Love

The hubby gave me a diamond band for Valentine's day...he said it was a gift for 5 years of being a great wife and mom....if he thinks so then I'm going with it! I love him so much!

So long to our vacaion...or lack there of...

We made it home....almost 8 hours later! What is with people and driving....some just don't get it! I swear last nights drive made me BONKERS! Slow traffic in Santa Barbara and a screaming, hungry baby just don't mix. Why did we do a road trip...not sure! And dropping you husband off at the airport so he could fly home and work the next morning- the day before you drive home with 2 children is so dumb! What was I thinking?! It may seem like I am so ungreatful for a time away from home-but I'm not...it was just a little tough! Maddy decided that this past weekend was going to be the weekend that she would totally lose all control and be totally difficult. I can almost promise that we scared Mandy and Rob away from having kids for the rest of their lives! Poor Rob-So patient and quiet as he dealt with our 2 screaming kids in the car, out of the car and everywhere inbetween! Not sure what their probelm was-maybe they were out of their element, sleep schedule...not sure but it wasn't normal. I can, however, say that we managed to have fun, too! We stayed with Rob's family....can I just say that they were so kind and generous to have opened their home and lives to Mark, I and our 2 crazy children! Rob's mom cooked such great food and bought Maddy toys for each day that we had an excursion planned so she would not get bored on the drive to our destination. Maddy received a baby doll and named it "taco"! Can you believe it....what a name for a pretty in pink doll! Taco is very special to Maddy! On Saturday we went to San Francisco with all of us and Rob's dad and sister. His sister-Rhianna is way cool! I remember her from when she came down here for Rob's b-day a few months back...she was sort of on the quiet side and I didn't get to know her. But, this time was different. She is way cool! She helped me with maddy and bella as far as keeping them entertained. She's gonna make a great mom some day! She already feels like family...and his dad-Robert was so sweet too! He's like Mark in a sense as he LOVES to talk and have a good time! He took us through San Fran and kept us laughing the whole time. When we came home Mandy Rob and Rhianna took us to "Sanata Row". Boy does Mandy know me all to well! She's all "Court-you'll LOVE this place-It's full of great shopping!" She was sooo right! But, I didn't go too crazy-how can you with a hubby and 2 kids shopping with you!? Anyway...the next day was Monterey and Carmel....it was sort of a long drive (about an hour south) but we made it there and picked up Rob's G-Ma to join all of us for lunch at this tiny little place in the heart of Carmel. It was like we were eating in a little house out in the country in Italy. It was really good! After that we went to The Aquarium....it was soo fun! Maddy loved all the "Finding Nemo Fishies". From there we went back to Rob's G-Ma's house and she had homemade cake and coffee waiting there. Now I see where Rob's mom gets her hospitality and good cooking! Last stop was Mark...getting dropped off in San Jose at the airport. That was hard...I felt like I was dropping him off and that I wouldn't see him for months...although it would be less than 24 hours before we met up again! ;) The trip was great and I am so thankful for family-even those who aren't blood realted!

Thank God I can....

So I met up with my girls last night (ie: my friends) as we do every week to hang and talk about what we have been going through in the past week-good or bad! We were talking about people in other countries and how abused they are in so many ways and how they don't have the freedom that we have here in the states. One of my girlfriends was talking about how she just wants to be happy and content in life exactly where she is...even though there is so much we go thru on a daily basis and there is so much we just don't complete...she was saying how she wanted to find peace in knowing that it's ok to be busy and not finish the "long lists" of "to do's". Then another friend said...I have been looking at life so different the past 6 or so months. She was saying "I always would complain about how much laundry I have to do or how I have to clean up chicken poop" (YES..she has chickens in her backyard!) and she was saying how instead of looking at it that way she now says: "THANK GOD I have so many clothes that I CAN do laundry" or "THANK GOD I have the freedom and security to walk out in my backyard and clean up the chicken crap-thank God I can even enjoy having chickens to begin with". And I thought...WOW she is SOOOO right! When I get completely crazy about having to clean the house (and trust me it get's ugly at times-ask Mark!) I now look at it as "THANK GOD I have a house to clean in the first place" or having to pick up all the "STUFF" around the house..."THANK GOD that I have "STUFF" to pick up in the first place. I mean we are SO blessed and yet I always have something to complain about...like working full time-UGHHH i just want to snuggle in bed with my babies and hubby all day long- but "THANK GOD I can even go to work...and THANK GOD they hired me when I was 5 months pregnant...I mean...who does that! But- they did and I am so greatful! As I complain...I really want GOD to quickly change my heart and say "THANK GOD I CAN"......I mean...we have so much freedom it's rediculous people! That's all......

San Francisco baby!

We are leaving for San Francisco on Friday! Yeah!! I am so excited...it's been way too long since I've left on a trip......WAY too long! We are going with sis Mandy and her Bofriend Rob (Bob according to Maddy) Actually we are going to San Francisco, Monterey and San Jose...not in that order. Rob's parents live in San Jose so we are staying with them. Maddy is so excited to see Ellen and Rudy (she acts like they are her g-parents) they are Rob's mom and step dad. Ellen is so sweet. She came down for my baby shower for Bella. It was the first time I had ever met her...though I felt like I had known her and Rudy for years! Ellen bought Bella a whole slew of stuff....even Maddy! She is sooo sweet! And Rudy was there after my shower helping the guys set up all the stuff I got. Haven't met that sweet of people in a long time! So Mark, Maddy, Bella and I and the sis and BF are leaving Friday afternoon! Just love sis' BF Rob. He is so right for her in so many ways. And he's great with my girls so it works! We ALL hope he sticks around for good!

Talk talk talk...

So because I started this blog I feel like I have to get everything I have been thinking and feeling onto this thing so I can get it off my chest. It's like an open journel...into the life of Courtney.

I took more pitures of the girls! I LOVE taking pictuires of them...every picture has so much meaning to it. They are so photogenic! I got some good ones of them as sisters laying 2gether...so cute!!

Someone told me the other day what a sweet spirit Maddy has. She was watching her in the toddler room at church Sunday morning and she said that when she watches Maddy she just feels and sees such a sweet spirit about her. It made me feel so good as a mother to hear that my child comes off that way toward others. I mean...she definately has her daddy's personality (and looks) to a tee! She is the most outgoing child I have ever met, yet she is so sweet and fun at the same time. Gosh how I LOVE her!!! And I already see the same thing developing in Bella! God is sooo good!

Searching for God

So Mark and I are really trying to search for God on a new level. I mean I know that sounds weird...like...well it's not hard to find him..you two! But, I mean really fall in love with He who created us. Mark was raised to know who God was...I wasn't. I'm not saying it's a bad thing because I had a really great up bringing, but as I raise my girls I want them to know God on such an intimate level. And I want the same thing for myself...right now. So...I was searching on myspace (of course) for Shawn McDonald's Music page (he's a Christian Artisit) because I LOVE his music and I stumbled across his Wife-Kate's page (because I saw an adorable picture of a baby as her default.) As I scrolled down her page I saw something called "Engage the Journey 2008". I clicked onto it and read what it was all about. Basically it's reading through the bible chronologically for one whole year. Whoa! I've never done that and to be quite honest it has always totally intimitated me to do such a thing. But I loved her style and I loved how there was conversation about what we as a community have read. So I told my self that I was going to do this..despite any anxiety about it. And I am going to be an example to my girls through the reading I do of my Saviors word. Wish me luck!

In the beginning....well sort of...

So...as it seems....I have no pictures of Maddy from birth to about 18 months on my computer (go figure) So I will start things off as it is at this moment in our lives....Maddy-2 1/2 years old and Bella almost 4 months old (on the 21st).

I started work full time again on Jan. 28th. Why? do you ask? Because some people don't have the luxury of staying home and raising 2 kids in southern California. (Those some people...me being one of them) But, that's ok....mom raised 4 "AMAZING" kids while working full time- She's my hero!! I never thought it really bothered me...working and having kids...and it really doesn't...except when I hear people take pitty on how hard I have it...working full time and not being able to be home with my babies. Yeah sure I miss them (oh so bad every second of the day) but I figure I'm giving them a good life where they don't have to worry about much...all they have to do is be kids---totally innocent and carefree! Now...I don't want to go on and on with this continuos sob/venting story about Courtney Munger, but I want everyone to know that...I'm ok where I'm at....thanks for caring.

So....Bella has had this oh so awful cold for about 7 days now....I mean...it's bad...she sounds like a barking seal when she coughs and I can't do anything about it but hold her. It's hard to see your baby go through such a tough stage, but I figure she is building up her immune system. She was at the doctors on Friday and weighed in at 12.5 pounds!! Can you believe it!? She such a chunker...but so adorable. It's so sweet because when Mark and I call her name she looks around the room for us like she's trying to find us somewhere in the sky and you start to feel a tiny bit bad that you aren't in her face showing her you are there. She is so dependent on us....I feel so honored. She's starting to talk -baby-of course! She holds a 15 second conversation quite nicely! It's so fun having a little one around again!