June 2012

This month has been a really fun month for us!
The first weekend we enjoyed  a fun time in Idaho. Some good friends of ours, The Robbinsons, invited us to go up to their family cabin and ride four wheelers and do the whole dutch oven cooking and campfire fun! We were stoked to go! Turned out that weekend was one of the coldest weekends we had had since April. We were very cold and enjoyed lots of time in the Cabin. We got out and endured the cold while riding the four wheelers. Kinley took a much needed nap on Patricks lap while riding the four wheelers! Imagine that. Porter tried to drive his very own four wheeler, but  it scared him a little bit too much. But we were VERY proud of him for trying a couple of times.

The second weekend we last minute decided to ride front runner down to Salt Lake and go see the new City Creek shopping center and go to Temple Square. The kids were so excited to ride the train and thought it  was really cool. Porter remembered riding it on his 3rd birthday and remembered all the sounds and things that went on while riding the train! Once we got down there we ventured over to City Creek and walked around. We thought it was very pretty and also very busy! Too much so for our liking. But we enjoyed going into the Disney store with the kids and we bought them new pajamas. Then we walked more and found the Porsche Design store. This store was AWESOME! Of course everything in there was way way to expensive, but it was fun to look. Patrick tried on a pair of their shoes "Just for Fun" as the sales clerk lady said. The shoes were made with the same suspension that Porsche uses in their vehicles. When Patrick put them on I asked him if he felt like he could slam dunk! He said "OH YEAH!" Must have felt pretty cool. The shoes were priced to be $650.00 INSANE! Totally cool though. Then we walked over to Tiffany's and I enjoyed seeing the beautiful jewelry. I knew that Tiffany's was known for their solitaire, and amazing quality, but I expected a lot more from their stuff. I was let down in the fact that their things were very simple. Not as elaborate as I thought it might have been. But still beautiful! After that we walked down to the water fountains where the kids played. Wait... rephrase that...Porter played and got SOAKED and Kinley daintily touched the water here and there. She didn't want to get SOAKED like Porter apparently.
After the kids were done with the water, we walked our way over to Temple Square to sit down and have some snacks. As we sat in the shade and looked at the Temple, we very quickly realized what a difference in the spirit we felt from city creek to Temple square. From the moment we decided that even though we still had more to see over at City Creek, we wanted to stay on Temple Square. We walked around the temple, let the kids touch the temple, went to the North Visitors Center and saw a 15 minute little video of the family. Then we went over to the Church History Museum and let the kids go to the kids area and play. They love doing this anytime we go to Temple Square. It's a great place for them to discover and play in a great environment. Then it was time to go and we got us some food real quick and headed over to the train. The kids loved eating their food on the train and we had a great day!

The third weekend started out with Patrick running the Ragnar again. This time he didn't feel as prepared, nor as competitive so it wasn't that big of a deal this year. Even though he didn't feel very prepared he felt good, did well and enjoyed his time doing it. While he was gone running I took the kids down to Grandma Christensen's and saw family. We had a big day of swimming and then girls night. The next morning I went to the Temple with Carrie and Gavin, and then came back for lunch and went with mom to help her clean the bank. Then Sunday was Fathers Day. Patrick didn't have any meetings so we got to have him home lots that day. Porter sang with the Primary and did a GREAT job! I think Patrick had a good Fathers day, enjoying relaxing and being with the kids.

The fourth week of June we went on our Family Vacation, which Porter called it our Family Home Evening E-cation! It was tons of fun... I'll be doing a separate post just on that! Coming Soon...stay tuned! haha

May 2012

I'm really trying to be better at blogging normally. I know this time of life will be hard to remember in a few months! Life for us lately honestly has been very quality time focused and strengthening the relationships that we have with one another. Which has been hard with Patrick's schedule with work and bishopric duties. BUT, somehow we have had a really great month! I guess we've just been focused on the time that we do have together and make the VERY best of it that we can!
To start off this month we enjoyed a great visit from Dad and Mom Munson. They came up and helped us with our projects, spent some good time together eating and going on a drive to Logan to get stuff at Gossners Cheese factory AND Cox's Honey! I learned a lot about honey on that trip! Patrick got shelves up in our cold food storage area and Mom and I painted the baby room.

Also this month Patrick and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary! Totally crazy to think we have been married for 6 years! Our anniversary fell on Mothers day this year, so we ended up celebrating our anniversary on Saturday before. The day went like this, Patrick went and played basketball that morning for about an hour, then came home to a surprise! Then we quickly left and drove down to Utah County to be with my family and pick out things that we wanted of my Mom's things. Then driving up to Mom and Dad Munsons house to drop off the kids and go to the temple. We did sealings as tradition has been the past 5 years on our anniversary and then went out to dinner together! It was nice to just be together! We laughed at where we went to eat, Golden Coral, b/c it's not the most romantic place, but we both were really hungry and could eat as much of whatever we wanted! Patrick learned that Golden Coral was my favorite place to eat growing up too. So it made it seem a little better! :)  The next day, our actual anniversary AND also Mothers day, turned out wonderful! Patrick made me dinner and let me take a nap and while I napped Patrick played with the kids and asked Porter some questions about me for mothers day. It was adorable to hear his answers! They set up the SWEET Grandpa Christensen Juice Caboose train! Porter was in HEAVEN! And once Kinley woke up, she too was in heaven! They had so much fun playing with it!

Loved being the tunnel for the train.

See the Joy on their faces!

Also this month Patrick found time to build a ladder for the kids bunk beds and we switched Kinley over to Porters room. So they are now sharing a room after about 2 weeks of them being in the same room, they are loving it and we as parents are learning to deal with bedtime! haha ;) It's a great thing and they love it.
In this video the kids were laughing hysterically, but of course once I started recording it turned to squeals and screams, but you still get the gist of what fun these little monkeys have at bedtime.


As for our Memorial Day Weekend...We started it off with a BANG! We headed on down to Hill Air Force base to see the air show! We were so excited! As we were driving in through lines of traffic we watched the planes flying and doing corkscrews, going straight up in the air and diving back down! It was awesome. As soon as we parked and got out of the car to walk into the show, it started to sprinkle. Then as we got closer to going in it started to rain harder, then we found a nice spot about as close as we could get with all the people there, under an airplane and ended up huddled under blankets, stroller canopies and the 2 umbrellas that we had! Our spot was a great spot! so nice that we thought we could sit there and wait out the storm, because in our minds after all Utah weather only lasts 20 min! Well it didn't stop and it just kept comin...then it started to lighten up so we decided to head for the cars. Needless to say once we got back to the car, my hair was SOAKING wet(no exaggeration! I promise), my face felt like it had been frost bitten and my feet were all wet and cold too! We ended up coming back home and getting pizza and watching a movie with our dear friends the Tuttles! Even though the day was a flop...we still had a blast! It was a great day. Then Monday we spent getting things done. Patrick built a table and a shelf for our bedroom. I ran errands, mowing the lawn and cleaning the cars.  We enjoyed our weekend! Then the rest of that week we took extra time to paint the table and shelves, we also went to Kelsey's High School Graduation and spent a day with the Munson fam! Sadly I have no pictures from any of these events. Funny thing is...Patrick was taking pictures the whole time at Kelsey's Graduation, just not with our camera! haha.

April 2012

Well April... hmmm... It's been so long that I can't remember what went on in April. I know we did lots of stuff, it's just this pregnancy brain of mine. Lemme think....what did we do in the month of April?
Well continuing off of the month of March, because of the WONDERFUL weather we were able to really work on our lawn and flowerbeds! We got the first big job of the year done, weeding and some good mulch put in! We were super stoked to get that all done! Now if we can just keep up with it so we can just have small little jobs each weekend rather than full day weeding chores, etc...

We enjoyed a great Easter this year! The Easter Bunny was overly kind to the kids this year! On Saturday morning the Easter bunny came to our neighborhood park and the kids got to run for their treats! The kids had tons of fun! I tried to teach Porter to be kind and not think that it was ALL for him. Then once I told him that, I realized all the other kids weren't going to be that way and Porter would get jipped. I could tell he was even processing the idea and really going to listen to me.I could see through his eyes that in his brain he was thinking he wasn't going to get anything and he was ok with that. What a sweet boy! But we ended up coming away with Plenty for the kids! They had a blast running to find the candy, toys and eggs out on the field. All Kinley would say was..."I Run, I Run, I Run!" Then Sunday they woke up and saw what the Easter Bunny had put in their baskets. They were stoked to find a blow up trampoline for indoors or outdoors! And Peeps, Church clothes that I made for them, Porter got a bus and Kinley got a Minnie and Mickey Rhyme book! Like I said Spoiled! We went to church and then came back and had lunch and while waiting for Dad to get home from Bishopric duties I sat and listened to them beg and plead to go see if the Easter Bunny had brought them candy to hunt for downstairs. I held off as long as I could and then ended up letting them go on their hunt! They waited with MUCH anticipation on the top of the stairs while I got the camera ready so dad wouldn't miss it. Kinley didn't even want the eggs, she wanted the candy that was out in plain sight, Porter wanted all the eggs! It was fun to watch them at this age. Everything clicked and they had a BLAST!
 This month we also enjoyed lots of Kite flying days! It was awesome! The kids had a blast and really enjoyed it. Then one day Kinley was holding the kite and let go...it ended up in a tree, she came running inside crying to tell me what had happened, while dad got the kite out of the tree. Neither one of the kids has wanted to hold the kite since. They just enjoy watching it now.
Also this month Porters preschool had their class pictures taken. They said that if we wanted siblings pictures taken as well we could bring them in. I wasn't sure how much more it would cost to do that so I got Kinley all dressed up and ready to go and get her picture taken just like Porter. Once there I found out how much more and decided Eh-Nevermind. We came home and Kinley wanted her picture taken . Luckily it was a beautiful day and so I took a stab at taking pictures of her myself! I think I got some pretty cute ones!





We also enjoyed Conference! Both the kids were so excited to sit and listen to the Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, who to them has the coolest name, very close to Munson and also shares the first name with a certain famous friend of the kids. I'll give you a hint, starts with T ends with homas the train! Porter sat and listened to ALL of President Packers talk. I think about 4 minutes before he ended his talk Porter looked at us and said, "He's talking for a long time!" We nodded and encouraged him to listen more. So he did! We were so proud of him!
We most certainly enjoyed tax season ending this month and finding out that Patrick met his projected goals for the tax season! We had fun going bowling and eating pizza at the company party. Also this month Patrick and I enjoyed a great date out to see Hunger Games! We enjoyed it and thought they did well with the movie over all!

We took Kinley's Binkie away this month too. We decided to cut the end of the binkie off and let kinley find it. Well when she found it her heart was broken. I mean I have never seen this girl so sad before. She sobbed and sobbed, "my binkie broken" I hugged her and tried to comfort her. We did it at night before bed and i was regretting it the second I cut the binkie, but what was done was done. So I held her for a little bit and then we went into her room and I told her I would cuddle her. As she was still crying I told her that in her prayers she can ask Heavenly Father to bless her with the courage to be brave without her binkie and to bless her with comfort and peace. Immediately after her prayer she looked at her binkie and handed it to me and said "Mom. I don't need it. I big girl now!" She woke up the next morning and said with a smile on her face "Mom! Jesus love me and help me with my binkie!" That was a 2 year olds testimony of the power of prayers being answered and the peace we can feel and be blessed with from the holy ghost. Well so I thought... I still think of it that way, but she also still thinks to this day that Jesus can fix her binkie. She sees her broken binkie and looks at me and says "Mom! Jesus fix it!" So I get to re-explain myself lots, but I find it a great opportunity to reteach the children of gospel principles. After all children learn best through repetition. 

Last but not least we had 2 Dr. appointments this month. One was a regular one and the other was with an ultrasound tech. So we really got to see the baby at 27 weeks along. Oh wait, No we didn't, she was a stubborn little stinker and was wedged down low in my pelvis so her face was TOTALLY smushed and hands were in her face and everything, so we didn't get a very good picture of her. The ones we did get were more side profile and they are comical, because she looks so mad that she is so smushed! But in the pregnancy area of life, things are all good! I'm healthy and so is baby! We sure are blessed!

March 2012

The Month of March was a beautiful month! We sure did enjoy having nice sunny weather earlier this year!  And of course this month is our Birthday month! We celebrated birthdays and it was made very clear that birthdays are only fun for little kids! No matter how spoiled and how well treated you are when you are an adult it just isn't the same! Patrick turned 29 and I turned 25 this year. Patrick was so amazing and bought me a Dyson Vacuum. Something I've wanted dearly since the first day we were married! I finally got it and I can say it's amazing the stuff that thing can pick up! I told Patrick I was disgusted with the filth we have been living in this past year after using the vacuum! Patrick got the book by Elder David A. Bednar  Increase in Learning as well as some foam pads to stand on while either exercising or for the garage while wood working. Although I've found great use for them in the kitchen...while they are patiently waiting to be used by  none other than the man himself! haha 

Porters birthday was the highlight-We felt really bad b/c we gave him all the toys in the world he could imagine on Christmas so we spoiled him with some much needed clothes on his birthday. He didn't seem to mind at first, but then present after present that was an article of clothing his face seemed to show a little disappointment.

 

 But we did go a little over the top and bought him a fairly used bike at Deseret Industries! He was pretty excited about it and we immediately got to work with riding the new bike! He was stoked, very nervous and yet tons of excitement and pride all balled into one little 4 year old!

 The kids love to go bowling so we took them bowling for Porters birthday! They had a blast! They teamed up and produced some pretty good scores for their 2 games. I am super proud of my bowling scores! I mean... I was bowling with practically 2 bowling balls. 1 stowed away in my tummy and the other more traditional one that is actually OK to throw down a lane! (tee-hee)

We had a "Cars" Lightning McQueen cake for Porter and he was super excited! He took Thomas the train cupcakes to Preschool that morning to share with his friends and then he got a Cars cake for later! He couldn't have asked for more!

 And The two kiddos enjoyed the padded mats for a picnic while watching Barney for lunch that day! It was wonderful!
And here is a questionnaire thing I asked Porter on his birthday while we were eating Cake and Ice Cream. It was adorable to hear his answers! I LOVED it!


Name: Porter J Munson Age: 4 Years Old
What is your favorite color? Blue
What is your favorite toy? Lightning McQueen
What is your favorite fruit? Banana
What is your favorite T.V. Show? Thomas and Friends
What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Sandwich PB & Honey
What is your favorite outfit? Shorts and yellow shirt with cars on it(anything soft)
What is your favorite game? Chutes and Ladders
What is your favorite snack? Fruit snacks and Graham crackers
What is your favorite animal? Dog
What is your favorite song? Thomas and Friends
What is your favorite book/story? Goldilocks and the 3 Bears
Who is your best friend? Korbin
What is your favorite cereal? Marshmellow mateys
What is your favorite thing to do outside? Ride my bike
What is your favorite drink? Chocolate Milk
What is your favorite holiday? Snow
What do you take to bed with you at night? Mickey (but really it’s his blanket)
What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Toaster Struddel
What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Red Noodles
What do you want to be when you grow up? Big boy that plays(basketball)

February...Already?!

Well our January month seemed to fly by yet it also has seemed to take FOR-EV-ER to pass along! I hate those times. I can't even remember much of what we did this past month. So bear with me while I try very hard to let you in on what might be new or anything special that has happened to us this past month.
I've already told you about Kinley's birthday! She is definitely a 2 yr old now!

They taught the kids to Stop! Drop! and Roll! And to crawl out of the building !

Sitting in the ambulance! He was a little nervous at this point!

Actually got him to sit in the Firetruck!! So Brave!

Porter had a really neat preschool field trip to the fire station! He was so excited to go! He kept telling me he was going to be brave and he was really excited to see the fireman come down the pole! Of course while we were there Kinley freaked out and was totally scared and when I went to take care of her so others could hear the tour...Porter got nervous and wanted to stay by me the whole time. Needless to say my kids were chickens and wimps and cried while I MADE them get close to the firetrucks and see the lights flashing and all that stuff that I thought was SOOO cool! I understood Kinley's point of view but Porter was old enough he should know everything was neat and awesome there! Oh well!

Kinley's coat isn't the one Grandma gave her, At this time it was just a little too big! Now she's out of this one and into her new one!

Grandma Christensen got the kids some snow outfits for this year! THANK YOU! We've gotten quite a bit of snow where we were out shoveling our drive way about 3 or 4 days in just one week. They have enjoyed having warm clothes to wear so they can be outside.
Patrick has been putting his woodworking skills to use and has built us a closet organizer shelves for the toy room! A much needed project that I'm happy is finally over with. All I have to do now is go and organize the toys and put them where I want them.

We've been adjusting to the life of having Dad gone a little more for bishopric things. And things have changed a little at his work with schedules and such. I'm anticipating  the time when work really hits him and he has to start staying later and working saturdays. I know it is just around the corner for us.
I taught an Etiquette night for combined Young Mens/Young Womens one mutual night this month. I was nervous about it, because there is so much you can teach and you don't know what might be too simple for one kid and yet way over the top for others. So I kept it simple had fun with it and I think the kids really enjoyed it! They were laughing and asking questions! For once in my life when I was up infront of the youth teaching I actually felt like I was the only leader in there and all that mattered were those kids. They felt like they were anxious to learn and have fun with me! So I felt good about it! And I have to say most of it was a success  because of 2 people. 1- my husband for brainstorming with me and helping me put it all together. and 2- my sister Jenae for letting me borrow her buzzer set! The kids loved being able to play the game and hit the buzzer.
I've also had 2 Doctors appointments. I'm 14 weeks along with this pregnancy and finally getting my energy back. The doctor asked if I wanted to try and find out what the gender was last week and he took a stab at it, but he wasn't sure enough to give me a good solid answer.  The kids are really getting into it and understanding more and more each day that there is a baby in moms tummy. Kinley is getting good at practicing being a big sister with her dolls.  She has a doll that makes sounds and it cried yesterday and she got the most sad worried look on her face and said.."Dad! She's crying! AWWW!" She gave the baby a hug and kiss and tried to take good care of it. She is for sure going to be involved and a great little helper to mom!