Friday, January 30, 2009

Where are you going?

I walked toward the kitchen and to my surprise Rollin was headed out the door. He had on his red boots, his winter coat, a blue scarf (triple knotted around his neck), and two hats. "Hey Rollin" I called "where are you going?"

"I'm going to check for eggs since the roosters gone" he replied cheerfully.
A few moments later I heard the doorbell ring. Tucker let him in and he ran to me in the living room. "Look mommy it's a clear one" he said as he showed me the light brown egg. I think by clear he meant clean. He showed it to Fynn and Tucker and then headed for the kitchen. "Careful with that in here" I reminded. But as soon as the words left my mouth he dropped the egg right on the carpet! Then before I could even get a good look to see if there was a big mess Bindi ran through and scooped it up in her mouth. It hadn't cracked yet. I quickly followed her into the kitchen where she was hiding under the table. "Drop it" i demanded "No don't drop it " I pleaded. But this is one command she knows well and the egg hit the floor with a crack!

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Or Not?

I was getting Fynneus in bed for the night and he was somewhat unhappy. He did not want to nurse so I just laid down with him. He fussed and squirmed as he clutched his stuffed frog. I began to sing "gung gung went the little green frog one day, gung gung went the little green frog"

He interrupted "noooo mommy, no frog"

"okay" i said "how about tiny dancer? do you want me to sing tiny dancer?"

"noooo dancer" he whined

"okay, how about Rocket Man?" I asked

"no, nooo rocket" he whined again

"okay, well do you want me to sing to you or not?" I asked

"not" he exlaimed


Laughter erupted from the bunk bed were Thadeus was laying with Rollin and Tucker. Then Fynn decided he wanted to nurse and he fell asleep, still clutching his stuffed frog.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Adventures in pocket pets


It all started the first part of December '08 when Tucker informed me that he wanted Santa to bring him a baby alligator. I tried to dissuade him. I tried to educate him about the needs of alligators. I finally explained that I was doubtful Santa could get a baby alligator and "just in case" he should probably have a second choice for his wish list. He thought a minute and told me, "if Santa can't find a baby alligator I want a baby mouse". Now that's more like it. Santa can surely get his mittens on a baby mouse. So about three days before Christmas, when everything was all ready for them at home, I went to town and returned home with Two black,adorable, baby mice. They were actually really cute and they seemed happy in their new home. I was really excited. We were keeping them in our bedroom so they would be a surprise on Christmas morning. After i got them all settled and showed them to Thadeus I shut the bedroom door and went on with my evening. Just an hour or so later the boys were playing and I heard one of them say they needed something. Tucker told Rollin to go get it from my room. Rollin ran into my room and ran back out and told Tucker he had to go in there. Suddenly it occurred to me that I did not locked the door! Tucker came running down the hallway and said "I didn't know we had a new pet". I was crushed and to think a short time earlier I had been so proud of myself for pulling everything together and being so sneaky. So after consulting with my mom We decided to go ahead and tell Tucker and Rollin the truth, that Santa had sent the baby mice early via elves because it was much safer. But that we had been instructed by Santa to keep them hidden until Christmas morning. So they couldn't have them until the next morning because I had to check with Santa first. The next morning Tucker and Rollin and Fynn got to meet the mice. They loved them! It was surprisingly easy to tell them apart. One had a crinkled ear and was a bit smaller, Tucker named him Cole. The other had big ears and was a bit longer and more thin, Tucker named him Silky. They were doing great and Tucker was so good with them. He cleaned the cage and fed and watered them. He loved spending time with them. Then we realized that Cole was not moving as fast or as much as he had been. We were a little worried especially since Cole was the favorite.He was more cuddly and enjoyed being picked up more. A couple days later I told Tucker that I was concerned that he might not make it. Tucker took extra good care of him then. Then In the middle of the afternoon Tucker ran to me saying "something is wrong with Cole, he's all bloody", well bloody was an understatement. Cole had died and Silky had eaten his entire face and bottom jaw! It was horrible and poor Tucker is the one who found him. After some of the sadness was gone we started talking about getting another mouse or two. So We went to the pet store. All they had were white mice with red eyes and Tucker was thrilled. That was exactly what he wanted, Rollin however did not like them and began to cry. He was very sad that they didn't have any better mice. Eventually he came around and picked one for his very own. When we got home I went straight to the cage to be sure it was ready for the new mice and to my shock Silky was not so silky, in fact totally stiff. Apparently eating your dead brother is not good for your own health, who new? So now we had to sanitize everything before the new mice could even get out of their boxes. Then I helped the boys get the mice into their new homes but these little guys creep me out! First they have red eyes, that's just creepy, then I realized that they are really fast and jumpy. In fact I was holding Shorty, that's Rollins, and it jumped off my hand, Jumped!! Then I noticed they are really twitchy, and smell kinda bad. Fast forward to this morning, I was laying in bed and I heard Tucker say "the same thing happened to Rollins mouse that happened to Cole" . Turns out It wasn't really the same, In fact I think this time Sammy, that's Tuckers mouse, actually killed Shorty. So I am pretty much over the mouse thing, I think we will be moving on to hamsters or a snake maybe. Something less cannibalistic. But not so fast we still have Sammy the killer mouse. I wonder how long he will last. ......

Sunday, January 11, 2009

The soothing sounds of EJ


I cannot explain it, nor do I understand the power that Elton John has over Fynneus Bartholomew Grant. One night out of desperation Thadeus pulled up a youtube video of Elton John singing and playing "Tiny Dancer". Fynn was almost instantly soothed and fell asleep. It worked so wonderfully that we tried it again the next time he was terribly upset, and the next, and the next. Tried and true, if Fynn is upset and will not nurse and holding and walking are not enough, the Tiny Dancer video WILL put him at ease. But it is not just Elton's soothing vocals and amazing piano coupled with mesmerizing accompaniment instruments. Fynn loves to watch him sing and play his music. I don't know if it's the passion he sees or maybe just the multi-colored sequined jacket and sunglasses but he definitely enjoys watching. Which is why the rest of this story is even more amazing. Earlier in the week The boys and I spent a full day in Memphis. We dropped Thadeus off at work, had a picnic in the van, spent a couple hours at the childrens museum, had a snack in the van, went back into the museum for story and craft time, had a delightful dinner with some friends, went to a 2 hour La Leche Leauge meeting and then, Finally it was time to get Thadeus again. The boys were so good all day. But by this time they were just worn out. Fynn began to cry as soon as he realized I was putting him in his car seat. I offered a drink or snack. He declined with anger. He cried all the way to the airport. He continued to cry as Thadeus opened the van door to greet us all. He cried harder when Thadeus looked at him and even harder when he tried to sooth him. We moved on. I was thinking he was so tired he would probably be asleep within five minutes. I was wrong! He cried and cried. Rollin tried to tell him in a sweet voice "everthings okay Fynn" when that didn't work he shouted "you are hurting my ears FYNN!" When that didn't work I tried talking in a soothing voice and telling him that we were almost home (which we were not) and that when we got there I would get him out of his seat and hold him. He calmed for a very brief moment, still whimpering and then back to a full blown crying scream. I began to sing "hush little baby" then "the itsy bitsy spider" then "twinkle twinkle little star" still nothing! Thadeus had a good Idea that earned us another brief moment of,.......almost peace. He asked Fynn if he could see the stars and began to talk to him about the sky. When Fynn realized that he could not see the stars he was right back at it. I began to sing again, "House at pooh corner" this time Thadeus joined in and no luck. Next was "Rocky Racoon".....................no luck. But then.............Thadeus began with the timeless words, "blue jean baby, LA lady" I joined in "seamstress for the band". It was indeed working, Fynn was down to a whimper and we continued to sing all the words we could to "Tiny Dancer". Out of key, without tempo, with out any acompinement. We were pitchy and just plain bad. It may have actually been the worst rendition of the song that has ever been song. But before we were through Fynn fell asleep.............................................................................................................................and just in time to pull onto our street.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_O80b002XT0

Friday, January 9, 2009

Naptime sneak


During nap time today Tucker was on the top bunk, Rollin was on the bottom and Fynn and I were in his bed. I thought every one was asleep, in fact I was thinking to myself "everyone is asleep why am I still awake, i really should be asleep already". Then suddenly I heard the sound of some one trying to open the door, naah I thought, but then I heard it again. As i sat up tolook I saw a streak of tucker fall strait to the floor on the other side of the bed where he was out of sight. I looked up and sure enough his bed was empty. So i locked my gaze in his direction. I was sure that I would catch him in a stare as soon as he peeked up to check if I had seen him. Then I waited............ and waited................ and waited. Not a sound. He is good. It took everything I had not to laugh at this point. I was wondering what was going on in his little head, was he afraid? Just being silly? Then I started practicing my "caught you in a stare face". I looked at Fynn, he was sleeping peacefully right next to me. I looked up at Rollin, he was also completely at rest. I looked back toward tucker and saw the top of his head and his left eye,.....................for 1/8th of a second! Man he is fast! By then I was just tired and I knew he saw me so I whispered "Tucker"................................................... "Tucker".......................................a little louder, "Tucker!" and without showing himself i heard "yeah?". I actually think he was trying to throw his voice because it sure sounded like he was still up in his bed. "Get back in bed please" I asked. Without another word He scaled the ladder and plopped down on his bed. Nap time went on.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009


Things you may not yet know about us.

  • My boys can find a toad even in the winter, below the surface of the earth.
  • When Rollin is trying to fall asleep he uncontrollably pinches anyone in reach.
  • When Fynneus is finished nursing he pushes away from me and says "done" as he moves on.
  • Rollin thinks & tells me that I am pretty, especially when the christmas tree lights were on.
  • If Tucker could re-name himself he would be known as "Speedy".
  • When Thadeus gets into bed before me he lays in my spot to warm it for me.
  • Fynneus can now say all of our names.
  • Tucker can eat 2 cheese hang a burs in a row.
  • Rollin wants to be a wrestler when he grows up. (real wrestling of course)
  • Late at night Bindi will accept a lazy one handed back massage instead of play time.
  • Rollin thinks that after he takes a nap it is a whole new day. Which would make him 6 years old instead of 3.
  • When Tucker draws a picture of a person he almost always includes a belly button.
  • One of Fynns favorite activities is being dragged around the house on a blanket.
  • Tucker wants to take care of animals when he gets older, more specifically he wants to be the guy who attaches the critter cams.
  • I'm sure there is more but i am out of time.

The other day Rollin said to me " Mommy do you know why I roller skate all the time?" "Why Rolli" I replied. " Because each time I get a little better" . Very Simple and insightful for a 3 year old I thought.

Monday, January 5, 2009

This is the year


This is the year That all the boys will turn an even number, 2,4,6. This is the year Thadeus will start Radar training at mem. This is the year we will have a great garden and everyone will get to help. This is the year for more camping and hiking, more wrestling and racing, more picnics and daydreams, friends and family, hugs and kisses and midnight romances, and of course who could forget the bullfrogs and butterflies.