It's all about MIELEY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my sweet MIELEY! Today she turns the big number TWO! I can't hardly believe it. 2!!! Yesterday, we had a family party at my bro and sis in law's house (thanks again Troy and Jandy!). We started with SCRUMPTIOUS hawaiin haystacks, then opened Mieley's presents, and followed up with cake and ice cream. A fun evening for sure! Here come's the pictures. . .

Enjoying the haystacks with Adalyn and cousin Daeson. Or atleast pretending to eat them so that they could have cake and ice cream later. :)

Blowing out the candles.

Mieley with Grandma Bradshaw with her bear cake. DON'T look too close at the cake. Could of been cuter - but I guess who cares when you're just gonna eat it anyways!


Enjoying that ice cream!

Now how big can she open that mouth?

The opening of the presents.

Even after we got home almost an hour PAST their bedtime, Adalyn and Mieley stayed up almost another hour just to play with Mieley's new toys. I didn't have the heart to tell them no. Check out those new CUTE green pj's too from Grandma Grover! Love them!

I know that Mieley and Adalyn had a good time yesterday, because they both slept in this morning an extra hour. I decided to wake Mieley up with some birthday photograph flashes. What a good mom I am. :)

Peek a boo!

Finally up and dressed this morning. Mieley in her new clothes from her Great Grandma Grover. Super cute! Thanks grandma!

Can't get much cuter than this! I hope she keeps this smile as now we go through the "terrible two" stage. :) HaPPy BiRthDay MIELEY! WE LOOOVVEEE YOU!!!

Special Family Members

For those of us that have certain "special" family members. . .this is my brother in law : TROY.



Enough Said.

Late night Scrapbooking

What!?! It's like 12:45 AM and I'm still up?? I've haven't stayed up this late in a LONG TIME. I'm an old married woman now. This is way past my bedtime! However, I wanted to finish scrapbooking these pages - so that's what I did. Voila, done! They're from Adam's mom's suprise 50th birthday bash. I'm giving them to her tomorrow at Mieley's big numero 2 birthday bash. So more pictures of that to come soon! Need. Some. Sleep. Now.

Credits: Templates from Andrea Gold. Pages made from kit "Creating Beauty" by Weeds and Wildflowers.

What a Busy Weekend

This has been one whirlwind of a weekend. I can't believe that it's already Monday night! Here's what's been going on the last couple of days.

Friday: Adam, the girls, and I helped my parents move. I'm super excited for them, and now they are living closer to me than before! However, at the same time it's kind of hard to let go of the house I've grown up in and have so many childhood memories in. I feel like I've lost a little part of who I am. Is it weird to feel this way? It's also a little bit hard to know that my kids won't ever go to the house that I grew up in anymore, but now I guess it's just time to make lots of new memories in their new home! Their new house is beautiful and I wish that it was me moving into a home. Oh well, someday my day will come!

Saturday: We had Adam's mom's 50th Birthday Suprise party in our clubhouse. Saturday was filled with making cupcakes and soups, decorating, and just getting ready for the big bash. Adam's mom was suprised and I think the party went really well. I was a little worried, because when we went in to decorate, the clubhouse had water damage and there was wokers in the clubhouse cleaning it. But I told them I had a party I was getting ready for, and they moved the carpet back into place and had plastic around the area they were working on, and were good about leaving early enough for us to finish decorating. In the end, all worked out and everyone had fun. We love you GRANDMA GROVER!!!

Here's a couple scrapbooking pages that I did to give to Adam's mom for her "fake" birthday present (she got her real present at the party). It's the first pages that I've really done, and I think they turned out fairly good - but don't zoom in too close. The template was from the great Mrs. Racketty Scrappety. If anyone is interested in digital scrapbooking, she has the greatest templates. She's very talented and not only that - she's my AWESOME sister-in-law MEGAN! (Had to put a plug in for you MEG!)

Credits: Kit "Reverie" by Weeds and Wildflowers. Wordart by K. Pertiet. Templates by Racketty Scrappety

Today I went back to my parent's new home to help my mom strip wall paper off in a room. The room we were doing was so "overkill" done by the first owners of the house. It was a "pepto-bismo" pink colored room with a pink and white striped border from the bottom to half way up the wall. Then on top of that wall paper, they put another wall paper border of kittens. Then on the top of the pink walls, they stenciled flowers and bugs all around the room. I'm sure the little girl who had stayed in that room loved it, but it was way too much for my taste. My mom and I got all the wall paper off, scrubbed the walls and then called it a day. Later, I went furniture shopping with my mom and dad in Idaho Falls to help them look for a new couch. All was going well until Adalyn took off running to get Mieley. I'm not sure what exactly happened, but the next thing I know I look over and my mom has Adalyn and there's blood pouring down her face. I guess Adalyn had tripped and hit her head on a coffee table. Poor girl! Good thing my mom was there to take care of everything! She had her cleaned up and happy within a couple of minutes. What a good grandma. Here's the battle wound:

Adalyn's now just happy that she gets a "Shrek" bandaid on her head to show to everyone. Kids have the greatest attitudes!! I'm sure if it was me, I would be trying to come up with ways to hide my wound the best way I could - Adalyn shows her wound off proudly.

So that's my weekend in a nut shell. Never a dull moment!

P.S. Before we even went to the furniture store my mom and I were laughing about what happened the last time I went to a furniture store (Furniture Row in I.F.)- The last time I went, it was with Adam when Adalyn was around 2 years old. I was sitting in a banana chair on one side of the store, and Adam was a ways away looking at other banana chairs. Adalyn takes off running from me to find Adam, when we both hear a big CRASH and glass shattering. I had the sickest feeling in my gut. Adam, me, and 2 workers immediately went to investigate. Adalyn had knocked over a HUGE framed picture of Tinkerbell that was on an easel. I just kept thinking, "I can't believe I'm going to have to buy this huge picture of Tinkerbell that I don't even want." Luckily, the workers just made sure that Adalyn was okay, cleaned up the mess, and didn't want payment for the picture. We did buy a banana chair though. :)

So before I left this time to head to Odells, I was retelling this story and thought, what could happen? I guess Adalyn's just jinxed when she goes to furniture stores. I'll have to remember that next time I want to go shopping for a couch.

Happy Valentines Day!

Happy Valentines Day to all of you! Adalyn and Mieley are super excited today and love that they've been getting candy and presents. Yesterday, the girls and I went to a get together with some of our neighbor friends at our clubhouse. The kids decorated cookies and exchanged valentines. It was a lot of fun for both the moms and the kids! Sorry the picture's kind of dark.

(Thanks again everybody!!!)

Now onto today:
Adam and I didn't know that we both had gotten something for Valentine's Day for the kids. So I thought I was doing good and got the girls a couple small gifts. Here's what I got them:





and here's what Adam got them: (plus two BIG bags of peanut M&Ms)



guess who the girls thinks is the cooler parent?






I can never compete with Adam, he spoils us rotten. I just had to laugh when my small 3 inch size gorillas are about 1/10th of the size of the pillows Adam got them. Plus my 25 cent box of candy compared to Adam's HUGE bags of M&Ms. No wonder the girls love their daddy. Oh well, such is life. :)

SO in honor of Valentine's Day, I'm "stealing" this idea from my friend Becki's blog and listing a hundred things that I love - in no particular order. Enjoy!

1. Adam
2. Adalyn
3. Mieley
4. Good hair days
5. Sunshine
6. Cabins
7. Hugs from my kids
8. All my FAMILY (near and far!)
9. Hot showers
10. Shaved legs
11. Desserts
12. My Savior
13. Good books
14. Music
15. Gum
16. The movie "Serendipity"
17. A back rub
18. A foot rub
19. Emails
20. Holidays
21. The gospel
22. Flowers
23. Peppermint candies
24. Clean sheets, blankets
25. Potty-trained kids
26. Being a stay at home mom
27. Snow cones
28. Friends! I LOVE YA all!
29. Cards in the mail
30. Yogurt
31. New clothes
32. Cruises! Vacations!
33. Going to a movie
34. Going out to eat
35. All dates with my husband!
36. My friendly neighbors!
37. Big cuddly, warm, blankets
38. Cinnamon rolls - especially BECKY Z's. SSOOOO GOOD!!!)
39. Digital Scrapbooking
40. Racketty Scrapetty (website and the person - more on this later)
41. Cattle drives
42. Rembering the "good old times" with my brothers
43. All my sister-in-laws - cuz now I have sisters
44. Hawaiin pizza bombs from Craigos
45. Running in races
46. 2 ply toliet paper
47. Electricity
48. Getting in shape
49. Getting a manicure
50. Computers - when they work right
51. Sippy cups - what would my kids do without them
52. Pens with "fine point" ink
53. Color printers
54. Candles
55. Pictures
56. Board games with family
57. Ice cream - especially DQ blizzards and Cold Stone! YUM!
58. Sweaters
59. Smelly lotions
60. Surprise parties
61. Sunday dinners
62. Daeson, Tevan, Ryker, Kaden, Preston, Tanner, Kinley
63. Summer nights
64. Air conditioning
65. Twilight series
66. Digital cameras
67. Shopping - and I don't mean grocery shopping
68. Crayola Color Wonder - life saver for any parent
69. The Book of Mormon
70. Going over the Gus and Becky's house when they lived next to me! (COME BACK!)
71. Tape - fixes everything
72. Hearing "I Love You"
73. Body pillows
74. Moden day appliances
75. The color blue
76. Money
77. Debit cards instead of checks (as long as no one steals your number!)
78. Getting my hair cut and done
79. Cute shoes that match exactly with an outfit
80. When the first outfit you put on is the exact one you want to wear that day
81. Notes left on my wind shield of my car from Adam
82. America
83. General Conference
84. Junk food
85. Healthy food too!
86. All food
87. Craft stores
88. Long talks with someone special
89. Flip flops or sandles
90. Bubble baths
91. Remote controls for a TV
92. Walking barefoot on grass
93. Doing back flips on a trampoline
94. 4 -wheel drive - especially in Rexburg
95. Prayers
96. Looking through other people's scrapbooks
97. A hand picked box of chocolates (guess what I got Adam this year - ssshhh!)
98. Trips to Utah (Such an Idahoan thing to say - but I do love them)
99. Falling asleep in Adam's arms
100. Laughter

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday to our GRANDma Grover! THE BIG FIVE-OH!! We love you!!!

Grandma with all the grandkids (as of May 2007 - sorry Jandy!)

Rexburg Temple

As probably all of you know, yesterday the Rexburg temple was dedicated by President Thomas S. Monson. (I'm sure that President Hinckley was there too - just not in the same form we thought he was going to come as) It is such an amazing thing to have a temple pretty much built in your backyard. It is SO BEAUTIFUL when it's nighttime and it's all lit up and shining on top of the hill. Yesterday night, while Adam and I were driving home, the temple looked like it was shining brighter than it ever has. Though Adam and I didn't make it to the dedication, we did get to go to the open house a few weeks back. It is so beautiful inside. We got to take Adalyn and Mieley inside too. The emotions definitely caught up with me when I got to sit with my 2 little girls and my husband in the sealing room and then show Adalyn the mirrors that go on for eternity. Only 5 years ago, I was standing there with just Adam by my side. Now, I got to stand with my husband and my girls and look into the mirrors. It's just so powerful. In a video that we watched before we got to go through the temple, (I wish I could remember who said it) a statement was said that, "without family, heaven just wouldn't be heaven at all." How true that is! I am so grateful for the temples and the promise of eternal families. I am so blessed to have this temple so close. No matter where I am in Rexburg, I can just look up and see the temple there. It can bring such peace in the middle of a hectic day. Adalyn is so excited to go inside again someday. Everytime she prays, she thanks her Heavenly Father for the temple. I love my family!!!

Just some facts about the temple: (Info from http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/)

Location: 750 South 2nd East, Rexburg, Idaho, United States.
Telephone: 208-656-0880.
Exterior Finish: Precast concrete panels with white quartz rock finish.Temple Design: Modern, single-spire design.
Total Floor Area: 57,504 square feet.
Announcement: 12 December 2003
Groundbreaking and Site Dedication: 30 July 2005 by John H. Groberg
Public Open House: 29 December 2007–26 January 2008
Dedication: 10 February 2008 by Thomas S. Monson

Temple Locale
Adjacent to the Brigham Young University–Idaho campus, the five-story Rexburg Idaho Temple soars high above its hillside location—creating a striking landmark visible for miles along the Highway 20 corridor. It is the finest, most notable building in this rural community. West of the temple lies a beautiful garden area open to the public for quiet strolls or moments of reflection.

Temple Facts
The Rexburg Idaho Temple was the third temple built in Idaho, following the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple (1945) and the Boise Idaho Temple (1984).

The announcement of the Rexburg Idaho Temple came three and a half years after the announcement that two-year Ricks College would become four-year Brigham Young University–Idaho. The other two Brigham Young University campuses in Provo, Utah and Laie, Hawaii also have adjacent temples.

While most temple groundbreakings are limited to invited guests, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Rexburg Idaho Temple was open to any and all who desired to attend. Over 8,000 people crowded on the field where the temple now stands, making it the largest group ever assembled for a temple groundbreaking.

The Rexburg Idaho Temple features beautiful ordinance room murals by Rexburg artist Leon Parson reflecting the wildlife and landscapes of the Upper Snake River Valley.

A wheat motif, created by Utah artist Tom Holdman, is used throughout the Rexburg Idaho Temple including most of the 700 art glass windowpanes. The wheat stock symbolizes the widespread agricultural industry in the area.

The finest materials were used for this House of the Lord including wood imported from Africa and stone and tile from Israel.

The exterior walls of the Rexburg Idaho Temple are made of 637 pre-cast panels from 45 different molds, including the retaining wall. The material is called China White—a white quartz finish (mined in Washington state) on concrete panels. A water-proofing compound allows dust to wash off in the rain, keeping the temple a radiant white.

Interest in the open house of the Rexburg Idaho Temple was so high that additional early-morning and evening tours were added to each day.

The Rexburg Idaho Temple dedication was delayed one week due to the passing of President Gordon B. Hinckley on Sunday evening, January 27, 2008.

One week after his installment as the 16th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Thomas S. Monson dedicated the Rexburg Idaho Temple. The dedication began late, as dense fog forced President Monson's pilot to land in Pocatello, Idaho. The remaining 80-mile journey to Rexburg was resumed by car.

Temple History
Rexburg received a big announcement from the Church in June 2000, when it said that two-year Ricks College would become four-year Brigham Young University–Idaho by fall 2001. New construction gripped the quiet farming community as housing complexes seemed to appear overnight. Rexburg became the fast growing city in Idaho as student enrollment grew by the hundreds from 8,949 in 2000 to 11,100 in 2003. By the end of 2003, the First Presidency made its second big announcement: Idaho's third temple would be built in Rexburg.1

On Tuesday, June 28, 2005, Architectural Nexus applied for a building permit to begin preparation work for the temple site. Included in the application materials were tentative building and site plans. The plans showed a five-story, 57,504 square-foot building. The single steeple, set on the east side of the east-facing building, would rise 168 feet, topped by a gold-leafed statue of Moroni. A garden plaza was shown for the land that separates the temple from an adjacent stake center to the west, leaving only the temple and its landscaping visible from 7th South. A 300-space parking lot would be built south of the stake center, and a second stake center would be built east of the parking lot.2

Elder John H. Groberg of the Seventy, newly called as president of the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple, presided at the Saturday groundbreaking for the temple where over 8,000 people were in attendance—the largest group ever assembled for a temple groundbreaking. Attendance was open to any who wished to attend including members of other faiths. Elder Ronald J. Hammond, an Area Authority of the Seventy from Rexburg, noted, "As the ground opens and as the shovel breaks it and turns it, your spiritual senses will know immediately that something very, very significant is happening—something that at once disturbs the devil and blesses God's children on both sides of the veil."3

On September 21, 2006—the 183rd anniversary of the first appearance of the angel Moroni to Joseph Smith—a gold-leafed statue of the angel Moroni was installed atop the spire of the temple. Thousands of spectators gathered under rain clouds, making for a memorable Moroni raising. At the conclusion, cheers erupted from the enthusiastic onlookers.4

1. Holden Parrish, "LDS temple slated for Rexburg," Idaho State Journal 20 Dec. 2003, 20 Dec. 2003 http://journalnet.com/articles/2003/12/20/news/local/news01.txt.
2. Josh Donat, "Temple architect applies for city building permit," Rexburg Standard Journal 30 Jun. 2005, 4 Jul. 2005 http://www.rexburgstandardjournal.com/articles/2005/06/30/news/news01.txt.
3. "Thousands attend temple groundbreaking," News & Notes 4 Aug. 2005, 26 Dec. 2005 http://www.byui.edu/pr/N&Narchive/N&NAug42005.pdf.
4. Matt Longmore, "Angel Moroni placed atop Rexburg Temple," Scroll Online 21 Sept. 2006, 23 Sept. 2006 .

That Dam Marathon

It's offical now. I've offically started training for the Teton Dam (1/2) Marathon on June 14th. I wasn't sure that I even wanted to race this year, but something inside of me just pushes me towards them. I have to say that it's a lot of fun to race in and most of all, complete a race. When I'm out there, I have the greatest feeling in the world. I love the sound of hundreds of feet making pace, the cheer of the crowd as you run by, the scenery, the fresh air, the feeling of accomplishment - I love it all . .well, all, except the training. My treadmill, due to lack of space, sits up against a plain white wall in my house. I've stared at the same part of wall for almost two years now. I know the bumps on it like the back of my hand. I hate that wall. I really wish I could run outside, but due to the freezing temperatures and the fact that I like to run EARLY in the morning before my kids wake up, I'm stuck inside.

Anyways, so I've offically started my training program. I have to give a shout out for the program that I do use. It's by a man named Hal Higdon. I've used his program for all but 1 race that I've done and it hasn't let me down yet. Right now I'm doing the 10K training to ready myself to do the 12 week 1/2 marathon training. Here's a link to the 1/2 marathon training program that I use if you're interested. http://www.halhigdon.com/halfmarathon/novice.htm
It's hard for me to start pretty much over. Today was my first "long run," but it was only 3.5 miles. I hate that I'm struggling through those miles when 3.5 miles to me used to mean a very light, very easy day. Oh well, one step at a time. Slow and steady finishes the race right? So if anyone else (other than those I already know about) is interested in running this race, let me know. It's nice to cheer and motivate eachother through the grueling training months. Just another FYI, here's the link to the Dam Marathon info. http://www.dammarathon.com/ This year they decided to limit the number of participants too, so now I can't slack off - gotta sign up soon. My goal is to sign up for it in about a month.

A couple little unknown facts about me and running. I get asked a lot what motivates me to run and why I do it. I don't really have a good answer for those questions, but here's some things I do know: 1- I HAVE TO listen to tunes as I'm running. . the faster beat the better. 2 -I chew a 1/2 stick of Extra Watermelon gum or Trident Blueberry Twist gum as I do my runs to keep my mouth wet. 3- Finally, a lot of runners have a mantra that they use to keep themselves going when they are "hitting the wall." Mine is "Define Yourself." If I keep saying that over and over and over in my head, I feel as I can push on. Defining myself means making it that last 1/2 mile when I feel like my lungs are going to explode. It means jogging up a hill instead of walking it. It means pushing myself to do my best. Take those three things away from me (tunes, gum, mantra) and I'm just a waddling penguin.

So as I left the dentist post with a cheesy joke, I thought I'd leave you with a few about running today too. The first one's a classic, the second just plain funny. (Jokes thanks to RunthePlanet.com)

Joke Uno: Two hikers on a trail came around the bend to find an enormous brown bear about 75 yards up the trail. The bear spies them and begins running toward them at a full gallop. One hiker drops his backpack, sits down, throws off his boots, and starts lacing up a pair of running shoes. The other hiker says: "What are you doing? You will never outrun that bear!". The first hiker replies: "I don't have to outrun the bear..."

Joke Dos: Last year I entered the New York City Marathon. The race started and immediately I was the last of the runners. It was embarrassing. The guy who was in front of me, second to last, was making fun of me. He said, "Hey buddy, how does it feel to be last?" I replied: "Do you want to know?" and I dropped out.

One last thing. . .not totally running related. I can't decide if I want to join the Idaho Falls womens soccer league this year. Does anyone that lives around this area want to join me? You don't have to be good, or even ever played before. Trust me, I made a complete fool of myself last year and I'm wondering if I want to do it again this year. It would be fun to have a friend join with me. Let me know.

Open Wide

I hate going to the dentist. I don't hate the fact that we have to go to a dentist, but I hate the fact that every single time I go, I have to go back for fillings. I have regular cleanings every 6 months. I floss, brush, and use mouth wash and yet I still have cavities every time. They told me that some people have more bacteria in their mouths than others, which causes tooth decay faster than other people. I guess there's nothing you can do about that one - just a fact for some unlucky people like me. They did say that the bacteria thing is a genetic thing, so I guess I need to send my parents the bill for today's services! (just kidding, Mom and Dad) So for all of you that only have a cavitiy every few years - I ENVY YOU!

Here's a joke just to help cheer you (and me especially) up:
Dentists can be frustrating. You wait a month-and-a-half for an appointment, and they say, "I wish you'd come to me sooner."

Porcupine Lodge Take II

We returned yesterday from Porcupine Lodge and it was as much fun as I remembered it! I wasn't quite sure that we would even be able to make it in due to blowing and drifting snow, but with a few thousand prayers and my hands stuck white-knuckled to our SUV door handles, we made it! Thank goodness for 4 wheel drive! There was SO much snow. It snowed every day we were there too. We weren't even sure we would be able to make it out!

The snow there was UNBELIEVABLE! It was so FLUFFY! We thought we would play and play and play in the snow, but it was almost too much work. (Almost - but not enough to stop us) The snow was easily up to my waist when I *tried* to walk through it. I think it was everyone's favorite game to push someone else down, because it would take the one who fell down a good minute or so to get back upright. We snowmobiled a little, but unless we were on a groomed trail or beaten path, the snowmobile was more likely than not to get stuck. So we played in the snow until our lungs and legs couldn't take it anymore and then we would go inside to talk and play card games and nintendo wii. And let's not forget the fabulous food we had too! Each family was in charged of a meal, and I must say that we had delicious food! Here's a few pictures from this year's adventure. I can't wait until next year to do it all over again!



Adam and Adalyn on the snowmobile. Adalyn LOVED the snow as long as we could keep those mittens on her!

Avalanche! Hey who is that?

Oh of course! Adam! Here he's coming out of his self induced white wash.

Adalyn and Mieley with their cousins in the loft of the cabin. This loft was so much fun for the kids. They could run around in it and still peek over the edge to make sure the adults were still watching them.

Here's my cute Mieley this year. Definitely grown up alot since last year!