Mom 'n' Dad

It's February, and I'm listening to the pouring rain. It's not horizontal, but a definite 45 degree. Dad's snowed in at the cabin. He sounded distressed when he called this morning and decided he couldn't venture out into the storm, but I know he's always wanted to be stranded up there.

It's been a bit stressful at school this week. Some students, particularly the ones in my classes, act like they expect to do whatever they want in class. When I dispute that, they throw tantrums that I can't help but compare to terrible two-year-olds, except these children stand about six feet tall more or less. It's really a fascinating phenomena to watch. Events came to a head Friday my second last class. As the bedlam peaked, I called for a hall monitor to escort out ten students. The rest of the class worked silently while I calmly wrote up referrals. Then they presented poetry, and all was well.

My final class, yearbook, entered with questions of what happened. They heard rumors that Mrs. Whitney cracked, although it wasn't her fault. I quelled their fears and let them know I was still alive and well. We had a major deadline to submit to the publisher, and bless their lazy little hearts, they sweated blood and made it. If it wasn't for the last minute, nothing would ever get done. As I proofed the pages, I read what they wrote about yearbook class. They described us as dedicated, hard-working and more like a family than a class. They impressed me, and I went home happy. It was just another day in the life at Mojave High School.

I appreciated all the television coverage of President Hinckley's funeral. It makes me feel old to see another prophet pass, sad to miss his humorous wisdom, and it inspires me to want to work harder at bettering my life. KSL did a beautiful job and made President Hinckley seem as important as the Superbowl! I especially enjoyed hearing "O Danny boy," first on the bag pipes, and later by the Tabernacle Choir. What a beautiful treat. It's another one of those old Irish songs my Mom used to sing to us. Becca even learned it on the harp. It's about a father saying good-bye to his son leaving for war. As we get a bit older, we love and appreciate each of our children and grandchildren so much more, and we just get emotional thinking about them.

O Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling

From glen to glen and down the mountainside

The summer's gone and all the roses falling

'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide.

But come ye back when summer's in the meadow

Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow

'Tis I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow

O Danny boy, O Danny boy, I love you so.

But if ye come and all the flowers are dying

If I am dead, as dead I well may be,

You'll come and find the place where I am lying

And kneel and say an Ave there for me.

And I shall hear, though soft, your tread above me

And all my grave shall warmer, sweeter be

For you will bend and tell me that you love me

And I will sleep in peace until you come to me.

love and prayers,

Mom & Dad

Chris 'n' Summer

We have been having a blast in the snow every chance we get!! We also took a quick trip to Disneyland for Sage's 2nd birthday. Nana came with us, and we all enjoyed lunch and birthday cake with the princesses. Bronson enjoyed this more than all the girls. He wanted a picture with all of them. When Sleeping Beauty told him how handsome he was, he replied, "Yes I Am." He is a lady's man. It was also Chris's birthday, and I took him to see Blue Man. It was different. I asked him if he liked it, and all he could say was, "It was very different!"

We also wanted to ask for input on the reunion. We were thinking Southern Cal around the last week of June, Thursday until Sunday. Let us know what you all think. Everyone would be paying for their own rooms. Nothing is set in stone so give me some feed back. Have a great month.

Love, Chris & Summer

Mel 'n' Andy

Howdy Family,

We are a sponsor for the Clyde Hill Elementary School Annual Auction, and this cute little ad is what we get printed in the catalog. Nothing special, just one of those million things that I've been spending my time on recently.

Michael just interrupted me to tell me something very important: if I give him a penny today and double it everyday he would be a millionaire by the end of the month, I forget the exact day. Earlier in the year he brought home a library book and told me to read it. He said, "I know it's easier than my level, but I just don't want to miss out on any humor."

Kayla was in the back of van and I heard a very loud sigh. I asked her what the matter was. She answered, "Mom, it is just so hard to have so many talents!" Kayla is turning 8 in just a few days, which floors me!! Where have the years gone? It seems like I was just barely living in the little white house their in Salem overdue, in labor, waiting for Andy to come home from teaching piano lessons. Heaven forbid he would have to cancel a student, we were too poor to lose even $10!

On Halloween Kambri wanted to go to school in costume. As we drove up to the school I pointed out some kids not dressed up. I said, "Are you worried you will be the only one?" She said, "Maybe a little." I reassured her if she felt at all insecure just call me and I could bring her something normal to wear. She said,"I don't think so, Mom, whatever you might pick out for me will definitely be more embarrassing than being the only one in costume."

Milo learned what the word famous meant and proudly exclaimed that he is famous. The teacher asked why he is famous, he replied confidently "Because everyone in this world knows me!"

As I age, you know I am in my thirties, the one thing that keeps haunting me is how precious time is, the way it just can't hold still and wait for me to catch a breath!

Love, Melanie

Martha 'n' Jeremy

Elizabeth walks like a maniac now and is enjoying her new found freedom. I love just watching her explore. Sometimes she'll just walk randomly around and examine an area or object up close. She might even reach out to touch it. Once her curiosity is satisfied, she moves on. Also, I'm convinced girls naturally walk differently than boys do. She sticks out her backside and even waddles it a little as she walks. When she wears dresses, she seems to add more of a waddle. She's sure a lot of fun.

Hyrum is my number one helper. He will drop what ever he is doing to help me. He can be playing trains and will push them off the track and run to me if I ask him for help. It's very flattering. He sometimes even goes the extra mile. Instead of bringing me one diaper, he'll bring me the entire package. If he is carrying something heavy for me, he'll add the appropriate grunts and moans. My little man is definitely learning how to help.

Lyle continues to be a little schmoozer. The other day we were in line at a store. A lady behind us struck up a conversation with Lyle. After a while she asked him what his name was. His answer was, "My real name is Jeremy Lyle Tanner, but you can call me what my Mom calls me, Sweetheart."

The boys have really been into doing secret service lately. In the morning, after breakfast, they will fight each other up the stairs to be the first to make each other's beds. Then they'll rush into Elizabeth's room to make her crib for her. Sometimes, they'll have me stand in the middle of their room and ask me to close my eyes. I have to stand their with my eyes closed while they, get dressed, clean their room, brush their teeth, comb their hair and anything else they can think of. Then they'll proudly stand right in front of me and shout, "surprise!" If they weren't so cute about it, I would get annoyed having to stand for so long with my eyes closed.

So, we're well and hope the same for you.

The Tanners

Becca 'n' Nick

This month Jonathan was assigned a talk in primary. Before his talk I told him that I would stand in the back and watch him speak. Once he got up to the microphone he stared at me and motioned me to come up and stand beside him. I shook my head no. Then Jonathan coaxed me with a wave and through the microphone said, "MOM!! Come on." There were giggles across the primary and I thought I'd better go rescue him. His ears had turned bright red and hot as fire. After standing at the microphone with me beside him for about five minutes we made a deal that he could give his talk the following week. All practiced up with a bribe in mind, Jonathan recited his talk all-by-himself in the microphone the following week. The bribe was that we would go to the mountain and go snow tubing. So the next Wednesday we packed up the truck and headed to Mt. Lemmon. Partway up the mountain we realized the tube had a hole in it. But that turned out okay since there wasn't enough snow for tubing anyway. So we found an icy spot on the side of the road and let the kids slide down a small slope on their bottoms. They had a blast and were asking about when we would do it again the whole way home, that is until each of them fell asleep.

We hope the season treated everyone good, love to all of you,

The Bryces

McKay 'n' Keresa

January has the record of being the fastest month ever for us. Between finishing our Las Vegas partying, the red eye flight with the Kiddos, getting back into school, and snow days, every day has held something new.

The flight back to Virginia was great. The kids ate the airplane snacks, slept, and only went to the bathroom where they were supposed to. The airport in North Carolina was small, cold, and late at night. I left Keresa with both kids and all our stuff while I rode the bus to long term parking and retrieved our car. It was a chilling 14 degrees, and as I walked up to the car in the parking lot, it looked like someone had dropped a boulder on the windshield because it was all spider webbed and cracked. Magically, as I turned on the defroster and got everything warmed up, the spider web went away.

They cancel public schools here on the mere forecast of snow. I have only had class pushed back on an hour delay on some very snowy days.

Jackson has learned to climb up on stuff. There is a box in our front room that he likes to climb up. Periodically we will hear him do such a sad cry from that room. When we go to see the matter, he is standing up on the box with his hands behind his back. Once he gets up, he can’t get down. Hmm . . . I have a great new idea for time out . . .

Sydney had her birthday, so now she's 3. She carried around a box and sometimes put it on her head, sometimes would stand on it, etc. Then she came to me at the computer and asked for tape. I gave her a few minutes, then went to check on her. She had the box all taped up and asked, "Dad will you take me to the post office so I can send this package to Summer?"

It was great to see almost everyone at New Years and we look forward to returning this summer!

MK KGW SRW JGW