Tan-Land

Tanner, my sweet Tanner, what joy you bring me. Laughter, and confusion, and an absolute love for the innocence of your mind.

This is a photo I sent to my family the other morning with the quote, "I've only been up for an hour and he's already stuck."

But today was another day, filled with stories and moments only Tanner could create.

It started very early this morning, just after Eric had left for work and Ty was taken to school. All was seemingly calm in the Lawrence house as we wait for 9 am to roll around so Tanner could also go to school. I was in my room when I heard some rather loud grunting noises. Since the baby was with me, that could only leave one other person grunting like that (I eliminated to dogs, just out of pure hope that no dog could make a noise like that). I debating checking out the commotion because I couldn't pin-point the location of the grunting. If it was coming from the bathroom, I most definitely did not want to intrude. But having the motherly instinct that I have I choose to investigate on the chance that this was something other that a bodily function. As I walked down the hall the grunting continued and started to grow louder. To my relief the sound was originating form Tanner's bedroom, but this also made me quicken my pace as I had no idea what on earth he could be doing in there to be causing such a ruckus. As I entered his room I saw Tanner, on the floor, pulling a exercise trampoline with all his might from under his bed. I started laughing as I asked what he was doing. He replied most certainly, 'Mom, I NEED my trampoline out.' He was so determined I dared not ask more questions and instead offered my assistance. I pulled the trampoline into the living room where he bounded onto it. I then asked one question as I was very curious to the response. 'Tanner, why do you need a trampoline this morning? You haven't used that in years.' He looked at me with such a face, I saw a flash into the future where Tanner is a teenager giving me a look, 'like duh Mom', that I had to stifle my laughter. But nothing could prepair me for what he did next. He stood up tall, walked over to me, held my hand and said, 'Mom, I need to do my exercises like GG.' and without a second look, walked over and started to stretch.

Now, my Grandmother has been stretching every morning for as long as I can remember. I can remember times as a little girl, sitting and watch, but most of the time getting up and joining in the fun. My little ones have carried on this tradition as they too have stretch with GG when we are visiting. The only thing odd about Tanner's actions was the fact that GG hasn't been to visit in several months, and he has said nothing about it, even when she was here, until today. So as I watch in amazement at his memory, he laid on his back with his legs high in the air as he stretched. But my laughter quickly came again as he moved into the next stretch, which included him putting his bottom high in the air while on all fours and wiggling. I am pretty sure my Grandma never did that move with him.

My entertainment was cut short as it was time to take him to school, but the wait for the next Tanner moment was short as there was a story waiting for me as I picked him up from school. His teacher grabbed me and told me that Tanner had asked if Santa was real. Are you kidding? The kid is 3 1/2. He isn't suppose to ask that yet!! But she assured me that he now understands the he is real and he's okay with that. But he did have a little problem with Santa's sleigh See, according to Tanner, it isn't Reindeer's that pull Santa's sleigh. No Rudolf for Tanner. Instead, big wolves pull Santa's sleigh according to Tanner. Really Tanner, wolves, big wolves? Who has this kid been hanging out with. Seriously. So naturally when I got in the car with him I reviewed some basic Christmas facts. Santa's real, he lives in the North Pole, Baby Jesus, the true meaning of Christmas, and that REINDEER pull the sleigh. I am not sure if he real believed the last one or if he just wanted to talk about something else. But he didn't ask any more questions or tell me any other creatures that somehow made their way into the Christmas season, so I moved on too.

I thought after the last three hours there was nothing left to make his Tanner day moments. But I was wrong. I got home and started looking over both boys work from school that day. The last paper I pulled out was a letter to Santa Tanner had made during class that day. I smiled as I stared reading.

Dear Santa,

I would like a big T-Rex. and a ducky dinosaur and a ankylosaurus. (This kid is so into dinosaurs it's crazy. He knows all of their names and how many fingers they have. Truly, ask him how many fingers they have, he'll tell you.) Tyler wants a pterodactyl and a goat. (Actually Tanner wants the pterodactyl and a goat, but maybe Ty will share) Baby Austin wants a baby rhinoceros. (Um, okay, why not?) Daddy wants a fast car. (Cause Mommy always beats him) Mommy wants a new baby. I have been a good boy.

Tanner

Wait! Did I read that right. I thought I wanted a few things, but how in the world did he come up with a new baby? I asked him about it and he said, 'It's time for another one.' This brought me back to a conversation we had in the car about a week ago. Tanner was confused as to why I wasn't his sister too. Once we straightened that out he wanted to know why he didn't have a sister. I tried my best to explain in 3 year old terms. I don't think I did very well though because when I was done he said, 'So go get one Mom.' This Christmas list is a keeper. Too cute.

So all that before noon. The rest of the day was semi-uneventful and Tanner land merged with Tyler-world which creates a whole new planet that I can not even begin to describe. We filled it with a visit to Grandpa's work, a quick stop at a friends home, dinner with Dad and a very loud trip to Target. He is now sound asleep, upside down and backwards in his bed, the way I find him most nights. He is probably dreaming of some dinosaur land where he is King of the dinosaurs and rules all. Or maybe he is riding on a big red tractor, which he reminds me almost daily that he wants, tending to his animals on the farms including the goats (or 'doats' as he calls them) which are his favorites. He is getting plenty of rest because you never know what adventures tomorrow will bring for him, in Tan-Land.

Tanner you often bring so much love and humor into my life, may you always stay that way.