Fathers Day!

For Father's Day this year, Ellie wanted to get her Daddy a BBQ grill - so we picked him up a little red charcoal grill. Kaitlyn "got him" a set of BBQ tools for it, and Mom and Dad gave Shayne a pair of the plaid summer shorts he loves so much. However, I think I gave him the BEST GIFT OF ALL! I took the baby during all shifts of the night AND let him sleep in all morning that day!!! :)

Finally, once he was awake around 11:00 a.m, we started to get ready to go to visit Grandpa Underwood and Shayne's Dad, Martin. Ellie was proud to give Popo a pair of HD Glasses! Grandpa Underwood has been having some hard times lately after his car accident when he was hit by a drunk driver. He broke 6 ribs, and his sternum, and has been in a lot of pain ever since - even though this was just over a month ago that it happened. Ellie has been very sensitive to Grandpa and spent much of her time there by him and escorting him when he needed to walk. I heard her asking Grandpa "do your ouchies still hurt?" It warmed my heart to see her having those moments.

Later on, we met with my family at our house for a Fathers Day BBQ and to try out Shayne's new grill. We had steak, shrimp, salads, bread, pork and beans, asparagus, California rolls, soda, chips, and cake. Grandpa got to open his presents from Evan and Monyka, and our family. I was pleased to FINALLY get him the Topsy Turvy upside down tomato planter he has been wanting for a couple of years.

It was great to spend time with so much family. Shayne is a wonderful father. He has always been helpful to me with raising our children. He is kind and compassionate to them - and really fun for them to play with. Ellie told her preschool class that one thing she loves about her dad is "when he reads to me." I am happy to have him as the father of my girls - they love him dearly. We are also grateful to our fathers in our lives, grandfathers, and Father in Heaven who love and take care of us.

Happy Fathers Day! We hope it was a good one!
Love, The Munns

Growing Pains

It seems like only yesterday that I watched Ellie go to her first day of preschool in 2008. I sent her in a brand new teal and maroon striped shirt and teal sweat pants... She wore her new Ariel shoes. Now here she was, two years later in her preschool graduation "cap and gown" and ready for Kindergarten..... ALMOST. There was one more dreaded thing that had to happen.... KINDERGARTEN SHOTS!!!

First you have to know how HORRIBLY this process has gone in the past... from about 9 months old, Ellie developed an almost sixth sense for knowing when it was shot time. From the moment the doctor left, and the nurse came in again it was TOTAL DRAMA!!! Flailing around, kicking, screaming, barely-breathing nightmare! It would literally send her to an ALL OUT panic attack. Even when her doctor visits didn't have shots involved, Ellie would have major anxiety over the very idea of going into the doctors office for ANY reason. (TRUE: Ellie has had a doctor visit in the CAR before.)

I tried a different approach this time. The dialog went something like this;

"Hey, uh, Ellie?"

"Yeah Mom? What?"

"Guess what? Next week is Kindergarten Day!"

"What's Kindergarten Day?"

"It's a day we need to go to the doctor to make sure that you are healthy for Kindergarten!"

"I DON'T want a shot!" (How did she know???)

"Well, Ellie you are going to need some shots, and they are going to hurt for a second, but only a second - and then after if you are a good girl we will go to the Farm (Thanksgiving Point) and Cabelas!!!"

"Ok Mom. I might just cry a little."

"It's ok to cry, but you won't need shots for a long time after that and I know that you are brave and can do this because you want to go to Kindergarten like the other kids huh?"

"Yeah."

And that was that. She walked into the doctors office. Let the nurses check her height, weight, blood pressure, eyes, and even poke her finger and collect a urine sample. When they came back in saying, "one more thing" Ellie did cry and need to hold her Daddy for the FIVE shots in both thighs but when all was said and done she was fine. Proud to show off her battle wounds (band-aids), a bag full of goodies, and the relief of knowing it was all over and we could go to the Farm and Cabela's. The exam was completely normal, besides finding out Ellie is near-sided and might need glasses before starting school.

A HUGE sigh of relief came over me too. It is so great to know that Ellie's vaccinations are all completed until 7th Grade. It also seemed like a bummer to remember that I have five more years ahead of me with Kaitlyn who is just beginning her vaccination process next month :-/. Maybe with some warning, Kaitlyn will handle the shots as well as Ellie did this last visit. It is true what they say, "LIVE AND LEARN."