I Need An Education

A few posts ago, I mentioned that as soon as I finished assembling shopping carts, strollers, and all other things secured to packaging like it's trying to escape the North Korean border, I would debut MY Christmas toys. Alas, I lack the skills to even have fun with my toy. I must have been a very good girl this year because I got a new camera from my Mother-in-Law and I got Photoshop Elements 8 from my Mom. I haven't explored the ways of my camera yet, but I am capable of just taking a picture and being satisfied with it. However, Photoshop is another story. I can't even figure out how to get a photo into the system to edit! I feel like a fool, I really do. I am usually pretty good at getting a photo editing program and messing around with it long enough to figure it out...but oh no, not this super top secret Photoshop. So...if anyone has the time, energy and know-how to teach this old dog some new tricks, I'd sure appreciate it. Or even better, if someone has read a good Photoshop for Dummies or something of its kind, let me know. Thanks! I hope to be getting an education soon.

Tucker's Fourth Birthday

He has always been unexpected, it seems. And yet, I can't imagine life without him. I am usually so calculated in every move I make. Every decision is carefully thought out and executed. Nothing happens unless it's written down and posted to the schedule. Maybe God gave me this lesson in spontaneity so that I can learn that unplanned events aren't as scary as I think they are. Sometimes, the unexpected things in life are things you cherish the most.

He was unexpected when we found out I was pregnant. We had planned on starting a family when Matt returned from Afghanistan, but who knew it would only take a week! Matt always joked that Tucker would be half Samoan, we were living in Hawaii at the time.

It was unexpected how incredibly sick I would be throughout the entire pregnancy.

It was unexpected that he wasn't a she! We thought we would have a girl.

It was unexpected on December 19, 2005 when my water broke, SEVEN weeks early. I was freaking out and I could recall the moment like it was yesterday. But with the understanding that I'm not dealing with an entirely female audience, I will spare the details and just say my water broke and I was freaking out. I went to the hospital on Monday morning and was induced in the evening on Friday the 23rd and had our wonderful boy on Christmas Eve at 4:28am.

It was unexpected that he would go home from the Special Care Nursery after only 14 days. He still had 4 weeks until his due date when we put him in our car for the first time.

It was unexpected how emotional I would be on his first birthday. I lost count of how many times I cried that day.

I have been caught off guard so many times with this young boy that I think God is telling me to stop scheduling. Stop freaking out. Stop trying to run the show. Let God, God....everything will be alright. Here is a picture of my beautiful, intelligent and always funny, Tucker Bukieda Glem getting ready to blow out the candles on his 4th birthday cake. *sigh*

Always Getting Stuck

Not sure if you remember this photo, but this summer Tucker got a pool diving ring stuck on his knees. Here's the latest, "I'm stuck" scene. He was helping me bake some bread and I turned around to answer the phone. When I turned around again (15 seconds later) Addie had the spatula with the batter running down her arm and Tucker had stuck is finger in the hole of the Kitchen Aid bowl. Don't you love how he smiles no matter what is happening? I just say "smile" and I have a bright, shiny smile that looks like he could be at Disneyland instead of having his finger stuck in a bowl.