so much fun!

he's holding a candle

 birthday girl

 snot

 asia

 what happens when your nine year old BOY gets a hold of the camera! 

 3

 me & my cake

daddy

 daddy plus

cake on my face

This year has been challenging to say the least. I got in a car accident crossing the yellow line and barreling into a semi truck coming off the #1 getting on to the #7 on my grandmas 101 birthday December 9th so although my knee is better and i can walk and kneel without pain now my neck and upper back and shoulders are not as good. I am however turning a corner so to speak at physiotherapy and will soon not be spending so much time with that. In the beginning of February I had some kidney stones in both kidneys and was whisked into hospital for a few days. Fortunately they were able to remove the stones quite easily and quickly and i was able to have my sister in law help with the children while i was in RCH and pump lots of milk for my baby. Unfortunately they left in a stent for over a month and that caused quite a bit of discomfort and pain. I am grateful to the wonderful friends, sisters and neighbours and relatives for all there care, attention and help! Shortly after the stent was removed I turned 41. That was exciting! We all passed around sniffles and conjunctivitis and then the children got fevers. Then i got the Norwalk virus and began feeling pretty awful and now i am recovering from Bronchitis! Wow if things come in threes i have a few more to go i guess. Yuck! The sunshine helps me keep things in perspective as do early morning walks! I know there are many people with health problems more complicated than mine but i do need a break right now and I am so glad FINALLY there is no snot in my home except when accompanied by crying! Almost everybody got haircuts today and have been waiting since the beginning of the year at least! I got out the six month baby clothes even though she is over 7 months old now and am slowly rearranging my kitchen cupboards, storage and basement. All the Christmas decorations are all together but not yet put away. Some are still in the living room but the tree isn't. My children are healthy and didn't get as sick as myself and i am so so so glad my husband escaped it! He cannot take time off from work and coughing makes him so cranky. Also he cannot put the vacuums and the dirt in front of cartoons and feed them cheerios for lunch if he isn't feeling too good! Also I was able to read three books! Fight Club, The Alchemist and The Host! Amazing and still fit in time for scriptures and some sanity! Go super mom! Don't tell anyone that sometimes my children forget to brush their teeth and hair {if it isn't totally obvious} and that they sometimes travel to and from the school in their pajamas, not the ones attending! 

February 2011

sitting up baby! 

sleeping babies are always good...

aunty jessie loves to read stories to the girls and we love our aunty

Happy New Year!

Ella 4 months old! 

L-R-Asia 5, Santa ?, Ella-Jean 3 1/2 months, Avalina 2
Below-Marvin 9

smiles a while ago

Anastasia in September

I haven't had a chance to think about what I can change for 2011 except for... Try to have more patience with self and family. Try to be more understanding towards the children. Increase scripture study, don't eat a lot of corn dogs, stand up straight...O.K. maybe i have thought about it some...Things at our house are moving so fast and there is always so much to do and a shortage of time and energy for all of it but somehow we seem to laugh and smile through it all and get small bits of things done and find a little room for things we want to do as well as the things we should do. I love living in Queensborough and walking around here. Now that we are short a vehicle I haven't had a choice and while it sometimes gets tedious going back and forth to that school three times a day with two children in a stroller and a grumpy one that wants to be in a stroller, when it's dry I really enjoy it! especially when nobody is crying! This week we saw tons of ducks and a heron. It kind of makes my leg hurt but it also takes my mind off the pain in my shoulders and collar bone area. Thank goodness for tylenol/advil and the power of prayer right now! Marvin is working hard to keep from getting detentions for blurting out and laughing and such and is making some progress. He is back to Cubs this week and starting an all boys gymnastics class today! Thank-you Canadian Tire and the Jumpstart program! Anastasia is always carrying her baby sister and just cannot leave her alone! She's enjoying Kindergarten so much I wish she was in the full day program. She has really come out of her shell going to school! She is pestering me to let her wear make up (yes at 5 years old!), to bake with her, teach her sewing and watch more ICarly. She continues to love painting and drawing and is always sketching dresses and accessories. Avalina is such a chatterbox! She constantly talking and asking questions and is so funny! Ella-Jean is a happy baby when her gums are not bothering her and when other people are not waking her up! She's realizing that she has hands and laughs with a deep voice. She's sleeping more at night but Avalina is still waking up so that is hard for me. Sleep deprivation makes me so scattered and forgetful and I can get overwhelmed and discouraged more easily but I am hanging in there. I really miss my coworkers at the hospital and being there but I also really like being home with my children. I can teach them so much more about important things this way too! There's lots more to report  but i have to sleep now before someone else wakes up!

Christmas Love

Things change in the blink of an eye...

On December 9th I destroyed our car while bringing Ella for her three month check up. She had it in the trauma bay at Royal Columbian instead. As I was coming off Highway 1, getting on to the Number 7 my car started sliding on the United Blvd overpass. Before I knew it I lost control and slammed into an oncoming semi truck. Luckily my car was equipt with seat belts, air bags and the like.  As I looked around the vehicle for my glasses and realized what had occurred my thoughts only went to my baby's safety. Out the window through the dust and debris I could see the front of the huge truck and nothing else. I could not get the door open and realized my foot was still jammed on the brakes. I called for help for my baby and myself and fortunately a nearby construction worker came running to my aid and was able to pull open our doors and cut the seat belt holding my dear baby's car seat in the middle in the back. A nursing student stopped to help and checked over the baby who was crying and still amazingly had her binky in her mouth. more to follow....

2010 is coming to a close...

Everyone is getting so big so quickly!
There's hair on Marvin's legs. He's interested in developing and bearing his testimony. Having some trouble not getting detentions, good thing Cherry likes him so well.
Anastasia is reading small words. Who would have know she would love kindergarten?
Avalina is saying her own prayers. She never stops talking and is still breaking things. Her honesty when she gets into mischief always amazes me. She unabashedly announces, "It was me!"
She looks and acts so much like Betty-Ann when she was a girl.
Ella is grabbing on to things and smiling and lifting her head and Daddy got some chuckles.
Pat is still working like a dog as the best janitor in Whiterock and finding energy to spend time with the children and small moments with myself.
Grandma David turned 101 a few weeks ago and is residing at Kiwanis Care Center. It is so much better than Carlton Gardens. If she cannot be in her little house at least now she is close by and somewhere pleasant that doesn't always smell like pee. Most times she seems to know us but she's often cranky. I hope i do not live as long as her because i am already tired. Wish I could make her smile and laugh as easily as she used to. She is much quieter now that my dad is gone. I don't think it's nice to outlive your children.
My mom is plugging along as best she can and has been giving herself the blood transfusions at home for one year now. She is still volunteering at the Family History Library and working with Victim Services at NWPD. She is an inspiration to me constantly and I do hope in some ways I become my mother.
Lalaine is still with us but helps Patrick clean during the week and hides out at my mil's on the weekends.
Lolo is done with the chemo and radiation therapies which seem to have significantly shrunk the tumor. He says the Lord has healed him but we all know it will inevitably return in time. For now he can see and hear and eat with his mouth and try to enjoy his children and grandchildren with a better quality of life than before the therapy. God Bless him. He needs our prayers and so do his children.
I know God loves us and wants us to be happy. He provides so many tender mercies to bless us through our trials on this earth. Jesus Christ lives and loves us too. I am very grateful for my knowledge of the gospel and happy to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. I hope many of you have had a chance to feel of his love.
Merry Christmas!

Christmas Love

Rememberance Day

one of Ella-Jean's first smiles

Avalina is so much like i was as a little girl

Moody but Marvelous Marvin

Everybody loves their Auntie Jessie

gotta get those teeth fixed

anastasia loves her new sister and is getting used to her glasses but loves kindergarten

Our family is getting ready for Christmas and working hard to keep it simple this year. With a new baby and three other children I really need to keep it from getting to hectic. It's already total chaos the minute my children start waking up and it doesn't seem to let up until they are all asleep. It's our first year in our own house so I think my husband wants to make it special. He's already invited all his siblings and their family over for dinner. There are at least 15 of them. My husband brought home a huge tree today. He wants to cook turkey and roast beef. Also he's planning for pies and cakes! I am not sure he's on board with my keep it simple idea so far! I would love to be baking and making and decorating up a storm but i can barely keep up with feeding and cleaning around the house and their little bodies and clothes right now.

BABY is sleeping through the night!

Unbelievable! None of my other children did that at 9.5 weeks old. Ella-Jean is a wonderful addition to our family! We are so blessed and love her so much! 

BABY +

big news

We had a baby girl september 6th at 01:33am weighing 7lbs! Her name will be Ella Jean Manghi

Photos April/August 2010

Loaves and Fishes

September is here already! Asia is starting kindergarten and my son will be in grade four! I will be walking to the school with a two year old and a new baby three times a day! If that doesn't help get some baby weight off I don't know what else will. It will be challenging but I am looking forward to it and trying to clear my plate of everything else until I can get into some kind of routine. The gradual entry program at our local school seems way too gradual for me but perhaps it will be a good thing if we don't even get there until the third week when the full days start. It seems like a minute ago it was only half way through summer! I have been feeling so fortunate to be home on maternity leave early and spend so much time with my three healthy, happy, energetic, sometimes annoying, exhausting, beautiful children! As I anticipate the birth of our fourth and final child I find myself desperately trying to get as much done as possible before we are all consumed by sleep deprivation and the wonder of a newborn baby. Some would call it nesting but that seems a little out of reach. I am almost packed to go to the hospital when it's time but so far the baby only has a hat and a blanket to go home in. Also a clean with the cover and canopy repaired carseat thanks to my mom. Finally today I was able to find my zero to three months clothes! Marvin helped me get down into the storage unit and find the right bin. I have been busy cleaning out the girls drawers, taking all the clothes that are too small out and packing them away for whoever they will fit next. I will be in big trouble or buying a lot of boxes of blue dye if this baby turns out to be a boy. Also I we have been getting all my son's warm clothes and school supplies ready, organized and labelled or repaired. Whew what a relieve! I kept imagining being in labour and Marvin going to school with ripped jeans and only a backpack and a pencil in hand on the first day. Patrick reminded me that he was perfectly capable of purchasing them and spent all day Monday running from store to store gathering what he needed and getting tons of groceries in case we wouldn't have a chance later. Also he has been baking banana and zucchini breads like a fiend and putting it in the freezer. The children say it's his new hobby and he can barely keep up with them wolfing it down baking and baking and baking. I wish I had the energy to do that! Yesterday he went to Steveston and got 5 huge salmons and spent the evening beheading and gutting and filleting and chopping them so we'll have a freezer full of fish to eat. So that is what we will be eating once the baby comes I guess, loaves and fishes.

Summer

Hello neglected blog! I'm in my 33 week now and am trying to get some rest this week while Asia has clown camp and Marvin is at the New Westminster Police Soccer camp but it's not really working. We have been spending lots of time worrying about dad and waiting for more information. A large tumour has been found behind his nose and is pressing on the nerves in his face causing all the eye pain he has been having. I thought if I wasn't working I would not be at the hospital so much. I am glad he is in good hands and we have been saying lots of prayers for him at home and on the road and with him. I am so glad it's not already in his brain so he can still function fairly normally and enjoy some family time. Anastasia has a big Clowning Around show tomorrow and is enjoying learning to juggle and balance with a pretty umbrella and ride a unicycle! Marvin's last day of soccer camp will be tomorrow too and hopefully it will be another lovely day. Today the firemen were bringing their hoses to spray the children down but it's not that sunny unfortunately. I am sure they will have fun anyway! The location of the camps are conveniently located by Amma's house in Queen's Park and it's so nice there! We enjoyed picking some raspberries on the weekend and the Fraser fest fireworks! It was nice to take the children down the road in their p.j.s since the majority of viewers were on the other side of the river at the Quay. Avalina wasn't so scared this time. I am off to try and get a nap before I lose my chance. I'm sticking to bread, applesauce and rice fighting off a bit of food poisoning from the chicken we waited too long to cook last night. I won't listen next time my husband tells me if it's marinated it can hang out in the fridge longer. What was I thinking, must have been tired...

Avalina is TWO!

I can't believe Avalina is two years old. Where did the time go? She loves to see the ducks in Queensborough and laugh and point. As soon as anyone puts on their shoes at our house I hear, "Where's my shoes?" and "Where's my jacket?" repeatedly even after said shoes and coat are on her body. Although she has a super sweet personality she can be demanding at times too. Her favorites are her Sock Monkey Book, her Knuffle Bunny, Dora pajamas, and playing with trains or babies. She is certainly different from the rest in so many ways. I hope she stays this sweet and that the terrible two's are not too difficult for her. She is full words and beans on most days and spends a lot of time singing and talking to no one in particular. She still seems so small to me until she wants to be carried, then she seems heavy! Our 4th baby is on the way so i am looking forward to being home with Avalina and the new one since Asia will be starting school in September. I think I forgot how challenging it is to be pregnant. I am not so far along right now but I know what is coming. I have often wondered if having children in my 20's would really have been any easier. I am thinking physically because during that time of my life i did have so much more energy and was able to stay up late at night and just keep going, working like a fiend and when i am feeling especially sleep deprived it makes me wonder about that....

Happy Birthday to Me!

I can't believe I am forty. It's very exciting. My birthday was Monday March 15th. I was lucky enough to be spoiled pretty much all weekend by my husband. He took me for dinner and a play and then for a walk and a hot beverage with a pedicure and facial before hand on Saturday. Lalaine was kind enough to care for the children and have them asleep in their beds when we came home even though she hasn't been feeling her best lately and on her day off too. I was totally wiped out after that day and evening being 15 weeks pregnant and still fighting off the nausea. On Sunday he let me sleep in and made waffles for breakfast! Even though I wanted so much to go to church I stayed home and enjoyed my breakfast and family's company. I feel so fortunate. He's not perfect and I growl at him sometimes when I find dirty underwear on the floor and that kind of thing, he certainly is good to me! On my actual birthday my son had an extra day off school and i took the day off work. I also totally forgot to bring Asia to preschool or even call them! How rude. I told the children they had to do everything i said because it was my birthday. Then I asked them to make their beds, something they have to do anyway and much earlier in the day normally. My eight year old said I was taking advantage of my birthday and going a bit too far. You think I would have asked him to scrub the walls, floors and clean the toilets! He did do a beautiful job of it and later watched his little sisters so I could have a 'birthday nap'. Anastasia made me some pictures and glued some of her favourite recent creations to lined paper and stapled it together to make a book and gave me that! It's beautiful.

Welcome 2010 Winter Olympics

It's finally here! The much anticipated Winter Games! Surrounded by controversy and excitement our city and surround areas is about to be turned upside down. There's a buzz around town and it's furthered by the various appearance of the torch in the communities this week. The Olympic torch came by the local school and right down our street on Tuesday and we are definitely off the beaten path in my opinion. My coworkers have been decorating the work place and started wearing red and white and getting very interested in the goings on around town. There have been so many new additions to our city in anticipation of this event. I hope we get a sudden cold snap and snow storm because it's pretty green around here and the snow on the mountains is melting fast!

2010

New Year, new job, new baby coming, been so busy, have no chance to blog!
There was a previous post I put in early January but I am still getting used to a mac and i deleted it by mistake.
My 8 year old has started cub scouts and is really enjoying it. Soccer didn't work out much to Dad's dismay but maybe Baseball will work better! He is still reading up a storm! My middle child has started at a local montessori preschool and is still adjusting to that! She is enjoying it but is not as enthusiastic as i had hoped. Our youngest is still so sweet and finally off the boob! I breastfed her the best food for 22 months and now that i am pregnant it's not only uncomfortable but I really need to sleep through the night. I just hope she will stop getting up so early! She wants to be just like her big sister and loves to get a hold of a pen or wear a tutu all day long. Our Daddy is still working as hard as ever cleaning those buildings in Whiterock. He's got some help with his cousin Gina so he can get home earlier now. I am still struggling with my new position having never before had a shift where you have to get a set amount of work done that fluctuates daily. I am so used to multitasking and dealing with things as they come adjusting my speed when necessary. It is hard for me to focus on one task at a time while still dropping everything at a moments notice to add something new. I am glad i will not be working until midnight through another pregnancy but I miss my old job, old coworkers and being so proficient and valuable like before. I work alone for 1/2 my shift and that is kind of nice. The job is tedious and i feel like i am not really using my brain. I am really struggling with morning sickness this time. Big Time!

2009 is almost finished!

Patrick took the children to Walmart to get their photo taken sans hairbrushing and ditched the matching outfits I put out but they turned out nice anyway especially the sepia ones! I don't know how the photographer got them all to sit still and look so nice but I can't seem to do it with my camera! I sure like those children even though they are exhausting, noisy and rambunctious. Youth is surely wasted on the young.

Love Sparkles

Tell someone that you love them with this Valentine’s-themed card kit. The custom designed window gable box adds a beautiful touch to this card set.

Date: January 2nd and 9th 2010
Cost: $20 or free with $65 order which includes FREE stamp set choices vary
Location: New Westminster

Please email me to sign up for this class: (stampingbetty@hotmail.com)
Supplies provided

• Stamps: A Happy Heart
• Ink: Pretty in Pink Classic, Rose Red and Soft Suede
• Paper: Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Sahara Sand, Whisper White,
medium Whisper White envelopes
• Accessories: Sticky Strip, Snail adhesive, Stampin’ Dimensionals,
mini glue dots, 2-way glue pen, 1” Rose Red Double Stitched Grosgrain
ribbon, Filigree brads, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, grid paper,
paper snips, mat pack, paper-piercing tool, bone folder, Stamp-a-ma-jig,
Large Oval punch, Scallop Edge punch, Crop-A-Dile, Heart to Heart punch,
Acetate Sheet, hobby blade, cutting mat, pencil, ruler