We're such good parents...

So what do you do with three kids (okay two, number 3 was contained in the stroller) who are going nuts at the mall?

Of course, we stop by a kiosk offering free samples!




I like that Olivia's turned out looking more like lipstick than chocolate. Such a glamour girl!



Just to clarify...Caroline kind of hijacked her treat from Daddy. We figured that was not a battle we wanted to fight!





Happy Thanksgiving!

My sweetie

My sweet Caroline is 15 months old! She is such a joy in our house. She has always been so good, and just rolls with the punches. I'm not sure if that's because she's number 3, or if it's just her personality. She is really easy, and just super sweet. Up until now, she's been pretty quiet, but she is starting to become really chatty, and even talks with her hands! She can say Mama (the only one who said that first!), Dada, Olivia (O-wa-wa), Will (Wa), baby, puppy (puppa, and she thinks every animal is a puppa), and hi (she says it with a southern accent which adds to her cuteness!). Olivia likes to tell her secrets, and Caroline just laughs and laughs. It's like she really understands what Olivia is saying.



Will & Olivia can make her laugh like no one else. She loves to dance when any music comes on, and likes to sing in the tub. She's really smart, it only takes a couple of times for us to show her things before she starts doing it. She tries to be sneaky, but then comes right to me, and shows me what she's doing. She tries to make us laugh by making silly faces. She's usually pretty mild mannered, but she's quick to let us know when she doesn't like something or something (someone is more like it!) is bothering her. In true girl fashion, she tries to put things in her hair, and her big sister has shown her how to carry a purse, and she likes to "talk" on the phone. The time seems to be going by so much more quickly with Caroline than it did with the other two. I'm blessed that she's in my life! I'm thankful for her smiles, giggles, and cuddles.

Revolving Door

I hate being sick, but I hate my kids being sick even more. This cold season has not been a good one. My kids are generally healthy, so I think it's catching us all off guard a little. They are good eaters, they love fruits and vegetables, and take vitamins. Fortunately I'm not one of those moms that has to hide the vegetables in their food in order for them to eat them. They don't drink soda, and we are big advocates of hand washing. (my hands are so dry right now from constant hand washing!) We try to teach them to cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze, and they go to bed early. I feel like lately my house has a revolving door...when one illness goes out, the next one is right behind it coming in. Fortunately they have been quick runs, and have been treated quickly. We try to protect our kids from being sick, but short of keeping them trapped inside the house (which let's face it, would not be good for anyone involved!) for the entire winter, I'm at a loss. As much as we try to teach our kids how not to get sick, how do you protect them from other kids? You know which ones. The kid that sneezes in their face, or the kid who's parent sent them to preschool with pink eye. (thank you very much to that parent by the way...Olivia & Will both got pink eye!) I'm sure that we've all been guilty of sending our kids to school with snotty noses or coughs, but really? Pink eye? I was actually the parent volunteer that day. I about croaked when I saw this little girl with dark pink eyes sitting (& coughing!) right next to my healthy, unsuspecting kid. Nice. So if you know of a way to keep my kiddos healthy, please share!

Trick or Treat!

We took the kids trick or treating this year. This is the first year we did strictly trick or treating. In years past, we've gone to the mall, or a fall festival. But this year, we wanted them to experience trick or treating like we did when we were kids. They had a blast! We went to Grandma & Papa's house first, and started on their street. Caroline lasted about 6 houses, so we came home, and the big kids & Daddy went out. They came back with loads of candy. (which has been thoroughly enjoyed by mom & dad!)






Will as Mr. Incredible



Olivia as what else? A princess of course!



Caroline as my sweet Kitty




the crew

Pumpkin Patch Fun

We went to two different pumpkin patches this year. We went to one with a good friend and her kids, and then a family trip. All three kids had a great time. Caroline was obsessed with the hay, and Will and Olivia had a great time running around!
*sorry, I couldn't get my pictures to line up!*

I've got my hands full....

Yes, I have three kids. That's three kids people, not thirty! For some reason, it drives me insane when I go out with my kids, and random people look at me with wide eyes and say "Wow, you've got your hands full!" Um, thanks for noticing. And let me clarify, it's never "wow, you've got your hands full, let me help you!" It's usually just a statement, as if they're making a great observation that I was not aware of. If it was the first statement, I don't think that would annoy me. I usually just kind of smile, and say "yeah, I do!" Now, I know three kids is more than one, but seriously it's not as if I have an obscene amount of kids! In fact, I would say that a majority of my friends have 3 kids. I'm not going to pretend that my kids are perfect, or that I am supermom, because frankly we are all far from that. But generally my kids are pretty well behaved. They like going to the grocery store, and going out in general.(this is not to say that I reserve my errands for when I have all three!) I'm not sure what it is about three kids that pushes people over the edge. Maybe it's because I'm outnumbered, or because I look young. (What do you say when people tell you you look too young to have three kids? Because I've gotten that one too! Ummm...thanks?) Although it doesn't happen as often, my husband and I get it when we're together too. Maybe our kids really are wacko, and we don't notice it since we're used to the chaos. Who knows! Hopefully when I get older, I will remember how much that annoyed me and instead say, "You have some beautiful kids!"

So tired...must...sleep

Possibly the only thing I miss from my pre-mommy days is sleep. My husband calls me a cat because if I could, I'd sleep all day. I could sleep until noon and not even think twice about it. I was a deep sleeper too, it took a lot to wake me up. In college, my roommate and I slept right through a fire alarm! (Luckily there was no fire, it was just a drill!) I could sleep through storms, people yelling...seriously, if they gave awards out for sleeping, I could have swept up.
But times have changed. Oh how times have changed! All it took was my son being born, and BAM! I'm now the world's lightest sleeper. I wake at any little noise. Someone coughs or sneezes, or takes too loud of a breath, and I'm snapped out of sleep immediately. I've always loved coffee, but now that I wake up through out the night, and my son is an early riser, it holds a special place in my heart!
Will is an early bird (who says God doesn't have a sense of humor!), no matter what time he goes to bed, he always wakes up at the same time. His usual time is around 6:30, but this morning, he strolled into my room at 6:00! Seriously?! It was still dark outside! He's the type of kid who wakes up ready to go. He might lay down again, but he's definitely not going to sleep. Olivia likes to stay up late, and wakes up late. (later than Will anyway!) She, like her mama, is going to need a cup of coffee before she can get moving.
If you still get the luxury of sleeping in, then enjoy it! Meanwhile I will mourn the loss of my sleeping in days...or maybe I'll go take a nap!