Halloween 2012

This year felt like a pretty special year for us for Halloween.  Our first halloween in our new house.  And, our first year trick or treating in a neighborhood with homes, instead of the town homes.   We loved every bit of it.  We always decorate cookies for the Family Home Evening before Halloween.

We love decorating cookies.  I need to remember not to make so many next time.  We end up with too many every time.  Halloween was on a Wednesday this year.  I love Halloween.  Love going to the kids school and helping out in the classroom's, and watching the parade.  It never fails that every year the kids are walking too fast for me to actually get a good picture.  

 

  

Madison was Athena.  She wanted to dress up in a masquerade costume.  But we couldn't find the dress to go with the mask.  I had to convince her to wear this one.  But I love how it turned out.

 Ethan, of course wanted to be Gandalf from the Hobbit.  We literally got his costume the day before Halloween.  And purchased a staff from a neighbor the day of, and at 8:00 in the morning.  Thank you for saving us neighbor.

Aidan has been pretty obsessed with ninjas lately.  He loves everything Ninjago!  These pictures were taken right before school.  For some reason I don't think we took pictures of actually trick or treating fun.  We left late because madison and her friend decided to make us dinner.  It was nice to have someone else make dinner.  But next time I think I will make it ;)

Fall 2012

I don't know why I can't seem to post more often.  September and October have been fun filled, beautiful weather months.  We made the annual trip to Cornbelly's for fall break  It was by far the best year as far as attractions and things to do.  The weather was amazingly beautiful.  We arrived pretty close to when they opened, so we ran to get pictures while no one else was around.  Here are a few pics to enjoy.

More fall fun included a trip to Pumpkin land, of course!  We go to Pumpkin land every year  to pick out our pumpkins.  This year they were free with our admission.

Back to School!!!

This is a big year for the kids, as well as myself.  Madison going to 7th grade/Jr High.  Ethan in 5th grade, and Aidan in 1st.  Where is the time going?

Look at this girl!  So beautiful!!  This was her first official day of 7th grade.  Her first day was just for the 7th graders to get used to the school, their classrooms, the lockers and the hallways before the 8th and 9th graders joined them.  Her first 2 days went great.  We were so amazed by her attitude.  She wasn't nervous, scared and didn't even have butterflies.  Sadly, on her birthday, which was the third day of school, she had the worst day ever!  The dreaded eating lunch in Jr High, just to find that you are alone!  As a mom, this has been my fear for the last few weeks.  Junior High is such a big growing experience.  Making new and good friends is crucial.  But sitting alone at lunch is so hard!  She likes her teachers well enough, and does have some good friends.  She has lunch with great friends on her A day, but on her B day, lunch has been a bit harder.  Luckily, she discovered 2 friends have the same lunch.  So hopefully, things will start to look up!

Ethan is a 5th grader this year!  We are so excited for him this year.  His teacher is a dream!  After meeting with her at our beginning of the year SEP, we left feeling super happy.  Most importantly, Ethan is happy!  Last year wasn't the best year, but so far, this year is starting out great!  He is happier, his attitude towards school has changed completely.  Hooray!!!

And my sweet little Aidan is a 1st grader!!  Which means, I am left at home with no children!  Sniff, sniff!  We are so excited for Aidan this year.  He loves, loves, loves school!  His teacher is wonderful, and he has cute friends in his class.  1st grade is the best because all of the kids still play together, and are all so cute!!
It's been okay so far to be at home without them.  But I do feel that need to be taking care of someone at home.  A diaper to change, a baby to rock to sleep...it's a bit sad that those days are gone.  New experiences are ahead, and I sure hope to be the best mother I can for these cute kids that I love so much!

Happy 12th Birthday Madison!!

How is this possible?  I can't believe the last 12 years have flown by so fast?  Madison has blessed our lives so much.  She is such a joy, and so beautiful and talented.  We sure love her so much.  Madison has a very sweet spirit.  She is so determined in her own way.  She currently loves a band called One Direction, loves the colors yellow and green.  She loves to sing and dance, and wants to be a singer when she grows up!  She definitely has her own personality.  Very strong willed in her own ideas.  But super loving when she wants to be ;)  She loves children, loves to take care of her little nieces and nephews.  She has been waiting to start Young Womens for so long. All her friends are in YW's and she has just wanted to be right there with them.  Love this "little" girl of ours! 

Reunions, and more fun!

Soo much has happened in just a few weeks time.  Since my last post, Madison went to girls camp!  Monumental moment!  We were so proud of her for making the decision to go.  We are in a new ward, so not very many friends yet.  So to spend 5 days with people she didn't know very well was admirable  She did great, and really enjoyed herself.  We also had the Bradley Family Reunion in Chesterfield, Idaho.

We drove up Friday, July 20 in the afternoon, and had a bbq at the campsite for dinner.  We stayed in cabins, while some of the families stayed camping.  The cabins were okay, except they had a severe foul smelling sulfur smell in the water.  No brushing teeth, or taking showers for us.  Oh, and on our way back from the campsite, we got a hole puncture in our tire.  So thankfully the farmer on the cabin site had a handy tire hole repair kit.    On Saturday, we toured a few historical places where Bryan's mom grew up.  It was super hot, so we were all a bit tired.  We went home around 5:30 to get an early start home.

The very next week was another family reunion.  My brother Alex and his family were coming up to visit us after not seeing them for 4 years.  It has been way too long since we've seen them.  Kathy, Isabel and Sophia came in Thursday morning.  So we all went to Jenny's house for the morning, then back for dinner.  Alex, Samuel and Olivia came in Friday.  We met them at our campsite.  Yep, Alex recommended a camp out for the weekend.  It was certainly fun to see all of these cousins together.  We are just missing Maria's kids in this picture.

Camping is not my favorite thing to do.  But it was pretty fun.  The kids loved it.  Ethan especially loves the outdoors.  We ate dinner, and made s'mores, of course.  The kids played games until 11 or 12.  We had breakfast the next morning, and headed back home.  That night we all went out to Tucanos for dinner just as couples.  The next morning was pretty much one of the biggest days in our lives.  Bryan was called to be the bishop, after 3 months of being in the ward.  Our current ward was splitting, and he was being called to be the bishop of an entirely new ward.  That story should have probably been an entirely different entry.  But, it all went so well.  Having our family here made it a very special day.

Here we all are.  Every person in my family!  I love them so much!! Here's a few other pics from that day.

I love this picture.  I love Isabel's laugh out loud smile.  Aidan stayed in that position, smiling and all the whole time.  Madison pretty much stayed smiling too.  Mackay wasn't super happy, so Ethan was trying to help him out.  I love all of these cute kids!

Here we are as a family.  Maria is 50, Alex is 48, Dave is 46, Jenny is 41, I am 39 and Michele is 31.  We are old.  This picture was taken Sunday, July 29 2012.  And here's one for laughs.

Love my brothers and sisters.  

As the reunion continued, on Monday we went up to Salt Lake to visit The Conference Center.  As I drove up with Ethan and Aidan, they grumbled a bit at the thought of where we were going.  So I told them that this is the place where the prophet speaks to us at General Conference.  They got so excited.  I can't believe that I have never taken a tour of the conference center in all of the years that I have lived here.  We'll have to go back and do it again because we were late,  so we only got to tour the roof.  We also went to the Visitors Center.  Both the North and South buildings.  Then we went to the Church History Museum.  It was really a great day.  

Bryan wasn't able to make it up with us, because he had to work.  But it was great to see all of the places and learn about the early pioneers and the early days in the church.  The next day the everyone went to 7 peaks then to Dave and Jennifer's for dinner.  For me, it was my surgery day.  Anyone who reads this will have a shocker here, since we told pretty much no one in my family.  But after 4 1/2 years of trying for another cute baby, and years of dealing with the severe pain of Endometriosis.  I had a Hysterectomy.  I tried pretty much every alternative before having to resort to surgery.  But, I guess this was the only option.  The surgery went well.  The doctor was going to try to save at least one ovary, but both ovaries ended up having cysts on them.  So he removed them both.  Recovery has been alright.  We have been so blessed with family and friends who love us and look out for our well being.  This last week has sure been pretty much one of the craziest weeks of our lives.  I certainly love my family more than anything.  I am grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  And for the plan that we have to be together for all Eternity!

Aidan's First Swim Lessons

Over the years, Aidan has pretty much been terrified of the water.  He will go into the water, and play around, but absolutely no going under the water.  Even in the bathtub.  He has never liked his head being remotely close to going under the water.  This summer at 7 peaks, he has had a few times while in the wave pool, having the waves coming over his head.  Choking, coughing and crying sometimes after it.  So I knew it was time for swim lessons.  Thankfully, he agreed.  Now, keep in mind that any sort of lessons Bryan and I tried to help him with, were unsuccessful. To my surprise, on his very first day of class, he was a superstar!  I could not believe that he was going under the water, swimming with the teacher and doing so great at everything she asked him to do.  He has loved every minute of it, and has done so well.  He still doesn't love to go under the water, but he is doing it, and trying his best.  I though maybe his teacher would want him to try Level 1 again, but today she came up and told me that over the years, all of the students she's taught, she hasn't ever seen someone improve so much.  And he passed to Level 2!  Great job Aidan!!

Aidan's (belated) Birthday

Oh wow, I am terrible at blogging.  Aidan's Birthday was May 24.  He turned 6 yrs old.  Yes, I felt a little teary eyed.  My baby is 6.  Aidan had such a fun birthday this year.  His last day of Kindergarten was on his birthday.  And it was also field day.  So he thought it was the greatest thing ever to have field day on his birthday.  He had a little birthday party later that afternoon.  He initially only wanted boys to come.  Then he remembered his "girl" friend London, and decided like 1 or 2 days before, that he wanted her to come.  So he invited Lincoln Hughes, Clark Nelson, Luke Hollingshead, London Heath, Landon Galbraith, Jeremy Hall and 2 more boys from school that were not able to make it.  He is way into Avengers these days.  So he had an Avengers party. We had some pretty cute games that they played.  Captain America's pin the star on the shield,  Avenger's matching game, and an Avengers relay race.  I love this age, the kids are so funny and they say the funniest things.

A few things about Aidan these days, well here is a video to make you smile.  I've done all my children's hair everyday for the last 11 years.  Madison actually just barely started wanting to do her own hair this year. But Aidan just decided one day that he wanted to do his own.  And he won't let me go near it.  So Aidan's favorite color is still orange.  He loved school this year.  (I actually tried to keep him home with me a few times, and he said no).  He is such a good kid.  He is so helpful at home.  So thoughtful, and so funny!!  He loves books, he loves sports, and he loves his friends.  We love Aidan so much!!!

Happy (belated) Birthday Ethan!!

Happy belated Birthday to my super cute Ethan!  May 14, 2002.  Ethan is such a wonderful part of our family. As a little baby he was so so sweet!!!  And he still is.  Ethan is in 4th grade..for 3 more days.  He loves to read (loves might be an understatement).  He is currently into the Percy Jackson/Rick Riordan books.  He loves basketball, loves, loves the Avengers (me too).  He is such a great son.  So thoughtful and kind to others, and does pretty well in school.  He tries to do his best in everything that he does.  For his birthday he had just 3 friends join him at Hang Time, then they came over for some cake and fun.  We sure love Ethan, and are so blessed to have him on our family!

Just to add a few other things.  We can't believe that this school year had flown by.  My sweet "baby" Aidan is done with Kindergarten in 2 days, Madison is graduating from Elementary school..sigh, where does the time go?  I can't even begin to think about Madison in 7th grade/Junior High this fall, or Aidan being in school all day.  Lots of crying will be happening.  Sure love my family!

Kitchen

So here's a few pics of the kitchen and family room.  The kitchen is about 90% complete.  My kitchen is the first thing that I had to finish.  

This is the cook top in kitchen.

 pictured above here.

     

This my baking area.  The jars are filled with AP Flour, Sugar and Bread Flour.  In the drawer just to the left of the dishwasher, I have containers with baking soda, baking powder etc..Just to make it easy all in one place.

I'm including a picture of my sink because I read an article from my all time favorite cook, Ina Garten recommending to have a sink that is deep, wide and open.  Best advice ever!  I love it!

This is me at my OCD best.  Makes my heart so happy.  Haha!  I am debating removing the cabinets to have open shelving.  Bryan and Madison say no, Ethan and Aidan say yes.  And yes, I realize there is an empty spot on the right side, 2nd shelf from the bottom.  I do have a bowl that goes there.  Currently in the dishwasher.

A bit of drawer organization.

One side of my spice drawer. (the other side isn't quite as pretty)

     

My All Clad pans in the pull-out drawer.  Bless whoever invented pull-out drawers.

My pantry. Love the pantry.  It's my happy place.

I have large baskets at the bottom for my bakeware.

Closer look at my white serve ware.  Love white dishes!

This is a sneak peak at the Family Room.  

And a fuzzy picture of Aidan at the almost finished office/desk area.  There is a small hutch that goes on top of the desk that is back ordered.

So we've been here for three weeks now.  What?  Where did the time go?  It's been just surreal really.  We've been in our town house for 12 years.  It's taken me a bit to get used to not worrying about the tv being too loud or not yelling too loud.  Sundays are a whole new experience having Bryan home with us.  And the fact that we have church from 9-12 is a big bonus.  My favorite time to have church for 2 reasons  #1 naptime, and #2 all afternoon to bake and cook!  Love it!  The kids seemed to have adjusted quite well.  I thought having the kids in a separate floor from us would be an adjustment.  But it's honestly the best.  Aidan doesn't visit us in the middle of the night anymore, it's great!  Our neighborhood has exploded in the home building area.  There are about 45 new homes under construction in the area..whoa!  For now I hope that our view out the back will stay un-obstructed for the time being.  We love it here, it's so peaceful and really beautiful.