Paul & Alyssa

Landon's 1st foods

2011-10-04T12:34:00.000-07:00

Landon was pretty excited about trying to eat like a big boy he has been trying to steal food from Paul & me me for a few months now & he ate like a pro yes he did wear some of it but isn't that a right of passage!

Landon is 6 months!

2011-09-28T22:32:00.000-07:00

Can you believe I have had this sweet sweet baby boy for 6 months!? I really can't I have so many friends and family that are pregnant right now ( Congrats to all! btw ) & it really seems like yesterday that I was where they are. Landon has mastered some pretty exciting things he can now sit up unassisted & if he wants that toy he is very good at gracefully falling to the floor to get it. He rolls like a log & spins in circles whenever he is on the floor, he will army crawl if you make him but then he pushes his head down & I wonder if he might somersault instead. if you are holding him he arches his back & kicks he legs frantically until you put him down because he is a big boy now (sniff sniff as I wipe my tears). He babbles & carries on conversations with me. He has learned to screech with excitement. When Landon gets mad he gives me the stink eye & says mamamama. Paul always asks me "are you going to be ok if he says dad 1st?" & I tell "him no he already says mom". His favorite shows to watch are Baby Einstein & Mickey Mouse Club House we record Mickey so he can watch it at different times of the day. Landon loves his 4 legged siblings he pulls Mazie's hair & Mac's lips & ears, but they love him too. When every Mac & Mazie lick Landon he laughs if they make funny noises he laughs. Mazie thinks he is old enough to play fetch it is really sweet how much they love each other. Landon likes to sit in the sink & help me get ready he pulls my make up out of the bag because he loves the pattern of the bag he like the hair accessories too they give me an extra 10 minutes to get dressed. Landon loves to watch my dance classes he loves to watch the girls in all their colors move around him. Yesterday I am pretty sure he was dancing in his bouncer as he watched the girls it was so funny. Landon really loves his Daddy they have a special bond Paul can always get Landon to laugh even if he has been crying for me. He is growing into such handsome young man that I love more & more each day! Someday I hope Landon will get a chance to read my blog posts & journal entries about him & how much he is loved. I love you Landon! Love Mom

Happy 7th Anniversary

2011-08-13T19:39:00.000-07:00

Wow I can't believe it has been 7 years since I married the most wonderful man in the world! we have had our fare share of trials but we have also had more than our share of happiness. It is amazing to think that this time last year we found out that we were growing our little family!

May

2011-07-06T16:05:00.000-07:00

May was full of adventure for our sweet Landon! We went to Thatcher twice the 1st time was so exciting because Landon got to meet so many new people. Landon got to meet his Great Grandparents I was sad to realize we took pictures with all of them but his Great Grandma & Grandpa Williams all of them were so excited to meet him & just loved him as of course they should. He also got to meet his great Aunt Emily & his cousins Erica, Marley, & Mackenna. He also met his honorary family Joni & Tiffany and my best freind Aubrey her husband & kids. I had my very 1st mother's day which was also the 1st time we took Landon to church he looked so handsome in his church clothes we also had Landon's baby blessing but I will dedicate an entire post to that. We went Back to Thatcher for Anthony's Wedding reception My Mom & joni were so cute with their grandbabies! & Sadly Landon out grew his newborn clothes!

Maternity Shoot with Moxie Photo

2011-05-03T13:59:00.000-07:00

I look at these pictures & can't believe the were taken only 2 months ago it seems like a lifetime ago! I suppose it is because my son is here now & I can't remember what life was before his beautiful spirit came into our world. At the time I couldn't imagine what my life would be like I was just trying to enjoy the journey that I was on & all the new things I was experiencing I am glad Kelsey was able to capture that

Landon Newborn Pictures by Anne Herbert Photagraphy

2011-05-03T13:51:00.000-07:00

Anne came & did Landon's newborn pictures when he was 11 days new. They turned out so beautiful! I will cherish these photos the rest of my life. This is the start of our family

Welcoming Landon Carter Mangum!

2011-04-29T15:50:00.000-07:00

Wow I can't believe landon is a month old now time has just flown it feels like he has always been in our family! It has been amazing to see his little personality it is the same as when he was in my belly. A month ago paul & I were in the hospital having our son he came into the world March 29th at 11:20 PM he weighed 7lbs 4oz & was 19 3/4 inches long. Landon was born at Chandler Regional Medical Center that wasn't where I planed to deliver but the week before I was sent to Chandler Regional for high blood pressure I had to stay over night for observation when I went home I was on bed rest it was hard because I am an active person but it worked out because I had finished teaching so I could relax but would have loved to go out for my birthday but I wasn't in the hospital on my birthday. When I went to my doctors appointment the following monday my doctor decided to induce me for my health & she practices at Chandler Regional. I was so worried because this wasn't the hospital I wanted to deliver at & I didn't want to be induced I had only heard horror stories about it. I spent the rest of the day preparing myself for the birth of my son. The next morning we went to the hospital I checked in for a 7:30 am induction I was hooked up to pitocin at 9:00 am everything went smooth I was progressing slow but steady. We loved the nurses they took really good care of us. At 5:00 my doctor broke my water then things moved really quickly I was not prepared for the contractions I was having because I really had not experienced them up to that point. I wish the nurses would have told I wasn't coming off the pitocin I would have gotten my epidural sooner. When I got my epidural I was having hard contractions so it was difficult to hold still but what made it more difficult was that the numbing shot before the epidural didn't work & it made me scream as the anesthesiologist tried to put in the epidural when he realized I wasn't numb he gave me another shot & got the epidural in but he hit a nerve in my right leg ouch! After my epidural kicked in my mom & dad came by to check on me but they only stayed for a few minutes because I was ready to push. I started to push at 10:00 I was so glad to have Paul supporting me when I was to tired to hold my self up he did it for me & he was telling how great I was doing. Once Landon was here they laid him on me & I couldn't believe he was here I already loved this little guy that I just met.i cried I had this perfect miracle that was just placed into my arms. Then the nurses took him to measure & weigh him they asked Paul were his camera was & he told them he wasn't use to being the person behind the camera it made me laugh because I am the one behind the camera. That quickly changed ask Paul to see his son & he will show you his gallery of pictures not that I am any better. When we came home we had a cute stork on our door the next 2 days we had friends & family come to meet our sweet son. I know that we couldn't be happier even if we were getting a full night of sleep!

Williams Family Photo

2011-01-18T12:36:00.000-08:00

I have been behind on my posting here are the pictures of my family we took the the week before Thanksgiving. We had such a good time with Anne ( Anne Herbert Photography) it was short shoot so we could make the guys come even thought they did it under protest.

4-D Ultrasound

2011-01-18T12:21:00.000-08:00

I posted this on face book right after we had our ultrasound (1/6/11) but I forgot to post them on my blog. These are really amazing I get to see the face of my little one before he is even born. Paul was really amazed by these too so now we have been talking who does he look like not that we can tell from these pictures because he is a little fuzzy from moving to much if we do an ultrasound at the end of my pregnancy maybe it would be a better picture because he can't move so much. All is going well with this pregnancy I have felt really good we did the 28 week glucose test yesterday it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Landon was doing back flips from the sugar which was uncomfortable but that is the norm anyway he is a very active little boy much like his dad I imagine. Paul sat with me thru the glucose test because many people have told me I might get sick so I should have someone else drive me home. He was bored after about 10 minutes good thing he ran a few errands because I had to wait about 15 minutes for them to find my work order. We are at the home stretch it feels like we are 12 weeks from the due date part of me wishes it would hurry up so I could have my son & get my skinny clothes back the other part is alittle stressed we will run out of time for all the things left to do. We have a shower to plan & a nursery to finish. Well start we have pieces in the garage but we have to empty a room & paint before we can get the furniture in. I know it will all come together in the end I have so much love & support to help get it done.

Landon Carter Mangum

2010-11-15T08:55:00.000-08:00

profile of Landon

Friday we had an ultrasound & found out we are having a boy! I am so excited I can't believe we are half way thru with this pregnancy it is flying by so fast. Everyone has told me to just enjoy this time because it flies by & it is true.I have spent so much time trying to figure out how to get ahcccs (government health care) so that we could afford a baby. When we were denied I didn't know how I could enjoy buying things but I had a really great weekend with My mom & Paul's mom getting things for my son. Paul was so cute when the ultrasound tech said it was a boy he threw his arms in the air said yes! He wore a blue shirt just to help his odds & it worked because I had on a pink bracelet & it wasn't enough. We are so lucky & grateful to have such a wonderful support system of family & friends that want to be there to help us even if it is just to lift our spirits. We love you all! It was great to have my mom & dad & Paul's mom with us Friday!

Profile of Landon

heart beat
Paul was really impressed by the heart he has heard it with the heart monitor but when he got to see it he thought it ws so neat how fast it moved!

It's a boy

hand

hand my mom said he's trying to say " I love you"

his face

It's a boy

landon's profile

his spine it is amazing what they can see on an ultrasound!

landons profile he has a cute button nose!

2010-11-03T13:33:00.000-07:00

I feel like I always say this but wow where has the time gone I get on my blog to see what I last wrote about and realize I have a month or more of pictures on my camera that need to get printed & post. Well going in cronilogical order September 24th was my niece's birthday she turned 11 & if you look at the pictures this time next year she will be taller than me yikes! At Jade's Birthday of course we had to take belly pictures. I didn't want to because I didn't have one yet. I really still don't soon I am sure, but it is good to see the stages we are all in.

Auni

Jessie

Then October 14th I had activity days at my house and because it is October we needed a Halloween theme so we had a newspaper fashion show. It was so fun to seen the girls use their imaginations and help each other get glamed up. you can see their fun personalities in each picture

Sophia

Jedera

Everyone

The girls

Then the next day October 15th Ashlee, Mom, and I went to Tuscon for the U of A Jazz show case workshop. Ashlee and I danced Saturday & Sunday so much fun. Ashlee and her group got to dance in the showcase Saturday night it was a great show I just wish there were a few more upbeat numbers contemporary slow sad pieces are more of what that show case is about however the facaulty show friday night was full of fun dances even the the contemporary pieces were happy. The only thing that would have made this more fun would have been if Bethany could have come too.

Then sadly we lost Grandma Mangum Monday October 11th we had sevrices for her in Thatcher & she was put to rest in the Pima cemetery next to Grandpa Mangum. The services were so beautiful and of course the silver lining is we got to spend time with family. We were sad not to have Carrie and Zachary there with us but Carrie was still in the hospital after just having Zachary.

August in review

2010-08-27T23:12:00.000-07:00

Wow it is almost September & there was so much that happened in August to talk about!

1st Paul painted my dance room it is super cute & I can't believe that I have practically filled every class I have here out of my house I am truly blessed to have been given such an amazing gift that I can share & I am fortunate to do it out of my home.

Then August 5th was Kyle's birthday & the funny thing is I had a close friend & a cousin have baby's on his birthday. I think it would have been his 23rd birthday, I can't say I was sad but definitely thoughtful of all the wonderful things that my heavenly father has given to me & guess that is really what August was for me a time to reflect on all that I have. We tragically lost him at the age of 3 but I know his mission on earth was complete because he had bigger things to take care of on the other side. These pictures are the way I remember him I just wish I could have found the picture of him with 3 pecans in the shell in his mouth because is a funny picture & a funny memory.

Then it was Deanna & Gary's Anniversary sorry I am not sure how many years but I definitely love being part of their family. they have always made me feel like I was always suppose to be their family.

Then it was my 6th wedding anniversary Paul & I have had a really great 6 years & I can honestly say that I love him more now than I did the day we got married. He is the one person I know I can count on as we continue through our life's adventures. This year so far has brought many adventures good and bad but I has made us love each other more & learn more about each other it is really great to know that we can still learn new things about each other I guess that is what getting old feels like you relearn new things all the time.

For our 6th anniversary we went to the Grand Canyon. I had never been & it was beautiful Paul went when he was young but wanted to go again when he could really appreciate it. We had so much fun exploring & spending quality time together. I felt really out of shape up their but then my husband lovingly reminded me that we were in a higher altitude & didn't make me fill bad for being out of shape what a gentlemen!

Finally today is my parents anniversary I think it is their 27th because I am 25 and they got married 2 years before I was born. My wonderful parents fell in love and did everything they could to give me & my siblings everything that we could want & helped us reach for our dreams. I could not have asked for better parents. I remember my mom working at my dance studio to pay for the dance lessons that have given me my career & the fun of pageants and getting a whole week with my mom & sisters being really girly, & I remember my dad taking us on bike rides all over Thatcher & being able to fix anything my dad like to take credit for my dance ability, I will give him credit for my love dance because he loves to dance just as much as I do.

New Email Address

2010-08-09T12:13:00.001-07:00

I have a new email address alyssaslittledancers@gmail.com

Salt Lake Trip May 2010

2010-06-23T13:59:00.000-07:00

Paul & I went on a wonderful trip to Salt Lake May 20-23 2010 to see Grandma Mangum & escape life for a little while that was such a great idea as we had been running our selves ragged. What started out as a relxaing get away quickly started srtessing us out. We decieded to leave thursday night so we could get a full night sleep then have fun for 2 1/2 days well thursday nights I taught dance in Mesa so the last flight out of Pheonix was at 8:35 I finished teaching at 7:00 so we hustled over to the airport I changed in the car good thing for very dark tint in the back seat & years of side of the stage quick changes while trying to be modest it pays off in real life! We got to the parking lot just to watch the bus leave so we had to wait 10 minutes for it to come back. Everything was still going fine until we got to security. We only had 5 people in front of us so that shouldn't take very long only it did there were 2 grandmas trying to go thru security in front of us & they packed everything but the kitchen sink in their purses after the sent their bags thru 3 time we are panicing but some one got the bright iidea to just dump everything out so they could see what was there. thank heaves because then it moved things along faster. Now picture "Home Alone" or any other movie where people are running to the airport to get to their turmenal we get their & the man taking boarding passes says "Paul & Alyssa Mangum" we say yes are we the last ones he says " No just the only ones with the same last name." Well we were the last ones they shut the door behind us we barley made it on time. We relax for our hour and ten minute flight then we land and get our luggage and our rental car no problem we got an upgrade free because advantage ran out of economey cars. So we got a sweet Ford expedition with heated leather seats which I used every time we got in the car. Then I tried to navigate us to the Radisson no luck the two time we had to turn around then Paul pulled over looked at the directions and safely got us to our hotel we later found out we were practicly in Sandy where his Grandma, Aunt, & cousin live. Well once we are at the hotel we think finally we can go to bed nope. We get checked in & we hae 2 full beds when we asked for a king so we go back down and the only room left with a king bed has a handicap bathroom that was horrible the shower was a hose and to drains in the floor so we flooded the bathroom when we took a shower but we would have to sleep in seperate beds in the other room so we took it for the night. we slept great because we had sleep number beds. I would recommed a Raddison just because of the beds. The next day we went to breakfast because we go it free from the room mix up. It was so good I loved the food at the hotel resturant. After that we went & suprised Grandma Mangum she is so cute she opened the door thinking we were her neighboor and she took a step back in shock I worried we would give her a heart attack but she was fine. we went & saw her every day but she made me cry the last time because she didn't want us to leave it broke my heart because we never know if we will see her again. We went to Paul's Uncle Deny & Aunt Lorien's house to see what they were up to ans Laura & her son Brooks came by it was nice to visit with them. Deny recommended food by our hotel & we walked down to the Sky box and it started raining so we ran to the resturant. When we order our food we thought we could eat most the food but the portions were huge! The food was great we just didn't even come close to finishing. so after we got back to our hotel we decide first thing in the morning we would go get warmer clothes & an umbrella because it was going to be cold & it was while we walked around temple sqare it started sleating in May I was horrifed! We hurried across the street to Deseret Book to warm up I have never been to one this big I could have bought everything but then I would have never gotten it all home so we bought a few books and called it good it had stopped raining so we walked to the the Lion House pantry for lunch it was really good I loved their bread I took some back to our hotel whith me and snacked on it. We went to dinner that night with Kyle Wright and his wife Lindsey they were such great company we ate at chili's that is always good. Then we went to the Jordan River Temple and walked around. The next day we went to JB's For Breakfast then checked out of our hotel and head home we knew that a freind of ours was heading home from Utah the same time we were we just didn't excpect him to be on our flight it was really funny to ride home with some one we knew.

We are at the very bottom of this picture

Gila Valley Temple open house May 15th 2010

2010-06-23T12:13:00.000-07:00

Gila Valley Temple May 15th 2010
Paul & I went with the youth of our ward to the temple open house because we are from the Gila Valley so my parents decided to go that day also. It was awsome to see so many friends and family all in one place. My grandma & grandpa Williams where at the opne house unlocking some ones car so we got to see them too! what a beautiful temple I told Paul now we have to go get remarried at this temple because it is our home town. I will be jealous of any cousins that get married there.

My 25th Birthday!

2010-03-28T18:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to Me!! I had the best birthday yesterday Paul took the whole day off to spend with me. I started off the morining getting a massage it was so good I felt so relaxed the rest of the day thanks Amy. Then we went to see "How to Train Your Dragon" in 3-D that was the cutest movie I really enjoyed it. After the movie we went to Paridise Bakery because they have the best food and did I mention cookies they have great cookies they are bogo (buy 1 get 1 free) we got white chocolate chip macedamian nut, snickerdoodle, sugar & coconut chocolate chip yum! Then I went visiting teaching were I got brownies those aren't my favorite ,but Paul got to eat them for being a good sport. I also had activity day where the girls sang to me it was so fun. Then I went to Chili's for dinner with my family minus Brenten I am not sure where he was. I got to laugh and have fun all day thanks to my wonderful husband who did his best to love everything we did, he did have to go shooting the next day to get some of his masculinity back. Thanks to all who left me messeages on facebook, my email, voicemail, and text message it truley helped make my birthday special!

Tiffany Spoon's Bridal Shower

2010-03-18T11:47:00.000-07:00

Tiffany's Bridal Shower

My Mom, Bethany, & I made a day trip to Thatcher to visit long time family friends for a bridal shower it was a rough start we had to wait for Bethany to finish teaching for the gym then we ran into renissance festial traffic we were backed up from sossman all the way past gold caynon & renissance festival. We got to the shower an hour late but they didn't really start until we got there so it was great to sit and talk and enjoy old friends I look forward to doing it again soon!

ostich festival

2010-03-18T11:06:00.000-07:00

The Ostirch Festival Parade I love parades you get to get up way early in the morning which of course I love to do ,no not really but it is for a good reason, then we check in and start decorating only it is still cold so your fingers don't work the way want them to but this year we made a really nice float we put way more balloons on our float then in years past each year we get better if you don't know what I mean you should go back to my december post and look at the chandler light parade wow! But like the light parade we ran down the battery on the Tahoe and almost missed the parade but we got Tonja's car pulled around and jumped the Tahoe and a way we went a nice little burst of adrenaline right before we started the parade.

Paul & Parker go to the Wildlife Zoo

2010-03-18T08:56:00.000-07:00

Ok So I didn't go with Paul & Parker to the Zoo but I am the one who is crazy about journaling aka blogging so I will post these pictures. This year for Parker's birthday my wonderful mother-in-law Deanna gave Paul and I the idea to give Parker an excperience for his birhtday rather than a gift he would out grow by the end of the year. What a great idea next time however I want to schedule things better so I can go too. So we gave Parker a card that said" we wannt to give you a gift that you won't out grow so we thought we would give you a memory you can't out grow that ask Uncle Paul what it is" so parker asks what is my gift? Paul tells him we are going to the Wildlife Zoo. Parker was excited but not as much as his cousin Colten he started screaming the Zoo it was so cute but then his dad tells him to give Paul a hug for taking him to the zoo (of course Paul isn't taking him to the zoo but we would have taken him home with us he is so darn cute) he hugs Paul and works his way down the line and hugs everyone at the party.

January

2010-01-14T10:37:00.000-08:00

Wow I can't beleive what a whirlwind the hoilday were and we are already back to our real life. Christmas was so great getting to spend it with my family in Pine AZ thanks to Bob we got to enjoy each other spending time talking about the birth of the savior how he really changed our lives and that christmas isn't about how many gifts you give or recive but how much thought you put into the gift you give and we also enjoyed the snow. the only down side was we took our dogs and there was no fence for dogs that are use to roaming free in their backyards. The day after christmas was great too Paul & I spent the day with his family at our house only that meant adding clean house to my check list of things to do before we left for christmas but it also meant not having to pack our christmas presents anywhere since we just did that to go to pine. I don't have any pictures from the Mangum family chrismas only the Williams family christmas I will have to ask Carrie for some of hers she took plenty of pictures. As we started this new year Paul & I got to refelct on the things we are good at giving talks in church aren't on that list but that is what helped us remeber the things we are good at. I spoke in church on "Developing Talents" something I feel qualified to speak on unlike the atonment which I have spoken about before and Paul spoke on " Severvice" I am sure that many people would agree with me that Paul is excellent at service he loves to help people. It was an awsome week of reflecting on the things we are good at and I feel it has made this week extra special too because all the peolpe that helped me remember what i am good at Spiritually and Physically. I learned that my freinds and family notice the things that i do and know me pretty well I want to try to live up to all the great things that were said and keep them in my heart to remeber that some of the people I meet may not know the great talents God has given me and to try to show them the best side of me all the time.

Christmas

2009-12-07T08:34:00.000-08:00

Wow can you believe it is December already Paul & I put up our christmas tree and decorations. I love this time of year I get pull out winter sweaters & jackets that I haven't been able to wear because of the heat so it is like getting a new woredrobe & I love new cloths even if they are mine already! Last night Az Desert Dance took 2nd place at the Chandler Light Parade It was so great we had a rocky start but to place so well Made it all worth it. 1st we had problems with our big generater that ran most of the light then we had to jump the Tahoe that was pulling the float but once we got everything working it was Awsome! Thanks to Mike Trevette who built our float. Tina Taulor & My self dressed up she is the Grinch & I was Cindy Lou Who. We had kids that wanted pictures with us because they thought we really were the Grinch & Cindy Lou Who! Now I know Why Disneyland only lets little childeren & the Charcter where costumes not the adults but thats ok I wish I would have gotten a profile picture of Ashlee's hair I did her hair the older dance students did who hair(if you don't know what I mean go watch the movie then you'll know)

November So Far

2009-11-18T20:25:00.000-08:00

Gilbert Days Parade Saturday November 14th

Every year AZ Desert Dance Power does this parade we ant everyone to look like they belong so if you want to walk with us need a shirt so yes even the dads had to wear a pink AZ Desert Dance shirt!

What god sports!

Yes that is the Tooth Fairy! she was in a dentis float

Akiva like to think Mac is a lap dog sure a 100 lb lap dog

And Maricopa 7th Ward The new ward we were split into has been GREAT to us so far the Behives came & welcomed us to the Ward!

Christmas card Pictures by Kelsey

2009-10-19T13:36:00.000-07:00

I love Kelsey She is so great at captureing us! I love these pictures let me know which one is your favorite I am trying pick my favorite for my christmas cards.

Gila Valley Temple

2009-09-23T12:12:00.001-07:00

I am so excited by this temple being built in the Gila Valley where I grew up! It is realy neat to see the work of our Pioneer ancetors moving forward!

Grandpa Larson's 90th Birthday!

2009-09-23T11:50:00.001-07:00

Last weekend my family celebrated my Grandpa Bevan Larson's 90th Birthday! That is an accomplishment worth celebrating! Most of my imedate and exctened family was there. Some cousins live to far a way to make it and they were missed. We had lunch and a talent show and my Grandpa was so impressed that he had so many kids and grandkids with so much talent! I think we need to celebrate his birthday every year so all of the Larson family has a reason to get together!

D-backs Game & Montgomery Gentry concert

2009-08-30T19:48:00.000-07:00

Last Night Paul & I went to a D-backs game it was my very 1st one and it was great we had great seats complements of Uncle Don THANKS we Love them the score was dbacks 9 and astros 0 as in zip nothing! I must have been a good luck charm for them and they are welcome! We went with Kelsey & Akiva Destiny & Sean and few other of Kelsey & Akiva's Friends. After the game was a Montgomery Gentry concert on the Field. They rocked and I enjoyed their music I all the songs except 2 not bad for a girl that didn't like country until I met Paul but I suppose I have been listening to country music for 5 years now. It was so much fun Thanks for inviting us Kelsey next time we will invite you we want to have a game night at our house soon so anyone interested is welcome to come! Also yesterday I got to spend the morning with my mother-in-law Deanna my sister-in-law Amanda Aunt Cheryl and Geree we went shopping and ate lunch at Blue 32 Yummy! life is really great right now hope to keep that going & send my positive energy & love to all of my friends & family that are struggling.

Sunday!

2009-08-26T19:27:00.001-07:00

This Sunday was My 1st sunday as one of the ward librarians that is one of the best callings ever! I have never had an adult calling. Paul & I have always been in primary for the last 5 years so we have officially graduated! ( Paul is in young mens ) After church I got to go vivisting teaching that is such a great thing that is in our church it helps me to make friends I so easily get caught in a rut and forget that there are other poeple in this world and I don't venture outside of mine. It is also great to be in a ward that I know I will be at for a while instead of every year to 18 months changeing. After all the great church events of Sunday My family came over to eat dinner and take pictures for Grandpa Larson's 90th birthday photo book I have a really cute family!

The Dog day of summer

2009-08-17T10:51:00.000-07:00

It is so hot we are finding other ways to entertain ourselves!

Scottsdale Resort

2009-08-17T10:28:00.001-07:00

This weekend Paul & I satyed at the Scottsdale Resort for our 5th Anniversary. We had such a great time we ate at chilies the 1st night. While we were sitting eating our chips and salsa we saw a Hummer tour drive by, Paul has always wanted to go on one, so we called the number on the side of the hummer and planned to go the next night for a desert night tour. We went out at 7:30 PM and came back at 12:00AM we got to use night vison scope, heat senser scope, and a star gazing information scope. We didn't see very much wild life a few scorpions a treanchela and a jack rabbit. My favorite part of the trip was the very end when we went romping throught the desert! That was the highlight of our weekend but we swam in the pool we watched Star Trek and The time travlers wife so we each got to pick a movie. The very last part of our trip was Donkin donuts Yummy!

5th Anniversary

2009-08-13T11:12:00.000-07:00

Wow! Today is My 5th anniversary. Time really flies when you are having fun all though some days it feels like an eternity and for good reason. I feel like I have known Paul my entire life well we sort of have but just that the other person existed not who they are or what they interested in. Paul & I went to the school since 4th grade we had several classes together as we look back. We where in the same ward for a while during that time my Dad was Paul's scout leader and our Mom's were visiting teaching companions. It is funny how god puts us on the paths to our futures and when you look back and see all the serendipitous things in your past you realize how much God loves you! I love Paul with all my heart he is the greatest guy I know he is a man of his word he never says he will do something and then back out (sometimes that drives me crazy when it takes away from the things I want to do). He is a doer! When he is at my dance recitals I know I can count on him to get things taken care of even if he is the only one doing it. he is very inventive if I ask him to make something for me his "Paul Flare" makes it better than I could even imagine. And finally he know how to treat me he knows when it is ok to joke and ok to say "it will all work out" and when to listen! I love you Paul!!

Fry Mesa

2009-08-04T11:49:00.001-07:00

We went to fry mesa for the weekend while we were in Thatcher for Kelsey & Akiva's wedding reception Paul & I decided we were going to have fun now matter what so we decide to go swimming at maryhilda but there was no water after we "hiked" in we had to climb over some rocks but it was work maybe not a hike but it felt like one. when we found that there was no water we decided to go to Fry Mesa. We stopped for lunch only to find that i left the bread on the counter Ahh! So we went to the knight house to let Kelsey & Akiva open their gifts from the night before. Then we went to Fry Mesa the road was a little bumpy but from what i was told it is way better than it use to be! So we had a great Adventure!

And good old Paul can't get away from his work his phone always rings even when we are having fun (it happend at our wedding pictures too!)

There were crodads every where big and small I do not think they are cute Kelsey did and she picked up some pretty ugly ones!

There was a bridge and stairs that lead down the damn i was even brave enough to climb part way down. It helps to have a great husband who makes me feel like I can do anything, but then reality sets in and I am half way down the side of a damn going "What was I thinking"

We stopped on our way down the mountain from Fry Mesa and took pictures with the Gila Valley in the background it is really neat to be from a place like this. That is why we live in Maricopa it is the same in many ways.

Kelsey & Akiva's Wedding

2009-08-04T11:37:00.001-07:00

These are pictures from Kelsey & Akiva's Wedding and the Mesa and Thatcher Receptions. I love weddings you get to eat and Catch up with your family! I had great time with all my family can't wait to see you all again soon! Weddings remind me of the comitment that I made to my husband and to love him no matter what! He is so good to me it isn't hard to love him.

Dance Recital!

2009-05-26T11:42:00.000-07:00

These are Pictuers from last weekend at my dance studio Kelsey Knight Came Out and tokk these pictures. they turned out great!! I love this one in the blue they are all 2 or 3 i reminds me of the Anne Gedes picture of all the babies in pink tutu's. This Friday May 29th is my 2nd dance recital we are holding our show at Global Water's Confrence Room from 7:00 - 8:00 PM I am So excited to be able to do the things that i love love God has truely blessed me!

Taylor Family Reunion

2009-05-26T11:24:00.000-07:00

Confrence weekend all of the Taylor Family met at the Verdan church. We had a great weekend! We talked and ate and played games it was a great time! there was a football game, marshmallow eating contest, water balloon launching (at cheryl) and a fashion show!

Sedar Springs

2009-05-26T11:11:00.000-07:00

I Went Camping In A Tent! Easter Weekend I was talked into going camping with the Knight family. Every Easter for as long as I can remember the Larson side of my family has had a picnic easter weekend at Sedar Springs. I am not sure when it became a camping trip? Well Paul loves to camp and when he found out we where invited I had no choice. I had a good time but it was COLD burr! I wore everything I packed for 2 days. My dogs however loved it they love camping Paul has taken mac before but this was Mine and Mazie's 1st camping trip. I was glad to have my dogs at night they are very good heaters! good thing they like to snuggle or it wouldn't have worked to well.

Graduation!

2009-05-26T10:24:00.001-07:00

Last week was crazy with graduations in my family! Ashlee promoted from the 6th grade she will be going into Junior High! Brenten graduated form High school AHHH! And Cameron graduated 8th grade he is going into High school! WOW my sibling are all growing up so fast.

1st mobile post

2009-04-29T09:41:00.001-07:00

Alyssa Mangum 480-201-4510 Alyssadeanne@hotmail.com Alyssaslittledancers.blogspot.com

Life

2009-02-12T09:39:00.000-08:00

Holy Cow it has been a while since my last post. Life has become crazy! Here is an over view of what has been going on. My last post was the election that was November. Well there was Thanksgiving that week was pretty crazy it was at my house this year my first Thanksgiving I think it went well! Then it was Christmas and with Christmas comes a dance recital I sent from Halloween til the week of our show December 20th pianting Pumpkin boxes to look like presents. That same night we went to Paul's work party talk about a long Day! We got up at 4:00 AM and got home at 2:00 AM yeh that was a long day. We also did the light parade in chandler our theme was the "Grinch" I was Cindy Lou Who and Tina Taylor was the Grinch. We went to the Zoolights with our friends Billy & Denise that was a ton of fun but that is when my camera decided to die! It was very sad because I only have a few pictures from my BlackBerry for all the holidays. We went to Thatcher for christmas I got Paul a Wii he was so excited so if anyone wants to have a Wii party let us know! Then there was New Years one of these years I am going to have a flour ball fight at midnight like some friends of ours use to do. We went to an H&N party so it was a little crazy! and the last month I have been gearing up for two recitals my own and an Arizona Desert dance recital. But now it is down to choreography! We also put grass in our back yard one step closer to a real yard!

One More

2008-11-11T14:04:00.000-08:00

I really am not a political junkie but there is so much to say about the new president and about prop 8 and 102. We all need to pray for those who need our help!

"Barack Obama was not my choice, but he is my president. That is true of all Americans. For the last eight years, there has been an ongoing campaign of destruction meant to handicap and hobble the last president. I refuse to be part of an effort to do the same to the next president. Those who didn't vote for Barack Obama must set a higher standard of civility and citizenship than those who didn't vote for George W. Bush. In defeat, there must still be nobility."That doesn't mean silent servility. It doesn't mean differences and principles are ignored."But it does mean the new president gets a new chance. It means we all must pray for him and work with him to make our country stronger and safer and better."The last eight years have taught us what happens when you set out to destroy a presidency for political gain. You help your candidate, but you hurt your country. That pattern must not be followed with this new president. America must treat Barack Obama better than he treated George W. Bush."

The Election

2008-11-11T13:38:00.000-08:00

I had to detach my self from the news for a while because there are so many things being said I felt I had scensory overload. I can appericiate the historic nature of this election even if I don't agree with all that happend. I did not vote for Obama but I don't feel that either canidate could turn things around with the economy. I think it is congress that needs a change it is mostly Democrat and maybe with a Democratic president people will see how bad things get vote for "change" real change not the kind that they think they are getting. I also know that as member of the latter day saint faith I need to stand by my president! It is neat to know that my childeren will know that I was part of an election that has such historical value. I hope for the best I can't focus on "this is the end" like I have heard so much of. I want to look to the future with joy and happiness.

Tagged 6 Quirks

2008-11-05T10:47:00.000-08:00

If you ask Paul he calls my quirks my different personalities!

1. I hate feet yuck! don't touch mine don't touch me with yours and we can be friends.
2. My closet is color cordinated black to white short sleeve to long. I like to walk in and know what I am looking at.
3. I can't sleep next to the door. Every time we move Paul has to change side because I won't sleep I just stare at the door waiting for someone to come through and get me!
4. Splitting the pole. If Paul and I are walking and there is something in between us I make him go to one side or the other (it is also bad luck to split the pole).
5. I don't like chocolate. I always get it for christmas and it usually doesn't get eaten.
6. I eat my sandwiches and burgers upside down. The way that food is wrapped makes it so I eat upside down.

One step closer

2008-09-12T10:51:00.000-07:00

Yeah! one step closer to having a yard! The curbing was done this morning at 6:30 yuck but it is done Yeah!

Sicamore Creek

2008-09-12T10:43:00.001-07:00

Paul and I went to sicamore creek last saturday. I don't know why we it is called creek there definetly wasn't any water. It is Arizona after all! Our 4-wheeler has had some issuse so we thought they were all fix turns out they we not. We Drove an hour to get there and could only ride for about 30 minutes because it ran out of coolant. We had alot fun while it lasted! Yes these pictures are staged but it is hard to take picture when your husband is flying around on a 4-wheeler. I hope we go out again and we would love to have some friends go with us next time!

Nursery Leaders

2008-09-02T09:36:00.000-07:00

Paul And I have been called to be senior nusery leaders! We are so excited about our calling last ward never gave us a calling because we lived in the apartments so we wouldn't be there long enough to help. We love the kids it has to be the best calling we get to do singing time that is kind of scary because I don't sing and neither does Paul. But we have little cut outs and hepl mates to get us through. And the lessons are simple but to the point that our heavenly father loves us! Plus snack time I think that is Paul's favorite time it is pretzel's and animal crackers. Then we play with the kids there are 14 kids but we usally omly have 10. There are 3 girls that love paul they will sit in his lap the whole time if we let them. It is really sweet to see him loving them and them loving him. At first I was frustrated because all the kids loved him and I was just the lady that gave the lesson but things are starting to turn around and they love me too. We have been in nursery for 3 weeks now but they told us we only had six months because it is an isolated calling but I think it will be the best six months!

2008-08-30T12:50:00.000-07:00

Want to make a memory... Well just leave one really!

2008-08-02T08:32:00.000-07:00

Leave a Memory:Here are the directions...
1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!
2. Next re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty cool (and funny) to see the responses.
If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you are playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. :) If you don't want to play on your blog, or you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

Back Yard!

2008-07-08T09:57:00.000-07:00

Yeah! We have finally started working on our back yard we trenched the holes for the sprinklers, put in the valve, the pipe, and the sprinklers, and I got to help! I know you are thinking Lyss digging in the dirt no way but it is true. All I really did was to cover the holes up and put togther the risers to the pipe. Paul did everything else he is a landscaper after all so he should do more than me. The dogs had so much fun they wanted to help dig the holes but we wouldn't let them. we turned the sprinklers on at the end Mac thought it was great Mazie however did not!

Happy 4th of July

2008-07-08T09:49:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July !! We had a great time the park in our community has parties for almost every ocasion and this was no exception. We barbaqued at my house then we went to the park they had booths and water slides then at 8:00 we watched the Sandlot and at 9:30 we watched
fireworks. It was alot of fun but as you can see some people are missing ? My Dad, Bethany, and Brenten. They missed out on alot of fun.

My recital

2008-06-26T10:58:00.001-07:00

Well it has been a very crazy couple of months! As most of you know I have started a small studio out of my house and we had our recital May 31st and it went great! I just got the pictures from Kelsey Knight ( my wounderful cousin). I was a little worried how they would turn out because it was caous from the second I showed up to the facility. The whole place had been gutted so I had nothing to work with. Still she got some great shots. We went to another location for pictures so we could have a nice back drop. Childeren were everywhere. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters everyone tring to get the girls to smile and look at them for that perfect shot. I should never underestamate Kelsey she always gets some great photots my house is proof enough for that! So Thank you Kelsey for coming through!! This is Tap/Ballet/Tumble class they danced to " I wont dance" I though it if them they are so cute but at this age you never know if they will or won't dance!

This is my Fairytale ballet class they danced to " Edelweiss" nothing really to do with fairytales just a really pretty song for pretty girls

This is my Tap/Jazz class the did 2 dances "Stupid Cupid " & " Route 66"

they are high energy girls that loved to dance

sisters

2008-05-28T11:14:00.000-07:00

These are pictures of me and my sisters. I was trying to find a location and time to take recital pictures for my little dance studio. If you didn't know I teach classes here at my house. Our show is this weekend and I will be happy when it is over because it is hard work. But it has been very rewarding. And my sisters and my mom are always the first to volunteer to help. I love them!

Check out my Slide Show!

2008-05-28T11:13:00.001-07:00

Crazy Faces

2008-04-27T09:11:00.000-07:00

This weekend we had Jeremy (My brother in law) and his kids Jade (8) & Parker (5) come and see us well we played all day and saturday night we went for pizza yummy! Well while we waited for jeremy and Jade we made crazy faces so I snapped some pictures.

Snow days

2008-04-05T12:05:00.001-07:00

Paul and I went to ShowLow Valentines weekend to play in the snow. We stayed at a friends cabin. It is an acre and half of fenced in property that the dogs love to play on we went spotlighting and went exploring. I know really romantic but it was tons of fun!

Disneyland October 2007

2008-04-02T09:33:00.001-07:00

This is our disney land vacation. It took forever to get there between eating potty breaks and the small detour becuase of construction we got in at 8:00 p.m. when we left at 11:00 a.m. so we ate

at denny's and started to fall asleep

On the first day at disneyland we sent the boys paul and cameron of to ride all the rides they wanted. this is the tarzan play house.

And we wished to see all the charecters we could

so we rubbed the magic lamp and Poof out pops

the Genie of the lamp. We asked him for his picture. Then we got down to business.

we asked the Genie where to find the princesses

and he granted our wish with 3 princesese.

Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty

Once our wishes had been granted we headed off

to toon town after all we did come to dance and that was the meeting spot!
Once we arived we took a tour of the place and we should have never let Ashlee drive it was the scaryest part of the entire trip

Then we danced it was a short show only 30 minutes

but what fun we had any way everyone did their very

best!

Then Paul and I tried to pick up some barbells

well if he wasn't strong enough by him self what did he think I could do. So he blew them up men what are you going
to do

then we flew over to adveture land where we meet Lightning Mcqueen. He is so sporty in red!

Then we spun over to the Tea Cups Bethany wanted to do that all day so we spun for a while

Paul wasn't interested so he sat and waited for us to finish. Then we took a picture in front of the N of California

The girls went and got their faces painted

I Got Tnker Bell

We Had alot of fun Paul took Cameron on the big rollercoaster at California Adventure he thought Cameron was going to pee his pants but he didn't and everyone livrd happily ever after!

trip to grandma's

2008-03-25T11:38:00.001-07:00

Hey All these are pics from our salt lake city trip! We went to Utah to visit Paul's Grandma Mangum She is the sweetest lady ever. We also saw or in my case met new cousins. We had a great time. It was a very long weekend however going off 2 hours of sleep we went to temple square it is so beautiful there. We took the tour of the new conference center that building is amazing all on its own but then you add all the paintings and history that is in with it WOW! then we saw all the other buildings that are just as beautiful and full of history but they don't have a tour which is fine. the grounds where so green and full of color considering it snowed the whole time we where there.

This is us with grandma mangum she was not happy that i made her take a picture with paul and me but she did it anyway what a trooper. this is the hospital that she is in right now where they are trying to rehabilitate her. it doesn't look like a hospital it looks like a cute apartment or a hotel. And the food there is great we would have eaten with her except we didn't know we could until we went to leave but that's okay. She seems to be doing better than everyone expected. she was doing better than we had heard so it was great to see her looking good.

Here is the snow it was grey the whole time we where there but it was fun to be in different weather. We left Arizona at 80 degrees and landed in Utah at 30 degrees thank heavens for warm clothes well on my part paul and jeremy both had on shorts the first day good thing they had pants with them.

We went to Boondocks to ride go karts and play video games but the guys tried a flight simulator that turned out to be a virtual rollercoaster it spun them upside down and all around i was glad they had fun because i would not be part of that!

And then we had to say goodbye at 4:oo AM not fun but better than 2:45am going to Utah! it was a really great trip spending time with family i hope we can do it again soon!

our house

2008-03-21T17:11:00.000-07:00

This is our new house for all those who haven't been out to see it or just haven't seen the updates .

This is a view of the front it is a two story home with 4 bed rooms 2 1/2 bathrooms a great room and a dance room

This is the entry way looking to the great room and the master bed wich is on the bottom floor and its great to not have to climb stairs when you are tired the kitchen is at the end of the great room to the left

this is the living /dinning are with mazie on the couchthis is the master bed room the bath is to the left and the closet too we love it in herehere is the wonderfuly red kitchen you can't tell from the living area that it is red so it is a little suprise when you come around the corner.this is obviously the stair way so i'll say no morethis is the second story you can see 3 bed rooms little 10 x 10 rooms not much to see and the lobby for my studio and of course the bathroom.last but not least my dance studio i teach about 20 kids from 2 years old to 13 years old various times through out the week it is so nice to work at home and still teach dance! Paul did the floors and the barres him self WOW!

2008-03-21T13:38:00.000-07:00

Hey all-
We just wanted to put some of our favorite photos and memories out here to share with family and friends hope you enjoy them as much as we do!