Tyler just lost another tooth. Gone are the days when it was a multiday event. He noticed it was loose and 3 minutes later, he had pulled it out! I'm not sure how many more he has to loose, but this has got to be close to the end!

So, how tech savvy am I? This text message to my phone should post to my blog and email alert my mom. Let's see how it works, shall we?

FYI, the post worked! Let's just see when my mom responds! No more exuses to not post! Especially in the moment when the kids do and say those things!

Hi, We're Twins!

The girls came out of their room the other day all a-giggles because they had dressed alike. It doesn't happen often, so we all thought it was funny. Lately, the girls have realized that being twins is a neat thing to other people. I heard Claire say to someone at school, "that's my sister, Rylie. We're twins."

Another ongoing, funny thing about the girls is that somewhere along the way, they made a pact together that Claire wasn't going to have any babies and that Rylie would "get" them for her. Well, recently, said babies received names: Kylie, Olivia, Chris and Robert! During this conversation, they argued over who would get to keep Kylie. Rylie settled the argument by telling Claire she could have Robert.

I'm pleased to make the following update to the story. In the car on the way to gymnastics last week, Claire asked me if I liked being a mom. I assured her that it was great. She understood and clairfied saying, "you really like driving us places, don't you, Mom?" I agreed that driving them around was the highlight of my life. Then, Claire decided that she would "get" her own babies after all.

Tyler's 5th Grade Completion Ceremony

Yea for Tyler! He is no longer an elementary school kid. He's a big ugly middle schooler! These are some of his friends: (on the stairs: Tyler, Keegan, Chris and Joe). Tyler goes to a cool school called Golda Meir, an urban gifted and talented school. They have 3 classes each of 3, 4 and 5th grades. Recently, they added one class each of 6, 7 and 8th grades. Sometime earlier this year, they invite the top 1/3 of the 5th grades to stay on for middle school. All 4 of these boys will remain at Golda next year. We are so proud of Tyler. He loves his friends and teachers and all the great opportunites going to a school like this gives him that he would not receive in a regular public school. For example, during his years here, his class took overnight trips to Chicago, a submarine, and camping. He got to serve as a junior docent at the art museum and has learned to tap dance, although he will not demonstrate this for you! Congratulations, Tyler. We wish for you continued success as you apply yourself to all kinds of learning.

Tyler's 3rd Quarter Report Card

We are so proud of Tyler for his great accomplishments in school. I never remind him to do homework. He takes responsibility for this all on his own. In addition to doing well academically, his teachers routinely praise him for being polite, kind, helpful and a positive influence, character traits which I think will ensure greater success in the long run. His standardized test scores are also here for you to view.

Gee, thanks.

Tonight, we had family night and a brief lesson about humility. (Claire asked what that word meant earlier this week, and I thought the answer would make a great lesson.) So we started by having everyone tell something they were good at doing. When it got to my turn, before I could answer, Rylie piped up that, "Mom, you are good at doing the dishes."

In case you are wondering, Claire said she was good at back hip circles (don't ask me...it's a gymnastics thing), Tyler said he was good at playing Halo, and Rylie said she was good at helping the other kids at school. Then we acknowledged the other people that helped us succeed, such as Mom and Dad paying for and driving to lessons, teachers at school, etc. Then we learned that, ultimately, Heavenly Father is to thank for our sharp minds, strong and healthy bodies, eye/hand coordination and big hearts that enable us to do the things we are proud of. So, a big component of humility is gratefulness, in addition to being teachable.

I'm off to use the greatest of my gifts in the kitchen...

When I Grow Up

We were just watching an episode of Dora the Explorer. Dora and Boots were drawing pictures of what they wanted to be when they grow up. Then Dora asked the audience what they want to be. Rylie wants to be a teacher and an ice skater. Claire wants to be a "dentister" and a ballerina.