Visit to the Mangus Hotel...

The Girls had been counting down the days till we got to go to Aunt Abbey's and Uncle Matt's house in Bountiful. It happened to be between Zach and Mya's birthdays so we were also able to celebrate that while we were up there. Grandma Janet came along with us and it was a blast. We were leaving our 57' weather to go up to the 17' weather and snow, but we had big plans and weren't going to let that stop us. 

We got there late Fri. night and the girls partied till almost midnight with Mya and then crashed they were too excited to sleep. 

We were up and at it bright and early ready to do some shopping and sledding.  We had yet to see City Creek and wanted to check it out. The kids loved the Disney store and wanted to ride all the escalators without help. We also got lunch and let the kids play on the dinosaurs...

After we got back to Abbey's- Ashley, Dave, and Zach joined us and brought Mag some snow gear she was hesitant at first and said, "but dose are boy tlothes" we assured her it was fine and she was happy to put them on. I knew she would love sledding and forget she was wearing "boy tlothes" once we got into the snow. Molly I was unsure how she would react either love or hate it wasn't sure. 

Molly went down a few times, but would rather slide down on her bum with Zach and Mya, play on the playground or eat snow. Maggie on the other hand LOVED it she would go down with whoever would take her and laugh her head off the whole way. She even went down a few times by herself and once flipped onto her tummy and went down backwards laughing the whole way. She especially loved going with Uncle Dave because he was crazy just like her- she rode on his belly, his back and in front of him and loved every second. She could have stayed out there all day long and gone a million times. 

Molly was just content playing in the snow more so than sledding. Fits their personalities perfectly!!! It was one of the funnest sledding adventures we have ever had! Those two girls LOVED the snow and sledding was an added bonus!

After sledding we met back at the house and goofed around a bit until Great Grandpa Broadhead and Merrilan  came over for pizza..

  

These next two pictures crack me up-Mag was tired and wanted nothing to do with pictures and Dave and Matt were in the back of me making the kids laugh their heads off so they would focus on the camera....

Sunday we spent hanging out and the kids played and played even uncle Kyle was able to come up for dinner. Molly could not wait to get out in the snow the other kids went out with her and all ended up back inside crying because they were so cold. Molly asked me to stay out there about 20 more min. She loved it playing in it, walking in it, and eating it. Her favorite thing was finding this icicle just about as tall as her and writing and drawing in the snow then eating it. I sure love this little snow bunny.

We had the best time and can't wait to get back, but not till it warms up in the summer some time! Thanks Mangus' clan for letting us crash at your house and treating us so well.  We were also proud that Everett took his first steps while walking to Uncle Clint, Clint felt pretty awesome about that one!

We were so glad we got to see everyone and the kids loved playing with their cousins more than anything!

Alec's Funeral..

My sweet cousin Alec who had cerebral palsy and was 35 years old died un-expectantly  on Jan. 5th of pneumonia. It came as a shock and broke our hearts, but we knew he was in a better place with a perfect body. The next morning when I told the girls Molly looked deep in thought as to take it all in. Maggie looked at me and said " But mom, now Alec can talk and dance" in fact she has a special Alec dance she created to show Aunt Jill what Alec's dance in heaven looked like. To this day she asks me if I want to see her Alec dance. So sweet! 

Marissa had the idea to paint Alec's casket like a red mustang since red cars were his favorite. Since my dad paints cars he took on the challenge. It was a team effort to sand and put back together, but well worth it. I didn't do much but help tape things off. We were even able to get real Mustang emblems to go on the sides of the casket. It was the coolest part. 

We also had 35 red/white balloons waiting at the graveside to let go of in honor of his 35 years. It was one of the most touching spiritual funerals I have ever been to and was so neat to hear what everyone had to say. It was also fun to see family we rarely get to see. Both my moms brothers and parents came down so their whole little family was together. It was a beautiful tribute to Alec and we loved seeing pictures and hearing stories of him. As sad as it was it was a really great day.

The cutest grandma- Grandma Grape as my girls call her loves on my girls every second she can get. Somehow she got Maggie in the sweetest little love I love these pictures the most out of any from the funeral- Maggie loves her Grandma Grape so much and the feeling is mutual the pictures tell it all and I love them so much. 

 Chris-Kara-Jill-Jeff

Their whole family 

My sweet Molly