From Palm Trees To Tree Stands: 2009

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Reflecting on a decade.

Midnight tonight marks the start of a new decade on the calendars. I was just thinking back to where I was 10 years ago. Or rather who I was, and what I was up to at that point. And then following the imaginary path in my head that has brought me to this moment.

Aaron and I were living in Elgin Illinois and we had just brought home our oldest daughter, Madie from the hospital. We spent a quiet New Years at home with Aaron's parents. Aaron and I had just been married over a year at that point and Jake was roughly 18 months old. We were so young, and still trying to figure out who we were and what we wanted from this life we had joined together. While so many of our friends were on the traditional path, they graduated college, secured a career, then got married, and then had children. We were doing things out of sequence, but we were no less happy back then. Shortly after the new year Aaron was offered a job with Robert Mondavi and that set our feet on a firm foundation. We moved to our own home in Sycamore and deepened our roots at Cornerstone UMC. By the middle of 2001 we became a family of 5 when we added Noah to our family. Our bank account may not have but our faith deepened and grew by leaps and bounds as did our marriage and our outlook on our future.

By 2004 we found that we were ready to purchase our first home and wanted to be near family. We decided to weigh our options and ended up moving here to Bethel in Ohio to be closer to Aaron's family. The thrill of our own home was so exciting! We had visions for every room, some of which we are still working on, but that is the joy of home ownership. Taking your time and yes, even redoing what you finished. But my beautiful 103 year old brick casa is more than a house, it is our home. Every appliance that I have replaced (all of them) is ours. All the flooring we replaced, (all of it) is ours. Every cabinet that we installed (with our hands) is ours. Every flower that Aaron has planted for my enjoyment (tons!) is ours.
We soon had the fear of neither of us working while discoverying that we were going to be adding another member to our family, followed by the blessing of a what we called a temporary job becoming our bread and butter for nearly 5 years now. Annika joined us in 2005 rounding our family out at an even 6 members. We officially became a tribe at that point. Within a year I found myself enrolled in college for some degree. I changed my major a few times but I am "this" close to being done. Aaron soon followed and majored in theology.
We found ourselves bouncing from church to church. Something that I swore we were not going to do when we moved. But I soon learned that just like a car, pet, favorite sweater, you can never have a church that is "just" like the one you moved from. We spent some time at Aaron's dads church. We helped with the youth and children's programs. This brought Kaila into our lives and into our home. Life with a teenager is an interesting one. It gave us good practice with our own quickly approaching tween status. Our house is always full, always warm, and always a mess. But it is always full of love.

Here I am, on the eve of a new decade. I have amazing friends to celebrate with, and tons of reasons to call the close of this one a success. I am hopeful in the promise that this next decade is going to be an even greater blessing to our family, to me, and to all those that I love. I am up for the challenge of making it even better!

May all have a blessed New Year and new decade!

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

What's Cookin?

So I am embarking on a new adventure and it's right in my own home!!

I am going to learn how to use my kitchen. And I am serious this time! I am excited about all that I am planning and realize that baby steps is the way to go. Want to see how it is all going to turn out? Follow me on my adventure here!

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

The Arrival of the Christmas Spirit!

The Christmas season is in full swing for the Mundy family. Thanksgiving was great! Annika felt it would be nice to pay homage to the turkey we ate by drawing a picture of him on a dresser drawer... She is some artist. It even looks like she traced her own hand, creative that one is!

There are some perks to living in little ol Bethel. Every year they host the "Down Home Christmas". They have gingerbread stations, kids fest, activities in the park, breakfast with Santa, and of course it all ends with a big parade through down town, and an old fashioned cantata at one of the churches. This year the girls make gingerbread houses while the boys hunted.

It takes concentration to get it just right!

Here I am with my Annika and Madie as they build their sugary masterpieces.

Annika, Madie and her BFF Darcy.

Here Michaela, Annika, Madie, Darcy and Christa show off their fabulous gingerbread houses!

It appears there is a ghost in Madie's yard.

Annika's house is so happy!

Annika with her first gingerbread house.

Right after this photo she started dismantling it sugary piece by piece.

The girls participated in the Christmas parade with their AHG troop.

Can you spot Madie, Darcy, and Michaela?

After the parade we joined the Vogel's and the Angel's on a family fun night.

The plan was dinner at a little pizza joint, and then checking out a farm that does a huge display every year. When we get together we call it "Mogangel" time. So I made some cookies to commemorate the occasion.

Here we are in the big bus as we headed out for our evening.

My lawyer prepared a statement:

Due to legal proceedings and the guidelines of the witness protection program this is the only image to be released of that night. The Mundy's had an evening that they will never forget. In fact, they will be laughing over that evening for some time.

Annika found a bag of bells at her grandparents and decided to have music wherever she goes!

I was so busy video taping Madie's performance that I have photo's of the cast afterwards. The lighting was horrible.

Here is Madie with Mrs. Hatch, the director. She was due with Baby Eli 3 days later.

Every great stage actress should get flowers after an amazing performance.

Here is Madie with her bouquet.

The Christmas fun hasn't ended there. We went to the annual Cooke Christmas Party!

Here is one of my goodies, Rice Crispy Treat ornaments!

And I had to make Cooke Christmas Cookies too!

Jake has to text now wherever he goes.

And it starts...

Aaron scoping out the table while he sets out his deer sausage.

Jake and his cousin David. It was his 16th birthday as well.

It goes by fast!

Here is my favorite little man! Azariah and I are so rad in plaid!

He was excited about his gift, I swear.

Annika has this spirit of Christmas thing down! She wanted to go shopping one day, and I figured she would ask for a bunch of toys for herself. She surprised me when she asked if she could get gifts for her favorite cousins Montana and Dakota. Perfect time to implement a lesson. I gave her a certain amount for each recipient, and we went shopping. We talked about budget, and what it means to give. She was so excited as we drove to Springfield, she couldn't wait to give her cousins the gifts she got them.

It was such a joy to watch her light up when she gave out her gifts.

Here she is with Montana.

Here she is with Dakota.

No Cooke Christmas is complete without Grandpa!

Here is Jake with his "Ol Pa".

Noah had to give the Ol Pa some love too!

The boys sure to do love their Great Grandpa.

So.

Santa shows up every year at the Cooke Christmas. We all file into the bleachers in the gym and watch him call the children to give them a gift. The kids love this part of the day.

With about 40 or so kids you can imagine that if your name doesn't called by the 35th or so, you would start to worry. Noah was on Aaron's shoulders and he stated that he hoped that he wasn't on the naughty list. I told him that I doubted it.

About that time, Santa called for Noah Mundy. And here is how it went down:

Aaron gets down to let Noah climb off of his shoulders, and Noah with his "gun hands" starts to "maneuver" towards Santa. Noah even somersaulted on his way over...

Aaron asked me, "What is your son doing?"

I said, "Securing the perimeter to acquire the target?"