Happy Thought- Sweeter than honey

I love flowers! This is a boquet of flowers that are growing around my yard. I am thankful for God who created them and the previous owners of the house who planted them!

"Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul."
~ Henry Ward Beecher ~

Happy Thought- lazy days

So I was taking a break from Happy Thought thinking that my reading public might be sick of them. But a strange thing happened- I stopped thinking of things I was thankful for and thereby my mood plummeted. So my dear readers, you may skip reading them all you like for I don't make you read my posts anyway. I will continue with Happy Thoughts because I desire to be happy. (Can you tell my dear reader that I am reading Jane Eyre! If you haven't read it, she always addresses the reader of the book- I kind of like it like me and Charlotte Bronte are tight!)
So my happy thought for today is lazy days. Yesterday was a doozy (anyone know the correct spelling of doozy if it is even a word) of a lazy day. I didn't feel well so the bare minimum happened- we got dressed and fed and that was about it. My amazing husband came home and cooked dinner of his own invention. If I named it it would be something of the sort of... well I won't give my creative title but it would be Ginger Chicken and Eggplant stew.
The reason I am most thankful for my lazy day yesterday is that by the end of the day I hated myself. I was sick with idleness and today I vow to accomplish more. I still don't feel well but it is 9am my kids are dressed and fed and I am off to take a shower. Once I am ready I think we will go to the children's museum... maybe not productive but at least out of the house.

"Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others."
~ Cicero ~

Momma Michelle

Sat. we had a fun baby shower for Michelle. She looks so amazingly adorable pregnant! Michelle was one of my roommates when I first got home from my mission. She had to endure me during one of the craziest times of my life! She is so compassionate and kind. Yet she is also one of the sassiest and funniest people I know. I don't have any pictures of her pregnant but here are a couple from college:
OK this one actually doesn't focus on her very well but it had so many of us from the Villa I just had to post it! She is the cute one bottom left.
She is the hippy in this picture throwing you a peace sign.

Now that we have established that she is a fun, cute, sassy girl lets get down to why she is the subject of my post instead of my normal- the boys. At her shower Liz asked us to give her a piece of "mommy advice." I use to think really well on my feet but not since having children. I feel like I fumbled up what I was trying to say and didn't even say the most important thing of all so here it is- my real mommy advice.
The most important piece of advice I can give you (and believe me I need this advice today!) Is to enjoy every stage. They really do grow up so fast! I remember people saying that to me as a kid and I thought that they were crazy but honestly I am still shocked all the time by the fact that Turner isn't a baby anymore. So during those sleep deprived early days when you wreak of spit up, you are frustrated with breast feeding and all you want is a shower and a nap but you can't have either one, stop and hold your little guy really tight and try to memorize what he smells like and enjoy that he just wants to be held- it is over before you know it. And the second piece of advice is forget what you say you will and will not do or what your mom or your mother-in-law or your sisters tell you to do. Listen to advice but trust your instinct. You can find studies that back up anything you want to do- you want to co-sleep you will find an expert that says that is the only way, if you want them in their own room crying it out after they hit 11 lbs during the night then you will find some other expert to support that also! The key is this is your child given to you by Heavenly Father- you are his steward and you need to do what you think is right in your gut. Sometimes those gut feelings are vague and sometimes they aren't there at all and most importantly they will be different for every child but you are his mom and you know what is best for him.
So my dear friends and family what advice would you give a first time mom? Or any mom for that matter- I know I need all the advice I can get today!

Another request

Nicole asked me to post a picture of Turner's cake- Not too fancy and there was a huge fault line that ran through it but he enjoyed it. He had a hard time after he opened a present because he just wanted to play with it instead of opening the others. His grandma and grandpa Thomson boght him a zoo pass that we used for the first time Wed. He hasn't stopped talking about it! He really was impressed by the elephants and hasn't stopped talking about how they pooped. I will haveto get pictures next time!

A river runs through it

Looking Down the Creek

Looking up the creek

Melissa asked me almost a month ago to post pictures of the creek in our backyard. Three years ago when we were engaged and looking for a house we decided to take a look at a house for sell in my in-laws neighborhood. I had no intentions of living that close to them but when I walked into the backyard I fell in love. I LOVE water of all kinds and I couldn't resist the beautiful creek that ran through the back of the property. The peach and cherry trees were also in bloom and I couldn't get it out of my mind. The house was in good shape but in desperate need of an update. There are still things that need to be done and a million things we would do if we had the money including re landscaping the yard. Of course I wouldn't mess with the creek though- I feel like I am in the middle of the mountains somewhere without a care in the world! We did have to put up a temporary fence this year to keep the kids from drowning in it- so with that in place I can enjoy my sanctuary again! Sorry it took so long Melissa but I do usually end up keeping my word :)

Happy Thought- Dads and Brothers

Yesterday we celebrated Father's Day. I was grateful for the time set aside to honor some great men in my life. I didn't get to celebrate with my Father but I am so grateful for the Stalwart example that he is in my life. He is an amazing man full of compassion, meekness and conviction. He is strong and faithful and an unchanging example. I am so thankful that he is my dad. I did get to celebrate Father's day with my father-in-law. We even got to watch home videos of him raising his children. Mark is a gentle man who loves his family very much. He loves being a grandpa and his grand kids love him.
Best of all was celebrating with my amazing husband. He is such a terrific father. he loves his boys and would do anything for him. He loves to play with Turner and is gentle and kind with Max. He is always open to learning ways to become a better father and he prays for guidance. Josh is a great example of perseverance and fortitude. I am lucky that my sons have him as an example. Someday my sons will follow in his footsteps and have children of their own.
I am have really enjoyed the relationship between Turner and Max lately. Turner is so tender and kind with Max. Max is always smiling and gooing at him. Today Turner did something that made Max mad and it was so funny to watch the interaction. I was worried how I would deal with their relationship. Everyone always said how hard brothers are and how much they fight and how competitive they are. I am sure we will deal with that but for now i am just enjoying the fact that despite it all- they love each other! I am so Thankful for fathers and brothers.

"You simply will not be the same person two months from now after consciously giving thanks each day for the abundance that exists in your life. And you will have set in motion an ancient spiritual law: the more you have and are grateful for, the more will be given you."
~ Sarah Ban Breathnach ~

Happy Thought- Dixie Miss Trixie

Does your car have a name? Growing up our cars always had names - the bomb (no this was before that connotation was a good thing) the silver bullet which we all secretly called Satan because the licence plate was DYD 666. There was the titanic which was a huge boat that had some misfortune and of course my favorite was the huge extended van that I drove my senior year. Don't be jealous but this car had velvet seats- the back bench folded out to a bed at one point there were even curtains and vertical blinds! Yeah so we called it the party wagon or the momma mobile either way we could pile half the senior class. Who am I kidding! I was not that popular but still it was pretty cool. In college there was Bob the tomato that got squished in the Virgin River Gorge by a drunk driver. Even though that car didn't have A/C I still loved it. After Bob got squished I tried to name the next car Goldie but it never really stuck. After Goldie was the Red CRV- I never named that car for I thought that I had out grown such childish notions. Then along came Dixie. I named our old Honda Odessy a few months back when I needed to convince her to take it easy up a large hill in the middle of the winter. Yet I never muttered the name aloud as I knew Josh would think it foolish. On our way back for CA when our dear Van was unable to shift gears smoothly we had to coax her again with kind and loving words and Dixie's full name was thus reveled as Dixie Miss Trixie. We showered her with compliments and praise especially when after two days she finally made it into overdrive. Yesterday Josh brought Dixie Miss Trixie home after being in the shop for over a week and out of commission for almost two! So here is to you Dix! Your one great gal! Even if a new transmission cost us our kids college education ;)

"Thank God--every morning when you get up--that you have something to do which must be done, whether you like it or not. Being forced to work, and forced to do your best, will breed in you a hundred virtues which the idle never know."
~ Charles Kingsley ~

Happy Birthday Turner!!!

There are a million and one pictures so don't feel obligated to watch them all- this is just a sampling of the Love and Laughter Turner has brought into our lives the past two years!


Turner I love you in so many ways! Here are 24 reasons why- One for each month you have been in our lives:
1. You love to be wherever I am.
2. You love your daddy.
3. You get so excited whenever you see a "big big truck"
4. You made me a mommy and it is my favorite thing in the whole world.
5. You love people young, old, big, little it doesn't matter- they love you too.
6. You always want to hold your little brother.
7. Even though I have to change your diaper and your brother's diaper, you can still convince me that I should also change Elmo's diaper.
8. You have always been pretty content to go with the flow. You are getting more opionated as you get older but as long as we are busy you are usually happy to be doing whatever.
9. You love to be outside.
10. When you are playing you are so busy and seem to almost have an agenda.
11. You smile and say hello to everyone you see.
12. You love trains, cars, boat, big trucks, anything with a motor.
13. You attack your food with tenacity. You might not get it all in your mouth but it isn't from a lack of trying.
14. You love Jesus and get so excited when you see his picture.
15. You LOVE books and would be happy if I would sit there and read to you all day long.
16. You love your baby brother and can always make him smile.
17. Your cousins are your favorite people and you can name everyone in our family pictures without a whole lot of help.
18. Nursury is the highlight of your week.
19. Walks always make you happy.
20. You can pull your brother in the wagon all the way around our hilly block.
21. You are a snuggle bug.
22. You are the BEST sleeper and have slept through the night since you were really little.
23. You never complain about taking a bath- anything to do with water you are game for (even the Ottesons freezing cold swimming pool.)
24. You have the best sense of humor and make me laugh everyday!

happy thought- baby smiles

I am so thankful for baby smiles. Although babies smile at everyone, there is something in them that makes you feel special. When he smiles at me, I feel like I matter somehow in this world. One of those can wipe away a rough night, getting pooped on and even a marathon crying fit. Thank you Max for your wonderful smile!

"Every time we remember to say "thank you", we experience nothing less than heaven on earth."
~ Sarah Ban Breathnach ~

I could have guessed that!

You Are Mulan!

Strong and spirited. You're no one's girly girl; actually you are very determined person with a strong sense of self. Never let go of that! The only thing that equals your sense of self is your family, but the traditions of society can always be bent to protect something or someone you love.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

Marriage Tag

Well- I knew Sherrie Nelson so I am tagged and happy to do it!! (I love tag)
1) How long have you been married? 3 years next month- yeah we don't waste time do we? 3 years- 2 kids we are following the commandment to multiply and replenish.

2) How old is your spouse? 29 - 2 months younger than me.

3) Who eats more? I eat more often- I have 3 meals a day where as Josh eats whenever but fills his plate for sure.

4) Who said I love you first? Josh- but we were both wanting to but thought that it was way too early.

5) Who is taller? Josh

6) Who sings better? Me.. he never sang when we met- I am now just getting him to realize that singing is fun and you don't have to be good at it! We have fun singing in church and we see who can make the best "pro singer face."

7) Who is smarter? Hummm.... this all depends on what you are talking about. Josh can remember random facts like no one can. He is observant and sees things I don't. He also has spacial genius he can see how things are put together way before the pieces are all there. I on the other hand love school and learning and probably know more about human behavior (I hope so since that is what my degree is in.)

8) Who controls the T.V. remote? Josh, Josh, Josh. Even the other night I suggested that I get a night to hold the remote and he said no! We probably got in that habit because I don't watch too much TV and honestly would rather do something else. He thinks he has to hold it because he was an only child for 7 years and has never had to share it.

9) Whose temper is worse? Humm... Josh's is behind the wheel. Mine is worse over everyday stupid things. But we both get more mellow the older we get.

10) Who does the laundry? Josh does most of the time. At least he brings it down, washes and drys it. I usually end up folding it and putting it away.

11) Who does the dishes? Me unless I ask him to while I feed the baby or give the boys a bath.

12) Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Right side when you are standing at the bottom looking at it or while you are in it? From the perspective of looking at it- Josh does. We have a huge sliding glass door on that side of the room and he likes to sleep by it just in case a bad guy breaks in. My question is what if the bad guy comes in the front door? Then I would be closer ti him :)

13) Who cooks dinner? I usually do but Josh helps out on occasion. He loves to experiment with food. I can say we are having hamburgers for dinner and he will always have a suggestion of what I can do to make it different.

14) Who is more stubborn? Depending on what it is about but I would say me

15) Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Oh that would probably be me but Josh is also a champ with saying he is sorry.

16) Who has more friends? Life long good friends I do. Josh can strike up a conversation with someone waiting to return a movie at the redbox but the people we hang out with are my friends.

17) Who has more siblings? I do. I have 6 and Josh has 1.

18) Who wears the pants in the family? We make big decissions together but Josh wears the pants (at least I let him think he does :)

happy thought-my husband, boy bonding time

We have only done this twice but Josh will take the boys for an hour or two on a Sat. while I get stuff done around the house. It is so freeing to be able to get things done without wondering about what Turner is getting into while I am busy. I am so grateful for such an amazing husband that is willing to do this for me. Josh is truely my companion and best friend and I feel very lucky to have as my husband. Josh- you are my #1 happy thought!

"Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude.
Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness.
Thankfulness may consist merely of words.
Gratitude is shown in acts."
~ David O. McKay ~

happy thought- good books

I am thankful for good books! I checked Jane Eyre out of the library before we left on vacation but didn't get a chance to start the book until a few days ago. Although it is a bit of a slower read for me (I have to check the footnotes every so often) I love it (so far.) A couple of summers ago Josh and I did a "Thomson summer reading program." If you earned 5,000 points then you got to go and pick out a new book. You earn a point per page and then different kinds of books are worth a certain amount of points. We decided to revive the program again this summer; and classics are worth 1,000 and since Jane Eyre is a classic- I am starting off with a bang this summer. I am thankful for good books- especially when they are worth a lot of points :)

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."
~ Marcel Proust ~

Happy Thought- The atonement

The day I got baptised was a great day. My parents made sure that it was something that I would remember for the rest of my life. My grandma and grandpa Anderson were there (my grandma and grandpa Mangum were mission presidents in FL at the time.) Aunts, uncles and cousins, primary teachers and friends all gathered for my special day. Afterward there were refreshments and mingling. After the festivities we were cleaning up the church and something terrible happened. I don't remember the details but I know it involved a 2 liter Sprite bottle and it ended up with me yelling at Jason. He looked at me and with a smile he said: "your not perfect anymore." That was it! I had ruined it; my perfect streak only lasted an hour or so. I was devastated. And I realized that my life would be one of sin.

It wasn't until I was older that I realized that sinning was part of the plan. God knew that it would happen and he loved us anyway. It was because of this love that he provided a Savior, a brother, to suffer in place of us for our sins. Now sinning does bring a lot of suffering not only to those who have been vicimized but also to those who did the sinning. Yet Christ can take that suffering from us so we can be whole again. I am thankful for the amazing power that the atonement has to make us all whole again.

"To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven."
~ Johannes A. Gaertner ~

Happy Thought- strollers

I am so thankful for strollers! Without a car this week we have been doing as much walking (as the weather permits) as we can just to get out of the house. Thank you mom for buying it when I Max was born. I love our stroller and I am thankful that someone invented them.

"He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has."
~ Epictetus ~

My Mom

I know my vacation counted as my happy thought for the day but today is my mom's birthday! I am so thankful for her today. She is the woman that gave me life. Not only did she bring me into this world but she brought me up in this world. My mom is the greatest mom in the whole world. She is stalwart and strong. She is an amazing example of faith and patience. She has a wonderful relationship with the Savior. She also is very close with her children- I know she has worked hard to maintain those throughout our lives. She also has accomplished much- she got her masters degree when she was 55! I love this woman and she is my happy thought today! I am thankful for my mom! Happy Birthday!

San Diego

MANGUM FAMILY REUNION!
We are back! We had a fabulous time in San Diego last week. We left on Sunday and went as far as Mesquite, NV. We had high hopes of swimming in the pool the next morning but it didn't open until 9 and that is when we wanted to hit the road but we had already got into our swim suits.
Here the boys are before we changed them back into thier clothes. Max started smiling a week before we left- it melts my heart everytime. This isn't the best picture of his smile but you can get a glimpse of it. His face looks funny in this picture but he is such a cutie. It is great that I have a child that will smile at the camera (for now) as Turner pretty much boycotts it.

On Tuesday we went to Scrippts Birch aquarium. The coolest part was the kelp forest. We got to watch a diver feed the fish.

Wednesday we hung out at the beach. That night we had a retirement party for my dad. It is always crazy with 12 grandkids- 5 of them being 2 but we had a great time. Congrats Dad on 36 years of wonderful service to our family and the community! Aren't my parents cute?

Turner couldn't get enough of the water or the sand.



Thursday we went to Legoland. Josh loves legos and makes AMAZING structures with them. He was in heaven. Of course Josh also loves Starwars making this the perfect photo op. (I think the light sabor was positioned for little kids- oops)

Turner is in love Thomas and so he loved this lego version. He cried when we had to leave it.



The best part was just hanging out with the family and goofing off.

On Friday we had a little birthday party with all of the cousins for Turner's birthday. He is going to be 2 on the 12th. I can't believe he is going to be 2 already although he has been acting two for a month or so now so it shouldn't be a suprise.

Here he is before he "blew out his candles" really the wind was so bad that he didn't really get a chance to blow them out but we tried our hardest. We must have lit like 15 matches to get it to light and that is Thanks to my brother who insisted that we get the candles lit.


The condo we stayed in was right on the beach. It was amazing to look out the window and watch the waves. This is the view from our window.

Here is a picture of the condo (this is for you Heather- I am not sure that it stands out much!) Overall it was a great week. If you want to see more pictures of my family go to this website: ginahansenphotography.com User name is mangum and password is beach. We had a great time!
On the way home our transmission started going out! With a lot of faith, and prayers on behalf of our family we made it home slowly. We haven't got the van looked at yet so we aren't sure of the damages but it looks like it will probably be in the range of $3,000. It makes it an expensive family vacation but that trial helped me remember why I married my husband. I knew we could get through anything together. I am greatful for families, the beauty of the earth the Lord made for us, and trials that make us stronger!