Halloween

I've never really liked Halloween so much, except for all the candy. I don't do haunted houses or scary movies. I really don't like people in masks and don't cope well with being scared. However, now that I have kids Halloween has become a lot more fun.

Lachlan gets so excited about dressing up. He wanted to be a pirate and really want Zane to be his parrot and, really, I think it turned out super cute. As for me, people have been telling me for years that I should be Olive Oyl, so here it is.

This is Zane trick-or-treating.

Moab 2009

Every year, in the fall, we go to Moab with my in-laws. The best part about Moab is the climbing. There are some of my favorite climbs I've ever done there. In addition, it's not sweltering hot in the fall.

This is my favorite climb down there. I can't remember it's name or rating but it always seems just right. There are really tough parts, moderately hard parts and then a couple places to catch your breath. I love the feeling when you get to the top even though your feet and forearms are hurting it's a sweet victory.

This is Anthony on the same climb. I love to watch him climb because every once in a while he manages to look just like Spiderman :)

Before Lachlan was even born I gave Anthony a pair of tiny climbing shoes for father's day. They were the smallest I could find and they match Anthony's. Unfortunately, Lachlan has grown out of them so we tried having him climb barefoot. That didn't work so well because the rocks were hot and he couldn't get traction so we did his hiking boots instead. Either way, he loves to climb. He's just a little timid about the rappel back down.

Preschool Time

Lachlan is so excited to be starting preschool. On one trip to the store we picked up a new backpack and a folder and he felt like such a big boy. I thought it would be good to capture his first day of school, so here he is hamming it up.

Four Months Old and it's Picture Time!

I just got back in the house from taking pictures of Zane on the front lawn. Anthony's hours have been cut back so a lot of things had to go, including professionally photography. I am a very amateur photographer but I think I still got some good ones. So here is Zane at 4 months old.

The Webcam

Sometimes when dad's at work and we're bored, we play with the webcam.

Maybe I do it when the kids are asleep too :)

Playing in the Rain

Last weekend we were spending time at Anthony's parents house and it happened to start raining outside, a lot. We looked out the kitchen door and there was Lachlan. Not running, not playing, not dancing. Nope. He was just standing in the rain. I got a couple pictures before he turned around and saw me.

Cross dressing?

It started with Lachlan wearing Anthony's shoes...

then Anthony wearing Lachlan's shoes...

then a very jaundiced Zane wearing my shoes...

I have such silly boys!

Baby Zane - 16 days old

My friend Stacy Young of Three Winks Studio was awesome enough to come to my house and take pictures of the new baby.  She is so talented and the pictures are beautiful.  Here's a link to her blog and more pictures of Zane.

http://www.threewinksstudio.com/blog/2009/05/14/baby-zane-16-days-old/

Baby Zane

Zane Charles Mangum was born on April 13 at 8:20AM.  He weighed 7 lb. 1.1 oz. and was 21" long.  At 5 weeks old he already weighed 9 lb. 3 oz.  and had grown at least 1/2 " in length.  So, those are the stats... Zane is beautiful with bright blue eyes and a cute dimple on each cheek.  He's been struggling with jaundice but didn't have to go under the lights and is almost better now.  Poor kid is colicky though and must be held at almost all time, which is very tiring.  

Lachlan loves his new baby and is so sweet with him.  He is soft and gentle with him and loves giving him soft kisses and petting his fuzzy head.  Zane loves to look at his big brother.  I can't wait until he is big enough that they can play together.

Lachlan loves going to the playground

Well, Anthony's off at a scout's activity and what else is there to do on a Wednesday evening but go hang out at the playground. I even ran into some other mom's I knew there who had the same idea.

Here's the results of our photo shoot.

Yardwork

Lachlan is such a good helper. He likes to help me around the house as I clean and pick up. The newest development, however, has been his fascination with mowing the lawn. In years past he was happy to push his toy mower around while Anthony mowed the lawn, but now he gets to wear ear covers and help push the real mower just like dad. So cute!

Yummy Peanut Butter Bars

I thought I'd share this recipe because it's my most requested one.  They taste just like the ones in elementary school!  It's actually not my own recipe, but one in a compiled cookbook I got in young women's.   

Peanut Butter Bars

Cream together: 1 c. sugar, 1 1/2 c. brown sugar, 1 c. butter

Add: 2 eggs, 3/4 c. peanut butter, 1 t. vanilla

Add: 2 c. flour, 1 t. baking soda, 1/2 t. salt, 2 c. rolled oats

Bake on greased 10x15" pan at 375 degrees for 20 minutes. Cool 10 minutes. Spread with 1 cup whipped peanut butter (beat peanut butter with electric mixer 2-3 minutes). Spread with chocolate frosting (cocoa, powdered sugar, etc.) when completely cool.

* I make my own frosting according to the directions on the back of the Hershey's baking cocoa container, since store bought frosting contains trans fat.

Dear Abbey

We have been dog shopping for a little while now because we really are dog people and the house just doesn't feel right without a dog. Besides that, Lachlan has been reminding us daily that "I'm sad Simba went to Heavenly Father's. We need to get another Simba" or after seeing a dog on tv, "We don't have a dog anymore. We should get a dog, mom." So, how do you say no to that? Well, I guess we don't. Anthony did the primary dog shopping so that I wouldn't come home with every dog in the shelter :) He did a very good job.

So, without further ado, I introduce you to Abbey . She is a 1.5 year old Chocolate lab/ German Shorthair Pointer. We adopted her from the Salt Lake Humane Society last night. She is a very sweet girl. We have yet to hear her bark and she doesn't jump up on people.

Superhero

Lachlan was watching an episode of Blue's Clues, which you can see in the background, about superheroes.  They were wearing capes and masks, which made Lachlan think he should do the same.  This also reminded me of how suggestible kids are.  Good thing they weren't being assassins or bank robbers on Blue's Clues.  So, with a dish towel and a hair clip as a cape and my glasses as a mask  he was able to be one too.  I think I need to get him some dress-ups.