There is no such thing as "click HERE to unsubscribe" in this family...

BAAAAAA  HAAAA HAA HA!

You are stuck with us as family - we love you all!  And you can't get off of my email list.

These lovely creations on each of us were the result of my Laurel class activity last night.  Tie-dyeing!  So much fun!  Emily is a huge fan of red, Lindsey loves rainbows (her shirt is my attempt at freehand) and Tanner just informed me last week that in addition to green and blue,  his other favorite color is orange.  


Emily is sporting an eye patch - she just so happens to be dressing up as a pirate this year for Halloween - its true.  But we are trying to strengthen her left eye - she's already up to 20/50, so the opthamologist asked her to promise to patch her eye 3 hours a day after school.  She has been completely responsible and even reminding me, "okay, mom. Let's patch my eye.", doing it religiously and without complaint.  I am so impressed with my almost 10 year-old's sense of responsibility and dedication in everything she commits herself to do.  She is amazing.  


Lindsey is a ray of sunshine and amazes me with her depth of sensitivity to other's needs.  She loves to give people mail - and writes little notes to everyone in the family.  The other day, Tanner voiced a complaint, saying that he hasn't gotten any mail in a long time.  Later that evening, I came into her bedroom to find out where she had disappeared to.  I found her writing a note to Tanner on her stationary and she slipped it into an envelope and delivered it to Tanner's mailbox (we have little handmade cardboard envelopes taped to our doors so that our little notes to each other have a delivery spot).  I was impressed with my 7 year-old's capability, at hearing of a need and then remembering to contribute in the best way she could at filling that need.  Wow.


Tanner looks a little worse for the wear in this picture.  He woke up in the middle of the night saying that his tummy hurt.  I suggested that he try using the toilet, that relieving his bladder might help his tummy feel better.  After doing so he said his tummy still didn't feel good - I'm thinking... uh oh.  We made it back to the toilet just in time for him to empty his tummy into it!  He slept between Jared and I for a few hours, until 5 am when he asked to go back to his bed.  I tuck him in to his bed as he says, "My tummy is grumpy."  We go back to the bathroom where he throws up whatever was left in his empty tummy.  Poor guy!  


I also met with his Kindergarten teacher today for a parent teacher conference and she almost made me cry.  I chuckled when she said that she does have to call him over to her every so often and ask him to use his "quiet voice".  It reminded me of the time his pre-school teacher pulled me aside one day and asked me if Tanner had ever had his hearing checked.  Tanner is just loud and exuberant in everything he does.  She said that he is doing great with all of his work, that he is responsible in all that he does and that even beyond that - he is intuitive and compassionate to all those around him.  He has two buddies in his class that are also in his primary class - Davis and Tyson.  We should start calling them The 3 Musketeers - their teacher says they are so sweet to each other and considerate of others.  All I could tell her is, "That is just who Tanner is."  Sure, I have tried to teach my children to be kind and loving to everyone... but he was just born with an innate sense of compassion towards others. 
I am in awe at these children who come to us - in these times - and all that they are capable of.  
Valiant... That is what they are - valiant.  I get to have some of them in my home - AWESOME.