Yoshi

Devins picture got deleted from the next post so I added it here...

Just read on and it'll make sense!! :)

Here's my little Yoshi!!

He had an awesome Christmas!!

what a year

As 2009 closes I've spent a lot of time thinking about the changes that have taken place in one short year. I've blogged here and there all throughout the year and decided to touch on some details that either weren't included yet or that were important enough to add again.

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The first big change was moving to Grandpa and Grandma's house back in April... It was difficult but the kids had fun meeting new friends and starting new schools. Devin grew this sunflower from a single seed. A.M.A.Z.I.N.G....

We spent soooo much time in the water during the summer months. Between the Legacy Center, the Outdoor Pool and the Classic Fun Center we were like fish. We'd pack a bag with fruit, drinks and toys and be off. And no, I STILL didn't get a descent tan. Not in my D.N.A....

Between swimming pools we went to the park, played with friends, played with cousins and enjoyed the nice, warm weather. (Which feels like an eternity ago.) I miss you S.U.M.M.E.R....

Taylor played soccer. He spent a lot of time practicing and learning new skills. We had a lot of fun watching him grow and become even better at a sport he L.O.V.E.S....

Taylor had a big year turning 12 and receiving the Aaronic priesthood. Derek came up and conferred this amazing power to him and it was a very special day. P.R.O.U.D...

Melissa and I spent months in the gym running and doing all sorts of aerobics. (Even though I didn't lose a pound, also not in my DNA) It was so much fun to have someone as motivated as she is pushing and pulling me along, which is what I need when it comes to torturing myself with running. It payed off though, we ran our first 5K together in August and I ran EVERY step of it which accomplished my goal. We are going to run another one in April so I gotta stop slackin and start hitting the track again. J.O.Y....

Cookie-Dough Bradley had 6 kittens. Luckily I found 6 homes for them by going to the parking lot at Wal-Mart and putting up a sign that said: FREE KITTENS!! GOING FAST!! People are so G.U.L.L.I.B.L.E...

We had to say goodbye to Cookie Dough to make room for Papa's new baby, Zorro. K.I.S.S.E.S...

I had a phase where I wanted a different look.

Oh B.A.B.Y....

It didn't last long.

I'm back to N.O.R.M.A.L...?

Valyssa wanted a change too. Her hair was getting soooo long but her and Devin took care of that...

B.E.F.O.R.E...

A.F.T.E.R...

Derek and I officially got a divorce. Taylor and Zac live with him and Devin and Valyssa live with me. We still enjoy spending time together as a family and do so as often as we can. It's been the hardest thing any of us have had to face and we are trying to do the best we can from here on out.

We love our kids so M.U.C.H....

Halloween was fun, I'm so glad to live up here by Melissa, she makes things so much fun. We were in the gym so much this year that it only seemed natural to dress like 80's workout girls, right?
A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E....

My little rock star D.E.V.I.N...

Taylor dressed up for a murder mystery party with his friends.

Curtis ~ Chris ~ Taylor

F.U.N.N.Y....

The crew at the trunk-or-treat.

Witches, cheerleaders, cowboys, Hanna, spider-man and Zorro.

C.U.T.E...

Another fun adventure with Derek, me and all the kids on Christmas Eve. We love Jump-On-It and spend so much time there. I think we're getting close to being part owners by now.
Boogie Woogie ~ Lucyduck ~ Valyssa or you can call her W.H.A.T.E.V.E.R....

Zac is so fast, he's like a B.L.U.R.R.R....

Devin set up some mats and cleared them, no P.R.O.B.L.E.M...

Derek got a workout trying to keep up with the K.I.D.D.O.E.S...

Taylor posing

U.P.S.I.D.E..D.O.W.N...
Cant see my face very well but that's me trying to re-live the glory D.A.Y.S....

This year we are looking forward to lots of fun events like Devin getting baptised and Valyssa starting Kindergarten. I hope it will be memorable and look forward to blogging about the special events in our lives. Thanks to all our friends and family for your support.

Love,

The B.R.A.D.L.E.Y.S...

Christmas 09

Taylor and Zac joined us in Lehi as soon as Christmas break started and the plan was to have them all until Christmas Eve then send the kids to Wellington to have Christmas with Daddy. It was a day I was dreading. Alone on Christmas morning for the first time since the birth of my first child more that 12 years ago. I knew the deal when I signed up for the divorce but the reality of it made my heart ache. I was excited though to have the kids together for the week and enjoy every moment of it.

We took an adventure riding the Trax to Temple Square. Sounds fun... We printed out our tickets, got the train schedule and drove to Sandy. The parking lot was full so by the time we found parking and RAN to the station, we watched the train zip by with no regard to our freezing, panting, begging faces. The next scheduled train was 1/2 hour away and you know me... I needed to find a bathroom. JOY. At least some of the kids are like their Mom and wanted to join me. So Devin, Valyssa and I raced to the gas station and back but not before the 2nd train whizzed by. We were determined though and waited in the cold. Little did we know what we were in for. Serves us right though, we put a 7 year old in charge of the tickets. Well when a 7 year old has layers upon layers of clothing on and tickets happen to fall out of them, how's he supposed to notice??? The 3rd train pulled into the station and we were there! ready! willing to board, but... tickets were nowhere to be found. JOY. We retraced steps to the car and decided to try the gas station bathroom. No luck. When we walked out of the gas station a car pulled out right where we had parked before and low and behold, laying there on the cold pavement, the tickets! We sped back to the rest of the family, who by now had been standing in the freezing cold for more than an hour, held up our found treasure but by the look in their eyes, I could see they were done. D.O.N.E. It wasn't going to stop me. I was NOT going to go through all that and give up!!! We heard a train coming right on cue and I told them to run for it. Reluctantly they followed and guess what? We made it... PHEW!! Kids are resilient. It only took a minute for them to settle in. Taylor and Zac decided to hold onto the straps and lift their feet every time we stopped or started. Fun.

Devin and Zac took off the boxing gloves long enough for me to snap this picture and then they were immediately separated again :)

Oh Boogs. She is so funny. Her nose was on the window for most of the ride looking for anything square. When she'd find something she's say: "Is that Temple Squares?"

Wrapping things up, we got one more shot of us in front of the Temple and headed back to the Trax. We got on the next train with no problem. Except it was a big problem. The train started out heading south and without even asking took a dive to the East. Puzzled I asked a couple sitting next to us where the obviously confused train engineer was taking us and they very politely told us we were headed to the U of U. NICE. We got off at the next stop, backtracked and waited for the right train. It came shortly but was PACKED!! I mean PACKED! A Christmas sing-a-long had just finished at the Energy Solutions Center and train after train was crammed like sardines. After watching 3 more trains go past we decided that the passengers on the next train were going to have to deal with 7 more because we couldn't feel certain parts of our bodies anymore. We used all forces as we climbed in, elbowed who needed elbowing, smashed toes of those who could still feel theirs and fell into place. Our place, on our train. That's right. We were shoulder to shoulder for 90 blocks. We laughed and sang Christmas carols and laughed some more. It was a horrible, wonderful evening.

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The week continued on in its usual way, lots to do, fun to be had, shopping to be done. The works. Still a feeling of sadness was in our home knowing that the BIG DAY was going to be separated for the first time ever. Last year, Derek wasn't living with us but we still had Christmas together. Then my Mom asked if I would call Derek and ask him if he'd come up and join us Christmas Eve and spend Christmas together. I jumped at the chance and Derek agreed. YES. He wanted to surprise the kids so asked me not to tell them and let him just show up. It was so hard to keep it from them, I knew how happy they'd be. Christmas Eve day came and we were planning a trip to Jump On It when Derek came through the door. The aren't words to describe the kids reaction! It was the best thing we could have given them for Christmas. We went to Jump On It, shopped for gag gifts, played pictionary, spoons and opened the gag gifts. It was so much fun!! Thanks Derek!!! And thanks Mom and Dad for making it possible.

The kids went to bed and guess who came???
Jolly ol' St. Nick!

Valyssa.....

Taylor...

Zachary...

Dang it!! Devins picture got deleted so I'll add it to the next post. Sorry sweetie!!!

It was a wonderful Christmas for us. I am so grateful to my parents for the support and love they show us. I'm so indebted to them for putting aside any differences and truly enjoying Christmas with all of us here. I am thankful for Tyler and Melissa for coming over and playing games and laughing with us Christmas Eve. I wish Ben and Janet could have been there, food poisoning is the worst! But I am especially grateful to Derek for being an excellent father. For helping me give the kids the gift of having their family all under one roof, laughing, enjoying and loving. Thank you.

Merry Christmas!!

Good Times

I enjoy times like these soooo much. Sometimes it takes a major change in life to realize what we're missing. I love these kids so much. I am grateful for the times we have all together.

Devin ~ Taylor ~ Zachary ~ Me ~ Valyssa