Curious George and the Dentist

We've been enjoying our Children's Museum membership once or twice a week lately because 1)our membership ends at the end of the month and 2)there is the most adorable Curious George exhibit on display there that my boys have been loving. It's getting tricky to take both my boys there these days because they often want to go in opposite directions. So Justin and I have been going on our own during Joseph's preschool so he can run the show. It's been so fun to spend that time with him and be able to give him my full attention. And it feels relaxing to only have one kid to keep track of!Joseph just keeps showing me how grown up he's getting! I haven't taken him to the dentist in a year and a half because the last time we were there, he was a wreck. He clung to my leg and buried his face and wouldn't sit in the chair. It was pretty pointless. So I didn't know what to expect when we went yesterday. I asked a friend to watch Justin and prepped Joseph as well as I could. He was determined to be brave and even sounded sincerely excited about it all day. When we drove up, I could see him getting uneasy about the whole thing, but he did so great! He was very quiet, but was a perfect patient. Except for the fact that he spit his flouride water all over the hygienist before she had the spit cup up to his mouth. It was hilarious. As we left he told me that the dentist was "the funnest thing ever!" What a turn around! We'll see how long that attitude lasts. I think he was mostly just proud of himself, as was I. The next test: swim lessons! He starts next week and he has a couple of friends in his class, so here's hoping I'm pleasantly surprised again!

Spring Fever (and other musings about my kids)

We enjoyed the most beautiful weather this week! It was such a wonderful taste of spring. But of course, it was just a tease, today we're back to the rain and wind and I'm blogging about it now to remind myself that it wasn't just a dream. We had such a great time playing at the park and in the backyard for three days in a row. Joseph put his Christmas scooter to useand Justin found out he can make the big wheel go with his feet like a big boy now.
The kids were just as rejuvenated by the weather as I was. They were giddy with excitement at the park and because it's been months since they've been there, they were pleased to find that they could do more than the last time they were there. Joseph was brave enough to go down the fire pole all by himself for the first time and he couldn't get enough of it.Justin was just one of the kids, navigating the stairs and the slides like a pro and on a high from his newfound independence. He thought it was great that he could look down on me from up on the play structure. Where did my baby go?!I've never been so happy to see grass stains on Joseph's jeans and pick up pieces of wood chips off my rug! But my boys are also finding fun stuff to do inside. Here are their new favorite things to do. Joseph is getting ready for scouts by experimenting with knot tying. He uses his jumprope to tie up people, toys, furniture, etc. I'm glad he's moved on to furniture because a couple of weeks ago, I was getting tied up multiple times a day. Justin will line up his cars with intense focus for the longest time, just changing their configurations.Tonight we had the best time together playing with Legos. That sounds silly, I know. But the legos get pushed far under the bed and only get found every couple of months, so it's like they're new everytime they come out. We were sitting in Joseph's room after dinner and I was wondering how we were going to pass the hour before bedtime when I got them out. The three of us built tower after tower and they went to bed late because we were giggling and just enjoying each other so much. I would build the base, and then Justin would build the tower straight up while Joseph filled in around the tower and provided the imagination. We built a control tower for space ships, a temple, Daddy's building, and when we ran out of legos, we'd knock it down and start over. The boys were so cute working together and actually conversing. It's so fun to see them start to be able to communicate! Joseph would praise Justin or laugh at the excited noises he kept making. And Justin kept laughing and saying, "funny shuh shuh" (the adorable way he says "Joseph"). It was just one of those times when it feels so good to be a mom. I thought I should record it so I can go back and read it when I'm having one of the times it doesn't feel good to be a mom.

More fun in Utah!

Yes, we are so spoiled. We (me and the boys, we left Darren home to work), took another trip to Utah just to hang out with family. And that's just what we did: hang out with each other and enjoy each other. I got a new camera and it's taken me awhile to figure out how to get my pictures off of it. But I finally did it. So here's my favorites.
Look at these cute kids! These girls are the reason I love to go to Utah often. They grow and change too fast.4 generations of Mangums.My Dad and Justin in that beautiful Utah snow.Playing Guitar Hero at my sister's house. So I know I'm way behind on this Wii thing. I'd never played Guitar Hero before this night, but it was so stinking fun! I wasn't very good on the guitar, and Joseph on drums kept yelling at me because I kept making us lose. It was so funny. Justin and Joseph LOVED the drums. But look at what a cute guitar rocker Joseph is too.Justin was mesmerized.We also had the opportunity to go to the Draper Temple open house and it was the most beautiful experience! My mom watched the two littlest grandkids while my sister, Michelle and I took our oldest kids to the temple. (Thanks, Mom!) It was so amazing to walk through that temple with Joseph and talk about the rooms and how special of a place it is. Joseph kept saying, "It's so beautiful!" My favorite part was the sealing room. To look in those mirrors with him, the place where my sealing began, and talk about being a forever family was something I'll never forget. It was a literal reminder that I need to be living worthy of the blessing of being with that little boy forever. I am so grateful for the blessing of temples on this earth today and for the opportunity to have felt the Spirit in the temple with my son.