'Tis The Season

I love this time of year. Thanksgiving for me includes family, games, food, laughter, games, and of course family. I love being able to sit down with those I love in order to laugh and play together. Such was the case last week. I was able to spend a small amount of time with my parents and then come home and spend more time with Danny's family. It was so much fun to play basketball and other miscellaneous games with them.

On Friday morning my sister-in-law and I enjoyed the shopping season of Black Friday.  It is always fun to witness those people that take the shopping SO seriously that they fight over things.  We even saw an ambulance in Wal-Mart, but thankfully they left with the stretcher empty - it mustn't have been too serious.  

Anyway, now it is time for Christmas parties, candy, gift buying and wrapping, and of course the all important "Dear Santa" letters with the kids.  

I love the different traditions that we continue to improve on and add to.  A couple of years ago we started the tradition of doing the 12 days of Christmas for someone in the neighborhood.  We are beginning the preparations for that.  We are also going to make the yearly batch of yummy fondant candy.  

And thus it all begins.  The time to think of the beautiful birth of our Savior.  The time to remember the importance of Him in our lives.  The opportunity to bear witness of Him to those around us.  The chance to show Christ-like love to everyone we come in contact with.  And the possibility to spend time with those we love the most.

May you enjoy this December and remember that which is most important.

Pictures

Just a picture update:

Family

It has been a while since I sat down to work on my blog. In fact, it has been a while since I even looked at others’ blogs. As most of you know, my sister-in-law, Megan, gave premature birth to her twin boys. Dex received his body then went back to be with Heavenly Father again; and Crew is at Primary Children’s Medical Center right now trying to get strong enough to come back to UVRMC’s NICU.

Throughout the past couple of weeks I have gone through an array of emotions. It has just taken me a while to sort through my feelings enough to deal with them as well as read other people's emotions on the matter. Let alone being able to sit down and write about them.

I guess what it all boils down to is that I love my family! I am so grateful for having them in my life and being linked to them for all eternity. I’m not just talking about my wonderful sweetheart Danny and my three beautiful and wonderful children. The family that surrounds me in this life are the greatest examples to me...

Parents: I have two amazing sets of parents who have taught Danny and I right and wrong. They have ALWAYS been there whenever we needed them and have sacrificed so much for our behalf. I could say they are the most loving and giving people on the planet.

MY SIDE

Traci and Rick: Strong family values and very, very talented in many, many ways. My sister is a wonderful homemaker and I always wanted to be just like her when I became a mommy.

Tresa and Chet: The funnest people to hang around! No matter what we are doing, it is always fun when it’s with them. I also look up to Tresa and the strong testimony she has.

Jodi and Felipe: The most kind-hearted and giving people. I could go on and on about their many kindnesses and the great friends they are to me. I love to just talk to Jodi and enjoy the wonderful spirit that she exudes.

Jill and Spencer: Amazing, giving, and wonderful family values. They are a complete combination of all of the above. Family-oriented, fun, kind, giving - all words that would describe Jill.

Weston: Great missionary! He has been blessed with all of the traits listed above as well - maybe due to having 5 sisters. :) I miss him so much, and am so proud of all he is doing for the Japanese people.

DANNY’S SIDE

Justin and Megan: Where do I begin... They amaze me! Their strength astounds me! Megan is outgoing and fun and super strong in the gospel. Justin is a great friend and an amazing husband and father.

Kayla and Adam: They also are the most giving people. They would give you the shirts off their backs if you needed them. Adam drove our Uhaul truck to Las Vegas for us - as a favor... What more can I say?

Matt and Kim: Spiritual, funny, strong, and giving. I love ‘em both to pieces! Matt worries needlessly about EVERYONE and EVERYTHING and therefore would be there for you at the drop of a hat. I love to hear his testimony, too.

I didn’t sit down expecting to write all of that... But it is how I feel. I have been blessed with the most amazing family members in the world and as I have observed them I can’t help but realize what a great blessing the gospel is. We DO have the opportunity to be an eternal family. When someone goes back to our Father in Heaven, we WILL have the opportunity to see that person again. How grateful I am for these people as they witness to me of this truth. I love you all!

Ellie's Baby Blessing

We had Ellie's blessing on Sunday.  It was a wonderful day!  Thank you to those who came and supported us...  And to those who couldn't make it - we missed you but understand.  Ellie actually has a little rash on her head but you can't see it in these pictures thanks to Photoshop. :)  But this is Ellie on her special day.

Ellie with Aunt Tresa and some cousins

Ellie with Grandpa Hyde

Ellie with Grandma Bradshaw

Ellie with Grandpa Bradshaw

Thanks Grandma Hunsaker

Grandma Hunsaker sent Ellie some money to go shopping, so Ellie and I went out on the town. Danny laughed that I called it a "Girls Day" - I'm just excited that I can say it's a "Girls Day." Anyway, we went shopping and found this cute little outfit. Isn't she cute in her new jeans and shirt? Thanks Grandma Hunsaker!

Wanting Attention

Ok, so I stole this off of my sis-in-law's blog.  While watching this, I laughed so hard!  This is Kaden to a T - I swear.  And it is always when I'm on the phone or talking to someone or even when I'm just trying to get some time to myself.  Don't you just love kids!

Ellie M Bradshaw

Nope, we haven't fallen off of the face of the earth. :)  It has been a crazy couple of weeks but we are all doing really great!  Ellie has changed quite a bit so I wanted to post some updated pictures of this beautiful little girl.  

Also, I didn't want to forget the details of her birth so I wrote them down below - mainly for myself.

PS. Girls are so much fun to dress! :)

Ellie Enters The Picture

August 30th at 1:29 in the morning I woke up to a contraction.  In order for a contraction to wake me up from my sleep it has to be a fairly good contraction.  But I had had so many false alarms the past two weeks with what I like to call fake contractions that I didn’t dare believe I was going into labor.  Little did I know that within hours I would meet this little bundle of joy that had been growing inside my tummy.

At 2:30 in the morning Danny finally woke up to my struggling through the contractions.  He asked how long I had been having contractions and I told him.  He asked how far apart they were and I explained that I hadn’t been keeping close attention but that I thought they were about 5 minutes apart.

For the next 2 hours we struggle with deciding what to do.  Not only were the contractions not regular, but we also needed to contact someone to come stay with our boys.  We had already asked Matt and Kim to be on standby, but should we make the call and have them travel the 20 minutes to our house when the contractions weren’t regular yet?  In fact, we kept the record of each timed contraction...

5.46

5.20

4.00

2.24

6.25

7.07

6.48

2.15

4.38

7.35

7.47

7.10

3.19

1.33

2.01

11.14

5.30

2.00

1.10

1.29

2.48

3.00

3.25

4.37

7.51

3.25

1.58

2.02

3.22

4.13

2.27

1.52

3.55

8.00

5.28

As you can see, there was absolutely no regularity in each of the timed contractions.  We just didn’t know what to do.

At approximately 4:30, we decided to call Matt and Kim and let them know what was going on.  That way, they would truly be on standby.  But just one problem...  Their phones were on silent.  We tried calling for about 15 minutes to no avail.  They simply couldn’t hear their phones.  What were we going to do?  We decided to just continue to wait to see if the contractions got regular and take it from there.  But about a 1/2 hour later Matt just happened to wake up, look at his phone, and call us back.  Danny explained the situation, Matt took his phone off vibrate, and we continued to wait.

At about 5:15 I could no longer take the pain.  I wanted an epidural so badly!  So we called Matt and they headed to our house.  Meanwhile, all we could do was wait until Matt and Kim got there before we could leave for the hospital.  But it hurt so bad!  I got impatient and at 5:40 we called Matt to see where he was.  Thankfully they were just pulling in to the subdivision, so we left.

When we got to the hospital, they didn’t even monitor me - They simply admitted me.  When they checked my dilation, I said to the nurse, “Please don’t tell me I’m still a 3.”  The nurse replied with, “You’re definitely not a 3.”  And she proceeded to tell me that I was dilated to a 7.  To which I responded, “Please give me an epidural!”  :)  Then I turned to Danny and proudly said, “I made it to a 7!” - You see, with both Kaden and Preston I had an epidural by the time I was dilated to a 4.  Now I actually know what a true contraction feels like. :)

They got the anesthesiologist in and he gave me an epidural.  It worked everywhere except on the right side of my back and my right leg.  I explained this to the nurse and she called the anesthesiologist back in to give me more.  

After I got some more epidural, I started to feel nauseous and then light-headed.  They had given me too much and I felt extremely weird.  Meanwhile, I had progressed enough that it was time to push.  I had to push while feeling like I was going to pass out and I couldn’t feel a thing from my waist down.  And to top it all off, Ellie was face-up so the doctor had to try to turn her with the forceps.  And then she wouldn’t turn because her shoulder was caught on my bone.  I ended up pushing for an hour; but towards the end of the pushing, the epidural started to wear off.  So they had to call the anesthesiologist back in to give me even more.

But finally, at 8:59 AM on August 30th, 2008, Danny and I welcomed this beautiful little angel into the world.  She weighed 8 lbs 2 oz and was 20 inches long.  And she took my breath away.  

Childbirth is truly an indescribable event.  It was emotional from start to finish, and I still get tears in my eyes when I think about the first time I saw her.  Once again, children bring a whole new perspective in to our lives and I am so grateful for my opportunity to experience each joy, pain, happiness, misery, frustration, and proud moment.

Catching Up

Well, I guess I had better catch you all up on our life. I know it has been a long time and for good reasons. We have been extremely busy with life! We finished the basement, Danny took a business trip to California for a week, Kaden started the first grade, Preston is now potty trained (yippee), and of course - WE HAD ELLIE M BRADSHAW!

She was born on Saturday, August 30th. She weighed in at a whopping 8 lbs 2 oz. She was 20 inches long. And she is absolutely beautiful.

It was a fairly difficult delivery. She was face up and the doctor tried multiple times to turn her to no avail. The epidural was a little iffy at first, then they overdosed me, then it wore off too early... A little painful and difficult. But one of the first things I said after getting to hold my wonderful little girl is that it's amazing that no matter how difficult, it is still so incrediby worth it in the end. She is already my little angel and she definitely has Danny wrapped around her little finger. :)

Now for pictures... I will start off with Ellie and work backwards.



This is Preston being potty trained. (Am I a bad mom for taking pictures of this? :)



And, lastly, this is Kaden and his 1st grade experience. We met the teacher and found his class the day before school started. Then he wanted to ride the bus because he is now a big boy. They grow up way too fast.

Memory Game

Here is a fun little game... 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 that you remember! Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It is pretty funny to read the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you are playing and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. On your mark... get set... blog those memories!

Getting Ready For A Baby

Has it really been that long since I posted on my blog? Wow! Time flies!

What have I been up to? Between being sick, exhausted, and trying to do some fun things with my kids during these months that are called summer, we have been painstakingly trying to get ready to introduce this little girl into our family. Number one priority right now is to finish our basement. Danny has done all of the work thus far and we are starting to make progress. But I didn't truly have a sense of appreciation for all that Danny has done until this past weekend... We hung the sheet rock. (Yes, I said WE!)

It started on Thursday. Danny worked on the computer most of the day until about 3:00 and then we started hanging the ceiling pieces. Yes, I'm basically 8 months pregnant and I held up one side of the sheet rock while Danny screwed in his side then he would come relieve me. It started out as being pretty funny. Who in their right mind would help their husband hang sheet rock while 8 months prego? I guess the answer to that question is a pregnant woman who is REALLY motivated to get their basement finished. :)

Well, then we ran into some problems. One of the ceiling joists was bent or something - basically there was nothing there to screw the sheet rock into and it was at the very edge of the piece of sheet rock. We ended up having to take it down and Danny had to nail up a two by four in order to have some support for the sheet rock. The problem came when after nailing the two by four, we noticed water leaking from the ceiling. Because of the insulation Danny couldn't see the water pipe on the other side of the joist. He accidentally punctured the main water pipe when using his nail gun. Ooops!

So we had to take a detour. After calling all plumbers in a 20 mile radius, we found one able to come and fix it within about two hours. So we got the kids fed, bathed, and to bed and went back to work on the basement. We finally gave up around 10:00, cleaned up the house a little, showered, and went to bed.

Friday I woke up a little sore, but not too bad. And I was still quite anxious about the basement getting finished. We got the kids fed, dressed and told Kaden that he needed to be a "big-boy babysitter" for us. (Which he did pretty good for being a six year-old.) Danny and I ended up spending all day down in the basement (with an occasional trip upstairs to tend to the kids) and we were able to finish the ceiling.

Saturday I woke up quite sore. But after seeing how hard Danny works on our basement, I wasn't about to let him do it alone! I slowly crawled out of bed, ate breakfast, fed the kids, and once again asked Kaden if he could be a big helper again. We made our way down to the basement and started on the walls. At around noon, Danny's brother Justin was nice enough to come help us! It was so nice to have someone else lift the heavy stuff with Danny while I just measured and cut the sheet rock. By the time we ended on Saturday, we were about half done with the walls, and our feet, legs, backs, necks, and arms were killing us (or at least mine were).

Sunday was a welcome relief. We actually sat around and relaxed the whole day. Sadly and regretfully we stayed home from church - yes we are bad examples! But it sure felt good to relax the WHOLE day!

And now we come to yesterday... Danny woke up at the usual weekday time and got ready for work. After eating breakfast he came back upstairs and told me he was thinking about staying home one more day so that we could finish the sheet rock. I was torn! I was really looking forward to a day in which I could put our house back together, but I REALLY wanted to be done with the sheet rock! So we did as before, leaving Kaden and Preston to the TV/Xbox/Wii to entertain them, and went back to work.

Now, I have to pause by saying that on Sunday night I went to bed feeling sick to my stomach. So when we started the work yesterday, I was still a little queasy. Then it got a little worse. Then I got light-headed - I felt like I was going to black out. Then I got a super bad bloody nose - the kind that drips like a faucet. Needless to say, I needed a break so I went upstairs and lay down for an hour or so. Danny stayed downstairs hard at work.

After about an hour I felt MUCH better so I slowly got back into pace with Danny. I measured and cut all the pieces. We would put them in place and he would finish screwing in that piece while I started measuring and cutting the next piece. We actually had a great system going. And we FINALLY finished around 8:00 last night. And let me tell you, as soon as we finished (and my body realized we were finished), my whole body ached worse than I could imagine. And we hadn't even eaten yet.

So after being very neglectful parents, working as hard as I could imagine while being 8 months pregnant, and feeling like I couldn't move even my little toe without being in pain, WE DID IT! We have officially finished the sheet rock in our basement.

I have to say that not only do I feel such a sense of accomplishment in what we did, but even more, I feel a huge sense of gratitude for my wonderful hubby. Not only was he so sweet with me (every 2 minutes asking me if I was ok and trying to take most of the weight on himself so that I didn't have to); but he also is so motivated to learn how to do things himself and he works so hard to do them. He taught himself all that he knows about construction work - which is quite a bit!

Again, Danny has done everything in our basement so far. He did the framing, electrical work, HVAC, and insulation. Doing the sheet rock with him made me realize how hard he has worked just on our basement. What an amazing person I am married to!

I am also very grateful for the time that I had to spend with Danny while we worked. Even though it was truly laborious work, I wouldn't give up the one-on-one time that we had together. I really love him with all of my heart! He really is my best friend!

First-Time Gardener

Well, I did it! I planted my first garden. Let me reiterate that this is my first time gardening and I definitely do not have a green thumb. But, nonetheless, I finally have seeds in the ground.

The pictures aren’t much to look at; after all, it just looks like dirt. But I will be taking pictures throughout the summer to verify the progress (or non-progress) of my vegetables. I have planted tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, green beans, and watermelon (yes, I am trying watermelon – we will see how it turns out). This year I figure is kind of a test-run. I will hopefully be able to increase my knowledge and gardening abilities in the coming years.

Oh, and by the way, as you can see from the pictures I have not yet killed the flowers that I planted in the pots! Yes – I know it is extremely amazing that they are not all wilted and dead. But they are alive and well so far. Here’s to hoping!

Done With Kindergarten

Thursday was Kaden’s last day of kindergarten. Danny and I got to go to the program that his class put on. It was super cute! Each of the kids dressed up as “what they want to be when they grow up.” Kaden decided all by himself that he wanted to be a cowboy because he loves to ride horses. He even mentioned to his teacher his love of riding horses with Grandpa Bradshaw.

After they all showed off their aspirations for careers, they sang a few songs. Then their teacher, Mr. Kay, showed a video with pictures taken from this school year. He even had some video clips from “dads and doughnuts day” which included the kids and dads all dancing the chicken dance. That was super hilarious and if anyone wants to see Danny and Kaden dancing the chicken dance, I now have it on video. :)

But, alas, my little kindergartener is now considered a first-grader. Yes, I am excited for all-day school just so I don’t have to stop everything at 11:00 to pick him up from school; but it has also made me quite nostalgic the past few days. They grow up so fast that it seems extremely weird. Not only does it seem impossible for Kaden to be going to first grade next year, but I just don’t feel old enough to have a first-grader. :) I guess that’s probably the way everyone feels.

Just Another Frustrating Day

Yesterday started out promising; but it definitely went downhill. After picking Kaden up from school, we went and got some lunch and then visited Danny at his office. After that, we had to go to the store. I didn’t feel like going to the store – I was extremely tired and a headache was starting to form, but we really needed groceries.

Anyway, without going into a big long story of how the lady at the checkout was terribly slow, confused, and enormously frustrating, by the time I got out of Wal-Mart (I was just in the line for over 45 minutes) I was about to scream! Then, by the time I got home, my head was pounding!

Preston had fallen asleep in the car so I carefully put him on the couch to finish his nap, then I unenthusiastically went about bringing the groceries into the house and putting them away.

The reason I decided to write about this particular day in my blog/journal is because of Kaden. He noticed that I wasn’t feeling well. He immediately went to work trying to assist me in putting away the groceries. And every time I closed my eyes for a second to get my bearings, he would come give me a hug and pat my back so sweetly. He then ever so quietly turned on the Xbox (sometimes sadly used as our babysitter) and told me he would play his game while I took a nap.

I know I’ve said it many times before, but the reason we have children is because most of the time we end up needing them far more than they need us. I truly needed Kaden’s sympathy yesterday – yep, even moms need some TLC every once in a while. Thank you, again, Kaden!

My Life As A Mom

Sometimes I feel like I don’t have enough time in a single day to do all that I want to accomplish. And then there are the days that I just don’t feel like doing all that I need to get done. I wonder if this roller coaster of feelings ever goes away… Somehow, I don’t think so – especially as a mother.

There are days I think I am doing an ok job in raising my kids and there are days when I feel like I have absolutely failed. There are moments when I feel so glad that I took the time to sit down and read with my children; and there are times when I go to bed wishing I would have slowed down enough to play a game with them.

But the one thing that I have always tried to instill in my two little boys is the one single fact that I love them! I tell them so every day. In fact, sometimes I can’t help but say it over and over to them as I give them each a hug and kiss. It’s amazing to me how much love I can feel for these sweet little people that have been sent to me from above.

I would be the first person to admit that I am not the best mother in the world. I lose my temper way too easily; I don’t spend enough one-on-one time with either of them; and I don’t give them enough credit for the many times they are super good. But every night I pray for them. And I pray to be a better mom for them. I thank my Heavenly Father for each of them. And I pray that they will ALWAYS know that I love them.

Such is my life as a mom. I look at their sweet little faces admiring themselves in the mirror with their new pair of sunglasses that I bought for them and I smile. I smile because not only are they so darn cute and kissable, but also because regardless of the roller coaster of good and bad motherhood decisions – at least they know that I truly do love them. Not because I bought them new sunglasses; but because I TRY to show them every day. And what it comes down to is that is all I want… for them to always know that I love them.

Learning To Ride A Bike

All I have posted lately are pictures; but, that's all I've got lately. So sorry if you're wanting more informative stories... The pictures will have to do for now.

Monday was such a beautiful day here. Therefore, Kaden just wanted to ride his bike all day long. But with my pregnant belly, I didn't feel like running along with him while he figured out how to ride it without training wheels. Thus, I told him he needed to wait until his dad got home.

After waiting all day long to ask his dad for help, Kaden anxiously tried to ride a training wheel-less bicycle for the first time. He did it. He couldn't get started by himself, but with Danny's help he was able to figure out how to balance himself on a two-wheeled bike. And he only had a few falls - so just a couple of bumps, bruises, and scratches.

Tuesday, after school, he wanted to try again. So I decided that this time I could try to help him. He did so good! I only had to hold him up for a second when he started out. I thankfully didn't even have to run with him. And then he even started by himself a couple of times... Though that was still a challenge. But way to go Kaden! He did it!

No Green Thumb Here...

I would be the first person to admit that I do not have a "green thumb". In fact, I would probably be the last person that should try to grow anything plantlike. But this year I have decided to give it a try. My wonderful sister-in-law Megan was generous enough to give me some leftover flowers... She had overestimated in how many she would need. So I decided to make some nice welcoming pots on our front porch. Kaden just wanted to help by watering them after I was done.

Not only am I trying to keep these flowers alive for more than a day, I have decided to be ambitious enough to start a vegetable garden in a couple of weeks. We will see how that goes. Wish me luck!

Announcement

Yesterday our family went to my ultrasound appointment and we found out the gender of the baby! It was amazing as all ultrasounds seem to be and Kaden was beginning to be able to see things like the hands, feet, head, and face without us even telling him what they were.

To get to the point... We are having a GIRL!!! And are super excited about it. If I had a scanner, I would scan in the pictures and show you all... Maybe I'll have to borrow my sister's sometime. :)

Bradshaw's Restaurant

On Wednesday Kaden and I decided to make our kitchen into a restaurant for Danny to come home to. As soon as we talked about it, Kaden was so excited that he made most of the arrangements and just told me what to do. His one major request was the mustaches that were to be painted on their faces so that Danny wouldn't recognize them. They were to look like waiters and not his boys. And I was to stay out of sight because he would recognize me; after all, I couldn't wear a mustache because I am a girl.

It was a lot of fun and even though Danny came home frustrated from work, we were able to cheer him up.

"He Can Help You"

As I was running up the stairs today, the engraved silver band that Danny gave to me as an anniversary present slipped from off my finger. Because I was running and my hand was going back and forth, I had no clue as to where my ring landed. I immediately went to work searching for this prized possession of mine.

Kaden saw me searching and began helping me. We looked all over; on the stairs, behind the couch, on the couch, in the laundry that was sitting on the couch, on the carpet… We simply couldn’t find it. As we were searching the stairs once more, Kaden spoke up. “Mom, I know who can help you,” he said. “The Holy Ghost… If you pray, he can help you find it.” Of course I stopped panicking, told him he was right, and sat down and prayed. During my prayer I made sure to thank Heavenly Father for this wonderful son of mine that had just put me in my place in the very best way possible.

After my prayer we sat there for a moment; then we got up and began looking again. Not two minutes had passed by before we had found my ring, in between our movie stand and the wall – one place I wouldn’t have thought of looking.

Whoever says that they are just kids, doesn’t know what I know. My children are angels, sent from heaven to remind me in the most subtle of moments of the important things in life. They remind me of who I am, who I come from, that we all need help once in a while and that there is always someone who can help you. Thank you, Kaden.

Mischief

Two days ago we (meaning Kaden, Danny, and I) were playing Halo online with my sisters and their families. We were enjoying ourselves; visiting with our family while taunting and shooting the enemy in our all-out war. While we were playing, Preston meandered around, watching us or playing with toys to his hearts desire. At one point during this fun family event, Preston found his way upstairs and was gone for quite a while. He ended up coming back downstairs in time for us to get him ready for bed.

The next day I was cleaning the house. I had completed almost all of my daily chores and went upstairs to get ready for the day. When I got to the top of the stairs, I smelled something weird. Having just changed Preston’s dirty diaper, I knew it wasn’t him. Having just cleaned the bathroom, I knew it wasn’t anything growing in there. I followed my nose to the boys’ bedroom, and that is when I realized where the smell was coming from.

I looked at the fish tank that is on top of Preston’s dresser. It contains the only pet that Kaden has been allowed which is a fish given to him from his Aunt Jill that he so lovingly named Jack. But instead of seeing the nice clean water and happy little yellow fish swimming around, all I could see was brown liquid. The smell was awful and the look was even more revolting.

In the time that Preston had been upstairs during our “fun family event” he had managed to pour almost an entire bottle of fish food into the fish tank. I could no longer see Jack, nor could I see any of the plants that are in the tank. All I could see was a murky brown liquid with at least an inch and a half of fish food pellets that had now sunk to the bottom of the fish tank.

Needless to say I called the boys in to the room, prepared Kaden for the worst (a dead fish) and scolded Preston for even touching the fish tank that he knows is off limits. I then went to work cleaning up the mess; my first task being to check on the state of the fish. By some small miracle, Jack actually survived! I hurriedly put him in a bowl of fresh water where he sucked in the clean water mouthful after mouthful. He looked like he was gasping for air. I cleaned the tank and put Jack back in his home.

It wasn’t until after it was all clean that I realized I should have taken a picture of this mischievous act that my two-year old boy could accomplish and almost get away with. Now I guess I have to make do with the written details of the event. Someday, when his children create their own amusement, I can point out this story and say, “You got into plenty of mischief yourself.”

Days With Children

I’ve been waiting for something super exciting or wonderful to happen before I wrote another “journal” entry. But all the while I forget about the small little things that happen on a daily basis with my most wonderful possession… my children.

Preston:

On a daily basis Preston will follow me around. Well, at least while Kaden is gone to school. He refuses to be in a different room than me, let alone a completely different floor to our home. If I start to climb the stairs (even if it is just to take something upstairs and will be right back) he yells out, “Wait-uh-me, mom! Wait-uh-me!” I love it. From the first time he said it, I knew that this is something that I don’t want to forget: the sweet little deep voice of a two and a half year-old yelling for his mother to not forget him – to not leave him behind.

Another thing that Preston has discovered in his vocabulary is how to look for someone. The other day Danny decided to be a little late to work. He actually slept in and didn’t leave until 9:00. Because of this, Preston was not still snoozing away while daddy quietly slipped out the door at 6:30 am. Instead, I had to keep him preoccupied while Danny left; otherwise, Preston would have thrown a fit that he wanted to “tum too”. So Preston and I watched cartoons upstairs while Danny left the house. After about 30 minutes of cartoon-watching, Preston finally discovered that Danny was no longer there. He ran around the whole house yelling, “Wheh-ah-you, Dad? Wheh-ah-you?” The cutest thing about this is the way that he covers his mouth while yelling. It is like he is trying to make a megaphone with his hands; however, he ends up just completely covering his mouth with both hands. He does this while searching for any one of us. If he doesn’t know where one of us is, he will find us. It is too adorable and again, I simply do not want to forget this precious way of him finding his mom, dad, or brother.

Kaden:

The other day I let Kaden play his Xbox game for quite a while. He got Lego Star Wars for his birthday and I usually don’t let him play it for an extraordinarily extended period of time, but the other day I decided to just let him play for as long as he wanted (which ended up being over four hours!) Danny got him into bed that night while I was brushing Preston’s teeth. When I was done, we went into their bedroom and Kaden was crying. I asked what was wrong and Danny just said that he would tell me later. That got my curiosity going. I patiently waited while I said my goodnights and tucked both of them in. When we got downstairs, I asked Danny about it.

Well, Kaden had told Danny that I had let him play his game for a long time that day. In jest, Danny said, “You’re going to fry your brain if you play Xbox too much.” Of course, Kaden took Danny completely serious. He thought that he was going to die because he had played too much Xbox. In fact, he had asked me if he could read a book before he went to bed and I told him no because it was bedtime. He thought that if he read a book, it would exercise his brain enough to keep it from frying. He was so worried about it that he ended up sneaking out of bed to get a book to read.

I guess Danny learned to not joke too seriously with Kaden. Kaden, who doesn’t yet quite understand the concept of real versus fake, who gets his feelings hurt if you lightheartedly tease him too relentlessly, who constantly asks if you are just joking, will take you completely seriously and it will always be worst case scenario with him, I guess. Such is my six-year old son. And we love him even more because of it.

Birthdays

June 2001 – Danny and I anxiously waited the time that the test required in order to give an accurate reading. We sat in the living room, lost in our own thoughts. When it was time, we quickly, yet hesitantly, went to where the test had been waiting… It was positive. We were going to be parents. At that moment my emotions took over. Yes, I was excited. But included in the array of emotions I felt were nervousness, anxiousness, fear, and worry all at the same time. I had wanted a baby, but at that moment I wasn’t so sure.

Jump ahead four months – It’s a boy! I could actually see on the ultrasound with my own eyes his little tiny fingers, itty-bitty toes, and of course the all important sign between the legs that this baby inside of me was indeed a boy. Words can’t really express the kind of connection I felt to this little one when I saw him for the first time on the TV screen in the small exam room of my doctor’s office. He was real. He was so tiny. He needed me. And yet I had no idea how much I would end up needing him.

March 25, 2002 (1:00 am) – “Danny. Danny. Wake up, Danny. I’m having contractions.” Of course Kaden would not be early or late for his arrival into our family. He would be right on time, on his due-date, not before or after. That should have told us a little about his personality. Fifteen hours and many, many, many pushes later he was here – beautiful, sweet, and amazingly even-tempered.
_____

My little boy turned six this week. He doesn’t really like to be called a little boy anymore. To him, of course, he is a big boy.

It seems, at least for me, as we celebrate our children’s birthdays, we get the chance to look back at the years gone by. As I have, I remember all of the poopy diapers and occasional accidents on the floor. I remember time lost as I took him to daycare as a working mom, yet time gained as I enjoyed staying home with him. I remember trips to the park, to the swimming pool, to the movies, and of course to grandma’s and grandpa’s houses. There were occasional bumps and bruises, a lot of fevers, some colds and coughs, and even a stay at the hospital when he had pneumonia.

These are all memories now. Of course there will be a lot more bumps and bruises. There will be lots more sickness. There will be plenty more trips to take. In all, there will be many more memories to make. It’s just nice to have a reminder to take the time to make those memories. Time goes way too fast to sit back and just watch.

Again, I had no idea how much I would end up needing Kaden. His patient, loving, caring, sensitive and sweet personality has been the greatest example for me. I see so much of his dad in him – that would be where the patience comes from. He constantly reminds me of the kind of person I could and should be.

What an amazing job we have as parents/mothers to teach these children when they so often end up teaching us. In fact, I think that’s why Kaden was sent to me; because he is the perfect person to make me better.

Easter

I just wanted to share some pictures from the Easter egg hunt our neighborhood had on Saturday. The kids loved it. Kaden didn't get very many eggs, but Preston had plenty to share. We also went mini golfing and had a picnic. It was a beautiful day and we had lots of fun as a family.

Amazing Little Girl

I saw this on YouTube. She was on Britain's Got Talent and she absolutely amazed me with her voice. You have to hear it! She's only 6!

Sometimes You Have To Let Them Pick Themselves Up

It’s a mother’s instinct to run to their child when he/she falls down. Whether the fall is physical or not, we want to be there for our children – to pick them up, clean off the dirt, kiss the bruises, and tell them it’s going to be ok. It’s difficult to theorize, but for some reason it’s an involuntary response – some deep underlying force that fills you with a desire, or more appropriately, a necessity to instantaneously be at your child’s side when they need you.

The only problem with this instinct comes when it’s time for that child to learn, grow, or even just become their own person. Such was the case with Kaden this morning…

It was a normal morning in the Bradshaw home. By normal, I mean hurrying to eat breakfast, rushing upstairs to get boys dressed, enforcing the AM teeth-brushing chore, assisting our little kindergartner with his not-so-cooperative hair, running to get shoes on, and rushing out the door to get Kaden to school on time. As I said, it’s a normal morning routine.

We reached the school with just enough time for Kaden to run to class before the bell rang. We said our “goodbyes” and “I love you’s”. He jumped out of the car and started running. He caught up to a little girl that looked just about the same age as himself. He patiently waited like a true gentleman as the girl slowly meandered to the crosswalk. He even walked behind her through the majority of the crosswalk. Then he got impatient.

He saw his chance to pass and decided to take it. He passed on the right and ran to the sidewalk on the other side. But he miscalculated the distance needed to clear the sidewalk on the other side. His foot caught the curb and sent him sprawling to his knees, then his hands, then finally to his stomach.

On most days I watch Kaden from the car until he reaches the door to the school. Today was no different. I sat in the car, watched the whole display, and my heart jumped. It ached for me to get out of the car, run to my little boy and do all of the things that the “mother’s instinct” tells us to do.

I sat there, torn, watching as he got up, embarrassed. I sat there, desperately fighting the urge to run to him as he gingerly started walking, checking his hands and knees for scrapes and bruises. I sat there, absolutely hurting for my baby as he got to his classroom door and banged on it so he didn’t have to heave the heavy door open with his already aching hands. I sat there, telling myself, “It’s good for him to learn to be a big boy,” all while the instinct in me was screaming, “But he’s not a big boy – He’s my baby.”

Why? Why is it necessary to sometimes fight the natural urge as a loving mother to reach out for your little one? Why does it have to be so absolutely painful to have to watch as a child gets hurt, but know that it isn’t the right time to run to them? My only answer to that question is that it’s Heavenly Father’s way of teaching us. He’s trying to show us what He sees on a daily basis. And he’s giving us the ability to feel a portion of the kind of love he has for all of us. I guess if I look at it that way, I am grateful after all for these difficult incidents. They truly are teaching experiences.

More Of Kaden's Funny Comments

I was going through some of my old documents and this is what I found... I tried to keep track of some of the things my Kaden would say. These are just a few...

When Kaden is asking “What?” (3 to 4 years old)
“Wah You Say?”

Every night before bed (3 to 4 years old)
“Goodnight… I hope you sleep good. After I wake up I can play with you.”

Sunday, May 28, 2006 (4 years old)
“I really liked that dessert, mommy! It was yummy… Thanks so much for makin’ it mommy.”

Monday, May 29, 2006 (4 years old – Danny playing Xbox)
“Hey, daddy, you just drove that truck into that other truck and it just blowed up… That was way cool daddy!”

Kaden at 5 years old (Just out of nowhere)
“You are a really good mom.”

Saturday, April 14, 2007 (We were just sitting on the couch)
“You sure are pretty, mom”

Saturday, April 14, 2007 (Preston had a diaper rash… we got his diaper off and put him in the bathtub. Kaden went in and said this.)
“I know, Preston. It’s okay, baby.” Then, “Mom, I wish my baby brother didn’t have such a sore bum.”

End of April, 2007 (Kaden had received a doctor’s hat and mask from a preschool fieldtrip and was playing doctor at home. Danny walked in with the mail and said, “grrr, these doctor bills.” Kaden replied with this…)
“Dad, I’m not Dr. Bills. I’m Dr. Kaden.”

Kids Say The Darndest Things

We all know that kids can say the funniest things sometimes. The thing that always strikes me is that they are always so honest. No matter what, they tell it how they see it. Such is the case with little five (almost six – wow!) year old Kaden. Sometimes the things he says shocks me, sometimes it frustrates me, but more often than not I can’t keep from smiling/laughing at the things that come out of his mouth.

The other day my kids were snacking on marshmallows. Kaden has a thing lately about what foods are healthy and which ones are not. He continually asks if what he is eating is healthy and why. Well, we had already had the marshmallow conversation with him at some point. The why: well, obviously they have too much sugar to be much good for your body. The conversation went as follows:

Kaden: “Mom, marshmallows aren’t good for you, huh.”

Mardie: “Nope, not really.”

Kaden: “It’s because they have too much sugar, huh.”

Mardie: “Yep.”

Kaden: “And too much sugar makes your blood and brain mad at you and it makes you fat, huh, Mom.”

Mardie: “Pretty much.”

Kaden: “But I’m not fat, right?”

Mardie: “Nope, right now you’re not.”

He thought for a moment about this. After about a minute he said this:

Kaden: “I don’t know very many fat people.”

Mardie: (cautiously – I didn’t quite know what to say) “I guess not.”

Kaden: “Like Jill.”

Mardie: stunned into silence

Kaden: “She’s not fat.”

Mardie: trying really hard not to smile.

Kaden: “Or Tresa or Jodi. They’re not fat either.”

Mardie: can’t help but laugh now - “You’re right! None of them are fat.”

Kaden: “The only fat people are pregnant.”

Now, all of you should know by now that I am the pregnant one. I am almost 14 weeks along and yes, I am showing a little. And apparently Kaden notices. :)

The other thing that you have to know is that all of the names noted above are my sisters. They are the three of my sisters that are participating in a “biggest loser” competition between themselves and their husbands. I just have to say that a truthful little five year old boy thinks that you are all in great shape. So go ahead and eat all the sugar that you want because it seems that I’m the one who needs to watch what I eat. :)

Thursday

On Thursday, I told the boys that they needed to get out of the house and play outside for a while. It was such a nice day and I wanted them to get some fresh air. So after lunch they got their shoes on and were so excited to have an adventure outside.

As I watched them play, I was intrigued. I watched Preston and it was as if I could just hear what he had to be thinking. So I sat down and wrote out what I thought was Preston's Perspective...

Preston's Perspective

I ran to get my shoes from their usual spot in the basket by the front door. Mom said we could go play outside! It’s been such a long, cold winter being cooped up in the house all the time. This was my chance to run free – to follow Kaden and see what he could think of for us to do.

I took my shoes to mom, refusing to wait until Kaden was done eating lunch. After all, I had eaten my meal… It wasn’t my fault Kaden was being slow. Mom put on my shoes for me and insisted that I wear a jacket. I went along with the jacket idea ‘cause I figured I could take it off once we got outside and mom wouldn’t even notice.

Finally Kaden finished eating. He got his shoes on and we were ready. Here it was – our chance to be boys out in the great outdoors.

We started with racing. There’s nothing like running as fast as your legs can go on the soft, damp, grass then carefully jumping into the mound of snow that’s still left at the edge of the hill. Kaden would go first. Boy, he can run fast. And then I would follow, close behind (well, as close as I could get with my legs being so much shorter than his.)

Ouch! I fell. It didn’t really hurt too bad; the snow was just so cold on my bare hands. I complained to Kaden and he carefully wiped my cold, wet hands on his nice, white, dry shirt. Sometimes it’s nice to have a big brother to look out for you.

Uh-oh… Out came the girls of the neighborhood. I guess Kaden would want to play with them. After talking for a second, they decided they wanted to ride scooters. “Oh, good! At least I have one too; and I won’t be left behind.”

We got our scooters and started riding. “Wow, this is fun! Hey, wait up guys! Guys, I’m over here. Kaden, don’t leave me! Well, I guess if they’re going to go that fast, I’ll just sit down on my scooter and go as slow as I want.”

After I was done playing outside, mom got me some cookies and milk. “I guess I have an okay mom after all. I better show her my appreciation!”

When I was done with my cookies, I got down form the stool, ran to my mom, and gave her a hug and kiss. “I love you,” she said. I just replied with an, “I love you guys!”

The Light Bulb Is On

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about how I want to live my life. Yes, I am almost 28 years old and you’d think I would have figured it out by now. To be honest, I have been doing things specifically with other people in mind for so long. For instance, I would strive for, if not force, our family to read the scriptures. I did it specifically so that my kids would realize the importance of these sacred records and to make them better people.

Another example is the simple task of cleaning our house. Danny likes a clean house. Well, let me put that a different way; Danny HATES a dirty house. So when I clean, I do it for him. And on the days that I don’t feel well, or I’m just too tired by the time Danny gets home, I feel guilty that I didn’t clean before he got home. (Even though Danny will say over and over again that I should just sit down and relax. I bring the guilt on myself.)

At Thanksgiving, my sister planted a seed into my head. She actually gave me the wild and crazy idea that I could take care of myself first, and therefore be better prepared to take care of my family. In fact, she made it sound so easy. She said that if Danny came home before I got the chance to do the dishes, and I just happened to be taking a break when he walked in the door, I shouldn’t feel guilty if he starts putting the dishes in the dishwasher because I deserve to have breaks. She said that I have long days too – a different type of long day than Danny, but long nonetheless.

This was when the light bulb started to flicker inside my head. And between then and now, I’ve had family members, books, and different specific situations help me to come to a conclusion. It has only taken three full months for the light to finally go from a flicker to a bright halogen light bulb that is almost blinding. This light can’t go off now. It is stuck inside my head and refuses to go dim again.

So… What if I actually perform tasks specifically to improve myself? What if I read the scriptures, by myself, just to feel that spirit stronger in my life? What if I did it simply to make myself a better person? What if I did it to feel happier in my own life? Would it then affect the rest of my family the way it would have an effect on me? Would they understand the importance of these sacred records, simply by seeing the example of how the scriptures affect me?

I know it is often said that we should lead by example. Please don’t ask me why it took me such an extremely long time to figure out what that meant to me. A great way to put it is with a quote. My sister's friend, Charmaine Anderson, said, “This is my take on parenting: You figure out who God sent you...writing things down like this is a good start...then realize it is not your job to "mold" this gift from heaven. That will just set up battle lines. Your job is to love your unique little person; be a good example to them and then before it is over they will be inspired to mold themselves into someone you will be proud of. Not that I did any of this at all myself but from many conflicts I have learned that ‘being nice is more important than being right.’”

So, maybe I’m not the world’s best mother. I might yell at my kids too much, get frustrated too easily, and sometimes maybe go to bed feeling awful for being too hard on so-and-so. But I’m trying. I get to wake up the next day and try a little harder. And if it takes setting time aside just for myself in order to become a more patient, loving, and caring person, and in order to be a better example for the little ones that have been sent to me from above; I guess it is worth a try.

After all, isn’t there such a thing as being selfish in order to be selfless?

Scrapbooking Template Challenge

Everyone probably knows by now that my sis-in-law Megan got me hooked on digital scrapbooking. I absolutely love it and wish I had more time to actually do it.

Anyway, as I was looking on one of my "regular" scrap sites, there was a template challenge. You download side A of a double page template, submit your version of the template, and then you get side B. There is also a contest and whoever wins gets to choose a product from her store. Since I love her kits, etc., I decided to enter the contest. Here is my version of the template:


I normally never post my scrapbook pages on my blog, but I was excited about this page. I actually paid money for this kit... Which I never do! And, yes Megan, I just might start posting more pages to the blog. ;-)

P.S. The template and kit are from Andrea Gold on GoDigitalScrapbooking.com The kit is called "Brothers". The link to her blog is on the right of my blog.

Invisible Mom

My sister, Traci, emailed this to me. I absolutely loved it! And I think all of us moms can appreciate the fact that we are often invisible. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did:


It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see I'm on the phone?" Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom.

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it?" I'm a satellite guide to answer, "What number is the Disney Channel?" I'm a car to order, "Right around 5:30, please." I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a hair clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, "I brought you this." It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: "To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees."

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals -we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything. A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird intoa beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it." And the workman replied, "Because God sees."

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, "I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become."

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, "You're gonna love it there."

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Great Job, MOM!

Preston, The Pill!

So, lately we’ve had this problem with Preston. He just won’t go to bed at night. He keeps getting out of bed every 2 minutes. It gets so frustrating!

A couple of nights ago, we were experiencing this. Danny put him to bed. Two minutes later he gets up and smiles at me. I put him back to bed, scolding him the whole way. Another two minutes went by and, of course, he got out of bed again. This time I heard him before he even opened his bedroom door. So I tapped his bum as he ran back to his bed. I told him that if he got out of bed again then he would get a spanking and I would put him in timeout.

Of course, knowing Preston, that didn’t phase him. He got out of bed, came waltzing into our bedroom, and waited for me to do as I had warned. So, I grabbed him, spanked him, and put him in timeout. “That’ll show him,” I thought.

He sat there patiently. He was there for a good 10 to 15 minutes as I completely ignored him (except for when he started to play, then I scolded him for playing). I was bound and determined to get it into his thick scull that when it is bedtime, he is not to play around. That he just needs to close his eyes and go to sleep.

Danny came upstairs and saw him sitting on the stairs in timeout. I explained what had happened and he asked if I wanted him to take him back to bed. I told him yes, but only after I had reprimanded him again. I told the little twerp to come here. He came to stand before me as is the tradition in our house after they have had a timeout. I looked into his naughty little blue eyes and began with, “Preston, you need to stay in bed when mom and dad puts you there! No more getting out of bed, do you understand me?”

Of all the things that this little two-year old could do at this moment in time, he decided to look away with a sly little grin on his face. He quietly said, “O-tay” while looking at me from the corner of his eye.

Grrrrr… I hate when he does that. He uses every single ounce of cuteness that is in his small body and throws it at me with full force. He may as well have been saying, “Oh, come on mom… Ya know you love me.”

I tried again (though it was much less effective with a huge grin on my face). “Preston, this is not funny. You need to go to sleep.” This time, instead of a sly little grin, he looks at me full on with the biggest smile that could ever fit on a toddlers face, as if to say, “Whatever you say, mom… We all know that I run this house.”

I still don’t quite know what to do with this little stinker that has graced us all with his presence. He continues to do what he wants, without giving any second thought to any form of discipline. Yet I love him so deeply. Isn’t that the biggest miracle of being a parent? No matter what our children do, we would never love them any less. It makes me appreciate our Heavenly Father’s love for us. How unconditional His love is!

Family

Lately I have had an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the wonderful people that make up my family. Between Halo matches on Xbox live with as many siblings as possible, and an unexpected visit from my parents just so they could bring us a valentine… From advice from a loving father on how to finish our basement, to loving words of encouragement from a mother who always wishes she could do more for her children… From texting back and forth due to a newly-strengthened relationship with a kind, loving and generous sister, to long talks on the phone due to a long-found connection of a sister far away. I have been blessed with more love and more examples in my life than any one person should be awarded. But I am so grateful for it.

I remember the summer when it all began; when I first started to realize that our family was special. My mom was going away because Jill was very sick. She needed a heart transplant and the hospital that would provide that for her was located in California. So we would all make the best of it. I would, at first, stay behind with Dad. I was still in school at the time and needed to finish out the year. Maybe after the school year ended I could go visit them for summer-break.

It was really hard at first. Everything that a ‘soon-to-be’ teenage girl would go to her mother for, was now handed off to an older sister. Jodi was then put in the awkward situation of giving ‘motherly’ advice to an eleven-year old sister. But we managed.

When the school year ended, I was allowed the opportunity to go stay with mom and Jill. For me, it was a blast. We went swimming every day in one of the several pools located in our apartment complex. We met new friends and enjoyed the excitement of spending a summer in California. It wasn’t until Jill was called in to the hospital because a heart had been located, that I realized the significance of the situation. From that moment, our family seemed to strengthen. From constant trips to the doctor’s office, to facing the challenging possibility of having a split family again for a second transplant, there wasn’t anything that I felt was too much for our family.

It has been a long time since that summer when I was eleven. Yet, here we still are… as strong as ever and growing closer to each other all the time. I sometimes wonder how my parents did it. How did they place so much value on family for their children to realize? How did they make sure that we would each grow up knowing that we are loved and that they are there for each of us individually if we ever needed them?

All I can say is that I hope, as a parent, that Danny and I can show the same kind of example to our children that I was shown as a daughter. And in return, I hope that I can reciprocate with the same kind of love to the people that mean the most in my life.

Disclaimer

Again, I must remind everyone who reads this blog that it is my release. The stories that I write are more for me than anyone else. It is my hobby. And it is my way of keeping a journal. Once more, it was my sister who got me started in writing these stories. She is the one who helped me realize the importance of keeping a journal, and through reading her blog I gained more courage in what I post on my blog.

You, no doubt, had no idea that you would get such a close perspective into my life. So with that, if you do not want to look too deeply into the life of Mardie H. Bradshaw, you may want to stop reading. I am becoming more and more brave when it comes to putting my feelings out there.

For those who continue reading, I warned you. :)

My Valentine

This “journal” entry is going to be hard for me to write. You see, when things get too personal, I seem to get emotional; and then I get frustrated because I get even more emotional… You get the picture. I like to blame my emotions on my mother – it’s easy to pass the blame onto someone else. However, I also believe that in many ways it is a good trait to have. It still gets very frustrating, though. :)

I was able to quit my job last year. When I quit, I was extremely nervous. Every other time that I had been a ‘stay-at-home-mom,’ at some point I would get depressed. Just enough that I would want to go back to work. Then I would miss my kids and want to stay home with them. Then my “cycle” would start over. Work, quit, work, quit. It was a vicious cycle.

So when I prayed and got the answer to quit my job, I was scared that the cycle was starting over. But I felt so strongly that it was what Heavenly Father wanted that both Danny and I took the leap and I quit my job. The thing that I couldn’t believe is that it was amazing! I loved it. I absolutely loved spending time with Preston in the morning while Kaden was at school, and then with Kaden in the afternoon while Preston was taking a nap. Our house was cleaner, our family was healthier (side-effect of daycare), and we were overall happier. I loved it! And still do for that matter.

As a blessing from Heavenly Father, for extra income Danny was given some opportunities for contract side-work. Again, this was a huge blessing, but it also made Danny EXTREMELY busy. He would (and still does) come home from work just to get on the computer to do his side job. He is very good at what he does and therefore continues to get these extra income opportunities quite often. Once more, he is BUSY.

Well, yesterday I decided that I wanted to go out with just Danny. It was time for us to be together just as a couple without kids. The problem was that there was no babysitter available. I tried everyone on our list, but, of course, everyone had plans already. Instead of realizing that I should just try for today, I moped. Yes, I, Mardie, moped and even got a little angry because in my mind Danny didn’t care that we were not able to go out. Needless to say, this followed by a not so happy evening in the Bradshaw home. If mom is unhappy, everyone suffers!

Danny, being the wonderful support that he is, sat me down and calmed me down. He reaffirmed his love for me and we both committed to putting the gospel first, the family second, and work third. With that in mind, we read our scriptures and then said a family prayer.

The reason for this story is because I want Danny to know how much I appreciate all that he does. He works so hard to allow me to stay at home with our wonderful kids. Because of him, I am given the opportunity to write down these stories of things my children do on a daily basis. Otherwise, these memories would be lost in a sea of daycare children that I cared for. I am so grateful to have my focus centered on my kids and no one else’s.

All couples have arguments, some more serious than others. For me, though, these are the best example of love. In every argument that Danny and I have had, he is so overwhelmingly committed to our relationship, to me, that he won’t let me leave until I know he loves me. Funny that it sometimes takes a disagreement for me to realize it.

Not many people realize how much Danny sacrifices for our family. He gets stressed out way too easily and therefore puts more time and effort into his work. All the while he tries to help me out by cleaning when possible, changing diapers when I ask him, and playing with the boys (who love it when he does). This is my Danny. This is my sweetheart. This is my valentine. I love you, Danny!

Preston, The Singer

Lately Preston has kept us all smiling with his wonderful singing abilities. He just started singing one day and hasn’t stopped. It started with (of course) Superman and Spiderman songs. For the Superman song, he sings, “Da, da, da, da, da. Da-Da-Da”. The funniest part is that it actually somewhat sounds like the Superman song. For the Spiderman song, he actually sings, “Spiderman, Spiderman, Spiderman” and then yells, “Spiderman Song!”

Now that he has been doing this for a couple of weeks, Kaden has taken it upon himself to broaden Preston’s song range. He continues to work with him on singing the “Sunbeam Song”, so he calls it. He also sings the “Clean Up” song with him as much as possible.

This morning, Kaden was getting ready for school and Preston, out of the blue, started singing the clean up song, “Clean up, share. Clean up, share.” If you will remember, the song goes, “Everybody do there share.” Kaden started complaining, “It isn’t time to clean up, silly.” But that didn’t stop our little singer. He just kept singing.

So in an attempt to get Preston to change songs, Kaden started to sing the “Sunbeam Song.” Before I knew it, there were 2 kids singing as loud as they could, “SunBEAM.” Preston came in shortly and would crouch down and say, “SunBEAM” jumping up whenever he said “BEAM”.

For the rest of the morning, this little 2-year old would run around the house chanting (not singing anymore) “sunbeam, sunbeam, sunbeam.” He even started ‘hammering’ his hand while he did it. He looked like a little, miniature, white, Indian while he chanted. Kaden was just excited that he was able to get Preston to change songs. :)

What they won’t come up with next.

Let It Go

I know it’s been said that children are such great examples to follow. Well, today I was given just such an instance in which my child was an example to me.

Today has been a frustrating day. I have been working on getting an appraisal for our home. We are going to refinance and hopefully get the appraisal high enough so we don’t have to pay mortgage insurance. We would also like to take a little of the equity out to assist in finishing our basement. The problem is that there aren’t a lot of comps in our area for our type of townhome. So I have been doing a lot of research so that our appraiser has some comps to use. Basically, this morning was the epitome of frustration when I discovered that we might not be able to get the appraisal as high as we’d hoped (even though townhomes around us are appraising for far above what we need ours appraised for – theirs has finished basements and our appraiser needs at least one without a finished basement, like ours).

So after a maddening morning, stewing about this mess over and over in my mind, and not feeling like making lunch for the kids, I decided to treat ourselves to Wendy’s. We picked up Kaden from Kindergarten, picked up lunch, and brought it home to enjoy. We even splurged and got some frosty’s. :)

After eating our lunch, we were enjoying our dessert. Kaden took a couple of bites and then said, “Did you know that I had a bad day, Mom?” I said, “No… How come?” He proceeded to explain that while at school, one of the girls in his class called him a ‘pee-pee head’. I said, “Well, did you tell her that wasn’t very nice?” And then he said something very profound. He said, “No, I didn’t do anything. I just thought I should let it go.”

WOW! Needless to say, I was (and still am) very proud of my 5-year old boy who realizes more than I do the concept of ‘let it go’. I decided that I’d better take his advice and just let it go. Everything will work out for the best and if it is not meant to be for us to finish our basement right now, I guess I’ll just have to deal with it.

What wonderful blessings these little ones bring!

Sweet Kaden

How would I ever live without my sweetheart of a little one. Kaden is always so tender and kind. He is the first one to ask if you are okay when you complain of a headache, backache, or any other ache.

Yesterday, my back was hurting after a long day (okay, well two hours) in the nursery with little toddlers and with Preston clinging to my every movement (which he now does in nursery since I am in there with him). Then coming home to make dinner and standing at the stove made my back ache just a little more.

In passing, I complained to Danny saying, “Man, my back hurts tonight.” Of course, Kaden over-heard and was right there with an, “I’m sorry your back hurts, mom.” He even came and rubbed my back. I smiled and said, “It’s okay. It’ll get better when I can sit down.”

After eating we all went downstairs to enjoy the big SuperBowl game. We were just sitting there when Kaden said, “Are you always going to be sick, mom?” I said, “What do you mean?” He said, “Your back hurts right now so you’re sick. And sometimes your tummy hurts. And sometimes your head hurts. You are always sick. When are you going to get better?” I smiled and said that my back was already feeling better and that he didn’t need to worry about me so much.

Obviously, I realized that I must complain too much! Not only is Kaden such a sweet, kind, and caring little boy, but he also hears every little grumble that comes out of my mouth. Because apparently he thinks I’m some unhealthy mom that is always sick. I guess I’ll be more careful what I say in front of him. :)