Catching Up (Lilah, Wyatt's Birthday, Thanksgiving, Family)

Here are SEVERAL pictures - I've just lumped a bunch in one post!

Wyatt just chillin' in a rocking chair

Cheese! Gulp! Cheese!

Starting to get Wyatt on a sippy cup...Sage investigating.

 Grandma Wendy!  Wendy spent the day with me - it was SOOOO nice!  

Wendy, Lilah and Matt playing on the iPad (it was a search/find game)

Daddy playing with Wyatt.  Such a happy boy!  

Oh, that outfit he has on...18 month size!  He wasn't even 12 months yet!

YAY!  A good day for Lilah!!  The stars mean no problems occurred and the check mark means something happened.  We were SOOO excited and proud of her!

The BEST cupcakes - From Sam's Club.  

We did a small celebration for Wyatt's birthday the Saturday before because this year his birthday fell on ON Thanksgiving day and several people were not going to make it on his special day.

Birthday boy didn't even care about eating the cupcake...he first wanted to play with the fire and then squish the cupcake in his hands and rub it all over everything!  It was rather funny.

Lilah helping to blow out the candle.

OOOOHHHH!  SQUISHY!

Blakely giving Wyatt his birthday kiss....Steve is starting his daughter off from the start on how to give a guy a great birthday!  SMOOCHES!

Yes, Daddy is vacuuming up his son.

Opening up presents (Tasting them, too).

Walking

Mr. Cool guy

Yay!  A perfect day!  (Matt and I joked that the teacher forgot to do the checklist throughout the day and just did all stars)  We danced around happily when we saw this!

Papa Mitchell - doesn't he look great in that apron?  It matches his shirt!

What Thanksgiving day is complete unless football is on the television?

Kara and our mom

We are such a good looking family!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WYATT!

Daddy helped blow out the candle and didn't even have to move closer to the cake - what good lungs!

Trying to hide the excitement for the yummy chocolate cake - from Sam's Club!  THE BEST CAKE!

I think of the mouse from Ratatouille when Wyatt rides on Daddy's shoulders.  Great movie...clever mouse!  Only THIS little guy doesn't get Daddy in the kitchen to cook!  We need to work on that!

Wyatt had SUCH a great time with Papa Mitchell.  Wyatt actually leaned out of my arms and reached for my dad!  He doesn't do that much, so my dad must be something special!

My dad gave Lilah a computer!  (NO INTERNET - FOR A LONG LONG TIME)  It is time that Li learn how to work a computer and I told my dad it was okay if he gave it to her.  Lilah was SO excited!  I bought her a Disney computer game that is educational.  She loves it!

"Venting"

Okay, so the last couple of weeks have been really stressful and hectic for me.  It is even harder to get things done with my little man walking and getting into EVERYTHING!  Thank goodness he hasn't gotten into anything like flour (I've recently seen a video of two boys dumping it ALL OVER their living room and kitchen).  I'm constantly redirecting his attention to something "safe" or "clean".  

Lilah's teacher likes to tattle on her for stupid things like TATTLING, messing around and throwing small pieces of paper, going headfirst down a slide.  I want to scream at her that she is a FIVE YEAR OLD WHAT DO YOU EXPECT!?!  Anyway, we get daily behavioral 'charts/checklist' from her teacher, after we talked with the principal and the principal talked to the teacher.  I know Lilah is not perfect, but she has a good heart, tries to impress and do her best.  It started off as me getting at least 3 emails a weeks saying how 'bad' my child was that day and only partial bits of the story.  For example, a kid called her a jerk and Lilah responded with "you're nothing".  Now, I know she shouldn't have said that (and I talked with her about it), but I didn't get from the teacher that the other kid called her a name, just that Lilah said "you're nothing".  At least Li didn't deck the kid or hurl a swear word or another name, right?  I have a feeling that her Daddy would have slugged the kid or said something 'worse' than "you're nothing".  I am considering asking for her to be placed with a different teacher if things don't get better by Winter Break.  I went and visited Lilah for lunch WITH Wyatt and I won't be doing that again unless I have someone watching him or he can actually sit still for 20 minutes. Anyway, when a parent comes for lunch we have to sit on the stage in the cafeteria.  We (all parents) don't notice when it is time to go and miss the 'line up' time (they only get 25 minutes to get lunch, scarf it down and have a 'break').  So, I and other parents from Li's class missed line up and her teacher came up and in a scolding manner (that is the best way to describe it) told us the kids were lining up.  A simple solution...each week have a kid get the job of "reminder" where he/she goes and politely tells their classmate that lunchtime is over.  I've been told from a friend who plays tennis with other teachers from this school that Li's teacher tends to over exaggerate and is "old school".  So, most of the 'complaints' about Lilah I just brush off, but it gets to be so annoying.  WHAT WOULD YOU DO?!

Family drama....I'm not going to gossip, but it is taking a toll on me.  I am close to breaking down and I am holding it together because of MY family (Matt and the kids).  

Anyway, thanks for "listening" and I know things will get better.  I've got a great husband that helps me out whenever I need - no questions.  

Pictures of the Kids

For quite some time, the family has been wanting to get all the "grandkids" together to take pictures.  Finally, it happened.  Wendy took Renee's son, Vincent, and Bret's girls, Madison and Morgan, to church Sunday morning and then brought them to my home after for lunch and pictures.  I made them a quick lunch and then we were outside for picture time.  The day turned into a sunny and warm day (from the cloudy and chilly morning it started out from) and made for a fun time.  My brother in law, Bret, wasn't there, but my sister in law, Renee, came.  We all had a good time...

(I am the official un-official photographer of family and friends)

The kids eating their lunch

Vincent, Morgan (Sage asking for a bite), Madison, and Lilah

It is so hard to get them all looking, but this is a really cute one.

This leaf pile started out tall and the kids sunk into it.

Wyatt LOVED it and loved trying to eat the leaves.

Wyatt was pulling Morgan's hair and the kids thought it was hilarious, except Morgan.

Vincent

Morgan

YAY!  Time to play and throw leaves!

Renee and Vincent

Attack Aunt Renee!

My amazing in laws (John and Wendy) with their 5 Grandkids.  

Grandma Wendy and Wyatt

Morgan

Sister: Madison & Morgan (This is such a great picture)

Lilah & Morgan

Everyone helped to pick up the leaves...we had to borrow bags because we had so many leaves!  I think it turned out to be 20 bags FULL of leaves.  

Vincent & Morgan

Thanks for all the help!  We need to have you over more often to do yard work! 

Love you all!

Photo Book

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Wyatt's First Steps!

Wyatt is beginning to walk on his own!  He took several steps towards me and Daddy got pictures! So far, he has made it 10 steps before "falling" forward or plopping down.  I am thinking he'll be walking on his 1st birthday!