Happy Halloween!

 

(Bald little spider)

(Trip picking dandelions for his mom, dad, and sis)

(Just too cute for words)

 

(The Amazing Spiderman!)

 

 

(Big brother .... hum, I mean, Spiderman ... catching Wonder Woman)

(Wonder Woman flying through the air on her swing)

(Spiderman climbing the jungle gym)

(Mattie, Anna Kate, Zac, Trip)

Trip insisted on being Spiderman for Halloween this year (big surprise!), so we tailored Anna Kate and Wills to match their super hero brother. Anna Kate dressed as Wonder Woman, and Wills was the spider that bit Spiderman. We went trick or treating with our friends the Walkers (also dressed as super heroes Cat Woman and another Spiderman).

Watching Anna Kate walk up to each door and say "trick or treat" and "thank you" was probably the cutest thing I've ever seen. I think I said, "she is so cute" about a hundred times tonight. People at each house agreed, some even asking if they could take pictures of her. She was running from one house to the next as fast as her little toddler legs could move.

One of the funniest parts of the night was how completely amazed Trip was at how many Spidermen there were and the different variations of the costume. Every other little boy that walked by had some kind of Spiderman costume on, and each and every time Trip would say, "Wow, look at that Spiderman ..... Oh wow! LOOK another Spiderman!" as if he had never seen that particular costume before.

Trip got to stay out extra late collecting candy with his friends. When he got home, he and J spread out the "loot" to inspect. Trip kept opening new suckers before he could finish the last one. He is definitely not a child that understands delayed gratification. Especially when it comes to suckers.

Wills was a trooper and put up with the trick or treating for long enough to get through a few neighborhoods. Next year I'm sure he will be right there with his big brother and sister.

Early hair loss

This is how much hair has fallen out in the past 24 hours! It has happened with all of my kids, but Wills' has been the most dramatic. My sweet bald boy :)

Life with 3...

How do I describe the transition from two kids to three?

Life with three can be peaceful and sweet.

Like a sleeping baby.

 

Or a big brother telling his little brother life stories on a beautiful Fall day.

 

 

 

Life with 3 kids can also be silly, and is almost always entertaining.

Like these two "big kids" playing in the sink while they brush their teeth.



Or building a spider web, which I'm pretty sure they both think is more for Spiderman than for an actual spider.

 

 

Here, they are testing out parts of their Halloween costumes...

(You might be able to spot Wills joining in on the fun in some of these pictures)

 

 

 

 

Life with 3 can also be frustrating. Like getting stuck in your baby brother's infant carrier :)

And one thing is for sure.

Life with 3 is MESSY!

Why paint the "treasure boxes" Mom bought for us to decorate when we can paint the table and our faces and bodies?!?

 

 

Just Hangin' Out

 

4 weeks

I can't get the picture to rotate ... anyone know how to do that? Anyway, here is a 4-week snapshot. Hard to believe Wills has almost been with us an entire month!

7 years!

 

(2004 pre-engagement, picture we used on our save-the-date card)

Seven years ago today I married the love of my life.

When we were planning our wedding, I knew that this was a guy who would always love and support me, who I could lean on when things were difficult, and who would lead us in our marriage. Now, with three kiddos ages 3 and under, I REALLY know those things to be true.

The day-to-day of life is completely different than when we were first married, but underneath it is still just Us.

Sweet Pea

Three Weeks

"Side Side"

Anna Kate loves to be outside. She is constantly standing at the back door asking "Side Side?"

I have to admit that sometimes being outside wears me out - a girl can only push a swing so many times before going a little insane. But on the up side, it keeps the mess from accumulating inside, so when I can I oblige.

Here are some fun pictures from playing "side side" the other day :)


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

today

I had the blessing of spending most of the day today one-on-one with my sweet baby girl. We went grocery shopping, grabbed lunch, and ran errands. It seems like such little things, but it really was one of the first times in a long time we had so much time together.

It was wonderful.

Things I want to remember ...

Everywhere we went, she said "hello" when we arrived, and "Thank you, bye bye" when we left.

I played a Veggietales DVD for her in the car, and by the end of one of our errands she started singing the song, "Broccoli, celery...." in the sweetest little girl voice. I hope I never forget that little voice.

Once returning home, she told me she needed to go potty. I asked if she meant she needed to go potty like her big brother does, and she said yes. I put her on the toilet, and she went #2! I was amazed! I have no idea if this means we will be potty training. I sort of have my hands full at the moment. But if she asks, who am I to stop this girl?! She has always been really independent, so I am sure she will potty train herself :)

I love you sweet Anna Kate. You amaze me!