A Big Surprise

Wyatt's birthday finally came to an end on Sunday when his dad returned from North Dakota and could celebrate with us. The last big surprise for our little guy was his first big boy bike (sniff, another mile stone telling me that he is no longer a baby). As you can see from the look on his face he was surprised and ecstatic to see what Brad had just brought down the stairs. He wanted to put it together right then but we diplomatically convinced him that Monday would be a much better day for that endeavor. Instead he spent the night looking at the box and talking about riding his bike. Too cute.

Happy Birthday Wyatt!

Three years ago on January 14 my water broke at 6:00 pm. Brad rushed me to St. Als where we waited and waited and labored until our little boy Wyatt Cody Patterson made his entrance at 4:45 am. We were so happy and so blessed to have such a perfect and healthy baby. Four days ago that perfect and healthy baby turned 3 and is no longer a baby!

His day started with breakfast (photo #1). He usually eats pampakes (pancakes) or waffles for breakfast and on his big day he asked for both and so that's what I made him. Then it was off to run errands with mom and Conner where we met up with Deb and Hayden who joined us for a birthday lunch at A&W. Wy requested a hot dog and ice cream. While we waited for our food he played with Hayden and Deb surprised him with a Lightening McQueen car (see photo #2). After returning home and taking a nap, Wy woke up and got to open presents from Grandpa and Grandma Teuscher, Aunt Mauria and cards from many friends and relatives. (Photo #2)

Saturday Wyatt had his friends Conner, Aaden and Kobe over for a birthday party. What a riot! They played, ate a little bit of pizza, ate a lot of cupcakes and ice cream, and played some more. (Photo #3-6) Then it was time to open presents and eat cake. This year, if you hadn't figured it out yet, Wy's theme was dinosaurs. His cake was a stegosaurus which was pretty fun to make and the cupcakes each had a different dinosaur as a decoration. Wyatt had a great birthday. Thanks to all of you who made it a memorable day!

I'm going Fishing

Before I share this story I have to share that Wyatt has been fishing a total of one time in his three year old life. That one time just happened to be in May, right before Mother's day. It was overcast, windy and cold and you would have thought he was having the time of his life.

Jump forward a few months to the other day. We woke up and were getting dressed, brushing teeth, you know the morning ritual, and I casually asked Wy what we should do that day. He didn't really answer, instead choosing to go in his room and play while I dressed Conner. I then left Wy upstairs playing and brought Conner down stairs with me. After a bit Wy yelled down that he had his fishing hat on and that we should go fishing. I walked over to the stairs and found this:

Wyatt had turned his tool box into a tackle box, his play gun into a fishing pole and he was "casting" down the stairs hoping to catch a fish, which he did in the second photo. What an imagination.

Hittin' the Slopes

The Saturday before Brad left for the great frigid north of North Dakota and parts in between we took Wy, Conner and our dog Brody sledding. Wyatt was so excited when we told him over pampake (pancakes) that he shoved them in his mouth and hurried upstairs to get dressed. After donning snow pants, long shirts, winter coats, hats, mittens and boots, we loaded the sled, the dog and the kids and headed out.

Brad was brave and decided to take Wy on a super long slope and half way down they went tumbling end over end. Brad found out that he really does have parental skills and truly loves his son as he tucked Wy in and took the brunt of the bumps on their wild ride down - without the sled I might add. After that incident Wy kept saying he was finished, no more down the hill and every time Brad would head up Wy would race after him saying just one more time. Soon the hill was a crowded spot and Wy had found some friends, three kids who offered him a more Wy-friendly sled that he could manage on his own. He enjoyed using that. He and Brad (and Brody) played so hard until Wy's little hands were just too cold and then he was ready to go home. Conner didn't get a chance to try his luck at sledding but he did keep mom warm as they took pictures and laughed at Brad and Wy and their many sledding antics. Maybe next time Conner you and I can have a turn.

Bread

For those who know me, truly know me, know that I love to cook but that I don't always find success in the things I attempt to make. For instance, I can't make jell-o. I even have step-by-step fail proof directions and it never turns out. I either get jell-o that is crusty on the bottom and watery on the top or watery on the bottom and crusty on the top but it never sets up. The same with Minute Rice. It too never works for me.

A few months ago I decided that I would make bread instead of buy it at the store. I have made loaf after loaf and have never been able to get it to raise into those nice rounded beautiful loaves that you see on all the cooking shows. Brad has been ever so helpful in his advice and pointers and has eaten my various attempts - as have the neighbors who tell me that they are willing guinea pigs for my practice.

However, at long last, I did it. I finally got my bread to raise into those I-could-enter-it-into-the-fair loaves that are round, and high, and beautiful. I am putting pictures here for all to see and believe and so that when I can't do it again I at least have some proof that once upon a time I got it to work.

The Sounds of Laughter

"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter." ~ e.e. cummings

There is no other sound in the world as wonderful as the sound of laughter. The laughter of children soothes the soul and one can't help but smile at the delightful melody filling the air.

A Wonderful Christmas

I love Christmas, the decorations, the food, the time spent with family. Some times it seems that I get so wrapped up in the material side of the holiday that I forgot the real reason for this wonderful celebration. This year it was really brought home to me as Brad and I shared the story of Jesus' birth with Wyatt. I'm pretty sure he didn't really understand the story about the mother and father and baby, the shepherds, the wise men, the star, but as we sat with my family and sang songs about Mary's lullaby and peace on Earth, I knew that it wasn't important that we had forgotten a present, that we didn't get things mailed off in time. What mattered was that we had the chance to be together as a family with family, that Brad's mom had survived what could have been a tragic car accident, that my dad's heart attack scare wasn't as bad as it could have been, that Conner had arrived healthy and strong. What mattered is that Jesus is the Christ and the Savior of the World.