THE MANNING FAMILY

SNOW DAY! and a day that I can not remember. I seem to have alot of days like that. A day will go by and I can't remember or have anything to show for getting anything accomplished. Shannon did come over for a visit. They have been out of town and it was nice for the kids to play together for a while.
Emerson has "mini-society" tomorrow. Her service is face painting and tattoos. We did drive to get some paint. Otherwise I was home all day.
The snow wasn't anything to be amazed about. We probably only got 4". Enough for school to be cancelled and warrant a 2 hour delay for tomorrow.

Happy 1/11/11! I have found myself doing alot of Blog Surfing.... all the while feeling guilty that I have abandoned mine. It's just I love reading them, they write so well and have wonderful ideas. The snow has started to fall and we should have a pretty nice covering in the morning 4"-8", but we'll see. The kids are wonderful and and Jess is just plain busy. I was looking forward to a date night, but he will be leaving for CO to teach a USAT class. I admire how many things he is good at, but enough already☺ Hope to share more very soon.

Merry Christmas

Well Hello!  A few highlights from our few weeks leading up to Christmas.  It has been fun and I am more thankful with each passing year for my friends and family. 

 

Jenn & I at our 7th Annual Cookie Exchange☺

 

Mom & Dave

 

Jess & I at the Temple Visitors Center

 

Grandkids with Dave (mom's new husband)

 

What Santa got at our house this year... truffles ☺

 

Presents came from Uncle Elijah and Aunt April, all the way from Washington!
 

New family toy has been tons of fun!

Somedays Do You Feel Like THIS????

 

Ok, so this is a picture of a Mr. Potato Head that Easton got last Christmas.  I've been trying to figure out heads and tails of my picture files, I'm getting frustrated and then I came upon this and burst out in laughter!  So, instead of going back to the picture files I think I might look at this a bit long so I can smile before I go to bed.  I might be silly, but I do wonder if anyone else thinks this is hysterical...  anyone... anyone?  Hello?  Is this thing on???

Our First Cruise

This is our family saying farewell to Miami.  Our first and hopefully not our last cruise!  We had a great time and the kids had a blast!!!  We ate, exercised, ate, went to a murder mystery dinner, played bingo, played poker, snorkeled, ate, swam in pools, swam in beautiful water, saw dolphins, slept well, kids stayed up late, went for a walk, great sightseeing, and so much more.  We boarded the Norweigan Sky on a Friday morning and came back to Miami all to soon on Monday morning.  So thankful for the opportunity only wished more Elgans could have been there.  However, great time with Aunt Connie and Aunt Norma!  It started out as a reunion cruise, but didn't end up that way......  It was beautiful weather.  We stopped in Nassau and NCL's private island, Castaway Cay.  Fun, fun, fun!  Next time we'll leave from Baltimore Port..... a few more pictures, but I'll post all of them on Facebook.  It's so much easier to download there.

 

 

 

Emerson Marie

is the little lady that made me a Mommy first.  She is thoughtful, kind, pretty, talented and fun.  She watches over her little brothers.  She is a great helper.

The end of this month she will enter 3rd grade!  I remember like it was yesterday taking her to her first day of Kindergarden.  I cried....

She has begun piano lessons and will be baptized next week.  She enjoys swimming and playing with her friends.

This weekend we will be having our first birthday sleepover... should be fun.  I'll have pictures.

So, happy birthday to my first born... I love you very, very much☺

Our Week

This week... this past week.  So we're packing for our CRUISE!  We leave Thursday for Ft. Lauderdale where we'll meet Aunt Connie and Aunt Norma!!!  We'll drive to Miami and our cruise leaves on Friday.  I hope it goes well because we are so excited!  I hope we stay well, the kids have been fighting a cough.   So my daily prayers have been for everyone to stay healthy...

So the hightlight of my week probably was last night when I was able to go to THE MALL by myself for 2 hours!  I deserved really.  I needed some tops... seems all I wear is tshirts.  I found some cute bermuda shorts too... so thanks honey!  We then had a double date to see Eclipse... so we are late bloomers around here.  We're not so into it, but wanted to see what all the hype has been about.  I hear the books are better, but sorry that won't be happening!  It was fun though.

So tonight I'm cleaning the kitchen for like the 10th time this weekend and Evan walks and and asked "Mom, is there FHE tonight?"  I said, "No, not tonight, why?"  Evan, "Because you lit a candel!"  LOL !  I explained that we had some funky smelling trash and the candle smelled nice.  Cute.

Dinner, Easton is a mess.  He was a clown at dinner.  This is how it went.  Let me explain however, that he was not eating dinner and I had a bite I was trying to feed him and he was not cooperating.

Easton-"I'm gonna smack you in the face!"

Jess-"Excuse me, who did ou just say that to?"

Easton-"Her, Mommy..."

Jess-"Why in the heck would you say that to your mommy?"

Easton-"Well.. cause she said she was gonna stab me in the lips with my fork!"

Jess started to bust to pieces laughing.... he tried not to, but if you could have seen this kids face!

In Easton's defense, I did actually say that... being funny of course, but he sure was gonna take care of me!!!

We have a busy week ahead, laundry and the cleaning of the house so I don't have to come home to a complete mess!

Have a great week everyone!

Today was a busy day.. Monday is tough, especially if my Sundays are crazy busy, which this was... the whole weekend in fact. I provided service for my husbands business Friday, Sat and Sunday.... their big Tri was on Sat only to be followed up with a "thank-you" dinner for the committee members. So I didn't get chore charts, menu planning or clean the kitchen up before Monday morning arrived. I teach on Monday mornings at the Y. A 9:30 class and this is a reminder to myself that next summer I would like to teach late morning.... kids are staying up later and this results for a mad dash out of the door so I'm not late for my little ballerinas. I exercised came home, started on the kitchen and laundry, cut the grass, finished our laundry (3 loads), worked on some Primary stuff, tended to little Easton who got his first bee sting, cleaned out the freezer from an exploded bottle of sparkling cider, made a pretty dang good dinner and had left-over sliced peaches with ice cream and "Angel Cake" (Evan's name) for dessert after FHE! Whew! I also had 2 extra children all the while☺
Jess asked Evan to go down stairs and turn the lights off in the playroom and cubby and (Mr. Sensitive) was absolutley scared... "It's o.k. Evan, I'll go with you!" -Easton
So, the end of the day is here and I am thankful for the things I have to do. So when I'm mumbling becuase I have to cut the grass or tripping over the kids messes, I guess bedtime is a good time for me to think about my day, because most days really, I look back and say "What the heck did I accomplish today?"Really though.. alot! Some important, some not. I have 3 wonderful kids and a husband who works hard at everything he does!

Evan. He says the sweetest prayers... last night he was thankful for the Holidays and spring, summer and fall. He is so, so, so, so, so thankful for his family too ☺
He is our sweet senstive little boy.

Easton

Me-"Easton, where is your shirt?" " You need to put one on."

Easton-"No, I can't, I have to show my muscles!"