This Week's Happenings

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...

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

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

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?

Busy Week...

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.

Happy Birthday Lucy!

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!