Morning Breath

I sometimes wish I was one of those moms that was on the PTA, volunteered multiple times a week in their child's classroom, and had the title of classroom mom. You know the type of mom that is super involved in every aspect of their child's school experience. But, sadly that does not describe me at all. I guess mostly because I don't have the time, but also there is a lot about it that doesn't appeal to me. Being in a germ-invested building, with lots of runny noses, were I have to stretch my mommy-patient skills to it's max, is just something I don't care to do on a consistant basis. But, it is something I can mangage periodically and so I have decided to volunteer once a month. Now, I have two kids in school, so to be fair I needed to split that time. My note to the girls teachers went something like this


Dear Mrs. Teacher,
I would love to volunteer in your class. I am only available once a month and I will be rotating between Ella and Abby's classrooms. If it works for you I can come the 2nd Wednesday, every other month.


Thank you,
Linsey Wilt


I'm basically saying, I can come in for three mornings out of this entire school year to help, do you mind me intruding?


I have gone once for Ella's class and twice for Abby's. Even with all the nose blowing, morning breath, kids with flu-like symptoms--I have really enjoyed being there. The most rewarding aspect is seeing their beautiful eyes light up when I walk through their classroom door. I realize that these are the years that they are proud that I am their mom and they want to show me off to their freinds. These are the years that I don't want to see pass me by and regret not being there.

My job is usually to read with the different reading groups. Can't I help them assemble an adorable craft, line them up in a cute line and lead them to gym class, or correct papers that I can add sweet little stars and smiley faces to? Reading, really? That is really making me dig deep into my patients bag! Okay, lets do this! Red group, your up, get your books! I actually really do love getting to know the kids. They have such different, cute personalities at this age. Well, most of them anyway!

One thing that took me back a little was when I started reading with Abby's group. I jotted down a few paragraphs from the book in between calling groups. Hey it's okay, I was allowed some slack time. Don't worry, I got the job done. All groups were called before lunch, all kids got to read! I needed time anyway between groups, to apply a fresh coat of hand-sanitizer and prep the gathering area.

Tell me what you think, remember this is first grade.

A Jigsaw Jones Mystery, the case of the snowboarding superstar.
Suddenly a buzz of excitement filled the room. A small mob of people burst in through the main doors. They swarmed around one person, a gangly teenager with short black hair, sharp features, and dark eyes.

"It's him!" Hillary whispered, her voice was dreamy and distant. "Lance Marshman, Young Teen Magazines number one hottie!"

Either I'm getting old, or the material for first grade is getting a bit risque. What happened to cats getting stuck up trees and bunnies with fluffy tails?


It really is amazing to see them in their everyday environment that I otherwise would be clueless about. I get to see them putting to good use all those important things we have been teaching them at home. They do what their told, and they are only asked once? Hmmm, interesting. Seeing their personalities in what is a familiar environment to them, but new for me, is a priceless experience. They get to show me the ropes! I have walked away each time so proud of who my daughters are.

Jon gets to come with me! I think lunch is his favorite part. No, I know it is!

Lining up for recess, do you think he's excited?

Abby is a smart, kind-hearted, helpful girl in class. Then at lunch she was giving out one-liners and getting her friends to laugh and let loose. I was cracking up the entire time. I felt like I was seeing my husband, as a little guy, through Abby.

Ella is a focused, enthusiastic, fun girl in class. She is by far the smallest in her class and by far the loudest! She works hard to please her teacher and is very smart. Seeing her on the playground helping out a little girl that fell down showed me her sweet-tender heart.

She needed her hat because of the chilly weather, but couldn't bring herself to leave her cute headband behind, so she created a solution! Hey, a girls got to accessorize!

One day this school will inhabit four Wilt's at once. Oh my! I might feel the pressure then to give back a little more. We'll see.

Ella keeps us laughing!

Monday was Ella's first official full day of school. The first day she got to ride the bus with her sister! She was so excited she couldn't contain herself! Last week she watched Abby get on the bus each day and she was so sad that she wasn't on it too. Well this day. It was her turn. She was up, dressed, teeth brushed, hair combed, backpack on, all before 7:00 a.m.

They were so excited to wear their back to school dresses. I made Abby wait until Ella's first day, so they could wear them together. I had to get the traditional first day of school pictures!

The front porch picture

In front of the boulder

They got themselves breakfast and packed their own lunches! It was so cute, Abby wrote Ella a note, on her napkin and slipped it into her lunchbox!

Here comes the bus. While waiting for the bus Ella says, "This bus is going to love me."

So the first day of Kindergarten for Ella, was not short of drama. We picked the girls up from the bus and then asked the typical question, "Ella, what did you learn at school today?"

Ella responds, "That Jesus will always be there for you." I am glad she could get that out of public school!!

Abby pipes in right after Ella's response, "I just learned addition and stuff."

Then Ella continues, "And I also got a boyfriend and his name is Jason. Sorry to tell you I've got a boyfriend and he kissed me."

I started to talk to her and all I said was, "Ella, that is inappropriate." The conversation ended with her in tears, saying to me, "When I get home, I am going to sit in time out, the whole night.

Erik then took over for me, thank goodness. When he started to talk with her about the situation, she says to him, "Don't worry about it Dad, I'm going to go to time out when I get home, it's taken care of."

Erik proceeds to ask Ella about this boy and what exactly happened. He is so much more patient with these things, and knows the right way to talk to her. She then says to Erik, still emotional, "Of course I love him, you know that Dad." I'm just sitting in the car, trying to not laugh, writing this all down in my notebook!

This is only the first day of Kindergarten people. Oh my goodness, this girl is going to keep me on my knees. At least she gives me great blogging material, but a glass of wine will be necessary.

Mrs. Degroat, Ella's teacher, was also Abby's kindergarten teacher last year. She is in for a whole new adventure with this girl!!

Here are some of Ella's other one liners, that have left her mouth lately:

"Mom, I already brushed my hair, it's as soft as a fluffy monkey." In Ella's voice, it sounds more like, "Mom, I already bruthed my hair, ith as thoft ath a fluffy monkey."

"Mom, why do you have to be so cranky? You should smile sometime today."

"College is going to be great, I can't wait!" She hadn't even started kindergarten yet.

As we were driving, she spotted a pavement roller, you know the little ones that roll over and smooth out the new asphalt. She says, while gazing out the window and resting her head on her hand, "I so wish we had one of those little rollers, then we could go for a ride anytime, it would be fantastic!"

Talking to Matthew, "I am going to call you my man baby!"

Looking at the picture that I posted, as my new facebook profile picture, she says, "I just love my daddy poo, he is so original"

"I am wearing my skirt backwards because you wont tie it for me and I don't want to think about it anymore"

While eating a Good Humor ice cream cone, "There is chocolate in the bottom of this cone, no way, I have never seen anything like it in my life!"

This girl of mine is very passionate, even though it can be tough at times, I totally get it! She keeps our life spicy and we love her!!

My world is about to change

This week, my world is changing. I am down to only two at home! The girls are starting school. It's going to be just me and the boys for the next two years. The volume in our home is going to drop drastically, it's going to take me awhile to get used to the quiet!

The girls both got cute new dresses for the first day of school. I wanted to take them out and get some fun pictures. I think I might do this each year before school starts! We just went down the street, to a house that has been for sale for awhile. The grass was all overgrown, and the yard had some pretty yellow daisies in it. They had lots of fun, especially during the jumping pictures!

My girls are so big, love them so much!!! I am excited for them and the new school year!