My Sisters!! Get ready, this one's long! :)

I was thinking about life today and what some of my favorite things are. I decided that one of my absolute favorite things in life is having sisters!! I am so lucky, because I not only have 5 fabulous sisters, but I have 6 totally wonderful and fun sister in laws. They are all fantastic and we all get along great! I am in awe of each ones talents and strengths, and they give me such good examples to strive to be like. So, whether they like it or not, their pics get to be splattered all over this blog so everyone who reads it can know how special they are to me! (And Clint still has 6 more brothers that will eventually get married and give me more awesome sisters! Yes, it's all about me. haha)

The Mangum Sista's

L to R top row first: Jessica Hughes lights up a room. She knows how to have fun and make me laugh like no other. She's also one of the only people I can stay on the phone with for a long time. (I just don't like talking on the phone, but she lives in Virginia and I miss her way tooo much!); Rachel Mangum is the go getter! Rachel was my Ricks College roomie and ended up marrying my only brother... how lucky am I! She can do anything and has a strong will that I envy often!; Me (3 weeks after giving birth... good thing I'm in the back row!! haha); Jennifer Kouba (my older sister) is my forever trusting friend. Ever since we were little we could talk about anything (ooh, and I mean anything. haha). She is the kindest person and loves to do anything to make others happy... plus she can throw a great party!; Jody Moser is perfect... well, that's what we all used to say growing up. She makes righteous choices always so she is my CTR example. And ever since she married Josh she's got the best fashion sense!; Kristin Loock is my sister that I never want to grow up (even though she is married now and lives in Utah). She's the adventurous baby in the family, and loves to be out doing stuff, anything. She loves to play, play, play and is so funny! She gives the BEST HUGS too.; Shannon Petty, I have to say, is such a great mom to her 3 kids. She is a great example of patience and steadfastness. She has great family home evenings and seems to always talk with a quiet voice (which is completely unheard of in my family!!). haha. I love my sisters!!

Dorky picture!!

The Campbell Gals

Clockwise from Center (mom Campbell...so cute and tiny, but a giant example of faith and love); Rochelle Benson is Clint's youngest sister. I love watching her being a first time mom to her sweet little Mackiepoo. She is so kind to others and puts her family first. She always has kind words to say about others, but my favorite thing about Shelly is the little streak of rebel she's got in her... you know you got it girl.; Allison's got a special place in my heart, not only because she's married to Clint's twin, Clay, but because I've know her since we were kids. She is brave and supportive of her husband, and she is so dang fun to hang around. She's got the best laugh/giggle known to mankind, and it is highly contagious!; Jeni's got it all together! I envy her organizational skills and cleanliness above anyone elses. She's a great person to be around and I love just sitting and talking to her.. and to be honest, it's so nice to call her cause when she answers the phone she always sounds happy... oh- and she's way fun to go to disneyland with! :); Me; Ashley is the cutest thing ever! I thought she was so shy, until I got to know her... not shy., She is so motivated and is so smart. She's got the most beautiful skin (I've never seen her wear makeup.. and she doesn't need it) and most adorable smile ever.; Rebecca Gibson is Clint's other sister who is only a year younger then me. I've always looked up to her. She is the most thoughtful, caring person ever. She puts others before herself always and is such an awesome mom. I love Bec, because I feel like I could call her or come over anytime day or night for anything and she'll be there with a smile on her face and a shoulder to lean on. She is so funny too. I could hang out with her all the time. I love my sisters! Two Hotties!

Ok, I sacraficed my dignity posting this picture. :) Whatever you do, do not enlarge this picture!

Allioop, me, Bec, Shell, Jo

I love that my family and Clint's family are crazy about eachother too!

Are these two the most adorable chics ever!! Clint's got the cutest sisters!

Yikes... have a kind thought please (I was due a couple weeks after this picture). I love going out to eat, movies, or anywhere with my sisters... Mama C, Bec and Z, Me, Shell and Mack

Jennifer, Rachel, Mom and Krissy at piano, Me, and Shannon (the little kid is my Emma)

Ok.. I had to post this picture, because one of the funniest things me and my sisters do is sing together. Not that we totally suck or anything, but we can never do it without cracking up and having fun! It's to the point of ridiculous. We make fun of eachother, we sing off key (that's not always on purpose, but it's always funny), we dance (yes, while singing), and at times we have to be seperated from eachother for the good of the song. My mom acts a little annoyed after about an hour of this, but seriously, I think she thinks it's just as funny as we do. haha.

This post could've been way longer with way more pictures, but ya gotta stop somewhere!!

My son tagged me!

What is the best thing you cooked last week?
Are you kidding me???!!! haha... anyone who knows me knows I only cook what comes in a box. Actually I did bake bread 2 weeks ago (thanks to mom for teaching me, and my kitchenaid for making it easy... it's very yummy!!)

If time, money and babysitting were no object, where would you go and with who?
First, back east to visit Clay/Allison and Jessica/Kevin... then Scotland with Clint... then Hawaii (or somewhere tropical).

When was the last time you cried?
At our girls movie night a couple weeks ago, watching PS, I Love You. Only one part made me cry... it was the part where she breaks down to her mom in the bar. BTW- I loved that movie!!!

List 5 things you were doing 10 years ago (1998).
1. Living w/ my parents
2. About to have our first baby, Jaron!!!
3. Feeling bad for Clint working in attics in 115 degree weather.
4. Working at Dr. Weaver's dental office
5.Saving to buy our own home

List 5 things you were doing 5 years ago (2003).
1. Living in our first owned home... actually it was a 2 bedroom 1 bathroom townhome (we lived in it for 7 years... lots of good memories there)
2. Working at Dr Weavers
3. Raising 2 beautiful wild children (and deciding we wouldn't have anymore... haha)
4. On Weight Watchers and excercising... yep, I was motivated and I looked good!! :)
5. Serving in the Young Womens as a counselor, not knowing I was about to be blindsided by being called to be the president.... which I ended up loving loving loving!!!

List5 things you were doing 1 year ago.
1. Going through the police academy (yes, even though it was really Clint that went through it... The rest of us suffered through it too. :)
2. Stressing that we had bought a house (the one I grew up in), not even knowing if Clint would have a job from week to week. We are crazy!!
3. Stressing about being pregnant with our 4th child (way to close to our third child... haha)
4. Stressing about whether or not to quit my job that I loved, after 12.5 years of doing it... (I did. I miss it, but it was the best thing for our family)
5. Enjoying our AWESOME garden we had (strawberries, pumpkins, watermelons, carrots, cucumbers, canteloupe..... it was so fun watching everything grow!) This year we haven't been so lucky w/ everything. haha. I still love getting my hands in the dirt.

6. Watching Clint's brother, Kelly, and his beautiful wife, Ashley, get sealed in the St. George temple; and watching my baby sister, Kristin, get married to a really cool guy, Ryan, in the LV temple.





7. Enjoying our new pets. WE LOVE DESERT TORTOISES!!



List7 of your favorite hobbies.
1. reading
2. emailing
3. blog hopping (a new and very fun hobby)
4. scrapbooking
5. gardening
6. going to the movies
7. taking drives

Name5 of your favorite foods.
1. homemade choc chip cookies
2. Rachel's breadsticks
3. cold cereal
4. oatmeal
5. homemade wheat bread w/ butter
6. Anything someone else makes!! haha

Name 9 places you have been.
1. Texas
2. Chicago
3. Colorado
4. Utah
5. California (the beachhouse is still one of the best vacations I've ever had!!)
6. Mexican cruise (girls trip)
7. Arizona
8. Idaho (GO RICKS!!)
9. Yellowstone

List 5 of your favorite memories.

1. The beachhouse w/ Campbell Fam

2. My Wedding Day... and night.... and week after!!! haha

3. All our trips to Disneyland

4. All of our camping trips

5. The Subway Hike (in Zion)

Happy Fathers Day Honey

Many of you have heard me say that I married Clint because he does everything better than me! It's true, he does... that includes cleaning, cooking, and taking care of the kids (thanks Mom Campbell for that). I finally figured out that I do one thing waaay better then Clint.... Brag about him! He is a humble humble guy (sometimes too humble :) ) so I feel it is my responsability to remind him and others how wonderful he is. So... I've dedicated this post to Clint, the love of my life, and the perfect dad! happy fathers day honey!!



Characteristics of a GREAT dad!

He teaches his kids righteousness, by setting a good example.

He adores his kids and is the best playground his kids could have.
He teaches them important skills to use in life.
He takes pride in knowing he's the most important man in his daughter's lives.... for now!
He teaches his kids how to defend themselves (I promise this is a beautifully staged picture).
He incorporates his kids (and nephews) in his work out just to spend time with them. haha

He prays for his little angels. He sets time aside in his busy schedule to play silly games with them

(even if he does have to remind himself how to play)
He gives mom a break, and takes care of the newborn. (I love this picture!)
He... well... he... teaches his kids to have a sense of humor...

He reads to his kids... even if he has to sit in an all pink room.
He teaches kids about responsabililties by taking in a pet... we love our Bart!
He slumber parties on the sofa bed... even if it is incredibly squished and uncomfortable.
He gets engrossed in "The Little Mermaid" movie with his kids. (this pic cracks me up. hehehe)
And most importantly... he makes dinner for mommy!!

Babe, I love you so much! You really are the best dad and husband a girl could ask for! (I hope I didn't embarrass (sp) you too much) :)

The singing naked girl!

Allison, this is for you! I know you wanted to hear Lily's voice so here is a sampling. haha! She's singing Ring around the rosies, but, I think the funniest part is her strut! Please excuse the lack of clothing. haha!

Lily can fall asleep anywhere!

Out of all my kids... Lily is the funniest sleeper. She can literally fall asleep anywhere in the house, and it is rarely in her own bed. :) Here she is with our dog, Bart, in a little junk corner of the house.
She loves pulling one cushion off the couch and nestling herself in the little crack. (If you look close you can see her toes sticking out of her blanket.) This is her favorite blanket! She carries it everywhere with her (you'll notice it in most of the pictures).
I don't know why, but she loves falling asleep on the kitchen floor. Infact, she slept on my sister in law's, Bec's, kitchen floor yesterday. I always laugh out loud when I find her in her various sleeping places.
She fell in the crack of the beds one night, and was snug as a bug in a rug. Look close and you can see her special blanket wrapped around her legs. haha.
I have to admit, her absolute favorite place to sleep is with Bart. He even sleeps on her bed with her at night. At first I didn't prefer him on the bed, but now, I don't care. He's her little protector and snuggle bug. It's so cute.

Brother in law's Graduation

Yesterday we went to Basic's graduation to see Clint's 3rd to the youngest brother, Kourtney, graduate. It got me thinkin'... Time goes by really fast! When Clint and I got married he was only 4 years old. I love Clint's family so much! I seriously think I have the best inlaws in the world. But marrying into a family that had 9 boys and 2 girls was totally different from our 6 girls and 1 boy. The thing I had the hardest time with was date discussions! Girls talk in detail about their dates... boys don't! I remember trying so hard to get details from my brother in laws when they'd come home... and ... nothing! But I love them all anyways! Luckily having that many brother in laws, means I get lots of GREAT sister in laws to add to all my GREAT sisters!! I love being a part of a big family (mine and Clint's side)! There is always something going on and I love that. Clint's sister and I were talking about it driving out there yesterday and realized life will never slow down with our families... it will only keep getting crazier and busier and (I think) more fun!! By the time Clint's youngest brother graduates, our oldest son will be a freshman in high school. YIKES! Ok... slow down... lets not go there yet. haha. So... out of all this jibberish (sp) I think the lesson is... enjoy every day!! Even if its a CRAZY one!

My family pictures

Last Day of School

Ok, I'm still trying to figure out how to use this blog. As you can tell, I don't know how to edit or when to push the post button, so just bare with me. The last day of school was lots of fun. We went to Emma's Kindergarten graduation, and then visited Jaron's class for a few minutes and let him videotape his friends (the camera moves so much, you get motion sickness), and then had friends and family over for a last day of school swim party and BBQ lunch. It was a great time! Summer has begun!
Sam, Auri, Jaron, and CJ making waves in the pool. We had to have seperate swimming times (one for the splashers, and one for the non-splashers.)

Non splasher: friends and cousins swimming on the last day of school! So fun to have everyone over!

Lily and Emma at "graduation" in matching dresses. They chose their clothes that day, and were really excited about matching. haha.

Me and Emma at her Kindergarten graduation. It was a cute program, and Emma was sooo excited about it!

We Just Can't Have Nice Things!

I love sitting down once a week and reading everyone's blog updates and looking at the wonderful pictures. So... I've decided to FINALLY start one. Thank you all for the inspiration!
For this first entry I was inspired by my lovely 2 year old, Lily. (I have a feeling she will be the inspiration for several future entries!)
Have you ever thought about buying that formal dining table, those fabulous dishes that are outrageously overpriced, the super matching furniture, or getting that really nice lamp or nightstand? If you have children around (and that includes many nieces and nephews) I suggest this...
1. Stick with the nonmatching furniture you bought at DI or got as handmedowns when you were first married.
2. Get the 5.00 big box of plastic dishes from Walmart and continue restocking those.
3. Never, and I repeat, Never put new doors in your house (until you're ready to sell it).
4. Embrace the yucky in life! haha It'll keep you happy!!
Yesterday, I bought Emma some stick on nails for being so good in the store. After putting them on her, I was inspired to paint my nails, which I haven't done in probably 2 years. I pulled out the nail polish, and then, as most mom's do, got distracted by something. Needless to say, my nails never got painted and I forgot to put the nail polish away. This morning, as I was cleaning, I noticed my beautiful brown leather sectional had some strange lines on in. When I looked closer I realized they were beautiful pink nailpolish lines. AAHH. So, like an experienced cleaning woman would do, I grabbed the nailpolish remover and began to scrub the nailpolish off, only to soon realize, (as Clint's yelling from the other room, "No, don't use nailpolish remover!") that remover also removes the leather finish. So, as you look below you can see what my lovely brown leather couch now looks like......