New Pictures of Brenna bath time and bed time

Where does the time go?

When I started this, I really intended to keep it up, but then again Kathy and I planned to see each other once a month when she moved back to Center and that hasn't happened, either. Brief updates: My new real estate career is off the ground, and I hope to have my first listing in the next couple of weeks; Brenna is barreling down on 10 months and managed to infect the entire Tucek clan with a vicious virus last week; we had a great time at Disney World a couple of weeks ago; we're looking forward to having Kristi, Travis and Brenna here for Thanksgiving, and I haven't bought the first Christmas present. Here's a few snaps of recent pictures.

Whew! What was I thinking....?

... when I labeled my last post "When does the merry-go-round slow down?" That's like praying for patience! Lots has happened since the last post. Kathryn got tutu pictures made, Kristi and Brenna came for Labor Day and left 3 hours later because Travis broke his leg, Travis was hospitalized for 4 days one time and two another and now has two plates and six screws in his right leg, I got started on my new real estate career, and swine flu has broken out at First Christian. And that's only scratching the surface! Here's a few shots to commemorate what's happened:

When does the merry-go-round slow down?

I'm still trying to figure out when life slows down! I signed with Keller Williams late July and still haven't gotten off the ground, what with getting Kathryn back in school and extracurricular activities, going to Austin to help with Brenna, and the DCCCD work.

Reminder

Last day before the start of the fall year. My goal today, after church and the blessing for a good year for Kathryn (which we faked our way into even though it was supposed to just be for K-12 because Kathryn saw the balloons they were giving out and wanted one), was to ready ourselves and the house. Harold went to Waco to see his mother and I vacuumed, blew off the back, washed, dried and folded all the clothes, got Kathryn's and my clothes out for tomorrow, went with her to Mosaic Madness to grout our art projects from yesterday, and finished shopping on the last tax-free day. I got Kathryn to take her shower, brush her teeth, and was walked back into her room that had been straightened and found that she'd pulled things out again. I was asking her to help me and she wasn't paying attention when I said, "Kathryn, listen to me, I'm getting tired!" She said, "Mom, look at me! I'm just a kid, this is what I'm supposed to do!" I couldn't argue with that one...

Clothes Horse

We have a new clothes horse in our family, and she rivals her dad. We went to find her a pair of jeans today and she found these pants and matching cap instead. She decided she needed them worse than the jeans. She came home and went straight to her closet to find her orange Polo shirt that was the exact shade as the small line of orange in the pants, then found flip flops that somewhat matched as well. She is really styling!

Endings and Beginnings

It's hard to believe that fall is nearly here already, and the summer is winding down. When this summer started, I wasn't sure how I was going to deal with not having a full time job and having to entertain a four-year-old 24/7, but I've really loved it. It's probably like childbirth; I've forgotten the bad parts already.

We've stayed really busy, and there have been so many changes. I'm now a realtor working at Keller Williams. I've not done much with that until school starts for Kathryn, but that will be Monday. She's grown so much over the summer, both physically and emotionally. We've had a wonderful summer, going to the waterpark, Six Flags, going to the zoo and movies, shopping together (she's really gotten into that), swimming, dancing, visiting with Kristi and Brenna, developing new friendships with Analise Rose and the cousins, and enjoying snow cones. I'm so glad I've gotten to be here for the little things that create such big memories.

I'm still doing work for the Dallas District and for Eastfield College but still have time to make my own schedule and put Kathryn, Harold, and my family first. Next week starts a new beginning for a job for me, the start of school for Kathryn, and the start of a new semester for Harold. I hope we continue to have time for each other and for our extended families and friends.

This week I took Kathryn to get pictures made at Charla Holme's studio in Corsicana. The theme is Tutu's and Toddlers. She looked precious, and I can't wait to see the proofs. Afraid that this one might cost us. She was such a natural, though. I took Kathryn and Analise with me for Meals on Wheels last week and yesterday, Brittany and both her kids went with us. She's thinking of volunteering, as well. I guess I should tell her that once you start, you get sucked into more and more!

Today is the start of the tax free weekend. We're going to practice Kathryn's new skill of shopping just a bit.

Mommy Time

Kathryn has very recently developed an interest in her baby dolls. She pulled them out last night and brought them into the living room. Today, she decided they'd slept long enough and they needed to get up. I asked her if she was going to feed them, and she said, yes,

let her go get her bra and she'd feed them in the living room. This came as a bit of a surprise to Harold because he didn't know she had a bra. Harold said he thought that might be a little too graphic for him. He asked her if Kristi had taught her how to feed them and she said yes, she'd watched Kristi feed Brenna and knew how. She says she guesses they like that sugar milk. Now she's taking them for a ride in their stoller. And to think I almost put the dolls up because she didn't play with them. I snapped this picture right before she started "feeding" them.

Bedtimes and Broomsticks

Seems that both Kristi and I are trying to get our little ones better adjusted to bedtime routines. Kristi is trying to get Brenna sleeping through the night, and I'm trying to get Kathryn to sleep period. :) We text every morning with the daily update. She has a much more soothing routine than I do, though. She gently turns Brenna back over time and again. While she gets frustrated, she doesn't show it as much. Not so for me. A couple of nights ago, I determined that Kathryn was going to bed early and would stay in bed. She protested that she was hungry, and I told her she couldn't be. By 9pm, I decided to hold the line and kept taking her back to bed when she got up. She would cry loud and long in protest and then get back up and sneak into the living room. After the 10th time, I gave in and gave her a half slice of bread and some milk. She was asleep within five minutes. The next morning, she got up and came into the bathroom where I was to give me a hug. As she started out of the room, she turned back to me and said, "You forgot to tell me you were sorry about last night." I told her I was, and she said, "That's okay, I'm still your best friend." I took off my witch hat, put away my broom, and thought to myself, "I really showed her didn't I?"

Family/Friend Time

Great time with Kristi, Jalane, and Brenna here this weekend. Amber and her kids, Mark and Brittany and their kids, and Lee were here today. Kathryn, Caden, and Adalee had a great time playing. Amber told a great story about how Caden does all the battery changes at their house now, even going to the garage to get the screwdriver and telling her when they need new batteries. Kathryn and Caden were K's room playing, and I went in to check on them. Kathryn had a toy out with all the batteries out and was putting them back in. I said, "Oh, Caden must have shown you how to do that. Then I put the lid back on it and saw that it had a screw closure. She said, "I'll use a penny to close it." Amber came in about that time and laughed. I told her that I bet Caden showed her that, too. Then K said, "Why don't I have a screwdriver, and why can't Adalee got out to the garage?" The kids ran wild and somehow managed not to wake up Brenna. After everyone left and Kathryn was in bed, Kristi came in the study and was talking a minute and accidentally dropped a candle. Kathryn came in and said, "Can you hold it down a little? I'm trying to sleep."
We got up on Sunday and got the girls dressed in their matching outfits and got a few shots outside. We also got some great video of Brenna laughing out loud with Kristi bouncing on a ball (it was pretty funny, come to think of it).
When they left, Kathryn started crying, and I knew just how she felt. I was missing them, too, but I remembered how I felt everytime Jeanette and her family came to visit when I was a kid and it was time to leave. I cried like my heart was going to break, and so did Jeanette. I was really sad for all of us, but Kathryn got over it in about 30 minutes. She's good to go now with a movie and a snack.

Getting Ready for Fall

It's been a while since the last post, but we've been pretty busy. I got my real estate license, and I've been talking to a couple of brokers to decide where I might want to work. I won't get heavy into it until Kathryn goes back to school, but I need to get partnered up, anyway. Fall and the start of school will be here before we know it. We got Kathryn's school supplies ordered a couple of weeks ago (what a great idea to have a service for that now); her school uniforms will be available on Wednesday, and I've got a couple of meetings set for work at Eastfield the last week of August. School starts for all of us on the 24th. We went to the zoo a couple of weeks ago, and Kathryn had dance camp last week. Harold, Kathryn and I have gone to Six Flags three times this summer and still haven't gotten to see the glow in the dark parade. I think that if we need a rain, all we have to do is plan a trip to Six Flags. Kristi and Brenna are coming this weekend, and I think that Jalane is coming with them.

Part II of Brenna Kate

I can't believe what a beautiful grandchild I have. She's also brilliant (obviously). She already knows how to take her half out of the middle of the bed. She can't help but be beautiful with the parents she has.

Sisters Part II

Perhaps the best parts of the aforementioned Sisters Weekend was getting to spend the night with Kristi and marveling with Jeanette at how great our kids turned out. We missed Kathy so much but I really enjoyed the others. Here are a few more pics.

Sisters Weekend

Got back late yesterday from a modified Sisters Weekend, a tradition started about 10 years ago with Jeanette, Kathy, and me in Salado. As the kids grew up, we added the daughters, and it became a Sisters and Daughters weekend. This year, we added the grandkids and now Kathryn, but we lost Kathy for this time because of a preplanned trip to Galveston. We had two sisters, three grown daughters, and five grandkids/little daughters at Jeanette's in Wimberly. What a pack... more like a girl gang appearing on the streets of Greune. We had a fun time, but I'm either getting old or the heat is getting to me because I wouldn't call it necessarily restful! I did get some great shots, though! Here are a few:

Another milestone...

I took the real estate exam today and passed it! I was relieved and a little excited. It's another accomplishment in my life. Kristi asked how many careers I'm covering right now... :). I am still working on the Student Learning Outcomes project with one college and on a grant with another; so, along with the SS business, I guess that makes 3 or 4!

This is the problem with starting something. You have to keep up with it. I can't believe it's been over a week since I wrote anything. Kathyrn had swim lessons last M-Th and this week M-Tu. We finished up today. She and I picked up K's friend, Laura, after swim class and met Brittany and Analese at Hawaiian Falls last Tuesday, then went to Dave McSpadden's installation as Rotary District Governor in Dallas that night. We planned to go to the zoo on Wednesday, but it was too hot, so we went to see "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" in 3D. We had the last swim class for the week on Thursday, then rushed to get Meals on Wheels delivered.

We had a pretty busy July 4 weekend, helping Melissa decorate the Crape Myrtle Queens float and going to the Wax celebration on the 3rd for a tailgate party and to watch fireworks, then going to the parade on Saturday the 4th. We watched the parade from the Farrar's house on Main, then when the CNB float came by, Mark Singleton called Kathryn to come ride it with him, and she rode on the float the rest of the way. It was already super hot at 11am, and she got a little overheated. We went to the Farmer's Market downtown after that, then came home and crashed a while, swimming later in the day with Amber and her kids. We had such a good time with them. They left about 8:00 or so, and we went over to Tommie and Lee's at dark to watch the fireworks from their yard. We went to church, then went out on the boat and floated on the lake in the afternoon.

Back to swim lessons yesterday, and then K and I went to see "Night at the Museum" and got her hair trimmed and our nails done. Then H and I worked on a presentation from the time he got home until about 10:30 last night. Tomorrow, we leave for a conference. Seriously, I wonder how I ever worked full time. I registered to take my real estate exam next week. Brenna is easily turning over now and is enjoying her Bob stroller with walks with her parents and newly trained dogs. I can't wait to see them next week!

Photos for this posting: Kathryn climbing the rock wall at the 4th of July celebration; Kathryn and Harold at Chili's after decorating the float on Friday; and beautiful baby Brenna, compliments of Travis keeping me up to date on pictures!

It's Sunday and a lazy day. We went out on the boat earlier, had lunch with Lee and Tommie and their kids and are going over to Mark and Brit's in a little while. What a beautiful day, even though it's hot! It was 103 yesterday, and Harold, Layne, and Melissa worked the bike race. Kathryn and I went to Annun's birthday party and then we all went to our new neighbors' house down the street for an open house. Jerome and Lynda Begnaud live in Houston but built a beautiful weekend home here. This picture of our house is several years old, but I still love it. It reminds me when I used to ride a jet ski past it wondering if we'd ever get it and live on the lake.

Other updates...

I can't quite figure this out yet, but I posted more than showed up on the last posting, so here are other events that happened last week:

* We went to Chuck E. Cheese's on Saturday and Kathryn and Dad played air hockey among other games.

* We went to Joe and Annette's for Father's Day and played in their pool.

* Brenna did a 180 in her bed and was discovered mysteriously on her tummy this morning - wide awake and quiet. Did someone have a BYOB party at her crib last night?

* We had our Meals on Wheels fundraiser on Monday night.

* Michael Jackson and Farrah Faucett died yesterday.