Just stop and breath...

The past two weekends have been filled with various activities involving: fish fry, cookouts, Kentucky Derby Party, Cinco de Mayo party turned proposal, BBQ festival, funeral and a another trip to the zoo.

Unfortunately we had to attend a funeral recently. A close friend of ours passed away unexpectedly a couple of weeks ago. It has taken a huge emotional toll on Nic, so I've tried my best to be an emotionally supportive wife...which is extremely hard for me since Nic very rarely needs any kind of emotional support.  Unfortunately this man and his wife had began building a house in the Fall. Since Nic does a little painting on his days off in the cooler months, he has painted everything that has needed painting on this house, and still has a little bit left to do...which is what he is doing right now as I type. So he's been extremely involved with the entire construction project. Now that the house is just a couple of weeks away from completion Nic has assumed the part of a contractor and is devoted to getting the house finished as soon as possible so the wife and daughter can move in. As I mentioned earlier it was definitely unexpected, so please keep the wife and daughter in your thoughts and prayers as they begin to heal. 

Since there have been lots of activities, I'm not going to go into detail on each one so I'll just post a few pictures with some commentary. 

Bryce ignored his Sooner roots by sitting in an ugly orange chair next to one of his girlfriends. This boy is so girl crazy!

Both in jammies, but they are both hanging in for the fun!

Another trip to the zoo, this time we had a great view of the sea lion show!

Sitting with yet another girlfriend at the BBQ & Blues festival. 

Taking advantage of the unlimited day pass to the Kid's zone at the BBQ & Blues Festival.

Fearless as usual!

My sister and I in our hats at my Mom's annual Kentucky Derby Party.

 Congratulations to my best friend and her now fiance! She was definitely surprised!

The next month will consist of finals, vacation with a toddler (if you can count that as a vacation), another adult's only weekend in Broken Bow, baby shower for a great friend, and sneaking down to the lake whenever we can...oh and of course work...no wonder I'm exhausted! 

We finally did it!

The past two weeks have been busy for reasons that are happy and sad, but I think this post will just consist of a special first...we finally got Bryce's hair cut for the first time this past Friday! Since my sister is in Beauty School I thought it was only appropriate that she be the first one to cut his hair!

Here is the point that I decided it was time! I tried to make a fauxhawk in the tub but the back was so long it was laying over the front!

Before...

 The mullet!

The "ponytail" that will be snipped for me to keep FOREVER!!

Snnnnnniiiippp!

He was so good during the entire haircut! He sat still the whole time besides moving his head to look around...but that's to be expected out of a toddler.

The fauxhawk is still a little long in the back.

 

My handsome little man with his Aunt! We tried to do the fauxhawk with some mousse but it just flattened out so he just ended up leaving with a comb-over!

Maybe now he won't be mistaken for a little girl!

Easter Weekend

If Easter is not a sign of Spring time...then this stormy weather we're expected to have sure is! I love the cool mornings and warm days of Spring but I could definitely go without the high winds and tornadoes, not to mention that this weather decides to visit during the weekend when we have the best opportunity to be doing things outside!

As everyone is completely aware, Easter was last weekend and for us and most others this was a busy weekend. The weekend was kicked off by taking a trip to the zoo on Good Friday with a few friends. 

Saturday morning some friends of ours were kind enough to invite us to their annual Easter egg hunt, so Bryce and I decided to go while Daddy worked on a side job. Last year was Bryce's first Easter as a walker, therefore it should have been his first opportunity to hunt Easter eggs, however we had severe thunderstorms so he didn't get to hunt Easter eggs last year. So this year, given the weather cooperated, was his first experience of hunting Easter eggs. Of course Saturday morning it was raining lightly but that didn't stop us! Thank you Raychel and Rusty for inviting us out! We had a great time!

Saturday evening we designated for dying Easter eggs...again another first for Bryce. Dressed in an old t-shirt with the counter top covered with a trash bag and paper, Bryce went to work. First he added the dye tablets to the cups of vinegar...he did manage to slip 3 tables into one cup and make an interesting color!

In an extra effort to keep the mess to a minimum...I found some spill and splash proof cups to use. 

Drop!

Easter Sunday, Daddy had to work, so Bryce and I loaded up with my sister, her husband and kids and drove a couple hours south to be with my Mom's side of the family. BUT before we left, Bryce had to check out what the Easter bunny had left for him.  

I do think the Easter bunny may have been a little tired by the time he/she made it to our house, as one book was placed upside down! ; )

That morning we began our two our drive early enough to make it to church at my childhood church where Bryce, Kell and Sophia participated in the "Beautiful Baby Parade" that is held every year on Easter Sunday. 

Dressed in our Sunday best!

Grandma's usual Easter Sunday meal was prepared including Cajun ham, fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, swiss chard casserole, YUMMY homemade rolls, and much, much more. This Easter Holiday was extra special as it was the first holiday that has been spent with my Uncle Eddie in attendance in over 12 years. 

 While we were waiting on dinner, there were a few more eggs to be dyed.

 A little bit of lounging around!

The assistant cooks!

Time to hunt...READY...SET...

GOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Family picture!

That's that!

So Time Goes On...

and on...

and on...

and on...

Things have been moving at a fast pace around here and I’m sure everywhere else as well.  I’ve definitely struggled to keep up with anything besides work and school. Thankfully this will be all over soon! First my busy season at work is about to wrap up, then second I was able file for graduation…for the Summer semester!! Yes, I will have a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting after July 26^th, which is a whole semester sooner than I had planned! Right now it’s hard to believe and I’m going to have a lot of work to do this summer with my two final classes, BUT IT WILL BE WORTH IT! How nice it will be not to have to worry about homework or going to class in the evening and that extra time I’ll have to spend with my family!

Speaking of family and most importantly…Bryce! No matter what I do that boy won’t stop growing and learning new things to do and say. The other day we were driving down the highway and he started talking about ducks and geese, which coincidentally right below the bridge we were on was a duck pond with a duck flying over it…there’s no way he could have known that was a duck! He’s very observant and knows where many of our friends live.He knows why we go to Sonic...to get drinks!

So Thursday night we took Bryce to see Sesame Street Live. He shows one obvious personality trait he took from me, being TERRIFIED of the characters! My particular fear is and always was clowns. The entire time he kept saying he wanted to go "Bye, bye".  He clung to me so tightly that I wasn't able to take many pictures, but he did intently watch the show. Of course as soon as we left he told me he wanted to go see Elmo again!

We still haven't mastered potty training, though he's showing interest but he still won't tell me he needs to go, even when I ask constantly, unless he's running around butt naked! Yes, when he's being my little naked hippy is when he is best about going on the potty! 

As obvious in one of the above pictures, Bryce's hair is getting a little long. It is one of the few "first's" we still have remaining. I’m still debating on when that might be. Right now I’m loving his blond locks but everyone keeps teasing us about his mullet. He also seems to be getting mistaken for a girl a lot despite his very boyish clothes.

Well I thought I would give my blog a little love before I enjoy this unusually hot April day...then of course study a little bit for an exam this week.