Welcome to the World, Little KT!

Born 12:34pm  January 29, 2010

5 lbs. 11 oz.

19" long

She's a darling.

KT's arrived....

No time for blogging....stay tuned....tonight I'll post (maybe)......

The big 3-0!

It's a milestone!  And here's where I deviate to make this "all about me."  My baby is turning 30.  That means that both of my children are now in their 30s.  This makes me officially over-the-hill, right?

Sigh....I think I'll have that mental breakdown now.

But, before I do, here's my very happy, happy birthday wishes to my baby girl.  You are about to embark on the greatest adventure of your lifetime, Colleen.  Having children will change your life in so many, wonderful and spectacular ways.  Enjoy the ride, savor every step, and write names and dates on the back of every picture (ha!!) You'll thank me for that advice later, if you can remember to.  Love you!

What a looker!

Mr. Herbert Russell "Sonny" Schwencke of San Antonio, Texas. 

I had a real giggle when I saw those sleeves rolled up, and then looked back at the picture of Mike in my older post.

Awwww....

Must have been the macho man style of about 1949!

Movie Review --- Book of Eli

Thought provoking, for sure.  Bleak, yes.  This movie highlights the honest fact that "humans" will sink to the basest point when there are no laws or civilization in place. 

Denzel Washington carries the whole movie.  I enjoyed it, but I can't say I loved it.  It's not the kind of movie that you can love, I don't think.  It's more meant for discussion.
One thing that the character of Eli said that stuck with me.  "I've been so busy reading and studying the Book for so long, I've forgotten to live my life by the lessons that it taught me."  That's not word, for word, rather from my memory, but the idea is there.  This reminded me of those many TV preachers that we can all remember who are caught in scandal after scandal, believing that they should get "credit" for just reading and spreading the "word" and then acting any way they want.  Or a few Catholic priests. It's sad how religion can be bent.
I recommend the movie in that light - watch it and discuss.
There's a twist at the end.  No, I'm not telling.
There's an old couple in a house in the countryside that we'll all recognize.  Did you?
JR, it ends in San Francisco!
 

Update below!
I think this picture is of my paternal grandmother, Mary Catherine Russell, Mike, Me, Danny and Dad. 
It's marked Fox Co. July 1957.  Could that be right? 

No, I didn't cut off the picture, it was already like that.  Wonder why?

Anyway, we obviously were going somewhere special, all dressed up with ties and hats.  Dad is in a bow tie and it looks like Mike is in a cowboy tie! Smooothhhh!!!

I'm confused by the front of the house.  I remember there being a big cement planter along the front, but it's not there.  Did they add that later?  I have questions!

Update:  I actually got to thinking about my memories of my Grandma Schwencke after putting this picture up.  My most vivid memory is that she would come to our house on the weekends every once in a while, and my mom would wash her hair.  I can remember her sitting in the living room in a straight back chair, and mom taking down her bun.  

She wore a bun all the time that I ever saw her.  Mom started unpinning her bun and started untwisting her iron grey hair, and I was expecting shoulder length hair, but it just kept unrolling and unrolling and it was the thinnest few strands of grey hair, but about three feet long!  Inside was this donut looking spongy bun-holder.  Amazing!  Mom would wash her hair and then dry it in the living room, then take that donut and begin rolling that long thin hair back up.  Whew!  Do women still do that anymore?  I'm going to take a good look at the next bun I see... don't mind me as I follow that old lady down the hall. ha ha!

Good night, nurse!

Here she is, Rebecca Schwencke, R.N.  The back of the photo only has one thing, the number 23.  Which might be her age at the time of the photo, or it might not... not sure.  If so, this might be around 1949 or 1950.  

This is a lesson to me to write something on the back of every photo I have printed.  My kids may be looking through ours some day and they won't have a clue!

The G'Parents...

This is a photo of my maternal grandparents, Edward and Emily Vahalik.

The stamp on the side of the picture is June 68.

I have so many memories of their farm down in Yoakum, Texas.  We went there just about every holiday, a long drive both ways in one day (inevitably one or two of us would end up asleep on the floorboard of the car on the way back to San Antonio - it was warm down there!) There was alwsy lots and lots of food.  The bathroom was an addition to the front of the house (an upgrade from an outhouse!) and Grandpa's shaving razor strap was hanging on the side of it.  An old black walnut tree on the back cement porch.  Several barns that we crawled around in, and a stock tank to walk to. Sandy ground, with flowers planted all around the house by Grandma.  A water tank up on stilts on the side of the house, and an honestly real water well and windmill in the front yard.  That was forever fascinating to us as kids - on windy days it would clang! clang! clang!  We used to spend part of those long days down in some water pockets in the field trying to catch crawdads with bacon on a string, and avoiding Grandpa's bull.  Good times.

Dad on a pony...

This photo has
"Herbert R. Schwencke at 322 Taft Blvd,
San Antonio, Texas, by a photographer who
came by home in the neighborhood, 1928"
on the back. 

Lookin' good there, pardner!

Baby's Room

I am so proud of the room that Jeff and Colleen have created for their daughter, KT.  It is absolutely fantastic.  Thanks to Jeff's mom and sister for coming in this weekend and finishing the project that Colleen and I started, the baby's bumper and cover for the bed.  It turned out beautifully (it helps that Debbie is a quilter!) I need to learn that craft, too.   

KT's Baby Shower

We had such a great time yesterday at the baby shower.  Colleen has such a great bunch of friends, and they really put on a nice event for her and Jeff.  Thank you so much to her friends and family for everything.  The baby's room is fantastic!  Now we just need that bundle of joy to make it complete! To see all of the photo's, go here: http://picasaweb.google.com/JohnandPatForsythe/KTSShowerJanuary2009SanAntonio#

Shower Number 2!

I'm really looking forward to the next baby shower for KT, Colleen and Jeff.  Tomorrow! Yeah!  And Grammy and Grumps are both going to be there!

Blast from the past...

Here's a little black & white blast from the Schwencke past.  The printed date on the back is Fox Company, July, 1959. The entire Schwencke sibling group with big summer smiles! 
That's Danny, me, Mary and Mike in our blow up swimming pool.  This is obviously back when I could wear a swimming suit... sigh.... Look at the tight perm my mother gave me.  She just loved those home perms.  Mary, did you have to get those perms too?  No fair!!

National Pharmacist Day

I missed it.  It was yesterday. 

Anyway, they deserve a whole week, now don't they?

Here's to my brother the pharmacist! Hope you had a good one, Mike!

The time has come...

...to get back on the bandwagon and get back on a healthy eating regime.  I mean, we've been "holidaying" for the past month, and I'm actually sick of food.  Yesterday I started back, and tonight I'm bringing John along with me.  No more snacking, no more chips, no more dip, no more salty foods, no more icky, sticky sweets.  It's over.  It's carrots, celery, and rice cakes baby!

On to 2010 and a new baby in the family (thank you, Jeff and Colleen!) in mid-February (or sooner!!?!)  And a new daughter-in-law (love you, Ashley!) in the family at the wedding in April.  I need energy, and we both need to feel better to keep up with a grandbaby and to get down that aisle without wheezing.

So, it's back to counting points for me (us). 
I did the Hollywood Liquid diet yesterday and half of today (don't judge me) to get off to a good start.  Wish me well and whatever you do, don't offer me a brownie!!!!

Happy birthday in heaven!

Today's dad's birthday.  We miss you, Dad.

Oh, Dad, if I could turn back time
and once more hear your voice;
I'd tell you that out of all the dads
you would still be my choice.

Please always know I love you
and no one can take your place;
Years may come and go
but your memory will never be erased. 
(...J.Burnette)

Our Christmas Dog....

Here's a picture of our Christmas visitor, Winston!  What a cutey pie he is.  I really enjoyed having him stay with us during the holidays -- he sleeps all night, and most of the day, rousing only long enough to put my cat, Punky, in her place! He let her know that dogs rule! Ha!
When he wasn't sleeping in the middle of the floor, he was scratching up the tree skirt into a nice little nest where he slept quietly under the tree, twinkle lights flashing above his head.  Magical!

Happy New Year!

It's the third of January, and I'm just now posting my new year's wish for you all.  It's been busy, that's all I can say.  We had a wonderful New Year's eve with family and friends, although it could have been a bit warmer.  I hope you all spent the eve with your loved ones.  Have a great 2010!

Here's wishing you more happiness

Than all my words can tell,

Not just alone for New Years Eve

But for all the year as well.

Love this website...

The Pioneer Woman's site is really so nice.  I enjoy strolling through it occasionally, somehow finding her views of life on the ranch to be restful when you're stressed.  Nice job, Ree.  And she can cook (with pictures!)