odd with the kids coloring with sidewalk chalk in gloves but they had a good time so I didn't complain!

My boys love to draw...Gordon's pictures get very detailed and I am just glad that I can sometimes make out what it is Otter is drawing...Ellie just loves to come around and "help" the boys with their pictures...needless to say she got pushed down a lot-we're working on that but I can understand how frustrating it would be to be in the middle of something "great" leave to get a different piece of chalk and come back to it "ruined"!!

Gordon's a whole hand!

Our oldest boy just turned 5 in February...and he is loving flashing his whole hand at anyone who cares to know how old he is!!

Here we are en route to the discount movie theater where we were taking the family to enjoy "Bolt" then we headed home to have some Pizza and Birthday cake! We didn't do anything too fancy since really he didn't care...he just wanted chocolate frosting and "candles to wish on....and presents!!"

WELCOME COWBOYS & COWGIRLS!
So I was pretty excited about this party and really didn't stress about the fact that I had 12 5ish year olds being dropped off at my house...I thought, "No big deal!" What I didn't count on is that Gordon invited all the friends he liked which meant they probably had a lot in common including activity level--right--that's where it hit me in the rear. I had some of the most adorable wild funny and LOUD children over....most of my cute games and acitivities were vetoed by the boys who were intent at waging all sorts of battles in the basement and spilling out into other areas of the house but they entertained the girls quite well...Everyone had a blast and our house was trashed but it was all worth it! One other thing I didn't count on was how much other kids eat...my kids are birds but dang those boys went through almost 4 large pizzas on their own...we had to send Steve back for some more for the few adults that stayed to help out!
(THANKS to Steve, Melanie, Allie, Laura, and Anthony for all your help!)

Steve the "cattle hand" told cowboy stories around the "fire" while the cooks got the grub ready!


Some of the girls and younger children playing..."there's a snake in my boot"

We had a little after party that night before bed...Gordon in hindsight was really sad he didn't get to "win" all the games so we played all of them and had a lot of fun doing it!000

I just want to say how much we LOVE our oldest son...he is true treasure in our family--A diamond! We are so proud of him and just LOVE LOVE LOVE him! He is so talented and really tries to do what's right even when it's really hard! We are so proud of what a good boy he is becoming. Thanks for being our boy Gordy!
Love, Mom & Dad

Here is our little sweetheart through the years!

Shhhhh.....

Okay so this is a late-ish announcement and many already know...but

WE'RE PREGNANT!!

yup....#4 is due the beginning of August which will probably translate into Late July...

I love Conjunctivitis!

So this is how our poor little Ellie woke up Friday January 30th...needless to say we went into the Doctor's promptly after and found out she had Conjunctivitis...oh and Oscar had double ear infections too!! So after picking up her $92 eye drops (yeah...the doctor was worried because the swelling was SO bad that she needed the strongest stuff!! it was like putting fire in her eyes...she hated them!) and a round of Antibiotics for both kids we went home to be QUARANTINED!

We're all better now and glad to have our little beauty back to her non-swollen self!

The Magnificent Munns Reunion '09

This year the Munns Family Reunion was amazing. It was so wonderfully planned and executed. It was a real success. We had 4 days worth of action planned out for the Whole family to enjoy.

Our theme this year was Magnificent Munns. The girls developed our SWEET logo and had it put on everything...T-shirts...banners and agendas...I loved it!

Vanessa opened up the Reunion Kick off with some phenomenal energy getting us so excited for the Magnificent reunion. In the Great Room all of the grand kids lined up on benches in the middle of the room... She spoke to the kids about Super Heroes and what makes them heroes. They are Loyal, Trustworthy, Dependable, Honest, Strong, Courageous... She pointed at the Grandfather, Father and Husband of our great big family, my dad, and said... "he is all of these things. And you can be too". She then asked the kids if they knew who OUR ultimate Hero is. The room got a bit quieter and one of my nieces answered, "Jesus". She was right.

My dad then got up and talked about his great, big family and how much he loves us. As I was sent in to his office to get "something" out he told the grand kids about how grandma has always said, "A child with many names is much loved". I then helped my dad hand out a shiny heart shaped balloon to each of his grand kids... Libbler, Go Go, Otter, Kitten, Rooster, Chubs, Boo, Jigga, Sissy Pantaloons, Dollface (goldie)... the list went on. It was such a sight. 30 little balloons bobbing around... all weekend long.

(actual agenda from reunion...I just added Pictures)
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
WELCOME~ REUNION KICK OFF BASH Wednesday, December 31, 2008

3–5:00 pm Arrival and Room Assignment
6:00 pm Family Assembly ~ Vanessa ~ Magnificent Senior Sibling!
Welcome ~ Hacienda Great Room
Pass Out T-Shirts to all the Magnificent Munns
Review Calendar of Events
Bring picture of each grandchild to be part of the“Magnificent” Gallery.
6:30 pm Dinner-Nippon Thai Take-Out
Food Assignment: Vanessa & Nate and Kara & Sam
Family Prayer & Food Blessing: Jacob
7:30 pm FIREWORKS ~ Lakefront ~ Sam & Kara and John & Shelly (Clean up in the daylight!)
Blankets ~ Insect Repellant ~ Chairs for Spectators
Marshmallow Roast & Fire Ring~ Get Wood & 2 Fire Rings from Ranch
9:00 pm Late Night Swim ~ Towels in the Dryer
10:00 pm Snacks ~ Bed Time ~ Get your REST for the Olympics
Happy New Year!!
*See Sleep Over Arrangements for ALL. Yes EVERYONE on Wednesday Night ONLY

My dad never passes up an opportunity to light some fire works and it was done right this year too!! I missed the works since I went to the airport to pick up my darling man--he works hard for the $ and had to stay in Toledo to finish up the year!

Thursday, January 1, 2009
Let the Games Begin

8-9:00 am Rise & Shine~ Breakfast: cold cereal, yogurt and juice

Family Food Assignment: Leah & Steve, Jake & Tiff

Family Prayer & Blessing: Daniel

9:30 am LET THE GAMES BEGIN: Coordinators Tyler & Erika, Jordan & Shanda

Olympic Events: Balance Beam, Nail Driving, Obstacle Course, Softball Distance throw, Football Pass Accuracy, Standing Broad Jump, Races, Shot Put (ribbons to be awarded)

12:00 pm Lunch: Pizza

Food Assignment: Ryan & Heather, Collin & Christine

Food Blessing: Laken

1:00 pm Skeet Shooting and Target Accuracy Competition (ribbons to be awarded)

3:00 pm Cow Pie Softball, Swimming, Relaxing: Ryan & Heather, Steve & Leah (Sam & John to pick up horses for Family Activity)

6:00 pm Dinner: Lasagna, Salad, Bread

Food Assignment: Leah & Steve, Tiff & Jacob

Family Prayer & Blessing: Nate

7:30 pm RIBBON CEREMONY: Erika & Go-Dad

10:00 pm Snacks & Bed: Get your rest for the Family Service Project and RANCH EXTRAVAGANZA!!

OLYMPIC COMPETITIONS SAMPLER!

Skeet shooting....


Ribbon Ceremony

Friday, Jan 2

Service Project & Ranch Extravaganza

8-9:00 am Rise & Shine~ Pancakes

Food Assignment: Erika & Tyler, Vanessa & Nate

Family Prayer & Blessing: Ryan

10:00 am School Bag /Baby Blankets Service Projects: Kara, Heather, & Leah

12:00 pm Lunch: Publix Subs

Food Assignment: Shelly & John, Christine & Collin

Blessing: Jamison

1:00 pm Horseback Riding/ Trail Riding at Five Star Ranch: Ryan, John & Sam

2:30 pm Rodeo at the Ranch~ Dad & Mom, Jacob & Sam

Calf Roping~ Ribbons to winners

Tail Tying~ Ribbons to winners

Animal Husbandry (Ryan & Go-Dad): We will provide the rubber gloves thanks to instructor Tom Pratt!

5:30 pm Fire Building Contest

6:00 pm Dinner: "Barn Chili" & "Southern Syrup Sop"

Food Assignment: Go-Dad & Grandma, Jordan & Shanda

Family Prayer & Blessing: John

Great Grandad Douberly Story "He was MAGNIFICENT" by Go-Dad

9:00 pm All brave kids to the Ranch for scary stories and roasting marshmallows...and snacks: Go-Dad

All Big Girls Par-tay at the house after babies are in BED!!!

School Bag Service Project

Rodeo

"Animal Husbandry":The boys checked the black angus herd to see how many of the cows were pregnant...and no they did not have to collect pee...it was more "hands-on/IN"

Saturday, Jan 3

Fishing Tournament at Hacienda Pond

8-9:00 am Rise & Shine: Donuts, Juice, Eggs & Toast

Food Assignment: Tiffany& Jacob, Daniel & Emily

Family Prayer & Blessing: Leah

10:30 am Fishing Tournament Begins (Girls & Kids): Collin & Christine, Grandma & Go-Dad (Trophies & $Cash Prizes)

MOST Fish: Ages 2-11= $10 Ages 12-60ish= $20

BIGGEST Fish: Ages 2-11= $10 Ages 12-60ish= $20

12:00 pm Lunch: Taco Soup

Food Assignment: Vanessa & Nate, Heather & Ryan

Blessing: Gordon

Awards Ceremony

1:00 pm Afternoon Free Time/Activities: Practice for the Talent Show, Bounce house, Swim, Ride Horses, Relax, Nap

5:30 pm Dinner: Macaroni Grill To Go

Food Assignment: Kara & Sam, Daniel & Emily

Family Prayer & Blessing: Sam

6:30 pm TALENT SHOW!!! EVERYONE MUST PARTICIPATE! Shelly & John, Vanessa & Nate

10:00 pm Late Night Swim, Snacks & Off to BED!!

Fishing Tournament!

Sunday, Jan 4

"MAGNIFICENT MUNNS ARE TRUE TO THE FAITH"

7-8:00 am Rise & Shine Breakfast: Breakfast Casserole, Fruit, Juice (Fast NEXT Sunday!)

Food Assignment: Shelly & John, Kara & Sam

Family Prayer & Blessing: Tyler

8:30 am Closing Ceremonies: Grandma & Go-Dad

Grandma Munns Activity/Devotional

11:45 am Lunch: Baked Potato Bar

Food Assignment: Erika & Tyler, Leah & Steve

Blessing: Anna

1:00 pm St Cloud Ward Meetings (must leave the house at 12:40 pm)

5:00 pm Dinner: Leftovers

Food Assignment: All girls

Family Prayer & Blessing: Ryan

GOOD BYE AND SAFE DRIVING!!!

MISCELLANEOUS INFO

* IMPORTANT: Food Assignments~ Be sure food is ready on time and DON'T FORGET THE CLEAN-UP AFTER!!

* IMPORTANT: Don't be late for prayers & meals

*PARENTS: NO Kids Food Allowed Upstairs or Eating on Furniture.

*Activity Assignments: BE PREPARED/ CLEAN UP

*If you need $$ for Purchases of Food, Supplies, etc., See the FAMILY BANKER

* PARENTS: Please NO DIAPERS left at doorways...this will kill the Family Banker!!

All of this Wild & Crazy fun led to one tuckerd out Go-Dad!!

Thank you SO much Mom & Dad for hosting and bankrolling this wonderful and memorable Family Reunion! You are SO "Magnificent"!
And thanks to all those who worked long and hard to have this run so smoothly--Well DONE!!