October 2011 Top Ten

I'm just going to glaze right over the past four months or so and get straight to the goodness of our October.  I'll plan on going back to cover those other months someday.  I know awesome stuff happened.  Just gotta remember it.  Till then, enjoy a little of the best, worst, and weirdest from the Bradshaw's.

10--After walking in the front door of the home of some family friends we grew up with in SD (whose home is just around the corner from our new neighborhood), I immediately sensed trouble.  Their beautiful home is white--white carpet, white tile, white walls, white couches.  I suggested to the kids that we stay in the tile entryway.  Then Sister Flake gave them red suckers.  Ack!  And Adam ran down the hall.  "Please come back to the tile, Adam."  Then, "Please come back up the stairs, Adam."  And "Please, please don't attempt a handstand with your red, sticky hands on the couch, Adam."  Finally, "Please stop licking the front window, Adam."  Really?  REALLY!?!?!  We left soon after.  I think we'll invite them to visit us next time. 

9--Three: the number of jackets we were down because a certain 8 year old lost them all at school.  Two: the number of jackets we managed to find again.  One: the number of jackets we will probably never, no never, see again.  One: also the number of children in our home who went to school freezing on the morning it snowed because I hadn't gotten down the winter gear yet.  Lucky thing he found those jackets in the lost and found before recess.

8-I mentioned awhile back that Isaac had joined the ranks of enthusiastic shower singers.  His "life as a musical" has broadened to homework time.  I was unpacking some boxes one afternoon while Isaac was reading his homework book.  Part of the homework is to read it backwards.  Isaac has always found this incredibly dull.  To liven things up, he started singing it . . . operatically, with vibrato and all.  I was trying really hard not to laugh because I knew he thought no one was paying attention to him.  When I heard "mornihihihihihihihihihihihihihihihihihihihing" with fake vibrato I couldn't stop myself.  I laughed till I cried.  Literally.  Love that kid.

7--Lucy's amazing bravery.  Had I snapped my arm like a toothpick, I'm pretty sure I would have been writhing in pain.  Though she said it was excruciating, Lucy impressed everyone who saw her -- from her family, to the ER physicians, to the people in the ER waiting room with her incredible courage.  The guy who placed her IV told her that she survived with a little twitch what made grown men cry.  I was thankful when she got some medication for her pain so she could relax a little bit.

6--Halloween haul.  After letting the kids sort through and keep a ziploc bag full of their booty, we still have 10 lbs. of candy to dispose of.  I know kids love Halloween and all, but what do I do with 10 lbs. of sugar?  No, seriously, what should I do with it?

5--A: How old is daddy?
M: How old do you think?
A: Ummm, six?
M: Isaac's six.  He's older than that!
A: Eleven?  Eight?  Uh, three?
M: Older, older, older.  He's 37.
A: Thirty-SEVEN?  HOLY COW!!!

4--Library-less month.  We moved to Springville just as they closed down their library in order to move it to the new building.  When I told my kids they wouldn't have books from the library for a month, they nearly cried.  Fortunately, we got our kids' books unpacked pretty early and they've been doing a bit of rereading.  The older three attended the grand opening of the new library last weekend with my sister and their lives are now complete again.

3--Isaac's made up board game "We're All in This Together":  (One of our favorite family evening activities is to dance to the IPOD and High School Musical often comes up.)  He drew squares on a paper and labeled each square with our family's names.  Gonna be honest, I couldn't figure out the point of the game.  Then he had us take a quarter and drop it on the paper.  Whoever we landed on was the person we were to do a private act of service for.  Brilliant!  And from a six year old, I might add.  What a kid.

2--After using a--ahem-- rather strong voice to "encourage" my children to go to bed without kicking, punching, wrestling, or teasing each other, Adam looked up at me curiously.  "Why did you not use a friendly voice, mom?" Unfortunately, my friendly voice must be inaudible because heaven knows no one in this house seems to hear it. 

1--Quick weekend trip to L.A.  Zach met me there for the weekend after flying back from Korea.  While he tried to adjust to the time change (AKA -slept-), and Eli napped, I read a book on the beach.  And then visited with Erin . . . on the beach.  The whole weekend was delightful: walk down to Hermosa, lunch and dinner downtown, quiet, one on one time with Eli (he didn't know what to think of so much attention), dinner with Zach's family, wedding events for the Barlows (especially enjoyed the in-law song and the flash mob at the reception), a missionary report, visiting with cousins, hanging out with Erin and Stu, and a final walk on the beach to see the sun set.  Just about perfect.  Thanks again to the Purdys for their hospitality!