Easter Family Pictures

Since we had a lot of the family here on Easter, we attempted to take a few pictures after church while everyone still looked nice. 

Some fun cousin pictures

And a couple individual shots

Easter Week-end

Easter was extra special this year.  With Michael turning 16 and Trevor turning 12 within 5 days of each other, we had a couple of significant Priesthood Ordinances that occurred Easter Sunday.  In celebration of the ordinations and Easter, we had a lot of family come visit.  Don's parents were here, as well as my parents, and 2 of my brothers with their families.  It was great!

My parents came down Friday with 3 of the cousins, Alex, Abby & Anna. Having an extra night with cousins is always awesome. Saturday the rest of the gang joined us. We had fun playing, talking and swimming.

Michael was at a church youth conference Friday and Saturday but joined up with us Saturday night. 

Cynthia and Michael

The menfolk took the kiddos to the neighborhood park while us ladies stayed behind, filling and hiding Easter Eggs.  When they got back at dusk, it was time for a surprise Egg Hunt.

Sunday came early and we had a wonderful Easter service at church.  The younger kids sang a song in the program and Michael and Trevor were ordained as a Priest and Deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood (more on that later).  After church everyone came back for a wonderful Easter Dinner and fun together.

Easter Party with Friends

My amazing friend Susannah had a wonderful Easter Party and Egg Hunt on Good Friday.  Luke, Jake and Hayley had a blast.  There were lots of fun activities like decorating sugar cookies, dyeing Easter Eggs and a fun Easter Egg Hunt.  Not to mention playing with friends and eating great food.

Look at all those kids!

And they are off...

 

Enjoying the spoils

Thanks for a fun morning Susannah!

12!!

Trevor had a birthday in April and turned 12 years old. 

His favorite present was a watch. 

Always one to be an original, Trevor requested a giant Chocolate Chip Cookie with chocolate fudge frosting as a cake this year.  He has great taste!

After opening some presents we went to one of Trevor's favorite restaurants for dinner.

And he ended up shopping there and coming away with an additional present!

We came back to the house and celebrated a little more with Trevor's Giant Cookie Cake.

Birthday Wishes

A few highlights from Trevor's last year include starting middle school, continuing to make straight A's, finding a love of the theatre, exceling in his high school credit Chinese class, performing in his first musical at school, volunteering at the local library, and earning the Ranks of Tenderfoot, 2nd Class and 1st Class in Scouting and much more. He loves math, reading & tv, and his theatre class has introduced him to some classics like "I Love Lucy".  My favorite comment of the week, "They just don't make good shows like these anymore", referring to the Cosby Show and Reba.  Trevor is always making us laugh with his quick wit and individual sense of style.  He has also single handedly made the bow tie a legend at church...but more on that later!

Happy Birthday Trevor!  We love you!!

The Best Cupcakes Ever!

April Fool's Day fell on a Sunday this year, making it a little harder to do normal tricks.  So instead we decided to play a little joke on some friends who came over for desert that evening.

We made the best cupcakes ever!  Most of the cupcakes were delicious French Vanilla with a Butter Cream Frosting, topped with Hershey Bar Shavings.  But there were a few strategically placed special cupcakes.  A slight frosting alternation of creamy homemade mashed potatoes piped onto the cupcake made for equally delicious looking cupcakes.

Can you tell the difference?  Neither could our guests :)

Jake made sure the dad got a special cupcake and watched with great anticipation while Matt took a big bite. The look on both of their faces was priceless! They were great sports about it all and it was a fun night.

Later that week Matt was checking out our elementary school as a prospect for his upcoming kindergartner.  He was on the tour with the principal when they ran into Jake.  He had to tell the principal about the cupcake episode and she got a big kick out of it. She is quite familiar with Jake's fun personality :)

Jake's First UIL Competition

Impromptu Speaking Competitors with their coach, Principal Stewart

March 31st we competed in another UIL Competition. Hayley finished strong in all her areas of competition and for the first time, Jake was able to compete in the tournament. Jake has been involved with Impromptu Speaking, one of the same areas as Hayley. This is a class that is K-5th graders, the only area in the entire tournament that spans all the grades. Normally only the older kids get to go to the tournament, but Jake was selected this time as the only 1st grader to go all year.


Jake Mangum, Impromptu Speaking!

 Jake was super excited and loved the atmosphere and food at the tournament.

That's one big pickle!

Exploring the host school's playground

Jake did great in his group, scoring 3rd place in his preliminary round.  The topic he had to come up with a 3-5  minute impromptu speech was"Favorite Winter Sport".   Kinda a funny topic for a kid who has lived in Houston all his life.  It's a good thing Jake has an active imagination!  Jake spoke on Snow Ball Fights and building snow forts.  Because I am one of the coaches in a different area, I was able to get his scoring sheet after the competition.  The judge really liked his elaborate details and descriptions of what the ultimate snow ball fight would be like.

One of the things I love best about the UIL tournaments is the way the kids in the school get to know each other and cheer each other on, no matter what grade they are in.  

Fun with  friends before awards ceremony



1st Place Sweepstakes Winners!!

Fun memories as we left the competition and walked out into the 90 degree heat...wishing for a snow ball fight in March!

16!!

Michael had a birthday in March.  It's hard to believe this sweet baby

is now 16 years old!!

We had a great day celebrating Michael, starting off with a sweet breakfast. 

Luke was especially excited to decorate so we went with Black and Blue balloons to match Michael's fancy Nikes :) 

Luke and I snuck in lunch to Michael at school from one of his favorite places

Michael requested Zeb's spicy BBQ sandwiches for dinner, an old family recipe, followed by an ice cream cake to cool us all off. 

It was a great day and has been an amazing 16 years! 

A few events from the last year in Michael's life include getting his drivers license permit, getting braces, being inducted into the National Honor Society with a 4.5 GPA, advancing to the rank of Life in Scouts, playing lots of basketball, hosting an amazing Ovarian Cancer Awareness Fun Run while raising over $1100 for cancer research, and so much more.  Sure Love You Michael!!