Wednesday, September 30, 2009

We find a delight in the beauty and happiness of children that makes the heart too big for the body.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

A Tire swing for Mom

The other day while playing in the woods the boys found an old tire. I'm not sure how much work it took but they dug it out of the earth and rolled it home. They were filled with excitement when they told us about their new tire. It lay smack dab in the middle of the back yard for at least five days. Then while the three of them and I were doing some yard work it came back to life. We rolled it around the yard and learned how to do some new tricks with it. In the midst of our play Tucker said "I haven't heard a thank you yet" I wrinkled my for had and asked what he meant. He said "well we brought it home for you, so you could make a tire swing with it". I told him I had not realized it was for me, and proceeded to thank him. Finally today we manage to gather the rope, a ladder, and the time to hang it. So now our home is accessorized with a tire swing, as all homes with young boys should be.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Our new Shelf

Thadeus made this awesome bookshelf! I designed it. He built it and sanded it and we white washed it together! I Love it!

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Skill Log

September 22, 2009

Tucker James Andrew Douglas at age 6 years 1 month and 3 days old taught himself how to blow a bubble with his gum.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Our New Piano





So it may not have been the most carefully planned purchase I have ever made, But when I saw this cute little Wurlitzer Spinet Piano for 150 dollars I couldn't pass it up. I had been thinking recently how a piano would be an asset to us all and how it would hopefully create a spark in these little men to want to make music of their own. So it wasn't by total whimsy that I drove to Memphis with the boys, ran my fingers down the keys, and threw down some cash (i did talk her into taking 125). I am still mostly convinced that it was the right decision. However the piano tuner came today, and with a fine tuning, unsticking of some sticky keys and replacement of one black key we are spending more than double the cost of the instrument! On another note :) We really have been enjoying it. This morning when I woke up I thought I was the first one out of bed but as I walked down the hallway I realized the doors to the living room were shut and then I began to hear soft piano music. It was Rollin! It would only have been sweeter if I had heard it while I was still lying in bed. ( I'll have to remind myself that I said that one of these mornings when he starts playing way too early) Fynn loves it too especially for climbing on and driving cars on and hiding under. He will, every now and then, sit down and gently play a few notes and, he will, every now and then, pound out a few ear rattling sounds. I am not sure yet how Tucker feels about it. I think he likes it although he would rather it be an electric piano or electric guitar for that matter, and he would like to play rock 'n' roll. I told him we could play rock 'n' roll on this one but I know he is skeptical. Thadeus has been playing around with it. So far he can play Ode to Joy, for the Turnstiles and a Merle Haggard song. I have almost mastered, Up On The Housetop, Jolly Ole St. Nicholas, heart and soul and the chord of C. I hope the enchantment with this amazing instrument will last......................

Friday, September 18, 2009

Muddy Mischief

Thadeus came home from work today not feeling well and needed to rest so I Sent the boys out to play. It has been raining for two or three days and the earth here is saturated. I hoped they would ride bikes in the driveway or play catch or something of that nature. Fynn wandered back in whiny and hungry so I fixed a snack and a cup of tea for me. We played a little and giggled and had a nice time with each other. Then I heard a noise from outside the bathroom window. I looked out to see Rollin, up to his elbows in mud and John boy trying to carry a tub of muddy water. They were shouting for Tucker to come and help. I watched them, unnoticed, while they sloshed and dragged the tub. Finally John left to get Tucker but Rollin did not leave the prized tub of filth. Shortly John and Tucker Returned. I'm not sure why but I was shocked to see that Tucker was also Covered in mud up to his armpits. I ran from window to window watching the three boys haul the tub toward the woods. I was lucky enough to snap a photo of the event! Now as I write this I can hear them out side. They still don't know that I have already seen their messy selves and are probably quite worried about my reaction. They have sent John to tell me that Tucker wants me, of course John did not get muddy. I must go now and decide on a method of cleanup.

Home again home again jiggity jigg

Well Tucker is home and had a wonderful time with Tim and Becky in Indiana. It feels like a pretty big milestone and yet it all went by so easily. Sometimes I feel like I am doing a pretty good job raising these three amazing boys and sometimes I feel that I am no more than an observer watching their accomplishments. I shared with Tucker that I was afraid he would not want to come home with us for all the fun he had without us. He smiled at me and said "I do want to come home but I want to come back by myself again too".

Saturday, September 12, 2009


Tucker is spending some time in Indiana right now with his Mimi and Papaw and having a wonderful time. It has been a new experience for all of us and I am having a tricky time changing everything I do from 3 to 2. We will leave in the morning for Indiana and get to spend a couple of days there with the family before we have to head home. I hope that Tucker will share some stories with me and that I can write them down. But for now I just have this lovely picture of Becky, Tim and Tucker just before they left last Tuesday!

Friday, September 11, 2009

Fynn and the Wobbly Wheel


I need to write this little bit of information down so that I don't forget and thought you might enjoy reading it too. Fynn has a "scuttle bug" it is a ride on toy that he pushes with his feet. He taught himself to ride wheelies on it and jump things and crash. He enjoyed the scuttle bug so much that he did not want to ride a tricycle. He had no interest in learning to pedal or steer. Then one day the tricycle was left in the driveway and in his hurry to leave for work, Thadeus ran over it. It was not totally destroyed. In fact the only damage was to the front wheel. It was bent in such a way that it still turns fine it just wobbles drastically from side to side. That very day Fynn got on the tricycle and has LOVED it ever since! He very rarely gets back on the scuttle bug, except to show off an occasional wheelie. He also insist on taking it to the BMX track when we go and everyone there knows the story of Fynn and the Wobbly wheel.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Redbirds Game '09




Some wonderful friends of ours invited us to join them for a Memphis Red Birds Game. Thanks Kearneys! The Boys were excited and each went with their baseball glove in hand. We arrived at our seats at the top of the 2nd inning just missing a Grand SLAM!!! To bad for us but there were more exciting moments to follow. I had hoped it would be an exciting experience for the boys but I didn't realize how many "firsts" they would encounter at just one event. From the first glimpse of a real base ball diamond to maneuvering the crowed at the end of the night it was all new! They saw a Bat fly into the crowed and many foul balls. They experienced the crowed doing the "wave" and of course we all sang "Take Me Out To the Ball Game". They witnessed the camera guy below us and then saw the image up on the big screen. They learned to clap along and yell "charge" at the fun baseball chants. They all three shared a soft salted pretzel and a lemonade. They learned about "leading off" and "foul balls". Thadeus and I had a great time too and We were both surprized that we all made it through all 9 innings. At some point in the game Rollin asked me "why is there home baste, first baste and second baste and laste bast and home baste?" I was so amused by his words I told him I thought that was a question for Thadeus. The Red Birds won and after the game we saw 3 military men prachoute from a plane and land right on the field infront of us. After that we watched an amazing firework display. The boys faces were lit up from excitement and wonder and the glow of sparks! Then to top it all off there was a live band sending us off. And of course you can't beat the live music in Memphis. I know It will be an evening I Never forget!!

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Kicked out!

I still need to blog about Tuckers 6th birthday but I am having trouble finding a quiet time to make that happen. So, for now, I would like to share this quick story.


We were driving to the Gym today and Rollin was asking to go swimming when we got there. I said that I would like to but I didn't have swim trunks for him. He asked if he could just swim in the shorts he was wearing. I explained that it was not allowed at the gym and he asked "How bad does it hurt when they kick you out?"