Muniz Zoo

Little Shepherd Boy

2008-12-05T10:08:00.000-08:00

Brady had his first Christmas program this past week. He was so adorable singing his heart out and doing his actions. Here are a couple pic's and a video...I hope ;-)

Endless Days of Summer...

2008-08-31T18:29:00.001-07:00

Keeping ourselves occupied isn't that difficult!

At the Beach with Gramma Deb

2008-08-31T18:05:00.000-07:00

My mom came to visit for a few days during August. We packed a ton of stuff into 3 days. We wish it could've been longer, but, we had a great time. We went to the beach, drove down to Cape Hatteras in North Carolina. My mom and the older boys climed some 920 spiral steps up to the top, on a crazy humid day. I got the luxury of staying below with Brady! Phew!

Happy Birthday Austin!

2008-08-31T17:53:00.000-07:00

Austin celebrated his 7th birthday on the 7th of August...wow! He had a pirate birthday with his friends. We did a pirate craft, treasure hunt and pinata (can't forget the roots). He had a blast, and walked away with a lot of booty!

Family Photo

2008-07-18T06:32:00.000-07:00

Late last year my good friend Steve Mohr took this great picture of our family. He is not even a photographer by trade, but he is a talented guy and a great friend. Thanks Steve!

An Unstoppable Force (The Nap)

2008-07-17T14:47:00.000-07:00

It seems that Brady is starting to grow out of the daily nap time. But a hot day of playing baseball at the park will take it all out of you. When you're that tired, the floor will have to do.

Riding Bikes

2008-07-15T06:42:00.000-07:00

Since we've been in Virginia, we've been having lots of fun. Brady is potty training, boys riding bikes, Shelby getting a transfer (not included in the fun- but a blessing!).

Brady has been quite the entertainer- he randomly will shout out, "Chicken big butt", which will apall most. He picked up potty training quite easily, making Crit & I 3-3 in the potty training dept! It's easy if the kiddo is ready! Don't start early, or it's a fight! We have been telling him he will get a big boy bike if he is a big boy and poops & peepee's in the potty! The first day we started potty training, he said, "mom got go pee". The rest is history! He was having trouble with the poopy so we told him he could play the DS on the potty when he is pooping...it worked. He's doing great! Yeah Brady! Needless to say, he got his big boy bike. He's still trying to figure out how to pedal...potty training is much easier!

Dylan and Austin are having a blast. Austy really misses his best buddy Kage, and has gotten to talk to him on the phone- which really made his day! We've had lots of play time with our friends and their kids-BBQ's, fight nights, and mexican fiesta's. Dylan finally kicked his fear of riding bikes- we threatened him by taking his video games away til he learned. Needless to say, he learned in a little less than 5 minutes! We have the boys registered for school- Dylan in 3rd grade and Austin in 2nd. Mommy can't wait til the day after labor day, as she is going nuts! Brady hopefully will also start preschool, as long as he stays potty trained that is!

Here are some pictures of all the fun!

OBX, North Carolina.

2008-07-15T06:24:00.000-07:00

Once we arrived in Virginia- we really need a true vacation! We went with Nic & Cheryl to a beach house in Kill Devil Hills, NC, on the outerbanks. We spent 4 beautiful days there. We didn't do a thing except: swim in the pool, play at the beach, eat, shop, read, and watch, The Office. Sound like heaven on earth? That's what we thought. The house we stayed at had a swimming pool- and crazy Brady was jumping off the side by the end of our trip! We spent a lot of time each day at 2 different beaches- one in Kill Devil Hills, and one near Nags Head- called Coquina Beach (our boys call it shell beach). Last summer we found a dead shark and hundreds of washed up puffer fish- so the boys really remember that beach. We built sand castles, boogie boarded, and swam in the ocean- spectacular. We had to leave on one occasion because a huge thunderstorm started rolling in- beach and lightning don't mix! Here are some fun pictures from the beach & pool.

Moving to Virginia...

2008-07-15T06:07:00.000-07:00

We had such a fun time driving across the country. However, we were glad to arrive. We took a week to drive, making several stops in Montana to see friends and family, and stopping in beautiful places like Rapid City, SD (Mt. Rushmore- which Brady lovingly calls: Mountain Dudes), Sioux Falls, SD (beautiful waterfall), Chicago, IL (who wouldn't stop there?), and Lexington, KY (Hello good friends). Here are some pictures from our mini vacation. The first picture is of several 2nd cousins on Crit's side: Brady, Josie, Ada, Will, Dylan, Clark & Austin. The 2nd picture is in Sioux Falls, at Falls Park. I told the boys to pretend they were falling in- Austin is quite the actor- eh? Then the last picture is of the bigger boys enjoying the magnificence of the tallest building in North America- the Sears Tower in Chicago, IL. That was a highlight (of course we stopped at Stbx and got a mug of Chicago). I wish we could've stayed longer...it was a neat city- well, with the exception of all the tolls! We lost count. We got off one exit and you needed to pay .30 to get out! And you could only use change- which we didn't have. So we had 7 days to go online to pay .30 on our debit card or else you'd get a big ticket! Weird! Needless to say, we arrived safely in Virginia Beach on Saturday, June 28th.

Dylan and the Dynamites

2007-09-29T09:58:00.000-07:00

Dylan's soccer team this fall is called the Dynamites. This year he has advanced to a level that uses goalies. The entire team takes their turn playing goalie, but Dylan especially loves to play it. He even has his own goalie gloves.

Happy Grandparents Day

2007-09-09T13:11:00.000-07:00

First Day of School!

2007-09-03T20:53:00.001-07:00

"Yippee," says the worn out Mommy!

"Not again," say the two wild monkeys.

Yes, it's that time again, school is FINALLY here, and the best news for me??? the mommy? I SURVIVED! Here is a quick pick on the way to the bus stop- notice the outfits that the boys picked out themselves... in fact, Dylan woke up on his own at 6am, hopped in the shower, dresses himself, and went downstairs! He is getting so old!

Sowing the Seeds!

2007-09-03T20:47:00.000-07:00

One Sunday morning on our way out the door for church, Brady decided to blow (or try to) the dandelion seeds. I thought it was so cute, I raced in to grab the camera. Who cares if we were late... that moment was so precious, and they are growing up so fast!

Heely's Finally!

2007-09-03T20:33:00.000-07:00

Austin finally got his heely's. He's been begging for them forever. For his 6th birthday, Gramma Cheryl from Virginia bought Austin his very own pair. $98- later, a few scraped knees and elbows, he is cruising around like a pro! He couldn't wait to show Gramma pictures of his new shoes-. He also created a heely club- which I posted earlier on this blog (a picture of his sign!)

You Know You're a Redneck When...

2007-08-20T20:26:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Crit's 33rd b-day at Applebee's with my parents and the boys. Brady's exceptional cuteness sparked quite a topic of conversation at our table. One that caused heads to turn and laugh. I made the comment, "Brady you're looking like a Redneck" because of the way he was wearing his hat--- how he likes----on the top part of his head. Dylan piped up and asked me what a redneck was. How do you define 'redneck'- any ideas? I replied, "Poppy Carl". That was as close to a definition I could get. Smarty Dylan asked if I was one because my dad was one...I said, ummmm I guess- half way. He asked if he was one, and I told him most definitely if he grew up in Enumclaw, he would end up a redneck!!!!

My favorite Redneck joke: You know you're a redneck when...there's a daycare at your senior prom!

Please feel free to post a comment of your favorite CLEAN redneck joke!!!

MAD SCIENTIST!

2007-08-15T15:05:00.000-07:00

Our little Austy (as we lovingly call him) is definitely the creative one in the family. His mind is always working on how he can create, invent and be the mastermind behind everything. Everyday, he comes up with something creative and imaginative, including an off the wall idea: a "Heeley club", harvesting tomatoes, and the ability to give batman a run for his money in our front yard (all he needed that day was a pair of sea creature socks and a batman action figure). However the most creative 'science project' he came up with was the water bottle fiasco. I'm not quite sure he knows what he is trying to figure out... but this by far was the grossest of all of his concoctions.

Please feel free to try this at home: Here are the ingredients:

1. One plastic water bottle- 2/3 full

2. One gigantic squeeze of mom's expensive "for sensitive teeth only" toothpaste

3. 10-12 goldfish (the kind you eat)

4. 1 crayola color tint tab (for bathtime fun) or science experiments in our case.

5. Shake Shake Shake!

I think the best part or (not so for some) however, to my second born's talents... is his deviousness... encouraging poor Brady to drink the "num num" (which is what he calls anything yummy). Naughty Austin. For all of you worried about him... don't, Mommy did happen to be supervising that day!

This is the Life

2007-07-23T14:07:00.000-07:00

After a hard day of fun on vacation there is nothing like curling up on Papa's lap and falling asleep.
Our little Brady was born in Virginia and loves to go back and visit Gramma and Papa. He's growing up so fast. I am constantly having feelings of wanting him to stay our little baby forever, wanting him go grow up and become more independent and knowing I need to just live in this day because it is the only one like it.

The Virginia Marine Science Center

2007-07-20T10:03:00.000-07:00

Last month while we were on vacation in Virginia we went to the Virginia Marine Science Center with our friends, the Murphy's. It has always been one our favorite places to spend an afternoon. It was fun to see lots of cool little fish, sharks, penguins and lots more. Most of all it was just fun to spend time with our friends who we miss lots.

Just Like His Brother

2007-07-15T17:11:00.000-07:00

Brady loves to do what his brothers are doing and his brothers love baseball. Just like his brother Dylan, he has a great arm (for a two year old) and loves to swing the bat. He even gets a hit sometimes and he's so proud of himself.

Slip n Slide

2007-07-14T08:05:00.000-07:00

A slip n slide has to be one of the most simple inventions to endure the years. I'm not sure when exactly they were first sold, but I know they were around when I was a kid. Thankfully, there have been a number of improvements. For example, an inflatable barrier at the end of it, also the end is designed to pool a small amount of water to splash into at the end of your run. It also has a place for the hose to tie directly into, which is so much better than relying on your sprinkler. But it still kills your grass if you leave it up and rips pretty easily.
Dylan and Austin have been enjoying theirs this summer. We actually have 2 or 3 of them which is good because they are not that durable. They have mastered the head first, feet first and on the knees slide. Fortunately they haven't tried the stay on your feet slide yet. Brady doesn't want anything to do with it yet.

SPLASH ZONE

2007-07-13T10:22:00.000-07:00

This week Dylan and Austin have spent their mornings at a local church attending a great Vacation Bible School called "Splash Zone". Unfortunately, after a week of beautiful weather it was raining this morning. They were still looking forward to another fun day. Check out the stage set, it looks like fun to me.

Mountains & Cow Pies

2007-07-12T22:31:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things about living in the Pacific Northwest is the beautiful scenery. For example...
This shot of Mt. Rainier which Shelby took right outside our front door.
One of my least favorite things about living in Enumclaw WA is the smell of baking cow pies on a hot summer evening. For example...
Just Kidding, I don't have a picture of a cow pie. Sorry :(

Chesapeake City Park

2007-07-12T21:21:00.000-07:00

One of our family's favorite places to go when we lived in Virginia Beach was the Chesapeake City Park. It is a beautiful park with lots of play toys, room to run, and a shark and whale tail to play on. Because he's getting older, Brady enjoyed it lots this year too.

Virginia Vacation

2007-07-04T08:42:00.000-07:00

Earlier this summer our family spent two weeks visiting family and friends in Virginia Beach. It was so much fun to spend time with Grandma Cheryl and Papa Nic as well as catch up with our friends. The trip started with "red eye" flight that included two layovers. It wasn't as bad as it sounds. Except for a little motion sickness from Austin, everyone did a lot of sleeping and our connections were quick. It also helped that everyone had their own seat for the first time. Here are some pictures from the beach.

Aargh!

2007-01-29T16:28:00.000-08:00

Captain Austin welcomes you aboard. From Veggie Tales, The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything to Captain Hook and Peter Pan, Austin has always loved pirates. He even likes to dress up.

After School Snack

2007-01-29T16:24:00.000-08:00

Brady waits all day for his brother to get home. Then he can be in the middle of their activities and even sit down for an after school snack.

Happy Little Guy

2007-01-29T15:44:00.000-08:00

We've been really having a great time watching Brady grow up. While he still has his times of crabbiness, he has become a lot happier and more fun.

ITS SNOW TIME

2007-01-08T11:40:00.000-08:00

Apparently it snows a few times a winter in Enumclaw. It wasn't a white Christmas but there was snow late in December. Austin was excited to get out and play. He made a snow man and even got some help from Papa Nic. Hear are a couple of pictures.

GO SEAHAWKS!

2007-01-06T20:52:00.000-08:00

It was a fun and exciting evening at the Muniz home. We welcomed our close friends, Alexei and Shannon down for dinner and to watch the Seahawks game. Shelby made some amazingly good White Chicken Chili and we watched an amazingly good game. All day Dylan said he was going to root for the Cowboys, but he wised up by gametime. We all sweated, cheered and rejoiced when the Seahawks pulled off a miracle win. FOOTBALL RULES!

A Visit from Gramma Cheryl and Papa Nic

2007-01-05T10:46:00.000-08:00

It was great to have a visit from Gramma Cheryl and Papa Nic after Christams. They stayed for five fun-filled days. Of course, they brought Christmas presents from Virginia Beach. During their visit the boys had their pictures taken and we took a trip down to Vancouver WA to visit some other family. It was sad to see them go. Here are a couple of pictures from the visit and with the cousins.

Christmas Morning

2007-01-02T20:19:00.000-08:00

It was great waking up Christmas morning and having Grammy Shel and Poppy Carl there with us. The Muniz boys woke up bright and early at 6:30am ready to see what Santa had brought. Dylan loved his Mario Strikers soccer video game and Austin loved his Mega T-Rex dinosaur. Brady got a cool series of small tents and tubes to crawl around in. Christmas is so much fun with kids.

More Christmas with Gramma Deb

2007-01-01T14:56:00.000-08:00

Here are a few more pictures of our Christmas with Gramma Deb.

Christmas at Gramma Deb's

2007-01-01T11:14:00.000-08:00

The family made the short trip to Port Angeles the weekend before Christmas to celebrate Christmas with Gramma Deb and big Papa Dave. We had a great dinner and opened gifts. Some of the highlights of the presents were a digital camera for Gramma Deb, Spiderman boxer shorts for big Papa Dave, a remote control dinosaur for Dylan and a remote control Orca whale for Austin. It was a great evening spending time with family.

Gingerbread House

2007-01-01T09:57:00.000-08:00

One of the fun activities our family got to do this Christmas season was make a gingerbread house. They come in some really fun kits that make it really easy to do. There was lots of sweet white icing and plenty of candy and gum to snack on too. This could be the beginning of a family tradition.

Christmas Program!

2006-12-18T18:23:00.000-08:00

Last night was the boys' Christmas program. Of course, they were exceptional! It was a Christmas around the world... and the boys had "American" costumes! Austin memorized 2 lines and Dylan had three. They were nervous, but performed really well. I even caught Dylan doing the "Walter & Emma" dance on a few occasions- without realizing it.

Brady was not involved. He was busy making noise in the nursery.

Here are a few pics to commemorate the occasion.

Riled Up Before Bed!

2006-12-14T19:19:00.000-08:00

Well, it has been a Muniz boy tradition to get crazy before bed. I think that is a common thread amongst all young children. I remember Dylan as young as 15 months, running back and forth clad with his jammies as a "superman" cape! Well, the tradition continues... including our young Brady- jumping on the bed. I don't remember the older boys doing that... maybe because I wouldn't let them... but I guess the 3rd time around- WHO CARES!!! Our bed is already broken- hee hee!

Here are some fun pics of the cutest boys ever!!!!

Ranger Hike

2006-12-12T10:10:00.000-08:00

On a Saturday morning this fall the Royal Ranger boys at our church had a great morning hike, followed up by a hot dog lunch. The hike was challenging for the kids and the adults alike. It is a mile round trip, the first half straight up and then down. Thank God for youthful energy, because Dylan and Austin both had soccer games that afternoon.

More from the Pumpkin Patch

2006-12-09T19:34:00.000-08:00

During Gramma Cheryl's visit this fall, the whole family made a trip to a big, fun pumpkin patch in Carnation, WA. It was about an hours drive from home, but it was worth it. It had a big petting zoo, a straw maze, carnival rides and lots more. Here are a couple more pictures of the boys on that fun day.

He's Growing Up

2006-12-06T13:38:00.000-08:00

Our sweet little guy is growing up fast. Brady loves to brush his teeth, especially when he sees his brothers doing it. Up until a few weeks ago the stairs were off limits, but now they are his domain and when Dylan and Austin are at school Brady wants to play in their room, not his.

Gramma Comes to Town

2006-12-02T21:51:00.000-08:00

In mid-October we were blessed to have a week long visit from Gramma Cheryl. The week was filled with being spoiled, going to a fun pumpkin patch, carving pumpkins and learning to tie shoes. Virginia Beach is a long ways away, thanks for coming gramma.

Move Over Howard Schultz

2006-12-02T09:06:00.000-08:00

As a way of getting out of the house and making a little extra money, Shelby got a job at Starbucks this fall. She works mostly early mornings and is really enjoying herself. The benefits, like insurance, free coffee and a nice discount on other items, are also nice. Her kind and outgoing personality makes her a perfect fit.

More Soccer

2006-12-02T08:49:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple more pictures of the boys soccer season. Austin said his favorite thing about soccer was kicking goals. Dylan said it was trying his best, kicking goals and playing with his friends. I think they also really enjoyed the snacks after each game and Dylan's team had orange wedges every halftime. They were awesome.

Decorating for Christmas

2006-12-01T14:35:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, our living room is not very roomy. Thankfully, Shelby's grampa Dave gave us a smaller tree to put up this year. The whole family had a great time decorating the house for Christmas. Our mission for the next four weeks, keep Brady from pulling all of the ornaments off.

Halloween

2006-12-01T12:10:00.000-08:00

This past Halloween Crit had a little event at the church and Shelby dressed up the boys for a little trick or treating around the neighborhood. Then they moved on to the church for fun, games and lots of candy. Check out Anakin Skywalker from Episode I and III, plus a very sad dalmation.

SOCCER SEASON

2006-11-30T19:28:00.000-08:00

This past fall Dylan and Austin participated in soccer. Dylan's team was the Rockets and Austin's was the Blue Whales. Austin actually got the privilege of choosing his team's name. WOW! There was one practice per week and the games were held on Saturdays. They both learned a lot, had loads of fun and scored lots of goals.

Before and After

2006-11-30T19:00:00.000-08:00

Our Brady is 20 months old and received just his second haircut today. He is so handsome, it was hard for mom to get the wild monkey hair chopped.

Go Mariners!

2006-06-14T14:53:00.000-07:00

Despite being an avid Yankee fan, Dylan had a special night out with DAD. Crit got some free tix to the M's and took Dylan. Crit said he had never seen Dylan talk so much- nonstop. It was a very special night. They got home late, but it was well worth the fun.

Growing Boys

2006-06-14T14:36:00.000-07:00

Well, we've been here for almost a month. Hard to believe how fast time flies. We are getting settled nicely. The only bum deal is the RAIN RAIN RAIN. I think I can count on one hand how many nice days we've had. We love our new church, and are getting to know many nice people. There are many young families, which is exciting. Here's some pictures of our boys. Pretty amazing how they grow way too fast. Dylan is doing good in Kindergarten despite the move, and Austin loves his time at home without his brother... he rules the roost- or he thinks he does. Brady is still the same- fussy!!! He cut his 2 top molars, and is cutting his left eye teeth. Poor guy. He is walking all over the place... his body can hardly keep up with his feet. He often loses his balances and falls backwards!

Leaving Virginia

2006-06-14T14:23:00.000-07:00

May 15th was a very sad day. We packed our stuff and headed on a week long road trip to Enumclaw, WA. Although we were sad to leave family and friends, we were very excited to start our new lives! After 1 week, 12 states (Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, S. Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, & Washington) and 3,000 miles, we arrived to our new home. Here are some pictures of the trip. We stopped off in Rapid City, SD to see Mt. Rushmore & then a brief overnight visit in Montana to visit family. Enjoy... sorry this is so delayed.

One Last Campout

2006-05-08T14:28:00.000-07:00

One of the greatest things about our family's time in Virginia Beach has been the close friendships we have been able to make. Our small group at church has given us several friendships that will no doubt be lifelong. Spending weekends camping together has been one of the favorite activities of our circle of friends. A couple of weekends ago we had a final opportunity to camp. The weather was beautiful and it was so much fun.

Working Out Their Swing

2006-05-07T04:09:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago on a beautiful sunny evening. Dylan, Austin and dad went to the park down the street to swing our golf clubs and play on the playground. We had a lot of fun.

Dylan is 6 YEARS OLD!!!

2006-05-05T19:42:00.000-07:00

Today was not only Cinco de Mayo, it was more importantly Dylan's 6th birthday. It is so hard to believe that it has been six years since God gave us the gift of our first born son. He has grown to be a sweet, handsome and smart young boy. It was a busy day. At school he got to bring cookies to share with his class and wore a special birthday hat. He went out to lunch with his mom and brothers and then went to the movie "The Wild" with mom, dad and Austin. After the movie he invited his friend Josh over for pizza and opening presents. Dylan even got to stay up as late as he wanted to watch a movie he got as a gift. He'll sleep good tonight.

Brady's 1st Birthday

2006-05-04T16:37:00.000-07:00

March 31st was Brady's first birthday. We had the fun opportunity to spend the weekend at a lakehouse in Edenton, North Carolina. It was a great place to relax and enjoy some time together. Dylan and Austin even got to take a canoe ride with Papa Nic.

The Muniz Zoo is open, really.

2006-05-03T16:10:00.000-07:00

Wow, its been a long time since we updated. Sorry :( There has been a lot going on in the Muniz family in the past couple of months. Dylan and Austin are still enjoying Kindergarten and Preschool. Crit has just finished up his spring set of classes at Regent University and Shelby stays more than busy keeping up with her three kids, and teaching at Oak Tree Acadamy. Our little guy Brady, turned one on March 31st. He has learned to walk and is getting more confident on his feet everyday.
We spent nearly two weeks in Seattle and Port Angeles in April. It was a great trip visiting family and friends.
This leads me to our biggest news. After almost a year and a half in Virginia Beach, we're moving back to the Pacific Northwest. Crit has accepted a staff position at Mount Rainier Christian Center in Enumclaw WA. He is going to be the Family Life Pastor, in charge of Children's Ministries, small groups and anything else with regards to families. We'll be loading in our minivan on May 15th and making the 3000 mile drive.
We're going to miss everyone here in VA Beach but are excited about the change.

Our Zoo Goes to the Zoo

2006-03-16T06:29:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday we took advantage of a beautiful spring day by packing a lunch and visiting the zoo in Norfolk. We got to see lots of really cool animals. Some of the boys favorites were the lions, tigers and monkeys.

Muniz Family Picture

2006-03-01T15:27:00.000-08:00

Hello from all of us!

Chicken Pox Boy!

2006-03-01T15:12:00.000-08:00

Victor Varicella is my name, chicken pox is my game! Oh, poor guy. This picture was taken after the miserable stage! My 11 month old baby has the chicken pox! How can this be? At least he doesn't know how to scratch. He had one mark on him that was a mind boggler, then the next day- wham! All over. He was most hit on his scalp, and groin... with quite a few on his face, tummy and arms. He's still pretty miserable, so we've been giving him oatmeal baths and medicine! He got them on Friday, and still today (Wednesday) got an outbreak all over his hands. So, it's almost been a week of new pox. It doesn't seem to be slowing him down much. He's still all over the place, crawling, standing, cruising. He is so much busier than the other guys were at his age. He is babbling so much too- he actually talks back to you! This month (31st) we will celebrate his first birthday. We are looking forward to each new found independence.
More to come!

A Cool Sunny Day

2006-02-08T06:47:00.000-08:00

It has been a pretty mild month of January. They boys had a lot of fun going to the park for the afternoon.

Our Vacation- Day 8

2006-01-14T11:54:00.000-08:00

After the most wonderful vacation, we had to head home. We were sad that the vacation was over, but excited to get home and see Brady. The boys had a great trip home, reading books and watching more movies. After a whole week of beautiful weather, we drove home in the rain. There was very little traffic and so we made it home in 12 hours. We want to thank all of our friends and family who gave us Christmas money and gifts to help us on our adventure. It was one we'll never forget.

Our Vacation- Day 7

2006-01-13T19:06:00.000-08:00

Day 7 was our last day at Disneyworld. We used it for a return trip to the Magic Kingdom. Of the Disneyworld parks the Magic Kingdom was the family's favorite. The boys got to have their picture taken with Mickey Mouse and several other characters including Goofy and Woody & Jessie from Toy Story 2. It was also time to hit some of our favorite rides like Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain and get the opportunity to do things we missed before like It's a Small World and the Tea Cups. Because it was New Year's Day the morning was especially fun because the crowds were smaller and the weather was once again, beautiful. It was a wonderful final day to our unforgetable vacation. As we were leaving the park for the last time, we looked down and saw Dylan burst into tears. He and his brother had so much fun and now it was over. We were all very sad, but we can't wait to go back and bring Brady with us next time.

Our Vacation- Day 6

2006-01-12T18:03:00.000-08:00

New Year's Eve began as every day of our great vacation did. Get up, get breakfast and then get out to the line for the shuttle. In the line the boys found a cool sign for a picture. On this day we were off to Epcot. It was a huge park and it was very busy. The morning was tough, we were all tired and the lines for rides and shows were very long early in the day. But there were many cool things to see. Some of our favorite rides were Soarin' which was a simulated hang glider ride over the United States and Test Track which was a very fun, very fast car ride. We also really enjoyed the show "Honey I Shrunk the Audience". They boys loved to look at the fish from "Nemo" and got a couple of really cool new hats. By 3 pm we found out that both Epcot and The Magic Kingdom were filled to capacity. Sure it was New Year's Eve but the Muniz family was worn out and were back to the hotel by 9 pm and asleep by 10.

Our Vacation- Day 5

2006-01-10T07:35:00.000-08:00

Our day at Seaworld was one that we were all looking forward to, especially Austin. His favorite things in the world are sea creatures and whales are at the top of his list. Seaworld was really cool and not as busy as the Disneyworld parks. We got to see some great shows with sea lions, dolphins and the famous "Shamu Show". There were cool exhibits with all kinds of penguins and sharks. Even a hammerhead shark. Another favorite was the "Wild Arctic" where we visited polar bears and beluga whales. "The Journey to Atlantis" ride was a big fun rollercoaster where we all got wet. The boy's lunches even came in a fun orca whale lunchbox. Austin said going to Seaworld "was a dream come true". Sounds like a day to remember.

Our Vacation- Day 4

2006-01-08T17:14:00.000-08:00

Wow! It was the 4th day and we had already done so much and had so much fun. The destination for this day was one of Disneyworld's newest parks, Animal Kingdom. It is a really fun combination of zoo, safari and themepark. The boys looked so cool with their faces painted. They wore it all day and were very disappointed when we wouldn't let them go to bed with it on. It's such a bummer to have strict parents. We got to go on a safari and see lots of unique animals, there was a fun 3-D show called "It's Tough to Be a Bug" starring the bugs from the "A Bugs Life" movie and a scary dinosaur ride. The weather was beautiful and our guys even got a picture with Stitch. Oh ya, they even let Lilo in the picture too.

Our Vacation- Day 3

2006-01-06T09:47:00.000-08:00

On day 3 we got up early and went to MGM Studios. It was a pretty fun day, kind of busy. We saw lots of cool shows, did lots of fun rides. The highlight for the boys was definitely going through Tatooine and doing the STAR TOURS ride. The Muppets 3-D show and Indiana Jones stunt show was also lots of fun for us! However, the highlight of the day was staying late to watch the Fantasmic production. It was truly spectacular. It caused Austin to fall in love with Mickey's powers to make fireworks. He pretended to be Mickey the rest of the trip. It was a spectacular day. Did I mention it was about 75 degrees! We loved it!

Our Vacation- Day 2

2006-01-05T18:22:00.000-08:00

After the long day's trip to Orlando we needed a good night sleep before starting our Disney Adventure. The boys got it, mom and dad didn't. Our bed was very uncomfortable. It seemed to be lacking springs and we both got up with major stiffness. Oh well, the Magic Kingdom awaited our arrival and the boys had no idea the fun they were about to have. When we arrived at the park Dylan and Austin were so excited. It was the beginning of a lot of walking, standing in line, rides, and fun. From kid rides like Winnie the Pooh and Dumbo to big rollercoasters like Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain, the boys rode them all and loved them all. The day ended with a spectacular parade down Main Street USA. We arrived back at the hotel after 10 pm and all four of us were absolutely exhausted. It was the first of several days we will never forget. Don't forget to check back tomorrow.

Our Vacation- Day 1

2006-01-04T16:35:00.000-08:00

Beginning the day after Christmas the Muniz family was blessed to take a vacation. Because it was in reasonable driving distance, we chose to go to Orlando and spend a week in Disneyworld and Seaworld. So we all (minus Brady, he stayed home with gramma, poppa and auntie) packed into the "big, green, dinosaur" (our minivan) and headed south. We were properly equipped with a cooler full of drinks, various snacks, and a tall stack of movies to play on the new portable DVD player we got for Christmas. It was going to be a long day in the car. After 14 1/2 hours, 5 states (Virginia, N. Carolina, S. Carolina, Georgia, and Florida), heavy traffic and several movies we finally arrived at the Comfort Inn. We were tired from the drive but excited for the week to come. Check back tomorrow for Day 2.

Merry Christmas!

2005-12-25T05:43:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas! Well it's so funny to think that everyone on the west coast is still sleeping, and here we are enjoying all our new toys! We were all up around 6:15am- Dylan unfortunately woke up sick- nothing a little Motrin can't kick! We thought we'd do a quick post of some Christmas favorites! Dylan's favorite is a Muniz DISOWNER: A Yankee T-shirt!!!! What's that boy thinking? The first thing he said to me was, "Mom, promise you won't give me a spanking!" He was so worried. Austin of course got a stuffed Blue Whale- him and his sea creatures. And Brady boy got lots of fun loot! Kids make Christmas a real treat. Of course, we haven't forgotten the true meaning of Christmas... BABY JESUS! We sure love to give and get presents tho! Love & Miss you all. Thinking of you this day.

Christmas Break!

2005-12-23T19:09:00.000-08:00

Now that Dylan and Austin are both on their Christmas break from school, they are looking forward to staying up a little bit later. Tonight they got to stay up till 10pm to watch a movie with their Auntie Andrea. One of them made it all the way through and one of them didn't. Oh well, the spirit was willing.

A Shepherd and King

2005-12-18T17:35:00.000-08:00

Tonight was the preschool Christmas program at our church. Dylan and Austin did such a wonderful job. Dylan was a shepherd and got to sing "Go Tell it On the Mountain" with a couple of other kids. He sang the loudest, by far, and knew all the words perfectly. That's what a few weeks of good practice will do for you. Austin was one of the three kings. He walked down the isle all dressed up and carrying his gift with a huge smile on his face. It was adorable.

Austy the Red Nosed Reindeer!

2005-12-16T12:26:00.000-08:00

Mr Blue Eyes Himself! He's so adorable. I can't believe he's 4! Today was his last day of preschool- he's off for Christmas break. Dylan still has a week of school, getting out on the 23rd. The boys are ever excited for Christmas. They ask everyday, "how many days mom?" I say, "Why? What's so special about Christmas?" They smile ear to ear and say, "Jesus' birthday". I nod my head and say, "sure" (we really know why they like Christmas- what good Christian boys!) Pretty cute guys. They never stop making me laugh- or making me crazy! TTFN.

Here's some pictures

2005-12-11T07:53:00.000-08:00

Just one of the guys!

2005-12-11T07:31:00.000-08:00

Brady is so cute. Despite being a serious crybaby, he fills this house with sweetness. He is already trying to play MarioKart, and sing. 2 things he sees his brothers doing. He is so observant. He works hard at getting where he needs to go! He isn't quite crawling, but is rolling everywhere, and lifting himself up and scooting backwards. He is up rocking on all fours, so I'm sure it won't be long. It better not be when we are at Disneyworld- that's all I have to say. The boys are looking forward to Christmas- what 5 & 4 year old wouldn't? They wrote their letters to Santa. Austin wanted a WHALE!!!! I said that God was the one who created whales, not Santa! He said, "no mom, not a real one silly" He's so remarkably funny. He has been Mr. Sunshine since he was born, and still maintains that lighthearted attitude, except when putting on his socks and shoes. He screams, "IT'S NOT RIGHT MOM" because the seam on his sock isn't in the right place! Austin also asked for Mario Party for his gamecube! Dylan asked for an NFL football game for his gamecube and a plunger gun he saw at the dollar store! It shoots little plungers (I'm thinking, "1.00??? YES!!!!) I also bought his NFL game on EBAY for .01 cent! Brand new, still in the wrap. I love EBAY. Dylan is ever so cute and sweet right now. He is understanding how to joke. His new phrase right now through much laughter is, "that is hi-laaarious" He is so funny!
Things are going well around here. Crit just finished his semester (one more to go) He was laughing yesterday because he took a graduate level final with a blue crayon. Huh? you might ask? Well, the tests are computer generated, and the computers were down, and of course no one brought supplies, b/c they thought they were only taking a final exam on a computer! The teacher made a transparency and the class had to take the final with crayons- that's all there was! Don't ask me why a Graduate School has crayons in their classrooms- I don't know? Anyway, it's a funny story.
Well, hopefully we will post some more before Christmas, if not then we hope you all have a Merry Christmas.

Our Boys

2005-12-02T04:37:00.000-08:00

I cannot express in words the feeling I had yesterday as I felt that my boys were way too big already. Dylan, holding his brother feeding him, and Austin playing with Dylan like Dylan used to play with him. Austin can definitely hold his own now! He's getting quick, lean and mean, and definitely a little more coordinated. Brady, my last child, is already 8 months old. As long as it feels like it's been (forever at times), clearly my sense of time is messed up, b/c "where has the time gone?" It's Christmas time already. My heart is aching for my own place, and being "at home" with where I am at. All of a sudden those things aren't important, because goodness, my life is flashing before my eyes. I got to get busy. I only have 18 years until my youngest graduates high school... and only 13 years til my first child is an "adult". I've got things to do. Blessings on your day. I love and miss you all.

Day at the Aquarium!

2005-11-26T13:13:00.000-08:00

Today we went to the Aquarium, one of the boys' favorite activities. Grandma Deb got us a membership when she was here in October, so we can go anytime we want! Believe me, it comes up frequently! We had a ball there, and just so happened to run into every child's dream...SANTA! Here's some pictures- Brady's first time on Santa's lap. The best thing about the pictures??? They were free! They let me take my own- since I was a member! Funny thing.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2005-11-24T12:39:00.000-08:00

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts...Psalm 95: 1-8

Today as I busy myself with "Thanksgiving" tasks, I have a moment to think about the greatness God has shown our family. How great, how wonderful is our God.

God, thank you for my family. Thank you for their love, and the steady heartbeat they bring to all. God I thank you for my home, the warmth you've given, the comfort you've provided. God I thank you for my sons, the joy and laughter they bring. It is a true reflection of your love- giving them to me, so that I may experience a piece of how much you love me. Thank you Father for your provision, and thank you most of all, for the cross, and the gift of salvation. Father I lift my head up in a prayer of thanks for all you have given me. Thank You my precious Lord.

God would you bless my family today, as we are not together. Father, you know how deeply I long to be with them today, and I pray that although we are far apart, that you would hold us close together. Father pour your love onto them, and show them your pure and perfect peace, the warmth of your presence, and the overabundance of blessings that only come from you.

Happy Thanksgiving! It's almost dinner time for us! We are having a beautiful day... and the sun is shining very brightly! Unfortunately, Austin has the stomach flu- poor guy. Brady and Dylan are bright eyed, and happy for the holiday! Here's a picture of Austy yesterday- he had to dress up as an Indian! Cute boy.

May the Lord bless you today! Happy Thanksgiving!

Check Out These Cute Guys!

2005-11-24T10:21:00.000-08:00

A New Smile II

2005-11-23T16:52:00.000-08:00

Almost a month after he lost his first tooth, Dylan has now lost his second. He's looking more like a jack-o-lantern everyday. Today was Grandparents Day at his kindergarten. Gramma Cheryl and Papa Nic went and enjoyed a Thanksgiving presentation put on by both kindgergarten classes.

Dylan & Austin's Cute Baby Brother

2005-11-16T13:17:00.000-08:00

Brady is growing soooo fast. He loves to sit and play with all kinds of toys. Of course he loves putting them in his mouth too. Dylan thinks Brady's favorite toy is a soft cushy wire ball. Austin thinks his favorite is a little lamb. He's eating all kinds of good food, has two little teeth and a cute smile. Plus, he's gonna be crawling really soon.

Pirate Austin

2005-11-15T07:54:00.000-08:00

Austin went to a friends birthday party and came home looking like this. Better be careful or your walkin' the plank. Isn't he cute.
He has been having a great time at preschool this year and has made lots of new friends. This fall his class went on a field trip to a local pumpkin patch. It was a cold day but he had so much fun. Here is a picture with his friend Patrick.

Thumbs Up!

2005-11-05T14:00:00.000-08:00

Some of you may know that in that past couple of years Dylan has been having trouble with his thumb "popping out" of joint. At first it only happened a couple of times a month. But since he's gotten older and more active it has increased in frequency. In the past 6 months it has seemed to happen on almost a daily basis. It always came with a little pain but mostly just made his thumb immobile for the rest of the day. It was a major hinderance for him at school, t-ball, swimming lessons and just about everything else. Finally, after a couple of fruitless trips to the doctor, Dylan was refered to an orthopedic dr. He quickly diagnosed Dylan with "trigger finger". This basically meant the tendons in his thumb were getting caught up on the bones in the joint. Last Thursday he had a quick out-patient surgery to repair the problem. It was successful. Praise the Lord. He is excited to know that it will never happen again. After a tough day and a half of recovery. (He couldn't keep any food or drink down) He is back to his normal self but must keep his hand wrapped and dry for 7 days. Here are a couple of pictures. One on the day of the surgery and the other today.

All New Smile

2005-11-02T19:04:00.000-08:00

Monday the 31st of October was a big day in the Muniz Zoo. Dylan lost his first tooth! The first of many yet to come. When he woke up the tooth fairy left $2. WOW! He was very excited and was so nice that he gave one of the dollars to his brother. Plus, this morning we found a second one that loose too. Look out!

Superhero time!

2005-11-01T18:34:00.000-08:00

It was a big couple of days for the Muniz boys (aka Spiderman, Dash and pumpkin). On Sunday night Crit, Dylan and Austin went to a harvest party at Austin's pre-school. It was small and simple but lots of fun. Then on Monday morning Dylan had a costume parade and fall party at Kindergarten. Finally, on Monday night everyone went to our church's party. It's called "The Holy-Ghost Weiner Roast". It was a huge event at a nearby ranch. There were more than 2200 people there. Wow! Everyone enjoyed lots of food, games, big inflatables, pony and hayrides. Dylan and Austin invited their friend Joshua and his mother to come along.

The Season is Over

2005-10-29T19:39:00.000-07:00

Dylan's first T-ball season is over. Here is a few great action shots of his last game. Plus, a cute picture of his baby brother at the game.

We're Sorry

2005-10-27T13:21:00.000-07:00

Please accept our sincere apologies to those who have been trying to keep up with our family. Our blog has grown quite stale in the last several weeks. We have had some computer problems but we should be back up to speed now. Here's the latest on our crew:

Dylan is growing like a weed. He has been having fun playing T-ball. His team, the Hammerheads, have one more game left this Saturday. He has improved so much in the last couple of months. Kindergarten in fun too. But he doesn't like mom and dad getting him up every morning at 6:30am. A second round of swimming lessons have also started for him in the past couple of weeks

Austin graduated from his first round of swimming lessons today. He went from not wanting to have his head in the water to jumping off the side and swimming back to the wall by himself. Now he can't wait to have his turn on the Hammerheads T-ball team.

Brady is growing more and more fun everyday. He has started eating baby food, sitting up by himself and even has a little tooth coming in.

Once again, we're sorry for the long delay in updating our blog.

Swimming Lessons!

2005-10-04T19:35:00.000-07:00

Austin's long awaited day arrived...swimming lessons. He waited all summer for a chance! He practiced hard all summer long to be able to put his face in the water, because then he could take swimming lessons. The day came and he had a ton of fun, as you can see! He jumped right in- not even timid! We were sure amazed, and proud. He's on his way! He decided too, that he wants to take up T-ball. He's taking quite an interest in sports...we weren't too sure, since he never really liked it in the beginning. He wants to learn how to swim though, because then he can swim with the whales!

Evening At The Beach!

2005-09-24T12:30:00.000-07:00

It's so nice that it's the middle of September and so warm- warm enough to go to the beach at 6:00 at night! We wanted to take the opportunity to enjoy probably one of our last days at the beach...at least for the season! The whole family went down. The boys played in the surf, and ran around with wild abandon! They love the beach. It was so nice, b/c the crowds are gone. So we had the beach to ourselves! It was a fun night. We stayed til about 8:30, then all 3 boys crashed. They were so tired. What a fun day. There's Austy, waving hello to you all- and saying goodbye to summer! Love & miss you all!

Dylan's First Baseball Game!

2005-09-17T11:31:00.000-07:00

Hey there. Today was an exciting day for the D-bar. His first baseball game. Dylan plays for the Hammerheads- they are teal and black. I held back tears as I dressed him this morning in his tiny baseball pants. He looks so darn cute as you can see. He played great! He hit once off the tee, then he did coach pitch twice, and really whacked the ball. In the first inning all the kids play off the tee, and then in the 2nd & 3rd innings they start with coach pictch and if they strike out, then get to try off the tee. He has a harder time hitting off of a tee, since he's only really hit from a pitch. I was so proud watching my big boy hussle to the ball, stay in his baseball ready position, and have a great attitude. He did awesome. They don't keep score in T-ball, but Dylan was still a winner to me!

Just call me flipper!

2005-09-16T02:02:00.000-07:00

We are going to start calling Austin, "Flipper" He has an obsession with anything in the sea! Especially whales as many of you know! When asked what he wants to be when he grows up, he always says, "a whale" Of course mommy said he couldn't because God already made him a boy. He replied, "well then I'll be a boy in a whale costume!" Smart guy! He loves to wear flippers around the house, just because it makes him one step closer to his dream! His prayers were answered when on his 4th birthday, Grammy Deb took him orca whale watching in the San Juan Islands. We went to the whale museum and Austin got to dress up in a whale suit. What an exciting moment!

Brady's growing!

2005-09-15T20:55:00.000-07:00

Brady's really working to crawl. He is starting to like it better on his tummy! In fact he tries to sleep on his tummy, but is paranoid mommy always flips him back over! He's rolling a lot, and loves to play by grabbing toys and trying to eat them. He's a delight! Here he is, hard at work!

Brady's First Feeding!

2005-09-11T16:17:00.000-07:00

Look who's eating now! Brady experienced rice cereal for the first time, and he knew right what to do. He had no trouble opening his mouth to eat, but didn't quite know what to do after that! He had so much fun. His big brother's helped feed him, everyone thought that was pretty cool. He is growing way too quick. I was so desperate for him to get out of the colic stage which was the longest 3 months of my life... and now 2 1/2 months have flown by since! Amazing. In a few weeks he will try some veggies...yummy! That should be fun! Please notice the links to the right of this publication...you can connnect yourself to my 6th grade classroom or a site to pray for bj... check it out.

Brady the "Coochie"

2005-09-09T01:57:00.000-07:00

Austin has named Brady much to our dismay..."coochie" He named him a few months ago... pretty much when we came home from the hospital. Since then, that's all he refers to him as- "Coochie" Now whenver I (his mommy) see Brady, it's all I think of...I guess it's growing on us. Poor Brady- "coochie"! Hopefully it's not a life long nickname! Anyways... just wanted to show him off. We had a special day today- just him and I! Dylan and Austin were both in school. This is an updated shot- taken Labor Day. He loves to play with his toes- and eat them too! Sweet little "coochie"!

Big Day!

2005-09-07T19:27:00.000-07:00

Today was definitely exciting! Nonstop going all day... sheesh. Austin had his big day today...he started preschool. His teacher's name is Mrs. Mullen and she is nice according to him! He was especially excited to take his new book bag Gramma Cheryl made him (they can't have backpacks). It's an ORCA book bag! He made some new friends too. Dylan started Tball today. It was also exciting. The picture you see here is of him swinging the bat...which whacked the ball- however I missed that shot with the camera. Fun day! We are all wiped out, and ready to do it all again tomorrow. Peace out!

Dylan's Big Day!

2005-09-06T20:30:00.000-07:00

Today was a huge day for the Muniz crew. It was Dylan's first day of Kindergarten. We are so proud of him. When the bus came this morning to pick him up he took a deep breath and jumped right on it with virtually no hesitation. We were stunned but excited because he was so brave. He even rode the bus home and reported that he had fun at school and made new friends.

Brady's Dedication

2005-09-04T19:20:00.000-07:00

Today was a very special day. Brady was dedicated for the 2nd time! The dedications at New Life Providence are very unique. Several are done at a time, but to personalize it, the dad says a dedication prayer over the child. It was very sweet. Here is a copy of the prayer Crit wrote:

Heavenly Father,

We come to you this morning with thanksgiving. You have blessed our family with a gift. Braden Eugene. A gift that has an eternal value that could never be measured. It is a gift that has brought a joy and excitement to our home that only you can provide. We recognize that Brady is first and foremost your child and you have only entrusted him to us for a period of time. Your love for him is even greater than the love that we his parents feel.

This morning in front of our family and friends we dedicate Braden Eugene to you. We entrust his life to you completely and wholly. We trust that his mind, body and spirit will grow strong. We also ask for a hedge of protection to cover him. Protecting him from any physical harm or any sickness and disease that may come.

It is our promise to you, in front of all of these witnesses that we will raise Brady to know you, love you, trust and obey you from this moment. Please help us to live our lives as a godly example in front of him. We his parents, understand that our love and care for him must be an earthly reflection of the unconditional love that you have for Brady..

So as Hannah dedicated Samuel, we also give Brady back to you. He is not ours, but yours, and so we ask your blessing on his life today. In Jesus name we ask it. Amen

The Incredibles are back!

2005-09-04T19:08:00.000-07:00

Move over Dash. Dylan and Austin can move at super-speed and are as strong as the Hulk. Keeping up with these two characters is always an action/adventure.

It's School Time

2005-08-31T18:23:00.000-07:00

For the Muniz family, this fall means school, school and more school. Shelby is beginning to teach part-time at a local Christian school, Crit is continuing his Master's program at Regent University, Dylan is starting kindergarten and Austin will be in pre-school. Wow! Things are about to become really busy.
As previously mentioned, Dylan is beginning kindergarten. If he only realized that this school thing begins now and will continue probably for the next 20 years or so. As you would expect he is both excited and nervous at the same time. The same could be said for his parents. Tonight we attended the open house and met his teacher (Mrs. Davis) for the first time.

Summer Swimming

2005-08-29T14:15:00.000-07:00

One of the great things about living in Papa Nic and Gramma Cheryl's house in Virginia Beach is the long, warm summer evenings and a big back yard. It makes a great place for a pool. Dylan and Austin have enjoyed learning to swim this summer. Dylan has not only enjoyed the backyard pool but has also had amazing success during swimming lessons at the rec. center down the road. He has gone from being scared to have his face in the water to swimming all over by himself and even loves to do somersaults underwater. Austin will be starting his lessons soon and has just learned to hold his breath with his head underwater. It's been so much fun to invite friends over and swim all afternoon. We're not looking forward to packing up the pool when fall arrives.

2005-08-28T14:20:00.000-07:00

This is the maiden voyage of the Muniz Zoo. Why Zoo? Cause we've got three great boys and sometimes it can get a little wild.
I've got a couple of friends that have blogs and I have thoroughly enjoyed keeping up with them. Then I thought, "Why not us?". So here it goes!