Forgotten fun

LAST Christmas we had bought Wyatt n Emma a cardboard club house. Seen those things?  You get to color it. Anyway...  Right after Christmas our first floor flooded and a lot of things got frantically tossed in weird places. We found 3 toys from Christmas that are still in packages that we had forgotten about in the hustle n bustle.  One being this clubhouse.
Randy and I put it together when they went to bed (downstairs) and then decided to put it in Emma's room upstairs (duh)
After much swearing, laughing and squishing, we got it upstairs and flooded her room with it. (Those things are actually really big!)
She woke up to it, called in Wyatt and they have been busy at work. There is a lot to color. But it really is nice to see them collaborating together to color it just so.
Last night even Randy and I were in the room coloring. So often Randy isn't here...  It was really nice to have all 4 of us doing something constructive together. Id forgotten how much fun that could be.
Here are some beginning pictures.

How dare I

I had the audacity to remove paper scraps from the table.  Emma gave me this truly appalled look and tells me, "They aren't scraps! They're feet!"
I tell her sorry, my mistake....but I still get this look whenever I've tried to approach her for the last hour.

Blood! Cool!

Emma helping with the Thanksgiving turkey.

Emma's 5th Birthday

Hello Super Emma!

Today is your 5th Birthday! (7-5-12) Your Golden Birthday!  We are spending it in Kenosha WI.  You woke up in my old bedroom at Grandma and Grandpas house. It was decorated with streamers. (Batman Colors)  You were so excited! The first thing you said was "Its my Birthday! Did you know that, Mom??"  (Yes, love...26 hours of labor isn't something I'd soon forget in 5 years time.)

We bought you Slushie Magic and a Honda Ride on motorcycle. Its the only things you have been consistently asking for.  As you never ask for a thing ... ever... we thought we'd best make your birthday wish come true!

We spent the day at Stonefire. Its a really neat place that has a lot of fun games to play and things to do.  We spent 5 hours there.... just sayin.



You came home to a surprise party with your Wisconsin family & friends in attendance.  You freaked...but in a freaked out sort of way.  Everyone yelled "surprise!" and you halted, went wide eyed, then backed away out of the door. It was awesome. It took some coaxing, but you eventually came inside.  Its really strange what you'll react to and how. 

At 5, you are fearless.  Which scares the crap out of your dad and I. You'll talk to anyone, about anything.  You haven't a spec of conversational filter.  I really do admire that, but when you ask mommy's friend- whom is homeschooling- why her kids don't go to "real" school (I know what you meant, but still) and ask the dude in a wheelchair... "where did the rest of your leg go?"  I think we need to work a bit harder on that.  Its to the point I'm sort of terrified whenever you start to talk to someone.  Ha! That reminds me...when you asked the guy in the wheel chair about his leg... he told you it was bitten off by a giant crocodile. You thought that was super interesting...then he said "But the leg is nothing compared to my thumb!" Then he did the "thumb-comes-off" trick... Your jaw hit the ground!  It was freakin priceless!

You are very protective over Wyatt.  No one talks bad about "my Wyatt"  In fact, if Wyatt is teasing you and I punish him - you get mad at me. Cause... you never want Wyatt to be sad or hurt.

Towards the end of preschool this year, you became super affectionate.  You hug. You make eye contact. You snuggle. All things that prior to preschool, you didn't do.  Its really great.  You'll grab your special blanket (dubbed special blanket, cause that's what Wyatt calls his) and curl up on your dad or me.  I never want to forget this.

You LOVE school. (I pray that you stay in this mindset) You adored your preschool teacher, Ms. Reese. And you loved your classmates.

You hate having your hair done.  You prefer to let your long hair fly fly fly.  It figures... that's just your personality.  You usually look like we don't brush your hair because of it.  I don't care. You are a really happy kid. You tell people you are a tom boy. For the most part thats true enough. You like dirt, monster trucks, Batman... but when you need to pull out the stops to get your point across... your pout is all little girl.

You're active. Very active. You like to run. And run. And run some more.  Ride your bike, bounce...constantly.  You are always on your toes....literally.

You have a bite. A very feisty side. You were born with it. You're just starting to learn how to channel it. Hopefully you'll one day use your powers for good. ;)










You are bright, smart, loving and you are my pride.  Happy Birthday dear love.

Love,
Your "Ma"

Conclusions

Emma has finished soccer. Thank the Lord. That was an ordeal. Im thinking...not her thing. She just couldnt get over the other kids "being mean to her" (The opposing team was trying to kick the ball away...thus they are being mean.) Perhaps T-Ball this fall instead?

Wyatt has "bridged" from Tiger Scout to Wolf Scout. Another big milestone. He's worked all year to earn "Tiger" Im counting my blessings that Wyatt still wants to stay in Boy Scouts. We have lots of activities planned through-out the summer with the boy scouts.

Soccer and Science Update

Wyatt is loving the mad science classes we enrolled him in. He brings home a little home experiment every week. Surprisingly you tell us everything that happens in class- not like school where you just tell us "its ok...we didnt do anything." Im happy that you like it.

Emma loves soccer. Emma hates the structure involved. She doesnt want to run the drills, she just wants to run and kick. We are working on it. Her first game is this Saturday!

Embarrassing

Oh....Emma.

You are talking to other women about boobs. "You have big boobs. I have small boobs. Mommy has big boobs. You have small boobs. Here...Look at my boobs."

Dear Lord....Please tell me this is a phase.

You do know your colors. In fact, whenever you see an African-American you let them know exactly what color they are and what color you are. And....if they arent paying attention to you...you lay it on me "Mom....they are brown . And I am vanilla colored." Ok...so...I know I don't point out the differences in people, so why the hell are you doing it?!?!?!?!?!

Again...Dear Lord....Please tell me this is a phase.

Oh my Emma

Its nighttime and we are sitting by the sliding glass doors. She looks over to her reflection and says "Oh! Hello there Black Emma!"

tee he he!

sad thoughts

My boy will be 7 in a week.

Wyatt is super sad. Now all of a sudden out of freakin' no where, he wants a kids party ON HIS BIRTHDAY and not after. (we were going to do something after Randy got back end of the month) He's really upset that people wont be here for a party. I dont know what to do. I put a event on my mommies site for a pajama party the day before his birthday to watch Despicable Me and have pizza, but no one has replied and I dont think anyone will. They just don't know us well and a lot of the womens kids are younger. It sucks. I just...feel so helpless. Part of me just wants to say the hell with it and put invites in his bag on Monday and see what shakes. I wouldn't have a clue what to do for a birthday party, I dont have games ready and Wyatt thinks hes getting a magician on his birthday and I have no idea where he got that from. *cry*

This is such a mess. I just feel so bad for him

on top of that....

Emma was sitting on the couch looking like someone shit in her cherrios. I asked her.. Whats wrong?" she told me "want friend to come play with me" I said "Where, at school?" She said "No, I want my old friends to come my house and play with me."

That broke my heart. I knew Wyatt was having trouble not having friends, I had no idea Emma was sad and thinking about it too.

Well babies...that makes 3 of us.

My God. Just tell me what to do. Tell me how to make this better for them.

Classes

Kind of excited.

I've enrolled Wyatt in Mad Science. Its a science program that does after school projects with interested kids. Wyatt is very interested. He loves all things science. I'll take it. As of yet, Wyatt isnt a sporty kid. But hell....I say the world doesn't need more athletes...it needs more scientists and critical thinkers. Cant wait to see if he likes the classes.

Emma is enrolled in soccer. Hes uber happy about it. She cant wait to get the "soccer socks" I have no idea why. Shes a really aggressive kid, though. Im a little nervous about that on the soccer field. We'll have to wait and see!

Randy has been gone only a week. Its been a looooong week. Got about a month left.

Pinewood derby is coming up! Cant wait to post the pictures!

My bad

Christmas was good. It went by in a blink. Randy had to be back to work right after Christmas. On the plus side...it did snow here in craptastic Virginia Beach. Of course on Christmas night when it started to snow, Wyatt leaned his head out the window to touch it and got all twitterpated, said something like "Wow! I cant believe its actually snowing!" Which was then met with my ass-hat neighbor screaming "Shut Up!" at Wyatt. Merry Christmas asshole, enjoy life on the sexual predators list and your case of crotch mouth. I said as much (drunk as I was) and get nothing but smiles from the freak. Have I mentioned lately that I LOATHE THIS PLACE?

We had our usual silly string party for New Years. Was able to have it outside in the snow. Fun was had by all.

Preschool search.

I have been researching preschools. To my dismay, the cost is ridiculous. It will be about 300 a month for Emma to attend 4 days a week. Yes...a MONTH not a semester. I have a feeling I will be giving up my hopes to work to home school Pre-K. Don't get me wrong. We can pay for it.... at the expense of not being able to save a nickel the entire time shes in school. That is unacceptable to me. They cram so much in Kindergartners heads. Its appalling to me that Pre-K isn't offered by the school system. bleh.

Emma's speech continues to improve and grow. She is carrying on full understandable conversations now. Its great. The surgery was clearly a success.

Wyatt is doing OK in school. We have gotten to some tricky things. His autism. Never before has he had sensory issues. Now he is. He is making noises pretty consistently. Say he's bored with the lesson, or not interested, the noises will start up. Somewhat loud and obnoxious. He will make noises when he's content too, but they are more quiet and to himself. Its seems to be the way he's handling the energy he needs to get out. Hes progressing in school, not falling behind, but we need to work at it. Just have to keep him interested.

Randy will be gone for a month in a few weeks. He will deployed for the big one in the spring "sometime" I feel like I'm... prepared? I guess. Because during his training in San Diego then his stationing in Norfolk, we didn't see him for 7 months. Its going to be hell on the kids. On Randy too. He's been gone so much in the last year. The kids and I will most likely be spending part of the summer back home. Better to be home than baking like a fritter in the Virginia heat.

oh! Wyatt's obsession with when I'm dying vs. when he's going to die seemed to ease last night. We were looking at a height chart we are marking him on and it goes to 12th grade.

He asked me "Are you going to be alive when I'm a senior?"

"Yes" I told him. He perked right up and had a big smile on his face. It looked like a lifted a real weight off him by telling him that.

So I said, "I'm going to be there when you go through college, and find a wife and have kids..." He says "Then I get to watch my kids grow like you did me?"

"Yes" I said. And his relief was obvious.

So I wonder all this time he's been stressing about when I was going to die I've been unable to ease him about it in any way until last night.......Did he think I was going to knock off soon, or what?!

Surgery

I'm late posting this.

Emma had her tonsil and adenoid surgery Nov. 11

All things considered she did beautifully. She wasn't really scared or anything. The hospital was a great children's hospital here so they had all the fun bells and whistles for distraction. Emma's favorite was a TV that swung anyway she wanted it while she was in bed. Cartoons 4 inches from her face....greeeeeeat.

After surgery, she was crying at first. Scared mostly I think. Then when I got there and she snuggled in she was just quiet. Loved her Popsicles.

She got a grand exit in the wagon. She thought that was pretty cool. Sat in there like the freakin Queen of England.

After she got home the boys had loved on her with flowers a balloon and a "Get Well" ribbon.

The first 2 days after surgery she was talking and eating her soft food just fine. In fact, she would even ask for the crunchy food and we'd have to tell her no and watch her pout.

But, about the 3rd day after surgery she started to really feel the ouch. 6Th day was worse. Its like all the numbys had worn off and she was hurting.

The one thing I don't want to forget about this surgery is how different her voice is now. Before, she was so nasally. Deeper voice. Now she has this high tinkly little voice. A real little girl voice. Imagine, lollipop guild meets helium, but in a good way. Its great.

The very very best part is this. Randy went to check on her 2 weeks back while she was sleeping. When he came out he said "Do you know what I heard in Emma's room?" "What?" I said. "Nothing, absolutely nothing." This is the greatest thing. Before she snored, awful. She'd stop breathing then would gasp when she "remembered" to breathe again. Not hearing a sound while she's sleeping, is priceless.

This is a video from after surgery. She has finally woken up a bit to eat her 1st popscicle. She was doing this super weird tongue thing. Then saying even weirder things. "Bust off!"

Super Emma

Emma - "Im a super hero!"

Me: "Oh yea? You fight crime?"

Emma - "No, I fix stuff."

Me: "Fix?"

Emma- "Yea, what can I do for you?"

Me: "Can you put the laundry in the hamper?"

Emma- "No."

Me- "Can you clean up the living room?"

Emma- "No"

Me- "What will you fix?"

Emma- "I fix your foot."

Me- "Ok"

Emma then kissed my foot, then promptly ran into the kitchen to fix the backdoor too. Apparently it was broken.

It was a fun afternoon with Emma today. She was taking flying leaps and running all over hell and gone. It was hillarious.

Yea. I just don't know.
Did you know a pull-up can be a hat as well?
Emma... Emma... Emma... This girl is so silly. I've always said she has this music playing in her head at all times. Shes got this whole rhythm to her that so uniquely Emma. She's the most challenging little thing but a lot of fun and never a dull moment.
He vocab has boomed. Although she prefers to speak in 2-3 word phrases. She will try to get her point across with as little words as possible.
She has also recently surprised me. I had no idea she knew all her colors, can completely undress herself/redress as well as write "M" as her name. Feels like all that happened overnight and she let me know all in one day that she could do these things. Its interesting.