Monday, March 30, 2009

Wyatt's Words

The last week we have been working on a goal for Wyatt. He has been attempting the impossible. That task, the daunting and unattainable feat, is to go five days without calling anyone names or using bad words. Wyatt's favorites have been wide and varied, including from one time to another: dummy, dumb dumb, funk in the trunk, doo doo head, funk head, poopy head, and so many more I cease to remember...

I have implemented the sticker system to earn him a treat since my efforts in "Time Out" have been totally useless. Time outs did nothing to inhibit his mouth from uttering his favorite pejoratives. So for his first five sticker reward he chose to go to Mt. Madonna County Park which is about 25 minutes from our home.

Here the kids are looking at the maps to help direct our walk to the Miller Ruins.


Wyatt looks more unlike me as he gets older...kinda makes me a little sad.


We walked a short way to climb upon the concrete foundations of the Miller Estate. Miller bought the lands, which now are owned by the Park, in the late 1800's. The lands were clear cut then and there were views to the ocean and eastern valley from the home site.


Now, over 100 years later, the forests have grown back and consist of a mixture of redwood and oak. The trees are tall and the undergrowth thick so you can only see as far as a few hundred feet.


This tree, a coast redwood (Sequoiadendron diversilobum), was probably one of the few sparred from the ax during logging over a century ago. It was the biggest tree we encountered. Ella is barely 3 feet tall so you can see by it's size it is ancient in comparison to us mere mortals.


Wyatt demonstrates his advanced map reading skills. We managed to not get lost somehow...


Leading the walk, I hope he enjoyed his reward for not saying bad words or calling names. That he came up with this trip totally unprompted surprised me. I never know just what to expect from my little boy.

14 comments:

Kendra said...

I love the pics...the redwood is just beautiful!

Suzi said...

Looks like you had a nice walk yesterday. We will have to join you on another day.

Julia said...

That would be fun. We can wake up the entire forest with the noise of our five hellions!

MsSnarkyPants said...

What a fun trip! And what a good little guy for behaving!

Olde Dame Penniwig said...

That's looking like a good behavior modification system ye got there. Got some tall trees up there. We live a few miles from a place called "Notrees." Meaning, No Trees. Don't know why they named it that (prolly a wandering BOTANTIST did it), the entire county and all surrounding counties have NO TREES so if yer looking for non-existent trees for a landmark, ye might get lost.

fidget said...

wow, that is a HUGE tree!

Tink said...

Wow, tell that Wyatt congratulations from me, It's tough trying to find words that describe your feelings for some poop poo heads. lol

Julia said...

ODP-sadly today we has a few "butt cracks" and other made up name calls. Less than normal but a resurgence never the less... No sticker today. :(

I am certain you are correct about the botanist genius coming up with that name though. :)

We are a strange sort.

Frogs in my formula said...

Can I come with you and Suzi? That sounds like so much fun. I'm sure airfare would only set me back $400-500?

I laughed out loud at some of his bad names. Funk in the trunk was my favorite.

Ryan Ashley Scott said...

They are SO cute, I can't say it enough - how sweet that he picked out that reward, and such a treat for all of you. That redwood tree is awesome.

We're working on "potty words" like poop - mostly just that one. Poop. Monsoon's teacher even had words with us about it. I might have to try the sticker program.

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful spot that is. When somebody stands in front of a tree like that, the majesty of nature can not be denied. Astounding.

allhorsestuff said...

I do need to tread to catch up on all these questions I am about to ask.....
How old is Whyatt?He is very smart it seems...however did he get introduced to such words as Butt crack? Oh My!
I loved your outing and the trees!!!
Thanks again for your help on Cantering...I have to work today but will try again Thursday...have a mentoring session in an arena with a friend.

Debbie said...

I think you are so wise. And a trip like that is certain to tempt him to earn another reward.

Julia said...

Ok just to clear the air so to speak...butt crack is not a term that I use. However I have a suspicion that Dad may have used this terminology and I am not certain but it may have been said by a certain cousin named Trevor. But some how my kid figures out how to turn any word into a pejorative.

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