i am convinced that there is nothing more satisfying in this life than rocking my sweet baby boy to sleep each night. i wouldn't change those precious moments of him looking up at me while slowly drifting off to sleep, safe in the comfort of my arms, for anything in the world. it's when i feel closest to god.



or nothing more satisfying than watching my little afton skipping home from the bus stop each day.



or having my little hudson buddy following me around all day and asking when i'm going to "snuggle him up."



no doubt, it's the simple things that make life so full.

over the weekend

we had a great weekend. got to spend lots of time with family, spend precious time with two of my nieces, play lots of games with my munchkins, paint our swing set, set my stubbornness aside and try beets, find out not only do i like beets but i love beets, and listen to conference. conference felt especially uplifting and i felt as if i couldn't get enough of it. also, couldn't help but think about how we have kinda been in a little funk at our house the last couple months and have just let life happen. life is so much more than that. i need to excel in all areas of my life. glad to have been brought to this remembrance and for the uplifting words of direction. i am so amazingly blessed for the life i have lived and truly feel i couldn't be surrounded by better people or have a more incredible husband and kids. for this reason (and lots of others) i need to give back soooo much more.

wy-guy also had his 6 month check-up last week. weighing in at 15lbs.

i am so insanely attached to this little boy!!

hope you all had a good weekend and found inspiration in some form.

for seth and megan

so it turns out that this cute couple who thought they were totally done having kids, aren't so done after all. they have 4 adorable girls already and just found out they are pregnant with twin girls. i love telling this story, it makes me smile. so excited for my two new nieces!! and just look what you have to look forward to seth and meg. so fun!

San Diego and Valentines Day

This year for Valentines Day (well, the weekend before) the Mr. asked if the kids and I wanted to tag along on a business trip to San Diego. We were game. My dad had a work trip planned during the same time, so he and my mom extended their stay and came and hung with us.

It was great to get out of the cold and play for a couple days. And my little guy was even nice enough not to get sick until the day we got home. He has now officially been diagnosed with RSV. Poor little one.

Hope you all had a wonderful Valentines Day!

xoxo

hawaii

We went to Hawaii the beginning of January. Loved being able to bond with my little guy....and big guy:).

I forgot just how much I love it there.

more to come on hawaii, with my first video in the making. (if i ever finish it.)

These video's are the cutest thing ever!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L64c5vT3NBw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5G_wPpm0NA&feature=related

I loved you from the very start,

You stole my breath, embraced my heart.

Our life together has just begun, You're part of me my little one.

As mother with child, each day I grew, My mind was filled with thoughts of you.

I'd daydream of the things we'd share, Like late-night feedings and teddy bears.

Like first steps and skinned knees, Like bedtime stories and ABC's.

I thought of things you'd want to know, Like how birds fly and flowers grow.

I thought of lessons I'd need to share, Like standing tall and playing fair.

When I first saw your precious face, I prayed your life be touched with grace.

I thanked the angels from above, And promised you unending love.

Each night I lay you down to sleep, I gently kiss your head and cheek.

I count your little fingers and toes, I memorize you eyes and nose.

I linger at your nursery door, Awed each day I love you more.

Through misty eyes, I dim the light, I whisper "I Love You" every night.

I loved you from the very start, You stole my breath, embraced my heart.

As mother and child our journey's begun, My heart's yours forever little one.

-author unknown

I don't know if my kids will ever fully understand just how much I adore them. (and the hubby, but that's a post of it's own.)

I lack the vocabulary to tell them, that's why I love this poem. Every part of it, I feel so intensely.

I don't know - if my kids will remember that, truly, every night I lay them to sleep, I gently kiss their head and cheek.
I count their little fingers and toes, I memorize their eyes and nose.
I linger at their bedroom door, Awed each day I love them more.
Through misty eyes, I dim their light, I whisper that I love them every night.

What I do know - is that I am one blessed Mama!!!

wy-guy's newborn pictures

Thank goodness this cute girl is in my life. With 20 years behind us, we have seen each other go through so much. I love knowing I can talk to her about anything and everything. I feel a bit spoiled by her as she has been the best of friends.

Julie, thanks for sharing your kind heart and your amazing talent of photography with all of us. Your work is inspiring and beautiful!

I LOVE how Wyatt's pictures turned out. So simple, so pure, so precious.

I know I might be a little bias, but if your looking for a great photographer, she's your gal.

-

I am having a very hard time deciding which one I should blow up and put above Wy's crib....any opinion's???

they meet again

These two sweet little cousins were just in heaven together not long ago.

And finally they meet again.


Baby N, we sure liked meeting you and think you are all things precious.

pure sweetness

I truly, truly adore this boy.





If I could only count how many times a day I laugh at something he says....or kiss his adorable face.

Today he asked me if he could please break the t.v and jump through it so he can get the "awesome" toys.

It got me wondering what he wanted for Christmas, so I asked him, and his reply......"a motorcycle that you can make go with a remote control." After he says this, he stops for a second, and then adds, and a picture of Bunny in heaven. That's when the tears came.

Miah and I can't get enough of him right now. He is so sweet, cuddly, calm (unless he has his cousins or uncles to hyper him up), and just so very lovable!!!

I can keep going.

Yesterday, Afton was saying to Hudson, "Mom is so weird", (why would she say such a thing???:), luckily my boy had my back and said, "nah-uh Afton, Mom is beautiful." There are very few days I don't hear him tell me or Afton that we are pretty or beautiful.

If he is in another room he will come in just to tell me he loves me every so often and then go back to what he was doing.

He adores his sister and she often bribes him with, "if you don't play this with me, you won't be my favorite brother." It gets him every time.

I could gush about him all day, but instead, I'm just going to go kiss his cute little face.

Hud's, thanks for brightening my day, every day!

Wyatt Nelson Bradley

Wyatt Nelson Bradley

I am so in love!!

Jackson Hole

Thanks brother for inviting us to Jackson Hole with your gorgeous, fun family.

We had a blast!

Mattman and Run for Bun

Jeremiah's family has been through so much in the past 5 years; with a sister who was re-diagnosed with a brain tumor (but is doing very well now), a mom diagnosed with a terminal disease, a scare with kidney failure on the cowboy's little guy, beautiful Bunny's passing, and now with Matt's cancer. Really, I am so impressed with this family and the way they have dealt with everything that has come their way. They inspire me!

I couldn't ask for better in-laws. I could hang out with them every day, they are so fun! (and completely inappropriate:)



This guy is amazing! Due to a very aggressive cancer that was found in his foot, he just recently (about 4 weeks ago) had to have his leg amputated just below the knee. (for some good writing and great inspiration go to his blog.) We have all been so worried about him, but he has handled it with the best of attitudes. From day one he has been joking and laughing about it. I couldn't be more impressed with his attitude!

Hudson thinks Matt is the coolest! He will hop around on one leg and say "look Mom, I'm super strong like Mattman." And now every time we talk about being tough, his reply is always "but not as tough as Mattman." Or, I will see him with a stick pretending it's a crutch and he will be telling Afton to call him Mattman. It's pretty adorable! Another reason Matt's a-okay- he puts up with us jamming to Justin Bieber on our car rides to his work......i think for Matt, this could possibly be more excruciating then the phantom pains.

Also, there will be a 5k run for bunny (oct. 9) and silent auction & dinner (oct.8) held in behalf of our much missed Bunny. Go here for all the details.

37 down, 3 to go!!!

Only 3 weeks to go until baby's due date.......

and we couldn't be more excited to meet the little guy!!!

Or big guy.....as someone nicely told me at the end of church today that they think I am having a 10 pounder:), and Miah nicely tried to tell me it was just the dress:)

So I made him come home and take some pictures so I could see just how big I am. There's no denying it, that belly is pretty big!!

But I love everything that comes with it and am still pretty comfortable, so no complaints here.

It is very hard for me to write about something so dear to my heart, but I would feel very ungrateful if I didn't thank all of you who left text messages, flowers, dinners, and such sweet comments below regarding my sweet sister-in-law, Bunny. It has been greatly appreciated. I can't believe how much love and support has been shown during this tragic time. It is inspiring and very humbling. It shows what a great person Bunny was, and how many lives she touched.


I often think about the last time I saw Bunny. She called and asked if we wanted to have a picnic at the park with her and her 2 beautiful girls. Of course, we did! Every other time I have gone on a picnic, everyone brings there own food. Not with Bunny. She told me not to worry about food. She showed up with tuna fish sandwiches, chips, fruit, drinks, and dessert. Not to mention a tuna sandwich and a pb&j for me, just in case I was nervous about eating the tuna. (Being pregnant and all.) I think about all the things we talked about that day. I think about all the things we planned to do this summer. (Take kids to splash park, cowabunga bay, and Thanksgiving point.) She was at such a good place in her life and I felt this from her that day. I remember leaving and having such a feeling of love and gratitude for her, as I often feel for all my sis-in-laws.

I will miss Bunny's compliments. She gave the best compliments EVER! When she told you something, you knew she meant it. I remember most of the compliments she gave me, but more importantly, I remember the way I felt when she said them. I can remember more than a few times when I tried to blow them off, and she would grab my shoulders, look me in the eyes, and say "no Erin, listen to me. I wouldn't say this if I didn't mean it". I will miss those kind words from her as they always meant so much to me.

I will miss Bunny's treats. I love living so close to Luke and Bunny as we were often recipients of her "baking days".

I will miss taking trips with Luke & Bunny. We were lucky enough to go on many family vacations with them, but also as couples to San Francisco and Florida. So many special memories from those trips were made. (and plenty of "Erin" moments.) I remember after the Orlando trip, Bunny told me she was glad that I was in the family, because it made her look a lot smarter, and rightly so..... I may have lost my bra, (only to find I had two bras on later) on one trip, and bought a halter top thinking it was a skirt on the other. I will miss us laughing at those (and many other) "Erin" moments .

We will all miss so many things about Bunny, but I truly feel that Bunny has been an instrument in the Lord's hand in bringing many people (myself included) to remembrance. It has really put things into perspective and made me realize the important things in life. She lived such a full life in her 29 years which, no doubt, has inspired many. She was very blessed to have been loved so deeply by her dear husband and girls, and in return, they were adored by her!! (Prayer's are still needed and appreciated on their behalf.)

Boy, am I grateful to know I can see this cute, dear friend again one day!
Bunny, I will be forever grateful for your friendship and wonderful example!

I sure love me a good summer rodeo.

Especially when when these two good lookin cowboy's are my date!

These are the days

I often think about how one day my kids will be all grown up, and I won't be able to snuggle them anytime I want.

It makes me so sad.

I try to take full advantage of it.

Some may say a little too much, as the kids just recently moved out of our bed and on to the floor next to our bed.

And, if one of them is taking a nap, I can't help but cuddle up next to them and think about how these days don't last long.

(This little one loves to play wedding. And I get teary eyed almost every time she does.)

Today me and my bff were at lunch, kids running around driving us crazy.

And some lady stopped us and told us to cherish these times.

Her kids were all grown up and she was saying how she would trade us in a second.

I am grateful for her reminder.

These really are the days, may we all cherish them!!

Bunny, I miss you!

What Is This Thing That Men Call Death

What is this thing that men call death,
This quiet passing in the night?
‘Tis not the end but genesis
Of better worlds and greater light.

O God, touch Thou my aching heart
And calm my troubled, haunting fears.
Let hope and faith, transcendent, pure,
Give strength and peace beyond my tears.

There is no death, but only change,
With recompense for vict’ry won.
The gift of Him who loved all men,
The Son of God, the Holy One.

- Gordon B. Hinckley

Afton's Pre-K Graduation

Afton had her Pre-K graduation last week. It was adorable! I can't wait to see what the future holds for this little one as she has all the energy, and passion one could desire.


As for now, this little bundle of energy is determined to be a hair braider, or fairy when she grows up.

Afton, I wish you all the happiness in the world!

I love you, my little bug!

another birthday shared,

another birthday enjoyed.

(my parent's think it's quite humorous that i used to demand a birthday week, and now i really don't have one at all.)

truth is, i'm more than happy to share such a special day with such a sweet girl.

and am grateful for a sweet hubby that makes sure I feel special on this day as well.

afton definitely takes after ME in the "milk your birthday for all it's worth" department.

all day it was.... "i can't believe your asking me to clean on MY birthday" or "are you really going to get mad at me on MY birthday?"

she is a bit of a dramatic one.

but i sure adore her and love to hang out with this little girl.

she is so fun!

i love you afty, and feel so blessed to be your mom.