I get this!

I heard a song today on KLOVE. It is Sara Groves' song called "Toy Packaging". I understand and lived this on Saturday at the girls' Mexican Fiesta!

"And he waved goodbye, saying don't you cry..."

..."I'll be back again someday". ~Frosty the Snowman

I woke up with Manolito at 5:45, and just couldn't go back to sleep. So, I decided have some quiet time, then downstairs to catch up on some of my favorite blogs. Then about 7:40, I was startled by a "MOM!...MOM!" Looking to the top of the stairs I find the sleepy Molly Kat. Dressed in her two pairs of pajamas and hand me down Princess slippers that she insisted on wearing to bed last night. Tears were involved, but I won't go there. Back to story. Molly then said with desperation in her voice, "Our snowman melted, he's gone! Okay, Mommy to the rescue! I had to get my camera! (Yes, I did console her, but what a cute moment to capture). So, she was only upset for a brief moment, then it was on to her play kitchen to pretend to be a server (Miss Connie) at her favortie breakfast nook, "Edge of Town" in El Dorado.
Better finish my cup of coffee from "Miss Connie"

"Snow" much fun

Make a Smilebox slideshow

M*cinex by day, and Al*a Se*tzer by night... Plop-Plop, Fizz-Fizz. That has been my prescription. Although I have been a bit under the weather since Sunday, I couldn't resist helping Dad get the girls out in the powder! Our Nana has also been out of comission for over a week now. Looks like things are on the up swing for her. Praying for health for the weekend, for Christmas, and for all of you!

Labor of Love

I wish I had something profound and inspiring to say about this video, but it pretty much just left me speechless, and even more in love with Jesus...
Thank you Kara for finding this, and the lyrics.

It was not a silent night
There was blood on the ground
You could hear a woman cry
In the alleyway that night
On the streets of David's town

And the stable was not clean
And the cobblestones were cold
And little Mary full of grace
With the tears upon her face
Had no mother's hand to hold

It was a labor of pain
It was a cold sky above
But for the girl on the ground in the dark
With every beat of her beautiful heart
It was a labor of love

Noble Joseph by her side
Callused hands and weary eyes
There were no midwives to be found
In the streets of David's town
In the middle of the night

So he held her and he prayed
Shafts of moonlight on his face
But the baby in her womb
He was the maker of the moon
He was the Author of the faith
That could make the mountains move

It was a labor of pain
It was a cold sky above
But for the girl on the ground in the dark
With every beat of her beautiful heart
It was a labor of love
For little Mary full of grace
With the tears upon her face
It was a labor of love

Munoz Elves are ready for Christmas

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Thank you Aunt "Lucy"

We mean Aunt Mary Lee! Thank you so much for my stocking cap... Mommy is having trouble catching up on all the "thank-you" notes she has to write, so here is yours!
It is SOOO soft, and I don't even try to take it off. My ears and fuzzy head thank you too!

Love,
Lizzie Lou

Little Mommy Molly

Molly Kathryn tells me the other night while feeding her sister Macy...
"This is what I will do when I am a Mommy!" She will be a great one, I know it!

Happy Birthday Big Brother!

&D,

I am blogging this tonight since I am not sure what my schedule will allow tomorrow! I love you even though you traumatized me with Michael Jackson's "Thriller", always blamed me for fingerprints on your sunglasses, and would sing "leaving on a jet plane" and tell me you were never coming "back again". I guess you are also the guy who would read me Poe's "The Raven", bought me my one and only pair of Doc Martens, taught me to appreciate some really good music, took me to a Jimmy Buffett concert, and created math programs for me on your computer, and so many other things!

Happy Birthday Alan Andrew! I am so proud to be your lil' sis!

Love and Birthday Blessings to my Oakley wearin', Dead Head, Parrot Head, VW Drivin', Marathon Runnin', Tireswingn', Wood workin' Big Brother...

Here is Molly doing some advertsing for Andy's web tools...

Thank you Kara!

Kara, my Forever 31 cell group diva, and new blogger buddy! Now to tell you what you have won for helping me solve my comment problem!

How about some Peppermint Mocha????? Once I find some and buy TWENTY (I love peppermint) I will but an extra for you! Thanks friend... Will be praying that all the catering events at church are a success.

Comments?

Does anyone know why my comments did not appear with the last entry? Help!
Today has been pretty fun! Macy got another flu vaccination (I guess not really fun for her), and Molly went to her first Music and Me class. She has taken an interest in music, and has quite an ear. Today we were listening to her Christmas CD during breakfast, and she heard a slide whistle in the song "Frosty the Snowman", and asked what made that particular sound! *Reminder to me to show her what one looks like* I typically find her singing to her babies, or even making up her own songs. Macy enjoyed the class and even left Mom to venture out and meet new kids! She even went and sat on another mom's lap, what's that about!

Wanna laugh, read this!

So, today I discovered what a percolator is... please laugh with me and not at me. I wondered if I should even mention this, I am a little embarassed. What a fun gadget! We ate with the Muñoz side today, and my M-I-L made the most delicious cider (recipe to come) with this heavenly device!!! I then asked probably a silly question, and I didn't mean to make Kathi feel, for lack of a better word "old", I just had never heard of this beautiful device... I said, "Do they still make these?"
I was just thinking about how I could get my hands on one!

Do any of you have a percolator? It was the prettiest green color, and belonged to Kathi's mother, Martha Kathryn. Which makes it even more special. That really means alot to me, when possessions are passed on like that. I guess I just learned something new on my way to becoming a domestic diva. Wow! I can use one of these when sharping my hospitality skills! Ha!
I might add that dinner was delicious, and my corn pudding was a hit too!

We Gather Together to ask the Lord's Blessing

Happy Thanksgiving family and friends~

Wanting to just say how thankful I am for all of you! May the spirit of Thankfulness flood your hearts, and may the beginning of the holiday season excite you all to give your time, talents and treasures to those who need it...

Macy is watching her 1st Macy's Thanksgiving day parade, and Molly is enjoying the musical/dance numbers, as well as, the millions of toy commercials. I pray that someday she will understand what it means to give rather than receive.

Manolito and the girls will be helping Nana and Papi prepare for our dinner tomorrow, and I get to go the hospital and take care of all the Mommas and their "Turkey" Babies! Again, love to all of you..

Catching Up

Here is what we have been up to. I will soon post some pictures of the Tulsa Route 66Marathon. It was insane, I loved the atmosphere! My brother ran the Marathon (26.2 miles), and Manolito ran the 1/4 marathon (6.5 miles) I am so proud of them both! Hope to have those posted soon... And welcome Aunt Ellen, we hope you found us!

Happy Birthday Ronda (and to me too!)

Happy Birthday Ronda! I am so blessed to share this special day with you! You are such a great friend and mentor and I thank our Father in Heaven for you daily.
Also, thank you friends for all the phone calls and emails today, I feel very loved!
Wanted to also share that if you would like me to make any of you a pie, I am now set. Kathi and Manuel got me a pastry cutter, pastry mat, and marble rolling pin, and I love them. I make a pretty tasty apple dumpling too! I must also mention that my "deer" husband had all our home videos transferred to DVD, isn't that sweet? Like I always say... I am Blessed Beyond Belief!

Trick or Treat

Where did October go? Thought I better post some pictures from Halloween.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Cinderella Pumpkin

Here is our Princess Pumpkin we carved last night. I forgot how much fun it is to carve a pumpkin... There are so many neat templates on the Internet. Molly has a book called, "The Happy Pumpkin", and it is about how we are like pumpkins and how God removes all the "pulp", and "slop" out of us, so that His love and His light can shine through us! It's a great story. There are more pics of Molly scooping out the pumpkin, but Daddy took her shirt off as to not get messy... So, needless to say she was not very modest!

Having Fun, and Making more Memories

I am just loving FALL! I feel so creative, and have tried so many new things this year... Here are the halloweenies we made the other night(cocktail weenies in crescent rolls), and a spider cake I made for Michelle, my charge nurse at work. Also, I am so excited because I made a birthday shirt for our little friend, Hudson, who turned ONE yesterday. Since I have to work today, Manolito is taking the girls to a Fall Festival with the Cryers at their church... HOW ABSOLUTELY FUN! Wishing I could be there with them, but I guess daddies need to "date" their daughters, right? Then there is Manolito, his neck swells a little more everyday as the fall "rut" draws closer. He would live in a tree stand if I let him...
On a more reflective note, I did pause last night and thought about how much fun I am putting into this season and making memories with my family; but I am not putting as much effort into time with the Lord. So, today I am thanking God for his blessings, and especially his grace!

Fall Fun for the Family

Make a Smilebox postcard

Grandma's Homegoing, Apple Dumplins', and Boo-ing!

So much has been going on that has kept me from posting! Grandma Munoz (Papi's momma) went to be with the Lord last week, and we were able to attend her home going ceremony Monday in Parsons. It was a beautiful service, and the priest even preached the gospel in his homily (that is the Catholic word for "sermon"). I pray that ears were really listening to the good news! This was the first funeral that I have been to that I felt like rejoicing and celebrating... Manolito and I were visiting on our way home about how amazing Heaven will be, how earth is not our eternal home (thank goodness), and how we need to keep our sights heavenward! St. Patricks is a beautiful church, and Manolito even did the readings for the mass. He was a little nervous since we no longer attend the Catholic church, but it did come to him "Old Hat". The reception afterwards was filled with Mexican music (which we love to hear Papi sing to), and lots of food. Sopa, Frijoles, and Mole (pronounced "mo-lay"), and Molly was quick to find dessert! All in all it was good to be with family, and even better to be home...

In homemaking news, I am also so excited because Nana taught me how to make Apple Dumplings with homemade pie crusts... The real deal! Watch out Martha Stewart! I love being in the kitchen, especially during Autumn.

Last night to really get the fall season into full swing, we "Boo-ed" our neighbors, the Kleins. For those of you who don't know about "Boo-ing", you make a fun basket filled with treats and knock on the door and RUN! We were caught, intentionally, and visited with them for awhile. We need to make more, Manolito has some friends he would like to "Boo"!

More to add... This morning we went to story time at our new library! Molly was so excited to see Miss Cathy (one of the librarians), and asked if she could live at the library with Miss Cathy! It is a beautiful facility that we will be frequenting a lot. I think that is all of the current Munoz musings...

So in Closing,

"Boo" to you!

Soon to Come on Daddy Plus Three... Lucas Todd Beougher

That's my King!

Here is a clip our church played the other day... You may want to turn off or pause my playlist at the bottom of the blog so that you can hear this... I am not sure how to make it a hyperlink... You may need to type in the address.

http://www.ignitermedia.com/products/iv/singles/4/Thats-My-King

THAT'S MY KING!

Blessings,

Abby

Lone Stranger and Pumpkin Pics

For all of you who are scratching your heads about the pictures with the mask, buffalo, and stick, I encourage you to watch Veggie Tales, "Mo and the Big Exit". It is the story of Moses with a toddler twist. Here is my "Mo", her Zippy, and her Stick/Staff. High Ho Sliver away...(Really watch the movie, it's a great one). Also, their Mommy made the pumpkin shirts you see! Happy Fall ya'll!

Whew! Busy week!

Is it over yet? This has been a busy week with something scheduled very day! I need to vent about my week.... Monday I was Abby RN, Tuesday Macy had pictures at Camera Angles (Mallory, if you are reading this will you please contact me, I have got questions!), Wednesday I was playmate to the Cryer twins (they are always a pleasure), Thursday was Nana and Papi day, and Friday I had a conference at Wesley, then had to help our friends prepare for their son's arrival ... Now it's Saturday and I am pooped! We have a birthday party at 5:00, and Momma hasn't even showered, YUCK! Did I mention Manolito is at a conference?
Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for every minute, and I am not complaining, just merely sharing... However, this verse is with me now...

"Let's go off by ourselves to a QUIET place and REST awhile" mark 6:13 NLT

Won't you come with me?

Manolito... the "Deer" of my life!

See the buttons in front of his ears?

This one is in velvet

Cheese!

For those of you who enjoy reading "entrustedwith..." to see what Mo and Mace are up to, I apologize. It is now archery season here in KS, and this is for your husbands who are just as crazy about hunting as my "Deer husband", I mean my Dear Husband. You all know who you are too! (D.B., R.C., T.B., T.B. II, M.M. do I need to go on?!?) Manolito wanted to post this just for you! Manolito bought a Trail Camera, which he was so excited about, and here are some of this findings. Straight shootin' everybody!

Happy Birthday Joshua Shen!

Talking about the big buck that got away...

Our friend "Baby Joshua" is two today! He also just had his Dedication celebration at River Community Church last Saturday, which was a very special time for the Cryer family...
Also, our friend Shelbie Beougher is blossoming into such a lovely young woman... she is 17 today! The Munoz Family is rejoicing with these families, and we are so blessed by all of them!
The picture of Josh and Molly is the best I could do... Toddlers just do not sit very long, especially these two... Which might make it difficult for there daddies to get them to sit still in a tree stand some day!

This Day... all His Mercies are New!

Happy Sabbath day friends! I have this Steven Curtis Chapman song in my head (see blog title), and I can't help but smile whenever I sing it. Service was amazing this morning, I felt so blessed that I can worship openly and with all my heart. We also had a surprise guest this morning... Christian Music Artist Jaci Valazquez was our Special music!!!

All in all, it has been a great weekend. I am just so thankful for friends and family.

Wanted to also include pictures of the girls in some of their fall attire, as well as, their Halloween cotumes! My mother helped me a little with Molly's (she wants to be a mouse, like the book, "If you give a mouse a cookie"). Macy E is going to be a piece of candy corn, or "candy popcorn" as Molly calls it. I will continue to be in prayer for those who have asked... Glad I can bless you in this way!

Simply... Abby

Soaking Wet!

As I am typing, I am listening to the sound of water entering our sump pump. The sound would otherwise be relaxing and peaceful, but this rain is anything but! Numerous schools in the area are letting out, including El Dorado. In fact, Nana and Papi are on their way to our house to escape rising waters. This isn't the first time they have had to evacuate their home. Still newlyweds, just married 2 or 3 years, the Munoz home flooded. It was the flood of 1979, June to be exact, and Kathi was very pregnant with Manolito! He was to arrive any day, and his nursery was gone. I can't imagine being at the end of my first pregnancy, after all the nesting and stress of preparing for a baby and watching it all float away. Did I mention Manuel had to canoe to the house to get Kathi?!?!?! So, needless to say, they still get a little shook up when water creeps their way.

The girls and I had to venture out into the rain to go to the quilt shop. We needed out! My mom needed fabric, and I needed some as well for Molly and Macy's costumes. I can't wait to get the fabric washed and to start sewing! I got a new sewing machine last week... Well, it's new to me! It is my mother's Kenmore. It's the machine that made so many of my clothes growing up. Manolito got a laugh when he caught me smelling it. I love how smells can bring back memories.

Then, as I was feeding Macy lunch, I noticed that her front bottom teeth are beginning to peak through!!! I was so excited, I started to cry. What's funny is Molly didn't have any teeth until after she was a year. Then when her teeth did come in she looked like a snaggle tooth. It was precious. I know the later the teeth come in the better they are supposed to be, but it thrills me that she's getting her chompers . She will look like a Jack O' Lantern!

Ronda's Tupperware Bread and Cinnamon-ee Sweet Rolls

Today the girls and I packed up our kitchen gear and headed to Ronda's. She has taken me under her wing in so many ways, all for which I am truly grateful. It helps that she has super sweet teenagers and a wise beyond her years 5 year old, who is always good for a smile or to help feed Macy. So, we made a super secret recipe (it's really not secret, it's just so good, I am not sure if I want to share it... JUST KIDDING!), for pizza, cheeseburger, ham and cheesesloppy joe, and breakfast hot pockets. She has an old school kitchen ability that I love... A little of this, a little of that. It's like being in the kitchen with my mother-in-law. Abby: "Ronda, how long do you cook these?" Ronda: "Until they're done". Smarty pants! I am looking forward to our next lesson, so Manolito will just have to take the girls next time. I don't think he will have an issue with thisafter he eats dinner tonight. Oh, did I mention we also made cinnamon rolls. Mine just came out of the oven! I will post a picture soon...

Dear Bob and Larry... Molly loves her Veggies!

Our friends the Wheelers

Boyz in the Sink

Mommy's favorite, Mr. Lunt

Didn't I just eat mixed veggies for dinner?

"If you like to talk to tomatoes... If a squash can make you smile..."

Okay, I think you Veggie Tales fanatics get the point. The Munoz Family loves their Veggies! Veggie Tales that is! Our church had a live presentation of Veggie Tales, "God Made you Special" last Friday, and we had a blast. So, Mom went a little crazy, but I don't think it embarassed Molly, too much (Manolito, maybe). Being the sap that I am, I will admit to shedding some tears as I watched my little girl boogie in the aisles to all our favorite Veggie tunes. More to come... Here are some pics from the evening.