Fall is here!

Miss Independent and Little Miss
October 2009

Okay, so it's not officially Fall until Tuesday, but it's close enough.

I was sorting through old photos today and came across this one from last year. We were living in Maryland and drove way out into the middle of nowhere to a pumpkin farm someone told us about. It was a drizzling day, but we figured all was well. However, when we finally arrived at the farm we were crushed to find out it was closed. It was a Chevy Chase Wally World moment for sure.

We kept driving and ended up at an Amish Farmer's Market. Despite the rain, we enjoyed picking out fresh fruits and vegetables -- including a couple of pumpkins -- as well as some yummy made-from-scratch cookies and sweet breads.

Anyway, reflecting on that day was all I needed to put me into a Fall State of Mind. I'm looking forward to things like:

• The State Fair
• The girl's birthday party
• The leaves changing colors
• The pumpkin farm
• Lower temperatures
• Caramel apples
• Trick-or-treating
• Pumpkin Pie

And so much more!

It's just about my most favorite time of the year. How about you?

Block Party!

Before I moved from Maryland I had a craft night with a dear friend of mine, Kelley. We made "Be Blocks," which another friend of mine (Rachele, from Arizona) dreamed up and even had published in a paper craft magazine.

If you've never heard of Gordon B. Hinckley's book, Way to Be!, I highly recommend reading it. It's a book about virtues and highlights nine ways to be happy and to make something of your life.

Here are the nine "Be's"...

1. Be Grateful
2. Be Smart
3. Be Involved
4. Be Clean
5. Be True
6. Be Positive
7. Be Humble
8. Be Still
9. Be Prayerful

Great, great book and a really quick read.

Anyway -- the blocks turned out beautiful and I'm so glad we had an opportunity to make them together. I miss you, Kelley. I'm glad you love the blocks as much as I do. And thanks, Rachele, for creating such a beautiful memento of President Hinckley's "Be's" -- I'll treasure mine forever.

Happy Mother's Day - We found a house!

It's Mother's Day and since we've been off house hunting this weekend there's no big fanfare to celebrate. I guess that's okay considering the fact that after weeks of searching, we finally found a place to call home in Richmond!

I'm excited about what we (finally!) found and hope that the move will start coming together now.

It's been tough trying to explain to the girls why we keep traveling out of town each weekend; dragging them through houses, begging them to be on their best behavior, etc. etc.

But, I guess that's just life and as a mom, having to explain tough things comes with the territory.

I'm grateful to be the mother of two beautiful daughters. There was a time when I never thought I'd have the opportunity to become a mom. I prayed like crazy, but the years kept going by. Thankfully, after much waiting and anticipation, Miss Independent and Little Miss arrived. It was the most amazing day of my life.

In honor of that special day, I'm re-posting my favorite "new mom" picture. It was my first day home from the hospital and a time that went by way too quickly.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you. Whether you've had children of your own or not, Mother's Day is for all of the women who've loved, longed for or cared for a child.

AND finally, Happy Mother's Day to my Mom and to my second mom, Mom Beverly. I love you both dearly and appreciate all that you've done for me and for my family.

New Life

I just witnessed something amazing. Something I've never witnessed firsthand, until now...

I just watched a butterfly come out of her cocoon - right here in my own home.



The best part of watching this miracle was that the girls got to watch it too -- and it was beautiful.

The girls got butterfly kits from Insect Lore for Christmas, and it has been the coolest project. The whole process has taken about 14 days and has truly amazed me.

They started out so small and lifeless. Then they grew into large caterpillars and before we knew it, each had hidden away into a beautiful Chrysalis.

We just happened to be standing around the habitat when the first one started coming out of her cocoon and again, it was the most amazing thing. What was once small, fuzzy and not very attractive is now a beautiful butterfly with wings that can take her wherever she wants to go.

Soooo many life lessons can be found in this little experiment of ours. I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to witness the miracle of nature.

http://www.insectlore.com/

Where in the world are the Wyatt's?

We're moving again.

The good news is ...

• We're going back to Richmond, Virginia -- the place I call home.
• Curtis will have a job and I'll be able to keep mine.
• I'll be able to enjoy the Ukrop's Bakery again!

The bad news is ...

• We really like Maryland and are sad to leave the friends we just made.
• Moving is really expensive.
• I still can't find stuff I need from the last move!

I'm hopeful that this will be the last time we go anywhere. I'm ready to get the girls into school and settle into a place that we can call home for years and years...Wish me luck!

Our plans are to go sometime this summer, so stay tuned for details and for a change of address card. Hopefully you've been writing our information down in pencil instead of pen! :)

Birds of a feather...

Um, it's quite possible that I might be crazy.

Or, I might be preparing myself for my next job as a zookeeper.

Either way, life at our house has just gotten a little more exciting.

For as long as I can remember, I've wanted birds.

I love watching them - trying to figure out what kind they are - feeding them - seeing the nests they build, etc.

So, on our last and very innocent trip to the pet store, I allowed the girls (yes, I'll blame them) to talk me into a pair of Parakeets, also known as Budgies.

See, I'm crazy.

Anyway...their names are Sweetie and Tweety and so far, they are a nice addition to the Wyatt Herd. I figure with the four of us, the two cats, dog, two birds and two fish, we are more of a herd than a zoo. But just wait, you never know who might find a home here next...

Of course at that point I'll probably need a padded room.

Monday night is pizza night.

In addition to Family Home Evening, every Monday night is pizza night at our house.

When I say "pizza night," it's not pizza from Papa John's, Pizza Hut or even the $5.55 specials from Little Caesar's.

It's homemade pizza, with Martha White pizza crust mix.

I absolutely love my Martha White pizza crust mix and have been using it for years.

However, to my dismay, none of the grocery store chains in my new Maryland town carry this fabulous mix (believe me, I've been to all of them) -- and none of my attempts to replace it have gone very well. I've tried other mixes, frozen dough, refrigerated dough and even dough from scratch!

So, on my last trip to Richmond, Virginia (I just love that town) I went to my favorite Ukrop's grocery store only to be let down once again. Although they carry the mix, they just happened to be out of it... curses!

A few days later I received a surprise box in the mail that contained several packages of my mix! I cannot tell you how much that surprise made my day! While pizza crust mix may seem trivial to some, it's a staple in our house and one meal that my family gobbles up.

So...THANK YOU, Ro, for making sure that pizza night continues at the Wyatt house. We love you and hope to have you over for Monday night dinner sometime soon.

Let it snow...AGAIN!

We've got snow again, for the third time this winter.

Don't get me wrong, I love snow, but it keeps messing with my plans.

The good news is that while my plans have changed, they've turned into something really great... being snowed in with the kids and hubby.

So while we're nice and snug on the inside, I thought you might enjoy a picture of what we're seeing on the outside.

Feeling awkward...

Yeah, that's how I feel right now about my Blog. I'm sure you know that feeling too -- the friend you bump into at the grocery -- the one who called you last -- the one you never retured the call to -- and now it's like six-months later... I hate that feeling.

Don't get me wrong -- I don't get that feeling too often, but when I do get it, I just hate it.

So, "Hello (AGAIN), Blog. I really do think about you and appreciate you sticking with me.

I don't want to place blame but seriously, it isn't all me. It's that darn Facebook! It's easy to upload pictures and keep in touch with my friends. You just sit around here waiting for me to be creative enough to type more than 144 characters at a time. Who really has time for that any more? I promise, it's nothing personal..."

In case you aren't keeping in touch with our family on Facebook, here's a brief list of the major events that have taken place:

1. We moved to Maryland (see the pic of our new house).

2. I turned 38 -- BLECH!

3. We sold the house in Arizona -- FINALLY!

4. The girls started Pre-K.

5. The girls turned 5! (I know, I can't believe it either.)

6. Life is good.


Stay tuned. I do plan to get back to blogging soon.