The Loot

Here's just some of the Loot we collected this Halloween.
(Of course some of it disappeared before we even made it home.)

The boys taking inventory.

Trying to decide which piece of candy to have for their bed time treat.

Mary Beth had to examine everything very closely.

She had so much fun playing in our huge pile of candy.

Sampling some of the goods.

Trying to get a hold of Big Brother's favorite.

Herding Cats

So what's life like with three kids age 5 and under? We often say it's a lot like herding cats. The pictures below give you just a little glimpse into what that sometimes looks like.

Kay-Kay really wanted to get a picture in front of this beautiful tree with it's gorgeous Fall colors.

Of course we couldn't get the boys to pose with us in the picture. But here's a closer view of us girls with the boys playing in the background.

Here's us trying to get a family picture. I think Kay-Kay and Dawson's faces express it best.

Upon closer look it looks like Caleb may be the instigator.

Surely I don't really look like that when I am lecturing my children about proper picture taking etiquette.

Here's the best family picture we could get: Caleb throwing a fit, Joshua Stephen in action, and Mary Beth looking the other direction.
(I think I need to learn how to do photo shop if we want some good family photos.)
I must say that even though life can be a little chaotic with three Little Ones, I absolutely love it!
I have come to learn to accept a certain level of chaos at all times. Life goes well when I openly embrace the chaos (knowing that it will only last for a season), and not so well when I expect everything to look and work out perfectly. I am so thankful for each of our kiddos. I love that they are close in age and also close with each other.
It may make for some crazy pictures, but it also makes for some fun memories along the way.

We did manage to get one good picture of Mary Beth with her biggest fans.

Thanks for a great visit Paw-Paw Kenny and Kay-Kay!

Delighting in our Darling

Mary Beth had so much fun getting to hang out with her Kay-Kay.

She was so excited to show her Kay-Kay all of her new tricks and favorite toys.

She loved having some undivided attention.

Of course Paw-Paw Kenny had to get in on some good Mary Beth lovin'.

Mi Mi's Visit

We were so blessed to have our Mi Mi come for a visit. Mi Mi came on a weekend that Dawson went out of town for a men's retreat and she was so helpful with all of the kids.

We had fun building a camp in the living room and then we even tried to get a little shut eye in our homemade bunks. But it didn't last long before we decided that we liked our real beds better.

Of course we had to make smores to go with our camp out theme.

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.