Collette

• With all the boys safely and happily returned from Colorado, Yali returns to his partner in crime; I’d already found doodles in places where there shouldn’t be doodles; fortunately things like sponges, soap, and paint exist
• Find the carport duct-taped into some kind of battle station, including a coffee jug duct-taped to the back of Yali’s stuffed Colorado black bear

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In the middle of the chaos of childhood and family life, that morning, Yali proudly handed me an envelope he’d scribbled on, including magic marker’d stamp…

“Read it, Mom. It’s for you. It says, ‘I love you. I love our family. Thank you for taking care of us and feeding us and guiding us.’”

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Overheard conversation between Yali and Patience…

Patience : “Yali, can I watch your Kindle?”

Yali : “You can watch one Polly Pocket. But no more. Your brain will rot and rot. Say, ‘Eew!’”

Patience : “Eew!”

Yali : “We don’t want your brain to rot. Do we?”