Mullenaux Family Campout

We went camping with my side of the family this summer.  Mt. Graham, where we normally go, was closed so we found a new site up the white mountains.  It was fun to have some new scenery and the campsite was awesome!  We had a great time - cool weather, good food, lots of laughing, games, and relaxing.

Thanks Mom and Dad for all your hard work organizing everything!

Happy Graduation / Birthday Party

My friend Jen and I decided to surprise our husbands with a happy graduation / birthday party.  I'm not sure how much of a surprise it was, but the party was great!  Lots of good friends, lots of laughs, and lots of great food!

 Emery and Matt

Lex with her best friend Max 

Cuttin the ice cream cake!

Their house is one of only 3 on the whole street - which means no traffic.  The kids had a blast riding bikes and scooters.

Thank you Jen for hosting it and putting everything together - you are the best!!

4th of July

We had such a fun day today!  I found a cute little kids article about the Declaration of Independence and what this day means.  Bailey was mildly interested, but Kaden couldn't get enough.  He had tons of questions and loved learning about it.  We watched a few patriotic videos, and also researched a little about the specifics of the US flag.  They were all coloring flags and Kaden wanted his to be exact!

Later this evening we played in the water outside and cooked hot dogs on the grill.  Totally low-key, simple and fun.  Then we loaded up and drove down by Pacana Park.  I wasn't nearly brave enough to fight the crowds, so we parked in the neighborhood right behind.  We played with sparklers while we waited - it was so fun to watch Kaden and Bailey write with them and pretend they were wands.  Lexie wanted NO part of them!

Then the fireworks started and it was AWESOME!  We felt like we had front row seats! The kids were amazed with every single one.  It was so fun to watch their pure joy and amazement!  Kaden kept saying, "Best. Day. EVER!" and "Am I dreaming?  Cause this is too good to be true!"  It was hilarious.  Poor Kolten was so tired he fell asleep on my lap.  It doesn't get much better than sitting there holding my sweet, sleeping babe and watching my other 3 all sit together with huge grins on their faces.  I'm so sad Matt had to miss it, but am grateful to have a hard-working husband who sacrifices a lot to provide for us.

We made it home in no time and finished the night off with a little key lime pie (courtesy of my friend, Sara Lee).  The kids were happy and exhausted....and so am I!

Matt's Graduation

It has been a VERY long road, but we are finally done!  Matt just graduated from ASU!  I am so incredibly proud of him!  He worked so hard and sacrificed so much.  It was not easy going to school in addition to having a family, working 50-60 hour weeks, etc etc.  Good job honey - so proud of you.

 Trying on the graduation cap the night before - Matt not so thrilled to take a picture. What a goofball.

 Both of our parents and my brother Nick were here the night before - so we had a pre-celebration.

 Matt's cheering section: Nick, Kaden, Matt's parents, Lexie, my parents, Bailey, Kolten, and I!

 So not a cute picture of me - I was so hot and tired. (it was a VERY early morning)

 Matt and his parents

Daddy and Koley

Ballet Recital

Bailey just finished another semester of ballet.  She continues to do well and LOVES ballet.  This recital was extra special because it was the night before Dad's graduation, so both sets of grandparents were able to come.  We sure love our cute ballerina!

 (A big thanks to Miss Rachel - who is a fabulous teacher)

Mother's Day

The kids and I were able to go to Thatcher for mother's day weekend (poor Matt was stuck working all weekend.  He gets major points for secretly sending a gift though.  He texted me Sunday morning and told me to look in the car.  He hid the gift in there before we left.  Very thoughtful).  It was a very fun, and relaxing weekend.  And the highlight was getting to see baby Delani - Logan and Shayla's newest.  She is just so yummy!

This picture makes me laugh.  I was trying to get all the girls to look at the camera.  So I said, "I'm going to count to three.  Look right here and maybe a little birdie will pop out."  So I counted to three and Neva frantically covered her ears.  I'm not sure what she thought was going to happen - but we all had a good laugh. 

All of the grand-daughters

And of course, no trip to Nana and Papa's house in complete without some card games!

Nine Months Old......

................and still as sweet as ever!  We sure love our little Koley!

(May 4th, 2011)

Half-Birthdays

We decided to start a new tradition of celebrating half birthdays.  Bailey's was April 28th and Kaden's was April 30th.  We had half-pizzas on half-plates, made half-party hats, and they each got a half-cake.  Bailey got 2 1/2 candles and Kaden got 3 1/2.  It was simple and fun!

(Notice the blurry picture? Lexie got ahold of the camera and that would be dirty little fingerprints all over the lens.  Thank you lex)