Kael's Holiday Heritage Doll for school

JuleBukk

Norwegian children always remember a little gnome Nisse at Christmastime. He guards all the farm animals, and he plays tricks on the children if they forget to place a bowl of special porridge for him.Norway has its gift-bearing little gnome or elf. Known as Julebukk or "Christmas buck," he appears as a goat-like creature. Julebukk harkens back to Viking times when pagans worshipped Thor and his goat. During pagan celebrations a person dressed in a goatskin, carrying a goat head, would burst in upon the party and during the course of evening would "die" and return to life.

We made this Yule Goat aka JuleBukk for Kael's Heritage Doll for school and spent way too much time on it. So, therefore it deserves its own post. Here's to the Julebukk and what it is "suppose" to look like.

Derek and Sharice 7 Years 7 Months

 And going strong. I have to say that I am so grateful to have Derek as my husband and Kael, Eden, and Elara's Dad. He takes such good care of us. I couldn't have asked for a better provider or best friend. Derek has worked so hard to become the best doctor and I know so many people's lives will be greatly blessed from his hard work and dedication to his education. In just 5 months he will be Dr. Bradley! We have come so far in just a short 7 years, and it makes me so excited for where we will be 50 years from now. We are loving every day and make each day special. Derek is my best friend and I wouldn't want to go through this life with anyone else. Derek works hard to be able to come home and play hard with his kids. I have to say he does a great job leaving work at work and when he is home he is 100% Daddy! We love you so much Derek! Thanks for being you, the amazing person that you are!
Love,
Your family

Elara Jane Bradley 14 Months Old

ELARA JANE BRADLEY

DECEMBER 2013

14 MONTHS

Dearest Elara,

Sometimes I call you Elara Jane, so much in fact I think your siblings think that is your official first name. I should stop so that when you are in trouble and I shout out Elara Jane you might actually believe you are in trouble. Oh, Elara... Words cannot express the joy you bring to our little family. Words also cannot express the heartache I feel for you almost daily. Your first year in this difficult world has been just that, difficult! You have been in pain, sick, and it just breaks my heart. I think your reflux is getting better, but ever since your reflux finally got under control that is when you started getting sick. It started in about August. It seems like every other weekend something else hits you and not just a little... Today, it is a stomach bug. Teething has been hard on you. Just like your big brother and sister it gives you a fever and does horrible things to your bum. I was a cruel Mom because the day we had family pictures was one of those horrible days for you. It was a struggle to get you to look at the camera and don't even mention getting a smile from you. It makes me sad that it is so hard to catch your smile on camera because that truly is your personality. You are a happy child despite being sick a lot this last year. You can be so sick and yet still want to crawl around and play and be happy, then you just lay your tiny little sick body down and rest for a while before going again. You need lots of love and hugs and cuddles. You give the BEST cuddles. While holding you, you will simply lay your cute noggin on my shoulder and wrap your tiny arms around me and hold on tight and snug! You fit perfectly right in mine and Dad's arms and we love to hold you tight. You are the first that holds on tight back. The first to lay their head down and just enjoy being held. Don't get me wrong, Kael and Eden are great snugglers and loved being held. There is just something special about the way you hold on. You still are not walking. Being so sick has been a set back for you. You were so close and taking one or two steps in October. You have no confidence anymore and just refuse. Dad has been trying to convince you to walk with diet coke and I'll admit it is the closest thing to working. Nothing else has convinced you. It is like you have to know 100% you won't fall before you even try this out. You are standing on your own and walking along furniture. Life will be so much more enjoyable for you, I know it, IF you just start walking. It is so funny to watch you dragging ginormous toys around the apartment while crawling around. You LOVE Odin. You love to pick him up and hug him. You put up with him nibbling your feet and jumping on your back. It's ok because you get him back by dumping out his water everywhere and scattering his food. You both have a love/hate relationship, but mostly it's a love. I didn't know a puppy would be so fun for a 14 month old. You love your big brother and big sister. They love you back. They are constantly dragging you around to do what you want or what they want. The picture of them trying to drag you is pretty accurate. You are an independent person. You can figure out what you want to do and you just do it. You have 8 teeth. Come on molars! You have super sensitive skin and this winter the eczema has been harsh. Your hair is a pretty strawberry blonde in the light. It is going to be fun to see how different you and Eden look. You are both so beautiful, yet so different for sure! I love you so much Elara. Your Daddy loves you so much! Your family loves you! Don't ever forget! Life is painful now, but you are so strong and it has made you into this amazing, beautiful, little girl! Stay strong, and this next year will be better! I promise! I love you!

Love Always,
Mom

Eden Marie Bradley 3 Years Old

EDEN MARIE BRADLEY

DECEMBER 2013

3 YEARS 9 MONTHS

Dear sweet Eden,

I often look back at what I wrote about you as a baby and I still feel that those characteristics hold true for you to this day. You are still my most stubborn and opinionated child. You are also so sweet and full of love and life! You are not afraid, although every once in a while you will tell me you got a little shy. Like at the grocery store. You wanted to talk to this sweet lady that had a dog and wanted to pet it, but you wouldn't hardly look. Then, you  looked at me and told me how you got a little shy and I said that was ok, and then you weren't so shy and talked a little. You melt your Mama's heart. You love so deeply. I hate to see the boy who first breaks your heart because it will not be pretty to have to clean up the pieces of what is left of him. You will and always will have your parent's wrapped around your finger, especially your Daddy. You love him so much. And I know for a fact that seeing you lights up his day. You are my cuddle bug! You just need someone by you. And you have the best knee in my back cuddles I could ask for! You defend your brother and sister. You love them so very much! You are so social. You can stand by yourself, but you have this openness and welcoming presence that other children are drawn to. If the other kids don't want to play, you say, "That's ok", and go on with your business, but eventually they come and do what you want because you just love to have fun and don't let anything stop you. You love to learn! You aren't really interested in numbers and letters, but you are finally showing a little interest and ask to do homework like Kael. You have your colors down. You pretend to read books. You love looking at the pictures. You LOVE joy school. You thrive in a social environment. You love being with people. You are great at cutting, and gluing, and listening to stories (for the most part). You love Odin and any animals. I think your need for a puppy was what finally made me feel like we were ready for a puppy in our home. That was the number one thing you wanted for Christmas. You wanted Santa to bring you a puppy. Did he deliver or what?! You love love animals. They make you shine with happiness.
You love all things girly. You love to put on makeup and jewelry. You love pretty things and shoes. You love painting your nails. You recently discovered "My Little Ponies" and want that for a birthday cake. You already have your 4th birthday planned out and tell me frequently, you want a pony cake, and balloons, and presents, and a pinata. I think I can deliver friend.
You truly are a beautiful, loving, daughter of God. I LOVE who you are! I love your sweet spirit. I'm so glad you are stubborn and pray that you use it in your future to defend who you are and to be a natural peace bringer and love to all! You are the best first daughter I could have ever dreamed of having come into our family. The middle child is tough, but you fill the role! We love you so much Eden! Never forget Mom and Dad love you!

Love,

Mom

Kael David Bradley 5 years old

KAEL DAVID BRADLEY

DEC 2013

5 YEARS 4 MONTHS

Dear Kael,

I worry too much. That is obvious. Kael you were such a sweet little monster in your earlier years. Worrying about your speech, behavior, growth, being the youngest for kindergarten, will you keep up, how do I teach you not to let mean people bother you, how do I protect you?! It is HARD being the oldest child and having your parents have no idea if they are doing it right, but we go on a prayer and faith that we can take the best care of our first born. You make being a parent worth it! Here is a bit about you.

Kael can take the worst of days and make them your brightest. He is there when you need a hug. He is so in tune with emotions. Kael will always be energetic and for that I'm grateful. He is the friendliest most Christlike loving person I know. He helps me to be a better person every day. I couldn't have asked for a better example for me, to join our family. He constantly is helping others and concerned for their well being. He loves to learn knew things. Kael is a rock star in kindergarten. I worried about his August birthday from day one. He strives for knowledge and growth. Academically he is one of the top in his class. He can count to 100, count by 10's, he is adding and subtracting, he has many sight words memorized, and is starting to sound out words and totally gets that they are words, his reading is really coming along great, he knows all the sounds in the alphabet, he can write the numbers to 30, He is just so smart! He is great at memorizing things. He did an amazing job with his primary program part this year. He memorized it. We went over and over trying to help him speak slowly and clearly so everyone could understand him. He would always rush when we practiced, BUT when he stood up there in front of everyone, he spoke PERFECTLY! I was so proud. He does listen, he does learn so much every single day! He told me about what he wanted to say.  

Here is his part.

"Heavenly Father created the earth for us to move here. Then, He wants us to move back to Him again. Heavenly Father has a plan for me. He wants me to be nice, do not hit, and love everyone. Because Heavenly Father wants us to live with Him again, it shows that He loves me!"

Kael loves his family, especially his little sisters. He is their protector, their big brother. Kael loves Odin! It has been so great having a constant little friend for him. He loves to wrestle with him even though they both get too wild. He loves to sit and just hold Odin. He cares so much and just wants to take care of him.

Kael you love transformers, cars, angry birds star wars, star wars, creating new things, puzzles, movies, playing outside in any weather, and mostly friends! 

 I'm so proud of you Kael! You are such an amazing person! Dad and I are so grateful you are our son! We love you with all our heart! Thanks for being you bud!

Love always,

Mom

 BEST FRIENDS!

 I LOVE YOU KAEL!

These two girls could not be any luckier to have the world's BEST BIG BROTHER! Kael loves them, protects them, and is their best friend! He was sent first to be their big brother and he ROCKS!

Kael's Kindergarten School Picture

December SNOW

Try house training a puppy in this weather! For real! 

Trying out my new iphone. I'm not great yet and obviously need a LOT of practice. The last one is finally the best. This is Eden's joy school class I get to teach about every 5 weeks. It has been so much fun and these kiddos are so smart!

Thanksgiving 2013

We kept it simple this year. We had Derek's Mom, sister Rebecca, and her son Enzo come over for a feast. We created a complete paleo/primal meal thanks to Derek! It was the BEST turkey ever hands down. Meal: Stuffing, cauliflower mashies, beats, gravy, peas, corn. Pumpkin pie, chocolate pecan pie, and a berry pie!!! Hanging out with our cute little family was so much fun! I've been trying to so hard to make each holiday extra special. It's sad thinking this is our last Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas etc. here in Salt Lake, BUT it has made each seem extra special. We are just enjoying every day and loving life.