Larry and Mary Jane Mangum: January 2011

Monday, January 17, 2011

Who You'd Be Today

This song reminds me of Jeffrey!

Who would you be today?

My thoughts are consumed today with the thought of you. I can not believe that you have been gone for 7 years. Sometimes it seems like a lifetime and others just like the other day. This day it seems like just the other day. I still remember your smile, your skinny legs and bony knees, your big feet (big for all of 12 years) a size 9! Your eyes and how big and how very blue they were. I love your eyes! I remember your fingers, they were long and skinny and your nail beds were just like your dads. I remember your love of strawberry milk. I remember your tender heart and your love for your family and your friends. I remember your love for the computer and your game boy! I can remember every inch of you just like you were here with us today! I miss you so much my heart just aches to be able to have you here with us.

I also at this time wonder what kind of a young man your would have turned out to be? Handsome I am sure as all of your brother are handsome, probable would love children you were always so good with the little kids, they all loved you. I think that you would have been a great friend to others and to your brothers. I also think that you just might have been a little taller then Travis, he is 6' 5" so maybe a little bit or right at his height! (don't tell him that he likes being the tallest). I wonder what schooling you would have perused and where you would be in your life right now.

I also wonder how if you were still with us how all of our lives would be different, would we live in Idaho or would we still all be in St. George, How would Travis life be now? I know that he has had a really hard time with your being gone. He was so sweet today, he came in the bedroom and asked me how I was doing today and gave me a big hug, I told him that I missed you and he said he did too andhe even had some tears. (not sure if he really has shed many up to this date other then the day that you passed.)

Allot has happened since you have been gone, you have three nephews, and one niece! We are so blessed to know that you were able to be with each and everyone of them before they came to be with us. I would always tell them that Uncle Jeffrey kissed them and sent them on their way!

You would have been such a great Uncle to them. We now live in Idaho in the mountains this is where dad wants to be he loves it up here and he often tells me that you would have like to be up here,(of course you already know this). Another year has passed and I am not sure that it gets any easier but we are so blessed to have the knowledge that we will be able to be together again. This helps me to get through everyday without you. I know that Heavenly Father is teaching you all kinds of things and that you are teaching many young children the gospel, (I like to think that you are on your mission, you just got called early, Heavenly Father needed your help). I know that you watch over your family and help to guide us in the right direction. Please don't stop and know how very much your Mom and Dad love you!

Love Mom

xoxoxo

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

December 25, 2010

Christmas morning

This year Christmas was quiet, Kody and his family and Michael and his family were with their in laws for this year. We had Travis and his girlfriend Brynn and her little boy Kaden at the house. Brynn's father also joined us for Christmas morning, he was visiting from Portland WA.
Larry and I decided to not do anything for each other this year as money was tight and just concentrate on the boys and their families. It was fun to have a little one around this year. I was very sad that I was missing Karcyn's first Christmas and of course with Chase, Cameron and Kash. Next year will be a fun year as we will get to have all the kids with us! Yeah!

Kaden looking at his stocking

Travie helping Kaden

Brynn, Travis and Kaden

What did you get?

Jim (Brynn's father) and Brynn

I did get some books on Idaho for Larry

Travis got a web helicopter

We had a great Christmas and we are so very blessed and look forward to next year to be with all of our family. We missed you very much!

Ice Skating rink?

The H O A and Larry decided that they wanted to try and make a skating rink for the sub-division. During the fall months we were able to place rail road ties down and then we put black plastic under the ties. When it started to get cold enough for the water to start freezing, we got the huge snow storm. Well after all the snow the boys decided that they wold try and put some water down. We haled our garden hose over and started to put water in the rink, we let it run for a whole day and no water? It was running under the plastic and into the ground, we didn't understand since we thought that the ground should be frozen, (apparently not!). And with a garden hose? are you kidding me.
Larry then went to the fire department to borrow a hose from them, this worked good but the water was still leaking out.

Travis having to much fun with the fire hose and water.

Well we received and huge snow storm and now we don't know what to do if it will even work now with all the snow. Will keep you posted.

Our Tree

December 2010

Paula Hushman and I decided to put a tree in the festival of trees this year. We took one of my prelit pine trees the 3ft one and decorated it with things from the outdoors. We had earlier in the year gathered pine cones and sticks that have moss growing on them and decided to use them on this tree I turned out great! Very woodsy I loved it!

We put a Santa that we got at the Thrift store for 7 dollars and took his white fur and covered it with some rabbit fur that we found, you know to make him look like a mountain Santa.

Putting the rabbit fur on

Putting on the finishing touches

The finished Tree!

It took 1st place and sold for $109.00! All for charity

Christmas In Donnelly

December 3, 2010

The city of Donnelly every year puts on Christmas in Donnelly. This year as I am now the sectary for the chamber I got to help with putting this event on. We had a chili cook off, Santa came on the firetruck (the kids thought this was great) and gave presents to all the kids and then we also had a live band and a festival of Trees (more on that later.) It was so fun to see the community come together for this event, it was allot of fun.