1st day of 1st Grade... and such

Carter is officially a first grader. He finally started school again 2 weeks ago. After the first initial day of awkwardness in starting at a new school he has lots of friends and is loving it. (I overheard some of the kids playing on the playground after school the other day and they all wanted Carter to be on their team while playing soccer "because he's so fast!") With all the moving around he's done it's great that he has a knack for making friends fast. I asked him how he made new friends and he said, "Easy mom, if I don't have someone to play with I just walk up to someone and ask if I can play with them." Wouldn't it be great if we all had such confidence. I'm pretty sure that I was more nervous for him to start at a new school then he was. I love that we live just around the corner from the school so I can still walk him to school every day.

Carter waiting in line with several kids in his class. They were strangers on the first day but he's quickly become friends with all of them... Jack, Levi and Elliot.

Gage also had his 1st day of "preschool co-op." He loves that he gets to go to school like Carter. I am loving that twice a week I only have one little guy to take with me to the grocery store and such. Sooo much better than taking three! Remember this post! Haha... I may be able to handle having three boys after all... at least until next summer.

Gage with Elizabeth and Hewitt, two of his friends in his preschool.

M GO BLUE!!

Growing up in the Mangum household we learned how to sing the Michigan fight song even before we learned how to talk. My dad went to The University of Michigan for dental school and we were all born Michigan fans. A fun family memory when I was young was watching Saturday afternoon football games with my Dad and brothers. When Jason was deciding whether to go to Detroit or Florida to do his scuba instructor program I knew he couldn't turn down the chance to go see a game at the Big House. I know what you're thinking, why the dilemma? Why would you go to Florida when you could go to Detroit!?! No brainer!

The game was great, Michigan smoked Western Michigan. Okay, so not such a huge game but it was so much fun. The atmosphere was incredible, from the 107,000 fans that they pack in there to "the wave" that goes all the way around the stadium at least 6 times... forward, reverse, slow motion, super speed... to singing the Michigan fight song. Going to the game was all it was cracked up to be. A great time for all, well except perhaps the Western fans!

Even the hydrants dress up for game day!

Tigers A Lot : Indians Not as Many

Uncle Jason was here so what did we do? We went to a baseball game. We had to do our part in helping him reach his goal of going to every MLB stadium. One more down, a lot to go.

My favorite part was the baseball ferris wheel. Stinkin' cool!


The boys thought it was great too!


The cutest stinkin' fans in the ballpark:


Who doesn't get their face (and the top of their head) painted like a tiger when going to a Tiger's game?? Apparently I didn't get the memo! Don't worry he gave me the inside scoop on where to go to get it done for next time!!


Jared got the "shame on you" fingers from "the tiger" for wearing his Dbacks shirt. Maybe we'll have to invest in some apparel with a big gangsta "D" on the front... or maybe not.

So much fun... even better that they won!

Remembering Grandpa

Claud Darwin Mangum 1917 - 2009

My Grandpa lived an amazing 92 years. He is an example to me in so many ways. He lived a service oriented life full of service to his country, to his church, to his family and pretty much any one he found that needed an extra hand. He was often heard saying we need to be serving or preparing ourselves to serve at all times. He was an example of education as he went to school in the evenings to earn his masters degree and later his PhD. He was a hard worker and got up early (4am mind you) to get an early start on the day. He loved his morning walks and still went out even when it required the use of a cane. When he could no longer go for walks because his balance was off he started going for a morning swim (maybe this is where I get my love for exercise) He loved his family and would do anything for them. Truly and amazing man who will be missed. Love you Grandpa!

Brady Comes to Visit

Since Brady hadn't seen his nephews since they were this big...

And now... 3 years later:

It was about time! On his way back to Idaho after working in NC for the summer (or not so much on his way) Brady stopped by for a day. Carter and Gage were so excited to see him. Gage swears he remembers him. Who knows maybe he's a child prodigy and really can remember what happened when he was 5 months old?

They played with their Uncle Brady:

Went to one of the natural history museums:


And we checked out Marvins Marvelous Mechanical Museum. This place was good for more than a few laughs. It is basically an arcade but it has games and machines from the early 1900's. Some of it was pretty demented, some of it was dumb and some of it was down right funny.

Carter and Gage getting their fortune.

Seriously?!?

Click on the picture if you can't read it.

one of these days I might remember that you can't do a vertical video

Thanks for stopping by Brady, it was good to see you and we know it wasn't on the way!

How Could You Resist This??

Carter has been asking to do a lemonade stand but we don't live on a very busy street. So, what better time to do one then during Dream Cruise when all of the local traffic is diverted from Woodward Ave. (see next post) Carter and Gage sat out there for about 10 minutes before someone stopped -- I think they were about ready to give up. They were so giddy when they got their first customer! Total earnings $55.00 in 3 hours! Can you believe that!! (Thanks in part to the construction worker across the street who gave them $10 for a cup of lemonade... it was good lemonade... but maybe not that good.) They're a fourth of the way to a trampoline!

Dream Cruise

The epicenter of Motown's bit car show is just a couple blocks from our house so we got in on all the action. Woodward Ave is where all the hot shots used to cruise back in the day. It is the first paved street and boasts the first stop light. In August all the hot shots roll back into town and "cruise Woodward" like in the old days. We walked down there several evenings throughout the week to see all of the classic cars roll by. So much fun! Everyone said it was going to be pure mayhem and that we should head out of town for the weekend but we lived through our first Dream Cruise and I think we may just do it again!


Carter and Gage sitting in Jared's new dream car... a 1957 Corvette

They had the world's largest cupcake on display there, with the guy from Guiness to document it -- it was supposed to be 7 feet tall but I guess that one flopped to they had to quickly make another one. This one was about 3 feet tall and weighed 1200+ pounds. Not the prettiest cupcake but noone ever said it had to be pretty. (The cupcake with the previous record was only 12" tall.)

Lucky

Today I overheard Carter and Gage arguing, something to do with Carter having the book Gage wanted and he was whining about not getting what he wanted, then I heard this conversation --

Carter: "Did anyone ever tell you how lucky you are?"
Gage: "Huh?"
Carter (in a totally serious tone): "Some people don't have cars... or houses... or clothes... they just have to be naked all the time. Some people don't have food... and they're hungry all the time. Some people don't have anything. That's how lucky you are!"
Gage: "Okay......can I have that book?"