Spring Break 2015

Dustin's and Southern's spring breaks did not fall on the same week, so we didn't do a "real" vacation, but we sure did a lot of fun things.

During Dustin's week off, we decided to take Monday off for Southern so that he could have one "fun day" with Daddy. It was pouring rain outside so we went bowling as a family, made a Costco run, and watched a movie.

 The rest of the week, Southern was at school, but Dustin, the boys, and I were able to go have lunch with him. We did a few errands with daddy during the day. It was so nice having him home!

On that Friday, I shadowed Southern at school while Dustin stayed at home with Baylor and Remington. It was a half-day at school, and it flew by quickly! I helped his teacher in the classroom, got lots of hugs, and I got to see the dynamics of Southern's school life.

Then after school on Friday, we all headed over to Yoakum with our bags packed. We visited a couple relatives and had supper out with Dustin's great aunt and family/friends. Then we headed out to my dad's house to spend the night.

The next morning was spent eating breakfast, getting dressed, playing with toys in the house, picking up after ourselves, and playing outside. Then it was time for lunch so I heated up a can of peas and Dustin grilled some sausages and pork steaks for us.

We ate and then helped my dad with some farm chores - feeding the cows, moving a hay bale, feeding the calves, etc.

Then we all headed down to the tank to go fishing. The boys had a blast! Dustin worked the cast net, set up the fishing poles, and got out his boat.

Southern ended up catching three catfish, rode around in the boat with Dustin, and visited an island in the tank.

Remington practiced casting a lot (his rod was set up with no hook so that he could play around and get the hang of it), went wading in the water (after he saw that Baylor got to take his pants off and go for a stroll), and rode in the boat as well.

Baylor had a blast "fishing" as well.

Soon it was dark and we were ready to head back to New Braunfels. After one last meal in town at Dairy Treet, we were on our way.

Sunday brought us religion education classes and church along with laundry and relaxing around the house. Then it was back to work for Dustin and a week of fun playdates for the boys and me.

On Monday, the boys and I met up with friends at Landa Park to play mini golf and to ride the train.

On Tuesday, the boys and I met up with friends at The Snake Farm here in town. It was so much fun! We have been a few times before, but it has expanded since we had last been, and they have plans to keep expanding. We can't wait to go back this summer!

On Wednesday, we went to Clay Casa for paint your own pottery. Then we went to the library to find some books and movies, play on the computers, and to see the Amazing Mr Pitts show. He was a magician, and the kids thought he was hilarious. Baylor wasn't quite as entertained, so he and I spent the middle half of the show wandering the library aisles, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise as I was able to browse for books for ME. It's been awhile since I have done that in person. I normally just reserve books online so that they are already ready for me when we arrive and we can go straight to the children's room. After the Mr Pitts show, we went to Landa Park to meet up with friends to feed the ducks.

On Thursday, we went to our normal Thursday morning playdate with Baylor's age group. Since it was Spring Break, there were plenty of other school age kids to keep Southern and Remington entertained.

On Friday, my mom came to spend the day, and we went to The Purple Chair for storytime, ate lunch at a cute little spot in Gruene, and visited the train museum (Southern's request on his last day off). And since it was Southern's last day, I told him he could pick out whatever he wanted to wear as he would be back in uniform come Monday. And because Remington heard me tell that to Southern, he decided that he should do the same. ;)

Dr Seuss Week

In honor of Dr Seuss's birthday, Southern's school had Dr Seuss week a couple of weeks ago. I just love these fun dress-up days!

On Monday, they read The Cat in The Hat and The Cat in The Hat Came Back, so the kids got to wear crazy hats with their normal uniforms. We didn't have any super crazy hats, so Southern just wore his Spurs cap.

On Tuesday, they read Oh The Places You Will Go and Fox in Socks, so it was crazy sock and college t-shirt day. Southern wore a pair of my knee high boot socks and one of my old TLU t-shirts. When I got it out of storage, I figured it would be a little big on him and that we would just tuck it in. BUT IT FIT! Haha! It was one of the shirts I wore in high school that Dustin bought me while he was attending TLU.

On Wednesday, they read One Fish Two Fish, Red Fish Blue Fish and If I Ran The Zoo, so they were told to dress in as many colors as possible. We were a little crazy with our colors, but not as over the top as some of the kids we saw that day.

And Thursday, their favorite day, was dress like your favorite storybook character day. The kids all picked out a character and took the book that their character is in with them to school. Then they had a little parade in the gym. Each class took turns walking around the gym floor, holding their books and waving. It was so fun. Southern picked Ash Ketchum from Pokemon of course. We already had the Ash hat, so I made the Ash jacket to go with it. Southern was sooo excited about this costume and wants to wear it all the time now.

And, last but not least, was Friday, which was Mass Day. So the kids were in their normal uniforms.

Catholic Schools Week

January 25th through January 30th marked Catholic Schools Week this year. This annual national observance focuses on building awareness, celebrating our blessings, and honoring those that make them possible. The theme for 2015 was "Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge, and Service." Many events took place during last week at Southern's school, and it was so fun to be a part of some of them.

Two other moms and I decorated Southern's classroom door for the week. Baylor helped with the glue stick, and those are all Remington's handprints ;)

Each day during the week, the kids were able to wear special clothes to school. Monday was Pajama Day - "Now I lay me down to sleep... We pray even in our jammies." I made Southern new pajamas for the day with the fabric of his choice.

Tuesday was Crazy Tie &/Or Crazy Sock Day - "We are tied together by our faith and by the ability to share that faith with each other." I sewed a "tie" onto a t-shirt for Southern. He picked out the fabric.

Wednesday was Animal Print/Camouflage Day - "We are wild about Catholic Schools Week"

Thursday was Vocation/Saints Day - "Dress as your favorite Saint or the vocation that God may call you to be." I asked Southern what he wanted to be when he grew up, and he said he wanted to be a person that went out in the wild and looked at animals, like they do on Wild Kratts. So he dressed as an animal rescuer.

Southern wore "his" binoculars for this photo, but we didn't let him take them to school. They were Poppy's who had given them to Dustin. Dustin lets Southern use them now, and Remington uses our "kid" ones. Since these were irreplaceable though, Southern took the kid ones to school. Everyone loved his outfit! Some of the other kids in his class were dressed as a teacher, a vet, a cop, a detective, a movie star, and a monster ;)

Friday is Mass Day, so the kids were back to their usual uniforms. Also during this week, they had Buddy Lunch (where they were able to eat lunch with their buddies - the 6th graders that sit with them during Mass), a pizza party, and a Book Fair. The younger boys and I went on Tuesday morning and pulled Southern out of class for a few minutes to shop the book fair. He picked out a Pokemon book - surprise, surprise. Remington got Fly Guy. Baylor just wanted to browse - haha.

during the CSW pep rally on Wednesday

18 Months Old

Baylor is 18 months old today!

Baylor is such a happy boy. He is full of smiles, hugs, kisses, laughter, and dancing (and he's got some good moves!). He loves to Facetime, get into anything that his big brothers are doing, color, climb up on the stool to explore the kitchen counters, help Mommy with recycling, laundry, and cleaning up, and of course watch movies/TV with Daddy in his big black chair.

Baylor is not talking too much these days. I think he said more words a few months ago than he does now. You can occasionally get a hi out of him, and sometimes he does mimic a word here or there as we talk to him, read him a book, or show him something. But he's just not a talker. His first word was mama, and he does say that fairly often. He also says dada sometimes. But mostly he just grunts, squeals, and hollers.

Height: 33 in
Weight: 24 lbs, 8 oz 
Sizes: 5 1/2 or 6 shoes (wide), 18mo/24mo/2t pajamas, 18mo/24mo/2t shirts, 18-24 mo bottoms, 4 diapers

Baylor loves playing with balls and sorting toys. He will open dresser drawers and pull clothes out, tossing them over his shoulder, just for fun. He enjoys going to the library for storytime but usually will not sit still or be quiet when it's time to listen. He loves the songs and dancing portions. He makes himself right at home on the computers in the children's room. He will page through books and enjoys them - but not just any book will do. He is picky and will only spend time with ones he likes. Right now "Superhero ABC" and "My Animals" board books are his favorites at home. He also is picky about TV shows. He won't sit down and watch a whole episode of whatever the other boys have picked to watch through just yet (unless it's Yo Gabba Gabba).

Baylor loves Dracky. He gets super excited whenever he sees or hears him. He runs to him with his mouth and arms open, ready for kisses and hugs. Dracky will usually let him get just close enough for a quick pet and then runs when Baylor is that excited. (Baylor has been known to squeeze Dracky's tail and to lay on top of him in a giant bear hug. Luckily we are blessed with an awesome kitty that rolls with it and just runs off if it gets to be too much for him.) When Dracky is laying on our bed with us or on our laps, and when Baylor is more calm, he gets the sweetest little pats/rubs from Baylor, which he enjoys. He has also gotten a couple of kisses, which he did not enjoy as much. Baylor loves Dracky so much that his favorite stuffed toy is a kitty cat that my mom gave him for his birthday, and when I draw a picture of a kitty face, he "meows" and smiles brightly while coloring it in.

Baylor is very adventurous and wants to climb, run, slide, etc with the big boys. He usually hates getting strapped into his car seat (but is fine after the strapping is completed). He loves, loves, loves blueberries and can eat a whole container by himself. Other favorite foods - yogurt, mac and cheese, broccoli, corn on the cob, apples, strawberries, bananas, oranges, popcorn, and beans and rice. As with books and TV, he won't give much time to food that he doesn't want or care for. If he doesn't want something, he will most likely just throw it. And that boy can throw! He's got a great arm which will come in handy later - but for now, when he's launching his fork across the table when he gets full, a toy in the car when he is done playing with it, or an ornament into the Christmas storage box (yes, that did happen.. and he was doing so well helping to put up. Ugh. I guess he got carried away and just as we had the last few ornaments to put up, here Baylor comes pitching a fast one over my shoulder. Thankfully, we only lost one ornament.), it can be interesting to say the least. 

He can be a stinker at times, but when you look at that beautiful smile, your heart can't help but melt.

New Year's Eve 2014

On the last day of the year, Southern, Remington, and I attended a "Noon" Year's Eve party at a friend's house. It was a playdate where we counted down at 12 o'clock noon since the little ones don't stay up until midnight. (Baylor was at home with Dustin since it was during his naptime.) The boys had fun playing with new toys from Christmas and with the kids that were there. I enjoyed having some adult conversation. And we had some yummy snacks.

We spent the rest of the day at home, enjoying family time. After supper, it was bath and bedtime for the little guys. Then Dustin and I got a New Year's Eve date :) I had bought some champagne at HEB with our groceries that week (and boy did I get funny looks when I asked where they had the small bottles - just enough for two glasses), so we each had a glass to enjoy along with some snacks I prepared as we played board games. It was SO fun! I got teary eyed as I opened the Battleship box. Really! It had been so long since we sat down to play a board game without kids. And we used to do board games so often. I miss that. (I know... one day our kids will be old enough for Monolopy, Scrabble, etc., and then I will be missing their baby years.) It had been 2007 since we last recorded a score on the Yahtzee scorepad. Though I don't need to mention that I beat Dustin at both Battleship and Yahtzee, I will anyway ;) Maybe that will motivate him to challenge me to a rematch.

Christmas 2014

Christmas was once again a whirlwind for the Wyatts of New Braunfels. But it was so nice seeing family.

We started off the big world tour with a trip to Yoakum the Saturday before Christmas for the Ehlers Family Christmas party. It was a relaxing afternoon spent visiting, eating, playing with cousin Claire, and opening presents.

Our next two events were both on Christmas Eve. We traveled to Austin for lunch at Terry and Andy's house. We had a nice time. The food and company were great, but we were missing something. It was our first Christmas without DeDe, and she was never far from our thoughts. Terry read the Christmas story from the Bible like the family normally does at the Wyatt Christmas Eve gathering, and he had a nice little talk beforehand where he mentioned that they had been doing that every year since he was 10 years old. What a great tradition.

We then traveled to Yoakum for the Perez Family Christmas which was being held at my mom's house. It was wonderful, and we were all in one big room for eating and for opening gifts together so it worked out better than at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Everything went so well. But it was the first year that I can remember that it wasn't held at Grandma and Grandpa's house. It is just too much work for them now. That, added to the fact that the Wyatt Christmas was missing it's two founding members, plus the thought that the Hahn Christmas was on it's second round of being defunct, brought a touch of sadness to this year's festivities to me. It's the end of an era.

But it's hard to stay sad for long with the kids around. They were so excited, they got to see Santa, and they really loved seeing the family (as did I) and opening gifts. Chinese Christmas is always fun as well. I was lucky number 1 this year. I first got an Academy gift card which didn't last long before it was stolen. Then I opened a very romantic romance novel with an interesting cover - along with a cute Bible book carrier - haha. No one stole that from me, but since I was number one, at the end of the game I got my choice of whatever wasn't frozen (from being stolen twice before). I was between some cute earrings and an infinity scarf, and a nice Vera Wang purse. I was tempted by the scarf and earrings, but I ultimately went with the purse (sorry, Susan!).

We drove three very sleepy boys home that evening. Thank goodness we bathed and dressed them in their pajamas at Grammy's house because they were out when we arrived in New Braunfels. We stuck them in their beds, unloaded the car and went to bed ourselves. We had a lazy morning of sleeping in, eating breakfast, and hanging out. Then it was time to open our gifts at home! 

After lunch and naps, we headed out to the tennis courts. So fun!

Our final Christmas events of the year were both during the weekend after Christmas. We traveled to Victoria on that Saturday for Christmas at Joyce's house with her kids, my dad, and (yay!) my granny. My dad drove to the nursing home in Yoakum to pick her up and drop her off, so we missed out on spending a couple of hours with him, but it was so worth it. I hadn't visited with my granny outside of a nursing home or hospital in years.

Another added bonus was a quick date night. Dustin and I were able to slip out to Red Lobster (yum!) for a quick supper while my dad and Joyce watched the boys. Our food was delicious, and those leftovers came in handy when the boys got hungry that night at the hotel. Oh, and speaking of the hotel - that was part of our Christmas gift from my dad and Joyce. A night's stay at the only hotel in Victoria that has an indoor heated pool. We were so looking forward to that swim, but (just our luck) there had been an accident in the pool the day before and it was closed until they removed all of the glass. Oh well, it was still a nice stay, and breakfast the next morning was good.

After eating the breakfast, packing up our stuff, and visiting with my dad and Joyce once more, we were off to Yoakum again. We had Christmas at my mom's and Josh's house.

It was another fun afternoon with good food, company, and gifts. And the boys got one gift that was larger than the others...

Definitely one of their favorites! They drove it around at my mom's house, at Dustin's granny's house later that day, and they drive it almost daily in our backyard at home. It was a good ending to a nice Christmas season.

Christmas Concert

Southern's school had their Christmas concert on Thursday evening, December 11th. It was so exciting for us, and I teared up while Southern was singing. Our little guy is growing up way too fast!

We are so thankful that several family members traveled from out of town to come see him and hear his class sing. My mom, Allan, Granny Ehlers, my dad, and Joyce all came. We sat together in a pew at the church. Kindergarten was the first class up to sing, and they sang I Saw Three Ships. There were three rows of kids since the two kindergarten classes sang together, and the first row was in charge of singing certain parts of the song with a partner while the whole class joined in to sing the chorus. The back rows had little bells to ring at certain times. And they all wore sheep ears (each class had a different head dressing representing the nativity scene).

Southern was paired with a little boy from the other kindergarten class, and together they sang the part "And all the angels in Heaven shall sing". He did so well! They had practiced during music class for weeks, and they had two rehearsals in the church with the whole school present. They were so adorable, and everyone did a good job.

After Southern sang, he was able to sit with us in the pew (the kids met in their classroom beforehand to walk in and sit together before preforming). Baylor made it through three more songs, and then we needed to leave. It was almost bedtime, and he was through with sitting still. But it worked out well since we were all hungry anyway. We headed over to TJ's Burgers for supper. It was a great ending to the evening.

Here is the video that Dustin got on his camera. I also took footage with our video camera from a different viewpoint. I also got him walking up and walking back along with the welcoming speeches as Dustin took pictures. So if you missed the show, here's a peak :)