It's okay to wreck your car...

if it's in the Demolition Derby! Yesterday my Aunt Alecia called to see if we wanted to go with them to the Heber Demolition Derby. It's a huge deal up there, everyone goes. My Uncle Peter owns an appliance store up in Heber and sponsored some cars, so they had extra tickets. I told her we'd love to come up, Marshall would get a kick out of watching cars crash into each other! It was so loud but crazy fun! I was prepared to just let Marshall have a good time while I watched him enjoy it, but I ended up loving it too! It was so cool watching these cars just crash into each other and it being okay for them to do. I wish I could drive in one of these, it would be like taking out all your road rage on 8 other cars, how sweet!!!

Marshall enjoyed looking at the cars before the derby started. The green 33 in the background is one of the cars my uncle sponsored.

These cars all piled in at the same time going top speed!

The purple car rammed the black one and ended up on top of it. The car underneath then drove in a 360 degree circle, taking the purple car around with it and eventually shook it off.

These cars all drove in on each other too. They were probably the craziest drivers of the night!

This was crazy!!! The truck round had just started when the truck with the orange door hit the truck underneath, rolling him on his back!!! Luckily the guy underneath got out without any major injuries. Then, the plow came and got him off and turned the other truck right side up. It was pretty intense!

This was the last round we stayed for, Marshall was exhausted. We missed the fireworks display, but I looked back as we were leaving Heber and it looked pretty impressive. We had such a great time! Thank you for inviting us, Peter & Alecia! We would gladly come next year if you have extra tickets again!!!

Week 28 - 7 Months Pregnant and counting!

Yay! I'm in my third trimester finally! Let the countdown begin. I'm getting bigger and bigger but I still feel pretty good. My gestational diabetes test (just routine) was negative but I am anemic and have to take more iron, but at least that's easily solved. I'm sleeping okay, I just have to have a ton of cushioning around me and I toss and turn all night. My butt hurts. I hope this doesn't mean it's growing (like other things are) because it sure doesn't need to (nor do they)! But really I think it's just because I can only sleep on my sides and so it puts pressure on some butt muscles. Also, I've developed really bad B.O.!!! So if you sit too close to me, beware! Yesterday all it took to get some gnarly smell going was to shower, throw some clothes on, watch Marshall play with a friend in the a/c living room while I talked to his mom, and badabing! there it was, the first B.O. since they gave out free samples of deoderant in sixth grade. I am totally blaming it on the pregnancy! Then, the other day at the ward play group we were at the park and even though I'd taken it pretty easy and stayed in the shade most of the time I got all dizzy. It was kind of scary because it's never happened before. I went to leave and totally blacked out, I couldn't see for a few seconds and felt so woozy! I sat down and got over it, made it to the car, then took it easy at home for the rest of the day. I even got a nap in while my mom watched Marshall. Hopefully this won't happen again, I hated that feeling. Also, if you read my last post about the cabin I got so swollen! I think it was just the sodium content from the breakfast we had made that morning (I had two huge servings). I have taken my wedding ring off for the duration of my pregnancy though. It hurt SOOO bad because my hands were so fat and it felt so good to get it off when the swelling finally went down. Now I know to watch my sodium/salt content and I think that will help. Another thing lately, this baby thinks the amniotic sac is a punching bag! Holy cow! When he gets going he's really active. The best is when I lay down at night, he just goes nuts...it's so fun! I think he's laying across me then because I feel him kick or punch simultaneously on both sides. I hope he gets into position in time though!!! I'm terrified of having a c-section (nothing against them)! Other than that I feel really blessed to have had such a great pregnancy thus far. I'm getting so excited to have a new baby! I can't believe it's only like 2 and a half months away. Time flies and I'm so glad it's passed quicker than my pregnancy with Marshall seemed to. I feel totally unprepared, there's a few things we need. My mom got me a baby wrap though and I'm soooo excited to use it. It's more versatile than a sling because there are a ton of holds you can do with it. This is the one I ended up getting:

It's the Hoppediz Wrap in Montreal from Attached to Baby. For more information on why I chose a wrap click here. And, I'd like to thank my Aunt Rebekah for all the help, information, and resources she's given me on wearing your baby. Anyway, now that I've bored you to tears. This is my only pregnancy record, I'm not good at journaling so you get to hear it all.

And, I am really liking the name Coen Oliver Bradley. I love the way they sound together and it has the same amount of syllables as Marshall's name. What do you think? Only thing is, Marshall's name has so much family meaning and our daughter's will too, that I feel bad not naming him anything special, just two names we really liked. If you were the only sibling without a family name would you feel bad? Please weigh in on this! Okay, there is one more thing about the middle name. We are pretty decided on using the name Olivia as a middle name for a daughter so are Oliver and Olivia as middle names just too similar?

Weekend Getaway

On Friday afternoon we went up to our friends' cabin up near Fruitland. This was supposed to be a final chance for all of John's best friends from high school to hang out before two of them leave, one for medical school and the other for graduate school. One family ended up not being able to come and while they were definitely missed, we still had a great time. I'm so blessed that John's friends are such great people and have married wonderful wives! We have all become friends over the last 6 years or so and it's so fun to watch us go from 4 best friends, to 4 couples, to almost being out numbered by our kids. I hope that the second generation of "The Brotherhood" is as good of friends as John's friends were to him. Thanks for a fun weekend everyone! We'll miss you when you're gone =(

After dinner on Friday the big boys took the little boys fishing at the pond. In total they caught 3 fish. John was ecstatic about the size of his trout!

Marshall wanted to feel like he was a part of the fish catching too. Looks like someone was too busy fishing to take him potty.

Marshall, Carter, and Calvin had so much fun together. What cute boys! Marshall and Carter had a fun time sleeping up in the loft together like big boys, once they finally fell asleep.

They also had fun 4 wheeling and riding in Uncle Mat's Rhino. Marshall calls it a uniform, and means unicorn, which means Rhino. On Saturday morning they went for another ride and to catch more fish. I got to take a nap while they were playing. I didn't think I should be out 4 wheeling in my "condition." I had a really bad allergy attack and was totally miserable Saturday morning. By Saturday afternoon my hands and feet were so swollen I couldn't even take off my wedding ring! It's better now but I've got to watch it since I still have 12 weeks left. It was so nice to get away for a night and we all had so much fun!

Samuel the Lamanite's Message

When asked about Samuel the Lamanite, Marshall says, "He climbed up on the wall and cried, 'Repent! Repent! Jesus is going to be born in 5 years!" He loves reading the Book of Mormon picture book and my mom recently bought him the Old & New Testament books to go with it. He pulls them out several times a day to look at the pictures and has us read them to him at bedtime every night. When he flips through them he asks us if the guys in the pictures are wicked or righteous. He is so funny!

Star Wars Party

Marshall, Jacob, and Andrew
These 3 Jedi Knights are ready for anything, armed with their Light Sabers and costumes!

We are so lucky to live close to family! John's mom is so cute with the grandkids. She knows that these 3 boys are into Star Wars and Light Sabers so she threw them a special Star Wars Sleepover Party. Marshall talked about it all week leading up to and after the fun event! Check out the agenda and menu...so fun! Thanks for all the work you put into this Grandma & Grandpa Bradley, Marshall sure loved it!!!

Star Wars Sleepover

Invitation

Swimming in the Galaxy Pool:
Blaster Rifles and Imperial Droids
Light Sabers
Pod Racer

Movie:
Star Wars to Sleep
Space Snacks:
Asteroid Belt Popcorn
Space Pops
Space Rings

Games:
Meteor Shower (outside)
Glowing Space Balls
Planets through the Black Hole
Dinner:
Space Pods with Spicy Sabers
Yoda Soda
Star Wars Drawing Pages
Breakfast:
Flying Saucers

One Eyed Martians

Summer is for...

Spending weekends up the canyon with friends!

Last Friday night we went up the canyon for dinner with our friends. We roasted hot dogs and marshmallows and decided we should do this every weekend during the summer! The little boys had fun throwing pebbles and sticks into the river while we talked about babies and when Melissa was going to have hers. What a fun night! (Read all the way down to find out why!)My friends: Susan, Melissa, and Me!

Marshall, Chandler, and Dawson enjoy some summer watermelon

Happy Family!
Love you honey!

Ryan, Susan, and their adorable new baby, Layla

Melissa and Allen enjoy their last child-free evening...

Because their baby is on his way! Her water broke at about 9:30 and she had her baby, appropriately named Canyon, the next day at noon!

It was so fun to be a part of Melissa going into labor, especially since we'd been talking about it ALL night! It was so funny. She was scared and a little nervous, and didn't even have her hospital bag packed yet. I was able to see Canyon at the hospital on Sunday after church. He is adorable and Melissa is a natural at being a mommy!

Our prayers are with them as he recovers from bacterial meningitis.

Introducing....

STUDIO THE CLOWN!
Marshall loved the clowns at the rodeo and the next day he asked me if I'd make him a clown costume. If you read my toy blog you know I'm a huge fan of dress-up, make-believe, and imagination and since I also love to sew and want a huge dress-up box for my kids, I told him I would love to make him a clown costume! So, last night I turned this:
into this:
I put the finishing touches on it this afternoon. I love how it turned out! We stopped at the Costume Closet on the way home from swimming to get the wig and ended up with funny glasses, a clown nose, and rainbow suspenders too! Right now Marshall is running around the room saying, "Studio the Clown!!!!" I have no idea where he got the name "Studio" but it's so stinkin cute and it works well as a clown name. Thanks for asking me to do this for you, Marshall!

Note: This isn't going to be his Halloween costume, I have other plans for that.

Memories...

Heres a little game! I like games....who doesn't? Leave a comment on my blog of a memory that you and I have had together. It doesn't matter if you've known me for a short time, or a long time, anything you remember!

Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

Ready, Set, GO!

An English Hothouse Cucumber

What does this cucumber have in common with my baby? They're the same size this week. Like I said, so weird that they compare the fetus to produce! He's 14 inches and almost 2 pounds!

Can I get a YEE-HAAAW?!

A real cowboy

I swear he put the grass in his mouth on his own!
I didn't pose it!!!

Love this holiday! Here's why: this is the only holiday my family really celebrates. We've had this tradition since before my dad was born. Everyone would come from all over to stay at my great-grandparent's cabin in Kamas and even though the cabin is long gone, the tradition is alive and well!

Growing up we'd spent the last week of June at Aspen Grove, just Grandpa Marshall and the Grandkids, everyone knew "The Marshalls" because he'd been taking us for 15 years! This is where we all got the same lecture every year, the one about "Don't take the Greyhound when you can ride in an airplane" and were told year after year to read "The Magic of Thinking Big" which he eventually got us all for Christmas after none of us took the initiative to buy it on our own. The last year we were there, in 2003, we performed "Marshall Family's Back!" at the Family Talent Show, sung to the tune of "Backstreet's Back." McCall and I had written the lyrics in the showers at Aspen Grove (which are so fun for singing in!!!) and considering it was our last year we HAD to do it. It was so fun! We dressed up in baggy jeans, puffer vests, and baseball caps and used our towels as props. I miss decorating the girls cabin, we always had 2, one for the boys and one for us, theirs always smelled bad. Ours was so cute! We put up Christmas lights everywhere, put the door frame to the bedroom across the rafters and added a matress for someone to sleep up there on, and who could forget our hot Abercrombie boys we'd cut out from catalogs and magazines?! Oh, and the music, we always brought a CD player and millions of CDs between us. You should have seen us unloading the cars on the first day (after getting the infamous Aspen Grove cookies on Emerald Deck) it looked like we had enough stuff to stay all summer, not just the week, but believe me, we would have jumped at the chance to spend an entire summer there. They were good times for sure.

Grandpa and the cousins at Aspen Grove, 2002
I'm in the middle with the long hair and white shirt

Then, he decided most of us had grown up and were too busy to come. We loved our times there! It was such a great time to get to know my out of state cousins. The next week, for a few years, we went to my cousin's cabin on Island Park in Idaho and had another week filled with family fun - boating, playing games, exploring, and 4-wheeling.

Then, it was always the Oakley Rodeo on the Fourth of July! My favorite!!! My aunts make Firecracker Popcorn and we have a big BBQ with the best food ever because all my aunts are gourmet cooks! We all mingle, catch-up, and take pictures, this year they set up a GINORMOUS slip & slide and Marshall had a blast. We also went 4-wheeling in my aunt & uncle's backyard (yeah, it's THAT big) up in Heber and had a blast. It's always so fun to see my family and this tradition makes me feel a part of them. I love it!

Here's the pictures from yesterday:
Marshall takes the first ride down it

Check out how big this is, the pictures don't even do it justice. My cousin's husband got a banner from a baseball field and it was huge! Everyone at the BBQ could have gone down it next to each other at the same time, well, half of us anyway.

He would lay on his back and John would send him spinning down by holding one hand and one arm and pushing him down, Marsh loved it!

Running back up the hill for more

Wheeeeeee!

The smile says it all!

Mommy: "Marshall are you cold?"

Marshall: "No, I'm just shivery."
This is how he looks when he's cold (shivery).

Sharing the fun of the Rodeo with Marshall
He'd just had a red snow cone, it's not lipstick

Marshall loved watching the Rodeo events this year and got really into it, except all the loud noise and cheering, he covered his ears for that part.

Happy Fourth and Holy Cow!

I only have 100 days of pregnancy left! It's really going to fly by so fast!

Here's a little song I wrote...

Sung to the tune of the hymn "When There's Love at Home"...or is that a primary song? I forget.

"There's Construction All Around"
There's construction all around, when it's summer time.
There is not a street around without an orange sign.
Tar and gravel hear abide paving streets on every side.
There are diggers all around when it's summer time.

Marshall and I were out running errands and stuck in traffic today. He of course loves the construction and especially being stuck in it so he can look at all the cool machines...me, not so much. So to make light of our situation, as I often do, I changed the words to a song and this is what I came up with. Marshall liked it and even started singing it himself.

Marshall, Marshall, Marshall

Marshall really enjoyed his first session of swim lessons a couple weeks ago. He practiced blowing bubbles, floating on his back, jumping in, and yes! even swimming with his head down not holding onto anyone!!! I'm so amazed at how much he's grown up and become a little boy! My friend, Krista, is his swim teacher and she's amazing! If you want her number give me a call and I can pass it on. I highly recommend her! (So does Marshall)

Marshall is constantly wiping his hair out of his eyes, especially at the pool when it's wet and hanging. One of the moms (you know who you are) at swim lessons kindly suggested I cut it, and I agree - it was time! His curls just aren't the ringlets they used to be =(* So, our trusty stylist DeEtte did a buzz cut on him today. We just love her! Marshall ran in and gave her a big hug and told me he hadn't seen her in a long time. She's been giving him trims since before he could talk and I've been going to her for six years now and wouldn't dream of switching. You're the best DeEtte!going...

going...

gone!

Marshall and my cousin, Sophia, had a blast with about 8 other kids the other day at my visiting teacher's house. Instead of making visits during the summer they invite all their ladies over for lunch and a play date. We had some yummy soup, salad, and breadsticks from Olive Garden while the kids ate corn dogs, jumped on the tramp, ran through the sprinklers, and played in the kiddie pool. It was a fun afternoon!

Week 24 - 6 Months Pregnant

Here's my 6 month belly shot. I was so bad about taking belly shots with Marshall because I was so self conscious, but I decided no matter how big I get with this one it's worth documenting.

I'm feeling good still. I can't lay on my tummy anymore to sleep which is really hard because that's my favorite position. I can lay on my back but not for very long at a time. When we went camping a week before this picture, I got out of the car after the drive home and I could literally feel that I had grown! It was kind of a neat feeling to get out of the car and actually feel bigger. I can feel him move a few times during the day, mostly in the morning while I'm still lying in bed and at night when I lay down, usually after I eat or if I'm hungry he'll move too. John finally saw him for the first time the other morning. The baby is a little stubborn (wonder where he gets that) and whenever daddy tries to feel him he stops moving completely so it was nice for him to finally cooperate, even if John only got a visual instead of a feel. I'm getting more and more excited but feel like I can wait another three months or so, unlike the urgency I felt with Marshall to have him here already.

I have to say I'm enjoying pregnancy more this time although it could never compare to the first. With Marshall everything was new and exciting but at the same time very scary because I didn't know what to expect. I was also so wrapped up in the anticipation of becoming a mom for the first time that all I could think about for 9 months was getting him here, which as you know took longer than expected. This pregnancy I feel more relaxed about it and if I go over again, I go over again, no biggie. I also know more what to expect at each month or week so it's not as scary. I love my new OB and I think that helps too. I'm also glad it's summer and I have Marshall and a bunch of stuff to keep me busy and keep my mind off getting a baby here. It does suck to be pregnant in the summer since it's so hot, but it hasn't been too bad yet. Luckily I have the pool to help keep me cool and Marshall is a little fish!

Anyway, that's the latest prego news.

I dream of hummus!!!

As I lay in bed yesterday morning in that half awake/half asleep place I had a dream/thought - that a hummus wrap with green tortillas, hummus, and celery would taste extremely good! When John came in to get dressed after his shower I told him my idea and as the words were coming out of my mouth the thought of such a wrap all of a sudden seemed disgusting and not so good after all. For now I think I'll stick to the delicious snack of hummus and Stacy's Pita Chips, happily purchased at Costco - the happiest place on earth.

But here's what my dreams are really made of:My dream car, an Audi TT Roadster



Or I'd settle for a nice family vehicle, a Nissan Armada

But really any car that would break me out of my four walled hell that is my apartment would be nice! For those of you who don't know, John and I share a car and by share I mean I sit in it about once a week, on the weekend all the 1 1/2 blocks to church and if I'm lucky I get to drive it all alone on a Saturday too. A couple days a week my very generous mom lets me use her car but I only have until 3:00 to use it, at which time I have to pick her up from work. While I am soooo grateful for her for letting me use it, it would be a dream come true to have a car to use at my leisure again. I feel so trapped during the day!

20 Years Tag...

20 years ago...
1. I was almost 5, living with my mom and brother in our first apartment after the divorce
2. I was a flower girl in my dad and stepmom's wedding
3. I wanted one of those cheapy plastic dress up sets with jewelry and fake make up but my mom wouldn't let me get it with my allowance

10 years ago...
1. I was going into 9th grade at Oly Junior
2. I was recovering from my first round of Mono
3. I was reading anything by V.C. Andrews

5 years ago...
1. I was doing summer semester at SLCC
2. I was getting ready to go to Westminster College in the fall
3. I was saying good-bye to Sarah, Cooper, and Riley as they moved to New Hampshire. Our lives have never been the same since.

3 years ago...
1. Marshall was the cutest 6 month old ever!
2. I was getting my next bout of Mono
3. I was enjoying motherhood.

1 year ago...
1. We were trying to get pregnant
2. I was finishing up my major at the U, or so I thought.
3. John fell off a skateboard and broke his elbow


So far this year....
1. I finally got pregnant
2. I really finished up my last class at the U.
3. I've read over 20 books
4. I went to St. George
5. I started getting paid to take people's pictures

Yesterday I...
1. Took peoples pictures
2. Went on our first date in a looooong time
3. Came up with our Primary Sharing Time

Today I...
1. Was on time to primary
2. Got my cute nephew Atticus to sleep
3. Taught the Sharing Time in Primary
4. Ate some yummy hummus and pita chips

Tomorrow I will...
1. Go to the pool
2. Probably get to the grocery store
3. Spend too much time cleaning up after Marshall

In the next year I will....
1. Have a baby!!!
2. Hopefully make it to California
3. Read Don Quixote
4. Take the GRE
I tag... you!

Guess what's back back back, back again?

MY LAPTOP!!! YAY!!! Make sure to read all my updated posts!

May 22 - Maddie's First Birthday

We just love this little girl! She has been a part of our lives since August when I started watching her 2 days a week when she was just a few months old. Marshall loves her and every morning the first thing he says is "Who is coming over today?" She's grown to be a part of our family and we love her! Happy Birthday Maddie!!!

I was her official birthday party photographer, to see more go to my photography blog: