Shroomin'

Hunting morel mushrooms has been a long standing tradition for the Button family. Craig and I started coming along about 5 years ago, so it feels like tradition for us as well. Every Memorial Day weekend we head down south to Howard Prairie and camp near Hyatt Lake with Craig's parents, for our morel mushroom weekend. They are so fun to find! This year even Will and Wyatt were able to spot a few and they got really into the hunt and yelling "ba-da-bing" the key word when one is spotted! We had beautiful weather and the kids did so great camping, hiking through the woods (Anna in jogger stroller) and traveling in the truck, about 6 hours each way!

Our baskets full of tasty morels after one morning's "hunt". We like them best soaked in egg/milk mixture, coated with ritz cracker crumbs and fried in butter 'til golden brown...mmmmm.

We spotted a few of these birds nests on our walks through the woods. Whatever type of bird they are, they make their nest on the ground, usually camoflauged pretty well. This was the only one with hatched babies, and as you can see one egg still not hatched, so they were brand new. They boys loved getting to see the baby birds up close. We sat down nearby to have a snack and watched the mama bird fly in and out. I can't believe how big these little birds can open their mouths!

Taking a snack break during one of our hunts..... (l-r) Papa, Ama, Will, me, Wyatt, & Anna

Saying good-bye to our camp---until next year!

A little bit of Wyatt....

Wyatt had his last day of preschool today. I always get so sentimental at the end of the school year. Both boys got out their pre-school DVD's and were watching them this afternoon. My, how they've grown....makes me a little sad....and proud at the same time of how far we have traveled on the road of parenting. I read a quote recently that went something like, "the days will be long, but the years will be fast." How true it is, and as I look back on my many long days with Wyatt I sit here and realize, it's been three years since we deveolped the leash/dog run system for him. Three years since he pushed the window screen out (multiple times) and escaped three blocks down the street. Three years since he was constantly climbing in my sink and giving himself a bath, or hiding out in the dryer....(he actually taught Will that one!) That sure puts things into perspective and I can honestly say, it gets easier. He is still Wyatt, my tester, my social bug, my curious, climber, fearless, mind of his own little boy.....just last week he broke a full length mirror by trying to climb it after I had propped it up against the side of the couch as I was organizing. So, you know, we're not out of the woods yet. But, he really has come so far in just three years. Today after Anna woke up from her nap I caught the two of them in her room. Wyatt was "reading" to Anna and speaking to her in the sweetest of tones. She was bringing him book after book and I got a little choked up just seeing their interactions. Three years ago I couldn't look into the future and see what my little boy would be like today. But, God knew Wyatt was the perfect middle child for our family, and I am so grateful he's my son.

My latest project....

Here is a picture of my latest project. It is a rag quilt I made for my friend Jessie's baby girl who is due in September. She was "home" from Connecticut visiting her family and I went to her shower Saturday. I had fun catching up with a few old college friends who I hadn't seen in a long time. I love the nursery colors she picked out and I had so much fun making this quilt. It is so rewarding to get it out of the washer and dryer and see the finished fuzzy and frayed project. They are pretty simple (and very forgiving for a non-perfectionist like me!) and make the coziest quilts. My next project will be a twin size quilt for Anna's bed.....since, yes, she has climbed out a few other times this week. I'm draggin my feet ont his big girl bed thing. Partly because she is my last, partly because I think it will mean more work for me initially. But, it's gotta happen sometime, so I better get busy sewing!

words I love to hear

There is a bad tree in our back yard. That is to say, it is not a climbing tree. It has no lower branches, but in Wyatt's opinion it is the perfect tree to try and climb. Every time we go outside he is drawn to the tree. Every time he manages to get about 5 feet up, and every time he gets "stuck" and I have to rescue him. I had finally given up and just hoped he would learn soon not to try and climb that tree. So, the other day they were out playing and I was working in the bedroom. Wyatt comes in with a sad face and a scratched arm and says to me, "you were right mom, it IS a bad tree." Ahhhh.....words I love to hear. :)

A Mother's Day Pic....

Hope all you Mom's felt special and honored today! I had a fantastic Mother's Day, complete with treasured handmade gifts from the kids, a yummy breakfast that I didn't have to make or clean up, Dutch Bros. coffee, (they were FREE to mom's today--gotta love that!) and flowers for my planter box. My one goal for the day was to get a family pic, and this one on the timer didn't turn out too bad, so I was happy.

Anna also reached an exciting milestone this Mother's Day: the skill of crib climbing. This morning when she woke up the boys went in her room to play with her. Well, I guess she was trying to crawl out of her crib and Will "helped" her out. I figured he did a lot more of the helping than she did crawling. Later this afternoon when I put her down for her nap, she really wasn't all the tired cause she snoozed during chuch, so we heard her for a while playing in her crib. I remember hearing a "thunk", but she will often lay and kick her crib which bangs against the wall so that's what I thought I was hearing. When it got to be time to get her up I peeked in her room. She was not in her crib. I pushed the door open and it hit something. Then I saw her laying face down on the floor right in front of her door. At first I kind of freaked out cause I thought she might be hurt, but then I realized she was sleeping! I woke her up and noticed there were things scattered around her room and she also had put one shoe on her foot. She had total rug marks on her face, leg and arm from sleeping on the carpet.

So, none of my kids may reach the 2 year mark in the crib. Will had to exit his crib cause Wyatt needed it. Wyatt is also part monkey and crawled out at about 16 month. I'm kinda hopin' it was just a fluke, because my plan was to kep her in her crib as long as possible. We shall see....... :)

Figure of Speech

It's such an amazing exprience watching your kids grow up, and become more independent. I tend to think of them ALL still as my "babies" but this kindergarten year has really been the turning point for Will. I have been reminded again and again that he is now needing me less and less, and wanting to do thing on his own, more and more. It's all how it's suppose to be, but it just takes a little getting used to for a mom. And, I admit, I am still getting used to it.

So we are all sitting around the table eating lunch, my three, the two day care kids and myself. My sister Paige coined the term "brains turning to mush and oozing out your ears" to refer to kids who spent too much time watching TV or playing vidoe games. I use this with my kids as well, and with today being so beautiful outside, I mentioned to the kids that we better not watch too much TV today or else our brains will turn to mush and ooze out our ears. All the kids were giggling when Will turns to them and boldy states, "That's just a figure of speech."

How in the world he knew that phrase.....I don't know, but it cracked me up and it was yet another reminder that my baby is now 6.

There once was a girl...

There once was a girl, who had a little curl, right in the middle of her forehead. When she was good she was very, very good, but when she was bad she was horrid!

Ok, so does anyone else remember that rhyme from childhood? I don't know what it's from but it came back to me after seeing this picture of Anna with her "curl". I would never call her horrid, but she can throw a pretty good fit. Her latest thing is taking her ever beloved pacifier out of her mouth and pitching it across the room when she's mad. Then she preceeds to cry becasue she wants it back.

She is officially 17 months and just recently she seems to be catching on to more and more words and immitating us. Her papa taught her the phrase, "help me" over the weekend, but she only says it selectively, usually Will is the only one who can coax it out of her. It is so fun to see her expressions as she's learning and to realize her little mind is going a mile a minute with all it's taking in. She loves books and looking out our front window at the birdies, she points and makes a big serious "o" shape with her mouth when she sees one. It's very exciting stuff!

blackmail

Wyatt came out of Anna's room the other day looking like this. I only took the picture so I'd have it to show his wife someday :)

I remember dressing my brother up like this and painting his nails. Maybe it's just what happens when you have a sister.