The Mangone Family

The Second White Dress

2011-06-14T20:39:00.001-07:00

At some point I must have blinked and about six years up and disappeared. It seems like yesterday that she was getting blessed. My sweet little baby is now a sweet young girl!

Because turning eight is a milestone in every girls life, I want to pay a special tribute to my little princess. Alexis is a sweet and loving girl. She is incredibly sensitive to those around her. She loves gymnastics, dance, and friends. She is very smart and thrives in school. (I don’t know for sure, but I think she is the teacher’s pet this year.) She loves to draw and do crafts. She won an art contest in school a few weeks ago for drawing the best illustration in her class of Junie B. Jones. She is an excellent example to her friends. She worries all the time about doing what is right. She always makes good choices. She is already a missionary, and invites her less active friends to come to church. Her brother and sister adore her. She loves having her hair done, her nails painted, and wearing new clothes. She has always loved beautiful and fancy things. She helped me plan and decorate for her baptism. The dress Alexis chose for her baptism is a direct example of who she is. (Elegant, charming, beautiful and special!) We are so lucky to have a daughter as wonderful as her!

Alexis was baptized on June 4, 2011

Catch Up Time

2011-06-14T20:17:00.001-07:00

Oakley Turns 4!! April

Alexis Turns 8!! May

Crew Turns 2!! June

Our October

2010-12-23T12:35:00.001-08:00

We started the month off with a Halloween party for Lexi and Oakley. We had 25 girls come. It was a blast! We had two treasure hunts, one for Lexi and her friends, and one for Oakley and her friends. Lexi’s was more difficult, it included invisible ink, backward messages, digging, and breaking rocks. Oakley and her friends searched for skull goblets by using picture clues. We ate rats, spiders, mummy toes, monster eyes, and witches brew. We ended the night with a scary movie!

Lexi reading her treasure map.

Oakley finding a clue.

Watching the movie!

PUMPKIN PATCH TIME!

Witches Night Out!

Spending time with my family and friends, and hundreds of other women dressed up as witches.

Carving Pumpkins!

Halloween trick-or-treat with a Monkey, and

Two Witches!

We also had a classroom party, two preschool parties, breakfast with a witch, a school carnival, a Mangone family party, three dance parties, and trunk-or-treat! What a busy month!

Ten Years Ago

2010-08-04T13:19:00.001-07:00

Guess What Shawn brought Home?

I was doing laundry and in walked Shawn home early from work with 10 dozen roses!! One for each year we’ve been married. What a sweet-heart.

Married August 4, 2000

I can’t believe it has been ten years! The time has just flown by. Shawn says he doesn’t remember ever being single, but then, he doesn’t remember anything.

Eleven and a half years ago I was invited to go to Lake Powell with a friend. I met some wonderful new girls who needed a roommate and I needed a place to live. I went to see their place and met Shawn the same night. I new when I saw him I would marry him. It took him over a year later to realize he needed me. He proposed to me on May 17, 2000.

Shawn always joked that he would buy me a ring from a candy machine. When my engagement ring conveniently went missing from the jewelry store, Shawn bought me a $.25 one from the toy ring machines in the mall. Out popped my real ring!!

Engagement Picture July 2000

Our temple ceremony was really great and surprisingly funny. Every one laughed and enjoyed themselves. Shawn even passed me his gum over the alter. Years later I had someone tell me it was the best ceiling they had ever been to.

Fun memories.

I LOVE YOU SHAWN!! Thanks for the best ten years of my life!

Bear Lake

2010-07-31T10:08:00.001-07:00

Last week we spent a day at Bear Lake. My sister-in-law and her family invited us to ride jet skis with them. We left early Thursday morning. We packed all our sand toys, coolers, towels, extra clothes, and chairs and headed up to Kaysville to pick up Sara and her family. We crowded all Sara’s gear in and her two children. Needless to say, four car-seats make for a tight fit. Finally, we were on our way. First we drove to Richmond and hit the Pepperidge Farm thrift store where we bought cookies, and fish crackers. Then McDonalds for a quick lunch. The playground area was closed because it was so hot, what a joke! Sara and I let our kids play anyway. Then off to Gossners for some yummy cheese. At last, time to see the lake! The kids loved the beach and jet skiing. Shawn joined us in the early evening and had his time jet skiing as well. We ate pizza and raspberry shakes for dinner. We had such a fun time. I was surprised how much fun it was, and how well behaved my kids were. I can’t wait to go back.

Lexi covering her feet in the sand,

Crew spent hours playing on this beach chair.

Oakley spent most her time making a sand castle. She loves to dig and play on the beach.

4th of July Pictures of My Girls

2010-07-06T06:24:00.001-07:00

My sister Eleena took these pictures of my girls on our front porch. She did an awesome job and she is not even a photographer.

Family Pictures

2010-07-02T08:27:00.001-07:00

How Sweet is This?

Crew’s 1st Birthday

2010-06-06T14:48:00.001-07:00

We had a farm theme for Crew’s birthday. We went to Wheeler farm, ate cake, looked at the animals, and climbed on the farm equipment. Family from all over came to celebrate. It was perfect weather, and all the kids had fun!

I made the same cake my sister made for her little boy. It was easy, but it took all evening to make.

Crew just poked at it, and then took off the graham crackers, he didn’t really want to eat it. Here he is with a red mouth. There was so much red dye in the frosting, that when we wiped him down later he looked like he had a red sunburn.

This is when we knew Crew was done! I haven’t had one child yet that hasn’t cried while eating their cake.

Crew liked his gifts, and so did the other kids!

I made little gift bags with farm animals and farm animal masks. Here is Oakley wearing her cow mask.

Crew loved touching the animals at the farm.

The girls loved running around and climbing on the equipment.

They especially loved the rabbits.

It was a really fun day at the farm!

One Year Ago

2010-06-03T18:12:00.001-07:00

June 3, 2009

A miracle happened and our family was blessed with a little boy! Loving Big Sister.

Proud Daddy!

Suspicious and Curious.

When Crew joined us, our lives changed for ever! Our family was complete. The joy we have experienced this past year is indescribable. He has been so happy and delightful! He loves to laugh, smile, giggle, clap, and wrestle. He is boy through and through. He loves hitting the girls in the face, pushing cars, and throwing things. He hates getting his hair (fuzz) styled, his diaper changed, and don’t even think about changing his clothes. Though I must admit, his pre-Madonna sisters have dressed him up like a girl on numerous occasions. (Wait, so have his mom and aunts.) We love having a little boy!!

One Month

Two Months

Three Months

Four Months

Five Months

Six Months

Seven Months

Eight Months

Nine Months

Ten Months

Eleven Months

Crew is one today!

We love you Crew!

SURPRISE!!

2010-05-25T18:39:00.001-07:00

Lexi turns seven. We celebrated with a surprise party. I gave the invites to her teacher with the envelopes addressed to the parents of the girls invited. I made one for Lexi addressed to myself so she wouldn’t get suspicious. The next school day some of the girls told Lexi about her party. She asked me about it and I lied and told her, “No, I wasn’t planning a party.” She asked me to promise and tell her the truth. I again lied. So Saturday morning she really was surprised when all her friends were waiting for her in our basement. She initially responded with anger toward me for lying to her, but got over it quickly when she realized all her friends were there. We had a mini pedicure party, where I ended up painting 16 sets of glitter toes. The girls had fun, especially our Lexi!

One thing I love about having kids, is living vicariously through them. I don’t know if it is bad to do this, but I figure as long as we are all having fun, who cares! Birthday parties are one of my most favorite things to give to my children. I love planning them, decorating, thinking up fun ideas, and of course seeing the joy it brings to my children. I just might do one for them every year, even if it is spoiling them.

Duos In Provo

2010-05-16T15:10:00.001-07:00

Congratulations Lexi and Taylee! Second place on your first duo together. You guys did fantastic, we are so proud of you!

11 months

2010-05-16T15:07:00.001-07:00

I Am On The Move!!!

Bye! Bye!

Princess Oakley

2010-05-14T00:14:00.001-07:00

The “bestest” day ever!

Awaiting the Royals

Mingling with Princess Hallie

Developing artisan skills

A superb tea!

The “finest” gifts!

Oakley Turns Three

2010-05-14T00:12:00.001-07:00

About a week before Oakley turned three she started behaving in a really bizarre way. One night she wanted to say prayers, and as usual I started to tell her what to say. She was silent so I continued, thinking she wanted me to say them. Well, she freaked out on me and started screaming that she wanted to say them by herself. I calmly replied, “okay.” She was still silent so we waited, then she started screaming that she wanted help. Well, I tried helping and she started in again on doing it by herself. It ended up with her screaming in her room and the rest of us saying family prayer with wailing in the background. There was no reasoning, rationalizing, or calming down the child. She was stubborn, demanding, and pretty much just mean! We thought that maybe we just sucked at parenting. Then we remembered that terrible twos are nothing! It’s those horrific threes!!!

Regardless of behavior, we still thinks she is pretty cute!!

Easter Morning

2010-05-14T00:10:00.001-07:00

Every Easter my kids wake up and find an Easter egg next to them in bed. Inside is the start of a very fun scavenger hunt. (a tradition my aunt Ruthann started) They figure out the clues to find their baskets. Lexi can read her clues now and Oakley understands the pictures she finds.

Our First Dance Competition

2010-03-28T21:53:00.001-07:00

Lexi had her first dance competition down in St. George. Dad, Mom, Oakley, Crew, and Grandma and Grandpa Mangone all drove down to see her perform. She did amazing!!! She got her first trophy and her dance group took first place in both the dances they performed. We are so proud of our little girl!! Congratulations Lexi!

Vacationing

2010-03-28T21:40:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago, we took the girls to Disneyland. My sister-in-law watched Crew so we could really enjoy ourselves. We had a blast!! I can’t wait until we can go again. I know that some people don’t like Disneyland, but it was really a great experience with little ones. Especially Oakley, who just couldn’t get enough. Here is Oakley dancing and singing with a leaf…

The girls eating and meeting the Princesses at Ariel’s Grotto…

We still had some break downs…

After all, they are girls!!

Lexi was super brave and rode every ride at least twice.

Oakley just thinks that Disneyland is the greatest!

And for us it really was!!!

While the Cats are out… the mice play!

2010-02-06T21:48:00.001-08:00

My sweet mother-in-law took my two little ones to a Utah Kids Club event while I went and hung out with my sister. They had so much fun and even came home as little cats! Their faces were so darling I just had to take a picture.

Scooting or Swimming

2010-01-31T14:51:00.000-08:00

That Valentine Feeling

2010-01-29T17:34:00.001-08:00

It’s starting to look like February at our house. This year I decided to decorate a Valentine tree. I had some fun decorations from my girls Christmas tree that I used, and then I added a few sparkly hearts. I think it turned out cute! I know a lot of people who think that Valentines day is a stupid holiday. (My husband is one of them.) I love Valentines day, and it’s even more fun with kids. Lexi loves it the most, she full out expects a fancy dinner and flowers. Last year, Shawn bought me roses and her carnations. This did not fly well with her, she expected the roses. She is already high maintenance. I pity the fool who marries her. Little Oakley loves the candy. I swear I go through pounds of it by the end of the month. Every time I turn around she is sneaking it. Good thing she likes to brush her teeth!

Even Crew likes chocolate kisses!

Our Three Little Ones

2010-01-29T17:17:00.001-08:00

Crew is starting to move, slowly, but still too quick for me. He gets around by rolling. The other day I couldn’t find him and he had rolled down the hall. He is starting to scoot forward a little, mostly he just carpet burns his face.

Oakley is loving her dress ups! She went to her first princess birthday party last weekend. She was so excited to dress up and be a beautiful princess. Sleeping Beauty came to the party and Oakley gave her hugs and danced with her. I didn’t even know she knew who Sleeping Beauty was. Apparently, I was wrong! She couldn’t get enough of her!

Lexi is getting so old. She loves drawing and coloring and playing with friends. Every notebook in the house has her marks on it. I have to hide my notebooks, and every time Lexi sees a new notebook her eyes light up with excitement. I have never seen a child so easily pleased! She also loves having her picture taken!

Three Christmases

2010-01-02T10:38:00.001-08:00

First

Christmas morning at our house was fun as usual. Having little ones that understand what is going on makes having Santa come more exciting. Lexi had tracked Santa Christmas Eve on the internet. When Santa made it to Arizona she came in hysterical, yelling, “I need to go to bed, Santa will be here in 10 minutes!” Lexi was up at 4:00 a.m., but couldn’t get Oakley up so she went back to bed. Grandma Munro and Grandma and Grandpa Mangone came at 7:00 a.m. and woke everyone up for the morning surprises. Both the girls loved everything Santa brought them and couldn’t have been more happy! Even baby Crew loved his gifts.

Second

We spent Christmas afternoon at Grandma Mangone’s eating, and opening more and more presents.

The four GRAND girls in their new pajamas!

Third

The last Christmas party of the year at Grandma and Grandpa Jones’. What!? More presents!

It’s all over and we can’t wait for a nap!

Tradition

2010-01-01T09:59:00.001-08:00

Our yearly Christmas Eve Nativity. The kids have it all down now! They even know the roles they play. Lexi and Eli are always Mary and Joseph and Luke the wise man. The younger ones don’t care yet, but love to dress up. This year Crew was the perfect baby Jesus, Oakley the singing angel, Hallie the beautiful shepherd, Cole the donkey, and Mia the sheep! Of course it was chaos as usual with the kids crying and the parents yelling hold still while we get a picture! Still, we have to do it, it’s TRADITION!

TIS THE SEASON FOR GINGERBREAD

2010-01-01T09:56:00.001-08:00

Play with this… Stick this…Add some of this…Mess with this…And you get this!

Playing in the Snow

2010-01-01T09:04:00.001-08:00

Oakley making her first snowball.

Lexi smoothing the middle of the snowman getting it ready for the head.

Lexi, Oakley, and Shawn right before…

the FINISHED product!!!

Crew-do!

2009-12-13T15:15:00.001-08:00

Where did the last six months go? I swear I just had Crew yesterday, and here he is already sitting up and getting his first tooth! He has been the slowest mover of my three and it has been wonderful! Both my girls crawled by five months and moved everywhere. Crew is content to just sit there and smile. What a happy boy!!! We just love this little man to death!!

Halloween

2009-11-04T19:12:00.001-08:00

October is my personal favorite month of the year, even better then December. I love decorating my home, going to witches night out, and of course the kids and trick-or-treating!!! What could be more fun then bags and bags of treats?!!

The Three Witches

(Shawn calls us something else!)

Witches night out is for the girls only!! Daddy and Crew stay home and the three of us go out for a night of dressing up, shopping, hot cider, and caramel apples! It takes us two hours just to get ready with our hair and make-up, but it is totally worth it. Lexi and Oakley love every minute of it!! In the past we have celebrated it with our Grandma’s which makes it even more fun!

Halloween Spooks

A witch, a bat, and a snow Princess

Halloween night is everyone’s favorite. My kids could go for hours, this year it was three and a half. Oakley loves it the most and can’t wait for each treat, she never tires. Shawn took half the candy to work, but we still have enough to last us months!

Our Summer Vacation

2009-08-08T10:55:00.000-07:00

Our family spent the week in Island Park. It was a blast! The first night we spent with my dad, Mckay, and Ryan and Karie's family. We spent our time jet skiing, four wheeling, and sight seeing. We had just arrived at the cabin when we received a phone call from Ryan that the truck died while going up the mountain. Shawn met them with a tank of gas, and finally the vacation began!!!

2009-08-08T10:46:00.000-07:00

We always stay in the cabins at Buffalo Run. Our first night there we made tinfoil dinners and dutch oven rolls. Here we are preparing our feast!

2009-08-08T09:46:00.000-07:00

We spent one day in Yellowstone Park. It was more fun than usual. We fed the chipmunks at Firehole (our favorite spot) little cookies. The forest Ranger told us that we couldn't, which really concerned Lexi. Shawn asked her if she would rather have fun, or obey the rules. Lexi, the good child, replied she would like to do both! Good answer, Lexi!

2009-08-06T20:43:00.000-07:00

We all went four-wheeling, even baby Crew. We went on pretty easy trails for the most part. Every once in awhile we would ride something bumby. Both Lexi and Oakley wanted to ride with Shawn, they wanted to go fast. I guess Mom is too safe for them! I thought for sure Oakley would be terrified, but she loves it as much as her big sister. We had so much fun in Island Park we can hardly wait to go back!

Cheap Toys are Painful

2009-07-19T21:02:00.001-07:00

So, Lexi wakes me up this morning with her toy hair brush, (the one she just had to have from the reunion) wrapped nice and tight in her hair. It took me a half hour using the tools pictured below to get it out. She wasn't very happy, to say the least! I was just greatful I didn't have to cut her hair.

2009-07-19T20:55:00.000-07:00

Munro Reunion

2009-07-18T16:50:00.000-07:00

Spending the afternoon with extended family. Alexis, Oakley, and Eli after shopping at the kids store during the Munro reunion.

I know! I know! It's about dang time I added something to this blog!

2009-07-15T01:55:00.001-07:00

I have never been very good at getting pictures taken of my kids, or updating my blog, or other numerous things, but yesterday I was out shopping (this I am good at) and decided last second to schedule a sitting to have pictures taken of my kids the next day. So, for all you people out there who keep asking me to update my blog. Here is a current picture, at least, of my three children.