Chef in Training

My kids' fave meal is chicken strips. So...I taught them how to make it! I gotta teach them so one day I can say, "Hey, you are in charge of dinner tonight". That will be so cool. It is a little scary at first to let a 3 and 5-year-old handle raw chicken, but they are getting pretty good at it now. I have to watch the boy so he doesn't lick his fingers (the seasoned bread crumbs are pretty yummy). They LOVE to help and they are so proud of their finished product and how good it is-- and they always eat a ton!

Countdown to THE ULTRASOUND!

I am 18 weeks along now, and at 20 weeks, I go in for an ultrasound- the ultrasound! In 14 days, we will find out if we are having a boy or girl! I am so excited. Who could ever wait until the baby is born to find out? It is driving me crazy! We have a chain and will rip a link off every day until the big day we go for the ultrasound. So so excited. Feel free to leave your prediction! I would love to see what you think!

Goodbye to a Great Experience

Six months ago, I joined a gym and started waking up at 5:30am so I could go to aerobics at 6. Not so I could lose weight, but so I could be healthy. "What is the motivation in that?", some may ask. For me, being healthy was a strong motivation. For the past 2 years, I have been watching my mom struggle with M.S. and have seen her health decline steadily and have also seen a decline in health in other people that are close to us. It is so difficult to see my parents get older and my brain cannot seem to fully realize or accept that change, sometimes. Especially when my little family is constantly moving and doing and experiencing new things all the time. And to see that bodies really do wear out and get old and that we can't keep the same pace forever made me realize that I have a great opportunity to improve my health and do more, while I can, to prolong a healthy lifestyle for myself and my family in the future. I want to be a healthy mom. I want to keep up with my kids, not just now, but in 20 and 30 years from now when I will probably be a grandma.

Each morning for the past 2 months has been very difficult for me because of this pregnancy and I've made the decision to end my contract at the gym next month. I will continue to exercise on my own and with my kids, but it will not be at 6 in the morning. I've really had a neat experience with making an exercise goal, and keeping it this time, so saying goodbye to the gym will be kind of sad for me. Everything they say about regular exercise is true. You will have tons more energy, your stress levels will drop, your weight will drop, your physical/emotional/mental/ AND spiritual well-being will increase, and all those things will just make you feel really good! It's amazing. And if I can do it, anyone can do it! I am so happy I had this experience, but I guess it is time to find something new to work on (like sleeping in!).

A Rare Occasion

I am not sure why, but we hardly have any pictures of Preslie and me together. I think it is because there aren't many pictures of me, period (I am usually behind the camera). And also, she is such a daddy's girl. But I am her mom and spend almost all day everyday with her...so I need to work on getting some shots of us doing things or just being cute together. I don't want her to look back through our photo albums later and think, "Hmm, where is my mom?"

Everyone has their days

The kids are pretty sweet MOST of the time. But sometimes, they are grumpy, grouchy, ornery, and mean. Preslie has pure evil in her eyes. And the reason? Because I held the camera up to snap a pic of her (I thought she looked cute right then), and apparently it was not the right time and she was NOT in the mood. Hunter has this face more often but his is easy to forgive because the next second he is happy and hugging me. So yes, everyone has their days. I just wish it was cute for ME to be in a bad mood.

Preschool Graduation

It is kinda funny to "graduate" from preschool, but it was pretty cute to see Preslie sing with her class and get a little cap and certificate. I am not a huge fan of preschool- I know Pres didn't need it- but I think and hope she had a good experience and learned at least a little bit! She is growing up into such a darling girl. I can't believe it sometimes. I especially can't believe I am old enough to have a kindergarten kid this fall! Whoa!

A Day of Warm Weather

When I heard Tuesday was going to be in the 60s and Wednesday was going to drop to the 40s, I knew it was time to get outside and enjoy the day! We had a lovely picnic lunch out on our sidewalk and later went to a little park to feel that nice gentle sun on our skin. The kids always amaze me with the fun they can come up with. This is just another day that I am grateful that mommyhood is my career, my life, and my love. I wouldn't miss this for anything!

Easter Sweeties

One of those pics that Moms go nuts for. No visible dirt, both looking AND smiling! I love these two!

Good Friends

Visiting friends I haven't seen for a long time is so much fun for me. But I need more than 2 hours to catch up on everything! Anne is one of the best gals ever made. Let's get together soon!

Super Fun Cousin Easter Weekend!

What a wonderful thing to see your kids play with your sisters kids so well and be such good buddies. I love family...because they are really just best friends that are right on your family tree!
My sister's twins- now 7 months old. Adorable!
Preslie lost her second tooth, again while at Grandma & Grandpa's. She is standing in the same place as the time I took her photo holding the first lost tooth.

The traditional basket find and egg hunt never get old! It is almost more fun to see my kids do it than it was doing it as a kid.

Conference Weekend in West Jordan

It is Spring here! Yea! Love love seeing the daffodils...the first sign of Spring. We had a great time making bouquets.
Gotta love the guys that go for 2 extra hours of conference at the Priesthood Session. No, Dax is not standing on anything, he really is 9 inches taller than my dad.
What would a trip to Grandma and Grandpa's be without a ride on the 4-wheeler. Great fun for all ages. Just slow down a little, Lance, those are my babies you have on there!

A Little Help

This girl is such a sweetheart. I just love catching her doing these little things that makes a mom's heart jump out of her chest.

3pm at the Mangus house

This is usually my time to get lots of things done! It just kills me that I am loosing so much valueable cleaning or scrapbooking time. I would love to be awake for my "me" time! But my body will simply not let me stay up. I will have to embrace it and find other ways to be efficient!

Brave Boy

A lot of moms might be a nervous wreck when they take their little boys to the park. But not me. This kid is anything but a daredevil. Where other moms are busy watching their kids' every move to ensure they won't fall and break their head, I am exerting all my energy to get this kid to go down the tube slide. But now, at 3 years old, my son went down every slide at Lundstrom Park (and survived!). It is great to see your kids succeed, even if it is just a scary tube slide.