Don't stop believin'....until it's time to stop.

It has been many months since I last posted.  One day I will post on the success of our relay that was the inspiration for this blog.

Today, though, it is with a sad and very heavy heart that I share that my mom, aka the kids' Gran, ended her year long battle with stage 4 lung cancer two weeks ago today on Sunday, September 2, 2012.

While my family is relieved that has suffering has come to an end, we miss her and will forever.  We are beyond proud of her courage, her determination, and the spunk she kept throughout her illness.

We love you, Mom.. You are missed terribly, and will always and forever be in our hearts.

I see trees of green, red roses too

I see them bloom, for me and you

And I think to myself

What a wonderful world

I see skies of blue, and clouds of white

The bright blessed day, dark sacred night

And I think to myself

What a wonderful world

The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky

Are also on the faces, of people going by

I see friends shaking hands, sayin', "How do you do?"

They're really sayin', "I love you"

I hear babies cryin', I watch them grow

They'll learn much more, than I'll ever know

And I think to myself

What a wonderful world

Yes, I think to myself

What a wonderful world

~Louis Armstrong

Don't Stop Believin', brought to you by Excedrin Migraine

I kid, I kid.


A little.


There are many things my beautiful children do well for ages 5 and 3.


I say this with my heart full of mother's love, but....singing isn't one of them.  


Both kids, particularly Nathanael, have been singing the refrain to Journey's Don't Stop Believin' this past week.  It has become our unofficial theme song around here.  The kids don't understand the lyrics, obviously, although Nathanael thinks it's cool that the guy singing the song took a train at midnight.  They hear the words "don't stop believin'," though, and their thoughts go immediately to Gran.  They refuse to do anything but be filled with hope and won't stop believin' that their fundraising efforts will help change the world, even Gran's world.


Nathanael asked me a few days ago if he and Savannah could have a "dance party" to Don't Stop Believin' to put on the blog so that they could remind our readers to "never give up hope."  How could I resist such a request?


Simon Cowell would not approve.  It's loud.  It's shrill.  But their intent is obvious, and the unexpected message at the very end comes from their mouths, their hearts, and is filled with inspiration that, in my opinion, is infectious..

Up Close and Personal

Not with Robert Redford, unfortunately.  
I wanted the kids to have a little running dialogue on here, so while we were waiting for karate class to start, we sat in the car and played interviewer and interviewee.  Interviewees, to be precise.


Mom:  Who would like to talk about their favorite part of the blog?
Nathanael, making sure he was the first to answer: Me!
Savannah:  That's not fair!  Natty answered first!
Mom, who has a little bit had it with the week: It's fair because Natty answered first, Sav.  You can have a turn after him.
Savannah:  It's still not fair.
Mom, really REALLY wanting to go into a lecture about how life isn't fair but realizing it would be lost on a 3 year old: Natty will answer first, and then you can answer.  Enough said.
Okay, Natty.  You're up.  What's your favorite part about our blog?
Nathanael:  That's easy.  My Knock Out Cancer Challenge.
Mom:  Why?
Nathanael:  Because I've gotten some responses to it, and because I can see it anytime I want to on the blog.  And our blog makes us kind of famous. (at least he's honest)
Mom: Well that sounds like a good answer to me.  How about you, Savannah?  What's your favorite part about having a blog?
Savannah:  Making videos.
Mom:  Do you have a favorite video?
Savannah: The princess one.
Mom, realizing this is going to be like pulling teeth now:  Why do you like the princess one so much?
Savannah:  Because I did it myself (forget the fact that I had to feed her the lines for some of it) and it's MY challenge and not Natty's.
Mom:  It's fun to have something of your own, isn't it?
Savannah: Yes.  Like a horse I could ride all by myself.

I wasn't about to get into the horse discussion again.


Mom:  So guys, we've raised a lot of money so far.  Between what we have gotten donated directly to our team, and the fundraisers you two are coming up with, we've raised the most of all the teams who are walking in Geneva, and we still have 3 months to go until the walk!  How important do you think that money is?
Nathanael:  Well, the different fundraisers are fun, and counting the money we make from them is fun, but I know the real reason we're doing it.
Mom:  Why, buddy?
Nathanael:  Well, we're trying to help people who have the sickness like Gran (he doesn't like saying the word cancer very much), and I hope that some of the money goes to the hospital where Gran gets her medicine so that we're helping her get better.
Savannah: I hope ALL the money goes to Gran.
Mom:  Well, the money that we're raising will go to an organization that gives support to people with cancer and their families.  They also help people understand ways they can prevent different kinds of cancer by being healthy, and they do research to find ways to treat different cancers.  
Nathanael:  That's cool.  So we're helping them do all that?
Mom:  Yes sir.  That's where the money you're helping to raise will go to.


Mom: Okay, I have one more question for each of you.  Savannah first this time.
Savannah:  Good.
Mom:  Savvy, what does the word hope mean to you?
Savannah:  I hope Gran feels better.  I love her and I want her to  be able to visit us again and play with us!
Mom:  I think that's a great answer, kiddo.  How about you, Natty?  What does the word hope mean to you?
Nathanael:  It means wishing.  I wish Gran would feel better.  And I remember that we learned how daffodils represent hope, and we have lots of daffodils growing in our garden, so it's like our whole house is surrounded by hope.
Mom: It certainly is.  Okay, it's just about time to go into karate.  Is there anything you'd like to say to our readers?
Savannah:  Hi Gran!  Love, Savannah.   I love you!
Nathanael:  I don't know what to say.  Can I say "could you please donate?"
Mom:  Sure, if you want to.
Nathanael: Could you please think about donating?  We love our Gran!  I love you, Gran!  Knuckles!

Mom:  Know what?  I'm very proud of the both of you.
Nathanael:  For what?
Mom:  Because you're good kids with big hearts, and you're doing a good thing.
Nathanael:  Thanks, mama.  I'm proud of you, too.
Savannah:  Me too.
Mom:  Thanks, kiddos.  I love you.

They'll never really understand why I'm proud, but I have a feeling they'll never forget the good that they're doing.  I think this will stick with them for always.

Just For You

Through all of the fundraising, through all of the ideas on how to bring in the green for the American Cancer Society and our Relay For Life team, never once have we lost sight of why we're really doing any of this.  


Gran.  My mom.  


This was my idea, as I was feeling very sentimental this afternoon and I asked Nathanael if he would be willing to do something for the blog that would mean something to me and to Gran, but not related to raising money.  He happily obliged, and Savannah was more than happy to sit by, be cute, and listen.


When I was around Nathanael's age, my mom used to read me the Mercer Mayer Little Critter books.  I remember many of them, but our together favorite was Just For You.  The copy was so tattered and loved because it was read so often.  


On my first Christmas as a new mom, back in 2006, my mom gave me a special present for me to share with Nathanael.  It was a bound collection of Mercer Mayer books, the first being Just For You.  Hormonal and postpartum, I remember being moved to tears a) that she remembered, and b) that I would be able to share this story with my own child as she and I had shared, enjoyed, and loved it.  We have, and Savannah, too.


I wish I could do a million and one special things for my mom right now.  This comes to mind, and it's so trivial, but if she sees this, she'll understand.  


Mom, I wanted to do something special, just for you....








...and I did.

On twisters, The Exorcist, and pennies

Recognize the bike?  It's a replica of the bike Almira Gulch rode in The Wizard of Oz.  It's been that kind of day around here.  Sweet children seem to have fallen off the wagon....er, bike, and turned into Almira Gulch and her male counterpart.  And who turns into that big ol' green gal who throws a fireball at a scarecrow, all because she sent them to bed early?  


Mom here.  


Whew Nelly, there must be a full moon, or something in the water, or maybe their cuteness was just a clever ruse, but I swear I was ready for pea soup to come spewing out of their mouths and at least one 360 degree spin of the head to happen.  My husband said they're just tired from being up early and that they're just being kids.  Psssh.  What does he know?


Some friends of my husband have been dropping off pennies for the kids to collect for the fundraiser.


Like the clever segue there?


...erm..  As I was saying, my husband knows some very thoughtful people who thought a "penny drive" might be a fun way of raising funds for the Relay.  Genius.  My kids love money.  Not in the the-more-we-have-the-more-we-can-buy way, but they love finding money in stores and stashing it in their piggy banks.  They each have their own bank account.  I wouldn't call them mini-Scrooges, but they are very frugal, and it seems to come naturally.  This is a good thing.  


"Penny drive" has blossomed into "coin drive," as we have begun to receive more than just pennies.  We took the kids to our bank today, which has its own coin counter, and they had a blast dumping in handful after handful.  At the end, they had $35.17.  Nathanael said we can call them "hope pennies," and thus, another fundraiser was born.  


Change For Hope, Hope For Change will start tomorrow.  We're going to go around to some of our local businesses, restaurants and stores where we're "regulars," and ask if we can keep a canister near the registers to collect any spare pennies any patrons may feel compelled to give, with a slip of paper on each canister explaining our story and where the money will be going.  


Mom, ducking in case the pea soup comes flying: So where do you think we should go tomorrow to ask if we can leave containers for pennies?


Savannah: Um, the mall.


Mom, already knowing the answer:  Why the mall?


Savannah: So we can stay for a few whiles (her trademark phrase) and so I can buy something. 


Mom: Well, maybe we can go to the mall another time for a few whiles and see what we see.  Let's see if we can think of something closer to home.


Nathanael: Starbucks!  They sure know us there!


Mom, having just been thrown under the bus by her kid:  Uh...yep.  They sure do.  We can see if they'll do something like that.  Anywhere else?


Nathanael: Salsaritas!  We go there almost every day!


We don't.


Mom: We do not!  But they know us there, that would be a good place.


Savannah:  THE. MALLLLLL.


Mom, ignoring Savannah:  That's a good start.  Maybe we can ask Laportas, too.  


Savannah: Mom.


Mom: Savannah.


Savannah:  MOM!


I swear, this is when I thought her head was going to spin.


Mom, in a sickeningly sweet voice: Yes, Savvy?


Savannah:  We can ask the bank for all the money back that we just dumped in the machine.


Mom, feeling bad for likening her innocent 3 year old to Reagan: Can't do that, kiddo.  We traded those coins for dollars, and now the dollars are going to be donated to our team.


Savannah: Ohhhhh.


I'd just like to say that, when we found out Savannah was a girl, we briefly considered the name Raegan.  


Nathanael:  Listen.  If this is going to work, we're going to need at least a thousand buckets and a thousand places to bring them.  I don't want to wait in the car.


Annnnnd.....cue creepy crab walk down the stairs?


I'm curious to see how this one turns out.  I frequently see plastic containers on market counters around the area, and while they're never chock-full, it does seem that people pay attention and plop in a few coins.  While a few pennies, nickels, dimes, or quarters won't cure cancer, together they're combined and put toward research and resources that will, hopefully some day, help to put an end to all cancers.  

Stepping Up

Our little karate kid was feeling frustrated that he hasn't received a lot of response to his challenge, and he asked if he could make another Knock Out Cancer video.




How can *anyone* resist such a challenge?  


If you or anyone you know would like to accept Nathanael's challenge and make a donation, big or small, directly to him or to our team, please make checks out to The American Cancer Society and mail to:


Nathanael and Savannah Haskell
P.O. Box 506
Buffalo, NY 14226


We all thank you for the donations received so far.  Your money is going to a great cause, and I like to think that, some day, no one will ever have to know this awful disease.

100 days

Look at the excitement on their faces.  For all of their awesome work with homeschooling the past few weeks, for all of their patience with mama as she goes through the motions of dealing with an ill parent, and for the dedication and pure love driving them to make this Relay nothing short of a success, we took a field trip today to the National Museum of Play in Rochester.

They had such a blast.  We spent SEVEN hours there, playing, being kids (yes, even me), and no one                  wanted to leave.

They got to play on a sunny dirt road, deep in Bear Country with some of our family's favorite characters....

 

Mama was reminded of a difficult lesson, and wished that the Bear Family could make it all go away.

 We visited the Dancing Wings Butterfly Conservatory, and this species was attracted to all three of us.  One landed on my neck, one landed on Savannah's leg, and one landed on the back of Nathanael's head.  I wonder if there is any significance?

We officially have 100 days left until the Relay.  We have our fundraiser in Rochester scheduled for May 11th with The Skycoasters.  We also have a local fundraiser coming up hosted by a family favorite restaurant, Cheeburger Cheeburger.  The date just needs to be confirmed, and more details will follow.  Of course the Kick Cancer In The Can and Nathanael's Knock Out Cancer Challenge are ongoing.  We're selling luminaria bags for decoration around the track for $5 apiece; bags are to be decorated, and at dark will be lit in honor of, in support of, in memory of, or in celebration of anyone whose life has been affected by cancer.  100 days.  A lot can happen in 100 days.  We have set a lofty fundraising goal for ourselves, but those little cheerleaders at the top of the page seem to think it can be done, so I'm following suit with their positivity and allowing their light to shine the way to achieving that goal.  

Rockin' For Relay

This photo is one of my favorite photos of my children.  It was taken in 2008 not long after Savannah was born; Nathanael was 18 months old.  Their feet have grown since then and still have a lot of growing to do, however they're already taking huge steps to change the world around them.

When we started this little blog, the intent was simply to document Nathanael and Savannah’s efforts at changing their little corner of the world.  A funny thing happened on the way.  They began to inspire others to want to change the world as well.

Enter our friend Shannon, whose own mother is a lung cancer survivor. 

Shannon is active in the Relay for Life and other American Cancer Society events in Western New York.  With the desire to help my children raise money in honor of their Gran, Shannon reached out to legendary Rochester rockers The Skycoasters, and set in motion a fund raising event. 

On May 11, 2012, at Nola’s BBQ in Rochester, NY, The Skycoasters will play at a benefit for the American Cancer Society.   There is a $5.00 cover charge for the band, and there will be silent auctions and ticket raffles, with a 50/50 raffle capping off the night.  The Skycoasters will be taking the stage at around 9:30 PM, with the big raffle drawing at around 11:30.  All proceeds will go the American Cancer Society on behalf of the Cave Crashers team.  

The event will obviously be a little late for Nathanael and Savannah to attend in person, and they are a little young to be hanging out in a bar, but this event would never have happened without their inspiration.  Many thanks to Shannon, for taking the initiative and making this happen.  I will be there, and aside from the auctions/raffles, donations will also be accepted.

I am, once again, humbled by the generosity of others. 

Don't stop believin'.

Signs, signs, everywhere there's signs

Mom here.  We spent a long Easter weekend out of town with my parents, sisters, and their families.  It was a very tough, very emotional weekend.  The kids had a blast playing with their cousins from the other side of the country (also fellow Cave Crashers), but it was very bittersweet.

The kids' new favorite song from the last few weeks has been Journey's Don't Stop Believin', particularly the end, because they don't want anyone to stop believing in hope, to stop believing in the fight, to stop believing that Gran will get better.

It's spring break time around here for the schools, and, as homeschoolers, we tend to follow the public school schedule as far as days off are concerned.  Today, though, I wanted to get some reading, writing, and spelling in.

Mom:  Okay, kiddos.  Time for some work.  

Nathanael:  I'm drawing something.  Please please please can we wait until I'm done?

Savannah:  I'm ready.  Let's do it.

Mom:  Let's go, Natty.  Let's get it out of the way and then you can have your play time.

Savannah:  Yeah, let's go....Natty Bananers.  (She knows what buttons to push.  She's only 3.)

Nathanael: Do NOT call me that, Savvy-anna!  (So does he.)

Mom, losing patience:  I'm going to count to three....

Savannah: I can count higher than that.

Nathanael: I'm done anyway.  See what I drew?  It's a cancer crusher to help get rid of Gran's germs!

Mom, feeling like dirt now:  Wow, bud.  What a great drawing.  And what a great idea.  A cancer crusher.  

Nathanael:  Wouldn't it be great if we could just push a button, next to everyone with this sickness, and it just blasted the germs right out of their bodies!  When I'm 49 I'm going to invent one.

Savannah: Just like Mama!

Mom, seriously rubbing temples now: Savannah, I'm 35.  Not 49.

Savannah: April Fool!

Mom:  Ha ha.  Right.  Okay.  Let's get some work done.

Finally.  They humored me and completed their work, and when we were done I asked them if they wanted to stay at the table to draw and keep me company while I started dinner.   They both said yes, drew for a few minutes, started whispering, and then told me not to look. After maybe 20 minutes they wanted to show off their work.  Whenever the tell me not to look and then they want to show me something I get a little nervous.  This is what they were working on:     

Big bro instructed Little Sis on how to find the song on my iPod 

to make sure he spelled "believin'" the right way.

She loves her Gran, whom she used to call "Lady."  She wanted her picture taken wearing the purple flower brooch Gran gave her over Easter weekend.

This little one never ceases to amaze me.

Never ever.  

The two of them worked together on this one, but Savannah didn't want to be in the picture.  She wanted it written and asked Nathanael to write it.  She actually wanted "Cancer stinks like the cat's litter box" written, but Nathanael apparently vetoed that idea.

I know I'm biased, but I have pretty great kids.  Mom, if you're reading this, thank you for teaching me everything you did that helped me produce two amazing kids.  I love you.

Yankees Fans and Mermaids

Two new hairdos for a special event coming up.  Stay tuned!

Mom:  Natty, I have some exciting Yankees news about the blog.

Nathanael:  What?

Mom: Well, some of the writers and researchers from the YES Network have checked it out.  A writer for ESPN has, too.

Nathanael: What's ESPN?

Mom:  It's a tv channel for a bunch of different sports.  It's the channel that Salsarita's usually has playing when we go there.

Nathanael:  WOW!  I wonder if any of the real Yankees have looked at it?

Mom:  Well, a former Yankee named Chuck Knoblauch has looked at it.  All of these guys have found out about the blog through my Twitter account.

Savannah:  What's a Twittter?

Mom:  It's something on the internet where you can write what you're doing or about things you want people to know.  Daddy and I spend a lot of time on Twitter after you two go to bed, letting people know about your blog and why you're trying to raise money.

Savannah: Well, why can't you just call them on the phone?

Mom:  Because I don't know their phone numbers.

Savannah:  So look them up.

Mom:  *speechless*

Nathanael:  I hope Derek Jeter reads it!

Mom:  We'll see who we can get there, bud.  We have lots of readers and we're trying to get people to spread the word so we'll have more.  We want everyone to know what awesome kids you are.

Savannah:  Well, I want Ariel to read it.

Mom:  Sav, Ariel isn't real.  You know that.  She's just a cartoon character on a movie.  She can't really read.

Savannah:  Yes, mama, actually she can.

Mom:  Nope.  Sorry, kiddo.

Savannah:  Okay, well then how did she read Ursula's agreement before she signed it?

Mom:  *speechless*

Kick Cancer In The Can Kickoff

Mom here.  Today was the first day that people were asked to drop off cans and/or bottles to support the kids' efforts in fundraising.  Friends and neighbors were kind enough to donate, and it was off to Wegmans we all went, again, like a Griswold Family Vaca, to return what we had received.

Putting in the first of their donated cans.  I was terrified they were going to cut their fingers off.

  Nathanael is fascinated by the conveyor belt that brings the bottles into the "land of the unknown."                

Savannah, all smiles as usual.

Whew!  That was hard work!

After about 45 minutes, all of the cans and bottles had been returned.  Earnings for our first day of the Kick Cancer In The Can and Seal Up The Can fundraiser totaled $36.70!  Not bad for one day!


Thank you, R., for your very generous donation of your bottles and cans.  The kids were laughing the entire time, thinking it was hilarious that you two brought so many bags over.  


This fundraiser is open until some time in mid-July, just prior to the walk 

Nathanael's Knock Out Cancer Challenge - Update 1

Mom here.  Nathanael issued his challenge on Monday of this week.  We decided that we would check the P.O. Box once a week, and chose Saturdays because it would be on our way home from karate.

The entire family went to the post office, almost as if it were a Griswold Family Vacation.  The kids knew right where the box is, and I couldn't unlock it quickly enough.  We were getting lots of stares for taking pictures in the post office, but we didn't care.  We were all surprised to find 3 envelopes in the box!  One was sent to both Nathanael and Savannah, one to just Nathanael, and one to just Savannah.  I knew who one of the envelopes was from, and R., I thank you from the bottom of my heart.  You know what this is like, and the fact that you thought of my family has touched my heart.  Sender of the other two envelopes, you chose to stay anonymous, you sneaky devil, but you made the kids' day including a note to each of them.  They were so excited to receive your dollars, and *I* appreciate it with my whole heart.


In the end, on our first day of checking the box, a total of $14 was received as part of the challenge.


So the challenge has been officially accepted.  I think we're all looking forward to next Saturday!


For those of you who haven't read the challenge yet, take a look at Nathanael's Knock Out Cancer Challenge.  He's challenging all of our readers to send just $1 to the post office box listed below because, in his words, "One dollar is a small amount of money...but imagine how much it could help in our fight against cancer."  Are *you* up for a challenge?


Thank you again to those of you who have sent donations so far.  You have a special place in my heart.


If you'd like to accept Nathanael's challenge, please send your donation to:


Nathanael and Savannah Haskell
P.O. Box 506
Buffalo, NY 14226


We will be logging all donations onto the team website once a week.

Nathanael's Knock Out Cancer Challenge

Nathanael is challenging all readers of the blog (who have not already donated) to give just $1 (or more) to our family's Relay For Life team. Nathanael is just 5 years old, with a heart of gold and a strong desire to raise funds in honor of his Gran who is battling stage 4 lung cancer.

To accept his challenge,  please send any donation, big or small, to:
Nathanael and Savannah Haskell
P.O. Box 506
Buffalo, NY 14226

All donations received will be immediately logged on our team's website with your name unless you prefer to remain anonymous.

You may also visit our Relay For Life team page at The Cave Crashers.

Our first fundraiser

Nathanael:
We had a lemonade and brownie stand yesterday. We started at 10 a.m. and ended at 4:30 p.m. We hung signs at the end of our street. We charged 25 cents for a cup of lemonade and 25 cents for each brownie. It took a while for our first customer to show up, but when she did she told us to keep the change!

Pretty soon more people came. Some neighbors, some strangers, and Daddy even came home on his lunch and ordered one cup of lemonade and one brownie. A few people even came and said they wanted to donate to the walk but didn't want a brownie or lemonade! Everyone who came either told us to keep the change or gave us a tip.

Mom here. Normally, at this time of year where we live, it's still snowing and we're all wearing our woolies. However, the last week has been in the high 70s and 80s. Yesterday was 81 degrees and full sun. Six and a half hours in the sun. Six and a half hours. The dedication these kids showed (they DID NOT want to quit) and the high spirits they maintained was so admirable, and I am incredibly proud of them. Their manners were impeccable, and it was obvious that they were truly grateful for every customer who came, for every cent they earned.

Nathanael: By the end of our sale we earned $40! Mom added it to our team's website and we got to see the purple line go up just a little bit.

Mom: Hey guys, do you think we'll reach our goal of $1000?

Nathanael: Yes! We will! I know it!
Savannah: Yes! Yes!

Our Team Logo and Relay For Life Information

Nathanael: This is logo for our team. Our team name is The Cave Crashers. Mom said she might want to tweak it but I don't want her to because I helped to design it. The only thing she can change is the ribbon because the ribbon for Gran's sickness is white, not black. The yellow in the back in supposed to look like a big CRASH!

Mom here. This is where I'll include a link to our team's Relay page where you can obtain more information about the event.

The Cave Crashers Relay For Life Team

Meet Savannah

Hi! I'm Savannah. I'm 3 years old but I'm going to be 4 in May.

I like to play with my stuffed animals. I LOVE my ballet class, and I've even been to a real ballet before. I can do good ballet leaps and I'm also good at plies.

I love Disney princesses, and my favorite princess is Ariel. I like to pretend to be all of the princesses, and I have a few dresses just like the real princesses. My favorite princess dress is the Rapunzel dress.

Mom: Why do you want to help raise money for our team?

Savannah: Because I love Gran.

Mom: Is there anything else you want to tell the readers about yourself?

Savannah: I'm learning how to read. I just got a new bike with kittens on it and I like to ride it up and down the sidewalk. I like ponies and I would really like to have one in our backyard. My favorite books to read are Disney princess books, Pinkalicious books, and Berenstain Bear books. I always ask mom and dad to read The Berenstain Bears and the Slumber Party book because I think it's funny.

I like to watch movies on family movie night. My favorite movie is The Little Mermaid. Mom, can we watch a movie right now?

Mom: Maybe in a little while.

Savannah: Okay.

Mom: Is there anything else you want to tell the readers?

Savannah: I like to do math with Natty. I like to find pictures of bush babies to scare mama because she gets creeped out by their big eyes. I like bush babies. Mom likes bush babies.

Mom: No way. They scare me almost as much as clowns do. Are you done for now?

Savannah: Mom loves clowns. Now I'm done.

Meet Nathanael

Hi! I'm Nathanael. I'm 5 years old. We are going to do a walk for our Gran in July. Our team name is The Cave Crashers and I helped design the logo for our team.

Mom: Can you tell the readers a little bit about why you want to raise money?

Nathanael: Because I love Gran and I want to send the money somewhere so that people can stop getting the kind of sickness that Gran has.

Mom: Why don't you tell the readers a little bit about yourself.

Nathanael: I like starfish and snakes. I have a yellow belt in karate. The type of karate I take is called Kempo. I like to play with my stuffed guys. I LOVE to build with Legos. The thing I love the most is my family. I'm homeschooled and I love it. Right now I'm in kindergarten. My favorite thing to learn is math. I'm really good at reading already! I think I'm even ready for a level 3 reader! I just got a new bike that says "RATTLESNAKE" on it. It's green, which is one of my favorite colors. I also like the color blue. I love riding my new bike.

That's all I want to say for now.