the last one.

I read an article this morning about how being a mother is different with "the last one" and it was all so very true! I have enjoyed Rush's "baby-ness" so much more than my first two...I'm a more relaxed mother. I'm older and more confident in my parenting. The other kids are older - I don't have another baby or toddler to tend to, so all of my "baby" attention goes to him. I realize what "stuff" we really need and what stuff just gets in the way. I understand how fast time flies and I cherish every moment, even the not so good ones. And I've finally realized that he will be ok...he'll survive if he eats a cheeto puff at 7 months, so I can sit back and enjoy this miracle that God has given to me! 

#letthembelittle #baby3 #myjoy

chicken pox.

Thanksgiving at Papa Jeff's today and the kids helped gather eggs...

as they were walking into the coop, LilliAnn looks up at Jeb with a very worried look and says, "Daddy, will you carry me? I don't want to get Chicken Pox." 

#cutestthingever 

.....

.....

.....

.....

.....

.....

.....

jolly old st. nicholas.

We saw Santa today at Penn Square Mall (for the tenth time this year, says Jeb). I have a picture with the Penn Square mall Santa every year since Reid was born and I just couldn't break tradition. It was a complete success too! And although there was no crying, Rush didn't flash his  adorable smile because he was really curious about Santa and all of the kids hanging out in line! 

Three beautiful, wonderful, amazing children...feeling extra blessed this holiday season! #thankyouJesus

Reid has asked Santa for something different every single time. And LilliAnn says today, "I just don't understand because that Santa looked different than Santa at the Country Club. And the Santa at Grove looked different than Mrs. Schooler's Santa. I guess the real Santa has a lot of helper Santas."

Poor girl, she's so confused! 

jack.o.lantern.

I am SOOOOOO far behind on blogging, so I'm going to attempt to get caught up before Christmas! I wanted to do a little post about jack-o-lantern carving tradition. We do this every year, and this year was especially fun because it was the first year that the kids were actually big enough to work on their own special pumpkins. We searched all around town for the perfect pumpkins, and were finally able to find them at the small, local market on Main Street.

…..

Reid had his pumpkin picked out from the get go, and could not wait to get started! Jeb was on an elk hunting trip during this week, so we decided to do our carving at Nana and Papa's house. Nana cut off the tops and then the kids got busy cleaning out the inside! 

…..

Both of my kids are little worker bees, especially Reid! You give him a task, and he will be bound and determined to get it done…and get it done right! 

…..
LilliAnn was enjoying working on her pumpkin too…only she wasn't as crazy about pulling all of the "slimy stuff" out with her hands.

…..

We invited cousin Grayson over to join in on the fun! 

…..

…..

…..

And baby Rush even joined in…but he liked crawling around on the soft grass and trying to eat the pumpkin seeds!

…..

our little pumpkin!

…..

…..

Such a happy baby!

…..

Rush was just started to get really good at crawling about this time. He loved the feel of the grass on his hands and feet, and was so excited that he could hold on to the pumpkins and pull himself up!

…..

…..

I cannot get over that precious little face!

…..

This picture is an example of typical LilliAnn and Rush at this stage/age. She is always "up in his grill" as the kids say. Loving him, squeezing him, kissing him…she runs up to him, grabs him, and pulls him close to her a million times a day. She calls him her "precious baby boy" and her "sweet pumpkin pie," but poor baby Rush gets manhandled by his big sister! 

…..

…..

Reid's model pose

…..
Starting to sit up on his knees = the cutest thing ever!

…..

LilliAnn wanted to do everything herself. She chose the Minnie Mouse jack-o-lantern pattern, which was the hardest pattern in the book, of course!

…..

…..

Baby Rush was taking it all in… in his Baby Einstein jumper! We love all Baby Einstein toys and movies! That brand has seemed to be the best/most interesting to all three of my kids. 

…..

…..

Tracing/dotting is hard work! Papa Kelbo to the rescue!

…..

And Nana Karen helped Reid! She's done lots of jack-o-lantern patterns and is a pro at them! 

…..

…..

Such concentration! 

…..

Waiting patiently…Papa Kelbo was having a hard time with Minnie. After the pattern broke and wasn't cooperating, he went to free handing Minnie Mouse. Let's just say that it didn't work out so well...

…..

This was the dracula pattern that Reid picked out and traced himself. I think it actually turned out pretty good considering it was a super hard pattern and Reid is only 6!

…..

After the jack-o-lanterns were finished, the kids all put on their Halloween PJs for a quick photo op before bed. 

…..

7 months old and has already pulling up for over a month! This little guy is growing up TOO FAST!

…..

"Let me out!"

…..

Oh…and Papa Kelbo was still having trouble finishing up Minnie...

…..

…..

…..

…..

The was Grayson's wolf that Nana Karen helped complete. And it looks amazing! 

…..

Sis got her haired trimmed earlier that day and Malinda styled her hair in the cutest heart braid! LilliAnn always tells me, "Mommy, you're not very good at doing braves (braids)."

…..

This is how he feels about pumpkin pajamas! 

…..

The cutest pumpkins in the patch!

…..

Rush loves animals! And he was obsessed with the stray cat that had been wandering around at my parents' house. 

…..

…..

Dracula, the wolf, and the distorted Minnie Mouse! 

…..

I thank God every day that he has entrusted me with these three beautiful souls. Holidays are such a blast, and I'm so very happy that we decided to add one more pumpkin to our little patch!