My girls

I wanted to post pictures for my mom - of the girls in their dresses she brought from Paris.

Lexie's hair cannot be tamed! I had just finished combing it.

Bailey wasn't feeling very cooperative. She usually loves getting dressed up for church.

As I was posting these pictures - I realized that I have lots of pictures of my girls together. Bailey is so good with Lexie. It seems to be in her nature to be a great little mama. She has done so well with the addition of a new baby - much better than I expected for a 2 1/2 year old! She is such a sweetheart and is always trying to keep Lexie happy. It is not uncommon for me to hear Lexie fussing and find Bailey holding her hand and talking to her.

Bailey loves holding Lexie.

Whenever Lex is laying on the floor, Bai is usually cuddled next to her.

Sweet sisters

Bai holding Lex's hand to keep her happy! (it worked - she had been screamin)

I am excited to have two girls that are close in age. I really hope they enjoy growing up together and are great friends!

Count Your Many Blessings

In church today, one of the teachers mentioned being grateful and trying to remember more often all that we have been given. Since I am using this blog partially as a journal - I want to record everything that I am grateful for.

1. My husband. He really is good to us. He is such a hard worker and a good provider. He is a great dad and gives our kids so many things that I can't. I'm grateful to have the priesthood in our home. He is so good to me and helps so much around the house. He is fun to be around and is always making us laugh (I have a great example of this that I will post later). I love hanging out with him - he really is my best friend!

2. My kids. I feel so blessed that I have 3 beautiful - and that they are healthy. Kaden is so full of life and has such a dynamic personality. He has a great imagination and a great sense of humor. Bailey is such a sweetheart and so easy to be around. She is thoughtful of others and very caring. Lexie is such a sweet baby - I just love her. I am anxious to see her little personality come out more and more. Her sweet smile and giggle (she just giggled this week!) brighten my day every single day. I am glad to be their mom and I try to remind myself of that on those frustrating and challenging days.

3. The gospel. I was just reminded again today in church how really luck I am to live in this time and to have the gospel in my life. I am grateful to live in a place where the gospel is strong. I'm grateful for great primary and nursery teachers that help teach my kids the gospel. They love learning about it and I need to be a little better and more consistent at teaching them scripture stories and gospel principles. I'm just so grateful for the gospel and all the knowledge it gives to me - it has always been in my life and I really can't imagine my life without it. It gives life and everything we do a purpose!

4. Family. Matt and I both have really great families. As my kids get older I am more and more grateful that our parents worked so hard and were such great examples of how to raise kids. We are both very grateful for our parents - they are always helping us and supporting us even though we are married and on our own. I am also grateful for siblings and extended family. We have so much fun with family and have a great support system! I'm grateful most of our family lives nearby (within a couple hours) and that we get to see them often.

5. The Temple. I am thankful we live relatively close to a temple and have two more coming to the phx area. Although we haven't been as often as I'd like (kinda hard with a new baby), I love going to the temple - with either side of the family and especially by ourselves. I can feel the power of the temple in my life so strong every time I go!

6. Careers. I am thankful that I get to stay home with my kids and that Matt supports me in that. I know not everyone has the option to stay home and I am grateful that I have that blessing. I worked for a short time after Kaden was born and was so glad when I was able to quit. I remind myself of that also when I am having a rough day of raising children! I am also grateful for Matt's career. He loves being in law enforcement. It definitely has negative aspects to it, but I'm trying not to dwell on those and remember the positive. We went through enough years of him hating his job - that we are both very thankful that he found a career he loves!

7. Our home. I am grateful that we have a nice, comfortable home. I am always thinking about all the people in the world who go without so much. I feel extremely blessed to have a nice home, and good vehicle with all of our modern conveniences. There are lots of things we take for granted that make our lives so comfortable - running water, toilets, electricity, microwaves, washing machines, computers, showers, ovens - you get the idea. I often think of pioneer women and how hard it much have been to take care of children with what little they had. Although I know we could live without them if we had to, I am grateful for all of our material blessing that make our life so comfortable.

8. Friends. I am grateful for old friends and new ones. We really have been blessed with great friends here in Maricopa. We have some friends that we have known for almost 6 years now and that have really become almost like family. I feel lucky to have so many people I could call and I know they will be there to support us. I have gotten together with a few friends lately that I hadn't seen in awhile and it was so fun. With each one - it was like no time had passed at all. Even though we may not talk often - I feel like we will always be friends!

There are many, many other things I am thankful for. But those are the major points. Looking over this list reminds me of how truly blessed I am. It's a reminder to me that Heavenly Father has so many things he wants to bless me with - if I will work a little harder to live a little better.

Blog Book

I found this link on a friend's blog. You can have a book made from all the posts on your blog - or anything else. And the prices seem pretty reasonable. Anyway - just thought I would share. I may have one made. It will basically be my family journal with pictures!

Kaden's Room

Well, I finally finished Kaden's room. I have been very anxious to get the kids rooms done because the standard flat, white paint the builder uses doesn't do well with kids to say the least! I wanted to let Kaden help choose how to decorate his room. He wanted his favorite color, green, and soccer. So when I found green, black, and white soccer decorations in the dollar bins at Target - I was excited. I got a clock, a little coat rack, a nightlight, a couple pillows, and a wall hanging. Of course it's all pretty cheap. But lets be honest - how long will anything last in my kids rooms? Anyway - we painted the walls green and tan with a white stripe.



Kaden got to help a little and he was thrilled. I was very nervous when I saw how bright this green was! But it turned out way better than I expected. I'm really happy with it. Here's the end result:

Notice the soccer fan - it's just a black fan with a soccer light. I figured that would be easy to change out if and when we change the theme of his room. We had the fan all of a week maybe and one of the kids threw a toy into it from the top bunk - notice the top bunk is now missing!

I am going to make new bedding to match - but haven't gotten around to it yet. So my old volleyball blanket will do in the meantime. Other than that - the room is done! I am taking a break from painting for awhile - I'm sick of it!

Laughs and Kisses

Kaden has been full of funny phrases lately - he definitely keeps us laughing and keeps us on our toes. Here are some of the funny things he said today:

He often starts telling a story or describing something and gets frustrated when I don't know what he is talking about. I tell him I have no idea what he is talking about and he usually replies "Awwwww, come on!" or his newest is "you're killin me!"

Several times today I did something he didn't approve of (like walking out of the door before him, or something equally unimportant) and he, very sarcastically, tells me "Nice, Mom." And rolls his eyes at me. Great, I've already got a teenager on my hands. I really can't imagine where he gets all his sarcasm from :) !

Another time today Matt and I were talking and Kaden tried to interrupt. We ignored him for a few seconds to finish our conversation. All the sudden he yells (in the middle of the mall) "Are you blind?!!! Are your ears blind?!!!! You're not listening!!!!" By that time, he definitely had our attention and several others' too.

Kaden asked Matt to do something for him (I don't remember what - like open a door or something) and Matt did it. Kaden promptly turns around and tells him (in the high pitched sing-song tone you use with babies) "Good listener, Dad!" It was hilarious.

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On a totally unrelated and random note. I just got thinking today how much I love that a kiss from mom (or dad) can heal just about any wound - physical or emotional. I love that all they need is a little kiss and they are instantly better. I am already dreading when my kids get older and I have to watch them suffer through things and let them do it on their own - trying to help the best I can. Obviously, as a parent you don't watch your kids to suffer or hurt. But I know we can't fix their problems for them. Anyway - I am trying to relish in this short phase where my kiss can heal all.

Goodbyes

Our very good friends Jodi and Mason are moving to Utah tomorrow. We are so sad to see them go and can't imagine what life will be like without them. Jodi has been one of my very best friends for over 5 years and we have lots of great memories together. She has been like a sister to me and has always been a huge support. It's crazy to think I didn't even have kids when we first became friends - boy how things have changed. We have seen each other through many good and bad times. She and Mason have been such great friends that we consider them part of our family.

Mason is such great buddies with Kaden and Bailey - I am almost more sad for them than I am for me. They are so sad to see Mason go. Bailey doesn't really understand - she just asks about him when he's not here. But Kaden really gets that he won't see him anymore. Several times this week Kaden started crying while he was going to bed - because he was going to miss Mason! It breaks my heart. Yesterday was the last day for Mason to come over and Kaden had a rough time all afternoon. He gave Mason several hugs and teared up more than once. It was a good reminder for me that rough-n-tough Kaden really does have a sweet and tender side to him. He is going to miss his best friend! We are all going to miss both Jodi and Mason. We have lots of great memories with them: spending almost every holiday together - easter egg hunts, trick-or-treating, 4thof july bbq's, birthday parties, thanksgiving dinners, etc. There were many trips to the park, walks together, going scrapbooking, going to the mall, sunday dinners, long phone calls, crying, laughing, and everything in between. Jodi - I don't know what we are going to do without you guys. We are going to miss you dearly. Here is a walk down memory lane.

Goodbye Jodi and Mase - thanks for all the great memories. We promise to visit soon!

Nevermind

Nevermind on the whole post about going private. I'm going to leave it the way it is for now. Just note our new email address!

Our Blog

Hey all - we are going to make our blog private. I have debated whether to or not - Matt said he would like it if it was. So we are going private in a few days. Will you all email me, so I can send you an invite. I may not have some of your email addresses. Thanks!

Oh! And by the way - we have a new email address. We had to change internet providers - and so had to get a new email address. It is:

mattmistymck@hotmail.com

It is the same as the old one - but the old one was @msn and the new one is @hotmail. I will try to email everyone the new address. But if I don't have your email - please email me at the new address. Thanks!

Where do they get this stuff?

So I wake up this morning and look at the clock and think "huh, I can't believe the kids aren't up yet" (because they are my alarm clock). So I come out to find this on my kitchen floor:

I find Bailey and Kaden sitting on the kitchen floor in a big mess (there was cheese everywhere). I ask what the heck they are doing and they both innocently reply "We're making breakfast mommy!" And they were so proud of themselves! They had made bologna sandwiches and were just about to pour syrup on them "to make them stick together". Kaden begged to put the syrup on and insisted it would be delicious. So I let him and he ate the whole thing - gross!

He was mad I took a picture - "Don't take my pictures! I'm just eating breakskask!" So my kids had bologna sandwiches for breakfast - how healthy! They were so proud of themselves that they had made breakfast - I couldn't even be mad about the big mess.

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Just about every day Bailey says something that makes me laugh or catches me off guard. I know none of you really care - but I want to remember, so here are some of her latest.

A few days ago Bailey wanted her little blankie and asked me to get it. I said I'm busy, you run to your room and get it. To which she replies, "I can't. I'm too lazy!" I laughed so hard I about peed my pants! She has since used that excuse almost every day. Which is a nice break from her normal excuse "I can't, I too little" every time she is asked to do anything.

Today, Dad and Kaden were walking out the door and Bailey was upset she couldn't go. A couple minutes later she is crying "I lost mine boys!" I reassured her that they would be right back and that seemed to appease her. It was so cute!

She keeps asking for bandaides - but she calls it a "bam-bay" or"bam-bi".

Just some random phrases I want to remember!

And now it is way past my bedtime and I gotta get up early. Kaden starts swimming lessons tomorrow and my good friend Chantelle is coming to visit - I'm excited.

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.