{he's into everything}

Wyatt is about the sweetest most precious baby boy we've ever known.  He is nothing but happy and easy going.  Half the time we don't know where he is because he's so quiet and plays so nicely!  But if it's REALLY quiet, I can guarantee I know where to find him...

Wyatt empties this drawer AT LEAST a dozen times each day.  Then climbs inside it.  Then jumps up and down squealing.  We have PLENTY of toys to play with, but this is his favorite thing to do.  Well...  aside from taking his pants off!  Such a little peanut!

I started a new blog...

to separate my couponing posts from my family posts!  :-)


www.whatcomcoupons.blogspot.com

Everything but the kitchen sink...

.... is what it took to get us out the door this morning.  This is what I loaded in the Denali:

• diaper bag
• sippy cups for Weston and Wyatt
• Weston's blankie
• Wyatt's blankie
• Rudolph - Wayne's stuffed animal
• Bumble - Weston's stuffed animal
• Dog - Wyatt's stuffed animal
• laptop
• purse
• Backpack for Wayne with basketball stuff
• Tyler's basketball - Weston had to have it
• Wayne's basketball
• box of poptarts

Can you believe that?  Even better?  The look on Tanya's face when I stood at her doorstep with it all, plus three boys screaming "Auntie!!!!"

Speaking of which...  Weston had two new words today - toast and me!  He is very proud of saying "me!" 

I am not the mom in the red coat.

Last night I got home from work, changed my clothes (into an outfit more suitable for "battle") and loaded all the boys into the Denali and headed for Lynden town (Wayne's words.)  Tyler had a church league basketball game, and Wayne wanted to go.  I was DOUBTFUL at best about how it was that all three would last in a gym for an hour, or that I would survive as well, but armed with snacks and drinks - we were all in!  The big boys dribbled and shot with Tyler for awhile and had a blast, but then it was time for the really big boys to warm up, and the two were banished to the sidelines.  Wayne was REALLY into cheering, and was yelling "Go Daddy!  Good job Daddy!  You're doin' good Daddy" from the sidelines, and anyone within city limits could hear him. It was GREAT, a highlight for sure.  About 5 minutes into the game though, Weston was pitching a screaming fit about not being allowed to run around, and we BAILED from the gym and did a Safeway run instead.  We got back with 2 minutes to go in a very heated, close game.  As the boys and I crouched near a wall, with one little boy in each of my arms and Wayne close by, I looked up and saw a very nicely dressed girl, about my age.  She had shiny, pointy toed shoes, and I'm sure they had a heal on them.  She had on dark jeans, that looked like they'd been ironed, and was wearing a fitted bright red wool coat that was bright, cheery, and tailored.  A black and gray checked scarf was around her neck - and I actually have the same scarf!  (Thanks Breanne!)  Her hair was done, and she looked like she had just showered and gotten ready for her day.  Her 1 year old little girl was dressed in Gap from head to toe - crocheted hat and all.  They were the picture of parenting perfection - not a feather ruffled, frazzled, or out of place.  And I realized - I am NOT that mom in the red coat.  I am about the furthest thing from it!  :-)  Jeans and a sweatshirt or common place here, and I pretty much am always in hot mess in public chasing three boys.  BUT I am that mom - because we both LOVE our kids, and that's what really matters to me.  AND, I totally have the same scarf!

Movie Night! (which means the last half hour before bed)

Few things are more treasured around here than MOVIE NIGHT!  I'd like to think it was the extra snuggling and family time, but really.... it's all about the popcorn!  Lately, Wyatt has become AGGRESSIVE in his pursuit of his "fair share" of the stuff.  He gets handfuls (carefully checked for kernels) and SHOVELS them into his mouth.  It is a sight to behold!  Are Wayne and Weston jealous?  Not wanting to give up a portion of their former share?  NOPE!  They shovel it to him all the faster!

 He only looks innocent. He really is a popcorn monster!

 Yup.  Totally told him to smile.  Wayne didn't get the memo.

Weston is really talented.  He can shovel in a whole handful INCLUDING his hand, all at the same time.

 

I love that they all eat out of the same bowl, and that the microwaved kind still passes as a treat!

Maiden Voyage

Everson Mini Storage is expanding operations and is going to start carrying container units shortly.  As part of the preparation for that, Tyler flew down to California with Dad to bring back the truck needed to haul the containers.  When they spent the better part of two days driving home - Tyler never expected to be Dad's first "customer!"  Tyler's truck was making a fun noise when he got to work - actually when he went on a Subway run, and he didn't think he should drive it home.  So off went Dad in Big Blue to chauffeur him back from Burlington!  

Pretty fancy!  Do you see the extended cab?  I plan on letting Wayne go for rides with him one of these days!  :-)

 Looking good!

 And this?  Not so much!

They dropped it off at Jim's Automotive here in town, we'll hear what's wrong with it tomorrow, I'd imagine.   Oh well, just gotta roll with life, don't you?  At least Tyler didn't have to deal with some crazy tow truck driver!  Well, on second thought....  Love you Dad!

When my freezer's full, and I just got back from the grocery store...

I know that it's time to thaw and COOK my first turkey!  It was a no fuss no muss preparation, but it was good, moist, and now it's in the freezer in SMALLER bags ready to go!

Now aside from my flash very harshly showing me that I need to clean my oven, I learned a lot making my first turkey - most of all - it's not so hard!

{the WHITE stuff}

 

To say there was a lot of HUB BUB around here the morning we woke up and the ground was COVERED in the white stuff, and it was still falling would be the first major understatement of 2011!  The boys were beyond thrilled.  Me?  Not so much.  I know that sounds bad, but I had a ton of stuff to do, and didn't really want to go out with them, and I didn't want Wyatt out in the cold.  I put off going outside, until the two big boys came to me, Weston smiling sweetly, and Wayne proposing a deal... "We'll clean up this whole room, if we can go outside."  DEAL!  The family room was covered in toys, two feet deep!  :-)  They had it cleaned up in 10 minutes flat (mental note - they can clean the whole room, all by themselves, when properly motivated) and so on went their clothes, and out the back door they went! 

And they were HAPPY.

 HAPPY, but they couldn't BOTH have looked at me, and smiled, at the same time.  Happiness happens every day.  Miracles?  Not so much! :-)

 And here's a SHINING brotherly moment.  Wyatt was staring out the doors at the boys, wimpering a bit, when suddenly both boys disappeared from sight.  I noticed them sneaking up to the back door a few minutes later, each with a snowball in each hand.  When they were within a few feet, they popped up and pelted the door, and scared Wyatt half to death!  Brothers!

 Now snow fall is complete without the arrival of Frosty.  Wayne volunteered Weston's hat.  Nice.

 Is this a sad picture, or what?  Next time little buddy!

And that afternoon, they all slept for three hours, at the same time!

Wayne's got his thinking cap on

• I was making dinner for Tyler's Bible Study group, and was buttering the garlic bread.  Wayne got all excited and said, "This is the bread so Daddy's men can all remember God by?  That's so nice mom.  Where's the special juice too?  They need it to remember God!
• With his fingers posed in the "I love you" position, he frankly told me, "This means I love you in Spanish."
• "Mom, I want a basketball buzz cut, like the green team last night.  And Ethan.  That's cool!"

Weston's birthday PARTY!

Weston was pretty excited AND adorable for his birthday party... Look at that cute blonde hair and new clothes!

Not much the birthday boy likes better than a piggy back ride from Dad!

Weston wanted me to take a picture of his FANCY hair.

Just before all the guests arrived, Wayne and Weston were chasing each other in the center of the room, which inevitably ended in a huge wrestling match full of squeals and giggles!

Wy-wy, looking precious and adorable as always.

I thought this picture of us would turn out cute..  Yeesh!!!  His expression... my red, hot face pretty much tells you how crazy the night had gone.  Oh well.  I'm holding my precious THREE year old!

See, told you he was precious!  And he LOVES ice cream cake!

Weston's HAPPY birthDAY!

Weston had a very HAPPY birthday this year.  He was so excited that it was his very special day.  Anytime we'd ask him about it, he would just get a HUGE smile on his face, with that sweet twinkle in his eyes.  I swear, he knew he was special!  We started the day with his presents from us, and his most favorite thing... a Toys Story card that sang "You've got a friend in me." 

It was quite a hit!  And so was his mud kitchen.  When it warms up, it will go outside and it makes mud pies, etc. and has little plastic hot dog buns to put a mud dog in, hamburger buns for a mud pattie, etc.  He LOVES it!  We gave him clothes, a movie and a duplo plate too.

By 10am, we were meeting friends and cousins at the Jump Around Fun Zone in Bellingham.  Weston was so excited, and so very happy the whole time we were there.  All the kids loved it, and they were red faced and tuckered out when we left.

Red faced and tired... and HUNGRY!  Tradition calls for a lunch at the Lynden McDonald's, a birthday treat, for sure because we actually go INSIDE where they can play after they eat.  Too much fun for one day!

The littles can EAT!

 

With full tummies and happy memories, it was time to take everyone home for naps and for Tyler and I to get ready to host a BIRTHDAY PARTY!

Shooting Practice

Practice makes... perfect? - Wayne's first BASKETBALL practice!

Wayne started his very first basketball league this week.  He's playing in the Rookie league at the YMCA in Lynden.  Tyler signed him up WAY back in November, and he's been talking about it like crazy.  Practically speaking, it's going to be a little crazy around here for the next six weeks.  His practices are on the same day that I work, so I leave work and either meet Tyler and take the "littles" so he can be Assistant Coach for Wayne, or if he is working that day, then I pick Wayne up from Auntie's and take him, and Weston and Wyatt usually stay with Auntie, because she's AMAZING like that!  :-)

On to practice!  First off, walking into a gym after so many years...  Memories flood back to you, it can't be helped.  Then you look around, and all the people you remember seeing on the court are now sitting on the sidelines, cheering on THEIR OWN kids.  Weird.  Strange.  Freaky!  :-)  Wayne had on his "ball shoes", shorts, and his Huskies' sweatshirt.  When his coach said he could take it off, he told her, "No, it's okay.  I really like my sweatshirt!"  But within 5 minutes he was sweating so much he had to take it off.  I honestly don't know what was more fun to watch... Wayne enjoying and participating in his first practice, or his Coach trying to wrangle all those 4 and 5 year olds!  :-)  OH MY.  And Wayne was begging for water when it was all over! 

Anyway...  Shooting practice is a bit dangerous, but fun never-the-less.

Bounce pass practice?  Well... that all depends on your partner!  Wayne and his partner were pretty good, so they didn't have to do TOO much chasing after the ball. 

FYI - He totally made this shot!

I love this picture here....  The "Big Boy" hoop, next to the "Little Boy" hoop.  To think that my little baby might someday dunk on that monster of a hoop...  so.not.ready.

Any of you have tried to take pictures in the gym know that every flash has it's limit...  so this picture was NOT sharp.  But you can still see the expression on his face, and the movement of his body, and I just love it! (and I ran a few actions too)

One HAPPY Boy.