Merry Christmas- Our First Ever Christmas Letter

Hello family and friends,

We’ve never done a letter and we're not quite sure how to do it. Natalie toyed with the idea of a top ten list but we realized we were rather boring this year and didn’t have enough interesting items to even get to ten.  But hey, it was a good year even if not much happened so we are grateful for that.

Abigail- Abby was born in July, a rather momentous occasion for her and her family. Abby is still illiterate and really can’t do much but entertain everyone she meets with her smiles. She is the ray of sunshine in our family and seems not to be bothered if Mom watches HGTV during feeding times. She enjoys long naps, snuggles, and being tossed in the air.

Matt (4)- Matt informed us this August that Matty was his 3 year-old name and he was now to be referred to as Matt. He is attending pre-school and is rather a fan of Star Wars and Spider-Man. He is learning to read and has conquered some of the great classics like Go Dog Go and Green Eggs and Ham. His latest project is deciding what his Superhero name and powers will be when he grows up.

James (8)- James is our encyclopedic 3rd grader. He has a fact for just about everything and sometimes it is even on topic. He got baptized in April and is enjoying life in Cub Scouts with mom as his Den Leader. He will soon complete his plans for world take over in 2047, he promises to be a benevolent leader as long as no one tries to make him eat any asparagus or zucchini.

Eve (11)- Eve continues to astound us all with her art work. She is an artsy crafty soul and we have found everything from a light switch to her glasses cleaner decorated with washi tape. She is currently participating in jump rope club and coming up with a variety of make-believe games to help Matt do his chores. She loves spending time with her friends and collecting as many colors of yarn as she can.

Laine (12)- Laine completed elementary school and has moved on to Jr. High. She also started young women’s this year and was able to attend Brighton Beehive Camp, Youth Conference, and Wilderness Camp. She has taken to doing her own laundry and cooking meals once a week for the family. She also has her own little babysitting empire and hopes one day her parents will grow up and stop embarrassing her.

Christian and Natalie- Besides being tired all the time from chasing, chauffeuring, and wrangling five little monkeys they are good. They enjoyed taking their family on fun adventures this year to Disneyland and to Salt Lake’s Comic Con. They enjoy sneaking away from the kids to watch the latest super hero movie or to try out a local restaurant that has been featured on the Food Network. They are also happy that the dog has stopped eating Matt’s shoes but hope they can wean him from Abby’s socks and toys.

Thanks to all of you for being part of our lives, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and hope that you find joy with your friends and family this holiday season,

The Bradley’s

Abby-5 months

Christian and I were talking the other day how fast the last five months have gone. It seemed like pregnancy was forever and now instead of a snuggly newborn we have a happy wiggly baby on our hands. 

Abby continues to delight us with her smiles and her giggles. James has proven to be rather good and making her laugh, Abby considers him to be quite the humorist. Abby is the rare child that actually enjoys tummy time,  I've never met a kid that likes tummy time. This enjoyment of being on her stomach may be the reason that she has yet to roll over, she does enjoy scooting around though and has found toys to be a fabulous source of entertainment.

She has also found her toes and it is fun to watch her grab and play. 

Winter gear! I love having a girl to dress, it is too much fun. 

First visit to the beach. She loved the sand but was not
happy when the water hit her toes. 

First visit with Santa, she was not impressed. 

Abby was a trooper in Disneyland, she got really good
at sleeping in the stroller and slept through just about everything

All ready for her first Christmas party. 

I love when babies fall asleep in random places. She was playing on the floor
next to me and next thing I knew she was conked out. 

She really is our little ray of sunshine. 

The Great Bradley Adventure Part 3- Disneyland concluded!

Our final days in Disneyland were full of rides, and treats, and pretty much were the same as the first three days. I was super excited to have the kids wear their Thing Shirts. I have wanted to have them wear these on vacation for years and I am glad that we found one for all of them...even Abby.

Thursday morning while the older kids and Christian were riding Star Tours I took Matt and Abby on Buzz Lightyear and these women looked at me and at my Thing 4 and 5 and said, "You really have five children?" It was a common question that day and it was the best if Thing 1 and 3 were off on a ride while Things 2 and 4  and 5 met Princesses, it really threw people for a loop and more than one asked if we needed a drink. It was fun. 

Matt loved Toontown. He was most excited that there was a roller coaster there that he can ride. He also liked being able to check off two more of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse crew.

Eve shyly asked on Wednesday night if she could meet the princesses, she is my little girl that is growing up so fast but still clings to the little princess I first brought to Disneyland. I was happy take her. 

I love this picture, she was so happy to see the princesses. 

While Eve and I met the Princesses Dad took the other kids on the teacups.

Later that day we let Laine and James go ride some of the California Rides while Eve and Matt met Anna and Elsa (no line for those ladies!) They were super cute with the kids and played Reindeer tag with Matt. We also found out what sandwich Anna prefers! 

Our last day started with a character breakfast. We were super excited because it meant we got our own entrance gate and didn't have to wait in line!!! 

It was super hero day in the Bradley family

we love Minnie

Playing Peekaboo with Tigger 

Way to go mom, look at the camera next time. 

Since Matt was too small to ride the rides I was super excited when they picked him to go through Jedi training. I was really happy that they had the training back our last day there, I was afraid he would miss it. He was super excited to fight Darth Vader and has told me that he will "never go to the Dark Side."

My little Jedi

Laine took me on the Materhorn, I have realized that I am too old for the jerky rides.

The kids were good sports in posing for the 60th anniversary pictures for me. I made them visit every one, and even James would pose for me! 

Matt was so cute with these one. He charmed the photographer and got a sticker out of it. 

We spent sometime earning our Junior Wilderness Badges. Matt was super excited to talk to Russell about Kevin's most unusual footprints.

So Thanks Disneyland! We had a great time and we will see you for your 65th! 

The Great Bradley Adventure part 2- Disneyland!!!!!

Thirty years ago my parents took the "wrong" way home from Las Vegas, as I cried they presented me with two options- we could find the right way to go home or we could continue on to Disneyland. I was pretty shook up, I had a church program I was very keen on participating in, but they talked me into it and I soon found my happiest place on earth. I have been back many times in the thirty years since. Honestly, I have lost count the times I have visited. It is truly my happy spot (honestly, I envisioned it as my "happy place" during labor). 

My first visit was during their 30th anniversary celebration and I have returned for the 35th, 40th, 45th, 50th, and 55th parties. As a side note the 40th was my favorite, I can still sing you the theme song from that year.  So there was no question on if we would be at the 60th anniversary party...well there was one question-we call her Abby. 

Every girl knows no outfit is complete without a pair of mouse ears!                                                                                         

See plans were to bring an older baby with us to Disneyland, alas plans don't work out the way that you want them and so we were off to Disneyland with a 4 month old baby and I was pretty sure we were crazy. But as Christian pointed out before we left, the worst thing that happens is we get half days in Disneyland. I have to admit if that was my worst day I could live with that. 

We didn't have anything to worry about, this little girl was a ray of sunshine. She was happy and charmed cast member, line waiters, and characters alike. She also lost a fair number of socks and was known to be wearing mismatched ones or ones we had purchased. We did have some crying bouts, usually when she was tired, but really we just ended up with a happy baby who would nap in her stroller and go through two to three outfits a day! 

As a Bellamy we have many traditions, there are traditions about everything, even what ride you go on first. See there is an order, you fast pass Indy, ride Pirates, ride Haunted Mansion, ride Splash Mountain (and Winnie the Pooh if you're not tall enough for Splash) and then it is time for your Indy fast pass. It is a tried and true system, you don't mess with it. 

The kids (and mom) loved these. They were good sports to stop and smile for a quick picture

Disneyland is the once place I allow it to be Christmas before Thanksgiving. I mean when you see 70 year old men walking around in mouse ears and a grandma being pushed in a sit and stand stroller with her toddler grandchild (I really wish I had taken a picture of that one) then obviously time is wibbly wobbly, if you catch my drift. It also meant we got to see Santa.

Matt also appeared in another family's photo-he was very excited to see Santa

We enjoyed some of the Mickey Mouse beignets
and most of us needed a shower after.  

No trip to Disney is complete without a castle picture.

We just happened to be there with the launch of Seasons of the Force. Tomorrowland went all Star Wars. It was perfect for our little geeky family.

Space Mountain was rethemed, with Star Wars, tears
of joy might have been shed by at least one of us. 

MICKEY!!!!! 

We love Disneyland treats, there are Dole Whips, cream cheese pretzels, Mickey Mouse chocolate chip cookies, and now we have added a new one....Caramel Apples.

Matt ate the ears, and the jelly beans. I am pretty sure that mom ate the rest

Day two found us in California Adventure. While dad took the older kids on rides (Matt came in an inch too short for most of them- he even measured himself everyday to see if he had grown), Matt and I went on adventures. 

Matt and Abby got to sit on this Santa's lap

And then we got to see Olaf- Matt gave him a big warm hug,

They had some artificial snow where Matt had a great time making a tiny snowman and he tried to make a snow angel. He has been waiting for snow all year and sure enough Disneyland provided. 

Nothing like the first fake snowfall

We love Car's Land. It is just straight out of the movies!

Our one rule in Disneyland is you need to ride every ride you are tall enough for, this of course meant James had his first ride on California Screamin'. He was super nervous and I told him just to hold my hand and squeeze when he was nervous. He was did hold on tight. His glasses also fell off when we went upside down, at least they landed in and stayed in the car. He ended up enjoying it, but wouldn't go again without a parent. 

All three have been fearful to ride this ride. They all love it though now. 

We finished out our night seeing World of Color- where we heard the song 'Let it Go' performed for the 4th time in two days.

Day three started out in California again and a few pictures in front of the Christmas tree

Oh my goodness, they are cute. Just saying. 

Then they found James' new favorite ride

Abby really was a champion napper. 

She is ready with her big hat for the next season of Downton Abby

We also spent some time at Marvel HQ where we saw many things, including....

every Iron man costume ever

This is my favorite moment. Matt loves Spider-Man. He has Spidey shoes, Spidey jacket, and now Spidey Mickey ears. Spiderman spent a good five minutes with him chatting and showing him how to shoot webs. Upon leaving Matt decided that he wanted to be a Superhero when he grows up.  

Okay so I realize that this is going to be two posts....so part two of Disneyland is coming your way soon!