Here's to Another Year!

Wade was in charge of planning our anniversary this year and organized an amazing weekend in the San Juan Islands. We stayed at the Rosario resort and really lucked out with beautiful weather. Since I was 5 and a half months pregnant we couldn't do some of the activities we normally would have liked to do (kayaking, hiking...at least more than a mile or two, riding bikes), but we managed to find plenty to do and really enjoyed the sites and exploring the islands.

We read about Allium restaurant in a magazine before we left and decided to have our Anniversary dinner here. It was on a rooftop right on the water and the seafood was fabulous. If you ever go to Orcas Island this restaurant is definitely worth going to.

I always have to include photos of Wade being...Wade. Makes me laugh.

Our second night we drove the car (since I couldn't hike that far) to Mount Constitution and packed a picnic dinner. It is the highest point in the San Juan's and the view is spectacular. You can see all of the islands and all the way to Mount Vernon and Bellingham.

Our picnic dinner...

Each morning and night we spent on the balcony of our room. It was the most peaceful setting I have ever been in. There are boats passing and you are surrounded by trees, water and it is absolutely silent. A perfect way to get away and do nothing but relax.

Our last day we walked on the inter-island ferry and took a day trip to Friday Harbor. Once again, we just walked around the shops, ate good food and enjoyed one of the few gorgeous days we have had this summer. Thank you my love for such a wonderful weekend! I love you more than anything and look forward to another fun filled year of adventures.

Stalking the Salmon

As a part of our Valentines Day we visited the Ballard Locks. We thought it was such a cool place to visit with the ships, and park that we decided to take the kids here in June (which was perfect because the Salmon were swimming through the locks at this time). We packed a picnic lunch, ate in the park and spent the afternoon walking around the water, watching the ships and salmon and enjoying the sun.

Fun in the Sun

This summer has been much colder than usual, but we did luck out with a couple of nice days while the kids were here in June (yes I know I am really behind in my blogging). Here are a few fun pictures of us enjoying the nice day outside.

Our neighbors Justin and Stephanie gave us this really cool dirt bike. The kids had a great time and we were able to fit it in the car on the drive back so we can keep it in Utah for the kids to use.

Fathers Day in Washington

We had the kids in Washington this year for Fathers Day and had a really nice low-key kind of day.

The kids all let Wade sleep in and while I made breakfast they made him Fathers Day Cards. They each created their own and wrote whatever they wanted in the card (or told me what they wanted to write).

Wade getting his Fathers Day cards from the kids.

We have started a tradition for Fathers/Mothers Day and Christmas where we take the kids to pick out a gift for the other person. I was able to take Bronson and Emory to go shopping and we picked out a great new hat for Wade. I told them he had been wanting a new hat, and they loved the idea of picking one out. They even found one with a "B" on the front.

(I was explaining to the guy where the button was on the camera, when he took it....great picture I know).

Wade wearing his new hat from the kids.

We finished off the day with a nice BBQ and taking the kids on dirt bike rides in the neighborhood (pictures to follow). I love these type of days where we can spend time together and just have a nice relaxing day with the family. Happy Fathers Day My Love!

The Big Apple

I had a work meeting in Hartford CT the first part of June, so taking advantage of our frequent flyer miles Wade flew to meet me and we drove to NYC for the weekend. Even though Wade's corporate office is in NJ, we hadn't made it back together since he proposed two and a half years ago. I would say we didn't have a typical NYC experience, we kept it very low key and just had a nice slow-paced weekend. We did a lot of walking, a little shopping and eating at some awesome restaurants.

We made it back to the restaurant in Little Italy that we went to the night before he proposed...the food was just as good as we remembered. We then spent the next hour walking off the food, but added a little gelato at the end of the night. For some reason we ended up eating Italian every night we were there....maybe we are just missing Italy and should plan a trip there again soon!

I was craving hot dogs and really wanted a Gray's Papaya hot dog. We ended up having to take the subway to find one, but they were good and really cheap.

Our last day we spent at central park. We had a snack outside the boathouse in Central Park...it is where we ate brunch before he proposed on the pond. We then walked for a couple of hours around the park and ended up falling sleep for an hour in the sun on one of the greens. Such a relaxing awesome day! I really have to say I enjoyed being low-key in NYC and just enjoying each other.

Boy oh boy!

It is official, we are having a boy! It was confirmed about a month ago and the little one is expected the end of October. I think we already have our hands full as he is very active and rarely sits still for any appointments or ultrasound visits. We are so excited to have this baby join our family and the rest of the kiddos as the newest Bradshaw addition. We can't wait!

Our New Addition

This story starts with the unfortunate passing of my first dog Barkley. We had to put him down in February due to congestive heart failure. Putting him down was much harder than I thought it would be and I think the kids took the news better than I did. Over the next few months our other Chihuahua Sadie became more and more lonely and we knew it was time to get another puppy (it was never a question of if we would get another one, but when....at least for me).

So this particular day starts with me looking online at puppies over breakfast (I had been looking for a few weeks), and finding an adorable female listed in Tacoma. Wade agreed to go with me to "look" at her...although he knows me well enough to know we would most likely be coming home with her. So she ended up fitting our criteria (friendly, dark haired, female and small) and we came home with her that afternoon.

There is only one twist to this agreement Wade and I have...I can have always have dogs if he can name them. So, her name is Bangor...don't ask me, you will have to ask Wade. Besides the name, she is pretty darn cute!

She is the perfect playmate for Sadie and all she wants to do is cuddle and sleep.

Catching Up With Friends

My old college roommate Katy lives in Portland and unfortunately we don't see each other as often as we would like. I was so happy when Alliya and I were able to make it down there for her son Brayden's 2nd birthday party. It was so nice to catch up and let the kids play together. I love the fact that even if we don't see each other for a period of time, when we finally do get together it feels like no time has passed.

The bouncy house was a big hit!

Such a cutie!

Katy, Brayden and Alliya

Happy Mothers Day!

I love how Wade takes Alliya shopping for Mothers Day. The last two years, the two of them go to the store and pick out a gift together. Last year she knew she specifically wanted "pink sparkly flip flops" and this year I think she had a little more help from Wade.

They picked out awesome measuring cups and spoons for the kitchen (my old ones were very sad and bent very easily).

I also got a new bag!

Happy Mothers Day!

Bronson's Golf Lessons

I got Bronson a set of golf clubs and we put him in lessons.


He did a good job and after a few days could hit the ball pretty good.

He is not going to be the next Tiger... but he had a good time.

Happy Birthday Emory!

We celebrated Emory's birthday with Grandma Gayla and Don. Gayla made an awesome Cinco De Mayo dinner and Emory requested that I make a lemon cake. We took that over and celebrated Shayla's birthday as well. Emory got a plasma car and some barbies for her birthday. We can't believe she is old enough to start kindergarden next year! Happy Birthday!

Grandma Gayla and Bronson playing star wars on the wii

Alliya's Birthday Celebration

Happy 4th birthday Alliya!

This year we had a low-key birthday party. We invited our close friends and had a nice BBQ...and the weather even cooperated and we didn't get rained on. Alliya wanted pink cupcakes for her birthday this year, so we had a very nontraditional birthday "cake" but the kids all loved it.

Since her birthday was so close to Easter we had another Easter Egg hunt for the kids at the party. The eggs were filled with candy, small toys and money. This one lasted a bit longer and the kids were so cute running around the house trying to find their "treasures".