Cass

Due to a change in plans, we all ended up here this summer. 

Cass, West Virginia. I grew up going here as a kid. We'd stay at my Aunt Flossy and Uncle Tab's place right on the river. We'd stay a week and do nothing but play outside. My dad would take us into Cass once during that trip where we'd spend all our hard earned money in the Cass General store and then go on our annual 2 hour train ride. I estimate it's been about 17 years since I've been back. This time, with a new generation to show off. Wyatt and Eli made the trip for the first time and both boys had a great time! 

We rented a 'renovated' old logging home for four days. that's about all a person can handle. There's not a whole lot in the way of entertainment there in Cass. As I mentioned before, we'd spend the whole week outside: fishing and playing in the river. But this time- it had just rained (on top of all the rain over the summer) and the river was raging. Not much in the way of fishing or playing for toddlers! 

We made the best of it though. The boys played in the wagons, on the playground and in the model trains. We picked fresh apples and fried them up. We ate in every night. My mom offered to watch the boys so we could go on a date night, but alas- there was nothing to do for miles around. So we went to bed early. Ha! But- I must say....being without technology for 4-5 days really was different. No cell service. No internet. No nothing. Seriously. When was the last time you were stuck somewhere for any length of time with NO outside connection? We did have satellite tv. That's come a long way. I can still remember having to wait like 20 minutes for the GIANT dish in AUNT flossy's backyard to change direction and thus change the channel. There were only three to chose from anyway so most of the time- it wasn't worth all the effort. 

I'm glad we went. It brought back waves of memories for me, and I definitely want my kids to grow up knowing that place. I want them to forget about they're regular toys, tv, and technology and just play all day outside. I'm sure the boys will love camping out there with Pop when they get a little older.  Camping: It's just not my thing and hasn't been for about 17 years. 

My little helper

I want to remember my sweet little helper. Wyatt is 19 months old and is the most dedicated little helper I know. He squeals with delight when I ask him to take out the trash. He rushes over to help me mop the floor insisting he do it himself. He jumps into the shower to help me scrub tiles and wash the windows. He reaches as high as he can to dump each piece of laundry into the washer and even demands pushing the laundry baskets to and from the washer. His favorite might be getting the mail. He gets MAD if someone goes to get it without him. He helps put things on the grocery check out, and also helps unload the car.

I know this dedication won't last forever, but I want to remember how sweet his little heart is.  The extra set of hands isn't 'helpful' persey. All my chores actually take 2-3 times as long to complete. But, as a mother, I want to cultivate this servant heart and encourage his 'helping spirit' as best I can for as long as I can.  Rushing him won't help that. and so I resign myself to going slower.

I was so proud yesterday when I picked him up from school. His teacher was bragging that Wyatt is always the most helpful kiddo in class. He wants to be part of everything. He helps set up for snack, and helps clean up afterward. Picking up toys is a race for him- to see how many things he can put away the fastest. Now that's the kind of report a parent likes to get!

Remind me about this post when Wyatt is a teenager. I'm sure I'll need it.

18 month happenings

 I realize this is a crummy phone photo but I wanted to at least acknowledge the event. The outgoing chief resident (Gentry...red dress) was such a blessing to us. Without her encouragement and tutelage, I don't know that Byron would have made it this far in residency. She and Robert will be sorely missed.

4th of July picnic

My blogging schedule is just sad.

We are still here. Life is busy. Always. Byron recently rotated onto his research year- which means more regular hours*. I put a * because regular does not mean the same thing for residents as it does for you and I. But- they are better. So far. We've done a few small fix ups at the house since he's available more. I've been taking advantage of some late night grocery runs sans child. I've had some late night outings alone and with friends to orange leaf. (don't worry-Byron is happily gaming away while I'm out and Wyatt is sound asleep). I've also joined a volleyball league and I'm so happy with my team. We are all coming back from having our 1st or 2nd kiddo and we're all there to have fun. Everyone is competitive, but not so much that it turns ugly. What a nice change of pace!

His favorite toys are:

Trucks
Tractors
slides


His Favorite foods are:

Sweets. Any kind we'll let him have. (must have been in-utero training)
cereal with milk
oatmeal
yogurt
pasta....all kinds
ketchup on anything

Some fun mannerisms about our little guy:

* loves to play on our bed with the laundry and beckons us with his hands when he wants tickled.
* get chased.
*favorite seat in the house is Daddy's computer chair...he's so proud when he gets caught sitting there.
* When he's tired he tells me it's time for "nite-nite" and takes me over to the crib to put him to bed.
* Is mister independent.
* Can throw some serious temper tantroms- throwing his passy and bending in half screaming.
* Still needs his passy to sleep. Preferably one in each hand and one in the mouth. He switches them out periodically to be sure they all taste the same.
* Likes to walk around in Daddy's boots or Mommy's sneakers.
* He now calls his passy his "wa-wa". we have no idea where that came from.
*likes to watch Wonder pets in the morning while he eats breakfast. He asks for "ilk, nana, and ming ming" in rapid succession every morning. Ming-ming is the duck in the Wonder pets show.

A few words/sounds he can say:
* ilk (milk)
*nana (banana)
* meal (oatmeal)
*ni-ni
* wa-wa
*bible
* cookie
*truck
*rane (crane)
*tractor (this was probably his 2nd word. Ma-ma was first. Dada was 3rd).
* car
* Bye bye
* up
* ut o
* All animals sounds but he will say: doggie, cat, and duck for the actual animal instead of making the noise

Ooops

I realize I haven't posted Christmas, Birthday etc. yet. I will. I promise! But- I thought it best to just start  in the current moment so I don't get overwhelmed by how behind I really am. 

In the meantime, enjoy some pics from the SA rodeo! 

Happy Easter!

We did a small little egg hunt before church. 

 Then a second one at Cynthia's house after lunch.

Wyatt likes Rocks...Can you tell?

So much for a nice family photo.

Drake got the left overs.