++A note to my son++

Dear Wyatt,

Where does the time go? I can't believe you are four already.  I'm not sure what I thought my four-year-old boy would be like, but I never imagined he would be as special as you. 
In some ways you are such a big kid.  You use big words.  You speak so clearly in perfectly formed sentences (you even use good grammar...such a proud mom!).  You have so much energy.  You can jump and climb and run like a big boy.  You love to help your dad with all the yard work and could stay out there with him for hours.  You ask big questions and think about things in such depth.  "How does the water in the pipes underground get up to our faucets?"  "Do you think that guy with the yellow car painted it black first and then yellow since yellow doesn't show up so well on white?"
You are growing more independent.  You can dress yourself (and are VERY opinionated in what you are wearing).  You can handle all things bathroom by yourself (finally!).  You do so well sleeping in your bed--in underwear!
At the same time, you are so innocent.  You see the good in everyone and everything.  You are still timid about new things.  You still suck your thumb with your lovey (in the privacy of our home) and CRY like no other when you get hurt.  You aren't too cool or too proud for anything.  You find stuffed animals that you haven't seen for awhile and adopt "puppy" or "giraffe-y" as your new best friend of the week. 
You are a really happy kid and do a great job making friends wherever we go.  It's fun to hear you play with your friends.  You are full of ideas and love to engage others.  You are also really good at praising other kids.  I love to hear that.
You like to do things your own way rather than follow a pattern or directions (this one is a little tough for mom to roll with).  You aren't really into toys, especially if they aren't open-ended toys.  You love to re-purpose household items into the toy of the day (yard stick, caulk gun, garden hoses, vacuum tube, squeegee, swiffer broom, spray bottle...to name a few).
You love books and reading stories. We didn't realize how good you were with this until your sister came along and, well, she isn't quite as strong in this area.  You love to go to the library and pick out new books.  Your favorites are funny books.  Pigeon books by Mo Willems, or Froggy books.  You also like to get Cat in the hat books.
You remember everything (like mother like son!)  I'm amazed at how you can still recite specific details about our life in Memphis. You sing songs verbatim and remember every book we've read.  You will find something random and then recite specifics about what it is/how we got it/etc.  It's getting harder and harder to get anything past you (uh...not that we'd ever want to...)
You are such a good big brother to your sister.  She is so lucky to have you looking out for her.  You love to run into her room in the morning if you are up first.  She always lights up when she sees you.  I love how you talk to her in the cutest little high pitched voice.  "Cwaire, want to play chase with me?"  "Look Cwaire!  Kitties!"
You still (and hopefully always will) think your dad is the bees knees.  You would spend all day every day with him if you could.  I don't mind.  He's a pretty good guy to idolize!  And by the way, I asked him and the feeling is mutual. 
I love you so much little guy.  I can't wait to see what the future holds for you!

Love, Mom

++More Four++

When you are four it's ok to celebrate your day from sun up to sun down.  Actually, at any age you should celebrate your birthday all day.  So celebrate we did.


He started at breakfast opening his present from his sister.  For the record it was Crazy Forts.  Can you believe she knew him well enough to pick something that would be played with by both of them daily?

For his party we had the Tumblebus come.  They should win a prize for backing it down our driveway.  It was super fun.  The kids loved it.  And all the screaming and energy was not in our house. 

The happy birthday boy.

Even little sister tested out some of the equipment.  She hasn't stopped asking "Bus Go?" since it left.

The zipline was the biggest hit.  Likely because they were to all yell "splat" when they hit the wall.

The crew.

So does this mean he has two girlfriends?  I can't remember how that went...

Family of four.  Celebrating our four-year-old.

There were lots of presents to open.  He asked for a "two wheel scooter" for months before his birthday.  We couldn't disappoint.  I think he learned quickly that they aren't quite as easy as they look. 

Happy Day little guy!  I hope you enjoyed your football-on-a-bus-party!  

++Celebrating 4++

I have lots to share about a little boy in our house who had quite the celebration for his fourth birthday.  Too much for one post.  So, let's just start with a little tour of the party details.  Because I like that stuff.  I wish I was handier on photoshop and could make some cute collage for you to see.  Sorry.  You'll just have to scroll.  I think it made a little boy very happy.  After all, that is the point isn't it?  His mother had fun too.  



It's hard to believe that sweet boy in the photo is the same as the monkey below.  I had this great sign made at Costco--super easy and only $10!







In case it isn't totally obvious, I made the cake.  Good thing Wyatt's name has all straight lines! 



My helper insisted on modeling the treat bags.

Stay tuned for a full report on the rest of the party.

++Nineteen Months++

Some random notes about Claire at nineteen months.
++Loves brushing teeth.  Digs Dad's toothbrush out and walks around chewing it (thank goodness I have the top drawer!).
++Answers yes and no to any question you ask her.  Usually appropriately. 
++Tells me about her boo boo on her knee at every diaper change.  That she got it outside.  That she cried and that Daddy picked her up and hugged her. 
++Doesn't like to get out of her crib at the end of nap time.  Likes me to turn some music on so she can dance.
++LOVES music.  Does great at music class.  Follows directions.  Sings along.  This may be my payback for enduring all those classes with big brother.
++Knows that Wyatt is at school when we spend our mornings alone.  Says "Wyatt" we turn into the road to pick him up.
++Discovered Barney (by digging through the pile of DVDs).  Asks to watch "dance".
++Loves babies, puppies and kitties.  Babies need "clothes off" though. 
++Everything is "blue"
++Calls all drinks "juice"
++Spots buses, trucks, and cars while we drive.  Points to black cars and says "Daddy".
++Talks about "Corca" and "Soozoo" all the time.  Corca is her best Bubby.
++Chews her loveys all day long.  They smell wonderful (gag).
++Does not like it when I'm on the computer.  Even if it's 6am and she has me up early, I guess I'm not allowed to be on the computer.  She tells me "close".  If that doesn't work she physically sits between me and the laptop.  The fact that I still get blog posts out is nothing short of a miracle.
++Raids the back hall regularly and appears wearing shoes and hats.  Sometimes hers.  Sometimes on the right feet.  Always a matching pair.
++Excellent at the shape sorter.  I hardly get the thing emptied before she brings it to me full again.
++Favorite foods are pickles, condiments (like ketchup and ranch dressing), cheese and chicken noodle soup.  That's a well balanced diet, isn't it?

A few favorite shots from her nineteenth month:


Bathing beauty



Showing off her babies.



Supplies for her baby.  All brought into her room on her own.

 

Reading books in her chair.  We find her here a lot.



Happy Girl.  Love her.




We have quite the Picasso on our hands.  She's not so good about keeping it on the paper though.

 

Sibling love.



++Running the bases++

Wyatt went to his first true baseball game with his dad and Larson and Uncle Brett.  I feel highly unqualified to write this blog post as I wasn't there.  I just sent them off camera in hand.  Here is my version of what I think happened:   



As I feared, we are now the proud owners of a foam finger.

 The boys were literally bouncing off the walls.

Wyatt was super excited to run the bases after the game.

  



And there they go!

++First Day++

Today was the first day of school. Since Wyatt did Mother's Day Out since he was 16 months, this will be his fourth year of school already. Nuts. He knows the drill. He was pretty excited. Mainly because his best buddy Isaak is in his class again this year. It's good for all of us. He thrives on the consistency and routine that school offers. I know. Big surprise that my child would thrive on consistency and routine. Me? I thrive on nine hours a week with only one child.
This little one thinks she is big enough to go to school too. I think that she is just into the "babies" she spotted in the classroom during the open house.

Happy September!

++Picture Perfect++

Wyatt needed to bring a family photo to school with him. The most recent one we had of all of us is the one you see in the sidebar, no joke. We did our best but most of them looked like this. Oh my.
I promise, we are a happy family most of the time. We're having professional photos taken at the end of the month. Wish us luck.

++Some moments++

There are just some moments that beg to be photographed. Excuse the blurry photo but when I came up the stairs and saw this I quickly ran back down the stairs to get my camera.
The Babylegs were given to us free and I was trying them on her but the rest of the get-up is self applied.

The best part? You can't see it in the photo but she had also taken her diaper off. Stinker.