My blog

I have really started using this blog as a journal - in addition to a way to stay in touch with friends and family. I have started going back and using stories and dates in the kids scrapbooks. So if some of the posts are a little long and include too many details - sorry! It's for my memory - because I can no longer remember anything since having kids.

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Kaden's Graduation

We had Kaden's Preschool graduation this week. It was so cute - Miss Stephanie does such a great job! As you can see they all had gowns and hats. They came marching down the stairs singing their ABC's. Then three of the kids held flags while we all recited the Pledge of Allegiance. The next part of the program - the kids sang a couple songs and did the sign language they had learned. Unfortunately Kaden was too concerned with putting the tassle back on his hat - so he didn't do the songs. I could see that he was getting frustrated and looked like he was about to cry because he couldn't fix his hat. But the teacher helped him fix it and then jumped right back in a finished everything. Might sound like no big deal - but it's a major improvement for Kaden. The fact that it didn't lead to a meltdown, pouting, or a fit is a step in the right direction. Then each child recieved a diploma and got to say their favorite thing about preschool (all of them said cookies). All in all it was a success. Great job, Stephanie - it was so cute. You do such a good job with the kids!

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Our Weekend in Thatcher

This past weekend, the kids and I went to Thatcher for my brother's graduation. Matt had to stay home to work and I wasn't looking forward to driving by myself with 3 kids. But they all did awesome (it's only 3 hours). We had a great time in Thatcher. I was able to visit with a couple friends - Jenni and Courtney - who I haven't seen in quite awhile. Good to see you guys! My brother's graduation was really nice and I was glad I live close enough to go! It was a short trip, but it was really fun. The kids always love going to Nana's house.

Uncle HL with Kaden and Bailey.
Kaden and Nana

Uncle Lane holding Lexie. Lane won't ever hold babies when they are brand new - he says it makes him too nervous. So I think this is the first time he held her. She was on the couch fussing and I come in to find Lane holding her, talking to her, and cooing at her. He's such a natural. Sorry Lane, the word is out - you are a total softie and a baby lover no matter how much you deny it.

Bailey, Kaden, Halle, Carter, and Gavin (Jenni's kids)

My Grandma Mullenaux with 3 of the great-granddaughters: Lexie, Bailey, and Isabella

What we are always doing in Thatcher - EATING!

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And finally, as always, pictures of my Lexie girl. She is 3 months old today. Seriously, where does the time go? She is growing way too fast!

I finally caught her grin on camera!

Her 3 month pictures. (Not that great of quality since I had to scan it in)

Bikes, Potting Training, Uno, and Painting . . .

Here is some of what we have been up to the past couple weeks:

Matt started talking about teaching Kaden to ride his bike without training wheels. I just thought to myself - go ahead but there's no way, he's too young. So we took the training wheels off!



It took him a few tries . . .
And before we know it he is riding his bike (I love this one - he is concentrating so hard!)
All this happened while I was at the grocery store. I drive up to the house and see this. I'm shocked to say the least.
The first of many falls.
Bailey wanted to ride her bike "like bubba".



I have been dreading potty training Bailey because it was (and continues to be) such a nightmare with Kaden. But I bought her panties and she is in love with them. She puts them on the second she wakes up and pretty much stays dry all day! Yeah! Already this has been so much easier. I wouldn't say she is completely potty-trained but almost!

When we put her panties on, she always insists "I do it mine self!!" And they are ALWAYS backwards so her little bum hangs out - I love it! (ps - that's a birth mark on her back, not a bruise. People always comment on it.)


Kaden's latest addiction is playing Uno - he can't get enough. I don't mind because I like card games - but he just can't understand why mom can't drop everything and play all day, every day. We have had many fun games together. It kinda freaks me out though - this and the bike minus training wheels. He is growing up way too fast!

We have slowly been painting the house when we have time.

The kids had a ball jumping on the furniture which was all pushed to the middle of the room.

Kaden was begging to paint - he actually did pretty good. He only painted over an outlet or two!
Here is Bailey's and Lexie's room close to done. I still have some pictures to hang on the blank wall below. I'm happy with how it turned out - thanks to Matt. The big stripe going around was his idea.

And finally . .. my sweet Lexie girl. I just love her! This is not that cute of a picture, but I can't seem to catch her grin on camera. (Luc - how do you do it?) As I am looking through all my pictures from the last month - I don't have that many of her. I'm feelin a little guilty cause I took so many of my other kids. All of you with three kids (or more) - is this just me? Am I a slacker? Or is it just the nature of having 3 kids so close together? I cant decide.

This is kinda random . . . .

. . . . . I know - but I just ordered my produce basket for this week. For those of you who haven't heard of Bountiful Baskets - check it out, it's awesome. We get so much stuff - they estimate about $50 worth of produce and the basket is only $15! You don't have a choice of what you get - it's different every time. But I love doing it. They also have other stuff from time to time - granola, rice varieties, bread, beans, spices, oils, vinegar, etc. They seem to be popular because they are opening new locations all the time!

And . . . for any of you that are interested. My friend Teana and her sister are opening a store in Mesa called Emergency Supply and Food Storage. It's on Mesa Dr. right by the Deseret Book. Their grand opening is May 19th and their website is http://www.preparingwisely.com/. I haven't been to the store yet, but Teana-I'll call you and stop by!

To All You Moms . . . (Warning: long post below!)

Tomorrow being mother's day, I wanted to post a couple stories that I love. I read them occasionally to remind myself that I like being a mom. They are kinda long, so here goes:


The Invisible Woman

It started to happen gradually. One day I was walking my son Jake to school. I was holding his hand and we were about to cross the street when thecrossing guard said to him, 'Who is that with you, young fella?' 'Nobody,' he shrugged. 'Nobody?' The crossing guard and I laughed. My son is only 5, but as we crossed the street, I thought, 'Oh my goodness, nobody?' I wouldwalk into a room and no one would notice. I would say something to my family - like 'Turn the TV down, please' - and nothing would happen. Nobody would get up, or even make a move for the remote. I would standthere for a minute, and then I would say again, a little louder, 'Would someone turn the TV down?' Nothing. Just the other night my husband and I were out at a party. We'd been there for about three hours and I was readyto leave. I noticed he was talking to a friend from work. So I walked over, and when there was a break in the conversation, I whispered, 'I'm ready to go when you are.' He just kept right on talking. That's when I started toput all the pieces together. I don't think he can see me. I don't think anyone can see me. I'm invisible.

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to betaken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?' Obviously not! No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because noone can see me at all. I'm invisible. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock toask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.' I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyesthat studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude -but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone! One night, a group of us were havingdinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sittingthere, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hardnot to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a banana clip and I was afraid I could actually smellpeanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought this for you.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure whyshe'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.' In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discoverwhat would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work:No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. * The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes ofGod saw everything. A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked theman, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almostas if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked,is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.' At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a diseasethat is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my ownself-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one ofthe people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in ourlifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to thatdegree. When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell thefriend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My mom gets up at4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'You're gonna love it there.'As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we'redoing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel,not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.





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To My Daughter:

We are sitting at lunch when my daughter casually mentions that she and her husband are thinking of "starting a family".

"We're taking a survey," she says, half-joking. "Do you think I should have a baby?"

"It will change your life," I say, carefully keeping my tone neutral. "I know," she says, "no more sleeping in on weekends, no more spontaneous vacations. . . ."

But that is not what I meant at all. I look at my daughter, trying to decide what to tell her. I want her to know what she will never learn in her childbirth classes.

I want to tell her that the physical wounds of child bearing will heal, but that becoming a mother will leaver her with an emotional wound so raw that she will forever be vulnerable.

I consider warning her that she will never again read a newspaper without asking "What if that had been MY child"? That every plane crash, every house fire will haunt her. That when she sees pictures of starving children, she will wonder if anything could be worse than watching your child die.

I look at her carefully manicured nails and stylish suit and think that no matter how sophisticated she is, becoming a mother will reduce her to the primitive level of a bear protecting her cub. That an urgent call of "Mom!" will cause her to drop a souffle or her best crystal without a moment's hesitation.

I feel I should warn her that no matter how many years she has invested in her career, she will be professionally derailed by motherhood. She might arrange for childcare, but one day she will be going to an important meeting and she will think of her baby's sweet smell. She will have to use every ounce of her discipline to keep from running home, just to make sure her baby is all right.

I want my daughter to know that everyday decisions will no longer be routine. That a five year old boy's desire to go to the men's room rather than the women's at McDonalds will become a major dilema That right there, in the midst of clattering trays and screaming children, issues of independence and gender identity will be weighed against the prospect that a child molester may be lurking in that restroom. However decisive she may be at the office, she will second-guess herself constantly as a mother.

Looking at my attractive daughter, I want to assure her that eventually she will shed the pounds of pregnancy, but she will never feel the same about herself. That her life, now so important, will be of less value to her once she has a child. That she would give it up in a moment to save her offspring, but will also begin to hope for more years, not to accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her children accomplish theirs.

I want her to know that a Cesarean scar or shiny stretch marks will become badges of honor. My daughter's relationship with her husband will change, but not in the way she thinks. I wish she could understnad how much more you can love a man who is careful to powder the baby or who never hesitates to play with his child. I think she should know that she will fall in love with him again for reasons she would now find very unromantic.

I wish my daughter could sense the bond she will feel with women throughout history who have tried to stop war, prejudice, and drunk driving. I hope she will understand why I can think rationally about most issues, but become temporarily insane when I discuss the threat of nuclear war to my children's future.

I want to describe to my daughter the exhiliration of seeing your child learn to ride a bike. I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of a dog or cat for the first time. I want her to taste the joy that is so real, it actually hurts.

My daughter's quizzical look makes me realize that tears have formed in my eyes. "You'll never regret it," I finally say.

Then I reach across the table, squeeze my daughter's hand and offer a silent prayer for her, and for me, and for all of the mere mortal women who stumble their way into this most wonderful of callings.

This blessed gift from God. . . .that of being a Mother.

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I want to tell my mom happy mother's day. I am just beginning to understand all the years of hard work and sacrifice that you did. I appreciate and admire you so much - you are the greatest women I know. Thanks for being a good example and for all you have taught me (and continue to). I love you mom, happy mother's day!

Happy mother's day to all my friends who are great moms! You are all good examples to me. It helps so much to know so many of you are going through the same things I am - thanks for all your love and support. ( and thanks for your blogs - I love reading them all!)

Lots and lots

Well, we have had a lot going on in the past month or so. Here is some of what we have been doing:

Soccer. . .

Kaden is playing soccer for the first time and he loves it. He is #5 on the Killer Bees! He has three good friends on the team, which makes it fun for him. (And fun for us moms!) He is improving and has already made his first goal. He was so excited! His coach is awesome - just the kind of coach we needed. She kind of has a no-nonsense attitude and tells him to knock it off and keep his head up when he starts pouting. If he doesn't, she takes him out of the game. It really has been good for him.

Kaden and Corrinne being the "defenders". Kaden's favorite position!

Playing Dress Up . . .

Anyone who knows Bailey knows that this is the way she almost always looks. It is rare to find her without jewlry, or high heels, or a skirt, or a purse - and usually all of the above.

Kaden and Mason found the santa hats in a box somewhere - and that entertained them for quite awhile!

As always. . . .

So this is how Lexie spends most of her day. Sometimes I feel guilty that she is in the swing so much - but she loves it so I guess I won't stress about it.

This is how Bailey spends most of her day - dressed up. She LOVES these red shoes that Aunti Monique brought home from Spain. I think we are ready for some new ones, Monique. I can barely squeeze her feet into these!

Moving and Unpacking . . .

Total chaos - that's all I have to say. We have been here about a month now and things are getting better! I will post pictures after I get some paint on the walls - I hate white walls!

The First Buzz . . .

Kaden got his first buzz of the summer. He likes it, but mainly I was just sick of combing his hair!

And of course, if I'm taking pictures. Bailey wants one of her. What a cutie!

Lexie's Blessing . . .

In the car, ready to go (of course with a bib because she is constantly spitting).

It was so fun having so much family here all weekend. Kaden loves playing with his uncles. Logan was so good to sit down and play with him forever!

Sunday was total chaos - getting everything ready for the dinner and getting ready for church with so many people staying here. We tried to get a family picture, well . . . we are all in the pictures. That's about the best thing I can say about them:

So at this point my camera got screwed up and a setting got changed. Several people were taking pictures for me, so I didn't notice. So the rest of the pictures are blurry, but I'm posting them anyway. Of course this had to happen on an important day. Arghhhhhh!

Bailey and Aunt Kimberly

Lexie and our friend Teana (who we hadn't seen in probably 4 years!) It was good to see you!

All the kids getting filthy in our nice dirt backyard. Hopefully to be landscaped SOON!

Me and Lexie, might have been cute if it wasn't blurry!

So because Sunday was so chaotic and because Lexie was pretty fussy - I got no pictures of her in her blessing dress. Yeah, I win mom of the year! So I cheated and took a bunch of pictures today.

So that's our latest! Busy, busy!