Minions Movie

 Derek took the 3 big kids on a movie date to the Minions. He spoiled them all rotten and got them their own Minion to take with them to the movie. It is so much fun taking the kids to movies now. Kael and Eden do great, and Elara is almost there, but she did awesome during the Minions!

Texas Creatures

Summer brought all sorts of creatures to our home. Within a week I found a scorpion, bat, frog, spider, and a snake. Derek and Kael helped to catch most of them, but I SHARICE BRADLEY caught the scorpion! They are my new worst enemy!

Everything is bigger in Texas and I'm so done with the creepy crawly things!

June

End of school carnival. He wanted to have his face painted to look like Darth Maul because he is cool like that.

From the garden. We got only one giant zucchini and a couple small carrots and green beans. Its a fun learning process.

 The boy and his huge lizard.

 I FINALLY got a picture of all 4 of them. Don't mind they are all in pajamas ready for bed. I knew it was a moment to capture or it might not happen again while Connor was little.

Because he is adorable!

 My homeschool set up that I still haven't used 6 months later.

 For once I cut Kael's hair "before" summer was started... Usually I can't stand to part with his curls and after a long hot summer I cut them off. He asked for short hair so I got tough and just did it. 

These are the before pictures to show how long it got! I miss his curls but he loves the "big kid" short hairstyle.

End of school 2015

 The last week of school Kael had an awards ceremony for academic success. He did wonderful. He got good citizenship, math Olympics, and a good grades award. He worked really hard all year and became such a great reader and loved math. At the beginning of 1st grade his teacher Mrs. Brown showed me his reading level which was a little behind. He was reading short sentences. Then, she showed me where he would be reading by the end of the year. Small paragraphs per page... It was hard to believe, but success happened and Kael met that goal. I LOVE seeing my kids grow each year and the accomplishments they achieve. 

Eden learned how to count to 20, sound out all the letters, and memorized songs and nursery rhymes and has a love of learning. 

I'm so proud of these two kiddos learning accomplishments this year and their desire to keep learning.

Kind of a funny story, but my first grade teacher was Miss Velders. The end of the school year she moved to California and kept in touch with writing letters until I reached middle school. She ended up marrying a guy whose last name was Brown. So Kael and I both had first grade teachers with their married name as Brown. And both were awesome teachers!

The last days of pre k and 1st grade. They have grown so much over the last year. They looked out for each other and loved going to school.

Sharice's 30th Birthday June 16th

I knew that I would be having Connor around my 30th birthday and I wanted it to still be special somehow. I mean, you only turn 30 once right?! It felt like I truly became the woman I always wanted to be and I was/am living the life I always dreamed of. (Watch Mom's night out, it explains how I was feeling perfectly...) With a newborn there was no way to run away from life and feel like I was 20 again, I did it, I hit 30 and life responsibilities! And THAT is what I wanted to celebrate. I made this awesome paleo German Chocolate cake. I wanted to celebrate with the people who matter most and it was fun! We filled a couple hundred water balloons for the kids, made party hats, ate yummy cake, ate yummy Mexican food, and opened presents. It was PERFECT! The little people and my main man made me feel like the most special 30 year old on the planet. Derek got me a piano and went all out. Kael and Eden bought me gifts with their own money. Eden got me and ankle bracelet and toe ring, and Kael got me a hot cocoa mug.

Life is kind of amazing when you can say I am right where I want to be, doing exactly what I want to be doing. "Even if those days are long and hard." 

I was blessed, loved, and spoiled rotten.

I LOVE THESE PEOPLE!

The end of May And Random Events in May

May 27th

The kids LOVE having a baby brother. They want to help however they can. Connor is lucky to have 3 amazing big siblings.

The hospital Connor was at was only about a 5-10 minute drive to the temple, so one day before visiting me and Connor; Derek took the kids for the first time and snagged some really great pictures. I can't wait until I can go with all of them.

Eden, Kael, and Elara

 The kids loved seeing baby brother and getting to hold him. It was soooooo hard having them come, because there could only be 3 people total by Connor. That meant lots of people in the waiting room and juggling people and LOTS of hand washing. I was just really grateful that the kiddos could see him and hold him for a while. It was hard because we never got a chance to get our first family photos with all of us until well after Connor came home.

Odin seemed to handle things really well.

Derek finally got time off after Connor came home and utilized it well and took each kid out on their own individual date.

 Eden and Dad had a Daddy daughter date and went and saw the movie HOME and had Red Robin.

I think the milk shake was her favorite.

I think Derek took Kael to a nickelcade for their Best Buds Outing. I can't remember, but they got Red Robin too and it really is a special treat for the kiddos. They LOVE hanging out with Dad all by them self.

Elara got to go shopping and pick out a toy and then head to McDonald's with Dad for her date. It was her first "official" Daddy Daughter Date and it was a HUGE success. I think this kid is now officially a part of the big kids from this experience.

At the end of the month while Connor was still in the hospital there was a big bicycle safety event at the kids school. They got to decorate their bikes and do a fun course. It was a lot of fun for the kiddos.

May was a busy month for poor Elara.

Odin has started to "Pug Hug" Derek. I obviously don't give him enough attention, so when Derek gets home Odin feels the need to snuggle up and give him a big hug. It's hilarious!

 Eden loves holding Connor at home. The kids keep taking turns who gets to hold him next. All have been really good about asking before touching the baby, and Eden got a little hand sanitizer crazy trying to keep him safe.

 I finally brought a couple cute outfits to the hospital for Connor and a blanket. The other babies there had cute blankets and clothes and all kinds of stuff, but poor Connor just had hospital stuff. Honestly, it was easier not having to take stuff home to wash later, and I felt a little guilty so I think 3 or 4 days of the 24 he was there he was dressed up. I had to take a picture of him dressed up once.

 He is happy to be HOME!

Nothing better than snuggling in Mom and Dad's bed.

May was probably THE craziest month of Derek's and my life. We survived and are stronger for it. We grew as a couple, as a family, as friends, and just are better people because of Connor and all the loving people who helped us get him home.