Can you believe how fast time has gone? Elli will be three in a week (Nov. 15th) and all I can think is "thank goodness for digital cameras!" I look back on her baby pictures and hardly recognize her. I have been looking on friend's blogs too and can't believe how much their kids have grown up. Time just goes by so fast!
Well, Elli has decided that she wants a Mickey Mouse party. Not Minnie, mind you, Mickey! She has invited a few little girls from church and since there is not a chuck-e-cheese around here, I've decided to take them all to the local Carl's Jr - it has an enormous indoor playland! Which means I don't have to cook or clean. We bought some decorations and will fill some balloons before hand. But this is going to be the easiest 3-year old birthday party ever. And really, who am I trying to impress? Some parents just go crazy over this sort of thing. Besides, Elli couldn't be happier, that's what is important. We will take lots of pictures and post them later.
Oh, and since her favorite color is dark blue (yes, she's that specific!), she has asked for blue plates, cups and silverware. As well as blue cupcakes with dark blue frosting. We've basically figured out if there are ever two choices of what she could want - she will always prefer the blue thing! It cracks me up.
I've been keeping track of her "I wants" for a few months now and have to say, she has a very cute wish list: a jump rope, a store that sells rainbows, a real rocket (like on Little Einsteins), anything to do with the movie Cars, and dress-up stuff. Now, the dress-up stuff is a little different than you might guess. She really couldn't care less about the princess scene (not that it's bad, it's just not what interests her right now). She wants a doctor kit, a police officer outfit - this is VERY big in her little world right now, a firefighter costume, and "mommy stuff" like food, dishes, baby accessories, etc. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure most of this is based on my biased opinion, but I'm proud of her for choosing to make believe positive, productive role models. As for the store that sells rainbows - it's going to take some work to wrap that one! She also says she wants just about any commercial item that has Dora or Diego on it - they are her heros.
I've been trying to keep track of the things that she does lately when she wants to copy Ruston. She will say, "I'm going to change my clothes in the dining room - just like daddy" or I'm not going to hold the railing when I go downstairs - just like daddy" (that was quickly corrected by both parties). Then there's my personal favorite, "I'm going to pee outside - just like daddy". Okay, so we live on 11 acres with no neighbors anywhere close, but I had to put my foot down on that one! She also informed me one day that she was going to eat breakfast standing up in the kitchen "just like grandma does". Here I was afraid to send her to nursery or preschool in case she picks up any bad habits/manners - I guess she's not any safer at home. Oh well, I try!
Life goes on! Ruston's work is still a little slow right now, but due to recent changes in the office, we think things should start picking up pretty soon. He has started an incentive program to get everyone to work harder and I think it's going to work great.
Addison is still tiny and cute. She is starting to undertand us now and that makes talking to her fun. She is a wonderful baby.
Have a great week! I'll post again after Elli's party.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Looking To The Future
Okay, okay - enough reminiscing about the past! There is a whole lot of fun things going on in our near and distant future that I can't wait to talk about. This is my most favorite time of year because now we begin to feel the weather change, the leaves change color, the bugs start to die out, the garden harvest is coming to a close, and there is the ever present thought in the back of my mind that the holidays are coming!! I love the fall! It's a tangible turning of a page where life can begin again in new and exciting ways.
But here I am getting all sappy again...sorry! The first thing coming up is Halloween. Elli decided that she wants to be a butterfly this year. We looked around and found a fairy costume. We both decided that it's close enough. I'm sure we'll figure out someway to make her "buggy". But one of the best things is that I am going to visit my parents again for Halloween. Ruston will be hunting that week and so I'm taking the girls and heading to Estacada! I plan to make a point of visiting several friends and lots of family while we're there. We will leave 10/29 and come back 11/2. If you will be in the area, shoot me an email and we'll get together. Jandi, I will be calling you this time - I promise!
Next comes Thanksgiving. It's the Lougheed's year to get together, but since Aaron and Eric are so far away (and not likely to come West for one weekend) we've invited my parents to visit us in Vale. As long as the weather is nice enough to make it through the gorge, they'll be here! That makes Ruston's parents happy too - since, yes, we are still living at their place. We are still amazed at the fact that we continue to like each other after all this time. No fights at all. But whenever our house sells in Ohio, we may start looking for somewhere to live in Nyssa (closer to Ruston's practice). That could be awhile though in this economy. I'm not holding my breath. We're happy here.
Christmas is still up in the air, as most Munk family holidays go. My mom and I are crazy sometimes - we will start planning vacations and locking in dates, locations, etc. months or even a year in advance. I love it! The other side of the family is a little less tenacious. And as a result I have no idea what's going on. I think we are trying to go to Utah. But the only thing that is for sure is that we won't gather together until Dec. 26th. That way no one has to travel with presents in tow. So our little Munk Family Christmas will be here in Vale (or Nyssa) with Ruston's parents. Which I love that our kids get so much uninterrupted time with their grandparents. And this will be a very special holiday being close to them.
Another exciting part of our future is (no not a baby - Addison is only 8 months old - give me a break!) the ADA convention in Honolulu, October 2009. Yes, I understand that it is a whole year away! Didn't you read through the last paragraph? I'm obsessive about my vacations! Anyway, I've never been to Hawaii. And Ruston has been promising me a trip there ever since he convinced me to give up a full-ride scholarship to BYU-H and marry him. (I'll never let him live it down!) The dental convention is Oct. 1-4 (Thursday through Sunday). We will probably arrive earlier that week and have an early start to our vacation. So my question is...who else is planning to attend? Any friends from dental school going? If so, are you bringing your kids? (We hoped to leave E&A at home unless everyone else was taking kids) We might use our timeshare, unless people had plans to stay in a hotel so the whole Case group could be close together. Talk it over with your spouse and email us. We miss our old friends and can hardly wait a year to see everyone again.
So that's our future! Otherwise, life is going great. Ruston is doing fantastic in his business. I never could've imagined being this successful so soon after school. Business is a little slow right now with the beginning of school, but we anticipate things speeding back up closer to the end of the year. In the mean time, he's working 4 days a week at his office and has even managed to enjoy a few golf games before the weather got wet and cold. I tell you - education is the way to go. All that school and all those loans are worth it to have him home with the family so often. To our friends in school, keep it up! It will all be worth it. And to those thinking about starting or going back to school - do it! You will never have as much money AND time with your family as you could by finishing a degree. No matter what silly investment you think might make you rich over night. Hard work in school is the answer!
Okay, off the soap box Alesha! Well, I hope to hear from lots of you soon about Hawaii and maybe see some family and friends in the coming months. Enjoy this beautiful fall weather. We'll have snow before you know it!
Love, Alesha
But here I am getting all sappy again...sorry! The first thing coming up is Halloween. Elli decided that she wants to be a butterfly this year. We looked around and found a fairy costume. We both decided that it's close enough. I'm sure we'll figure out someway to make her "buggy". But one of the best things is that I am going to visit my parents again for Halloween. Ruston will be hunting that week and so I'm taking the girls and heading to Estacada! I plan to make a point of visiting several friends and lots of family while we're there. We will leave 10/29 and come back 11/2. If you will be in the area, shoot me an email and we'll get together. Jandi, I will be calling you this time - I promise!
Next comes Thanksgiving. It's the Lougheed's year to get together, but since Aaron and Eric are so far away (and not likely to come West for one weekend) we've invited my parents to visit us in Vale. As long as the weather is nice enough to make it through the gorge, they'll be here! That makes Ruston's parents happy too - since, yes, we are still living at their place. We are still amazed at the fact that we continue to like each other after all this time. No fights at all. But whenever our house sells in Ohio, we may start looking for somewhere to live in Nyssa (closer to Ruston's practice). That could be awhile though in this economy. I'm not holding my breath. We're happy here.
Christmas is still up in the air, as most Munk family holidays go. My mom and I are crazy sometimes - we will start planning vacations and locking in dates, locations, etc. months or even a year in advance. I love it! The other side of the family is a little less tenacious. And as a result I have no idea what's going on. I think we are trying to go to Utah. But the only thing that is for sure is that we won't gather together until Dec. 26th. That way no one has to travel with presents in tow. So our little Munk Family Christmas will be here in Vale (or Nyssa) with Ruston's parents. Which I love that our kids get so much uninterrupted time with their grandparents. And this will be a very special holiday being close to them.
Another exciting part of our future is (no not a baby - Addison is only 8 months old - give me a break!) the ADA convention in Honolulu, October 2009. Yes, I understand that it is a whole year away! Didn't you read through the last paragraph? I'm obsessive about my vacations! Anyway, I've never been to Hawaii. And Ruston has been promising me a trip there ever since he convinced me to give up a full-ride scholarship to BYU-H and marry him. (I'll never let him live it down!) The dental convention is Oct. 1-4 (Thursday through Sunday). We will probably arrive earlier that week and have an early start to our vacation. So my question is...who else is planning to attend? Any friends from dental school going? If so, are you bringing your kids? (We hoped to leave E&A at home unless everyone else was taking kids) We might use our timeshare, unless people had plans to stay in a hotel so the whole Case group could be close together. Talk it over with your spouse and email us. We miss our old friends and can hardly wait a year to see everyone again.
So that's our future! Otherwise, life is going great. Ruston is doing fantastic in his business. I never could've imagined being this successful so soon after school. Business is a little slow right now with the beginning of school, but we anticipate things speeding back up closer to the end of the year. In the mean time, he's working 4 days a week at his office and has even managed to enjoy a few golf games before the weather got wet and cold. I tell you - education is the way to go. All that school and all those loans are worth it to have him home with the family so often. To our friends in school, keep it up! It will all be worth it. And to those thinking about starting or going back to school - do it! You will never have as much money AND time with your family as you could by finishing a degree. No matter what silly investment you think might make you rich over night. Hard work in school is the answer!
Okay, off the soap box Alesha! Well, I hope to hear from lots of you soon about Hawaii and maybe see some family and friends in the coming months. Enjoy this beautiful fall weather. We'll have snow before you know it!
Love, Alesha
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
My How Things Change
It's funny how things can change when you aren't paying attention. I have come back to visit my parents in Estacada, OR for the weekend and have found a lot of things are different than I remember ten years ago. I don't know how many of you have the opportunity to visit your hometowns. I know a lot of my friends and family don't get along with their family well enough to spend more than an afternoon with them. I feel sorry for them. In that matter, I am very blessed to have wonderful parents who I could spend forever with and never get bored/frustrated/annoyed. Take your pick!
It's fun to come back to church and see everyone. My young women's leaders seem shorter than I remember, but I know that they still love me and are so happy to see me and my kids. The deacons passing the sacrament are the babies that I remember being in Sunbeams all those years ago. There are lots of new families too. It's all very strange, but familiar at the same time.
I visited the junior high today to see my mom at work. That brought back a few memories! Things have changed a lot. Everything has been updated and looks wonderful. I had memory flashbacks of walking the halls, going to class, remembering people I knew - some good, some not so good. But I decided after this many years, nothing negative that happened back then really matters anymore.
I've actually ran into a few people I knew from school this weekend. Most have at least one kid. Like me, everyone has put on a few extra pounds. Some are just visiting their family, some have moved back to the area. But it's fun to see how we all ended up. I left Estacada three days after graduation without saying goodbye to the few friends I had. Sometimes I regret that, but mostly I wanted to get out and get as far away from this little town as possible. It's interesting now, coming back, that I can finally see the good that I left behind. So many wonderful people, terrific schools, and of course my family. I would recommend to each of you to go back to your old stomping grounds and have a good long look around. Maybe you will find, like I have, that a few of the less happy memories have faded and while you were waiting for the town to grow up - you grew up instead! Who knows, maybe next trip I'll get over to the high school?
A special thanks to my parents for giving me this opportunity to reflect. It's been great staying with you. I love you both very much! And thanks to Ruston for surviving a few days home alone while I get to visit my mom and dad. You are wonderful!
Love, Alesha
New pictures coming soon. And probably a new post, since this one is more sentimental than usual. Keep checking back!
It's fun to come back to church and see everyone. My young women's leaders seem shorter than I remember, but I know that they still love me and are so happy to see me and my kids. The deacons passing the sacrament are the babies that I remember being in Sunbeams all those years ago. There are lots of new families too. It's all very strange, but familiar at the same time.
I visited the junior high today to see my mom at work. That brought back a few memories! Things have changed a lot. Everything has been updated and looks wonderful. I had memory flashbacks of walking the halls, going to class, remembering people I knew - some good, some not so good. But I decided after this many years, nothing negative that happened back then really matters anymore.
I've actually ran into a few people I knew from school this weekend. Most have at least one kid. Like me, everyone has put on a few extra pounds. Some are just visiting their family, some have moved back to the area. But it's fun to see how we all ended up. I left Estacada three days after graduation without saying goodbye to the few friends I had. Sometimes I regret that, but mostly I wanted to get out and get as far away from this little town as possible. It's interesting now, coming back, that I can finally see the good that I left behind. So many wonderful people, terrific schools, and of course my family. I would recommend to each of you to go back to your old stomping grounds and have a good long look around. Maybe you will find, like I have, that a few of the less happy memories have faded and while you were waiting for the town to grow up - you grew up instead! Who knows, maybe next trip I'll get over to the high school?
A special thanks to my parents for giving me this opportunity to reflect. It's been great staying with you. I love you both very much! And thanks to Ruston for surviving a few days home alone while I get to visit my mom and dad. You are wonderful!
Love, Alesha
New pictures coming soon. And probably a new post, since this one is more sentimental than usual. Keep checking back!
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