Thankful

Wyatts list of things he's thankful for. 

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.

When he's darn good and ready

There are a lot of things that I push for my kids to complete.  Then there are some things that I figure, "They wont go to college doing that..."  Example: binky sucking, pooing in a diaper, carrying a blanket, etc.  I try to pick my battles with them.  One of those things have been training wheels.  When they're ready, they're ready.  I expected to use some sort of gentle prodding, you know, lining things up just so, so that it becomes their decision?  
Randy "gently" suggested to Wyatt, that the training wheels may be becoming more of a hindrance than a help. "I think you may go faster if they were off"  That was it from Randy's end. 
Wyatt walks into the house, Hi Mom, gets his wrench, goes back outside.
Without a stinkin word he took of his own training wheels and gave it a try.  And that was that. 

I asked him later "What made you take them off?"  he told me, "I wanted to see if Dad was right."

Ha!

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!

Wyatt is 7

Wyatt,

We celebrated your 6Th birthday twice again this year. Once when your father was home and once on your actual birthday. We had a Despicable Me pajama movie party and invited 2 new friends over. It was perfectly controlled chaos and it was the first time I've seen you truly happy and carefree since moving to Virginia. Dad and I bought you a Lego Fire Boat. You and I put it together. You were proud of us for not needing dads assistance for once.

You've been having some trouble in school. Not because you don't understand what is being taught, but because you are refusing to be tested to your ability. You wont demonstrate for your teachers that you know how to read and write without fuss. Math and science, however, you shine. I knew you would. You are taking a fun extra science class after school once a week all about being a sleuth. I'm worried about getting you through this reading writing hump, I mean, how exactly can I make you love reading? Its all you kiddo. I'll do my best, I promise.

You lost your first tooth in January 2011.

You are 53 lbs and are exactly 4 feet tall.

You are one heck of a snappy dresser. You prefer button down shirts, vests, ties and fancy shoes.

You have a critical mind. You don't think inside the box. You think outside and around the block from the box. You come up with the best quips and have quick wit. You are a deep thinker and don't even realize it yet. Example- You told Emma "Imagination lets your brain roam freely, but remember, you're still in mom's hands." or... telling the doctor during your well check that taking off your underwear for the exam is inappropriate and the fact that the doctor sees children every day without their underwear is even more inappropriate. Not many children can make a doctor feel like a dirty perv, well done child, well done.

You caught a nasty case of ringworm on your scalp from a hair cutters clippers. Because of your amoxicillan allergy you were unable to take the recommended course of treatment. We had to take a medicine that would potentially damage your liver, which means we had to have blood draws every 2 weeks to check your levels. After that first blood draw... to say you've caused a scene at every subsequent blood draw is putting it mildly. You're reaction runs the same with what I imagine it would be like if I was sticking bamboo shoots up your fingernails while making your walk over burning hot coals. Its bad. I'm bringing this up in your birthday letter because I'm praying that these blood draw memories wont make it to the grand cut of memories in your adult life. And if you do end up having a horrid fear of pointy needles as an adult, I want you to know that this is why.

We are getting to a point with you where we need to talk to you about what autism is and how it effects the way do and think about things. I've given you a generic rundown but I fear the time is coming for a more lengthy hallmark discussion. I'm hoping by understanding autism you will have a better idea of how to make this life work for you in the best possible way. The sooner the better right?

You are a bright, loving kid, Wyatt. You are truly thoughtful and I couldn't ask for a better 7 year old.

Love,
Mom

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?!

Burning.

Im upstairs when the timer rings on my cupcakes.

Wyatt: "MOOOOOOM!! Come down and get your cupcakes before you burn them like you do everything else!"

I come downstairs scowling.
Me: *snappy mom tone* "Dont be mean, Wyatt."

I go into the kitchen to tend to the cupcakes.. Wyatt from the living room....

Wyatt: "I know you work hard mom, I wasnt trying to be mean."

I dont say anything in reply cause now he made me feel guilty for snapping at him.

But then...

Wyatt: "Mom?"
Me: "What?"
Wyatt: "Remember when you burned the stapler that was on the oven?"
Me: "Yea."
Wyatt: "Remember when you burned the handle to the spatula?"
Me: (getting irritated) "Yea."
Wyatt: "Remember when you burned the oven mitt?"
Me: (irritated further) "Yeeaaaaaa."
Wyatt: (as cool as can be) "Thats all Im sayin'"

Guilty feeling is now gone.

My Tiger

With Kindergarten has come the rite of passage and time old tradition of boy scouts.

He loves it. He really is putting forth a lot of effort during the meetings. He has been working hard to learn the "shake" the "motto" and all that jazz.

Yesterday I went to the scouts store while he was a school. I thought I'd surprise him by getting all his uniform stuff together before his meeting tonight. $70 later (Oh yea! for a stinkin button down shirt, hat, scarf tack, patches and book) so a whole lot of bitching about cost on my part, I was at home trying like hell to attach these patches. I didn't finish before he got home like I wanted., While I was tacking the corners because the cheater adhesive strips weren't holding Wyatt was watching. I finished 2 minutes before we had to leave. I told Wyatt to come put his uniform shirt on.

*Cue Rocky music* Duh Duh Duh Duh Duh Duh Duh Duh Du Duh....Duh Duh Duh Da da daaa daa da daaa daaaaa!!!!!!

He stalked over to that shirt with a mad purpose and a Cheshire cat grin. He looked like he was about to put on the single most important 100% cotton garment of his life. Grinning the entire time he buttoned then gave me a thumbs up when he was all done.

From the moment he put on that shirt with such pride and purpose he became a dedicated little tiger scout and I buried my gripe over the cost of the uniform.

I think we have finally found Wyatt's "thing."

Wyatt the 1st grader

Today was Wyatt's first day of 1st grade!

Wyatt went to school this morning like a champ.

6am-

Me: "Wyatt its time to get up!" (opens shades)

Wyatt: "We're going to school in the dark?!"
Me: "No, lets go eat breakfast." (I explained about 1st grade and no snack time and the importance of a big full tummy in the morning.)

Wyatt: "Alright! Lets get tummy fillin!"

He got a special Krispy Kreme treat that daddy left for him and then I made him eat something that did not contain buttloads of sugar after. ;)

He was excited, totally not nervous, not "skeptical" at all. He found his classroom by himself and settled right in. I took a million pictures and said "ok I'm going" as many times. When I finally went:
Me "Ok Wyatt, I'm really going now, be good, I love you"
Wyatt: "Ok Mom, see ya later."

That's it?! That's freakin it?! No whimpering? No tears? No preamble to leaving your lil butt there for 6 hours? Nothing? I was a tad disturbed that my lack of presence in the 1st grade classroom would have stirred up more of a ruckus...but alas, my boy is growing up. So away I went with "something in my eye."

Emma was all tears and yelling. She was angry that she didnt get to go to school too.

2:30pm pick up

Me: "How was your first day!?"

Wyatt: *tsk* "We didnt do anything fun all we did is learn!"

He kept saying that over and over. He did have a good day though, his teacher said he didnt get frustrated until the very very end of the day when it was time to go (all the people leaving wigged him out) He was a happy kid when he left school today though.

It was a fine first day and he is actually looking forward to tomorrow. 100% improvement over last year!

Remember This?

Hurricanes

Hmmm. One month of living here and we get our very first Hurricane watch. Yippie! Wyatt had just been warming to the idea of tornados...now... meh.
So Im mulling over the city outlined evacuation routes, suggested kit items, things you need to do when the hurricane is imminent, like turning off your own power.
*ahem* Yet another reason for me to hate this place. Stupid hurricanes.
Apparently the Atlantic Fleets official position in the event of hurricanes hitting our coast is to fee to sea. What this means for my family is that I get to wade our the hurricane with 2 kids and Randy gets to go float at sea safely away from the hurricane. Nice huh ?
Do I sound bitter? ha!

Wyatt will be starting school next week. 1st grade! Wow. I dont feel the "wow, where has the time gone" thing. I feel more a proudness for the situation. Wyatt has his "skeptical" face on when it comes to school. Im hoping this year goes more smoothly than last year for him.

The Penis...The Built-in Thermometer.

I ran a bath for Wyatt and M.
Wyatt gets in. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh. My penis says thats the right temperature."
Me: "What...?"
Wyatt: "My penis. It talks to me and tells me if the water is too hot or too cold."


Seriously. So far out of my comfort zone on this one. I remain silent.

The Old Days...

Wyatt said to me today "I remember when I was a baby, those were good times."


Clearly child... our visions of "good times" differ greatly..but you're still cute.