Too hot for my liking...and lots to catch up on.

This week finds us on the road a little bit. We went to a funeral for Erik's Aunt Patti's mom- Roberta. It was held on Thursday so we took the opportunity to visit some of our very dear friends (the Kaisers) in Marysville, spent the night with them and then headed on to Oroville Thurs. a.m. for the service. It was the best way to do a three hour trip with Bryce- breaking it up worked great. (we discovered one of his unknown talents..see pics) The weather for our little Petaluma town was to hit the high 90's low 100's so we knew heading out we were in for some scorching weather. Not to our disappointment the temp in Yuba City was in the low 90's when we arrived Wed eve. at 9:15 p.m. Oh joy tommorow promises to be hotter!! The service was very nice and a wonderful testament to a life lived for the Lord. (I was able to hear most of it out in the lobby whilest manning the child). We were to spend time after with the rest of the family enjoying a nice brunch that the wonderful church family had prepared, which was

nice too.

It's like he's a natural...

We had decided with the price of gas that we that we would also take a little extra time away and see a few things in the Oroville Area so we spent one more night. We stayed at the Feather Falls Lodge which is part of one of the casinos. Bryce's first stay at a hotel, we pretty much do day trips and he has only really spent a few nights away from home. (I'm not counting his first 42 days at UCSF/MGH...lol) The room was great for a very reasonable price. We checked in Thursday around 2:00, took a little rest and went down to the pool. Part of the pool was inside and part was outside and there was a sauna (yeah like ya need that in 100 degree weather lol!). I am sure it see's it's fair share of use in the winter. Anyway it was great because there was NO one else there and we had the entire area to ourselves. It was still pretty warm but bearable. The pool water was very cool and Erik discovered that the jacuzi was just like bath water so we went back and forth between the two. Bryce, like me LOVES to be in the water, we had a blast. We went back to the room, cleaned up and went for dinner.

True to form he had to test us on everything, don't touch doesn't really mean don't touch, right mommy?

Dinner was quick, Bryce started to be excessively fussy and was complaining his bum hurt. So we headed back to the room to give him a big treat... a bath in a real bathtub. ( We don't have a bath tub in our house just a shower) We kinda thought he was just tired and would really love the bath. Well it was the saddest thing he wouldn't/couldn't enjoy the bath he would just cry and cry every time he tried to move. So I got him out and checked out his bottom. He had the worst diaper rash~ the chlorine must have really flared it up. Poor little man we had to get him to roll on his side to get to his hiny and get the cream in~ his little bum and parts were all slathered in cream. I am happy to report he had almost immed. relief and was all but back to his normal self before bed. We got two queen beds so I slept in one w/the boy and Daddy had a bed all to himself...selfish...lol. We put the extra pillows and the comforters on Bryce's side we knew at some point he would end up on the floor...true to form he did at about 2:00 a.m. I picked him up, put him back in bed and he was none the wiser.

A quick game of hide & seekm, hotel style :)

On the road again....

Friday morning Bryce wanted to "go swimming daddy, go swimming mommy" (which contiunues to build my case for a pool..LOL!!). Too funny. Off to breakfast, pack the truck and back on the road. We went and viewed the Damn which is really cool and checked out the Bidwell Bar suspension bridge. The bridge dates back to 1856 and is the first Ca. suspension bridge- it was closed to traffic only in 1954. See the pics. We made a few to other little stops and then headed back home. It was soooo good to get home to the nice coastal cool down and Bryce was the happiest to be home, he knows all the do's and don'ts of home :) .

It's gonna get hotter!

Don't know how Bryce will do with the heat, but it's suppose to get into the 100's by this weekend. Yikes. He will be fine as long as he has his first love...WATER. His spray bottle, perhaps a pool is in order since Daddy is in the pool business...I wish! Well there's always the Mart version...LOL. I of course will melt because I am so sweet!! We'll see how it goes, I can't believe it.

It's starting to warm up...

Oh Boy the weather is just beautiful with a nice gentle breeze it is perfect and they say it's just gonna get hotter..Grrrrreat. We are going to Oroville in the next few days and it will be scorching hot up there..yipee. We can't complain, Northern California is a great place to live.

I am loving Bryce's stage right now he is saying a lot of funny things and it is just a delight. One of his new things to ask is what's this sound, or what's that sound mommy?

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

Mommy & Bryce 5.11.08

Mother's Day ~

Because I too am now a mother,

It's meaning deepens to me as days go by. It first changed as I shared w/dear friends & family the loss of a mother, and it changed when I got married, it changed as I longed and waited for our prayers for a child, and it was a deep pain each mother's day that passed and our longing went unfulfilled. It changed when I found out I was going to be a mother and again when I became a mother. It changed when I realized...I will always be a mother and it changed when I realized how very loved by God I am to have been blessed with my son. It changes when I hear my mother leave a sweet message on our phone for our son and it changes when I reflect on the kind of mother I am becoming and how my own mother still impacts my life and how I want to be that kind of mother. It changes when I see the bond Bryce has with Grandma, Nana, Papa, Grandpa and his Great Grandparents. I am glad it changes.

I am saddened for so many who will today spend a day without their "mommy, mom, mama". For some this will be their first and for others it will be like their first and some Mom's will not be with their children today due to tragic circumstances. Some are ill and some are lost and caught up in the "world". Some have allowed hatred and unwillingness to forgive become deeply rooted in their hearts they live for themselves, victims of the world. The impact our mother's have on us is meant to last a lifetime. So whether they are with us for a short time or a long time we have the memories and can reflect and recall their touch, smile, laughter, words, etc.

Me... I was blessed with a wonderful God fearing mother who did her very best to raise us with plenty of love and a lot of life instruction...as per the bible... lol. Mom taught us how to have fun on a shoestring, to embrace challenges, to be loving, kind and tender hearted. At times we had our moments but I would not trade her for all the mothers in the world. She is the mother the Lord chose for me! She is the one who is always making sure we are covered in prayer. She is the one who stood with me at my son's incubator and interceded for us that the Lord would strengthen us and uphold us. She is the one who sought the Lord for his promises when I was too weak, tired and emotionally drained to do it for myself. Those promises and scripture have all been fulfilled and as always ALL Gods promises are true! Mom is the one who knew no words needed to be spoken all those long days in the N.I.C.U. just prayers and nurturing my spirit as only a mom can do. Mom is the one who knows what it is to love a child beyond all comprehension. Mom is the one who can tell you what you don't really want to hear but need to... because she loves you. Mom always puts your needs first. What a wonderful example for me as I was to embark on my own mothering journey.

My mother in-law, all though much like a mother to me too, I do not have the history w/her that Erik does. I only know by the Man that he has become that his mother surely posses the very same strengths and spiritual gifts as my mom. He is a wonderful man because of her influence, love and support. I am blessed to watch her every Monday with her grandson and know that the love I see her display is a wonderful gift she has given her children and now her grandson.

Both of our mom's are leaving a wonderful living legacy of Christ and his love imprinted on our hearts and in our lives.

Let us be thankful for all the Lord has blessed us with this day and live in this day. Let the joy of our Lord and Savior fill you to overflowing and may his face shine upon you and may he meet your every emotional need today! Rest in him and give him praise for picking your mom esp. for you! I thank my God at the remembrance of you! :)

Happy Happy Mother's Day!!!

As much as I am not ready to let go of his cradle... doesn't appear he's ready either! These were pics I took yesterday, he insisted he sleep in it...tooo cute and a mom moment I won't soon forget.

And a little lunch after his mid day nap..he was a hungry lil man.. so he had a picinic outback on "his" swing.. lol

Getting caught up in the moments!

Sorry peeps, been letting life go by just watching Bryce and being pre-occupied with my work situation. When I picked up Bryce today the wind was blowing and my allergies were acting up. He was sitting in his carseat and when I sneezed, sweet little love bug says, Bless you mommy. Oh talk about a melting heart, that is just the sweetest darn thing. Then when we got home that sweet little bug was a handful and I kept flashing back to the sweet moments in the car and it made it ...o.k. He is just too much sometimes that boy!!!

It's a perfect fit...thanks Grandpa and Uncle Bucky!

He loves to hit the ball and he is really getting it down. Daddy bought him this really cool t-ball type stand that is also battery operated so he can either hit the ball from the stationary stand or turn it on and it will pitch him the ball. Crazy, they didn't have cool toys like that for us.

Notice the eye is completely focused on that ball, he's gonna get it and well...he did!! AMAZING!

And at the end of a long hard day of being Bryce he sleeps :) I caught these two sweet pics last night~ too cute!

Wordless Wednesday

Sunday, Sunny Sunday...

With a blustery wind! Oh this is funny. So we are driving home for church and all the windows in the 4 runner are down and the wind is whipping- Bryce is busting up w/laughter in his car seat as his face is blasted w/fresh air and his hair is tossed by the wind. I wish I could capture these moments on camera but it never fails it's when we are alone in the car and I can't drive and snap pics. Well I suppose it can be done, but I prefer safety first :) LOL. As is customary for Sunday a.m. I load the boy up and head out to the buck (starbucks) for my weekly coffee which is generally followed by Bryce squeezing in a little rest before we go into church (anywhere fomr 1/2 hr to 1 1/2, just never know. ) I typically leave the house by 9:15, church starts at 10:45 so I am good time wise. ANY ways the point of telling about my coffee run is shamefully Bryce has learned that a drive thru generally renders "fries" for him. So each time we go thru he will insist "fries" are in order for him. I can't tell you how long it has taken to get him to understand not every drive thru is for "fries". LOL Well today as we turn into the shopping center little cutie says "mommy's getting coffee, I have coffee too!" It was too cool, he recognizes the route and the scenery and is just too smart! What a great little memory for me :) . Sooooo when he's 16 and I have him go get me coffee I will tell him it's our tradition...LOL!!!

Mr. I NEED the scissors in action- he does well for a little guy, the only thing is he always wants to cut real little.

Bryce has really begun to ask a lot of ?'s, "what's this and who's that and what man doing, what they doing?" He is sooo funny daddy is trying to get his jammies on him and he tells daddy, no, nope no thank you and he is well...quite pleased w/himself LOL!!

He is such a happy boy and his two yr old tantrums are beginning to lessen in severity and length which is wonderful. He is so much fun and you are reminded of how great the simple things in life can be thru the eyes of a child! Love it!!

Bathtime at the Billings...well sorta'

We have another milestone...hmmm, don't know how I really feel about it but it has happened! Daddy and Bryce worked outside today so they were grimey and gamey. I had been doing laundry so Erik checked w/me to see if I was done so he would have some hot water. He got in to the shower and Bryce was looking for him, when I told him where daddy was he said I shower too. Sooo... I took Bryce into the bathroom stripped him down and waited for the meltdown to start. He did it, he took a shower w/Daddy, up until today he has been afraid of the shower. Loves water, etc. but didn't want to get in the shower. I was surprisesd when I asked him if he wanted to get in the shower w/daddy that he was so zealous...yeah, I thought, he'll get in there and then freak out and I'll have to get him all wet and in a tither!! But to my shock and dismay..he stayed in for a while and actually really liked it.

With all the lovely weather we are having Erik is doing a lot of demo work in the back yard and working and prepping the front yard too so he is busy with Bryce in tow. Cutting the fig roots out from the old hot tub area...what a job, and apparently a burial ground for a few misc. possums...NICE! I was helping keep Bryce in the "designated areas" which is a job in itself, doing some laundry and playing w/Bryce too and now the day has come to an end and my boys are watching 101 Dalmations and unwinding for the evening while I do my update. I am so addicted to taking pictures and posting we may need an intervention....lol. Ok well enjoy the pics, hope all is well with our loved ones and enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Mr. Smarty Pants.. I'm stuck in the hole. help me, I stuck in the hole! First Shower!!

Fabulous Flash Back Fridays...

It is touching to look back at the past two years~ they have flown by. I can't believe how quickly he has turned into a toddler. He is playing w/daddy right now -show me shoulders, eyes,etc. He has such a big vocabulary for a two year old. He can tell you almost every type of animal there is known to man and pictured, from a peacock to a wombat to the zebra and the hippopatumus, gecko and well you get it. He is a sharp little guy today I was looking thru a magazine with him and there were some cows, holsteins and herefords and so I asked him where's the holstein and he pointed to it so of course I asked him and where's the hereford...he knows..he's a smart cookie. He is talking up a storm and loves to say here ya go, where is my scewdriver?, where my tool box go?, don't find it daddy, daddy look...there it is I find it my chair. Incredible to me that he is so verbal. And the funniest is when he just prattles on so fast he makes NO sense but is sure you understand him : ) LOL

THANK YOU FOR SHARING IN OUR JOY!!

DAYS GONE BYE....

Ohhhhh the first haircut!....

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