Manicures

Grandma Munns sure knows how to treat her daughters...I love to get manicures and pedicures..and really anything fancy like that...and as a little bonding before the move Mom treated a manicure (I had recently gotten my pedi) Ellie was my little companion for the event...a girls only event! I wonder what the boys were up to?

Ellie & Goldie 10.25.07

We headed out to Melbourne to visit with the Quigleys and Hydes before we left FL for good. We got to go and see Calvin's last football game and hang out for a little bit! I really wanted to get some pictures of Ellie with some of her closest cousins...this is the newest Munns Grandchild addition!
Goldie Hart Hyde

Ellie (almost 6 months old) looks like a Gigantisaur next to the petit, 2 week old Goldie!
Goldie is one of the prettiest babies! She was so tiny...at least by Munns standards...but she is a bombshell...just ask her darling patient Mother!

Goldie's checking out that little beauty next to her!

Shelly and her happy little baby!
POOR LITTLE GIRL!

The sisters with their beautiful baby girls!

BON VOYAGE 10.25.07

Steve's Parents have earned a GOLDEN STAR for their saintliest offering...they drover our 26 foot U-Haul moving truck towing our Honda the 1700+ miles to Toledo, OH!
thank you!
Thank you !
THANK YOU!

Some of the crew that gathered to send off these wonderful people on their trip... the Anderson kids love to be in on the action!!!

The little Ward Family ready for a new adventure...Looking a little ragged but we survived yet another Blitz move!

MOVING TRUCK

Once we found out we could get basically pocket any excess that we didn't spend on our move we flew into our thrifty mode and did it ALL ourselves...at least a lot of it...we did inlist the help of some family & friends but hey what are they for?
Gordon was a REALLY GOOD helper...when he wasn't helping to unload the truck or take off with vital pieces to furniture, or tools or..well he had a lot of fun helping Steve get things ready!

Gordon LOVED climbing along the top of the furniture in the truck!

The pack mule!

Monkey see...Monkey do...Oscar wants to do ANYTHING Gordy does!
You gotta love brothers!

GORDON DAY at YMCA 10.24.07

I am going to miss Gordon's preschool I daresay more than he will! Ms Dana and Ms Miriam were the BEST!!! They loved Gordon and Ms Dana acctually teared up when I told her that we were moving! She was amazing she put together a whole day for him (she called it Gordon Ward Day--how clever!) She made this huge poster as you can see HUGE! Got him 3 presents (a disposable camera...so he could take pictures to remember his friends, a book about moving, and a little webkins raccoon.) a huge bumble bee balloon (their class was the Bumble Bees & Ladybugs) with a little sign that said "Gordon, you'll always Bee in our hearts!" and had a special treat that he picked out...cup cakes, ice cream and juice, and they played and pin the kiss on Gordon Game...just like pin the tail on the donkey but each child had a set of lips with their name on it and they put in onto the poster!
WE WILL MISS OUR FAVORITE PRE-SCHOOL EVER!!

Here is his class...Miss Dana is on the Right she got cut off -sorry!


Gordon's teachers invited Oscar, Eleanor, Steve and me to come to the party...since we were moving THAT DAY...Only Oscar and I made it. Eleanor was at home sleeping while Steve packed the moving truck (yeah so we did the whole move ourselves to pocket some$$) and my dear sweetheart mother literally cleaned my whole house---THANKS MOM!!

Halloween PAR-TAY!

As a last farewell weekend activity Steve and I went to Sarah & RJ's Halloween Party! It was really fun even though I love the idea of dressing up but not so much the acctual wearing of a costume...but I DO LOVE DOING THE MAKE-UP (sorry Steve)
We had a lot of fun goofing off with some of our dear friends in Odessa...WE MISS YOU DEARLY!
Here is the rundown of the events...
Appetizers and mingling....spooky fare at every turn...and bubling rootbeer in a cauldren (an icebreaker guess who i am game)
Introductions and Costume voting
A few weird contests...ugliest feet, longest toes, etc
FEAR FACTOR Eating contest
Murder game ( where there's a murderer who kills people while everyone wanders around the house in the dark)
Relaxing & eating while visiting...LOVED IT!!!

Some of the "Cuisine" for the fear-factor Eating Contest!
The fare included: fish fries, some form of eel, Some type of pickled squid, a bug and a few other unmentionalbles...I honestly can't remember what they were but wish I could forget what they smelled like!
This is a prime example of what terrifying things can be found in an asian market!
YIKES!

Steve is eying the "food" that is part of the challenge...
Steve was far more daring than my stomach, mouth, nose, brain, and basically all reason would have allowed me to be.
It was a vailiant effort but the coveted prize--a candy dish with an electronic hand that slaps down when you reach for the candy--(wait a second I could use that...) was lost to Jason Engles...who scarffed down the delicacies much faster than should be allowed!
Steve claims that his loss however was due to a misunderstanding of the rules laid out before the challenge...I guess thats what we get our first year at the Anderson Halloween party!

The Terrifyingly Adorable coulple!
Yes, that's us under those decieving disguises...though next year I am trying to talk Steve into being cavemen--or cave people--there was a couple there that were dressed up AMAZINGLY!!! I think you can get a glimpse of the caveman in the 2nd photo!

All & ALL a good last hurrah in tampa!

PURPLE DAY

So It was the week before Halloween and I HAD to get the purple hairspray! I LOVE doing color days all out! I could not find any other suitable purple attire for my little dear so I got together with Suzanne and her little boy Jackson to decorate shirts for the boys to wear!! We had more fun than the boys did in the decorating but the shirts still managed to turn out cute!

WHAT A LOOKER EH??

P.S. a note for next time...when you buy the little hanes undershirts...they tend to look like crop tops so buy up a few sizes!!

WE'RE MOVING!!!

uh huh! yeah it's true...we are leaving the great state of Florida with its PERFECT winter weather for the soon to be great state of OHIO! Random I know but Toledo here we come! Steve has accepted a job in Toledo (actually awhile ago but it just hasn't felt real until now--I guess packing does that to you!) and we are moving the end of next week! I am so sorry that we didn't get more people out here to see us before we head for colder climates but we will still meet anyone here that wants to visit...there's always plenty of room at the Munns Hacienda!

I just want to say we have LOVE, LOVE, LOVED it here in Tampa! It says a lot to have Steve say, only a few months after being here, "I really think we could stay here forever." Too bad that hasn't happened yet! But really, we have been so blessed to have had this unfortunately short stay. We have made the best of friends...the kind you keep in touch with!! We have had great experiences serving here in our Branch--we have felt truly part of a family here! We have learned a lot about relying on inspiration from the Lord (we really had to feel it to get us out of Florida, away from the weather, and away from my family).

Here are a few great things we've loved about being here:
*Eleanor... she joined our family while we were here!
*The weather...anyone who knows us knows we like it hot! (while at BYU I rarely attended class when it was snowing--unfortunately steve didn't have that luxury!!)
*Proximity to my Family in Orlando (less than 2 hours...I could make that drive in my sleep!!)
*The Beach...we used to go once a week!
*FRIENDS
*Lowry Park Zoo
*The Aquarium
*MOSI
*Our babysitters

The higher the heels the better!!

Oscar really has hit the shoe obsession stage!
Anyone that comes to our house can bet that their shoes will be tested out!
He particularly loves MY shoes! One Sunday night he had a hay day in my heels on the tiles!
I can just imagine the thrill he felt when he heard the clicking of the heels...I have always LOVED that sound thanks to the memory of my mother in her heels!He has remarkably good balance on one foot!

The ever crucial set up!

Lookin' HOT bots!

On his way out...he is not as successful in heels on the carpet!

One last glance back!

Oscar with Markers!

This is what I get when I decide to leave Oscar in the highchair with markers and paper so I can hop in the shower!...notice how far onto his head he got the marks...

...and of course into his mouth and all over his hands...

I can't eve get mad at this because I think it's just SO cute!

The Nebulizer!

Oscar recently has had a really bad cough for a really long time and when we took him to the doctor once again she prescribed breathing treatments witha nebulizer...the first of 2 treatments we did in the office was a nightmare...I don't know who was sweatier after...I had to wrestle my little giant into submission--I had him in a bear hug pining his legs with my knees, one arm wrapped around him to keep him from pulling off the mask and the other hand holding the mask to his mouth! We wrestled like this for 15 minutes..then the doctor came in to check his lungs/breathing again and looked at me and apologized that he was going to have to do another treatment..."I'll give you a few minutes to recompose" she said as she whisked out the door... I then turned Oscar around on my lap and made him a deal--I told him that if he could sit still and let the mask stay on his face I would let him go out and watch the movie out in the waiting room while he had his treatment...he looked like he was understanding so I continued...but if you don't sit still and let me help you get your breathing treatment then we have to come back in here and I have to hold you down! He nodded his head defeatedly and so I proposed the plan to the nurse when she came back into the room to get him started...looking nervously she looked at us both red cheeked and sweaty from our last treatment and said, "Are you sure that's a good idea?" I reassured her that if things got out of hand at all I would promptly bring him back to the room... so out we went. The movie started and began prepping him for the treatment...he began to whimper when I quickly reminded him we would have to go back into the exam room and he quit! To everyone's shock he did not make a peep again! He sat still as can be in my lap and let the whole treatment pass without so much as a ripple! He is such a pro now that he can be plopped down on the rocker and do the whole treatment without me holding him...as long a he has a "show" (one of his new favorite words) to watch!

Museum of Science and Industry

Gordon was called up to help with an experiment...the demonstrator was very brave for giving such a little boy such a large container of blue dyed water!

Mom toting Eleanor in the Baby Bjorn!

Gordon driving the life sized airplain cockpit! He was really ready to get back to driving and I lost my chance for a picture--I'll be faster next time!

...they had a little dress up area with a pirate theme!! Let me just tell you my little buccaneers were torn away from here kick and screaming--literally! Here Gordy is fighting his friend Maguire.

My two little pirates..Oscar picked out his own golden shirt--LOVELY!!

All the kids...we were 4 moms and 12 kids!!! It was controlled chaos!

Such a good driver Oscar!!!

Gordon & Maguire monopolized most of the driving!

Early Morning Walk: SLC 09.25.07

One morning while in Utah with Eleanor I got up one morning early and decided to take a walk around the neighborhood! Little did I know it was going to be FREEZING in Utah in September--fully equipped with snow and frosted mornings! We borrowed some warm clothes and blankets and headed out to enjoy the beautiful sights--WE MISS THE MOUNTAINS and yes a tiny part of me misses the autumn chill in the air! Here's some pictures of my little dear! She is so cute all ruddy cheeked and bundled up...I have a feeling we'll have a lot more pictures of her like this to come--stay posted for the news!

The heavy hand of reproach!

A special thanks to President Eyring for giving me the little kick in the booty to be a better steward in regard to recognizing the MANY gifts, talents, mercies, blessings, and wonders placed in my life by the hand of the Lord. Truly I would be terribly ungrateful to not heed this counsel and more fully express my gratitude for these blessings by taking the small amount of time required to write down the wonderful and small events in my life! I will be better...I need to be!!

Isn't it amazing how you can feel and know that talks given in conference can be just for you!

Pre-School Orientation Aug 29th 2007

lookin' good handsome!

On the way to meet his teachers and check out the classroom

At his classroom....

Gordon LOVED the pirate toys--no big suprise!
he's making such a silly smile face at me--he was bugged that I asked him to stop so I could take his picture!

NOT HAPPY TO GO HOME!
He wanted to stay for school...I guess I forgot to mention that? Whoops!

Gordon recovered quickly and is very excited to be a "big school boy"! only a few more days until the BIG first day of school!!

Bring on the Bumbo!

Why is this girl so happy? Just look at where she is sitting! This ingenious little contraption called a BUMBO is my new favorite baby necessity!
How else would my little dream girl get to sit up on the counter while I'm making dinner?

She loves....loves...loves...to be up here seeing what's going on!

I just cannot say enough waht a dream baby Eleanor is! WE LOVE HER!!!

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

WATCH OUT PRESCHOOL...HE HE COMES!!!

Gordy was so excited to get into his classroom I had a very hard time getting him to stop so I could take his picture ! What a handsome school boy I have!Gordon got to pick out his very own lunch box. I must admit though that this was his second choice...there were many tears shed about not being able to have the giant Skull lunch box--from the pirates of the carribean. I can handle quite a bit of skull design but that one was too much--it looked really real and scary! For those of you that know Gordon...CLASSIC!

Gordon's new teachers: Miss Dana and Miss Miriam

Gordon's favorite things about school:
1. Monkey Bars...he really wants his teacher to let him try them all by himself but thankfully not broken arms---yet!
2. Pirate ship...in the "toy center"
3. being the line leader...it's a sensitive subject when the wheel is not on his name...he said he's okay with being the door holder though
4. Wearing the color of the week...his class is doing a color theme each week and on Wednesdays the children are supposed to wear the color of the week! Well the Wards have taken the challenge and regularly are HEAD TO TOE color themed! Tomorrow is purple and watch out! He loves being the most decked out and secretly so do I!