The Polar Express Experience

Olaf the Elf has been really busy these past few days.  He pulled out all the stops the last three days...bringing a super fun Snowflake breakfast to Vegas with the help of two of his friends, then taking them for a wild ride on our trip back to Reno.  Finally, yesterday the pipsqueaks woke up to a Polar Express Day!!

We started the day with the boys having a lot of fun with the electric train that was set up for them.

After breakfast Carter read the Polar Express book to us, for being just 5 years old I only had to help him a handful of times with the bigger words!  Then we snuggled up on the couch to watch the Christmas Movies thriftily recorded from Freeform's 25 Days of Christmas.  There are some really cute Christmas movies!

Along with the electric train and book, Olaf left us 5 giant golden tickets to ride the Polar Express right after dinner!!  We hopped into the car and drove to Carson City where we boarded the REAL V&T Polar Express!!  We got to see Santa's Village, have hot-hot coco and cookies and even see the big man himself!!

 

We were joined by one of our favorite families to share the experience.  I think the kids were over the moon at the magic Christmas Spirit last night.  Ethan even got the first gift of Christmas from Santa!!  They sang songs, played games and truly embodied the spirit of Christmas!

It was truly a magical evening!

xoxo

Hello Again

I started this blog a while ago on a whim. After years of writing off and on I decided I needed to get serious and make more of a commitment to writing.

We have had a lot of ups and downs the past few years, so, if there is one thing we have learned it's time is short...now is now. We hope you will join (or rejoin) us on our sometimes crazy, but always fun journey!!

Xoxo

Alley-oop

We cheered the night away at the Reed Varsity boy's basketball game against Reno High School last night!  Trevor brought the boys down for one of the last games of the season.  I got to kill two birds with one stone...coach and spend time with my favorite little sports fans.

Seeing as the kids don't have mini Reed gear we had to settle for Captain America and Iron Man!  I love when told to smile for the camera and look excited Ethan feigns excitement and Carter just can't be bothered...oh these two just crack me up!!

I think the boys (all three) were a little disappointed that Reno High School does not have a snack bar so there was no pop corn and Sprite during the game, but they survived!!  We had such a blast watching the Raiders keep up with the Huskies...sad they didn't win but it was good game!!

-xoxo

Groundhog Day

I know every wife says this, but I seriously have the best husband in the world!!  Yesterday, was a whirlwind day with Daxton being sick; having to go to the doctor; splitting the nursing duties; and then having a basketball game on top of it.  So in passing I asked Trevor if he could come up with something fun for groundhog day since we totally missed our usual February 2 breakfast and Today Show tradition.

As I have discussed before we subscribe to the amazing weather prediction of Punxatawney Phil, and call me crazy but I swear Ethan reported to me that he did not see his shadow this year which thankfully means spring will be here shortly!!  Anyway, Trevor did not disappoint in his amazingness...he threw together these adorable groundhog pancakes!  The pipsqueaks were over the moon and thought it was a super fun themed dinner!

It's time to be wrapping up my day and start our evening fun!  - xo

Welcome February

It's February!! Between celebrating our big 2 YEAR OLD, we threw up some Valentine's decor. Our porch decor is rather sad...need to step up on that!

The kids are making L-O-V-E signs for the grandparents this year, and since Dave and Elaine were up visiting this weekend for Dax's birthday I thought we should have one too!!  So, up it went with a jar full of my favorite conversation hearts...which may have to go into hiding because the kids like to sneak them when they think I'm not looking!

Finally, my sweet sister-in-law made me really cute "Be Mine" blocks and I've had this "Love" sign since high school so I threw those around the living rooms and voi la easy as pie!

So that is the extent of our Valentine's Decor this year.  I have lots of fun projects up my sleeve for the month so we may be adding to it here and there.  Dax is still sick so I better get to taking care of that sweet boy.

 - xo

Sunday in the Nook {Yes Day}

We wrapped up a long and luxurious Christmas Break with a "Yes Day" today.  You know the kind of day where you just give in to their every request for the sake of just having fun and enjoying their company?!

Can we have blueberry muffins for breakfast??  Why yes you may.

Can we light saber batter until our little arms fall off?  Why of course you may, you silly boys...

Can we do Star Wars Madlibs while we eat frozen yogurt and leftover pizza for lunch??  Done and done!!

Since Dax is napping, can we have unlimited tablet time until we go bug-eyed, while Daddy plays Call of Duty and you want to pull your unwashed, uncombed hair out?!  Yes, yes, and yes!!

Finally, after a trip to Target in our pj's (them, not me), and dinner...Can we PUH-LEASE play Avengers Monopoly??  Well heck we might as well finish this day off the way it started...YES!!

How today was different than any other Sunday in this house I'm not really sure!  That being said, I really missed these two pipsqueaks, and I'm sure going to miss spending days like this since it's back to the grind tomorrow.

I suppose I best get to finishing up prepping for Monday!!

xoxo

2016 Resolution

Every year I hear how people are so glad that it's over, and that it was the worst year ever.  Well I've decided that no matter what happens during a day, a month, a year, heck even a lifetime it's what WE make it.  

With that in mind and all the "bad" things that face us this year that are not known to us at this time I decided my resolution/goal for 2016 is to live purposefully.  I want to be present in what I am doing.  I don't want to worry about tomorrow or the next day, I want to be focused on now and do the best that I can in the moment.

So in order to do these things I think the most important thing is to evaluate everything I commit myself and family to doing/going/supporting/etc., and also to evaluate what we spend our money on.  Is it something we truly need and has a purpose in the here in now or is something we might use or might want down the road.

I haven't made resolutions in years, but I'm excited about this one.  There are many good things to come in 2016!!

xoxo

Home Inspiration

One of my favorite things to do right after the new year is to browse through the pictures of the HGTV Dream Home.  I love clicking through the photos and getting ideas for updates to my own home.  My favorite dream home will always be the 2012 Park City, Utah home!

This year's dream home isn't too shabby either, but I'm not sure I would love Florida...but since I've never been there I can't really judge.  The colors are a little too vibrant for me, but nonetheless I surely enjoyed looking through it!

Though it's not my style, I would be more than happy to move right in!!

xoxo

Ringing in 2016

Although two of the three Bradshaw boys were in Vegas to ring in the new year, we still had two cute littles (C&E) make it to midnight with us!  Despite our game night festivities it was a relatively quiet night over all.  And the first day of January brought frigid air and dreary skies.

After we stuffed ourselves with Mexican food and playing Cards Against Humanity until we all nearly peed our pants, Trevor and I could barely keep our eyes open.  I'm already mourning the end of the holidays, as we start a new work week!

Happy New Year y'all!!

xoxo

Goodbye 2015, Hello 2016

As we closed out 2015 I thought it was only appropriate to ask each of the Bradshaw Nook members what their favorite part of 2015 was.  This is what they said...

Trevor:

We got to spend additional time with our parents, who in 2015 battled Stage 4 brain cancer and Alzheimer's disease.

Jess:

I completely agree with Trevor that our time with our parents this past year was near and dear to my heart.  Another thing that was a favorite of mine in 2015 was all of our fun holiday activities we do from start to finish of each year.

Ethan:

"My favorite thingn we did in 2015 was go to so many movies!"

Carter:

Bet you can't guess this one...STAR WARS: The Force Awakens (or as Carter says, The Force of the Awakens):

Daxton:

And since he can't tell us what is most favorite thing was this past year, I am only going to assume it was turning 1!

When I started this blogging adventure it was just to stay connected with those who lived far away.  I had no idea how much fun I would have doing it along the way or how much it would change me in the sense that I would love nothing more than to make a living writing.  So thank you to each and everyone of you who takes a few minute out of their day to spend it reading about our fun and silly lives.

With that I think I'm going to sign off from the virtual world and enjoy some pancakes with my littlest pipsqueak!!

Happy 2016 - xoxo