Merry Christmas!

OK, here's our Christmas Family Update. Many of you probably got one in the mail, but I'll put it here for the others interested and a few additions (since time moves so fast in Mangum-land!) ;)

The Bullet Points (aka our 2010 Wrap Up)

Together we

• Traveled to New York AND Hawaii with Danny’s family
• Went to California with the Suite-side and hung out with M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E
• Painted our living/dining room and have (almost) removed all the random blue painter’s tape that keeps showing up sporadically in the crevices
• Survived assembling a composter for the garden (this is a bigger deal than we are letting on)
• Spent a lot of time down south (in Saint George) and up north (“Upstate Utah” in Eden) and even took a couple of overnights in Park City

Sabrena

• Mom = 24/7, doin’ Mom things,
• Took up running, did a few races, and finished her first marathon (Saint George, Fall 2010)
• Planted a garden (with Danny & Holden;s help)…and gardened and weeded and gardened some more (the boys were not as active in this part)…and then ate the fruits of our labor.
• Baked and cooked and read — a lot
• Tried to save the planet…again
• Taught some yoga, took some yoga, tried some martial arts yoga, took up HOT yoga
• Is looking for a new theme for baby #2, but how do you top Holden’s legendary mantra “Procreate in 2008”?!?! (We are not announcing ANYTHING)...Three months until Danny's new *insurance kicks in, so we are in 'practice' verses 'trying' mode.

Danny

• Is in his second year working at Zions Bank and keeps getting promotions despite the recession SCRATCH THAT!
• Just got a new job working at Mountain West Small Business Finance (my Dad's place of work) as a Credit Analyst. Among many things we will be enjoying with the new job at MWSBF, one key piece is much better Health Insurance (thus the 3 month interregnum to make sure there's not slimy insurance talk for 'pre-existing condition)
• Spends “free time” (ha!) working with the Scouts and as the Discovery Gateway -- Salt Lake’s Children’s Museum -- Chairman of the Development Committee (Holden loves the fringe benefits that come with Daddy’s community service!)
• Is still celebrating Brandon Burton’s block at the Utah football game (especially since there wasn't much to cheer for at the Bowl game)
• Loves to ride his bike and wishes his wife would provide as many opportunities for him to ride as he has provided for her running
• Perfected his patience through supporting Sabrena in her new hobbies (e.g. organic gardening, bouts of vegetarianism, buying local, finding a free-range turkey from a local farm for Thanksgiving, et cetera, et cetera)
• Is Holden’s best bud and has already taught his son how to ‘wind up’ before pitching (in our living room, of course)
• Played a little softball, but not enough.
• Watched a bit of Sports Center, but not enough (this point is heavily contested in the home, as to how much television is a bit/a lot).
• Can categorically deny that mushrooms do not make vegetarian pasta sauce “hearty,” despite some very compelling arguments from his wife

Holden

• Loves bay-ball (baseball), boot-ball (football) and bah-ball (basketball)
• Is a great helper in the kitchen and loves to bake with Mommy
• Has early signs of a green thumb (if bowling pumpkins in our living room is any indicator?)
• Prefers to pick and eat cherry tomatoes and carrots from the garden – dirt and all
• Discovered marshmallows much to his mother’s chagrin (of course I didn’t introduce him!)
• Is a bibliophile like his mother – favorites include “Andy Warhol’s: Flowers,” “Stephen Colbert’s: I Am America and So Can You” and “Sandra Boyntons: Pajama Time” (lately he's been in-love with this John Deer Flip Book he found at his cousins. I don't think it really fits in with the Michael Pollan flow I'm trying to recreate around here.)
• Unlike his mom, is a SERIOUS DOG LOVER. He’s already in cahoots with Dad for a puppy…
• Can speak in tongues, obviously. (We assume that’s what the animal noises are? Maybe it’s just his love of God’s creatures great and small, though he tried to mount an emu at the petting-zoo this fall, so the jury’s still out.)
• Is an active participant in Mommy & Me Yoga (on and off his mat at the studio) and loves Book Babies at the Library
• Turns two in February; and is constant entertainment and the main source of joy for his parents.

We’ve had a great year and are thankful for health, happiness and the tremendous opportunities we’ve been given. We hope you and yours are doing well; and wish you all the joys of the season. All our best – Danny, Sabrena & Holden

You can follow our misadventures at www.suitespots.blogspot.com

This letter printed on Eco-Friendly “forests paper”- 2 trees planted for every 1 harvested (But this is obviously a digital version...)

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

P.S. Holden is getting a balance bike for Christmas. I seriously can't wait!

Through the Holidaze

So this is the first time in a few years that I haven't posted for the 12 days of Christmas; but my 30 Days of Thanksgiving (ok, 25-plus?) darn-near plumb-posted me out. :) Please say that last sentence with a southern belle accent... or a british accent for kicks.

But there are a few things worth noting (at least that I can remember) that I want to jot down (forgive me if I've already posted these.)

Tis the season:

• Holden got croup this month. It was really scary for us having never experienced it first hand as parents. Fortunately it was not so bad he had to go to the ER, but we did end up going to the doctors after the worst of it had passed and he got that steroid shot, which made his attention span even smaller than normal. (Ever heard the expression, "You're like a two year old on steroids? Well, maybe we invented it, but with good reason.)
• Holden still isn't speaking 'properly' (?), but he does think every word has a sound. Not just animals. For example, when I ask him to say "Santa" occasionally, he'll say "anta"... but mostly says "Ho Ho Ho" with inflection on the second Ho. It's really quite adorable.

Our Awesome Little Family posing with "hoHOho" at the Discovery Gateway "Breakfast with Santa" on Saturday. He ate breakfast with us and then we had a whole hour with the children's museum to ourselves... oh, and Santa played too!

• Holden also likes to run around the house with a clothes basket on his head...usually when he's just in a diaper or training pants. I think he got this one from Danny (not so much the training pants or diaper part. Just thought I'd clarify... stranger things have happened at this house)
• WE ARE STILL EC-ing. (It's been almost a year and a half!!!) Good thing there are so many environmental benefits, because it's getting long...yes, I know he's not even two yet. People ask me all the time if Holden's potty trained. My response? "Potty-trained, yes. Diaper-free, no," And believe me, there is a difference.
• This year I feel the most 'ready' for Christmas in the gifts, and cards, and all that jazz arena...but I've felt like I'm lacking in the spiritual side this year. Usually it so much easier for me to feel more spiritually at Christmas time. I haven't had as many experiences this year, but I know I can always 'get that feeling' when I'm holding or snuggling with Holden and I think about Mary caring for her new little babe...and the conditions in which she brought for that child. Then yes, I definitely feel something.

Foot in my mouth

You know when you're trying to give someone a compliment, but instead you end up saying something really stupid? For example, if you say something to the effective of:

"No way you can have a daughter that old! You look sooooo young. You must've been 12 when you started having kids!"

But it turns out she got pregnant in high school and so you weren't that far off?

I'm not saying this happened to me (recently)... I'm just saying I say crap like this all the time.

If I had a camera with me right now, I would take a picture of myself in a yoga pose sticking my foot in my mouth.

Thirsty

The picture is a little blurry, but Danny took this last night:

One milk, one water.

30 Days of Thanksgiving: 30-ish?

OK, I know I didn't exactly complete my 30-day Thanksgiving challenge; but I came close, and the month was filled with gratitude.

Speaking of Thanksgiving; we spent the Holiday up at "The Barn." It's the Mangum's second home in Upstate Utah (aka Ogden Valley) and our dear friend Allison Davis took family photos of the entire Mangum clan.

You can check out a sampling here.

Personally, I didn't think we could get any cuter than last year's bit...I mean we did go with the whole "christmas a sweater" thing. But I think these look great. (Wait, did I saw "we?" I meant Holden...)

Not that you care, but Danny even picked out my coat as a present. He is so metro with his keen shopping eye.

I'll be posting more pics when the CD arrives.

Thanks Allison!!!!

Cheers!