A sandbox in our own backyard!

Thanks to two wonderful friends Wyatt has his own turtle-shaped sandbox in our very own back yard.

What fun and what a blessing. No doubt it will get a lot of use in the future.

Ken and Wyatt had a lot of fun building in the sand this past summer!

Wyatt's New Room

Wyatt was excited to sleep in his new room and we didn't want him to have to give up his bed with all the new changes going on so we decided to wait till the summer to get him a "big boy bed."

Wyatt told me that I had to get a picture with him and his BFF Brutie!

It's been way too long!

Well, it has been over a year since I blogged! Yikes. I can't believe it. So much has happened that I hope my very few devoted followers will understand after they read my posts. I will do my best to fill in the gaps and be very brief. Time is very sparse these days so being brief is the new normal. I will start with our trip to Disney last February. We met up with my parents who have a timeshare in Florida and who said Wyatt NEEDED to go to Disney. It was my and Wyatt's first time at the Magic Kingdom. Seeing it thru his eyes was extra special too. Here are a few photos of our amazing day!

Pa, Wyatt and Gram in front of the Magic Kingdom.



Mommy x 2, Wyatt and Daddy!

Ken was an amazing Dad. He was not feeling the best, but kept Wyatt on his shoulders more than half the time.

Pa, Wyatt and Gram!

We had glorious weather during the trip and had a lot of fun. I can say I didn't feel well most of the time. (More about that later.) We had just moved out of our condo and in with my parents for a couple of months as we did some painting and refinishing of floors in our new home. (Photo below after landscaping make-over during the summer months.)

We moved in Easter weekend 2012!

Before we left for our Disney vacation we found out that we were PREGNANT WITH TWINS! Now you know why I was not feeling well during that vacation. Funny: I told Ken that it must be a girl because the morning sickness was twice as bad...then I found out why it was twice as bad. LOL. We knew we were expecting in January but had no idea that we would be blessed with two babies instead of just one and surprised the family by making a fun t-shirt for big brother Wyatt to announce it to everyone.



Stay tuned! I will be adding more blogs and photos till I can get us up-to-date! The twins were technically due in October, but due to the fact we were having twins and my "advanced maternal age" (love that terminology...NOT) they will arrive in late September 2012.

 



Wyatt's Birthday Card is Famous!

Wyatt loves the preschool channel Sprout and every day they celebrate those having a birthday. So, I knew I wanted to see if they would celebrate Wyatt's especially since his birthday is the day after Christmas. I want to always make it special and to see yourself on tv has to make the year unique, right? We went online to see what we needed to do. They only accept "HANDMADE" birthday cards. As a graphic designer, I thought no problem I can make a really nice card and print it out. Then, after seeing the instructions I thought that is not handmade so I needed to go "old-school." I got out my glue, construction paper, markers, and stickers etc. and got to work. It took me way too long to make, but I was so invested I had to do it and see if it makes it on the air. I had to mail it 2 weeks in advance! I procrastinate so if you know me it was a piece of "love" the night before or should I say early morning of the mailing.

I actually woke up first on Wyatt's birthday and headed straight for the tv as the show starts at 8 am. The boys quickly followed. At 9:30 am we captured the 2nd round of the birthdays and as the video above shows...we were excited to see Wyatt's card was first! PRAISE! I could have cried at the sight of it. Actually, at first I had kind of forgotten what it looked like to be honest. I am still in awe that his card made it. I love how you can hear Wyatt over my exclamations commenting on the card. He really does appreciate it all which makes it so worth while to me!

I can't believe he is 3! Time flies!

Wyatt's birthday card makes it on tv!

He's 3!

The holidays were CRAZY this year. You would think I would be used to the new routine of non-stop celebration, but I am not any better at it 3 years later. Ken is a saint to put up with me because I embody the word stress. However, the holidays were fabulous for us. Spending time with family is just the best because we are so blessed to have an amazing family support system.

Wyatt's birthday theme was picked: Mickey Mouse. I quickly chose denial! Waiting to December to order decorations etc. Having a birthday party the day after Christmas does pose some challenges...so we do it all. Decorations, balloons and of course the cake. I did feel a bit of pressure after last year's truck cake. Several people kept asking me so what are you going to do this year for Wyatt's birthday. Yikes. I actually tried to steer Wyatt into picking Mickey as his theme and then once he did I thought he is a world-known character how are you going to match a three year-olds expectations...okay really my own. I quickly realized within the 2nd week of December that a Mickey cake pan is not available in stores when you need one. Plus, do I want to purchase one for one cake? I decided to give up on the pan and try to convince Wyatt that a "Mickey Ears" cake was the way to go. By the grace of God Ken's co-worker who has everything Disney heard of my plight and came to the rescue by lending us the pan. Okay...have the pan...now what! The internet helped in a big way. I also flew to the Wilton store (12/23) for the official coloring for the icing. To put it all in to perspective for you...I had finished our shopping very late in the evening on the 22nd. We need to do all our wrapping (team effort) on the evening of the 23rd. Which left me Christmas Eve to do the cake...not a problem...I can start it and finish Christmas night. We found out on the evening of the 23rd that we were having a showing of our condo mid morning. Yikes! I was lucky enough to bake one of the cakes before heading to church that afternoon and then on to a family dinner...which lead to this progress.

December 24, 2011 - Mickey Cake progress begins...

One chocolate cake Mickey...face down and crumb coated.

I know you are confused. Wait for it.

Christmas Eve night. I bake a white cake and his face is flawless! He earns the top layer.
Now, I am terrified to flip this cake on to the other. Ken offers but I knew if cracked in the process that it needed to be my fault. If you know what I mean. :)
I show Mickey's progress to Wyatt on Christmas day and he is not that impressed.

December 25 - Mickey's progress continues...

After a less than satisfied coloring of black with the official Mickey black coloring I go with the one store bought can that I had so I could only go so far at 2:30 am. Still needed more black icing and the face (skin tone) to go which was the part I was most nervous about.

December 26th - Mickey is finally done at lunchtime! Whew!

Ken ran out to get me more icing in the morning and I was able to mix up Mickey's skin tone which turned out great. However, my icing bag and tip or icing would't cooperate and looked runny so I had to literally paint on his face with a brush. By lunch time he was done with Wyatt climbing up in the chair beside me because he constantly wanted to be by Mickey when I was finishing him. He loved it and that makes it all worth it!

I worried about where to place the candle. In the end it had to be less about my cake-art and more about Wyatt's Birthday.

The video below all of his family who came over to celebrate. It was intimate and great! I really need to start planning for next year!

I will post some Christmas photos later on this week. I am doing things a bit backwards.

Hope you all have a glorious New Year!

Ours will start off with lots of new changes. Stay tuned.

First Day of Preschool!

First Day of Preschool - Thursday, September 8, 2011

Even though I knew exactly when the first day of preschool would be...months to prepare...I found myself running around the night before like it was sprung on me at the last minute. I was definitely more nervous than Wyatt that he was going to Preschool. Making me think, "Who's first day of school is it?" Funny because he went into the classroom like he has done it everyday. I had hoped that our few visits to see his room and peek through the window would pay off and it did. Wyatt did fabulous...a few children had some separation anxiety, but it didn't phase him one bit as he found the table with the tools on it. Wyatt was so interested in all the toys that our presence was not need at all. Which is exactly what the teacher told us when she said, 'whenever you can make your exit...please do so.' A.K.A. Wyatt is doing great so you are free to go. I knew she was right because it has always been my practice to get him in and make my exit and his has always done great because he knows I will be "right back." Wyatt kissed us quickly and we found ourselves walking out of the room in slight bewilderment. Don't get me wrong I was ELATED that he took to school so well...answered prayers. Today was day two and we were early and had to wait to get into his room. He kept telling me, "I want to go in Mommy." Music to my ears. He ran in and began to play not even needing to say goodbye. Tonight as Ken was getting Wyatt ready for bed Wyatt told us he wanted to go back to school tomorrow. Now it just doesn't get better than that.

Hope you all are having a great week!

So long Summer...

Thank you for sticking with us even though I inadvertently took the summer off. Not sure I can redeem myself, but I thought a photo montage of our summer might help a little bit. So, it will be a little less commentary and MORE photos!

Here is our summer in a nutshell!

It was a steamy summer!

It was a summer of a few firsts...Wyatt took his first carousel ride at Brookfield Zoo. He wanted to ride the giraffe but someone got to him first. The seahorse turned out to be perfect!
We had a Knutson family musical!
Wyatt enjoyed his first lollipop during his first Pet Parade!

Father's Day 2011 - Kane County Cougars Game


Off to run the bases after the game.

Father & Son running the bases = Priceless

Home Improvement - not all homes have two handymen.

Have you heard? We put our condo on the market in July 2011. Click here if you are interested in a 3 bedroom condo.

Wyatt and his BFF Brutie!

A visit to Morton Arboretum in August 2011.

He will model for lollipops!

Ah, a boy's paradise: the treehouse.

Ginza Festival in oldtown Chicago.

We all were mesmerized by the talent.

Ken was dressed for the festival, but boys will be boys!

Playing at the park after the festival.

You would be crazy not to try the Starbuck's Cake Pops.

Sunday afternoon at the Knutson's

Wyatt before he was buckled in for his first bike ride - September 2011. Funny how the trailer only fits on Mommy's bike. LOL.

Coming soon: Potty Training and Preschool!