Thanksgiving

We went all the way to WI this year for Thanksgiving. We went to see J's Mom, Aunt Chris, Uncle Mike, Aunt Kari, cousin Kallan, his grandma and grandpa. We had a BLAST! We left on Wed about 1. The kids were so good in the car. We only stopped twice for a 7 hour ride. Once for gas and to pee and the other time for a quick park stop and dinner. We arrived in Madison about 8. Our hotel was very nice and the kids were soooo excited. We got everything to bed about 10 (way too late but calming it down was hard). Nobody slept great and everyone was up way too early. After waking at 530 am (ugh) we made everyone lay there till they all fell back to sleep for an hour (E slept cuddling withe me. Best hour ever). By 8:45 we gave up and headed to IHOP for breakfast. The kids had never been. C and E loved it. Scarfed down pancakes, bacon and scrambled eggs. Av refused to even touch the toast. J was not thrilled. E was being CRAZY and nothing I had or was doing was calming him. I finally gave in and let him play with a little creamer. Just as J said it ended up splattering all over John and a lady by us. Again J was not thrilled. Last time he will ever take us to IHOP. hehehh After that we went swimming. It was so much fun. Very nice pool. C was over confident in her ability to swim. She kind of forgot in the last few months so was very frustrated. We got her back in her water wings and she was fine after that. E does not love the water like the girls did. After that we got dressed and headed over to Aunt Chris's. We played and made crafts there. The girls loved Kallan (she's 8). After a very yummy dinner (which E slept through and the girls were not impressed by) and a little more playing we headed back to the hotel. We hung out as a fam for a few hours and then went to bed. The girls slept great. E not so much. On Friday I went shopping with J's Aunts and he went to hang with his uncle and let the girls play with Kallan at her house. By 4 we were back at Aunt Chris's for an early dinner and then headed into town to see the town's tree lighting. It was so fun. Perfect weather. First there is a parade of fire trucks that are all decorated with Santa riding in the last one. Santa is lifted up to the tree with a big ladder and after a count down the tree comes on. The kids LOVED it. They all saw Santa and ended up with 3 mini candy canes. They could not stop talking about how they got 3 candy canes. After that we went back to Chris's house for dessert and then back to the hotel. We got the kids in bed earlier (830) that night. They were tired. We all slept till 8 so that was great. On Sat Kallan came to swim with us. When C invited Kallan to come swim w us she told her, "the baby pool is hot." heheh No baby pool just a hot tub. C did a much better job swimming and was much more happy. We swam for awhile. E was much more happier when I let him just play and splash on the stairs. After that we grabbed lunch and headed over to J's grandparents. We hung with them for awhile and then said goodbye to head home. The trip home was as good as it could be. We only had to stop once!! We have some great car travelers.

e and his sisters

E gets mad when he does not get what his sisters get. My sister brought the girls a few little toys. She didn't realize he would notice but he sure did. He yelled and yelled until we found him something that he had not seen that could be his. heheh He wants it all and wants to be doing what they are. J left with the girls the other day and E acted like the world just ended. His little feelings were crushed. He is also bitting. Poor Av, yet again she is getting the brunt of it. She has a little bruise and blood marks in the shape of his little mouth. He does not do it to be mean. He just has not figured out yet that is it bad. Just feels good to him. He loves to rough house and tackle people but you better watch out. At any minute his little teeth can come out and boy do they hurt.

smart Av

Av is doing a lot better at school. I have had several conversations with her teacher and we have worked really hard at home. The teacher is pushing her more and every AM before school I remind Av of the Wilder motto "Wilder Wildcats always do their best." She is doing a lot less scribbling and her work looks better when it comes home. I think we are on a better track. Her report card came home and it was good. It even mentioned on it how she was playing soccer a lot. So cute. We will always have to work a little harder but the rewards will be that much sweeter!!!

e's blanket

Last night I laid down on the floor on E's blanket and he got mad. He didn't like me on his blanket. He came over and tried to pull it away from me. He got it and walked away from it. A few minutes later I asked him where his blanket was. He stopped, looked at me, looked at the blanket and then went and got it. So cute. Then as we were putting Av to bed we were covering her up with her blanket that is green. The same color as E's. All the sudden he got mad again and was trying to pull it off of her. He thought it was his. He is so smart!!

green, green screaming machine

and that would be Camille. She is insanely jealous of everything Avery. Av's bday weekend was a little rough on her. She wanted everything Av had and all her presents. I think she would have rather it be anyone else's bday but Av's. She was kind of difficult all weekend and demanded a lot of attention. Thank goodness G&PP and AA were here to give it to her. Today when we picked Av up from school she had a feather headdress on. She was sooo proud of it and instantly C was trying to pull it off of Av's head. She wanted it so badly. We headed home and made her one to match. She was pretty proud of hers too.

strawberry shortcake/princess/hula girl/puddle jumper

This is what C dressed herself in the other day. A strawberry shortcake dress, lei, princess crown and her beloved froggie boots. Yes she went everywhere that day in this getup. (pick your battles). The clock puzzle we have had since last christmas but she found that day and was obsessed with it. No one including E and her friend Max could touch it.

bday princess

Avery is 6!!!! None of us are happy about it. Except her that is. She is over the moon to be a year older and wiser. I remember when I turned 6. To think the things we do today she will remember someday later when she has her own kid turning 6 is crazy. Makes me a little nervous. I hope she only remembers the good stuff. heheheh G&PP& Aunt Anne all came for her bday. So sweet. Her bday was on a Saturday this year so her party was on the actual day. We all had a blast. It started at a local pizza place with 25 of our closest friends. The Shumans, Masons, Woodcocks and Heather and her bunch all came. The kids played and ran wild while we all had yummy pizza. Afterwards we went to the place they take gymnastics for some bouncing fun (All About Kids). More of her friends joined us. Classmates from school, girls from her old school, neighborhood friends, bus friends, siblings and adults. She had Jackson, Stella, Emi, Caroline, Max, Sayree, Neena, Jocelyn, Ella, Ty, Luke, Ella R, Jill, Mckinnly, Makayla, Noelle, Ethan, Alyssa,Violet, Camille and Everett there. We decided to make the party a "no gifts, please" party and it went off wo a hitch (no awkward a few peeps bring a gift then others feel bad). So proud of my sweet little girl for understanding that we are very lucky for all that we have and that our friends are gift enough!! Her two bff's brought her a gift in private earlier so that was super sweet of them as well. Since she has been playing so much soccer at school J and I got her a soccer net, ball and shin guards. Since then it has been raining but I can't wait to see my soccer star in action. It was a great bday with family and good friends!!!