Looking for Christmas Magic!

Sarah and Drew wish you all find the magic of the Christmas Season.

Photo by their mother, Kelli, used without permission -- SORRY KELLI!
I mean, doesn't that look like a Rockwell picture? It's amazing what a iPhone camera and some filters will do.

Update: Kute Kids 'Kaus ... Of Course: Families

With thanks to Grumpa for grabbing these off social media, so I can collect them and share all at once:

The Twins:

Kelli says: "DQ* for supper, What was I thinking!"

 *Dairy Queen

I share a lot about Grumpa and Grandmary, but the twins had a special trip in mid-March to see their relatives on the other side of the family tree --their maternal grandpa and great-grandma.

Here's the story in Kelli's own words:

I took the kids to visit my Dad ... The emotions of the day are just now coming to the surface. For those of you who don't know, my dad has Parkinson's disease. He is now in a nursing home as he can no longer be home alone. It was so sweet to see my little boy jump right in his lap and snuggle and give kisses to Papa. My kids have never known him any other way, so they just love him exactly as he is. I was tired, frustrated and just plain worn out from the trip with two grumpy toddlers and Drew, then I took the time to look at the pictures I had taken. Worth every minute to see these!

 Great Grandma Mangum and Sarah

The Idaho Krew:

Christina had this to say: "Exploring today for our Sunday walk. We saw geese, all different kinds of fish, and a turtle."

 Thank goodness for social media and digital photos. It's amazing to see them all growing up before our eyes.

Sunday Sweets: Storytime and Silly Faces

 Starting Sarah out on the Classics early:

Baby Lit™ Classics, including:

Jane Eyre

Romeo and Juliet

Funny faces with Mom and Cannon

photos via Kelli's iTouch/iPhone

Summer of Sarah: Random Shots

Occasionally I realize that my inbox, iMessenger, and phone are full of random photos of my family that I haven't shared. These are all just from Sarah this year. Look at how big she's getting!

Photos courtesy of various family members, mostly her dotting parents

Happy Birthday to the Twins!

 How has it been a year already since Dos Bebes arrived ... little miraculous peanuts barely an armful?

I don't know what was in that baby food formula (Miracle Grow?) because they are so chock full of personality 

and like five times the size they were when they arrived.

Happy Birthday little ones. 

Hope you get lots of presents today and get all the cake your little hands can get 

a hold of and as stuffed as your faces can get.

I anticipate you'll need to slip into your birthday suits to be hosed down.

 Sarah and Cannon in their

 Birthday suits!

 NO impishness there at ALL! NONE.

All photos care of the family and the grandparents.

6 weeks and counting until I get to squeeze all kinds of little cheeks.

Time Flies: The Twins Grew Up!

Look at what a difference about 10 months makes! 

 Happy Birth Week Nov. 2012

Cannon and Sarah: Professional Glamor Baby Shotz (TM)

Happy Thanksgiving 2012!

No one could stay up to check on Santa.

January 2013: Stare down: Sarah wins!

FEED US! We're hungry!

We solemnly swear we are up to no good! They learned from the Weasleys.

Duckface and "Cheese!"

Look at us, we're fancy!

Unimpressed twins are unimpressed!

Look at Cannon's drooooooooool!

Sarah does not like tummy time.

Webble wobble twins

Making a break for it on Labor Day.

Yep. They are standing.

 Ah yes, the obligatory baby butt shots. Had to. 

Luckily, there is NO traffic to this site.

Also, to note, for the record: Cannon's super resemblance to Drew at those ages.

Sarah is her OWN distinct little personality, for sure.

Thanks to my parents, sibs, family Facebook accounts, and e-mail for the majority of these pictures. 

I haven't shot anything of them, or SNUGGLED, since January. 

They won't want to snuggle so much in December.

Sad Auntie is sad.

When is my flight again? December 20-what?

Photos of the Day: Family Fotos

Time for family photo therapy! Look at how big everyone has gotten. 

Thanks to Grandmary and Grumpa for sharing. 

 Sarah, Drew, and Cannon

Amber, Nathan, and Elle (plus pets!)

Man, I miss these kids! Time to book plane tickets for this winter!

Happy Auntie's Day 2013 to Me!

Skyping with the kiddos, July 20, 2013

Courtesy of Grandmary and Grumpa 

l-r: Sarah*, Amber, Drew, Elle, Cannon*, and Nathan

*unimpressed twins are unimpressed

I can't believe how big they are all getting.

Happy Birthday Mom!

 Happy Birthday Mom!

Doesn't it just seem like yesterday that you were this tiny and

 taking this big step to create your own family tree?

Oh wait. What? You don't want me to remind you of that? 

Or take a picture of you with your mouth full of a Frosty-like substance?

Which is it? Both?

Tough. I'm not sorry.

Why?

Because it's so FUN to document these little candid moments of your life for your progeny.

 Like: When you were "keeping an eye on the rolls so they don't burn" or 

"I'm just HELPING! You spelled that wrong. Again."

 I KNOW your mother taught you not to point ... because you CONSTANTLY told us not to point.

(Oh, it's a mule deer -- off there in the distance in Zion National Park. Well ... it's still not okay.)

Kids ... DON'T POINT! This is my point.

 It's better to be a listener and a friend, especially on trail walks through national parks.

 

I always enjoy seeing you be the Grandmary - which ever way you can. 

In person, on trips, or even over Skype. 

I'm so happy you love all your grandkids.

I hope you got to snuggle with the littles in Idaho this last little bit,

just like you got to snuggle with the twins when they were still teeny.

 Those babies surely do have you wrapped around their once little tiny fingers.

 So I wish you a very happy birthday - on the road once again. 

Safe travels, check in when you can, don't drive distracted, or sleepy. 

Stop every once in a while and let Dad out for a pit stop.

And my apologies ... your gift is ... um ... somewhere in the mail. 

Somewhere.

And, well, it is probably "what's in the box."*

Wishing you lots of love,

and a very Happy Birthday.

xo ME!

*Inside family joke - to eventually be carved on Dad's footstone.

Pictures from trips out West  December 2012/January 2013