fyefamily

Athletes

2009-10-16T09:52:00.000-07:00

Yes, they are athletes. They train. They compete. They can't wait until it's over. They hate it. It has always been my dream to either compete in the Olympics myself or have one of my children compete. Another dream dies. I guess it's up to me.

The boys had to wear speedos. It was almost a deal-breaker. Max was worried about people seeing his "package."

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My Hiatus is Over

2009-10-15T11:45:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm back. My blogging hiatus is over. And what, you ask, compelled me to resume the chronicling of our daily lives?

THE STRAW ARMPIT FART TRICK.

During snack time, Henry's friend Will took his straw out of his Capri Sun. He stuck it in his armpit and blew. A perfectly pitched, super-loud fart sound issued forth. Life for Henry will never be the same. His life will be forever divided into two parts: BAFT and AAFT (before armpit fart trick and after armpit fart trick). Today is Day 2 AFT.

After school, Henry wasted no time in sharing this new discovery with us. Everyone had to try it...again and again and again. It really is amazing.

Just look at them. It makes a mother proud.

Best trick ever.

The Summer Flew By...

2009-09-01T10:39:00.000-07:00

We had the best summer! We spent the month of July in Portland, and it was so fun! Bill had to be in China the whole time, so he couldn't come. We missed him!
The hardest part of living in Mississippi is being away from family. We stayed with Rachel and Nathan, and we had so much fun! It was heaven.

Mom got married to Lynn. The wedding was at Black Butte. The grandaughters sang. Henry was the ring-bearer, which he kept reminding me was the most important part of the ceremony.

The Fyes: Bill (in China), Alisa (who is changing her name to Betsy), Henry, Max, Hannah and Charlotte.

The Dossas: Emily, Scott, Sam and Claire.

The Brooksbys: Craig and Windy, Shep, Hadley, Jake, Baker and Birdie.

The Tanners: Rachel and Nathan, Grace, Truman and Lucy.

The Cheneys: Anne and John, Gavin and Cailey.

The Brooksbys: Ben and Julie, Elizabeth and baby-on-the-way.

We saw all our old friends from the neighborhood. We had to have a kickball game for old times' sake.

Our good friends the Kresls organized a trip to Kah-Nee-Tah where we stayed in TeePees. We all did a river trip together, and it was non-stop squirt gun wars.

Aimee came with us to Mississippi Records.
Upset the fruit basket.

Bowling with the McIntoshes.
Hannah and Anna: BFFs.

There is a lot of singing in the Tanner home. They are so musical!

This is what I miss. The everyday little things: watching Lucy dance, helping her pick out her clothes, reading books.

Time-out for Truman. Lucy keeps him company.

Great Wolf Lodge. It was amazing! The kids had so much fun.

The Tornado.

Seeing Laurel and Grandma Brooksby.

Lunch on the grass.

The pool at Black Butte lodge.
Paulina Springs.

The Spruce Goose Museum.
Cannon Beach.

It was over 100 degrees in Portland for days, so everyone headed to the beach. I love the Oregon coast.

Slip and slide at the Dossas.
All the girls.

Charlotte's Gospel Standards

2009-06-19T07:18:00.000-07:00

I found this letter in Charlotte's room. Lately Max has been watching old re-runs of the TV show "Family Matters." He thinks the hi-jinks of Steve Erkle are hilarious.

Apparently Charlotte and Heavenly Father disagree.

MAX IS 12!!!

2009-05-27T12:53:00.000-07:00

Our Max turned 12 years old last week! It is quite a milestone. Max is one of my favorite people in the world. He is always happy, he has a great sense of humor, he's not moody, he's very helpful, and he is such a kind-hearted kid! I don't think he has ever woken up in a bad mood. I thank him for that.
Max was ordained a deacon and was made first counselor in the Deacon's Quorem. It was so tender to see him pass into this new part of his life! We are so proud of him. He is soooo excited to be in Young Men's now! We gave him a blazer for his birthday, and it was his favorite present. He kept wanting to wear his "tux" (without a shirt) because it is smooth and silky inside.
Hannah stayed up late the night before his birthday and filled up balloons. She almost passed out. I'm still finding little pieces of balloon everywhere.
Max and his friends went to the movies, then came and spent the night. And just to be clear, boys are loud and wild and have no impulse control.
Shinanagans galore.
The Pratts gave Max a tricked-out rocket. Bill, the rocket scientist, spent all morning trying to launch. Finally, we had lift-off. It was awesome.
WE LOVE YOU, MAX!

Happy Birthday Rach!

2009-05-24T15:01:00.000-07:00

Today is my sister Rachel's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
I wish I was there to...ceeeelebrate good times, c'mon!

On this day, I pay tribute to Rachel for being:
A best friend,
A fashion consultant,
A therapist,
Someone my kids LOVE,
A fountain of pop culture knowlege,
A light at the end of the tunnel,
A safe place,
A great mother,
A constant support.

My friend describes Rachel by saying that when she smiles, the sun comes out.
Happy Birthday, Rach!

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Mother's Day

2009-05-11T12:43:00.000-07:00

Since Bill is in China, the kids were in charge of Mother's Day. They wanted to go to Walmart and buy me presents, so I told them to go find the things they wanted to give me, and we would meet at the cash registers where I wouldn't look, but I would give them the debit card to make their purchases.

Here is what they brought:
Max: The DVD Pirates of the Carribean, 3. (He said I have told him this is one of my favorite movies.) And a Cinnabon-scented candle.

Charlotte: The CD from the Hannah Montana movie, and glamorous earrings.

Henry: I saw Henry talking to the lady at the "fine jewelry" counter. He was trying to purchase a diamond encrusted gold locket. I thanked him, but said I don't need such an extravagant gift. In the end, he bought a king-sized Payday bar, and a balloon with roses inside it (pictured above).

Hannah was exempt from the shopping spree because she is gave me the gift of cleaning the house all week, making the Mother's Day dinner, and she painted me a beautiful picture.

It was a great Mother's Day! I love those kids!

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St. Louis

2009-05-11T12:24:00.000-07:00

Hannah's choir group went to St. Louis last week, and thanks to the Pratts who watched our kids (Bill is STILL in China), I could go as chaperone. It was so fun! They sang right under the Arch.
We went on a riverboat cruise for lunch. The river was flooding, so our boat was the last to go out.
We rode up in the little pods that take you to the top of the Arch where you can look out these little windows.
The next day we went to Six Flags. Hannah and her friends went on every big ride. This is the one that drops you into a free-fall. Blagh.

April Came and Went...

2009-04-30T09:47:00.001-07:00

Happy Easter! The eggs were found, the candy was traded, and the peeps were delicious.
We took a trip to the Memphis Zoo, and that was fun.
We looked for Bill in the China exhibit.
Soccer is over. Henry and Charlotte both had unremarkable seasons. Their favorite part is the snack after the game.
Henry was always hovering around the ball, but rarely making contact. He looked busy. We had a great spring thunderstorm that dumped buckets, and then the kids swam in the runoff.
We are already swimming. Every morning we find frogs in the pool. For a while, there would be huge gelatinous masses of frog eggs, too. I gave them all to the Pratts.
The Double Decker Festival was really fun. We spent the day with the rest of the town.
Henry (and his giant teeth) have started Cub Scouts. He is so enthusiastic! We love you, Henry!

April Fools

2009-04-02T07:28:00.001-07:00

We needed some fresh ideas for April Fools Day this year. Bill is in China, and he suggested I prepare an exotic dinner of southern delicacies: chickens' feet and pigs' ears. I went to the store, but I couldn't bring myself to touch the packages.

Plan B was gathering all the clothes that were on the kids' bedroom floors, and "displaying" them in the front yard.

For dinner we had our $5 feast--always delicious and nutritious.

The menu consisted of:
Hannah > Superman cupcakes
Max > fried chicken
Charlotte > Gushers
Henry > Ice Cream Drumsticks and JuicyFruit Gum
Alisa > Potato wedges and chocolate milk
We definitely missed Bill's contribution this year!

HENRY TURNS 8!!!

2009-03-23T11:02:00.000-07:00

Our little Henry turned 8 on Saturday! He is our baby, and it has been bitter-sweet seeing him reach this milestone. I can't believe how the years have flown by! Henry is hilarious and sweet, and we love him. Congratulations, Henry!

Our church building is under construction, but the room with the font in it was finished, so we could use our font. Many of our good friends came. Max gave the opening prayer, I gave a talk on baptism, Charlotte gave a talk on the Holy Ghost, Bill baptized and confirmed Henry, and Hannah gave the closing prayer. It was very sweet. Yesterday at church, Henry was called up on the stand, and Bishop Tait welcomed him as the newest member of the Oxford ward. It is very moving to see your own child make the covenants that you know are the key to happiness.
We love you, Henry!

Henry wanted to do a cannon-ball into the font, but he lost his nerve.

Henry loves his scripture set and the carrying case. Finally, he has his own real scriptures like everybody else!

After the baptism, we went out to dinner with some good friends: the Nicholas Family, the Pratts, the Telfords and the Ordynas. We went to a new Hibachi place, and the funnest part was watching the kids' faces. They loved it!

Max looks like he could be having a business lunch. He is so cosmopolitan.

Henry had his party at The Skate Place. I must have had my camera set on blurry.

The kids had fun skating, running around in their socks, playing the arcade games, and having cupcakes.

Henry especially likes the way his name is written on his scriptures--it's "fancy."

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That Darn Cat

2009-03-10T08:10:00.001-07:00

First of all, let's just be clear: I am not an amimal person. I don't hate them, I just want nothing to do with them. I feel nothing for them. They are animals. However, Bill and the kids LOVE animals. Therefore, we have a dog and a cat. I am not involved with the pets. They leave me alone, and I leave them alone.

The other day, our cat was wailing and rolling around and acting very strangely. The kids were worried, and were in tears thinking she was sick and was going to die. Because Bill was still in China, I had to pretend like I cared. So to avoid the whole ordeal of having the cat die on my watch, I took the cat to the Vet. As soon as I opened the car door, the cat somehow got out of the carrier and bolted.

I called to the stupid cat, but of course it made me chase it for 20 minutes. Then I gave up and went into the Vet's office, and told them our cat ran into their woods. They called out a big search party, and were trying to comfort me and give me hope that we would find it. I had intended to just cancel my appointment, and tell them I lost our cat, so never mind. But then I was surrounded by animal-lovers, so I had to pretend that I cared. Totally awkward!

As I described the cat's symptoms to the animal-lovers, they all said it sounded like she was in heat. The aminal people looked at me like I was a terrible person. Why hadn't we had her spayed? What, she is not current on her vaccinations? I was surrounded by looks of disapproval, like I was a crack-head mom who didn't change her baby's diapers.

The vet's staff volunteered to keep search parties going throughout the day, and they wanted to make fliers to put up everywhere. On the inside, I was so irritated--this had already taken up my whole morning! But on the outside, I was so grateful to the animal people!

The kids were so relieved that she wasn't sick and going to die. Then I told them I had lost her. They, too, wanted to make fliers. Charlotte made this flier.

Conclusion of the story: The Vet's search party found the cat that night. hooray. I was guilted into spending $300 on the stupid cat by the pressure of the animal-loving Vet staff. That's $300 on a cat. #$%^&*!+#$%

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Bills' New Office Burned Up

2009-03-10T08:05:00.000-07:00

Bill's company had been remodeling (for almost a year) a beautiful building on The Square. They were scheduled to move in this week.
In the middle of the night, some rags in the building caught on fire, and the whole inside burned. It just made me sick to see it.
Looks like it will be another year...

Hannah's a Superstar!

2009-03-10T07:41:00.000-07:00

Hannah was in the Oxford Middle School production of "Annie." She was Duffy, one of the orphans. They have been practicing for three months, and the big show was last week. It was so fun to watch! Hannah did a great job and had so much fun.

This is the cast party after the show.
Hannah and her friend who played Lilly.
It's a hard knock life, for us.
This is the last scene where they all sing "Tomorrow." The kid who plays President Roosevelt's name is Chester Shivers.
Miss Hannigan was hilarious.
The orphans plot against Miss Hannigan.

Orphans' curtain-call.
The entire cast. The boy who plays Rooster asked Hannah to a movie and gave her a gold diamond-encrusted heart necklace for Christmas. Awkward!

Lately...

2009-03-02T09:28:00.000-08:00

Lately I have lost the will to blog.
Lately my creative juices have dried and withered to nothing. The magic is gone.
So it is with great effort I chronicle the latest happenings, or lack thereof. Bill has been in China for the last three weeks, and we have missed him. He is coming home tomorrow night. Maybe we will go to China Royal to celebrate. I'm sure he would love that.

It snowed here overnight, and we woke up Sunday morning to cold whiteness. The kids were up and outside at 6:30am. There was much disappointment that church was not cancelled.
A mini-snowman was built. Of course Max wanted to destroy it.

The sun is not up yet, but we are.
This was a nice day at the park. The kids got cat-tails and turned them into fuzz. They could have done that all day long.

Henry and Charlotte belly-slid down the hill.
Henry's big hair.

Hannah was in a choir competition. They got "Superior" marks in the three choir groups she is in. This is sextet. Hannah is the one with devil eyes.

"The Fall"

2009-02-02T12:05:00.001-08:00

I have had nothing to blog about lately. Everything is fine. Everyone is fine. We haven't done anything out of the ordinary or interesting.
Until yesterday.
Yesterday, the day my life changed forever...
I fell down the stairs at church, in the chapel, with many witnesses.

I can't get past it. I have been re-living that moment ever since it happened. Sometimes, I think maybe I imagined it, that something so horrific could not really have happened.
But it did happen.

Let's analyze the sequence of events, shall we?

Our LDS building is being renovated and expanded, so during the construction we are meeting at a different church in the community: The Tallahatchie M.B. Church of Oxford. They have a HUGE chapel with a stage and a pulpit. There are stairs that lead up to the pulpit in the middle of the stage. They are made of wood.

Sunday School has just ended, and people are milling around getting ready for the next hour of church. People are talking and visiting. I am on the stage by the pulpit, and I need to go down the stairs. I vaguely remember something Brother Wells said about being careful on the stairs blah blah blah.

I step on the first step. It's so slick, my heel slides forward really fast.
I hear my shoes sounding like tap shoes, trying to recover my footing.
I think I can get my balance back...
No, I'm heading down like a crashing plane.
I think I bounced off a couple of steps. This would look SO attractive in slow motion.
I hit the carpet. My entire torso hits the ground. On impact, my hair flies forward into my face.
My arms and legs splay out all different directions.
I am laying on the ground, a spread eagle in spanx.
The room becomes SILENT.
(A thousand thoughts race through my mind...if I stand up really fast, maybe no one will notice...that did NOT just happen...hey, everybody look over there at Katie! What is that she is holding?...did anyone see "LOST" this week? What is going ON in that show?...What are you talking about? I did NOT just fall down!)
Everyone rushes to me, asking if I am hurt. There are gasps of horror and murmurs of concern. Surely, the force of the impact was great enough to cause broken bones and internal bleeding. But I am not hurt physically--just emotionally scarred for life.
Everyone says a silent prayer, thanking Heavenly Father they are not me.

Family and friends have been very supportive. Bill, who did not witness the incident, said I should have jumped up, raising my arms, and shouting, "TADAAAAH!"
Rachel said I should either find a time-machine, or attend church from now on in a red wig, thus concealing my true identity.

My road to recovery starts today.

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Best Visit Ever!

2009-01-22T11:08:00.000-08:00

Rachel and Grace came to visit for two and a half days. We ate at Newk's three times. Rachel's favorite restaurant in the whole world is Newk's. It's all she wants to talk about.

The pure joy of being together again.

Everybody tried to squeeze into the smart car.

There were lots of theatrical productions.

Thank you for coming! We miss you so much already!

Anna's Visit

2009-01-12T10:30:00.000-08:00

Anna, Hannah's best friend since kindergarten, came to stay with us for a couple of weeks, and it was GREAT!!! We love Anna--she is like part of the family. Those girls were hilarious together. We are so glad Anna could come and visit!
Walking to the Square after school with friends.
Anna was amazed by the religious billboards here.
Football stadium at Ole Miss.
Air Hockey.
High five at bowling.

We went to the cemetary where William Faulkner is buried.

Square Books Jr. Our favorite.

Anna went to school with Hannah for half a day, and I wanted to take their picture, but they were too embarrassed.

We love you Anna! Thanks for coming, and we miss you already!

HAPPY 2009!!!

2009-01-01T11:29:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
To welcome in the new year, we had our own awards ceremony. The recipient recieved a lovely statuette from the dollar store and their favorite kind of candy. The acceptance speeches were thankfully short. Here are this years' nominees and winners:
Best Travelor 2008: Bill
Best Cleaner 2008: Alisa
Best Singer 2008: Hannah
Best Friend 2008: Anna (Hannah's best friend who is visiting from Oregon and who is like part of the family and who we LOVE so much)
Best Game Player 2008: Max
Best Chef 2008: Charlotte
Best Student 2008: Henry

Another traditional New Year's Eve activity is "Feats of Strength." Hannah and Anna came prepared to bring it on. The contests were arm wrestling, leg wrestling, thumb wrestling, and the holding up of the metal pig for as long as you could. Time to start training for next year.
Max recieving his award.
Henry with his spoils.
Charlotte making her acceptance speech.
For dinner we had our "$5 Feast." Everyone gets $5 and we go to the grocery store, and each person buys something for dinner, but you have to keep it a secret from the rest of the family. After the big reveal, our menu consisted of:

White cheese popcorn, cheddar cheese popcorn, bagel bites, chocolate donuts, fried chicken, super-hero popsicles, bananas, smoked oysters and clams, cheese and crackers, cheeseball and crackers, a pomegranite, and diet soda. We felt like royalty.
May 2009 be a great year for all!

Oh Tanenbomb! Merry Christmas!

2008-12-26T13:09:00.000-08:00

CHRISTMAS EVE...
And it came to pass that the angel Gabriel appeared unto Mary and said, "Fear not, Mary; for thou hast found favor with God." "And thou shalt bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest."
And Mary said, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word."
Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem. But there was no room for them in the Inn.
The days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And Mary brought forth her firstborn son. And Joseph was there, helping her.
And they wrapped the babe in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." And the angel told the shepherds about the birth of the baby Jesus.
And the shepherds went in haste to see this thing which the Lord had made known unto them. And they found the babe lying in a manger.
There were wise men from the east, saying "Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him."
And they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshipped him.
And they presented unto him gifts: gold, and frankincense, and myrhh. And Mary kept these things and pondered them in her heart.
Christmas Pageant 2008 produced and directed by Hannah Fye.

CHRISTMAS MORNING...

Christmas morning was early and loud and wonderful. There was much joy.
Henry's big thing was a nintendo DS. What's with the smile? Charlotte's big thing was a "mall" for her dolls, filled with girly things. Max's big thing was a youth shotgun. Great. When in Rome... Hannah's big thing was an ipod. She was overjoyed!

Pre-Christmas Fervor

2008-12-24T09:58:00.000-08:00

Things here have been so busy as the kids have been home from school and we have been in that pre-Christmas state of over-excitement. There have been many art projects, many games, many forts, and much examining of the presents under the tree.

Hannah and her sextet sang at the hospital at the Christmas tree lighting ceremony.

Henry has been out of control. He has lost a few presents, but I am weak and I always let him earn them back. Every time he does something naughty, "it was a accident!"

Hannah and Charlotte played "Good Guys v. Bad Guys." I was the bad guy, and they cuffed me. Apparently, someone has been telling Henry about an institution called "juvie" and he has been talking about it constantly. He asked questions like "What kinds of things make you go to juvie?" and "If someone goes to juvie, can their parents get them out?"

Charlotte and her partner won First Place in a gingerbread house competition at school. They built a Sonic. My favorite part is the twinkie cars.

Max's school had a sing-along. Max and his friends were nuts.

We have had freezing weather, but no snow. It has been fun to have it nice and cold. The kids are so envious of all the snow in Portland!

A New Day...

2008-12-10T09:17:00.000-08:00

I love waking the kids up in the morning. They are warm and soft and sleepy. They are slow and sweet and pliable. Sometimes I lay down with them just to savor the moment. I squeeze them and smell them. We talk in quiet voices.

It is a new day, and I can imagine that today, I will be the perfect mother to them. I won't lose my patience, I won't be short with them, I will pay attention to everything they have to tell me. What is important to them will be important to me. I will take the time to tell them how much I love them. It will be a day of happiness and peace.

Today, they will be the perfect children I know they can be. Only kind words will be spoken. There will be no arguing, no tattle-taleing. There will be no touching of each others' things without permission. There will be no spilling of drinks. They will love and appreciate each other. This will be a wonderful day.

That is why I love waking them up every day. No matter what happened the day before, there is the hope of a new day, one in which we can do better.

Hannah falls asleep with her glasses on.

Max kisses us goodnight every night.
Charlotte writes in her journal at night before she goes to bed.
Henry sleeps with stuffed animals, and he will only go to bed if Charlotte is in her room.

Lucy's Bad Day

2008-12-10T09:13:00.000-08:00

Lucy gave us a scare yesterday by choking on a chip. Chew your chips, Lucy! We love you! Look at her, how cute is she?!?!?!

Thanksgiving

2008-12-04T09:57:00.000-08:00

We had a great Thanksgiving. Bill got back from China on Wednesday night, so we were all glad he made it back safely. He got sick over there, though, so he spent much of the weekend in bed. He was convinced he had Bird Flu or SARS.

Our Thanksgiving day started out with the kids catching a little mouse in the yard. Of course they brought it inside and made it a little home in a tuperware container, and of course it escaped.
We had a delicious and relaxing dinner. Everyone ate till they could eat no more.

Then we decorated the tree. We couldn't remember who got to put the star on last year, so Bill got the honors this year. We, dare I say it, have an artificial tree. And for all of you who recoil at the thought, let me just say how GREAT it is! It takes about 5 minutes to set up, lights and all, and it looks great! If I, a girl from Oregon, can live with a fake tree, there must be something to them. The only thing I miss is the smell, so we will put up greenery around the house.

The kids love going through the ornaments and talking about each one and where it came from.

In the afternoon we went over to the Pratts for dessert. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

The Christmas Parade

2008-12-04T09:29:00.000-08:00

This week Oxford had its annual Christmas Parade. The whole town goes, and it is really fun. The floats are mostly local churches and businesses.

A boat float.

The pretty girls are Charlotte's favorites. This is Miss Hospitality...
Here is "Senior Miss Most Beautiful"...
"Miss Debutante"...

And Lafayette County's "Junior Miss".
A school band.
Santa dancers.
Riding Lawnmowers.
Here are the kids. I love them!
We went home and had hot chocolate and read Christmas stories.

Wars and Rumors of Wars

2008-11-25T13:15:00.000-08:00

The Pratt boys came over to play while all the kids were out of school, and it was loud. There were battles, secret combinations, wars, traitors, and a little bloodshed here and there.

Charlotte was banned from the man-zone.

Defending their territory.

Everybody was very entertained by Quincy playing with the dog.

It's the middle of the day, but Hannah just got up. She was awakened by the thunderous "pitter patter" of many little feet.

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This Week's Happenings

2008-11-22T11:55:00.000-08:00

Henry and Charlotte have been re-enacting The First Thanksgiving. It usually happens when there is nothing else to do. Sometimes a parade is involved. Henry is Samuel Adams, a pilgrim. I think he went on to open a brewery.
Charlotte is a friendly Native American Indian. Her character is loosely based on Pocahontas, and she can see the color of the wind and talk to animals.
The re-enacted Thanksgiving dinner lasts about 2 minutes, not three days. And they are eating mac n' cheese.
It has been SUPER cold here for the last couple of weeks. Our pond is frozen, and the kids got up at the crack of dawn to break up the ice.

Last night our friends the Cantrells had a HUGE bonfire for the Young Women and the Scouts. It was so fun! Thanks Cantrells!

I went up to wake Charlotte up one day this week, and this is what I found. Grace, we wish you were here to wear your night mask with Charlotte!
The kids came home one day this week ELATED because their bus driver, Ms. Trailer, who is the "meanest bus driver EVER", is retiring on December 1. They had an early retirement celebration for Ms. Trailer.
Bill is in China again, looking over a new factory they are going to use to build their trucks. The first shipment of the 2-wheel drive trucks came in this week, and they are SO CUTE! Nice job, Sarge Motors!

How did we get so lucky...

2008-11-17T11:05:00.000-08:00

I know every parent feels this way, but...
I look at her, and I can't believe we got so lucky to have a daughter like Hannah. As she has gotten older, it has been a revelation getting to know her as she grows up and changes. She is 13 now, and it is both wonderful and terrible as she shares with me all those experiences that make up adolescence.

Hannah is a source of wonder to me. I just assumed that my daughter would be exactly like me. But she is growing into her own person, and it is so fun to watch and be a part of it. She loves to sleep in. She says funny things. She wants to be a vegetarian.(?) She is sometimes afraid of what is happening in the world. She likes clothes and shoes that I would NOT chose for her. She is protective of the other kids. She is annoyed by the other kids. She doesn't like to chit-chat in the morning. She loves animals. She puts a lot of pressure on herself about her grades. She likes watching old classic movies. She completely FREAKS out if she has to get a shot. She LOVES texting with her cell phone. She wants to get "side bangs." She loves her room messy. She likes pick-up trucks. She loves to make things out of things. She is beautiful.

She is in Choir at school, and this last week she had a competition and a concert.

Henry's "Sick" Day

2008-11-11T07:51:00.000-08:00

Henry stayed home "sick." This is what Henry looks like when he wakes up. He gets sweaty at night, and his hair sticks up all over the place.

Time for a haircut. Much better.

Max's "Sick" Day

2008-11-05T13:51:00.000-08:00

Max stayed home "sick" today. He spent the morning laying around groaning. By this afternoon, however, he felt well enough to melt his army men. He wanted to attach fire-crackers to their backs and blow them up, but what kind of mother would allow THAT?

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Busy Week...

2008-10-29T08:17:00.001-07:00

Whew, this week was so busy! Bill will have to blog about China--his pictures are great! The grand finale of the week was Halloween. Bill and I, along with thousands of other Americans, were McCain and Palin.

Hannah was a witch, Max was a ninja, Henry was a power ranger, and Charlotte was a pirate.

The night ended with the trading of the candy. Send all baby ruths, paydays and reese's my way.

Hannah was in charge of the cake walk at our Trunk or Treat. She did it for her Personal Progress.

Charlotte and Henry both had Halloween parties at school. It was fun because they got to wear costumes.
This is Charlotte and her friend Meena. Meena is teeny tiny.

Henry got really sweaty wearing his costume all day.

This week my friend Carol McGuire went to the temple for the first time! I was able to be her escort, and it was a really special experience. A group of us went up to Memphis together, and it was great. It has been a huge blessing to see Carol get baptized with her daughters, and now go to the temple. Our ward here has become like family to me.

On Monday, we carved pumpkins and they turned out really great! The photos don't do them justice. (I can't figure out how to take pictures with my camera at night.)

Hannah's masterpiece.

Who knew that an avacado bathtub could double as a pirate ship?
Cast of characters:
Ruthless Pirate--Charlotte
Damsel in Distress--Henry
Serving Wench--Hannah

Henry and Charlotte are both in a program called "Insights" at school. They attend a special class one day a week, and they do special projects and enrichment activities. This week, the Insights kids went on a field trip to the Tunica River Park and Museum. We rode up and down the Mississippi on the Tunica Queen, where there was live banjo music and dancing. Charlotte was too shy to dance, but Henry was a wildman. It was so fun to be able to go with both of them!

There was a Barbeque Throwdown and carnival in town this week. Now I remember why we never go to carnivals: $4 rides. We have to make a choice--it's carnivals or college. OK, it's actually carnivals or trade school.

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Happy Birthday Lucy!

2008-10-24T06:32:00.000-07:00

LUCY IS ONE YEAR OLD!!!
Look how sweet she is! And my, what a beautiful sweater, made with so much love. Lucy is the icing on the cake, the middle of the cinnabon, the top of the muffin, the bacon on the baked potato. She has brought so much joy to the Tanners, and to all of us. I miss being there every day to watch her grow and change. That is one of the saddest things about not living in Portland: I miss Lucy!

WE LOVE LUCY!

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It's Fall in Mississippi

2008-10-21T06:44:00.000-07:00

I love the Fall in Mississippi! The weather is cool, the humidity is gone, the air is fresh! The kids had a four-day weekend, which was really nice. We just played outside. Bill had a great weekend in China, and we can't wait to hear all about his trip when he gets home.

Why is a hot dog so much better when it's cooked over a fire? Although many marshmallows met a firey death, I tried to teach the kids the fine art of browning their marshmallows to perfection.

Max uses the forks as weapons. Hannah is afraid.

We love our kids! They are so fun and funny! I look at this picture, and I want to freeze this moment in time.

I'm happy to report, no injuries resulted from the following stunts.

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Opposite Ends of the Earth

2008-10-18T12:45:00.001-07:00

Big Tall American Bill in China!
Bill left on Monday to spend two weeks in China. He is going to Beijing and Baoding to tour the factories that are building the trucks that his company are importing. He has been busy with work, but yesterday he got to go to the Great Wall and the Forbidden City. We miss him, but are so glad he gets to see these places!

He said people in China are SO polite! He had some little scissors in his shaving kit confiscated by Chinese airport security, and he said they treated him like he was the nicest guy in the world for letting them have the scissors. They thanked him profusely.

We, on the other hand, are in Mississippi, USA. Cotton is in full bloom, and today we had a picnic in a cotton field. It is fascinating to actually see raw cotton!

The cotton is in a little pod, and then it blooms into big cotton balls.

Awwww! They are so cute! Max (11), Hannah (13), Charlotte (9) and Henry(7).

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Hannah Powers Up

2008-10-18T12:15:00.001-07:00

Hannah squeezed herself into Max's old size 6 Power Ranger outfit in her efforts to rid the backyard of evildoers.
I'm pretty sure it worked.

She can only face front because of a small mishap during her quick-change from middle-schooler to dyno-force ninja warrior.

"What do you mean my suit is too tight? Come here and say that, because my suit is too tight to chase you. Why I otta..."

Gallon of gas: $2.89
Gallon of milk: $3.29
Daughter who will pour herself into a 100% polyester-laminated-with-polyurethane-suit AND let me take pictures...PRICELESS.

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Goodbye to the Yamniks...

2008-10-14T07:47:00.000-07:00

Our good friends Patrick and Marianne Yamnik are moving, and we are not happy about it. We had a little get-together to say goodbye. They will be so missed! There is something special about Marianne and Patrick, and you can't help but love them. They are so fun, and it just won't be the same without them.

We wish them all the best!

Pot-lucks: you never know what you're going to get.

The fire was irresistible to the kids. They burned everything they could put on a stick.

Good luck Yamniks!

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Little Snippets of Our Week

2008-10-03T09:51:00.000-07:00

Today between sessions of General Conference, our ward had its traditional potluck dinner. I love our ward and consider them my family here in Oxford. Conference was great. I loved President Eyring's talk about unity and President Monson's talk about change and enjoying the journey. Very inspirational!

Yesterday we met the Pratts who were camping at Sardis Lake. They have a totally sweet set-up with their trailer, AND they have satelite TV. The kids' favorite part was lighting the fire and roasting anything/everything.
Henry shakes his booty whenever anyone points a camera his way. Is that normal?

We are freaking out because of the economy. Maybe I will finally lose weight after all, because we won't be able to buy gas or food or clothes.

Hannah has a killer canker sore that is taking over the world.

Our dishwasher konked out on us. I will never take the dishwasher for granted again.

Bill spent last weekend in Houma, Louisiana helping with hurricane relief.

The weather has cooled down and the humidity is gone, and it is beautiful here now. Fall is in the air. Our Halloween decorations are up. It seems like time is flying by. Our kids, and everyone else's, are growing up so fast! I wish the years would slow down. Bill and I were saying last night that our next anniversary will be our 20th! I AM grateful for the journey!

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The Belated Post of the Big Debate

2008-10-03T09:31:00.000-07:00

It has been a busy couple of weeks, but I can't not post (?) about The Debate. The whole town went crazy for a while. It was really pretty exciting! I was hoping to meet Brian Williams or a correspondant for the Daily Show, but all we saw were local reporters, and no one wanted to interview us.

Max was rockin' the vote.

Although it was touch and go for a while, the debate actually did start here.

Charlotte's school made artwork for the debate, and hers (a dog?) was one chosen to display around town.

Yes, there are Obama supporters in Mississippi.

This is the Ford Center where the debate was held.

Press and security areas.

The festivities.

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Tailgating at The Grove

2008-09-22T08:50:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday was a home game for Ole Miss (The University of Mississippi). On game weekends, the town fills up with big Rebel fans. The stores and restaurants are packed.

The thing that fascinates me the most is the football fashion. I had never seen a pair of red pants in my life before we moved here. On game days, they are a common sight. Some pants even have little Colonel Rebels embroidered all over them. And the girls wear fancy (little) dresses with high heels. I can't imagine anything more uncomfortable than hanging out and going to a game dressed like that.
These two are ready for some football!

The double decker buses give people rides around town on game days.

Here we are at the Square. It is the center of town and is full of great shops and restaurants.

TAILGATING: an Ole Miss institution. It goes on for hours and as far as the eye can see. People set up elaborate buffets with huge flower arrangements and barbeque stations. There are TV dishes set up everywhere.

It is quite an experience and something to see. We should be bigger fans than we are, I guess. I just don't feel it. I don't even know who won the game. We have other things to do on Saturdays, like fix the toilet.

GO REBELS!

Hannah's 1st Temple Trip

2008-09-20T12:55:00.000-07:00

This week Hannah went to the temple for the first time with the youth. I was so glad I could go with her! It was wonderful to see her in the temple. We are so proud of Hannah and what a good girl she is. She had a really great experience. It makes me look forward to the many times we will go there with her in the years to come.

On a side note, we recently installed the Angel Moroni as our dashboard ornament.

Instead of a flashing light and a siren, we have Moroni.

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Happy Birthday Charlotte!!!

2008-09-15T18:30:00.000-07:00

Today Charlotte turns NINE! She has been counting down for months, and the day finally came. She has made signs for herself wishing her happy birthday.

White cake = tasty.

Finally, an American Girl doll. Welcome to the family, Ruthie. Thanks Tanners!

We hope Ruthie will be a good influence on Hannah Montana and tame her wild ways.

Three things we love about Charlotte:
She is ALWAYS happy and sweet.
She offers to help me and everyone else whenever we need it.
She has a tender heart.
WE LOVE YOU CHARLOTTE!

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Last Night's Dinner

2008-09-12T12:30:00.000-07:00

So last night I made this really good dinner of turkey breast over angel hair pasta with a sauce/gravy. It was delicious! Max even told me how much he liked it. Then I found it in the trash can in the bathroom. MAX!

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Welcome Gavin!

2008-09-12T09:45:00.000-07:00

My little sister Anne just had her second baby--a little boy they named Gavin Milo! Welcome to the family, little Gavin. You have the sweetest mom! And your big sister Cailey and your Dad are great too.

Nice work, Anne! John, good backup.

Awww, he's so cute!

I might need to call you Milo. Whenever I think of Gavin, I think of Gavin McCloud who played Captain Steubing on the Love Boat. Let's meet for hor'duerves on the Leto Deck. And there's also Gavin somebody who was my 9th grade prom date. But I know the name will belong to you as soon as I get to know you!

CONGRATULATIONS ANNE AND JOHN!

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The Dove Hunt Lunch

2008-09-07T13:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we were invited to a Dove Hunt. It was in Clarksdale, Mississippi, at one of Bill's boss's amazing homes (spectacular). There was a beautiful catered lunch (delicious) and plenty of diet coke (free). The hired staff wouldn't even let me throw my own trash away (lots of pop cans: awkward). After lunch, the men-folk went out to a club to hunt doves (birds representing peace and the Holy Ghost). The women and children hung around the beautiful pool drinking mint-julips (diet coke).

Here is Bill with his hunting friends (NRA members). Max went with him (weapons expert at age 11). Bill and Russ would shoot the birds, and Max would fetch them (not with his mouth, thank goodness). What parent wouldn't want their child in a field full of men with guns and dead birds?

Swimming. Notice Charlotte's buns in the background. I claim full responsibility.

Charlotte couldn't climb up, so the little boy tried to pull her up. He was saying, "Use all your strength!"

Bill's boss and his wife are super-nice, and they were so gracious. We had so much fun.

This house was amazing. I couldn't figure out a way to take pictures of the inside without looking like a tourist, but the pool and patio were so beautiful. This is the good life in the south.

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Great Book!

2008-09-04T10:53:00.000-07:00

My sister Rachel sent me this book, and it totally changed my life! Thanks Rach--best gift ever! It talks about the nature of revelation, how it comes to us, the principles that govern it, the role of faith and self-reliance in receiving it, and how to recognize it. It is all stuff I have known all my life, but there's something about this book that opened my eyes and let me see how it works every day in my own life. You have got to read it!

Oh, and this was in our dining room this morning. Nice.

Square Books Jr.

2008-08-28T16:28:00.001-07:00

There is a great kids' book store in town called Square Books Jr. They have tons of great books and readings and activities.
The kids have loved reading The Spiderwick Chronicles. A couple of days ago, the author of the books, Tony DiTerlizzi, came to Square Books Jr. for a book signing. We just had to be there!
It was great. He was funny and interesting, and the kids loved him.

We got there early to get good seats.

He signed all our books.

We were intoxicated by his fame and fortune. I can't get enough of those celebrities.

He drew a picture of a character from the books, and then he asked a trivia questions, and the winner got the picture. Max won! Definitely one of the highlights of his young life so far.

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New Orleans

2008-08-26T10:12:00.000-07:00

Last week I went to New Orleans with Quincy and Heidi. Quincy and I walked around and took in the local flavor while Heidi went to a conference. Here is a sampling of some of the sights of New Orleans in August. We had a great time.

Bill and the kids did a great job while I was gone. I missed them, and am glad to be home again.

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The Olympics

2008-08-15T11:21:00.001-07:00

The Race Begins
Originally uploaded by UPI.com

Bill and I woke up this morning, and we were both exhausted. Our Olympic schedule has been rigorous. Good thing we have been in training to stay up till 11:00pm and watch all the coverage.

I have always felt that the Olympics were my destiny. When I watch my fellow Olympians, I feel totally connected to them. They are my people. I can't get enough of the inspirational stories. I am moved to tears when we taste sweet victory, and my dreams are crushed when we fall short.

I will continue to work and train and push my self to stay up till 11:00pm and watch every moment of network coverage. Late-night snacks are a big part of my training. I am proud to stand by my fellow Olympians. This is our moment. One world, one dream.

Just Doing My Part

2008-08-14T11:58:00.001-07:00

So for Enrichment, we had this great evening planned focusing on Family Home Evening. There were skits and food, and then we were going to make these cute Family Home Evening boards. Great.

I went early to set up with Keren, my Enrichment counselor, who is fantastic. We put paper on the table where we will paint the boards. Keren suggests putting paper down under the tables. I reject the suggestion, saying no one is going to be so careless as to drip paint! I directly open a can of red paint and set it on the edge of the table. But there is no table under the paper, it's just sticking out into mid-air. The can of paint hits the floor sideways and explodes all over the carpeted floor. This is AFTER the clean-up.

This room is highly used. Thank you very much.

I think they might ask me to go to a different church. I totally understand.

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Our Wednesday Night

2008-08-14T11:29:00.000-07:00

Activity Days was at our house this Wednesday, and the girls came over and swam and had a "modest swimsuit" fashion show. No thongs allowed.

The Young Women came over and we made blueberry jam. We have a great group! There are about 15 active girls, and they are so nice. Some of them drank their jam instead of taking it home.

Court of Honor

2008-08-14T11:23:00.000-07:00

Max had a Court of Honor and he is almost a First Class. He has a good friend, Blake, and they do their scouting thing together. I pity their scoutmaster. I am always apologizing. But we love Max and are proud of him.

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Muddin'

2008-08-11T06:28:00.000-07:00

When in Rome... Last week we went out in the country and drove around in these little trucks that Bill's company owns. We were peeling out in the mud, the kids were whooping and hollering. It made me laugh and cry at the same time.

Portland Trip

2008-08-08T14:28:00.001-07:00

Finally I put together a slide show of our trip to Portland. We had so much fun! It was great to see friends and family. I wish we lived closer! All my brothers and sisters and my mom were there. All the cousins got to play together, and they had a blast.

This is my favorite picture of Lucy.

Why aren't my captions showing? I still haven't mastered the slideshow thing. The captions are there, you just have to touch the picture.

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First Day of School

2008-08-06T08:49:00.000-07:00

Today was the first day of school! It is the middle of summer, and we are starting school. It's just not right. And it was such a shock to have to wake up at 6:15am to get everybody up and going. Henry and Charlotte are over-the-moon excited, Max is fairly excited, and Hannah is not excited. I hope it's a great year!

Hannah starting 8th grade

Max starting 5th grade

Henry starting 2nd grade

Charlotte starting 3rd grade

Here they are, ready to go.

Henry is Toothless!

2008-08-05T13:43:00.000-07:00

After years of Henry not losing any teeth, they are all falling out at once! He looks and sounds so cute. He has a lisp and has to eat very carefully.

Bill said all it took to make Henry lose his teeth was to move to Mississippi. Very poor taste. And we hope this does not offend anyone. Just a bad joke.

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Hannah is 13!!!

2008-08-03T14:33:00.000-07:00

On Friday, our little Hannah turned 13 years old. I can't even believe it! As we enter the bewildering world of adolescence, we are charting new waters.

We love her so much, and we are so proud of her! Ice cream cake for everyone!

The phone has become very important to her.

A 13 year-old's presents.

Five fyes.

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This Is For You, Charlotte

2008-07-18T15:33:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I am putting pictures of animals on my blog. Who am I? What has happened to me? For anyone who doesn't know, I am NOT an animal person. And yet, we have two pets. The only conclusion that can be drawn is that I am a saint and should be crowned Mother-of-the-Year.
Charlotte has been asking me to put pictures of the animals on our blog so she can show Grace. Blah.

Cat

Cat

Dog

Dog

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Henry Loses a Tooth

2008-07-16T17:02:00.000-07:00

Henry, who is 7, just lost one of his front teeth! We have been waiting and waiting! This is the fourth tooth that Henry has lost.

The Tooth Fairy doesn't have a very good track record with Henry. Every time he has put a tooth under his pillow, the Tooth Fairy has not come the first night because she (or he) has been sleepy and forgetful. So Henry wakes up the next morning very sad and confused.

Maybe one day the Tooth Fairy will apologize to Henry for not giving his teeth the attention and focus that his older siblings' teeth were given. Maybe he will not be traumatized by the Tooth Fairies failings, or the noticeable lack of pictures of his infancy and childhood compared to his siblings', or that his Baby Book is still not put together yet, or that his parents' sympathies for cuts and bruises have noticably diminished with each child according to their birth order. Basically, Henry is having to raise himself.

Henry, we are so sorry! Good luck, and keep up the good work!

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Good Times with the Kresls, our BFFs

2008-07-10T12:44:00.001-07:00

Warning: leaving your children under the supervision of Julie Kresl is likely to result in a hematoma.

We are so sad we are going to miss you this summer! Just another reason for you to start a blog! I know you can do it!

College Fund

2008-07-10T11:35:00.000-07:00

We saw a fountain on campus, and the boys wanted to take a little dip. Jackpot! Have we no shame? Apparently not, because Max and Henry spent half an hour cleaning the fountain out of pennies. Maybe our ship has finally come in. Maybe this is our second stream of income. Maybe we can set our sights above trade schools for the kids. We're just living the American dream...just don't tell campus security.

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Food and Fashion in Oxford

2008-07-08T12:35:00.001-07:00

How did Merimekko find its way to Oxford, MS? There are stores in New York, Hong Kong, Paris, London...and Oxford. Is a Target too much to ask for?

These are the best chips I've had in my life! They are soooo good. And they only have 140 calories per 8 chips. I savor every bite, as I eat the whole bag.

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Happy Fourth of July!

2008-07-05T12:47:00.001-07:00

We had a busy Fourth! Oxford has a parade around the Square and downtown in the morning. It was very fun and small-town cute.

2008-07-05T12:43:00.000-07:00

In keeping with years of Fye family tradition, we had a Fourth of July Party! Every year on the Fourth, we fondly remember our big parties with our dear Portland friends, where the fireworks shows got bigger and bigger. We miss those days!

This year, we made beef and chicken kabobs, hamburgers, and hot dogs, and everybody brought a potluck something.
Just before the party started, we had a huge thunder storm. Perfect.

But in the end, it worked out fine.

Our Get-Together Friends

2008-07-05T12:29:00.001-07:00

2008-07-05T12:04:00.000-07:00

We finished off the day by going to the fireworks show at the University. The whole town was there. Very fun. The boys love the Fourth! They want to blow everything up. Max is obsessed with fireworks, and can't get enough. Let's hear it for another successful year without injuries.

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A Good Crop

2008-07-03T10:01:00.000-07:00

This year we planted lots of vegetables, and it has been so fun! I am totally into my crops. I water and weed them every day. I want to be a farmer. I want to rip up half the lawn and plant fruits and veggies. There is something very fulfilling about growing things that we can use.

Henry has been my helper with the girls gone. He helps me harvest the crops.

We are growing beans, peas, squash, cucumbers, zucchini, watermelon, cantaloupe, cabbage, brussel sprouts, carrots, eggplant, corn, different varieties of bell pepper, and hot peppers.

Henry's friends are all girls. I think it's because he has grown up playing with Charlotte all the time. He had two friends over the other day, and they played barbie, littlest pet shop, and swam. He is very in touch with his sensitive side. That's a good thing, right?

Bill's Celebrity Look-alikes

2008-06-29T16:36:00.001-07:00

This is so funny. People always think normal people look like different famous people. Now, here's proof:
Bill looks like Martin Scorsese and Frankie Muniz. I have to say, I didn't see it before, but now...

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

MyHeritage: Family tree - Genealogy - Celeb

Charlotte's Celebrity Look-alikes

2008-06-29T16:27:00.001-07:00

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

MyHeritage: Celebrity Collage - Geneology - Blank family tree

Hannah's Celebrity Look-alikes

2008-06-29T16:25:00.001-07:00

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

MyHeritage: Family tree - Genealogy - Celebrity

Henry's Celebrity Look-alikes

2008-06-29T16:22:00.001-07:00

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

MyHeritage: Celebrity Collage - Roots - Family name history

Max's Celebrity Look-alikes

2008-06-29T16:18:00.001-07:00

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

MyHeritage: Family tree - Genealogy - Celebrity

My Celebrity Look-alikes

2008-06-29T16:15:00.001-07:00

In the interest of full-disclosure, Will Ferrell and Dennis Quiad were also in the top ten.

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

MyHeritage: Celebrity Collage - Free family tree - Lineage

"Please don't put it on the blog..."

2008-06-29T14:18:00.000-07:00

Max and Henry were done swimming for the day, so I told them to hang up their suits to dry. I happened to have my camera handy. Max said "Mom please don't put it on the blog!"
Therapy, anyone?

We Miss Our Girls!

2008-06-28T13:35:00.002-07:00

We miss Hannah and Charlotte! Our house feels empty without them (except for Max and Henry). But we know they are having a GREAT time. Thanks to our great family and friends who are taking such good care of them: Kathy and Anna, Mom, Emma, Rach, and Anne. We love you!
Hannah on her veranda.

Sweet Charlotte.

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Max Goes to Scout Camp

2008-06-24T10:21:00.000-07:00

Max is an 11 year old scout, so he went to scout camp last week. Overall, he had a great week (except for the nightly phone call to his mom where he would beg to come home). It was a beautiful camp, and he made some good friends. He is especially likes any experience involving knives or guns.

Max's bunk.

Max and his friend Blake.

The swimming area.

Max was a frequent patron of the Trading Post.

He would purchase "Gator Ice" many times a day.

Bill went up after work every night and spent the night. Henry and I went up for "Family Night." Good times.

We missed Max and we are glad he is back!

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Fishing Derby

2008-06-23T10:16:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, Bill took the kids to a Fishing Derby at Puskus Lake. They had a marginal time: no fish, lots of tangles in the lines, and it rained.
A photographer from the local paper (The Oxford Eagle, delivered Mon.-Fri.) was there. That's the thing about living in a small town--we have been in the paper like six times since we moved here, and we are nobodies.

Henry, Max and Charlotte.

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Empty Nesters (except for Henry)

2008-06-20T13:06:00.000-07:00

Hannah and Charlotte left for Portland. Max is at Scout Camp this week. I am feeling a little sad that my kids are old enough to do things without me! For years, everything went along in kind of the same way: we had babies, then toddlers, then young grade-schoolers. They depended on us for pretty much everything: their care, food, entertainment, recreation, companionship. Now, I feel like time is going by way too fast. Right around the corner is a driver's license and college (or vocational training). We have these huge milestones in front of us that mean the kids are growing up. I know the goal is to raise them so they will go and live their own life, but I want them to slow down! I will miss them!

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Where's the Advil

2008-06-20T10:20:00.000-07:00

Today I am so sore, I can hardly move. Yesterday I power-washed and painted the cement around our pool. I thought it would take a couple of hours. It took ALL day. Henry "helped" me. Painting is my answer to everything. If it's dirty, paint it. If it's broken, paint it.
BEFORE...

AFTER...

After we were done working, Henry and I went bowling. It was the longest game ever. Henry couldn't throw the ball very hard, so the machine didn't even sense that a ball had come down, so he got like 6 turns per frame. I was too tired to bowl, so Henry took my turns, too.

We finished off with a game of air hockey. I am too old for all this fun.

Mudfest 2008

2008-06-20T10:11:00.000-07:00

The other day it rained like crazy. The kids were covered with mud, but it was worth it.

Grace Turns 10!!!

2008-06-15T06:12:00.000-07:00

We love Grace!
Today is Grace's birthday.
Grace is one of our favorite people IN THE WHOLE WORLD!
1. She is always nice.
2. She is always happy.
3. She is always thoughtful.
4. She laughs a lot.
5. She puts on great shows.
6. She is an awesome helper.
7. She is Charlotte's best friend.

Gettin' crazy.

Group hug at the petting zoo.

BFF!

May I have this dance, for the rest of my life?

WE LOVE YOU GRACE!!!

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I am not a neat freak, but...

2008-06-14T16:21:00.000-07:00

I love it when my house is clean. I crave order and cleanliness. A clean house brings peace and harmony. I can't relax when there is stuff everywhere. But I am not a neat freak. The people who are messy are the freaks.
Every three days or so we go through the same routine. I go into the kids' rooms, and I break out into a cold sweat. I get all uptight, and I forget what I was going to do. How can you just leave stuff on the floor? If everything belongs in a place, why wouldn't you just put it away where it belongs? Why?

There is beauty all around, when their rooms are clean.

There is joy in every sound, when their rooms are clean.

Peace and plenty here abide, smiling sweet on every side. Time doth softly, sweetly glide, when their rooms are clean.

36 hours later...

Master the tempest is raging.

The billows are tossing high.

The sky is o'ershadowed with blackness. No shelter or help is nigh.

It's the circle of our life. And I am not a neat freak.

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Super-Spiller

2008-06-12T19:06:00.001-07:00

If Henry were a super-hero, his super-power would be spilling everything. He can not help it--he must spill! I just expect it now. His story is always "It was an accident!" Here is a day in the life of my super-spiller:

Exhibit A. Shave Ice dumped in car.

Exhibit B. Sprite. (I only buy diet to avoid the sticky sugar residue.)

Exhibit C. Cereal.

Exhibit D. Grape Juice.

Wherever there is something to be spilled...Henry will be there.

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Photoshop--Best Diet Plan Ever

2008-06-11T15:15:00.000-07:00

My good friend Aimee went to work and transformed my ample figure into one of sleek suppleness. Easiest 40 lbs I've ever lost.
Before photoshop weightloss:

Wala! After photoshop weightloss:

Disclaimer: Not yet approved by the FDA.

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COUNTDOWN TO PORTLAND!!!

2008-06-11T15:04:00.000-07:00

Charlotte and Hannah are counting minutes until their trip to Portland!

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Pratt-A-Palooza

2008-06-11T14:53:00.000-07:00

Our friends Garrett, Cooper and Quincy Pratt are playing with us this week. They are super-fun.

It is so hot, and our pool is waiting for its new liner, so we are using the hose a lot.

Lots of Kung Fu.

"Whoa little dude!" says Max.

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I Don't Like Animals, Unless They Are Made of Bread

2008-06-10T21:59:00.000-07:00

Today we made animals out of Rhodes dough. They were delicious. I love bread. I went to a Recipe Group tonight, and the theme was "Mexican Food." When it's my turn to host, I will choose "Bread" as my theme. And the bread can't be contaminated by fruits or vegetables. It can have variations of sugar, cream cheese and cinnamon, maybe some nuts, but that is all. I love bread so much.
Here is the crab model.

Here is our version of the crab, and an octopus, a sheep, a squid, a fish,and a pig.

Here is the frog model.

Here are our intrepretations of the frogs.

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Hannah's First Year at Girls' Camp

2008-06-07T17:54:00.000-07:00

Our little girl is growing up! Hannah is 12, so it was her first year at Girls' Camp. I was so excited for her, fondly remembering my days at camp--full of fun and laughter, crafts and spiritual experiences.
Apparently, Hannah is not a big camper. She had fun, but there were travails along the way. I believe I have done her a disservice by providing the life of luxury to which she is accustomed. (Hah!) We need to toughen her up. The obvious remedy is to send her off to "Outward Bound" or the Marines.
Here are some lowlights of her camp experience.
Meeting at the church on Wednesday at 7:15am, 82 degrees.

Finally home at Saturday at 12:30pm, 94 degrees. Sporting a sunburn.

Bad blisters. Visit #1 to the nurse.

Wasp sting to the head. Visit #2 to the nurse.

Bum sores from riding horses. Too embarrassed to visit nurse.

Bill stayed the night as "security patrol." He so tired.

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Fireflies

2008-06-06T10:12:00.001-07:00

The kids stay up late to catch fireflies. It is the coolest thing. They are these little lights that fly all over the yard. So in the evenings, the kids get their jars, and run around in the dark. Of course, the kids love the bugs so much, they want to keep them forever. A firefly's lifespan is very short in our yard.

And this is the price we pay for playing outside in the evening. If I had a dime for everytime I hear "Mom, itch me!!!"

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Puppet Show

2008-06-05T11:11:00.001-07:00

Henry and Charlotte made a puppet show. Three friends decide to go to the mall (a consistent theme in all of Charlotte's productions).

They shop at their favorite stores.

Please tell me they will still want to do stuff like this in 5 years.

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TIMBER!!!

2008-05-31T11:44:00.000-07:00

A tree in our front yard has died. We were hoping it would fall on our roof so we could get a new roof, but that hasn't happened, so we took matters into our own hands. Or rather, we asked our friend Steve to take matters into his own hands. He likes firewood. He cut down the tree, and it was AWESOME! Now we just have to clean it up, but it is so HOT here! I want to take a nap until November.

Yard with tree.

The battle is waged, and will be won.

Careful planning. Please don't smash my crops.

The tree is down. The kids swarm all over it.

Yard without tree.

I have got to learn how to photoshop! That's my dieting strategy.

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Thank You, thank you, thank you, and you know who you are...

2008-05-30T13:09:00.000-07:00

We were just talking about how blessed we are to have such great family and friends. Thank you to all who have been there for us through difficult times, as well as the good times. We can only hope to return the favor. We love you!!!

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Happy Birthday Truman!!!

2008-05-30T12:48:00.001-07:00

Truman is one of the cutest, funnest, happiest, busiest boys ever!!! When I think of Truman, I think of "Hi Lis," trains, planets, his pants requirements, "I love you," chocolate in the morning, naps in his clothes, "Mommy happy?", running and running, lots of laughter, and how he would go snuggle with Rachel on the couch.

WE LOVE YOU TRUMAN!!! HAPPY THIRD BIRTHDAY!!!

Truman and I don't even look like we are of the same race. I am a descendant of red people.

It's not really the necktie that's bothering him, it's that he is not fully dressed.

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Memorial Day

2008-05-27T13:46:00.001-07:00

We had a busy Memorial Day. It was so hot!!! I want to start a support group for people who think it is too hot here. It's all I want to talk about, and no one will talk about it with me. Here is how my support group would go: "My name is Alisa, and can you believe how hot it is here??!! I am so sweaty!!!"

Besides sweating on Memorial Day, we went to a picnic at "The Grove" with a bunch of friends. (But we left after a couple hours because it was so hot.)

Bill worked on cleaning out his Man Building.

Hannah and I worked on planting more crops. We are planting tons of vegetables in our yard this year. Hannah likes to water the crops.

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Recent Events

2008-05-26T11:47:00.000-07:00

Our pool has become a breeding ground for toads and frogs.

Bill started a new job (believe it or not, here in Oxford) and he went on his company's private jet. It's just like being married to John Travolta. Except for the Scientology part.

We found four kittens in our shed. They kids fell in love with them. Only one is left, but it looks like she is here to stay. More pets. Great.

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The End of an Era

2008-05-25T14:55:00.000-07:00

Today we say goodbye to Charlotte's Little Pillow. Little Pillow has slept with Charlotte every single night of her life. The time has come to move forward. Tonight Charlotte will put Little Pillow in a box under her bed, and brave the darkness alone (except for two nightlights and many stuffed animals and dolls--but they are not the same as LP).
Goodbye, sweet Little Pillow.

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Happy Birthday Rach!

2008-05-24T12:20:00.001-07:00

To Rachel, my blogging mentor, the hammer to my barn, WE LOVE YOU!!!!

The girls celebrate Rachel's birthday!

In your honor, we went to Snow Biz and thought of you!

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School's out for the Summer

2008-05-22T12:02:00.000-07:00

So today was a half-day at school, and now the kids are out for the summer! Wahoo!! I said they could do anything they want to celebrate, and these photos are of them celebrating. Kids these days!

Max Turns 11

2008-05-21T12:51:00.000-07:00

MAX turns 11 years old TODAY!!! We love MAX because he is funny, sweet, smart, and the ladies love him!

My Visit to Portland

2008-05-20T14:37:00.000-07:00

I LOVE LUCY!!!!!!!!!!!! (And Truman and Grace and Rachel and Nathan.)

There's No Place Like Newks!!!!!

2008-05-16T16:24:00.000-07:00