This is my favorite picture of Tanner from the shoot.?? In fact, not sure I will top this of him in 2009.?? I still see my little boy but I also see my son growing and becoming.?? Some pictures just move a mom’s heart – for me – this is it.?? Funny story though.?? Here is a snippet of a conversation Tanner and I had today while he was staring at this picture of himself posted on the fridge.

D = Tanner you look so beautiful in this picture – I just love it.

T = But what did you do to my pants??? You put something on my pants.

Note:?? You know those moments in life where your kid (or husband hee hee) says something so crazy to you that you just stand there dumbfounded not even knowing how to reply??? Let me continue.

D = You have got to be kidding me.?? Look harder at that picture.?? WHAT do you see on those pants?

T = (Getting sheepish) mud.

D = Uh huh.?? And do YOU remember what YOU did to get those pants muddy??? You rolled down a muddy grass hill IN your dress clothes while mommy was trying to take pictures.?? You remember how unhappy I was about that – do you REALLY want to bring THIS conversation back up?

T = Uh no.

BOYS!!!!!?? What did “IIIIII” do to HIM??? Shaking my head.?? And yes, I could have processed the mud out but it seemed to add to the story of our day so I left it.?? Besides, I did intend it to be a grungy urban shoot.?? He just added real grunge for authenticity I guess.?? :)?? Jim later commented that it was quite unfair of me because Tanner had rolled down several grassy knolls and I only got mad when he happened to hit the mud which we were all unaware of.?? I don’t recall any of that happening in the first place.?? I also (apparently) missed the rail when it sped by the first three times and looked pretty silly when I complained about not getting to see it yet.?? That was the moment when I was the recipient of the “dumbfounded” expression.?? Especially considering there was (apparently) a very loud bell/whistle/jangle??that accompanied it.?? (Me – sheepish).

Let me introduce you to my son Ty.?? See that expression on his face??? This picture illustrates my happy little boy perfectly.?? Ty is definitely the sunshine in our home.?? No doubt.??

I am just smiling all over again looking at these tonight.?? I want to remember this.?? All of it.?? When I quit trying to make them behave and just let them be who they are – I capture the best shots.?? I even got some fighting and grumbling ones too LOL.?? I think that’s why it is harder to take pictures of my own kids.?? I don’t try to make your kids behave – I just let them alone and capture them in all their varying expressions and moods.?? I do try to make my own kids behave and that is where shoots get messy.?? 🙂

And btw, I did not coach Tanner on posing for the first picture.?? That was ALL Tanner.?? Mr. GQ.?? He’s doomed as a photographers child – he has learned how to “work it” to speed things up.?? Hey – works for me.?? No complaints here.

Can’t wait to process more of these but time is short this week so we’ll see.

Tanner Update:?? I am so excited to report that Tanner has started loving independent reading time!?? Woohooo!?? One of my primary goals as a teacher is that my children will learn to love to read.?? I have tried hard to allow Tanner to choose his own material to entice him.?? I avoided early readers that were boring to him and let him just choose what he wanted.?? This week, he brought an animal encyclopedia of sorts with him to the car.?? We were on a lengthy drive and I heard him reading the entire trip.?? He kept stopping to share interesting facts with me as well (he has very good retention).?? It was far from an early reader too.?? He still struggles with harder words but he plunges ahead anyhow doing his best.?? He can read through a Dr. Seuss in about 10 minutes on his own now (today’s was “There’s a Wocket in My Pocket”).?? He has been bringing books to bed with him at night to help him fall asleep but I didn’t realize he was actually reading them.?? (Not because he couldn’t – because I had not seen him show the initiative to do it on his own yet).?? ??I assumed he was just looking at pictures.?? He told me tonight that he has read everything he brought to his bed.???? So cool!!!!!?? He can’t wait to grab his book when we jump in the car now and he is saving his place so he can pick up where he left off.?? THESE are the moments that make this homeschooling thing so awesome.?? (Trust me – there are some moments that are not so awesome as well?? – for either of us – hee hee).???? Tonight I let him choose some older books at Walmart.?? I am not sure what level they are but there are no pictures – just a few scant drawings.?? Anyone have any good suggestions for second grade readers who are ready to take the plunge into non picture books??? I don’t know what to choose for him.?? I am reading The Voyage of the Dawn Treader to him – I think that would be too hard on his own because of the old language.?? Some people have recommended Junie B but that looks too girly.?? I don’t think I would care for Goosebumps or Captain Underpants.?? I liked the Super Fudge books when I was in about 4rth grade.?? Wonder if he is ready for that??? Rambling now so I’ll stop.

Also, he is doing AWESOME at memorizing his multiplication and division facts.?? We are almost done with them through NINE!?? This is because I bought these super cool story cards that he loves and has made learning his math facts painless and almost effortless.?? In case you are interested…

Every number has a figure associated.?? Example:?? Eight is always a snowman named Nate.?? Three is always a tree.?? Four is always a door.?? 3×8 – Story is about Nate the Snowman building a TREE house that he loves so much he never wants to leave so he puts a sign up that says the treehouse is open TWENTY FOUR hours a day.?? This totally appeals to Tanner and he has such a sense of pride that he knows these facts.?? They also have rhyming cards for addition and subtraction.?? Tanner didn’t take to those as well though I didn’t do many of them or for very long.?? I made the mistake of not drilling enough on addition and subtraction and we are going to have to go back and get those down MUCH better.?? His math books right now though are in mulitplication and division and I don’t want to confuse him so I am waiting to revisit.?? He is using Singapore (which is a year ahead of US math) and I may switch to Saxxon next year.?? The problem is it doesn’t have enough drill time and I don’t want to buy the supplemental book they provide and give him double the work.?? Still thinking on that.?? Here is where you can buy the storycards:?? http://www.memoryjoggers.com/

I love listening to Tanner talk to Jenna as he was tonight.?? He tries really hard to make his “seven” sound fourteen.?? Jenna is absolutely precious with him and clearly loves him to pieces.?? Tonight they were both asking me what they used to say when they were little.?? I always loved how Jenna used to say “two-my-oh” for tomorrow and how Tanner called his pacifier a “peace” and always said “right right”.?? I invited Tanner to read my journals from when he was little because I have so much written down.?? Glad I have it because you forget so much trying to recall.

And my princess who is finally sleeping soundly at 11:20…have I mentioned we are all night owls??? :)?? She is really getting this walking thing down.?? She is also surrendering things in her mouth when I ask her to spit them out and that is a big deal too – especially considering how many things she tries to eat in a day.?? I noticed that she was just in love with Tanner today.?? This morning she wanted back in her high chair pulled next to Tanner while he did his school work.?? I let her play with the cards that AUNT CHRISTINE AND UNCLE AMERICA sent her (thank you for your Christmas gifts you precious two) – and she really loves them.???? Then tonight she kept following him everywhere, talking to him, reaching for him – just wanted to be where ever he was.?? He adores her and she knows it.?????? It’s almost midnight – think I’ll turn in early.?? 🙂

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