I inherited it here:

Tall tales

I am wondering if storytelling is nature or nurture. Brian can create a pretty good story. Based on the number of people who believed he made elk chili, we know Brian can create a tall tale. So can other (you know who you are) members of the Douglas clan.

Well, Jacob has started doing this too. Most of his stories start with "when I was one years old, I..." followed by some amazing feat like "ate a whole bunch of bananas by myself." But today as we were driving to the library, he spun a great tale about how there is one library in Appleton and one in Menasha (true) but there are no videos in the Menasha library like there are in the Appleton library (I honest do not know if Menasha has kids videos or not). Jacob told me that there used to be videos in the Menasha library, until a group of thieves came along and stole all but one of the videos, and now you can go and check out just one video - because that's all they have. Not only that, adults aren't allowed to check anything out of the Menasha library. It's just for kids only. That's what makes the Menasha library better than the Appleton library.

As for all the things Jacob has done when he was one years old.... I'm a little skeptical.

When Jacob has kids...

Jacob told me today that he is going to save his toys for when he has kids, but that his kids probably won't like his toys and then they'll say "Dad, we don't like these toys" and they'll either have to give them back or then they'll give them away. But he's going to save them until he has his own kids.

Jacob, Allison and I also built a snowman in the front yard today. Then Allison found one of the glass milk bottles in the garage and the kids filled it with "milk" for the snowman. We have the only snowman on the block with no face, but milk to drink.

HY - YAH!

It's been a while since I've posted anything. Brian is out of town and I decided that wine would make a good dessert tonight. I quit grading papers about an hour ago. :)

I have so much to write! I'll start with activities. It's a new session at the YMCA. Allison finished her first round of gymnastics. It may be her only round of gymnastics. She initially said "yes! sign me up again!!" And then now has decided "No, she wants to stick with swimming only." We'll see what happens on Saturday morning.

But she did learn to do a back-bend and reverse sommersault. Here's her demo:





Jacob was MONUMENTALLY excited to start karate with his friend Dominic today. It might be one of the few times we get to pass along hand-me-downs from Allison (karate uniform). Here is Jacob getting ready to go:



He had a lot of fun. He did really well. And he really, really liked getting to leave daycare early (1/2 day) and hanging out with Dominic (who changed his typical timeslot to be in class with Jacob).

The instructors did remember Allison. One thing that bothers me sometimes is that I feel that I am personally a little forgettable. I remember our 10th high school reunion when everyone was like "Oh Brian Douglas!!... uh, and you are????" Allison will not suffer through this dilemma. The instructor (same ones she had) were like "you look familiar" and I said that he had Allison last year in class. At first it was like "oh, ok," but then when we was taking Jacob's name he was like "Douglas, Douglas, Allison Douglas.... Oh Allison!!" Apparently he said she was always one of their favorites because (and I quote) "it doesn't matter what we would try, she would always win." I must have looked at him kindof funny because he relayed a story where she was off doing her own thing and one of the other instructors went to being her back into the fold and she just flopped rag-doll style onto the mat. Yeah - this is why I'm not forcing the gymnastics issue....

Actually - I believe the reason she likes swimming so much is that the instructor she had the last time (and this session again) just pretty much lets her play around in the pool. And on the swimming note - Jacob is much happier to be back at the APPY YMCA, rather than HOTV. Why can't I get their lessons at the same time.....

Nature Boy

Jacob had a field trip today to Heckrodt Nature Center. He was full of news about wolf tracks, squirrel tracks, and deer tracks. It reminded me of the other day when we were playing outside and Jacob spotted some rabbit tracks. He was so excited to run off and find out where they led.

Jacob has also been sad about the lack of "packy" snow. Monday we finally got a thin layer of wet snow - enough for Allison and I to construct a snowman on her day off. We tried to build one on Sunday as a family, but the snow was not "packy" enough.

On another note - Allison was reading a book from school and one of the lines was "players play in a stadium" and Allison read "Packers play in a stadium." Oh dear.

100 Days

Here is Allison's story she made on the 100th day of school:

I can eat 100 cookies
I can make 100 cakes
I wish I had 100 cupcakes
I wouldn't want 100 tomatoes
Having 100 cats could really be a problem
I could never eat 100 fish
I can lift 100 pizzas
In 100 years, I hope that I can play
If I had 100 dollars, I would buy a pogostick.

Honest Abe

We have a picture of Abe Lincoln's House hanging in our hallway. It is there in part because of the connection to Springfield, but also because the frame matches our woodwork. (we have challenges in the decorating department)

The kids were looking at it today having a debate about whether it was on fire or not because the one window was lit up kindof orangey. I explained that it was Abe Lincoln's house and he used to be the President and he used to live in the same town as Grandma and Grandpa. So Allison asked if - the next time we're in Springfield - she can have a play date with Abe Lincoln.

Also, last night Jacob went to friend night karate with his friend Dominic. Jacob really liked it. They got to use noodles as swords. This morning, Jacob bounced a pillow off me and then covered his head with his forearm and said "that's the guarding stance, mom." Perhaps we'll have to look into karate for Jacob.

death and marriage

The kids have been very curious lately about the various relationships that exist within a family. I think, perhaps, a picture diagram would be appropriate. I actually drew one on a napkin at a restaurant a month or so ago for Allison when all this curiosity started. I need to draw one again.

Yesterday this discussion started at the dinner table. Who are Mommy and Daddy's brothers and sisters. Simple enough - we went through everyone - Uncle Derek is Daddy's brother. Is Aunt Nancy Daddy's sister? Well, Aunt Nancy married Daddy's brother.

This led to questions about who could get married. Anyone who isn't related to you. What's related to you? People in your family. But Mommy, you and Daddy are married and you are in the same family? Eh... well, we didn't used to be. We're family because we got married. So can we (Allison and Jacob) get married? No. At this point Allison decided she would marry Brooke and Jacob decided he would marry Ellen. (personally, I think that Lauren, the girl 2 kids over from him in the video is way cuter, but whatever. I actually figured he's say Gillian B. She swallowed a nickel. Jacob talked about that a long time. I had a slight fear that he would swallow a nickel too).

The kids have also had a lot of questions about death. So many questions, in fact, that I've become curious as to why they are asking questions. Of course there is the "Mom, are you going to die?" which like every parent everywhere probably says - "not for a very long time, not until I'm very old." Knowing full well that we can never predict these things. "how old?" Well, I don't know. Let's change the subject. (yeah, I'm dreading sex ed like you can't imagine).

This has actually led to two interesting things, as I like to observe the inner workings of my kids minds. One, Allison has changed to come serious concerns about Astro dying. I wasn't sure why because he is slower than he used to be, but certainly not sick or even noticeably elderly. However, I do have a tendency to call him "Old Man." Allison has thus deduced that Astro is old and old things die. Hence, we need to be concerned about Astro's impending death.

Secondly, once I asked Allison why she was so curious about when we die. Did she know someone who died? Did someone at school have a grandparent / great-grandparent pass away recently? She thought for a minute and then said "my grandpa." Your grandpa? Last I checked she still had two of them. Which grandpa? Her reply - the one with Grandma Mary. I was actually a little impressed with her deductive reasoning skills to have (a) identified a deviation in the whole grandma / grandpa trend and (b) come up with a rather logical reason why that was. Instead, I assured her that no grandpas had died and went into a brief overview of grandma / grandpa dynamics.

I guess if you think about it, it can all be challenging for kids to figure out. Particularly for kids who tend to think about things in a very literal fashion. And I need to quit calling Astro "Old Man." BTW - ask Jacob sometime about Grandpa Pants. :)