Ouch

Right now I am enjoying the sounds of the lawnmower being pushed through my back yard by grandpa Butch and my coughing, asthmatic son who is on a stool watching through the glass door. I am hunched in my computer chair so I don't hurt the sutures in my belly button and burst my newly repaired hernia. Ahhh. So relaxing!

Tonight we are all heading to the LA County fair to ride in the Claremont Day Parade with our own honored "hero" Roro. She is so excited and I know I will be once my entire crew finally manages to arrive on time. She has only asked me 314 times what time we will get there so no pressure. I am really looking forward to some good, greasy fair food and to celebrate my cool mom!

New School Year

Last week was the start of a new school year for the Tucker family. Eric and I somehow managed to get our classrooms ready a few weeks prior without ending our marriage. Shwew! It helps that I am a morning person and he is an evening person. We just rotated.

Now the other morning person in the family started the big first grade! But not like his usual self he was slow to wake up that morning. Probably because the night before, at his first piano lesson, he was holding his ear and complaining of pain. I knew it was swimmer's ear since there were no other symptoms. So I dosed him up with some ear drops that were Luke's and gave him some Motrin and then prayed that the morning would be brighter. Nope! A few more drops and more Motrin and he was up and ready for school. (If it was contagious I wouldn't have sent him! I promise!) Butch was the lucky first day dropper offer and was able to get Zac to Condit on time and even snapped some photos. We found out the Friday before that Zac got the teacher we were hoping for and one of his best friends is in his class. So perfect! Now if he can just control that charming clownish behavior he inherited from someone...


As for my late night child, princess Claire, the Early Childhood center was closed for its annual 2 weeks. But she did have her first soccer practice! It was super great until the coach had the girls play a game where the coach was a "monster" who was going to take the ball away. Tears. Next game. You have to kick the ball every time you get squirted in the face with a water bottle. More tears. Last game. Cowboys and Indians (Yeah. Super politically correct!) where the "Indians" run while the "Cowboys" try to hit the "Indians" with the ball. Massive tears and we are done. Good times. We'll try again next week. Then ballet started Thursday. Oops. Missed it. Sorry Claire. You will never know until you are old enough to read this blog. :)


16 month old awesome guy, Luke, is as adventurous as ever. He has a few more bumps on his forehead, some new sounds that he uses to convey meaning (no words :/), he's only run into the street once, and we almost lost him at the soccer field. Other than that he is the sweetest, happiest, lovable baby. Big milestone - we have cut pacifier time down to sleep time. Yay! His big day is next Wednesday when he begins his stint at the Early Childhood Center. We (this includes child care providers Butch and Roro) can't wait!


We saw Sara last weekend who had already begun her middle school years. Because of this big change in her world she has decided to visit us a little less for now. I only cried for one night and know that all will be well. It was only a matter of time. Thank goodness for text messaging. She's really talented at that!

I'm Back

Last Wednesday my brother and his family flew in for a visit. They are due to leave here in about 1 hour. I often wait until my extremely intelligent and witty sister-in-law blogs about the trip to save me the trouble. But I thought I would try to be impressive and get a very big head start!

In the last six days my children and their cousins have done more swimming than we have accomplished the entire summer. Sara, Zac, and Andrew (the big kids) took over the big pool while Thomas and Claire turned the spa into a baby pool. It was fabulous! Only a few times did we have to pry the "big kids" out of the spa to restore calm and peace. Luke happily climbed, fell, ate sand, fell, and played every day. Thankfully there were many other adults to keep an eye on that busy baby!

Friday we woke up early, put on our Be Good To People shirts and traveled to Sea World. It was so worth the early wake up call and the 2 hour drive to watch the looks of awe and joy on our kid's faces. Highlights on that trip were the water rides with wet shivering kids who could care less, Eric and Sara sitting 2 rows away from Shamu and getting completely drenched, a very witty Sea Lion show, Shamu necklaces for the kids, and Luke pointing and smiling at the Orca whales sailing out of the water.

Saturday was RoRo's 70th birthday. We had a yummy lunch at P.F. Changs, splashed the kids in the fountain at Victoria Gardens, drove 30 minutes to Yogurtland and came home for more swimming. After dinner we all gathered around to sing and celebrate RoRo. She was pretty excited when she opened up her present to find an ipad. Happy Birthday mom!


Sunday, after more swimming, Eric and I got to spend an evening out with Mark and Susan!! Kid. Free. We saw a movie then devoured a teppan dinner. So fun! I am officially declaring this tradition since we have now accomplished this task three times the last three visits. Well done us!

Monday we boarded a train (Butch's idea! I know. Shocking. Even to him!)to Olvera Street and enjoyed lunch and some shopping. Actually we browsed while slapping hands and voicing threats to the children who wanted to buy everything within reach. I am so glad we didn't come home with a mini guitar! Oh, and we had a celebrity encounter. Ed Begley, Jr. Cool!

Today the swimming stopped. Much to the disappointment of my children. They are currently asking to go swim tonight. I think we may give Butch and RoRo a well deserved break from the chaos. I'm sure as we speak Butch is caressing his spa and balancing chemicals that were surely thrown way off this weekend. Worth every minute!

P.S. Thank you my devoted readers that I didn't know existed. Stalk me anytime! ;)

A Break

I think I am going to take a small blog break. Some one super helpful pointed out that I have a lot of spelling and grammatical mistakes. I guess I will start writing again when I am not sleep deprived and/or don't have a 1 year old crying at my knee. But I also know that only 2 people read this and I think you both will still love me even with allll my spllinng erers. It don't bother you. Rite? ;)


I can't find any pictures of myself that properly illustrate this post. But I found one of Zac that does! :)

Wacky Wednesday. AYSO Soccer Camp.

The Beginning

I have just completed my fifth day of summer. School ended last Thursday as did the complete chaos.

I finished "checking out" of my class room today and when I asked my principal if I should turn in my key he said, "No!" I guess we can look at that as a good thing. Unfortunately he has very little, if any, impact on my fate in the district. But for now I've got my key and my bearded dragon isn't moving to my parent's garage, but staying in Room 3 for now.

Eric attended his old school's graduation and had a very warm reception of course. He finally felt contented enough in Claremont (heavy sigh of relief insert here) to go back to visit San Dimas. At Claremont's graduation ceremony he was asked by quite a few students (including the valedictorian) to hand them their diploma. Pretty cool for a first year teacher!

Zac completed Kindergarten with flying colors and is so excited to be a first grader. Claire is super excited to be almost a Kindergartner. She is a crack up!

Luke got his first bee sting today and survived. Wouldn't you know it, I stepped inside to use the facilities and when I returned Zac was yelling, "Luke got stung by a bee!" UGH! According to Zac, who by the way is being my very best stay at home and run errands buddy, the bee landed in the water table and Luke picked it up. Flash back to Zac at two years old except exchange water table for baby blow up pool.

Summer vacation is off to a great start! I have just a few goals to accomplish. Most are completely unrealistic, but aren't they always? I'll let you know when I loose 15lbs. and completely reorganize the house. ;)

Bubble Man

Back in April, during Spring Break, Eric and I took Zac and Claire to the Discovery Science Center. While there we saw a show with the amazing bubble man, Fan Yang. It was really cool for the kids and admittedly quite fascinating for the adults as well. It was a full production with colored strobe lights, techno music, and choreographed bubble art! Apparently it really struck a chord with Eric. He was truly inspired.

Sunshine

Today the sun is shining and things are looking brighter around this house! Here is what we are doing today on this lovely Sunday. (Yeah. Not church. Guilt.)



In the weeks before today we have battled the stomach flu (Happy Mother's Day to me!), completed a masters thesis (Eric), received a final notice of "Nonreemployment" (me), prepared for Open House (mine), and fought another asthma attack/pneumonia (Luke) - scariest episode yet! Once again without the help of family we wouldn't survive it at all! There are days, and I know at least one person reading this can bond;), that I don't think I can manage it all. I am amazed my friendships, and marriage have persevered with only a little reparable damage!


A few extras -

*Eric is not nonreemployed (my new favorite not real word). He got an intent to rehire letter. Yay!

*Claire - (throwing up) I feel like I'm going to cry. Me - It's ok to cry, you are really sick and it is no fun! Claire - OK... Waaaaahhhhhh!!!

*Zac - (After I told him I can't go to an event at his school.) I want my Butchy to go!

*Sara "graduated" from 5th grade. She is now an official Junior High kid! She is so excited!

*As I type this, Luke is running around the house, in a diaper, with a pacifier in his mouth, and a hand full of my tampons. I think it's a step up from the pooper scooper.