For you Momma! (and Papa)

With Grandma Ginny gone and Bryce not wanting to go to the hairdresser that I have been with for 13 years, what is a scraggly muffin to do? Not let her Mommy trim her hair that is for sure. I tried this morning to trim Bryce's hair, but she was a wiggle worm. The back came out pretty cute, how could it not with all that thick hair. But, in the front there may be too many bangs. Good thing she looks cute no matter what and I am sure that her hair will grow quickly. Besides, she is 2 and doesn't care, that is the greatest part. I officially put down my scissors until she can hold still. Really try cutting hair with a little one turning to the left and right when you say hold still. I guess that is why I give my hairdresser such a great tip, or is it because I have too much hair and I feel bad? Her bangs are a little crazy, but most of that is from her nap and needing to be combed.
When you care for someone else's plants, what do you pray? That you don't kill them? You pray that they live...that is a fear of mine. As I was left in such great care of Grandma Ginny's plants, my fear was that I would kill one of her wonderful plants. Even though I do have a very green, rather yummy green thumb, there always is that one that decides that it is their time. But some of these plants are too special to even replace, they bring memories and oh how I would die. But let me tell you this, they are all still kicking, drinking, soaking up that abundant sun and beginning to sprout. Yeah for the plants, keep it up. To show you Grandma Ginny, here are a few pictures of your little green, pot living, soil wearing, family members.

The Avocado tree is still kicking

Your Lemon tree

The new growth on your precious Lemon tree.

Everything is sprouting!

In every mothers life, thet want just a little time by themselves. You may say that you don't, but deep down and with every frustrated little breath, you do. We all need it, we may not take it, but we need it. Well, lately my little time has been me and this very old, full of stories and just waiting for someone to pay attention to it, bike. For years, this bike has been on the deck of Momma and Papa's, but it was never given the chance to show its true blessing. It is a bike for the club that the Carters had a very long time ago and brings special memories. For the last 6 days, weather we get up at 4 or 5, within 30 minutes I am on this bike. I listen to my music (I need to download some new tunes), look over the lake and sweat my heart out. There are some days that I just watch the miles go by, praying for that second wind. Then there are some days that I look at the beauty around me and the miles fly by unnoticed (I love those days). Let me tell you that this bike is a work out. You pump your arms and peddle your feet, both at the same time. What a work out, what a great feeling. I love my little "me" time. Maybe it will someday help take care of my extra "me". The most important thing is if Papa, when I move out and if you want to part with it, I will pay you big bucks. I love this bike!

Here is my proof to you Papa (not that I need any). I have ridden the bike 6x and made it to the 43 mile mark. Yeah for me, or maybe just a little pat on the out of shape back.

Hide

When you find a restaurant that you just love, then it was a great meal and you can't wait to go back. That is us and the Phoenix Garden downtown La Verne. We came across this little hole in the wall Chinese restaurant and man, have we been missing out. It is literally down the street from our old house (which makes us so sad) and we are so happy that we came across it now. I really think that Bryce's favorite part besides the Chicken Fried Rice and the noodles is the white Chocolate dipped fortune cookie. She still doesn't like any other sweets, but this is a must have for her. What cute and happy lips to see as she enjoys each bite.

Since we have moved, we have missed our regular Sunday night dinners with Grandma Midge. Tonight we decided to make tradition happen again and so Grandma Migde joined us at the Carter Cottage. What a wonderful treat for all. We took Grandma down to the lake to meet Libby and that is where Bryce decided it was a great time to play "hide and seek". Bryce and Grandma had a great time hiding in the trees, and finding each other. The weather was so perfect today and it made the evening so perfect too. Alan keeps telling me how cool it is in Seattle compared to here, I really think that he is trying to get me on the band wagon again. We will have to see.

Bryce is officially 2.5 today!!! Happy day little one!

I still have not missed one day of taking her precious little picture. I am no where near the record thought, I heard a woman has done the same thing for 16 years. I have a long way to go.

New

There were several things that we needed to get today and well, they were mostly new shoes. Alan was in need of some new work boots and Bryce of course with her growing feet was in need of some new shoes too. That was our goal today and it was accomplished. While we were at the Boot Barn, Bryce had a great time trying on all the boots that she could get her hands on. With each pair, she had to make sure that she found Daddy to show him just how cute she really looked. While we were there she noticed all the horse everything (place mats, napkins, wall hangings, lamps, rugs, stuffed animals and so on)(She is so in love with horses right now). To her surprise, as we were leaving, Alan said,"Let's go", Bryce then replied, "I need this, ( it was a farm animal set including several horses), please Daddy". Alan then replied, "you don't need that, you want that and besides, I already have a surprise for you". While we were walking out, he handed her this little horse. Bryce immediately fell in love.

See my new Crocs? I love you, Horsie!
Loving my Horse!

Man, I sure should have taken my nap, I am so tired!

But, so darn cute!

Little Maker

No matter who's kitchen it is, Bryce is always there to be a BIG help! I love this future little maker, even if she eats more than goes in the bowl sometimes.

Days that we try to protect them from

There are days that you dread as a parent, or even a child. There are days that you remember being a child and causing your parents to dread days like this. Then there are days that are just so hard, how do you handle them, parent or child? Well, today was one of those days, dreading as a parent and scared for a child. Bryce was behind in her check ups due to changing of Dr's, scared parents and a schedule conflict which she could never get into the Dr for a check up. But today was a different case, it was her day...and Mommy had a tummy ache about it. I hate that I have to put her through what I fear most (shots, even thought I did 2 a day to have her), but I know that it is the best thing for her. Ugh!!! My tummy still hurts! I try to protect my little love from all that I can, even though protection is what she needed and the shots would protect her. But the day arrived at it was time (I made sure Alan could go with me) (she has to have her blood taken and of course he will be doing that too). I played it up and didn't let her feed off of me, she kept asking where Daddy was taking us, but I ran circles around that question.

Well, to get to the point, Bryce did great with a few tears. She is in the 95% for her height (38 inches) and is 27.5 pounds which is 50% . The Dr said that she is under weight for her height, but we think that she is perfect. I love my little miracle and would not change one thing about her (o.k. maybe the potty training, she is doing great, but man boys are so much easier). Gotta love the challenges though.

What a goofy picture, but oh well!

Salad and Milk

Can you say "Happy day?" With my Jury duty completed, I was so thrilled to spend the day with Bryce. Yesterday was the longest that I have ever been apart from her and it wasn't even doing something that I had chosen. I know it is my duty, my privilege, and my pain (that's what the judge said), but I am glad to be back with my little love. Bryce slept in till 8:30 and that was 4 hours after Alan and I had been up, so I was able to get a lot done. Then we started are day together at the library getting more books and then enjoying 45 minutes of "Mother Goose" time. Bryce is picking up all the new songs so quickly and is really enjoying that time with all the other kids.

After her nap this afternoon, she came into the kitchen and noticed that I was cooking. Well, for this future chef, that is all that it took and the words, "I help you" came pouring out. I decided to let Bryce mix the salad dressing and she started rambling on and on, so I grabbed the video camera ( a little fuzzy not sure why) and captured part of her little conversation. This salad dressing mixer is the greatest thing that I have ever seen, specially for those who love to make them from scratch. This one is Grandma's, but I will defiantly be getting one.

Translation for all of you that don't have the lingo down:

Salad Dressing!!!

There it goes Mommy, It's going...

It stopped!

This is the lid, put it back on here.

Now push here, it going, it go!

Since staying with Papa Jack and Grandma Ginny for the last month, we have learned a few things. One of the things that we have learned about Papa Jack is that he loves chocolate milk. So when the gallon of milk gets just about to the end, its time to hand it over to Papa with the Hershey's syrup. Bryce noticed the milk was about to the end today and said, "where's Pop Pop its time for his milk?" I then had to remind her that they were in Colorado for a month of vacation and that she could have Pop pops milk minus the chocolate syrup.

Here's to you Pop Pop!!!

Rain in July

I think that one of my favorite smells in the world is that of fresh rain falling. Tonight after a day of high 90's, we were pleasantly surprised with a thunder storm and over an hour of rain. What a difference and a welcomed one. As Grandpa Ken says in Tacoma, "if you don't like the weather, just wait and hour." The same is true for here tonight, but not usually. I was thinking tonight, since we can move anywhere (sort of) where do I want to be? Where do I want Bryce to go to school? Where do I want to call home? Well I came up with the answer as I smelled the rain, I DON'T KNOW!!!! Grrrr!

I tried to capture the rain, but that is a hard one. But I did capture it making its way down the awning. Snow is much easier to take a picture of...maybe we should live in the snow! Maybe....ugh, I don't know.

(if you double click on the pictures, it makes them bigger)