"Da Bears" January 7, 2011 Photo 365

Wyatt and his new friend, "Jack."

Allie building her new bear, "Nora."

Fast-forward one year and two months since the last post...

... and you land here, January 21, 2011. I guess you could say that I fell off the blogging bandwagon, you know, for lack of better words. Well, in an attempt to change that (and because all my friends are doin' it...) I have decided to join the Photo 356 program. Well, at this point, it's the Photo 344 program, but I digress. It's a start none the less!

So, I Caron Rich do so solemnly swear to do my best to take one photograph a day and hopefully, at the end of the year, I will be left with some fun pictures to look back on and enjoy. I can already tell just from having glanced back at the blog form where I left off that time passes too quickly and you can never get those amazing moments back. Kinda wishing I had stuck it out. The time has come to make it right!

Footloose and 'Pull-Up' Free!

Well, it's time to officially document another milestone in the Rich household! (considering the fact that this blog has turned into the closest thing my kids have to a baby book... but I digress.) Anyway... where were we? Ah, yes. Milestones. I am pleased to announce that as of about a month ago, we are now a diaper and pull-up free home! That's right, folks... Wyatt is 100% potty trained! Can I get a hallelujah? I have been afraid to actually put it into writing for fear I would have to eat my words, but after an entire month accident-free... including traveling for a week to and from Disney World... I think we are finally safe to say it's official. I'm so proud of my little man!

And on a side note, no... we generally do not make a habit of dancing on train tables here. He was playing (too) quietly in his room today, so I went to take a peek to see what he was up to and found him seated in the middle of the table playing away. Of course when I returned with my camera he saw me and was eager 'cheese' for me...


It was only after he saw me that the dancing started. Such a ham! Oh, and I know you are all DIGGING those red 'Big Boys!' I assure you those were his choosing...

The "Twinkie" or "Big Cheese"... Call it what ya please...

Since her first day of kindergarten, Allie has begged and pleaded with me to let her to ride the bus. Why? I don't know. When I was a kid, I would have killed to be a car rider every day! The idea of Mama driving my pampered butt to school in the mornings and picking me up each afternoon would have rocked my 5-year-old world. Seriously! Anything but the bus... who wants to ride the bus?!?

Who??? My wonderfully independent and free-spirited Allie... that's who.

Ordinarily, this would be no big deal... except for the fact that in our county, all grades ride together... kindergarten all the way up to 12th grade. Same time, same bus. Now I don't know about you, but I for one don't necessarily want my 5-year-old repeating some of the things I know teenagers might say when mom and dad are not around to stop them. I'm just sayin...

Well, this year they finally changed the bus 'rules' and now the elementary kids ride on their very own bus! And so, today...

I gave in...

...and she LOVED it!

Drive In

Don't ask me. They dream it up... I just take the pictures.

Trendsetter...

So... a little over two years ago, I tell my family that I am going to start a blog. "A what?" my mom asks. "Ummm... why exactly?" asks my sister sarcastically. I gave them both the same answer. "I just thought it would be a cool way to share quirky little stories about the kids, and tell a little about the things we've been up to, and most importantly... post pictures." (Cuz' you know I gots to add pictures!) Anyway. I don't think they completely understood, but they went along with it. They even read it. (More often than not from what I've heard.)

Well, between the kids, and work, and the fact that I discovered Facebook, (LOL!) the poor ole' blog took a backseat. A month went by, and than two, and then six. And now... almost a year later, it still sits... just the way I left it.

And then one day, my Sister informs me that she has started a blog. (Mmmm hmmmm. So, what? You have a kiddo and suddenly feel the need to share pictures and updates? Like, on a blog? HA!!! Welcome to motherhood, Pam!) And my Mom? Well, it seems that she is now a blogger too! How is it that they both jumped on the bandwagon I fell off?!?

Well! I'm not one to be outdone, so consider this blog re-opened! It will take some work and some serious backtracking to get her going again... but I'm willing to do what I gotta do to keep up with the Jones's. (and the Bell's... and the Burrus's...)

Stay tuned, Folks!

Stolen Stole

Well. It is cold outside and all.

Ummmm, not exactly. What we really have here is yet another addition to Wyatt's ever growing blanket collection. It's seriously getting out of control! There are a few simple rules we have learned to follow during the accumulation process. Here they are in no particular order...

1. If it's satin... it's Wyatt's
2. If it's soft... it's Wyatt's
3. If it's fuzzy... it's Wyatt's
4. If it belongs to you, but has any of the above three qualities... it's Wyatt's
5. No blanket is off limits & No pattern or color is too girly. If Wyatt likes it... it's Wyatt's
6. All laundry (clean or dirty) is subject to search. Should an item of interest be located therein...
you guessed it... it's Wyatt's

Pretty simple really.

Oh, and you want a actual count, you say?!?!? Here's a quick 'Blankie' roll call...

3 Small Army Green Camoflouge Blankets With Satin Trim
1 Small Blue Satin Blanket With Multi-Colored Satin 'Taggies'
1 Large Off White Blanket
1 Pair of Size 4t Satin Dora Pajama Pants
1 Pair of Size 4t Satin Pink Pajama Pants
1 Pair of Size 4t Satin Turquoise Pajama Shorts
1 Pair of Women's Satin Pajama Pants (Stolen from a bag of stuff I
was going to donate to Goodwill)
1 Cars Child-Sized Fleece Blanket
1 Pair of Men's Basketball Shorts
1 Light Blue Faux Mink Stole With Satin Lining (Ahhh!! A twofer! You can't beat that with a stick!)

Yes, that's 12.

You can only see 5 of the 12 in the pictures. The others are either in the crib or being are being washed. You know, before he notices they are missing or anything.

(oh, and if you look really hard in the first picture... you may catch a glimpse of my favorite pink bedroom slippers. Classy, I know. But yes... he LOVES them, too!)