![A Letter to Walt For His 3rd Birthday]()
by Catherine | May 25, 2014 | Family
Dear Walt,
I am sorry this is nearly a week late. I know, I know, life of the middle child, huh? Moving took over our lives for a little while. Now that things are starting to settle down, I want to take the time to let you know just how special you are in a letter, little guy. I shouldn’t say “little guy” anymore. You are getting SO BIG and grown up!
I had a ball going through old pictures, thinking about all of our memories together since you entered our lives. You, Mister, make me laugh, and laugh, and laugh. I thought I’d share some of my favorite pictures of you!
When Daddy worked a month of nights last summer, you and Janie begged him to bring donuts home every morning. When he did, your order used to be “brown with sprinkles.” It has since changed to a “Lightning McQueen donut” (translation: pink frosting since you like to do whatever big sis does, but calling it a “Lightning McQueen donut” makes it your own).
 |
| August 2012 |
Look how much you’ve changed since your first birthday! You were the cutest wootest little engineer. Who knew I was feeding your obsession with Thomas so early? You didn’t have much to say for awhile since you had big sis trying to communicate all of your needs, but you have certainly caught up, and we have such sweet conversations.
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| May 2012 |
One of your favorite things is making everyone laugh. Here’s you, wearing sunglasses one random evening just because. You have the best big, full-bodied giggle! I’m chuckling at the computer just looking at this silly picture.
You are a little stinker, too! Unfortunately, I think you got your stubbornness and fiery temper from your mama. Sorry! One day, Janie didn’t finish her PBJ, and you fished it out of the trash can. No food is wasted around these parts with you around! Silly boy!
You insist on doing everything Jane does, but sometimes it gets you into trouble. Here’s you trying markers for the first time. It didn’t go so well, and Daddy had to irrigate your eye with saline because you had COLORED YOUR CORNEA! You thought it was sooooooooo funny! You’ll think this is funny, too…when Daddy irrigated your eyeball, blue water came out of your nose!
Since Jane is such a big personality, you tend to let her do her thing while you mostly sit back and observe. You have a quiet confidence about you that I adore. This picture captures it perfectly! Get a load of that hair and those aviators! Your hair is phenomenal, by the way. Your Uncle Dave is always impressed by it since the guys on the Witt side don’t tend to have luscious locks. Now that you’re 3, we have finally figured out a way to get it to sit down–unless, of course, it’s right after you woke up.
I was a little nervous that you would get jealous of all of the attention Baby Harry got when he joined our family last August. You embraced your role as big brother right away, and your tender heart melts mine when I watch you play with Harry. You don’t like him quite as well now that he’s crawling and can get into your toys, but you mostly love the little guy. I am so glad I captured this moment of brotherly love.
You found your voice this year while Jane was at preschool two days a week. We had a good amount of one-on-one time since Harry snoozed for most of the morning. It was so fun to have that special time together. Usually, you would ask me to play engines or cars. I love, love, love your imagination! Your engines and cars have fantastic conversations about all of the adventures they go on, and they manage to get themselves into some pretty big problems. You are very independent and would play by yourself all day if I’d let you, but your eyes get SOOOO big and excited when you invite Janie, Mommy, or Daddy to play with you, and we jump right into the elaborate scene you have going at the railyard or racetrack.
You and Janie are the best of friends. You have your usual sibling squabbles, but I am always impressed by how quick you are to forgive and get back to playing. In the last month, you’ve started saying, “I love you, Janie,” out of the blue when you two are playing. You are a great brother with a big, tender heart, and Janie and Harry are so blessed to have you!
Your great imagination came in handy during the moving process. You didn’t mind as Daddy and I boxed up all of your favorite toys. Instead, you’d use that great imagination of yours to dream up new scenarios for your few cars that weren’t boxed up. Here you are, spinning the cars around on the spice rack. You told me it was their new garage.
I keep circling back to your tender heart because it is just the best. We have a tradition of reading stories before nap time. We always snuggle up together after you and Janie each pick out a story. You like to get as close as you can without sitting on my lap, and you always grab my hand. Here you are with your sweet little fingers locked in mine as we look through one of your favorite books before nap time. These are some of my favorite moments from the day. Before you go to sleep, you like to take my face in your hands, push on my cheeks, and say, “I love you, Mama.” You’re my kryptonite, buddy.
Lucky you! Mimi picked up a LIGHTNING MCQUEEN chocolate chip cookie cake for you on your birthday! Look at how precious you are in this picture, giggling with excitement about your awesome cake.
Oh, the cuteness! You had a little trouble blowing out your candles above the box that the cake was in.
So, Uncle Connor generously gave you a boost to get the job done! All day long, you would say, “KA-CHOW!” just like Lightning whenever the mood struck. I think you even said, “KA-CHOW!” when you finally blew out the last candle!
Usually, you say whatever is on your mind as it pops into your brain. Being around you means I get to hear your every thought. Lately, you’re on an “I love _____” kick. “I love our new house. I love my new room. I love the purple front door. I love my cars. I love Janie. I love you, Daddy.” You’re simply adorable.
Look at you through the years! On your birthday in the hospital, as an engineer on your first birthday, stomping puddles at the zoo on your 2nd birthday, and rosy-cheeked after a visit to the park before your 3rd birthday.
Daddy and I are so proud of you, Walt. We pray that God will continue to show you His Love through every member our domestic church. May He continue to bless you with an abundance of grace on your journey as a saint in the making.
When we ask you what you want to be when you grow up, you say, “I want to be a Father Daddy.” I think that’s your way of copping out and saying you want to be a priest AND a dad. Who knows…maybe you’ll get to be a spiritual father to countless souls as a priest, or maybe you will be blessed with your own children in marriage. Whatever vocation God has in store for you, I know you will live it well with your quiet confidence, awe of creation, and tender heart. Until you discern all of that, Daddy and I are so very thankful that God entrusted you to our family. We love you, precious boy! May the Lord bless and keep you, Walter Eugene!
![Jane’s Last Day of Preschool]()
by Catherine | May 24, 2014 | Family
Little Miss Jane had a great first year of preschool. Last summer, alllllllllll that she talked about was getting to wear her new uniform, making new friends, meeting her teacher, and everything else related to preschool. She couldn’t wait for the first day!
Posing with brand new baby brother, Harry
The girl doesn’t take a non-silly picture
What a goof!
As it turned out, Jane’s class had the last day of preschool the Tuesday after we moved to Lincoln (an hour away from our new home). I thought, “Well, shoot. That’s a big bummer, but at least she won’t care too much.” I casually mentioned it to Philip on the phone a few weeks ago, and he said, “She has to go to her last day of preschool! She would be so sad if she missed it! We’ll make it work.” Isn’t he adorable?
Philip had taken a few days off from work to help with the move and unpacking. He came up with the idea that he would take Jane back to Omaha for her last morning of preschool. While she was at school, he’d go back to our old house to finish up the cleaning and run a few errands. I love what a softy he is when it comes to the kiddos!
We took a few obligatory last day of school shots. Per usual, Jane wasn’t interested in doing a normal smile!
Check out the first and last days of school pictures side by side. I love how you can see her growth by how much smaller the uniform looks on her in the second picture!
After Philip picked Jane up at preschool, they swung by Costco to pick up a few things and grab lunch. I’m thinking the Costco hotdogs were the real reason for the Omaha trip!
Jane gives everything 100%.
If Jane had it her way, she would have gone to school all day everyday. She’s looking forward to 3-day preschool at her new school next year, and little brother Walt can’t wait for 2-day preschool!
![Jane's Last Day of Preschool]()
by Catherine | May 24, 2014 | Family
Little Miss Jane had a great first year of preschool. Last summer, alllllllllll that she talked about was getting to wear her new uniform, making new friends, meeting her teacher, and everything else related to preschool. She couldn’t wait for the first day!
Posing with brand new baby brother, Harry
The girl doesn’t take a non-silly picture
What a goof!
As it turned out, Jane’s class had the last day of preschool the Tuesday after we moved to Lincoln (an hour away from our new home). I thought, “Well, shoot. That’s a big bummer, but at least she won’t care too much.” I casually mentioned it to Philip on the phone a few weeks ago, and he said, “She has to go to her last day of preschool! She would be so sad if she missed it! We’ll make it work.” Isn’t he adorable?
Philip had taken a few days off from work to help with the move and unpacking. He came up with the idea that he would take Jane back to Omaha for her last morning of preschool. While she was at school, he’d go back to our old house to finish up the cleaning and run a few errands. I love what a softy he is when it comes to the kiddos!
We took a few obligatory last day of school shots. Per usual, Jane wasn’t interested in doing a normal smile!
Check out the first and last days of school pictures side by side. I love how you can see her growth by how much smaller the uniform looks on her in the second picture!
After Philip picked Jane up at preschool, they swung by Costco to pick up a few things and grab lunch. I’m thinking the Costco hotdogs were the real reason for the Omaha trip!
Jane gives everything 100%.
If Jane had it her way, she would have gone to school all day everyday. She’s looking forward to 3-day preschool at her new school next year, and little brother Walt can’t wait for 2-day preschool!
![First Visit to the “Family Store”]()
by Catherine | Apr 29, 2014 | Family, The Homefront
I shared our new Happy Saint Reward System last week. (In case you’d like to learn more about it, here’s the system overview, and here’s how I made the coins & jars.)
The first week of the reward system culminated in a visit to our new “Family Store.” The kids brought their saint coin jars downstairs to “buy” items from the 5, 10, and 15 coin bins. For now, we’re using laundry baskets. Maybe we’ll change it up after the big move.
First, the kids surveyed the goods. The 5 bin had things like a big tub of play-doh, bubbles, small hand-held toys, and other small items. The 10 bin had a monster book, a learn how to doodle book, a red phone, stamp markers, scented markers, and some other medium items. The 15 bin had big ticket items like a Melissa & Doug Joey magnetic dress-up set, a box of stencils, ABC rubber stamps, and picture rubber stamps.
Still checking out the goods…
Counting their coins with Daddy
They can pool their coins together for larger items, carry them over into the next week, or buy whatever they’d like for that week. Jane and Walt both opted to buy!
Here’s Walt “paying” for his purchase.
He got this Hear Myself Sound Phone! It’s supposed to improve children’s speech skills because they hear their own voices very clearly. I think he said, “HELLO?!” 1,000,000 times that night!
He was very proud of his purchase and had a few coins leftover.
Miss Jane went for the harmonica. She couldn’t get enough of it!
The kids continue to work hard to behave well and help around the house. They love this reward system, and it seems to be working well for everyone. The kids perform their duties with pep in their step and high hopes of getting saint coins along the way. They love looking at the pictures of the saints and asking about their lives.
When they don’t behave well or forget to do their jobs, my new lines are, “Saints don’t talk like that,” or, “Saints are happy to help because it makes Jesus happy.” Jane and Walt definitely get it because they’ve started saying things like, “I clear the table to make Jesus smile!” and, “I want to be a saint!”
The Family Store will re-open this Friday, and the kids can’t wait! They’re already talking about what kinds of items or special outings they’d like to “buy.” A special family trip to the ice cream store might be on the horizon if Jane and Walt pool their coins together…
![First Visit to the "Family Store"]()
by Catherine | Apr 29, 2014 | Family, The Homefront
I shared our new Happy Saint Reward System last week. (In case you’d like to learn more about it, here’s the system overview, and here’s how I made the coins & jars.)
The first week of the reward system culminated in a visit to our new “Family Store.” The kids brought their saint coin jars downstairs to “buy” items from the 5, 10, and 15 coin bins. For now, we’re using laundry baskets. Maybe we’ll change it up after the big move.
First, the kids surveyed the goods. The 5 bin had things like a big tub of play-doh, bubbles, small hand-held toys, and other small items. The 10 bin had a monster book, a learn how to doodle book, a red phone, stamp markers, scented markers, and some other medium items. The 15 bin had big ticket items like a Melissa & Doug Joey magnetic dress-up set, a box of stencils, ABC rubber stamps, and picture rubber stamps.
Still checking out the goods…
Counting their coins with Daddy
They can pool their coins together for larger items, carry them over into the next week, or buy whatever they’d like for that week. Jane and Walt both opted to buy!
Here’s Walt “paying” for his purchase.
He got this Hear Myself Sound Phone! It’s supposed to improve children’s speech skills because they hear their own voices very clearly. I think he said, “HELLO?!” 1,000,000 times that night!
He was very proud of his purchase and had a few coins leftover.
Miss Jane went for the harmonica. She couldn’t get enough of it!
The kids continue to work hard to behave well and help around the house. They love this reward system, and it seems to be working well for everyone. The kids perform their duties with pep in their step and high hopes of getting saint coins along the way. They love looking at the pictures of the saints and asking about their lives.
When they don’t behave well or forget to do their jobs, my new lines are, “Saints don’t talk like that,” or, “Saints are happy to help because it makes Jesus happy.” Jane and Walt definitely get it because they’ve started saying things like, “I clear the table to make Jesus smile!” and, “I want to be a saint!”
The Family Store will re-open this Friday, and the kids can’t wait! They’re already talking about what kinds of items or special outings they’d like to “buy.” A special family trip to the ice cream store might be on the horizon if Jane and Walt pool their coins together…
![Happy Saints Reward System: How To]()
by Catherine | Apr 22, 2014 | Family, The Homefront
Yesterday, I shared an overview of how our Happy Saints reward system works.
Today, I’ll share how I created the Happy Saints coins and the kids’ coin jars. I *did not* receive any material compensation for linking to the products I used. I simply thought I’d share this fun project with other families looking for a way to encourage their kiddos on their own paths to sainthood.
The Happy Saints Coins
The cornerstone of this project is the equally adorable and educational artwork of Victor Teh with Happy Saints. Victor uses bright, fun colors in a kid-friendly way to capture the faces of saints and illustrate various Christian themes. He has several ebooks with “badges” that I used to create our saint tokens. Simply buy an ebook from Happy Saints and resize the circular badges to the size you’re using. I resized ours to 1.5″.
GREAT NEWS! When I was linking to the Happy Saints page, I found that Victor is having an Easter Sale at Happy Saints. All ebooks are 20% off from April 20-27 when you use the promo code EASTER20. Check out the ebooks today!
We resized our images to 1.5″ on PowerPoint. Then, we printed them on this label paper.
Then, I used this 1.5″ circular hole punch to punch out the saint images.
Next, I separated the printed images from the label backing and stuck them on these 1.5″ wooden discs.
Then, Philip placed the discs inside a shallow cardboard box (thanks, Costco!), and sprayed them with two coats of a clear Mod Podge lacquer.
We added the lacquer so that the coins would be water resistant and the images would be sealed to the coins.
Saint Coin Jars
We purchased a box of pint-sized mason jars at the grocery store. Then, we replaced the original canning lids with these coin bank mason jar lids. (Note: They fit the original size mason jars and not the wide mouth jars!) Finally, we found some stickers to decorate them from Hobby Lobby. Walt selected a Cars theme, and Jane selected Sleeping Beauty.
The kids love the satisfying clink that the jars make when they put their saint coins inside. The coins are quickly becoming collector’s items around these parts. Jane and Walt love seeing the different saints’ faces on the coins and asking questions about them. Day 2 of the Happy Saints Reward System is going swimmingly.
