Cody Lost Four Teeth!

Can you imagine this! Cody lost four teeth in January 2009! His permanent teeth were growing in behind his baby teeth, so his dentist pulled all four of his front baby teeth. I think he looks charming. He said the tooth fairy let him keep his teeth! Lucky boy! ??????

President Obama and America's Future

After hearing the results of the presidential election, Cody was so distraught he cried himself to sleep. Children at his school had been talking about what they thought of Obama and what he heard really worried him. Well, it worries me, too. I feel scared about the direction our nation is headed. Many people want the government to do everything for them. What happened to President Kennedy's, "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." It seems today's people have turned this saying completely around. That and many other things have me wondering what will happen in the next four years. Well, at least gas prices are down to $2.29/gallon after being around $4.00/gallon, but the stock market has been on a roller coaster ride for the past few months, the economy is slowing, people across the country are being laid off, etc., etc., etc., Who knows what the future will bring.

Lynette recorded some great thoughts about President Obama on her blog. I hope you'll take time to read it.

Braden earned his Bobcat!

Last weekend our family went on a Family Camporee with the Kansas City area Club Scouts.  At the campfire they held a special ceremony for all the new scouts earning their Bobcat. As part of the ceremony they had to recite the scout pledge, Braden did a great job remembering it all. Then the leaders painted the kids faces with marks which represented noble scout characteristics. 

Mikey and Karie,
Our prayers are with you!
Love,
Mom and Dad
XOXOXOXOXOXOXXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Bobbyisms

So I have this little boy in my third-grade class who is so funny. He doesn't really mean to be funny, but he just says the darnest things. I shouldn't use his real name, so I'll call him Bobby instead. Bobby is this sweet boy who has some challenges--mainly ADHD and some autistic tendencies. He takes things very literally.

The latest funny story happened a couple weeks ago. The day after picture day, the school sent home a flier saying "Make-up Picture Day, October 24th." After Bobby read the flier, he marched right up to me and slapped it on the table. Fuming mad, he exclaimed, "MAKE-UP!?!? I don't want MAKE-UP!! I don't wear make-up! No one in my family wears make-up!" And then he stormed back to his desk.

Once I explained to him that "make-up" is just another way to say "re-do," he was fine, but it was so funny!

Hailey's First Day at Ballet

Cody's "Puppy's Heat Sensing World"

Why I'm Proud to Be an American!

By
Morgan Lewis

I am proud to be an American because we are not like any other country. We are treated with fairness and respect by a leader who we choose to lead us. In America, we have to face consequences for all of our actions. When we vote, we are led by whomever we choose. In addition, we work as a team. There are three ways that we, as Americans, work together to make America a great place to live. We have heroes who put their lives on the line to save others. We have freedom that lets us disagree with someone without being put to death, and we have a democracy, which lets us vote and choose our leaders.
The first reason I really respect America is for our heroes. Our heroes fighting over in Iraq are reminding of the men on Titanic who refused to get on the life boats until all were sure that all women and children got in and away from the ship. America’s heroes are truly heroes and I love and respect those who die trying to save us. I remember coming home from school on September 11, and I saw my mom watching the news showing the Twin Towers crashing down and all that next week watching people holding up posters of their loved ones who had died and people rejoicing with those who got out okay. Thanks to our heroes, many of them are alive today.
The next reason I am proud to be an American is freedom. We have many rights and privileges. We have the right to bear arms, the freedom of speech, freedom to vote, and many other rights. Freedom is what makes us different from other countries. Freedom is very important. With freedom, we can disagree with others openly and not be put to death for it. We can move to different places, pick our own jobs, and we have the right to get an education. Freedom is one of the biggest things that make us America.
The last reason is democracy. With democracy, we can vote for our leaders, make this country better by deciding its needs, and acting upon those decisions. We also have courts, make laws, and unlike other countries we can choose, together as a country, the right person to lead us through any wars and hardships our country may go through. Democracy is the major thing that makes our country the U.S.A.
In conclusion, I am proud to be an American for many reasons. Democracy, freedom, and our heroes (like firefighters and policemen) are very important. They help keep our country healthy and strong. It is important to vote, learn from our choices, support our heroes, and work as a team. I am glad we have freedom. I am thankful everyone is treated fairly. I would not want to live anywhere else. I love my country!!!

Karie and Mikey's Wedding Video

Link to Bryce's Home Evening

Lasson Ranch Slideshow

Where Is the Poet of Yesteryear?

by Carol J. Lasson

Where is the poet of yesteryear?

Perhaps she drowned while swimming in a pot of spicy chili
or hamburger soup simmering for hours on my stovetop.
Or maybe as she walked in my unruly garden, she wandered away between the Swiss chard and chives while I waged war on invading milkweeds.
Or did she lose her way in piles of play clothes caked with mud-pie delicacies as they longed for cleansing sloshing in my washing machine?
Perhaps, she tired of waiting during long evenings filled with reading “I Think I Can” bed-time stories, building 5th grade science projects, typing voluminous term projects or coloring eye-catching election banners.

I miss her.

I searched everywhere for her.
I looked for her between notebooks of blank paper strewn haphazardly on my desk,
but her fresh descriptions and sparkling metaphors still allude me.

Do you suppose she’s angry with me for neglecting her all these years?

I wonder if we will ever romp again together through the meadows of my mind.

September, 2007

Morning Inspiration

Morning Inspiration

by Carol J. Lasson

In dim pre-dawn moments of early waking

I lie motionless—

caressed gently by wash-worn sheets.

Prayers of pleading from night kneeling

echo faintly in my ears.

Suddenly, thoughts pour into my mind

like rays of morning light

pouring into sparkling cut-crystal teardrops

suspended above my kitchen sink.

As my eyes struggle to focus,

my sleep-numbed hand

reaches for notepad and pen.

Feverishly, I write--trying to capture

the flowing rays of light

until the illuminating words

sparkle on my once-blank page.

Grateful, I crawl out of bed

throw open my shutters

and drop to my knees

to offer a thank-you prayer

for morning inspiration.

August 3, 2007

The Sweetest Family in the World!