Tom Boy in the making

I just love this picture- it shows Mary Beth crawling through the dirt in one of her Sunday best dresses. My favorite part is the adorable bloomers she is showing off with her name monogrammed across the bottom.

Big Brother Joshua Stephen came and scooped up Mary Beth and took her to play in his fort (that he and his friends had just build) under the playground slide. And of course Mary Beth loved every minute of it.

Looking to Big Brother for direction (and some smiles).

Enjoying a little time digging and exploring.

Showing off her cute little pig tails.

I just love those bloomers!

The cutest little pig tails

Aren't these the cutest little pig tails you have ever seen!?!
I think they look just adorable on our Sweet Little Mary Beth!

Today when she woke up from her nap, I decided to try putting pig tails in her hair for the first time. And to my amazement they turned out super cute.

As Mary Beth's hair grows it can some times looks a little wild and crazy. When Mary Beth is sporting her fly away hair look, we call her "Wanda the Wild Woman"- which always makes her smile.

Now that she has these cute little pig tails, we have been calling her our own "Little Pippy" (after Pippy Longstocking).
(Try to ignore the little boo-boo she got near her eye from accidentally bonking the coffee table.)

As I was finishing putting the pony tails in her hair, Dawson looked at her and said "She's going to look like a girl today". Of course, he had to do some explaining because I think our little Mary Beth looks like a cute little girl everyday.

And here's how cute her pig tails look from the back.

First Camp Out

Tonight the boys are having their first real outdoor camp out with Dad. The boys practiced sleeping in the tent (which we set up in Joshua Stephen's room) last night, and they did great.

Here's the boys with their survival gear for their night in the great outdoors.

Camping just wouldn't be complete without a gun, a bow and arrow, a personalized bag full of sticks (homemade arrows) and an "All about alligators" book. Sounds like a Guys night to me.

We'll see if they get any sleep.

A date with Fire

Here's Joshua Stephen with his favorite gal pal McKenna. It seems the sun rises and sets around McKenna (at least in Joshua Stephen's mind anyways). It's not often we make it through breakfast without Joshua Stephen asking when he will get to go and play with his favorite girl.

And it's easy to see why Joshua Stephen likes McKenna so much. Beside being an all around great girl, they have lots of the same interests. They both LOVE adventure and the outdoors (including all of it's wild life).

Here they are enjoying a fire they made together (with a little help from the Dads). This has been a long time dream for the two of them- to make a fire using sticks and leaves.

Caleb's First day of school

Well, it's hard to believe my Baby Boy has started "Big Boy School". This year Caleb is doing the Little Pelican (3 year old) class at Big Brother's school. He was a little reluctant to get out the door, but excited all the same. He was not up for posing for pictures on his big day so I had to sneak some along the way.

My boys heading into school on Caleb's first day of class.

Caleb sporting his new back pack (that is just like Big Brother's big boy back pack).

At this point, Joshua Stephen turned to me and said "I'll take him into school Mom- you can go ahead and leave." I had to insist that I wanted to come with them for Caleb's first day of school. It is so sweet to see how Joshua Stephen looks after his brother. He is super excited to have Caleb at his school, and every day when I pick them up Joshua Stephen gives me a report on how Caleb did at school.

Caleb looking in the window at school.
When I took Caleb into his class for the first time I got to see just how different he is from his Big Brother. (Joshua Stephen is seldom shy and is always ready to jump into situations with new people- he is Mr. Outgoing.) Caleb on the other hand is a little more shy and reserved. When Caleb's teacher came and greeted us at the door he immediately hid behind my legs. He wouldn't go into the class room without me by his side, and he had no intention of letting me leave (I had to sneak out after he was playing happily with some new friends).

A fun picture Caleb's teacher snapped for me as I was dropping him off at class for the first time. I am so excited to have a picture of me and my baby on his first day of "Big Boy school".

Caleb enjoying the train table in his new class room.

Caleb talking with his teacher, Mrs. Kugler, and some fellow classmates.