This blog sucks.

Now that rocks........later dudes.

Camping

Last week we attended the annual Mullenaux Family Campout up on Mt. Graham. It was lots of fun and great to be up in the pines! My grandparents spend a lot of time, energy, and money planning this campout. This year Matt and I helped out by planning and buying all the food - and Matt was the head chef. He organized the food trailer and cooked all the meals. We all had lots of fun.

There are several trailers up at camp and my Grandpa's rule is those with babies get first dibs. (Matt says this is why we continue having babies!) It really was nice to sleep in a trailer versus a tent and made things lots easier with kids!

Kaden was cold and climbed on Papa's lap by the campfire. Next thing we know he is asleep!

Bailey LOVED the tire swing. She begged everyone and anyone to push her. Kaden was a great big brother and pushed her a lot.

We had fun playing horseshoes

The hammock was a big hit with all the kids!

It was a fun week - we look forward to it every year! (I have to praise my great husband. He did all the mountains of laundry when we got home on Saturday!) It is good to be home!

Lexie's Latest

Lexie is growing way too fast! What happened to my little baby? She only 4 months old - well almost 5. But she seems to big all the sudden.

She loves her johnny jumper thing (is that what it's called?). She hangs out in it all the time and is so happy. I thought she was probably too young for it - but I tried it and she can bounce pretty well!

This was also the momentous day of Lexie's first ponytail. She has so much hair!

I gave Lexie some cereal for the first time today. She has been soooo hungry lately! And she has started waking up during the night and is starving. So hopefully this will do the trick.

Ready for church

Here are the girls a couple weeks ago - getting ready for church. I love dressing them up and doing their hair. Even though Bailey doesn't have much to work with! Notice the makeup in the background - that is how I got Bailey so sit still for so long. She love, love, LOVES putting makeup on!

Swim Lessons

Today was Kaden's last swim lesson. We have really enjoyed going all summer - he learned a lot and had fun taking lessons with Landen.

We told the boys to smile - Landen poses and Kaden makes his ridiculous pouting face. He apparently was feeling uncooperative - which is very common these days!

Happy 4th of July

Just a few quick highlights from our 4th of July:

Red, white, and blue pancakes for breakfast

Dressed for the day

Kaden proudly displaying his patriotic hat and his sparkly starYou can't really tell, but the star is 2 stars slid together to make a 3-D star. After we colored and glittered these stars, we were putting them together and I was telling Kaden "We will slide two stars together and attach a string at the top to use as decoration." He says "Ohhhhhh, like a dance party! I get it!" Where did that come from? Apparently we have had too many dance parties with a disco ball :) . (How does he even know what that is?)

We had a pretty relaxed day - spent most of it at home (Matt works all night so he had to sleep all day). That afternoon we went over to one of his co-workers house. The kids and I hadn't ever met him or his family - but it turned out to be really fun. The kids all got along and everyone had fun - swimming and eating. We didn't stay too long because Matt had to get to work. I had promised the kids that we would watch fireworks, so after Matt went to work we drove down near the park and just parked on the side of the road. I guess lots of other people had the same idea because the street was lined with cars. It worked out good, I didn't have to fight crowds or traffic, and Lexie just stayed asleep in the car. The fireworks show started a little late, but it was pretty good. Kaden only comment was "Amazing" at every single one! All in all it was a pretty fun day.

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I tried a new recipe for cookies to take to our barbeque. They turned out so good (and are super easy) I thought I would share:

Homade Oreos

2 Devil's Food cake mixes

1 1/2 C. shortening

4 eggs

Mix together. Roll in walnut size balls. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Let cool.

8 oz. cream cheese

1/2 stick butter

3 - 4 C. powdered sugar

Mix filling. Frost backs of cookies to make sandwiches.

Super easy and super yummy!

Balloons and Babies

Balloons

So I had to post these pictures I took a couple weeks ago. This is what a relaxing Sunday afternoon at the McKenzie house looks like. . . . . .

Dad and the kids being crazy! The night before had been my turn for our babysitting swap and I blew up a bunch of balloons for the kids. Since there was a bunch of balloons laying around, they decided to give themselves makeovers. Bigger boobs - I can understand that, but who wants a bigger butt?

What a dork!

Nice, real nice!

This is one of the reasons I love Matt so much - he is just like a kid! No really, he can be so fun-loving, crazy, and goofy! The kids love it and it always makes me laugh!

Babies

My little Lexie Lynn is already four months old - where does the time go? She is at such a fun stage - smiling and giggling, still sleeping a lot (thank goodness), grabbing for things, starting to play with toys, loves her jumper seat thing (what are those called?) and has kinda settled into a routine. I feel like I can enjoy her more now that things have settled down a little. She really is a good baby and is such a sweetheart. I am so anxious to see her personality come out! People keep predicting she is going to be fiesty because of her red hair - we'll see! I have tried to take pictures every month. Maelynn - I love your idea of taking a picture with a giant teddy bear. But the biggest stuffed animal we have is a giant green aligator - that's what I used!

One Month

Two Months

Three Months

Four Months

Me and Lex - I just love this girl!

(I love my other kids too, but babies are just so sweet. They can't talk back yet!)

And finally, a picture of my new neice. My brother Logan and his wife, Shayla just had their first - a little girl! She and Lex will hopefully be great cousins and friends! The pictures I have are kinda blurry - and I haven't even seen her yet! I am dying to hold her - but have to wait til next week! Here is Logan and Neva Rae

I'm told she has as much or more hair than Lexie and it is jet black - but at least it will lay down on her head! Logan had always been so good with my kids - he is going to be a great dad! Congrats guys!