El Salvador:

In mid-August; Dustinn, Bradshaw and I went with my family to El Salvador. We were fortunate enough to be hosted by some very magnanimous family friends. This trip was monumental for 3 reasons:

1. We got to see Nelson for the first time in TWO YEARS! He returned from his mission to Long Beach, CA just days before the trip. What a happy reunion!

2. The entire family (all 13 of us) were able to be there! Coordinating all the demanding work schedules was quite an accomplishment.

3. While we were there, we celebrated my parents 30th wedding anniversary. Way to go Mom & Dad!

The house where we stayed was right on the edge of a volcanic lake. The water was very clear, smooth and warm.




They have a dock out on the lake and we spent most of our time there: talking, reading, eating, diving off and watching family members get towed behind the boat. One of our favorite activities is tubing wars: 2 tubes are pulled (and thrown around) behind the boat. The goal is to have your opponent fall off while you remain strong.

At one point, all 8 of my dad's children were on the boat and we decided to see if we could get everyone on the tubes. Lorin, Nelson and Colton were on one tube; while the five girls (me, Katy, Genny, Lindy & Polly) were piled on the other. We didn't last long.

Later on, we watched the video of "the spills" and laughed until our eyes were watery (especially Nelson's superhero move: his 6'5" body flying straight up into the air and then flipping and bouncing across the water.)

(I really love this beautiful little face)

While we were in El Salvador, Bradshaw began standing up on his own. (Since this video, he has mastered standing and has begun taking steps.)

Do I have a positive, encouraging family or what?

Next posts: Dustinn Befriends a Hippo and The Miracle Baby

Tropical Storm Hanna

The storm took down 2 trees in front of our building. This one is propped up by the powerline; and the second is leaning on our roof.

And the river normally is much calmer & clearer.


BONUS PICTURE:

On a lighter note... there are miles of beautiful jogging trails behind our complex. Doesn't it look beautiful? Any takers? Dad? Cami?

Next Post: El Salvador

More Blaine

My father-in-law took such adorable pictures of Bradshaw & cousin Jack that I just have to post them. These are also from our week at Lake Blaine in Montana in early August.
(I know, I know...I'm really behind on posts.)

Gramps (Bradshaw's Great Grandpa) slalom-ing

and, the

Blue-eyed Beauties

I think this is my favorite picture from the trip.

This is Grams who is Bradshaw's namesake (along with Gramps.)

She is holding Bradshaw 10 months, Elliott 2 years 2 months & Jack 1 year 3 months.

Following the fine family tradition...

...Bradshaw is out on the water before he is walking.

Blaine

Dustinn's Uncle Kevan owns a cabin on Lake Blaine in Montana. Every August, the whole family meets there and spends the week skiing and enjoying one another's company.
Unfortunately, I can't claim that I took any of these beautiful photos--Jodi did. (She's amazing.)

Dustinn's brother Kevan coming in from skiing
Elisse, Dani, myself & Cami
Dustinn's sisters + me
This is Grams & Gramps. We love them... and we can tell they love us. =)
This is Elisse being catapulted.
One of my favorite people. This is Emerson.
Emerson again.
This is Dani's handsome son. Bradshaw's one and only cousin. They are only a few months apart. No doubt that they will get into lots of mischief together.

Playing on the jumpoline.
All of Curtis & Deanna's family

El Salvador

When I walked out on the dock yesterday, my little sister Lindy was singing and strumming on the guitar. It was so beautiful and calming--so I took a little video of her.

P.S. She just started playing the guitar and the music was brand new to her. Tiene muchos talentos.

bRad & I spent the last week of July in Utah with my family:

My sister Lou helping with a yummy dinner.

and of course lots of Guitar Hero for the boys.

10 Months Old

This is what our little guy is doing:

-His scoot has become a proper crawl
-He loves to clap and scream (at the same time)
-Bradshaw always watches me shaking up his bottles before giving it to him. (I shake it up to mix the formula with the water.) The other day, Bradshaw was drinking his bottle when he stopped, looked scornfully at the bottle, shook it several times, then returned to drinking.
-Also, Bradshaw does a funny thing whenever he sees food coming. Without taking his eyes off the food, he lowers his jaw and let's his binkie drop out of his mouth.
Don't most kids pull the binkie out with their hand? We don't know whether to praise him for his efficiency, or have concern for his laziness. Regardless, it makes me laugh.
-Moving (state-to-state & hotel-to-hotel) for the past month has destroyed Bradshaw's schedule and sleep habits. At night, he falls asleep in his crib, and ALWAYS ends up in our bed.
-From the ground, he can push himself to standing
-Last but not least, Bradshaw is showing a little verbal comprehension. For example, we say "Clap!" and Bradshaw claps...(we are not modeling how to clap or gesturing anything!) If I say "Kiss!" He'll usually give me one.
He also is using a few words. When I'm preparing a bottle he'll whine "baba baba baba." Also, he will crawl over to me and say "Mahm" and wait until I look at him; then he'll smile and crawl off. We are so proud of him.

Life in the District

At Lincoln's Memorial, the walls are engraved with his speeches. Our favorite quote comes from a speech given during the Civil War:

Both [sides] read the same Bible and pray to the same God and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any man should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces but let us judge not that we be not judged.

On a lighter note, here's Bradshaw lovin the roll-away hotel crib. And...

WE SAW AIR FORCE ONE!

(Note the 3 specks in the picture.)

home SWEET home

Sweet relief! We found an apartment.

The majority of our apartment-searching took place during a heat wave. Everytime I pulled Bradshaw out of his carseat his hair and back would be soaking wet. Then he'd start crying when I had to put him back in the carseat 20 minutes later. Repeat 30 times...and this is how he began to look:

The apartment is in Northern Virginia, just a 15 minute bus ride from Dustinn's work. It's a wooded suburban community with playgrounds, pools and a fitness center. The buildings are older but bright and spacious. And (drumroll please) our family has graduated to a 2-bedroom apartment!

We move in September 1st.

Scooty-Booty

Sadly, between several rental cars and several hotels and walking all over the city, my camera has gone missing.

Since we've last posted...Bradshaw has ridden the metro dozens of times, seen thousands of fireflies, got to visit his Grandparents over 4th of July weekend, received many kisses from an older woman (toddler) at Barnes & Noble and has been to the White House, National Mall, Arlington Cemetary, Smithsonian (dinosaurs, hope diamond, Betsy Ross's flag), Iwo Jima, WW II Memorial, Abe Lincoln, etc. This Saturday, Bradshaw's taking his dad on a whirlwind tour of possible apartments in the District and Alexandria. Yeah!!

Bradshaw has also gotten the new nickname Scooty-Booty. Still no official crawling but I was telling my sister Kate that I can stand in another room and call out "Bradshaw...Bradshaw" and then Mr. Scooty-Booty himself will appear at my feet.

Forgive the quality of these, I'm using my cell:

MEXICO

I'd be remiss if I didn't post pictures from Mexico!

Bradshaw & I went to a family reunion in San Carlos in the middle of June. My grandparents have 10 children & 80 grandchildren. So...there were a lot of us.

We played on the beach, swam, collected shells, shopped in the market, went sailing & snorkeling, the cousins exercised together in the mornings and played games late into the night and (my favorite part) each night a different family hosted dinner & a program. Sunday was Father's Day and the program was a tribute to my Grandfather. Monday we did Book of Mormon charades and fireworks on the beach. Other nights included games, skits, and latin-dancing.

It was incredibly fun.