“Holden,” I begin, addressing my precocious four-year-old one morning on our way to pre-school, “I'm proud of you for getting your jobs done and getting ready so fast this morning.”
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| The Front of Our Card |
I can’t promise I’ll be
fast for our yearly recount, but I am announcing this as the swan-song for our
printed “yearly brag.” (At least for anyone under the age of 60.) My
inner-hippie is already conflicted enough about sending Christmas cards, so I
guess a move to a future electronic letter is my compromise. We shall consider
this December “Lucky 2013” and the end of an era. But as far as this past year’s
updates:
We continued our tradition of travel -- St. George a few times, “Upstate Utah” (aka The
Barn in Eden) and trying to impersonate the 1% with a couple of adventures to Sun
Valley, ID; some time in La Mision, Mexico and a stint in San Diego at the
Hotel del Coronado. Some trips for fun, plenty deemed as “work,” but all were a
blast.
On the school front – we made the “controversial” decision to homeschool Zoë this year (I’m kidding, nothing controversial about
it. She just barely turned two this month!) She’s home with me, and we’re
attending a weekly Mommy & Me style class at The Little Gym, where our
daughter and her toddling companions are already being ingrained with the
importance of a strong and tight core. It’s a “competition free” environment –
unless you’re trying to “Keep Up with the (Jonses) Kids” who sport Ralph Lauren
and miniature True Religion jeans for tot-time. Oy vey.
For Danny, in
addition to his full-time status as a VP at Mountain West Small Business
Finance, the man of the house just hit the half-way point for completing his
Masters of Human Resource Management at Utah State University.
Holden (turning five
in February) is thriving at Elizabeth Academy Montessori. The teachers seem to
appreciate and love him for so many of the same reasons we think he’s fabulous:
his wit, imagination and enthusiasm. Unfortunately he takes after his mother
when it comes to volume control on his voice level: “He’s definitely one of the
loudest children in class,” his teacher tells me…she was being gracious using
the phrase “one of.” So we’ve all been using this as an opportunity to work on
our inside voices. It is harder for
some of us than others. #ItsNotHardForDanny
In addition to making
lots of friends, and basic preschool curriculum (letters, numbers, science,
etc), Holden’s also learning practical life skills. One day after I picked him
up he told me it was “another great day at school!”
“Did you learn about
art?” I asked.
“No, just finance,”
he responded.
Whether or not that’s
true, we do know he’s enjoying the art, music therapy and Virginia Tanner dance
classes that are included in the curriculum at EA. They also practice yoga
daily, and I’ve been volunteering once a month to spread the yoga-love with his
fellow Early Childhood classmates.
Speaking of Yoga, we have been getting our asana on this year! There’s been loads of teaching for me (We Are Yoga Studio
in Canyon Rim, Tekton Crossfit in Murray, church, community lessons and private
students) plus Holden and I were featured on FOX13 for a segment about Yoga for
Kids! I know, I know -- the Mangums & “FOX” – who would’ve thought we’d be
such a great combination? Obviously it wasn’t their national “news” station. Zoë
also joined me at the studio for a
plethora of Yoga Playdate classes, and can often be found rolling out her mat at
home for an impromptu session -- needless to say Mama’s proud.
Besides, loving her
classes at The Little Gym: our spirited and sweet little nursling has been doing
lots of things her welf (i.e. Z-speak
for “self”). Whether it’s putting on a coat or boots, pouring orange juice or
climbing on top of a toilet to use the restroom, she’s surprised us with her
independence – which is also accompanied by a deep attachment to yours truly. We
are grateful she’s content to be watched by the Grandparents, and someday she
may even willingly go to nursery at church without needing one of us by her
side.
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| The Back - obviously... |
We’ve also tried to eat a little
cleaner this year. “Red-dye makes me
crazy,” Holden has said, on more than one occasion. He has taken an active role
in helping our family make better choices, like for instance the time he yelled
at his sister: “Come on Zoë! Let's protect the robots of death from stealing
our wheatgrass!”
Sometimes his critique on
the family-foodstuffs was a little harsh: "Do you have anything better for
me to eat than this soup and that sandwich?” Or after my attempt at a stir-fry
he did not appreciate: “You ought to be ashamed of yourself!” At which point we
reviewed and revamped our media policy trying to figure out where he heard such
a thing.
The kid’s full of hilarious
one liners (some of which are logged on facebook for posterity) like a few days
following a lesson on the Good Samaritan at church: "I really wish the guy
that fell on the ground had been wearing a helmet.” And, "Mom You were
listening to me great today!" Then proceeds to kind of cry and smile:
"This is a happy cry..."
2013 has been a year of “happy cries” and
adventure. We’re thankful for you --
our family and friends who inspire us to be better, help keep us grounded and
bring so much joy to our lives. We’re thankful for the miracle of Christmas,
and for all the special offerings this season (however celebrated) brings. Love
and light to you and yours.
Sabrena
for The Mangums
December
2013
