Tuna Cup Run 2007!

Just a quick posting to alert everyone about the upcoming 2007 TUNA CUP RUN! In case you don't know, this is the 2nd Annual TCR and it is a fundraiser that we have been doing to benefit all things India! It started off as a means to raise money for Tuna, Josh's best bud in Calcutta. Tuna is a homeless man who suffers from mental illness and he has been living on the streets for much of his adult life. He is alone and survives because of God and the volunteers who have a special place in their heart for him. Josh started a meal fund for him at one of the local restaurants so that he can get two meals a day (and endless amounts of tea) for free. Josh contributes to the meal fund partly through the donations raised during the Tuna Cup Run! This year, we also plan to use some of the money raised to begin another project in India. Because we will BOTH be nurses soon, we plan to go back to Calcutta to volunteer with Mother Teresa's sisters but also to start a health project for prostitutes in the Red Light District in Calcutta. We are taking a trip to Calcutta in January to plan for our mission there and to meet with a New Zealand couple who already have a project going in the Red Light District and may want to hire us to start a clinic. The extra money raised by the TCR will go towards financing that trip and towards other start up costs for our foundation!

The way the run works is this: my crazy husband Josh runs around Baxter Boulevard in Portland, Maine as many times as he can between 8am and noon. (the loop is 3.5 miles long) People pledge a certain amount per mile and after he completes his four hour torture fest, he will collect on the pledges! Last year he did 24 miles so be ready for even bigger numbers this year. :o) If you don't want to risk a large pay day, feel free to make a lump donation! You can contact Josh via his email at tucktuck02@yahoo.com or Kate at tucker. katherine@gmail.com to make a pledge or donation!

Thank you all for your support and friendship. We love you and will keep you posted on the 2007 TCR!








Dipankar "Tuna" Pal in Calcutta, India

An Update---FINALLY!

Hello Everyone! Sorry that it has taken us so long to get a few photos and information posted here! Things have been pretty crazy lately...but wonderful all the same! Ray Ray had his first birthday at the lake. His friends Amelia and Amelia came as well as lots of family and friends. It turned out to be a perfect day and a great way to celebrate such a special little man! He is running all over the place now and exploring like crazy. It has been such a blast watching him grow and learn and play. His personality is coming out now and it is SO adorable! He is sensitive (he cries immediately when someone else is hurt, sad, or mad) and strong willed (wonder where he gets that one from?!) and loving and CERTAINLY a momma's boy!
Josh has been super busy with work but that will soon be ending because I passed my nursing boards (yay!) and can get a job as an RN finally! I have a few interviews set up, so I'll keep updating as things change! Until then, lots of love and prayers to all...God bless and keep in touch!

All Stars

Sam's All Star experience this year was really great--even though they didn't quite make it to the end! It was super fun going to the games--especially for Ray Ray who is literally OBSESSED with anything round like baseballs, tennis balls, soccer balls...you name it. Actually, when we get him out of bed in the morning, the FIRST thing out of his mouth is "ball, ball ball!" He can amuse himself for hours with the plastic ball that came with one of his toys. He is certainly easy to entertain! Daddy is thrilled as it is really good practice for a future career in sports!


Sammy pitching at his All Star Game
This method of containing and transporting Ray at the game was SO much easier!
And he just LOVES it! Cant you tell!?

Conception Day 2007! Here are some photos to commemorate this year's Conception Day party in honor of Jill! A few years ago now, Jill was going through mom's drawer and found an old calendar that had a big circle on the thirtieth of June with the inscription "Jill conceived!" She started to FREAK out about how gross it was and from that day on, we all decided to celebrate the day that Jill was conceived! The celebrations always include family, friends, night-appropriate music (like, "Let's Get It On," or "Sex Bomb") a cake, and an artistic presentation (last year's was an interpretive dance!) This year we had a nice bbq and I read a poem composed for the evening (which I cant write here because that would be too much information). It was a really hilarious night--as always!



Orry with Jilly--the night's VIP
The "Conception Day 2007" cake
Ray Ray and his ghetto auntie Ria :o)
Susie and her boyfriend Charlie PEPS!
It was a beautiful night for some baby makin'!
Ray loved the poem!

This one I just threw in here because its so freakin cute!

:o)

Ray Ray trying on Bop's hunting boots!

Nebraska Trip!

Here are a few photos of our trip to Nebraska. We had a really great time there and actually loved Omaha! We had a chance to visit with tons of friends including a lunch date and office tour with the Word Made Flesh office staff! It was really a blessing to see where their mission comes to life! (www.wordmadeflesh.com) We spent a lot of time with John, Joy and their three boys as well as Adam and Winter. Everyone was so great and really made Omaha feel like home. I can see why Josh misses it so much. We also had a chance to go to Josh's old house--it was JUST as I had pictured it. There were fields and flat land as far as the eye could see on all sides and Josh's house was sitting right in the middle of it. I had always thought that a place like that would be terrible to me, but there was something really serene and peaceful about it. I can envision that life there would be very simple and beautiful and it was actually hard to leave! Also, it was SUCH a treat seeing Josh be brought down memory lane. I hope that we can go back again soon and watch how the place changes as our lives change!




The old Tucker Homestead in Fort Calhoun, Nebraska
Reminds me of Dumb and Dumber!
Ray Ray and I at the Omaha Zoo!


Ray Ray is touching the world and, as daddy would say, dreaming of social revolution!

Josh and the windmill at his old farmhouse in Nebraska
Thankfully Ray doesn't quite have the coordination to climb up after Daddy--although he REALLY wanted to!
Ray and momma at Daddy's old house
The homemade basketball hoop that Josh and Joe put up so many years ago is still there!
Ray Ray and momma in the hotel room
These were some of the first few steps!
Ray Ray and Daddy in Fort Calhoun, Nebraska (don't most people go
to exotic locations for their vacations?!)

RayRay doesn't quite reach the potty yet, but he is trying!

Lake Michigan

I'm not sure if our trip to Lake Michigan was the first time Ray Ray had been to a "real" beach before or not, but it might as well have been! It took a little getting used to, but he LOVED the beach and the sand and the water--it was so much fun re-living that beautiful excitement with him again!


He wasnt so sure of what he thought of sand at the beginning...
But ended up loving it!
Ray Ray (with his too small hat) and Clare looking pretty in pink!
Daddy and Ray Ray

Michigan :o)

Here are a few photos of our trip to Michigan to visit Trever, Lauren, and Clare! It was a perfect trip filled with tons of laughs, really beautiful friendships, and really good beer! Josh and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary there with a lovely trip to Lake Michigan--we caught it right at sunset! Pretty soon after we left, Trev and Lauren moved their family to Muncie, Indiana and we cant wait to visit them there! We miss you guys and send you tons of love!



Happy 2nd Anniversary--I LOVE LOVE LOVE you!
Trever and Lauren and the beautiful Lake Michigan sunset in the background--love you guys!
Clare Joy!!!

Ray turning on the charm for Clare Joy!

Just a few more photos to catch up!

Ray Ray eating some graduation cake--I couldnt wait for his first birthday!
Ray Ray with his BIP!
The Stauble Sisters(and mom)--sounds like a 40's singing group! haha

Mother's Day hike!

Here are some photos from our Mother's Day hike up Douglass Mountain. It was a really beautiful day and a great hike! (good exercise, too, thanks to having a 20 pound baby on my back!)


Ray Ray and Mommy

Happy Mother's Day!
Sammy (yes he is 12 AND smoking a cigar), Orry, Michael, and Tuck on Douglass Mountain!
Saz and Tater
Orry posing :o)
Maria and her boyfriend Orry at the top of the mountain
All the weary hikers after a job well done!

Ray Ray (as usual!)

Here are a few photos of Ray Ray around Easter time (notice the easter egg headdress!). He keeps getting cuter and cuter, doesn't he?! Or maybe I'm just a bit biased!

Congratulations Cullum Family!

Just a quick post to say CONGRATULATIONS to Kyle and Michelle, Prema and Isaac on the birth of Eli Joseph! We are so happy for you all and the photo of your little man is precious! We wish we could be there to meet him....someday soon we will make it down there again! Youre all in our thoughts and prayers..we send you our LOVE!

The boys preparing for the first Yankees game of the season! (and Ray Ray learning to anticipate the flash!

Here are a bunch of random posts--I've managed to get behind....AGAIN! Imagine that!

This is Bip with........a doll we found at Aunt Jo's house that Ray Ray wouldn't go NEAR! (can you blame him?!)
This is a lovely picture of what happens when you over-stuff a baby! Seconds before this photo was taken, Ray Ray and I were sleeping on the couch, all snuggled up and cozy. Two seconds later, he opened his mouth and emptied his tummy on my shirt! Seriously the most spit up I have ever experienced--and Ray doesn't even seem impressed with himself!

SUSIE IS HOME!!!!!!

The one cute photo of Ray that was taken all day!
Welcome Home Susie! hahahaha
Abby with "The Head"---Ali was trying to take ugly pictures of Ray......
She succeeded!
Me and Ray Ray! (The red line in my hair is not blood--it means (in India) that I'm married!
Susie seeing Ray Ray for the first time in 5 months!
A lovely close up of Susie's feet!
JOY!

This past week has been really busy and REALLY beautiful! Susie finally came home from Calcutta, India after being gone for five months. We all packed into a rented 12 passenger van (the only thing big enough to fit our whole family) and made the memorized trip back to Logan Airport to get Sus! Being back at the arrival gate gave us all so many awesome memories--especially Josh and me! It was always such an amazing time seeing each other again and coming back home-sweet-home! When Susie walked off the plane she looked SO cute....like a bohemian traveler dude. :o) She looked like she could have just walked off Sudder Street. She wore the same sandals that she wore everyday in Calcutta off the plane and they had holes worn through the soles. Her feet were black and "Calcutta-fied" (she actually didn't scrub them the night before she came home just so she could show us how bad they get!) She told us all her stories the whole ride home and it just made Josh and me want to go back! (Believe it or not!) She made some really great, lifelong friends and was blessed with TONS of beautiful experiences--The Dirty City will always hold a special place in her heart! Here are some photos of her arriving at the airport and of her "welcome home party" a week later! God Bless Everyone!