Fun with food!

Carter pulled out the old apron tonight to help me make dinner. Dave was making steak so Carter and I made roasted red potatoes and roasted asparagus to go along with it. He actually did help a lot! AND we had lots of fun!

My asparagus alien

Take a sad song and make it better

Poor Jude. In the past month or so he has been diagnosed with RSV, a sinus infection, infected cradle cap, eczema, a possible milk allergy and the latest: infant impetigo. He's seen his doctor 3 times, a different doctor once and been to the ER once. I called the advice nurse more than 15 times and spoke to an on call doctor in the middle of the night 3 times. His entire head has been covered in puss and scabs, he's had trouble sleeping, breathing and everything in between and his whole body is covered in rashes and what does he have to say about it? Mostly smiles. This kid is the happiest kid I have EVER seen in my life! Yes, you can tell he is not feeling well and in some pain but for the most part he endures with a smile and a brave face. He used to sleep 8 hours a night and now we are down to 3 or 4 hour chunks but we know he will eventually get better. I love this little guy so much that all I do is worry about him and his big brother but I trust that if we do all we can to take care of them they will eventually get better. Countless prayers and blessings have been a comfort but I think the worry will eventually kill me. Another reason why 2 kids is it for me. I am just so grateful to have these sweet little boys! So as of right now Jude is on his second antibiotic and I am not eating any dairy. Thank you everyone for your help, prayers and counsel as we have been having a rough month or so. We hope everything will even out for us and we will be able to return the favor.

What a difference 3 months make

Me 3 months and 1 week ago

Me now.

I've lost 20 lbs since Jude was born and am 3 lbs lighter than when I got pregnant with him. Any time I start to think of how far I have left to go I will look at this post and see how far I've come in 3 months.

A good day together

Thumbs up!

Brothers!!

Cousins!!!

We had such a great day together! Carter has started playing with Jude a little bit more which is fun and he LOVES spending time with his cousins. It's cute to see him and Isaiah play better now that he is a little older. I love days together with my family!!!

Jude Costa Mann; a name and a blessing

This post will be editted once the internet is working but Jude has his blessing today and it was great. It was nice to see those that could be there and we missed those that weren't but we love you anyway and know you would if you could. Enjoy the pictures and there will be more coming.

The circle minus Jeff Mann and Bishop Sterzer. L to R Gary Swenson, Kamai Chang, Dave, Jude, John Philpott, King Udall, Jim Allison, Jonathan Pierce and Zach Skabelund.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Abby is reading Fox in Socks!!!

Lately in the Mann house

Alright Blogspot. I give. This post contains only about a 5th of the pictures I wanted to post but we'll go with it. We've been busy here the past few weeks:


3 weeks ago Dave and I decided to change our lives and get healthy by eating right and exercising. I'm happy to say that the eating right has been great and we are trying to get with the exercising. After 3 weeks Dave has lost 13 lbs and I have lost 10 1/2. I am officially a pound lighter than when I got pregnant with Carter and have only 6 lbs until my pre Jude weight. We've been having fun trying new recipes and have found tons that we really like. I will try to post some of the good ones on here.


This past week/weekend we had a rough time. Wednesday night we had to take Jude to the ER since he was having trouble breathing (a big thank you to Noelle for driving me while Dave was in class and to Abby for watching all 5 sleeping kids while she took me.) Turns out he had RSV but his oxygen level was 99% so after some nasal swabs and chest x-rays they sent us home. I went to work the following day while Dave was home with the boys and I got call at about 10:45 saying that Carter had a seizure and had a fever of 102.8. I raced home and we spent the entire weekend on lockdown (minus a trip to the pediatrician) with barfing from Carter and coughing and boogers from Jude but I'm happy to report the boys are doing better. Dave and I, however, have caught the bugs. Blah. The boys will go back to daycare tomorrow. *Side note: both boys had blessings during their sickness and yesterday while I was at work Carter asked Dave to "say a prayer on his head." Thought that was cute.


We are getting ready for Jude's blessing this Sunday and a luncheon to follow. I am excited to see our friends and family and give this little cutie name and a blessing. Noelle has agreed to take family pictures of us this weekend for the blessing so I'm sure I will be posting them on here soon.


Since my mom was here visiting Carter has been VERY involved in the kitchen. He loves to help us cook and we always try to find him little jobs like putting cheese on top of these or putting veggies in a bowl or even helping me press garlic. It's been very fun and I hope he keeps cooking so he won't have to eat ramen on his mission or at college. *Another side note: At dinner I asked him if he was going to be a cook when he grows up and he said "No. I'm going to be a Mommy and Daddy." Funny kid.

I'm sure there have been lots of other things but mostly we've just been enjoying our funny kids. Jude talks and smiles all the time and loves looking at himself in the mirror and Carter is learning how to read and spell words. Some of his favorite words right now: Crib, frog, Carter, Mommy, red, drink, van, go and several others. Unfortunately he still won't write them on his own even though he knows how. He can form all the letters out of other things but won't pick up a pen and write them.

well enjoy a few pictures of the boys with more to come.