Happy Anniversary

We rushed home from the wedding and dropped Charlotte off with my Mom so that we could celebrate on our own. Rathbun Steak came highly recommended and has been on our list of places to try for awhile. Yes we actually have a list. And it did not disappoint. Our service was wonderful, our drinks were delicious, the steak melts in your mouth, and the dessert was to die for. I want to go back already! The lighting is all candles so the mood is intimate and warm and the decor is very earthy but modern. It was such a wonderful end to our sixth anniversary!



My dessert. Dark chocolate mousse cake. YUM.


Bryce's dessert. Blueberry cobbler.

Since we were going to be out so late we stayed downtown at the Hilton. We got a great deal and stayed on the top floor since it was our anniversary. The girl checking us in didn't believe that we had been married for six years (she thought we were too young, ha!). Best of all, we both got to sleep in. Pure bliss.

Eat, Drink, & Be Married

"May heaven grant you in all things your heart's desire-husband, house, and a happy peaceful home. For there is nothing better in this world than that a man and woman, sharing the same ideas, keep house together. It discomforts their enemies and makes the hearts of their friends glad-but they themselves know more about it than anyone". ~Homer






Bryce's cousin, David, asked Bryce to be in his wedding. David was a groomsman in our wedding so I found it fitting that Bryce should bear witness for his commitment as well. It was the first wedding we attended with Charlotte and she loved seeing her Daddy all dressed up. She kept rubbing his face and saying "smooth". She was also quite enamored with all the pretty dresses. I was really worried about how she would behave, especially after staying out late at the rehearsal dinner the night before but the church had a crying room and she did just fine. She definitely captured everyone's attention every where we went!


Checking out the bride


Charlotte was obsessed with the stage so the DJ decided to put her to work


Dancing with the DJ


Yes, to Charlotte's delight the DJ even had props. Oh my.


Every wedding you go to after you are married rises up the emotions of your heart. Remembering your own wedding day, your own vows, and greeting the memories of the past in the years that have followed. It was a beautiful wedding and Bryce and I wish happy days upon David and his new bride Ashley. May God bless you all your days together.

Oh my, how things have changed!

Six years ago today, we were preparing for our own wedding at a Rehearsal Dinner. We were eating amazing food and watching a slide show of our lives surrounded by people who loved us....we were at another Rehearsal Dinner tonight for a wedding that Bryce is in tomorrow. As I was sanitizing the changing station at the restaurant and changing Charlotte's poopy diaper I couldn't help thinking "oh my, how things have changed!".

I felt so mature at our rehearsal dinner and on our wedding day. We both had college degrees, we had bought a house, we were about to embark on our honeymoon to another country all by ourselves. But it feels like we were so young now! I had no idea how much growing up we would do together in the next six years. During our pre-marital counseling sessions our Preacher tried to warn us that life would change us and our marriage in many ways over a lifetime but we really had no idea what he was talking about. I'm sure we looked so young and innocent to him, and we were. But there is one thing I will say about our marriage. It is strong. We have grown up together, and in doing so we have also grown closer together. We have traveled together to add to our experiences. We have battled desperately for a baby together. We have grown our family together. We are strong together. We may not have known what was in store for us six years ago, but we did know this-we are better together.

There is no combination of words I could put on the back of a postcard And no song that I could sing, but I can try for your heart and this is Our dreams and they are made out of real things Like a shoe box of photographs with sepia-toned loving Love is the answer at least for most of the questions in my heart, like Why are we here? And where do we go? And how come it's so hard? It's not always easy and sometimes life can be deceiving I'll tell you one thing, it's so much better when we're together
~Jack Johnson

Playdate

Charlotte and Callie are about two months apart and always make great playmates. We met for playing at the park and lunch much to their delight. When I came back home, I told Bryce that there is no way I can take her to the park by myself again. She was EVERYWHERE! If Nikki hadn't been on the ground and me on the playground we would not have made it very long. Everything that Charlotte saw the other (older) kids doing she thought she could do too. She even went down the slide head first before I could even make it up the stairs! I really didn't even get to take that many pictures, I was too busy chasing. She was a little daredevil!




The bumpy slide is always a favorite




No help from Mom. I got this.

Baby Pool

Bryce's Mom had a baby pool from when she did daycare that is going to be the perfect solution to those hot summer days for us. It is big enough for me to sit in, and has a built in slide so Charlotte thinks it is the coolest thing ever. We bought a canopy to help keep some of the sun off her (which has been a great investment so far, I think Charlotte would live in that pool if we let her), and she loves to run around the canopy and climb into the pool then run around some more. The grass in the water from her getting in and out doesn't seem to bother anyone but me so I am trying not to ruin all the fun!


Big Splashes!


Look at that smile!


Down the slide a million times


Running around the posts of the canopy


Time to get back in and stomp her feet to get all the grass off


AAAHHH, relaxing.

A whole new world!

We waited as long as we could to turn around Charlotte's car seat. Our pediatrician really convinced us that backward was safer until she was AT LEAST TWO! I would never have forgiven myself if we were in an accident and something happened to her just because we were selfish and wanted her facing front, so backward she has been for the first twenty months of her life. She got to where she absolutely hated being in the car and would cry every time we went somewhere if it was more than a five minute drive. We have a couple of trips planned for the summer and knew we would have to turn her around so she wouldn't be bored for hours at a time so we made the executive decision to let her face front. Charlotte loves the car now! I made a really big deal out of letting her watch Bryce turn her car seat around, and I kept telling her "only big girls ride in the car like this". She could not wait to get in, and she had the biggest smile on her face. We made the first time a short ride in case she got sick (or scared!) but she was the cutest thing! She kept pointing out the window saying "oh, a car!", or "oh, a bird!". She was showing us everything! I am so glad we waited, because I feel much better about her safety and now she really appreciates her new view! She loves going places now!

Popsicles

I don't normally post "naked" pictures on the internet, but this has been the story of our summer so I have to document it! Charlotte is obsessed with Popsicles! This actually started back when we all had the stomach bug. We kept giving her popsicles to keep her hydrated when she couldn't keep anything else down and now she is addicted to them. Literally the first thing she does when she wakes up in the morning is run to the freezer and say "sicle, sicle" while trying to muster the strength to pull the door open. It is a constant negotiation with her. I can usually get her to wait until after nap time but lately she has been insistent after lunch. We definitely have to eat them outside and strip down as you can see! I actually found a new kind called "mini-melts" and they are made with gelatin so they don't melt as fast. But they are certainly "mini" and she pouts when I give it to her because they are so small! She knows she is getting jipped! We found a really good sugar free kind too. She LOVES those popsicles, and what a good summer treat!