Happy Birthday Wyatt!

You are 5 years old! I can't believe it! This seems like the end of the little boy phase to me. I am looking forward to seeing you continue to grow and learn. You amaze me all the time with your vocabulary and your ability to figure things out on your own.

You are such a skinny little guy. Part of it is your metabolism and part of it is you don't slow down or eat enough. You weigh 36 pounds and are about 41.5 inches in height.




This year you have been exposed to new situations and you have done so well.

The biggest change is you became a big brother. You are such a great big brother to Chase.



Many times when he is upset, you do your best to console him and let him know "big brother is here." You are a great helper to me especially when you play with Chase. I am looking forward to seeing what all you teach Chase this year. I can already tell that he wants to do everything you do.

You played soccer for this first time this past fall and did so well.




You loved being on a team and enjoyed the exercise. When you would score a goal, you would run over to our sideline and give us all high fives! I loved watching you have so much fun.

You also started a new school and attended 4 year old Kindergarten. Each month you keep mastering the Kindergarten Readiness Skills that your class is working on.




You have given basketball a try and I think with the right coach and team, you will enjoy this as well. Even though you can't get the ball to the basket yet, you still go out each game and give it your all. I have a video showing some of your fancy footwork that I have been meaning to post.

You have a contagious giggle and I love that dimple of yours. You have a kind and sensitive soul which I hope you keep as you get older. You truly do care about others' feelings.

You love dinosaurs, vanilla pudding, DS games, legos, your cousins, and Berenstain Bear books.

Here is your 5 year old interview we did this morning. I think it does a great job showcasing your little personality.

We love you Wyatt and thank God for you. You are a gift.

(Video is 5 minutes so you may need to pause it after you hit play to let it load.)

Happy Birthday Chase Griffin!

"Every time I think of you, I thank my God."
Philippians 1:3 (Contemporary Version)

Dear Chase,

Today you turned one year old. When I look at this picture, it seems like this was taken just the other day.



And yet, here we are.



You arrived rather quickly on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010 at 8:39 a.m. You weighed in at 6 lbs 13 oz and were just 18 inches long.

And you completed our family.

I think my favorite thing about you is your smile.



You wake up with one on your face and go to bed with the same smile.

And you speak volumes with those expressions and those eyebrows!



You are a lovey baby. You love to be held and you give great hugs.

You are such a trooper too. You roll with whatever we have on the schedule for the day. Some days we stay at home and some days I am waking you up to sit in a car for an hour. It doesn't seem to phase you and I am so glad that you are able to adapt.

I am extremely thankful for your good health. You have made it one year without even a case of the sniffles.

Here are your basic stats:

You weigh between 22 and 23 pounds and are about 29 1/2 inches in length.

You have Auburn colored hair and your eyes are hard to describe - kind of a greenish gray.

You have 6 teeth: 2 on bottom and 4 on top.

You have really started to surf the furniture this past week but you can't stand without something to hold on to.

You love snacks! Cheez its are a favorite and you LOVE jelly toast. If you see that someone has food, you crawl over to them and beg until we share with you.

Here you are enjoying your Gigi's cupcake that I brought home for you.



We have started you on whole milk. You drink milk and juice in a sippy cup. You are down to one bottle of milk in the morning and one before bed.

You are so interested in what Wyatt is doing when you two are home together. You prefer his toys - exhibit A: you got your hands on his Memory game this morning.



You are starting to show signs of stranger anxiety. We visited a friend last week who tried to hold you right when we got there and you were not happy about that. Also, the "bug men" were at the house spraying the other day. You crawled into the kitchen and started to cry when you saw them and not me. But you are still happy to be held by family who you see often.

Most people who see you tell us that you look exactly like Wyatt. Your dad and I just don't see it. We do not think you two look alike at all. But what do we know?

I love you with all my heart sweet boy. I truly am blessed to have you in my life. I am looking forward to what the year will bring for you and our family.

Love,

Your Mama

Our Weekend in Review

Wyatt's little basketball team redeemed themselves this weekend somewhat by not getting smeared by the other team. In fact, it was tied at the end of the game and they had to go into overtime.

Of course the score was tied 0 to 0 but I am counting that as a success!

We ended up losing 4 to 0 but it was a much better experience.




And the crowd didn't disappoint. This week's mullet is commonly referred to as the femullet as it is the female version. Equally disturbing in my opinion.




Now, on to Sunday.




We had an early birthday celebration for baby Chase with my side of the family.




My SILS Erica and Rochelle getting Chase buckled in.




Chase loved his cake which did not surprise me.



He loves food of just about any kind but especially sweets.

Here are the little cousins with Chase.




YouYou helped me with his bath.




She started striking poses when the camera came out.




We had a great celebration. We are planning to do another mini-celebration on his birthday Wednesday. I am hoping to bring him home his very own Gigi's cupcake!

Wordless Wednesday with Wyatt

Go Landers McClarty!!!

After Wyatt had such a positive experience playing soccer this fall, we decided to keep it going and sign him up for basketball. We loved the league he had played in for soccer but had missed the sign ups because we were unsure about him playing at that time.

So we decided to sign him up to play through the Flintville league. It is not through the school but the games and practices are held there. I thought it would be good for him to play in this league because these are the children he will be going to school with in the fall.

G U L P

Yep, my baby is going to public school.

Anywho, from the beginning, Jeremy has not been impressed with anything about the league. According to Jeremy, the coach does not speak and doesn't talk to the kids. You know it has to be bad if Jeremy thinks the person is quiet. After each practice, Wyatt runs in happy just to have been playing. And Jeremy walks in frustrated and shaking his head. Apparently the "assistant coach" texts on her phone the whole time and does zero assisting.

Fast forward to last Saturday - Wyatt's first game.

First of all, the team color is TENNESSEE ORANGE. Yuck.



And so much for the Wildcats or the Rockets. We are the Landers McClarty team. I guess that must be our sponsor but you'd think they would have made us the Landers McClarty Racers or something.

The team we played beat us 20 to nothing. Oh, it was bad. Our poor little team was not good. It was so obvious they had no idea what to do once they got the ball across half court. Now I understood why Jeremy was so frustrated.

Wyatt did good passing the ball in - you could tell he had practiced that. One time he ended up dribbling it down the court because the other kid ran away.



A friend of ours had a kid on the other team. He told Jeremy that they had one player who was almost 7. Hello?!?!? This is supposed to be an UNDER 6 team. And these kids were rough. On the car ride home, Wy said "Those boys in the gray shirts need to go back to Sunday School."

So now I'm not impressed either. There is no schedule, apparently nobody regulates the ages, and they charge you to get into the games. Like who else would come except the parents?

Here is Wyatt's # 1 fan. He watched the kids playing and clapped his hands almost the whole game. At least he enjoyed himself.




As for Wyatt, he is happy so I'll be happy for him.




The plus side? Capturing mullets on film! Yes, this man was all business up front with the party in the back - the classic mullet.




I am gonna go out on a limb and say I think I will spot one at each game. My new challenge for 2011. I know - such nobility in my challenge.

This week's game was cancelled because of the snow but I am hoping that the next game will be more evenly matched - or it is going to be the longest season ever.

White Christmas and Snowpalooza

With all this snow we have been getting, I figured I better get these pics posted!

Here are our pics from the surprise white Christmas.




















Here are our pics from Snowpalooza 2011! We got between 8 and 10 inches of powdery snow. I can't remember ever having this much snow before. Unfortunately Jeremy had to work so everyone could get their gas and cigarettes for their big play day in the snow. As soon as he gets home, he is supposed to take us out on the 4 wheeler and we are going to build a snowman. Hope everyone enjoys their snow day!








View of the backyard




Chase is NOT a fan of the snow so it's best for him to enjoy it from indoors.




Warm and snuggly after their first outing.

A Merry Yet Sick Christmas Week

Both Wyatt and I were battling nasty colds the week of Christmas. Wyatt ended up missing his last 2 days of school.

I did take him to his class party for about 15 minutes - long enough to have cake and distribute gifts but not long enough to infect anyone else.

And you know what? I noticed at least 5 kiddos in his class coughing, sneezing, and wiping snot on their sleeves while we were there. But I am not bitter or anything.

I also didn't get a single picture because I literally had my arms full with Chase, diaper bag, gifts, coats, etc. and the thought of returning to the car for the camera was just too much.

I ended up getting a much needed "Christmas shot" on Thursday along with a great cough potion that let me get some much needed sleep. Wyatt started turning the corner on Christmas Eve.

We spent Christmas Eve at my parents house with my siblings and all the cousins! I took tons of pictures but I will just share a few on here.


My dad and Wyatt




Chase with his Christmas stocking that Didi made for him




My grandmother came down to visit this year and is in the back sitting by my mom.




Here are all 11 cousins - I think this may have been the first time they have all been together.




Christmas Day and Winter Wonderland photos coming up next!