Cut It!!

Alright, I’ve been hankerin’ to cut my hair off for some time.

What has kept me from doing this very act, you ask?

Simply the fact I have not the fundage for such nonsense.

And Justin.

BUT, my neighbor and good friend is also a former hair stylist for celebrities . . . ok, maybe not celebrities, but she still knows and is educated in hair cutting essentials . . . unlike yours truly.

Its a sign . . . a sign that I am to cut my loverly locks into a manageable and more mature do. Cuz I’m mature and stuff.

HAA HAA!

Yeah, not really.  But I will have pics late tonight . . . since she is cutting once boys fall into a deep sleep for the night.

So, til then . . .

Me hair, right now . . . this is not my new cut . . . this is my current do.  I am going bold tonight . . . short short.  I haven’t done this in a decade or so . . . so we’ll see how turns out.  I’m excited . . . are you excited? I’m excited.

I need a life.

Call Me Ma’am

31 years old, as of yesterday. Me. I feel and act like I’m about 22 years old. I don’t look it.

We bought dinner and rented a movie . . . and, oh yeah, ice cream . . . but not from 31 flavors. Justin got me Cold Stone. Ok, thats better than Baskin Robbins, hands down.

So, I weigh 10 lbs heavier than I weighed yesterday morning. I’m joking. I decided not to weigh . . .

But we watched Rambo . . . um, the new one. I don’t know what the official title is, but its Rambo, with the old Sylvester Stallone. But buffed, no worries. He still looks like he could rip your throat out with his bare hands . . . and he does that very thing to one of the bad guys . . . one of the most violent movies I watched in awhile. But I liked the story. The other thing is, it was only one hour and twenty minutes long. I don’t think that I’ve watched that short of a movie, well, ever. The exception being animated flicks.

Funny cuz its violence, taking place in a real-life civil war, thats occurring right now in Burma . . . people dieing, heads being blown off, arms and legs being blown off . . . pretty much whole bodies being blown apart . . . but I didn’t cry once. Hundred of people died, on screen, and I shed not a tear.

I watch PS, I Love You and I cried, pretty much, the entire length of the movie . . . over one man’s death . . . one. Amazing how the emotions can be manipulated . . .

Ok, apparently I needed to do a movie review of sorts. Hmmm . . .

So, good birthday in all! Exceptional because I was surrounded by my family that loves me exceptionally!

Thats me . . . I didn’t really take any pictures yesterday cuz I’m partially retarded . . . so this’ll have to do. And, no, I’m not getting ready to attack anyone or bite anyone’s head off . . . just a really really happy grin . . . from your’s truly.

Jack in Action

I have my moments, my days, and sometimes even a full week, that I don’t care much for the dog we chose to buy over 3 years ago.  He’s quirky, hyper (understatement) and kinda needy . . . like a kid but with hair and poop and pee . . . ok, maybe hair all over his body, that he consistently sprinkles all over my floor (couch, chairs, beds, cars, etc) is the only difference.  And he’s of the canine species . . . my kids aren’t.

But, over the years he has wormed his psychotic self into my dark and brittle heart.  So I’m finding I have more moments, days, and sometimes even a full week that I like that Byron is a intricate part of our daily lives.

And he is the sole reason we pay visits to the expansive dog park at Minto-Brown Park.  He loves it, we love it, the kiddos love it and everyone goes home happy . . . and tired.

Did I mention he has springs in his back legs.  He does, quite literally . . . we had them inserted as a pup, they automatically grew with his body.

Just Kidding.  Its all natural ability . . . “born with it”, as they say.

Wow, if I wasn’t annoyed, I would be impressed.

So, jumping (springing) is one, among many, activities that Byron Tucker loves to perform.

Running is his favorite of all time!  He can run and run and run and run . . . forever, I’m pretty sure.  He’s at his best when Justin is play-chasing with him.  As if he’d ever catch him.  I think he might believe, somewhere deep down, that he’s part Greyhound race-dog.

And he’s off!!

Nothin’ but backside!

Ope, here he comes!

Just a streak . . .

Aaannd, there he goes again!

Another favorite of the crazy species of Byron is fetch. This game can last hours on end and once you start . . . beware you are roped in long term.

The eldest spawn has located a chunk of a stick . . .

You’ll have to excuse the fuzziness of some these pics . . . a few of them are cropped way down . . . since the group of males were walking quite a bit in front of me (and I was walking while taking pictures . . . one eye on the digital screen and one eye on Samuel, since he was my responsibility while at the dog park).   Anyway . . . there goes Tobias with his treasure of a stick . . . proud he was!

At some point he chucked it . . . Byron located and retrieved it . . . and is now bringing it back . . .

Aaahh, and the hawt hubby relents and throws it again . . . starting the unending game of fetch.

Eventually he gets tired. I think our average stay at the dog park is about an hour . . . maybe a tiny bit longer.  If kiddos weren’t involved the trips would last longer but they get tired . . . and so do we.

After a trip to the dog park

And, occasionally (rarely), we get hot from the early summer sun. Um, this doesn’t happen often.  Poor Samuel turns beat red, immediately, in the heat . . . even before he’s sweating, he’s red in his face. Makes him look so much hotter than he is.

He’ll sleep good tonight!

Here’s to Byron!

God Bless!

29 years

This is Justin, demanding I stop taking pictures . . . “knock it off!” . . . is the actual verbage that spewed from his grumpy mouth. I tend to overdue it with the old camera. And no, I didn’t stop taking pictures . . . one of those annoying things about me . . . a habit he will conform to. . . eventually

Or, I learn to take them when he’s not looking. hee hee. He’s muscle-y. Me likey! Oh, those are our spawn . . . Tobias and Samuel . . . they’re cute too.

Or when he’s too busy playing. Thats a good time to snap a few shots. Thats our crazy Jack, Byron. He’s been known to spring straight up in the air, at the height of approximately 5 feet or so. Though, from a running start, he can get upwards of 6 feet.

oh, watch them pants, there gettin’ down there. (Sam’s pants, that is)

Ope, pants all pulled back up . . . thats good. Don’t want any of them diaper shots in here.

Justin is a great husband! He’s a great dad too! The last few pics are from our last trip to the dog park . . . playing with the kiddos.

My hot, sexy, and occasionally grumpy hubby (see above) is 29 years old today. So is my sister’s, Amy, but I don’t write blog posts about Amy. Maybe I should. She is a cool sister and friend!! PROfessional graphic designer and she’s so naturally talented with art, singing, and being hip that it makes me want to pat her really hard on top of the head . . . but I love her dearly, so I’ll refrain.

Yes, Amy is 27 years old this year . . . Justin is 29. Still in their 20’s. I’m not. I have fully detached myself from my 20’s. I am going to be 31 in 3 days. AACCK!!

I can’t explain how proud I am of Justin. Right now he’s working his back end off, getting final projects done, starting a painting gig that’ll pay some of our bills next month and dealing with getting errands done today. No, these errands I wouldn’t have been any help . . . so no criticizing me, ok.

All on his birthday.

I remember I used to schedule the day off from work, when it was my b-day. Of course I took any excuse to schedule time off. Carp! Um, ok enough about me . . .

So, I just wanted to put a ‘Happy Birthday!’ out there to my true love!

Oh yeah . . . And, Happy Birthday, Amy!

Both very special people in me life!

My sista, Amy, holding Samuel. July 2007. Her hubby is the photographer . . . thats what he does.

Happy M Day

Mother’s Day . . . a day I attribute to my mother, not me.  I’ve been a mother only 3 years, and only to 2 children.  My mother has been a mother for 32 years, going on 33 years on June, and she’s been a fantastic mom to 7 kids, and one more added when she was a teenager; so 8 kids.  We’re all grown up and moved out now but she still takes up responsibility for us when we get in a pickle . . . more or less financially, anymore.  But her moral support and wisdom take the cake.  The older I get the more I’m aware of our similarities and quirks that mirror each others . . .  I’m sure I’m mirroring her more than the other way around . . .

That’s my momma on the left (obviously) and daddy and he’s holding Braxton, my nephew . . . and then Samuel is in my mom’s lap and Tobias is there too. This was July of last year, so a bit dated.

So my thoughts are with my mom today. Of course the card I bought was late being mailed so she won’t get until Tuesday or something but its the thought, right.  And I have a reputation to uphold here, you know.

I woke up this morning and my husband had beat me to the punch; getting the alert kiddos out of their cribs, feeding them, changing them, etc.  I went walk/jogging cuz I was feeling mighty guilty about the pizza I ate last night and I like to walk by myself . . . well, by myself with Bonko Byron

Yep, Bonko Byron . . . that would be the white streak of white off to your right.

Ah, it was a beautiful morning too . . . sunshine and all.  We went about 3 miles or so and came home.  My batteries a bit more charged.

Knowing Justin did have to put some hours in at work I didn’t want to bug him about going to the park or anything but it slipped anyway and he immediately agreed.  We packed Toby’s big wheel and the stroller and headed to Minto Brown Park . . . paved bike paths galore!!  Justin was teaching Tobias how to peddle the big wheel and when that got old . . . which, with a three year old, doesn’t take very long . . . played on the playground and then walked down to the dog park to let Bonko Byron run his energetic butt off. All with thick rain clouds intermixed with bright blue and sunshine . . . gorgeous and one of my favorite types of weather. Gotta compromise straight sunshine here in the Western bit of Oregon, eh.

You guessed it, I forgot my camera . . . again. But thats alright, I enjoyed myself so much that I would have forgotten it was there anyway.

Oh yeah, I got a card too . . . so funny . . . so Justin’s humor and it made it that much more special; and the one-of-a-kind Toby art drawn inside. Love it!

Words that describe how I feel about motherhood, in my severely limited experience:

*Love

*Fulfilling

*Protective

*Unconditional

*Sacrificial

*Overwhelming

*Challenging

*Commitment

*Insecure

*Secure

*Lonely

*Busy

*Tiring

*Worry

*Prayerful

*Hope

*Snuggle

Most of all I wanna be the best mom I can be to both my boys . . . as different as they are, I want them to come to their full potential; not in the world’s standards, but their full potential in what God has for them.  That their lives be full of the fruits of spirit because of their personal relationship with the one true God . . . spilling over into every part of their existence. And that they have confidence, not in and of themselves, but confidence in the one who ultimately created them and know His love and truth are secure no matter what happens in their natural world.

Again, this is July of 2007 . . . the boys were: Tobias 27 months and Samuel 10 months . . . give or take a few weeks. Oh yeah, and thats me, tanned from summer sun. Love that summer sun. I think Tobias was trying to get down and push Sam away at the same time; quite the feat.  And Sam was glaring or something at Tobias. hee hee . . . they were both squirming, I remember that.

So I have many friends and family that take on the same challenges, and more, in mothering their children . . . I want to wish you all a  Happy Mother’s Day and I hope your day was as full of peace and love!!

God Bless!

dog park

Since the purchase of our pooch, Byron, 3 years ago, dog parks have been an active part of our weekly . . . if not . . . daily lives.   He is, as you probably are already aware, a Parson Russell Terrier . . . also known as a Jack Russell (I’m not sure if “Russell” is spelled with 2 L’s or not, who cares).  Jacks are notoriously high energy, they were bred that way for fox hunting purposes.  We are the idiots that bought a high energy breed of dog but now he has wormed his spring-like self into the center of our hearts . . . so he’s stuck with us.

Since the big move to Salemland we had yet to find a loverly dog park to take our exercise deprived animal, to wear out him adequately.  No amount of walks or jogs can squelch the amazing resilience of his Jack energy. But dog parks take a little bit of it out of him, thankfully.

3 weeks ago we found one.  A dog park.  25 acres of leash-less abound! So many dogs, so many acres of green grass to romp, pee, and poop . . . but mostly romp.  And it is so spread out that I don’t mind the kiddos walking on the bark paths with us, instead of squashed in the stroller to watch the going ons.  So, in a fashion, its a dog and kid park.

And, thankfully, summer is slowing taking over, so the weather has been oh so nice!

Here are some pictures of the outing yesterday, late afternoon.  We’ve been multiple times but I managed to remember my camera . . . and I managed to remember to take pictures once we arrived.

Setting out for a walk around 25 acres of off-leash glory!!

Byron, Tobias and Samuel . . . in the lush scenery.

Tobias, growing up . . . so good looking. I’m not biased in any way though.

Samuel at the dog park. Didn’t have time to edit this one before the real live Samuel woke up from naptime.  And now that he’s sitting on me, fresh from a nap, I’m going. He’s good looking too, by the way.

Three is a Crowd

I have two beautiful boys. Beautiful, I’ll say it again. Inside and out, that is.

Today a third was added to our numbers, just for the day, while my sister went to Vancouver to check out a new car. Yeah, we’re on the way here in Salem-land . . . so she dropped off my nephew, Braxton. This wasn’t a rare occasion when we lived less than 10 minutes away, but now we are over an hour . . . its a rare occasion.

I enjoyed the day, despite that we were basically trapped indoors due to the weather and, on top of that, my boys decided it was melt-down day . . . yeah, can we get a nap time. They did but they didn’t sleep. Ugh.

Braxton was a dream . . . as my boys probably would have been outside of their element.

We watched lots of Disney movies. Well, they played in the background whilst the business of playing with trucks and out on the patio, during sun-breaks, took place. They didn’t seem to notice the flicks of animation until they were over . . . then they proceeded to beg me to turn on another. And I was in the mood to indulge. So the tv and dvd player will have less visitors the next few days . . . I hope the weather gets better so we can live outdoors.

Ok, I also have to say . . . Tobias turned 3 years old three weeks ago and, if I’m not mistaken, he’s changing . . . and not for the better ( not better for mother tucker anyway). I thought I had it bad with tantrums from, a bit before two on, but this isn’t tantrums this is just a bad attitude or something. My mom told me yesterday she was gonna tell me that 3 years old is crappier than 2 years old when I complained about the 2 year old era but she didn’t want to scare me. Great. So here I am, terrible 3’s? Ugh! He’s usually not hard to discipline but I’m having to be more direct with him and really talk to him about what he’s doing . . . so much more energy.

Alrighty, I’m done whining. I’ve got it made, I tell ya, I’m home with my kiddos . . . what a blessing!! And I get to deal with the different stages, instead having to leave it someone else’s hands . . . its a gift and I know it.

So I mentioned I started jogging early morning . . . yeah, Justin’s work schedule changed for him to be there, majority of the week, at 5:30am. Guess what, I don’t have a treadmill and I ain’t runnin’ in the dark in this here neighborhood. I’m not sure I would in any neighborhood. So, back to work out videos but as it warms, I’ll get my jiggle on . . . in other words, I’ll run more. Sorry if that creates too much visualization for ya.

Alrighty I got some pics of the boys for ya from today. I do love pictures, mostly my own, but I love looking at other people’s photos too. I can go to flickr and look at random photos for hours . . . odd, you say . . . maybe but there are some pretty professional looking photos there. Type in ‘light’ in the search bar and it brings up some nice pics! Mine, not so professional . . . but fun nonetheless.

Braxton and Samuel, focused on Retro Rocket . . . super toy.

Tobias, Braxton on Retro Rocket and Samuel . . . apparently Retro Rocket and its rider are hypnotizing . . . this is the first glance of still life I had all day. And, yes, that is the very popular Cars movie playing on the screen . . . and, yes, no one is watching it.

This is more like it . . . chasing the pooch for the millionth time. Byron looks defeated but I’m pretty sure he’s also chewing up one the stolen crackers he managed whilst the chasing occurred.

Where the pooch goes when the tots have bestowed too much loving attention.

This is what it did most of the day . . . well, weirdly intense moments of sunshine, then this, then some rain, then some really intense sunshine, then this, then some rain . . . you get it?  Yeah, crrrraazy weather we’ve been gettin’.  I think they call it spring . . . maybe cuz it springs back and forth from winter to summer until summer finally takes over, eh?  Like that one?

I’m done jabbering.  I’m home alone tonight . . . today was/is Justin’s official shift day . . . Sunday was a makeup day since he missed last week’s. Thats my excuse for writing so much in one sitting.  I really really want some fatty butt ice cream . . . like Ben and Jerry’s S’mores . . . so bad, yet so good. I think I’ll go to bed instead. Can’t gain calories (i.e. more fat) by sleeping instead of eating, eh?

God Bless!

discover

I always thought I was adventurous.  Hey, I had traveled to Africa . . . lived in the ghettos of the outskirts of Nairobi . . . met and fell in love with a people  and land that I will never ever forget . . . a life altering experience (with God’s grace and protection).  I’ve experienced 50 mile endurance races . . . on horseback, that is . . . taking place on land and with people I knew nothing of; just colored tagging ribbons to light the non-path.  I’ve scuba dived and will continue to scuba dive the open ocean with my hunk of a husband. Fear has never been a strangle hold for me . . . as I know loved ones have dealt with. Don’t get me wrong . . . I’m not a daredevil, but I don’t mind indulging in the unknown, etc; and I definitely definitely have my limits!!

We move to Salem, Oregon and I am paralyzed in my apartment.  I ventured out in my own neighborhood . . . I have driven all of ten miles to a nice park on the edge of the Willamette University Campus . . . but I haven’t made an effort, at all, to get to know the city in which we’ve chosen to reside for the 3 years of Justin’s schooling.

Yesterday Justin and I went to South Salem . . . which seems much nicer than the area I live (which scares me in part. . . what was that about fear?) and enjoyed an immense park (like 900 acres).  They have an off-leash dog park area, consisting of 25 of those acres! Nice! Byron got to run about willy nilly and the boys had a chance to also wear themselves out quite nicely (reason for the early nap today)  . . . so we will be back there soon. And, of course, I forgot my camera.

But it hit me that, by summer, I need to have scouted out hiking opportunities, walking paths, swimming areas and hang outs that don’t require us to be on busy streets.  I might have to put my explorer hat on and take on the task.  Not ‘might’ . . . I have to . . . or I will go nuts holed up in my tiny area of Salem with very little to do.

Thats all I got to say about that.  I miss Eugene, mostly because I knew where stuff was . . . hiking, swimming, etc . . . but there is an excitement with figuring out new areas, getting lost, finding my way, etc.

God Bless!

frequent

I haven’t been writing quite as often as I used to . . . like two times a day. hee hee. But I’m apparently making up for lost time today with 3 posts in one day. Pathetic is what they call it.

Anyhoody . . . I mentioned the outing to the zoo last week (week ago from this past Wednesday) and that I was the royal dunce and forgot my handy dandy camera . . . my beloved and cherished possession . . . not kidding about that.

Ok, so Justin’s momma was good enough to send me some photos of the time at the zoo and the restaurant afterwards.  She has edited and “scrapbooked” them for me (and grandma Lu) . . . so here they are . . .

From top left (your left): Justin’s mom, grandma, Tobias and dad, me. Botton row, Taylor, Aunt Kim, Justin’s dad, Sam in the stroller. That fleece I’m wearing makes me look fat . . . or I am fat, crap!

Top left, Justin, his grandma and Tobias. Next one on the top, Taylor, me, Sam in the stroller and Grandma Lu. Bottom is Justin, Tobias and Grandma Lu

Again, I did not edit these . . . not that they are not cute, but they are in Justin’s mom’s style and words . . . note “Gama meets the Tuckers”. Don’t know . . . I call her Lu, not Gamma.

Ok, the pics are Grandma Lu and Tobias . . . the fourth weird one, you got me . . . I don’t know. Must be a joke cuz these pics were sent to Lu as well.  Also we were not alerted to the fact that it was Lu’s birthday so I had the pleasure of being embarrassed for not being prepared with card or gift. Crap!

Story of my life.

I’m gonna get off this thing.  It must be cold outside cuz I am freezing sitting here in my bedroom this evening. Man . . . I might need the heat on. brrr

God Bless!

b-day

Tobias might be slightly confused.  He received a birthday card, in the mail, from grandma (my mom) last Sunday and toted it around for 3 or 4 days. The card was a bit larger than a regular birthday card and Thomas the Train graced the front and interior of it. The center, sort of kind of, popped up when you opened the card. I explained that his birthday was this week and so on.  So its been Tobias’ birthday for nearly a week, in his mind I’m sure.

To add to the confusion, I bake a cake . . . a nice cake, mind you . . . and Justin, myself, Tobias and Sam all celebrated together last night, after our trip to Toys’R'Us for him to spend the gift card that had been enclosed in the card Grandma M. sent.

Tobias on our way to Toys’R'Us . . . mmm juice

Tobias admiring some of his gifts . . . ones he picked out Very concentrated!

Pics of the cake . . . nothing spectacular but it turned out to be a good carrot cake w/cream cheese frosting . . . and, of course, candy ocean decs.

Tobias blowing the candles out . . . he was so proud of himself! So cute!

Tobias, thoroughly enjoying his gigantic piece of cake . . . not sure what I was thinking.

Samuel, enjoying a generous helping of T’s bday cake.

So we had much fun with Tobias yesterday afternoon/evening and then I went to the party warehouse place up here in Keizer and bought a few things to decorate for today’s extravaganza.  My sisters and their offspring came up today to celebrate, yet again, the 3 years Tobias has graced us with his personality and presence . . . 3 years that I am beyond grateful for.

In the midst of decorating for today (late last night) . . . remember we are in an apartment . . . at least until J is out of school . . . excuse the ugly pantry doors. hee hee

We had a great time hanging out and reconnecting (its been awhile since I had seen them all)  . . . we also utilized the playground. What else are you going to do with 3 toddlers and a 10 month old baby?

My sister, Amy, and her gargantuan camera . . . she is always the designated photographer . . . her own fault for buying such a load of camera!   Nah, she loves it!

My sista, Tiff, feeding Aidrik . . . he’s 10 months old! Holy mackerel, where has time flown to?

My eldest sister, Kelli, um . . . she’s concentrating real hard on that bag of chips . . . I think . . . Look at Toby, I think he’s frightened a little bit.

All the tots at play . . . thank goodness for playgrounds!

Samuel is covering his legs in bark-a-mulch . . . Braxton is digging in the potted flowers, aka throwing dirt with glee . . . and Tobias is happily playing with a few of his new cars and trucks.  I believe we called it quits outside seconds after this shot . . . the boys were getting very tired and it was warm . . . almost hot today, so we had had our fill.

The cupcakes created just for today’s fiesta.  Easy peasy and fun . . . nothing worth writing home about, but it cured the sugar craving of one 3 year old and 6 other hungry patrons. . .with the help a little banana cream pie icecream on the side.

Tobias water-painting for the first time, thanks to Aunt Kelli for the gift of the paints and book! Check out the cupcake in his right hand . . . hee hee

He got so much from his Toys R Us run we picked these hideous monster trucks out for him (he loves them!!) and waited until to today to give them to him.  He went to bed tonight . . . his monster trucks resting by his pillow.

Samuel managed to finagle two monster trucks from Tobias’ hot hand . . . no idea how!

So, there’s the picture show.  Hope it wasn’t too dull. I decided I didn’t want to be up until 3am editing pictures and such . . . so I just put them on here as is.  I tend to do this blog thing more for me and my fam than anything else, so there it is.

Happy 3rd Birthday, Tobias . . . many many many more to come!! God willing.

God Bless!