Happy Golden Birthday Lily!!

Happy Golden Birthday to our first daughter...

Lillian Mae Campbell

Yep - she's FIVE years old today on the FIFTH of January.

It's her GOOOOOOOOOOOOLDEN BIRTHDAY!

We will be celebrating tomorrow with a Girly Girlz Princess Party with her little cousins and a couple friends. It is her "off" year for birthday parties...but, considering it is her GOLDEN BIRTHDAY...we just had to give in for another party. I would like to thank Stacey for throwing such a great Spa party for Kate because that was our inspiration for this party. I wish I could have put it all together at home just like Stacey did for Kate with different stations for each treatment...but, I was super lazy and never got around to planning a party. So...I called up Girly Girlz down the street from our house and booked a party there. I hope it is just as fun as Kate's!

In honor of Lil's FIFTH birthday...here's FIVE things I absolutely LOVE about her.

1. Her laugh. OMG! She has a laugh like no other. It is SOOOO loud, deep, hilarious...and just a teensy bit obnoxious. And when you get her really going - she just won't stop. I also love that SHE knows how much we just ADORE her laugh and so she exaggerates just a teeny bit to make us laugh even more. That girl is going to be the life of the party. I just know it.

2. She makes friends with anyone - even her little figurines. Seriously - she can sit and play with her barbies, and Littlest Pet Shops and dolls and have full on conversations. But, she doesn't even need figurines. If she is somewhere without any type of figurines - she'll use spoons or cars or really anything as a figurine. It's hilarious. The conversations are even better. It's like she is playing house with all her toys. There's always a mom and a dad and a sister and brother. And, she'll have loud conversations - so loud that we always think she's talking to us. But she's not.

3. She is SOOOO loving. Don't get me wrong - she can be a real pistol, but holy cow she is soooo loving. She always tells us how much she loves us. She tells each one of us - Brady, Charlotte, Bryan, and Me. It's always at the most random times. And she is very sweet and honest about it. She's a girl that certainly wears her heart on her sleeve and I love it!

4. She is SUCH a GOOFBALL. Yes, she's klutzy and silly and crazy and we L-O-V-E, LOOOOVE it! She is constantly saying silly things or doing silly things just to get a laugh out of us. And boy oh boy - she can't hold in the laugh herself. She just laughs away at herself for all the silly things she does.

5. She is as girly as they come. Although this can sometimes drive me crazy - I absolutely love having the girliest girl around. I literally don't know any other little girl that is as girly as Lil. She knows EXACTLY what she wants and she won't hesitate to let you know. She loves everything pink, purple, sparkly, and glittery. The more obnoxiously blingy or LOUD it is - the better. She would prefer to wear dresses EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. and we just have to about beg her to wear pants. She tells me how she wants her hair everyday. And believe me...sometimes I have to talk her out of some crazy hair-dos. She loves it when she and Charlotte match and loves it even more when I wear something a little nicer.

Oh Lilbugs - how we love you!! I am so thankful EVERY single day that we have you in our lives...even when you're whining and being your Queen B self. We love that even more. You're strong, opinionated, and know exactly what you want. Just like your mom :)

Happy 5th Birthday Buggies!

WE LOVE YOU!!

Lily with her bracelet, sticker from school, and her crown from her teacher.

Lily with her new party outfit and zebra slippers.

Lily with her birthday cupcakes she helped to make for her day.

Blowing out her 5 candles!!

Merry Christmas!!

Love, The Campbells

Bryan | Dawn

Brady | Lily | Charlie

Majercin Christmas 2011

Last weekend we kicked off the 2011 Holiday parties with our annual Majercin Christmas! It was probably the best year yet. I love how it's relatively small (35-ish people), super casual, and well...just plain fun!

The kids (there seems to be a lot of them now) hang out outside running around like crazy...and the adults - we alternate between the patio and the living room. Basically, we mingle, eat, mingle, and then it's present time. Oh - and you can't forget the multiple references to Christmas Vacation (because we're ARE the Griswold's), or my dad's jokes to the kids about Santa cancelling Christmas. As cheesy as that all sounds - I seriously look forward to this EVERY.SINGLE.YEAR.

My grandma gives all of the kids her gifts and then off they go to play. We then give my grandma her gifts and everyone passes out some family gifts. It's so much fun! Then - it's time for the grand finale...Our White Elephant gift exchange.

OMG - so fun!

All adults bring a gift around $25-ish dollars. We pick numbers...and then you know how it goes. Normally it's a pretty big battle for gifts - but, this year was rather calm. Either we're all getting really good at buying gifts that will be liked by everyone...or we were just really nice to each other this year.

Last, we mingle some more and then head out.

This Majercin Christmas party has been going on for my entire life. Literally - my entire life. It used to be held at my grandparents house on Christmas Eve and within the last few years it has been taken over by my Uncle Barry's family and even more recently moved to the week before Christmas. Since the family is getting so big and everyone has grown and started families on their own - we've found the week before Christmas is a much easier time to get everyone together. They do such a great job hosting - and this year, even included a Christmas Carol game at which my cousin Jessica's boyfriend, Justin, seriously kicked tushy!!

This year we made out pretty well in the White Elephant. Bryan got hooked up with some Titleist golf balls and tees and I got one of those large 1.5 gallon drink dispenser things. I have SERIOUSLY been wanting one of them and have almost bought one like a zillion times. So - I am soooooooooo thankful I ended up with that!! Bryan really won a huge clock (which I loved) but, it was pretty girly and Cori volunteered to switch with him. Golf balls for the clock.

Unfortunately, I took like next to zero pictures. But...here is one that Kristen took of us.

Zoo Lights 2011

Last night - together with the Babcocks, we took our annual Zoo Lights trip. 

After battling the parking lot...and literally looking for a spot for over 20 minutes - we finally made it in through the gates. We circled around the zoo, saw the "dancing" trees, drank some hot chocolate and headed out. The weather was perfect. It was not too cold and not one drop of rain (thank goodness!!). 

Upon leaving - we caravan'd it up to the 44th Street house. OMG! It was packed. The kids LOVE that house and we had not yet made it up there this year. That house is almost better than the zoo. And, it's free! Well - I did put $2 in the "donation" bucket. But, still! And - there is a bubble machine! The kids could literally jump around for bubbles for hours.

Another tradition...checked off the list!

It's almost Christmas - I'm getting giddy just thinking about it. Goodnight! I'm off to Santa's workshop to wrap some gifts!

LSATs

Sooo...I know I've been completely MIA. 


COMPLETELY MIA!


I was studying for the LSATs. Yes - the LSATs. 


You might ask why a 32 year old, married, full-time employed, mother of three children would want to take her LSATs. Crazy, right?


I agree. Kind of.


But - I guess a part of me has always wanted to go to law school...so I thought no better time than now. I was that kind of child that was a great debater. Very argumentative. I'm pretty sure I'm still that person. I know I'm still that person. Privately, personally, and Professionally. It's just who I am.


Here's the thing about the LSAT. It was H-A-R-D! I studied on and off for a few months, typically in the evenings once the kids were asleep. I was going to take a prep course, but the enrollment fees of $500 - $1500 scared me off. So - I was forced to study all by my lonesome. I studied books, online, and took tons of actual old tests that I ordered online. And, the week before the test - I took vacation time to study non-stop. 

So, yes - I studied....A LOT. And, I really should have studied more, MUCH more. Although I studied...there really isn't anything to "memorize." It's not your standard test. It measures: the reading and comprehension of complex texts with accuracy and insight, the organization and management of information and the ability to draw reasonable inferences from it, the ability to think critically, and the analysis and evaluation of the reasoning and arguments of others. It's a thinking test. And it's timed. It is written for you to fail. It is written to confuse you. It is written to ensure you do not have enough time to truly get through all of the questions.


On paper, the things that are measured by the test are things at which I excel. But, the fact is - I have always been a terrible test taker. My SATs = gross. 


But, the LSAT is over. I can now enjoy reading a book (for fun - not for studying). I do not get my results until January 6. I'm not sure how I will fair. I'm not sure if I'll score high enough for an acceptance letter. I'm not sure if we can even make it work if I do even get accepted. 


I guess...only time will tell.

Jake's expression looks exactly like how I felt when the LSAT was over.

30 Days of Thanks - Day 7

I am thankful for...

Learning 2011.

So...a few months ago I was told I could go to Learning 2011!! I'm guessing it had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I begged to go...but, it was for very good reason. The keynote speaker was none other than....

President Bill Clinton.

Yep - you heard that right. On the very day of this blog posting...I had the privilege of sitting 6th row during the keynote speech of our 42nd President Bill Clinton. He was awesome. I was pen-less during the speech, so I was limited to what little notes I could take on my phone. But...here are some of the inspirational things that were discussed.

1. He started off by saying how he always likes to be in the audience because when he is talking...he isn't learning.
2. He did talk a little politics - but, it was very tasteful and was more about collaborating than being one-sided.
3. He said when someone asks him a question he always asks himself 3 questions before answering: Will this reduce inequality, instability, and unsustainability? And create more shared opportunities, shared responsibilities, shared sense of community? Shrink the "them" and increase the "us."
4. He talked about when Chelsea went to college she called him one day and said, "Dad - I got the highest grade in the class. It's history class. I really like this class. So, maybe I should study history and not Pre-Med. What do you think." And he told his daughter, "Chelsea, I want you to do what you want to do, what makes you happy. But...people tend to be happiest when they do what they are best at."
5. One issue with politics is each party fights another party with the belief that...If you already have the truth, the evidence doesn't matter.
6. We need cooperation, not conflict!
7. We all need to be learning all the time.
8. You have to be a learner until your last day on earth.
9. The great thing about technology is an 8 year old kid can go on the Internet and find out things that he had to go to college to find out.
10. Everybody has a story.
11. Throughout history, people have learned the most from storytelling.
12. You should never begrudge someone's chance at life.
13. Not just what changes do you want...how do you propose to do it?
14. People have been betting against America for 200 years. Why? Because of innovation.
15. We have a decision making process based on yesterday when it should be based on tomorrow.

He was amazing. There are so many more pages of notes that Ron took...I'm waiting for him to send out all of his notes. His keynote was very informal. Very conversational. The next day we learned that he was supposed to only speak for 27 minutes and then be interviewed for 15 minutes. He spoke for 57 minutes. He just spoke and we listened. We also learned that he had 2 pages of notes. But...he never looked at them once. He was "present" with us.

What an experience. You cannot listen to him speak and not be impressed. Regardless of your political beliefs - he is inspiring.

p.s. - a second keynote and one-man play by John Lithgow was certainly an added plus.


What a conference. I'm thinking all future conferences that I attend will never compare.

30 Days of Thanks - Day 6

I'm thankful for...

Flights that are not full.

I'm headed out to Orlando for work. A short, busy conference through Wednesday evening. It seems to me that airlines are doing just what we are all trying to do...save money any way possible. Whether it be charge more for flights, eliminate TV, movies, and music, eliminate food, eliminate blankets and pillows, charge for checked bags, and lessen the overall number of flights. I'm sure there are tons of more ways they are cutting costs. With that in mind...it's pretty rare that there are very many seats open. And I NEVER have the good luck that they are actually empty near me. Because of this - I am most often prepared to rub elbows with my neighbor and try to avoid being struck by the drink cart as it passes alongside my aisle seat. But sometimes...when the skies align just right...I get on a flight that is a little open. And an actual open seat - right next to ME!! It's llike a breath of fresh air. Ahhhh...thank you. I love it when that happens. It's like two seats for the price of 1! A place for me and a half of a seat (since I shared the open seat with the gal sitting at the window) for my my jacket and books, etc.

What a treat!