Christmas 2009

After the kids went to bed, I finished my 'Christmas duties' and headed off to bed myself. On the way to bed, I turned off Wyatt's bedroom light.

About a minute or so later, I hear him talking in his sleep "Merry Christmas Mommy. Merry Christmas Mommy" then as he is returning to his dreams with a sigh "Merry Christmas".

Closer to morning...Josie came into my room "Mommy, Santa was here!"
"Oh, yeah? OK, but its not quite time to go downstairs yet." I was SO not ready to wake up...for the record, it was 6:00am, I told her she needed to wait until 7:00.

"Yeah, I saw a hoola-hoop, my stocking and a doll! But, I didn't touch any of it." She then proceeds to sit next to me and watch the clock. She literally sat there and watched the clock. At some point she did leave the room and about 5 to 7 came back up stairs saying "Daddy said we can open presents now!"

The kids had a good Christmas - next year we seriously need to work on behavior so that they can actually earn their gifts from Santa. :)

Wyatt Made The Honor Roll!

The first marking period of fourth grade has come to an end, report cards have come home. Wyatt's card came with a nice little surprise, an invitation to an assembly honoring the kids who made the honor roll. WooHoo Wyatt!

The assembly was short, just long enough to recognize and congratulate all of the fourth graders who worked hard enough to earn all A's and B's on their report card. I was so proud of him as he walked across stage to accept his certificate, he said he was nervous (but you couldn't tell it).

Accepting his certificate from his teacher, Mrs. Keizer.


Waving as he spots me in the audience.

My Little Hunter

Josie has been asking for a hunting knife for a while now...like since she was 4...since this seemed like a strange request coming from my normally 'girlly' child.

So, we ask her exactly why she is wanting this knife. She says matter of factually "to kill bears with, of course." Of course.

What? No, not 'of course'! This seems slightly weird, and a lot funny to me. However, she mentions this little dream of hers on occasion. She only wants a hunting knife to kill a bear. Um, ok.

This little hunting fixation hasn't really gone anywhere and everyone in a while is brought to the forefront of a conversation.

So, today, Paul says to her "We will get you everything you need and I will teach to to small game hunt."
"Really?" She asks, he has her full attention now.
"Yup."
"Yay!"
"Wait a second," I say, "Do you know what hunting means?" Surely she can't know and be OK with it...she is after all, my baby-doll, my ladybug.
"Yup, it means to shoot them, to kill them" again, very matter of factually.
"Um, OK." I am still fairly dumbfounded by her responses to my questions. "But you know they stay dead, right? They don't get back up."
"I know."
I decide to try a different approach, "Why do you want to hunt and kill animals?"
"Mom" In her 'duh' voice. "They make really good rugs"

Of course.

So, we shall see what comes of this latest development and whether or not she actually decides to hunt when she gets older - who knew...my daughter...strange.

Big Day for Dad and Mom

The first day of school, 2009 was a big milestone for the kids. Wyatt was starting 4th grade and Josie started 2nd, they were both entering a new building.

Wyatt was nervous about going into the 4th grade, as he tends to be about all major changes. Josie was excited about going into 2nd grade, she has the same teacher that Wyatt did and she has had the opportunity to spend time in her new school, so she was ready to march right back into the school year.

The big day for Dad and Mom however, was on the second day of school. This is the day (the first day ever) that we didn't take them to school personally.

Wyatt rode his bike to and from school. I don't think he has ever been so proud of himself before.

Josie walked to school with a little boy from next door (another 2nd grader), oh my goodness did they look small. She was so full of smiles and self-confidence as she started off.

While I resisted the urge to follow either of them...it was the most nerve wracking day I think I have experienced thus far as a parent.

I am often taken aback by how grown up they are becoming, how independent they want to be.

Not My Finest Moment

We were in Wal-Mart the other day. When it was time to cash out Paul went to the car, both of the kids said that they were going to go out with him. At the last minute Wyatt changed his mind.

So Paul and Josie went out to the car and Wyatt and I were in the store in the check out lane when Wyatt asked if he could look at Pokemon cards (of course), so I said 'Yes, for a few minutes'.

I get all checked out, life is good. I get out to the car, no one is there yet so I start putting our stuff in the car. Laddy Da, putting groceries in the trunk.

I see Paul and Josie walk up the car...when Paul says "Where is Wyatt?"

To which, I answer "Isn't he with you?"

"Uh-no." Looking at me like I was completely insane.

All of a sudden a REALLY big light bulb went off "Holy Crap! I left him in the store!"

I left the cart and our stuff with Paul and hurried into the store, hoping that Wyatt was still oblivious to my parenting shortfall, looking at his beloved Pokemon cards.

No such luck.

I walked into the store, Wyatt was standing just inside; not crying, but most definitely on the verge of tears (and who could blame him). As soon as he saw me, he started crying.

I don't think I have ever felt so bad in my life.

I apologized and explained my mistake...he is fine now, but will most likely be more Leary in the future about leaving me at the checkout.

Wyatts' Encounter with a Super Model

Wyatt and I were in a gas station the other day, waiting in line when all of a sudden he says to me - wide eyed "Mom, I think I just saw a SUPER MODEL walk in!"

I must admit that I was expecting to hear something regarding Pokemon and honestly didn't hear what he had said "What?" I asked, still expecting to hear some stat of a revered pokemon.

But nope, instead I heard "A super model Mom. Look, over there." Pointing to the girl in question.

Sure enough there was a high school girl all decked out for prom. She had on a shiny pink dress (a bit low-cut, which he noticed), heels, her hair and make-up all done up...she did look like a super model next to the backdrop of the gas station.

I told him that I would explain to him why she was all dressed up when we got back out to the car.

His response...all starry eyed "No, Mom. I just want to wonder."

Oh my, my little man is sure growing up quickly.

The Tooth Fairy Cometh

Josie realized that her first tooth was loose shortly after her 6th birthday. To say that she was thrilled is a total understatement.

It took quite a while for her tooth to become loose enough to fall out – I'm sure to Josie that it seemed like forever! In the mean time, her other bottom tooth became loose as well as one of her top teeth.

Finally the day came…she was watching TV and sucking her thumb (of course), when all of a sudden, she rolled out of the chair, jumped up with her tooth in her hand- raised in victory.

"I lost my tooth! I lost my tooth!" She squealed. She ran over to show me the payoff for all of her patience.

"Wow!" I said looking at the tiny tooth lying in the palm of her hand. "You will have to put that under your pillow for the tooth fairy." Knowing all too well that I wasn't prepared for the tooth fairies visit.

Her eyes grew wide, her hand closed into a protective little fist around that baby tooth "NO! I have to show it to Daddy first…and tomorrow is show and tell. I can't put it under my pillow tonight."

Whew! I dodged that little problem for another day. "Ok, you can show it to Daddy and then take it to school."

So, said tooth was put into a baggy for safe keeping, and off to bed she went, leaving me with another advantage to the recent hole in her smile "Hey, you can call me 'Toothless Josie' from now on!"

I woke up the next morning to her telling her dad all about the tooth…she was SO excited.
As I got out of bed, I heard her racing up the stairs – literally racing – I don't think that her feet touched half the steps on the way up.

After she showed me that her tooth was still in the baggy, we went down stairs and I got ready for work.

As I was leaving, I told her to have a good day, hugs and kisses and then I said to her in my best 'I really mean it' voice, "Don't loose that tooth at school today."

She looks at me with largest grin (if a little gapey), "Ha, that’s funny…'don't loose your tooth'…I already did!"

It took a while for Josie and the tooth fairy to connect, but they finally did. Josie woke up one morning to find that the tooth fairy had swapped her 3 shiny new quarters for her first tooth.

A happier kid could not have been found that morning.

Wyatts New Obsession

Wyatt has always been a very focused kid. The focus of his obsessions can (and have been) anything from toys, books, people or places. When he finds something that he is interested in, he is "all in".

He will find anything and everything that is even remotely connected to said obsession and devour it.

This has been the case from the very beginning.

As a baby (9-12 months) he had a favorite book, Are You My Mother. He LOVED this book! I remember him sitting on my lap and reading it to him. When the story was over, and the book was closed, he would open it back up and fuss until it was read again, and again and again.

At the tender age of 2, Wyatt received his first train track for his birthday. This seemed innocent enough...until Thomas was discovered. Over the course of the next 5 years...yes, 5 years, Thomas became Wyatt's obsession.

I liked Thomas too, don't get me wrong, he is a cute, cheeky little train with a touch of an attitude at times. Thomas, in my opinion, is responsible for most of Wyatt's early learning. Thanks to Thomas and his friends, Wyatt learned his numbers, letters, colors and opposites. He also learned to read on Thomas. Wyatt learned how to stretch his imagination by building amazingly intricate train tracks, complete with round-houses, engine sheds, tunnels and bridges.

Thomas eventually gave way (but not put away) to dinosaurs.

This, I expected, what kid doesn't think these prehistoric animals are the coolest things ever??? What I wasn't necessarily expecting was the intensity at which Wyatt was learning about them. He has/had books, toys, posters, stickers, games - yes even dinosaur teeth. He literally taught himself about the dynamics of Earths history, evolution and animal interaction through this stage of his life.

Now, at 8, Wyatt has a new focus for his obsession...Pokemon.

Pokemon, really??? This has got to be the strangest thing ever. It is probably because I don't even come close to understanding any of it, let alone enough to interact with him about it. When he speaks of his Pokemon, it is like he is speaking a totally different language, and not one that I am in a hurry to learn.

At first, this new obsession seemed completely pointless to me. What was there for him to gain from learning all there is about some Japanese cartoon character and "battling" them???

Thomas taught him most of his preschool requirements, dinosaurs opened his eyes to the way things were forever ago...what is Pokemon teaching him?

It all seemed like a waste of time and money, until...we began to notice that Wyatt is building valuable social skills with the assistance of his vast Pokemon collection. Wyatt is playing with new kids, he is learning that while Pokemon is fun for them, they also have other things in common.

So...we will, as we always do, support this new obsession to our fullest capacity. We will embrace Pikachu, Meowtow, Ash, Dawn and the whole myriad of Pokemon and their trainers into our homes for as long as Wyatt desires to have them there.

That is what we do...we, as parents support our children and their interests...even if we have NO idea what they are talking about.