A Celtic Christmas

The Biggest Little City is dripping in little family activities, you just have to look for them.  Yesterday, Ethan's class went to see Siamsa, A Celtic Christmas put on by the Reno Irish Dance Company at the Grand Sierra.

Just the marquee display had me excited to get in to the theater!

The Grand Theater Lobby was decked out in everything Christmas.  The gold Christmas Tree was our favorite but just around the corner from it were two giant chairs that almost looked like Santa's!

As if the remarkable setting wasn't enough, I had the privilege of hanging out with some pretty handsome and silly 3rd graders, and their amazing teacher!  Are you excited yet?!

After we took our seats, in the 4th row, the director of the dance studio came out and told us what was in store.  The show is about two sisters looking for the true meaning of Christmas and searching for their families old Celtic Christmas tradition of a candle in the window.  Certain people in the audience were given bells to ring when Holly mentioned the candle in the window.  Once she was done with her opening speech, they cued up the music, the lights dimmed and the show started.  It was 75 minutes of amazing dancing, singing and fun costumes.

I love to snap a picture or two of the pipsqueaks when we are at events like this.  I love to see the excitement and wonder on their eyes.  Plus I would never think to bring my brood of boys to a show like this, so I was so happy his teacher planned this outing.

The boys were so great during the show, but the 75 minutes straight of sitting did make them just a little restless.  They finally couldn't hold still any longer at about 10 minutes left and kept asking me what time it was.

Born and raised in Reno, I grew up with getting to see shows and go to events all around our little town, in these very same theaters.  And now years later I get to follow in my moms footsteps and take my littles to do the exact same thing.  That's just special y'all!

xoxo - j 

The Bradshaw Family Tree

We certainly love the decorating, caroling, treats, gifts and all the sweet, special things that make Christmas such an amazing holiday.  This year we have two trees, one real and one fake, tonight we decorated our real tree.

To many the Christmas tree represents the spirit of the Christmas season.  Tonight Ethan and I talked about the lights and decorations on the tree representing the wonder and glory of the birth of Jesus.  I think we have some work to do on talking about the true meaning of Christmas here in The Nook, but we started the conversation.

Each year we hop into Christmas jammies, watch Trevor get the lights just right and hang the ornaments on the tree.  There is no rhyme or reason to how we decorate our tree, it's not methodical.  My favorite ornaments are the ones handmade by Trevor's mom and the kids!

This was the sweetest part of my day and something I look forward to doing each year!

xoxo - j

Fisher the Christmas Dog

No day would be complete around here without some sort of canine mischief.  "Fisher did it" is our number one excuse made, usually with frantic voices and slightly guilty looking faces.  Even in his sleep, Dax blames that poor dog!!  Most days I am rescuing stuffed animals, sweatshirts and blankets from this naughty pup, but he must of heeded Santa's warning because today Olaf brought him three treats!  The only speculation the pipsqueaks could make was that Santa must think that if Fisher had some early Christmas presents he wouldn't massacre the stuffies!  Hmmm...

xoxo - j

To My Sweet Boys

I'm not sure I will ever be able to truly express how very much I wanted you and how completely you are loved.  For as long as I can remember I dreamed of you and anxiously awaited your arrivals.  Now at nine, six and three, you truly are a dream come true!!

There are so many things I love about you three.  You are the best, happiest kids.  You each have mischievous little smiles and twinkles in your eye.  You each are momma's boys in your own way all the while loving watching sports and hanging out with Dad too!  You love each other unconditionally and admire each other in your own way.  You love your buddy, Fisher and pretty much every other pet we meet.  Sometimes, you talk too much and other times you don't talk enough.  You were born to kick footballs, hit baseballs and love movies like I do.  You boys love your family more than anything in the whole world.

Thank you guys for always going along with my crazy and fun activities, like coloring festive pictures for Grandma Barbara!

Merry Christmas sweet boys, I can't believe how time has flown by.

xoxo - j

Fa La La La La La La La La

We've decked the halls with lights and ribbon; snowmen; Santas; wreaths; snow globes and all that glitters. Fa la la la la la la la la!

We accomplished Olaf's challenge of decorating the front room tree...

Ethan's favorite 2017 decorations...

Carter's favorite 2017 decorations...

Daxton's favorite 2017 decorations...

Finally, my favorite vignette for 2017 (so far)...

xoxo - j

A Santaland Lesson

The two big boys recently celebrated birthdays...NINE and SIX years young!  I've been mulling over how to encourage the joy of giving during the holiday season and finally had that elusive light bulb go off in my head.  The kids' school has an event every year perfect for opening this discussion in the Bradshaw Nook.  $5 and a few shopping instructions later we set off bright and early for Santaland.  We talked about the importance of giving to others and how seeing the excitement and happiness in that person when they open a gift carefully chosen just for them fills the heart.  After asking if they could bring their own money to buy stuff for themselves we ended up with this...

Located at our amazing elementary school this fun kids only shopping experience lent itself to the beginning of a lifelong lesson in giving is better than receiving.

I love it when things *finally* fall in to place!

And just in case you were wondering, the pipsqueak who brought his own money to buy himself something ended up buying one of his brothers one extra little thing to go with what he had already picked out for him, as well as picking out two chew toys for our energetic dog.  Proud mom moment seeing and hearing that he not only heard our words but understood the lesson we were trying to teach.

xoxo - j

Magic of December

December is here!  Our house is lit up, tree shopping ensues tomorrow, Christmas music is blasting and our first viewing of Christmas Vacation has happened!  But, more importantly our faithful Scout Elf Olaf has returned.

This year Olaf will be bringing a treat each day to the pipsqueaks.  In an attempt to avoid just candy, we have paired a classic Christmas movie and treat with a fun holiday activity each day.

We kicked off December 1st with our annual Snowflake Breakfast and a super fun sleepover.  Today's movie was supposed to be "The Santa Clause" which is one of my all time favorites, but the excitement of a slumber party was just too much for the boys to sit and watch a movie...they did, however, enjoy their DQ Blizzards!!  And if we are being honest here, I'm enjoying a break from the normal nightly crazy!

For our annual Snowflake Breakfast Olaf brought donuts and hot coco.  He added in a traditional chocolate-a-day advent calendar AND  Lego/Tsum Tsum Advent Calendars.  I think the boys were so excited to get to open the first daily prize.  Ethan built the Christmas Train, Carter built a spaceship (his Lego Calendar is Star Wars Christmas), and Daxton's first Tsum Tsum was Joy from "Inside Out."

Since the boys were having so much with their friend over, Trevor and I decided to kick off December and close out our jam packed week with our first of many viewings of "Christmas Vacation"!

Tomorrow Olaf will be bringing each boy $5 to shop at Santaland, as well as a fun movie night complete with a themed treat!  It truly is the happiest time of the year and these boys are lucky they are so good...or maybe that we are so forgiving =)

xoxo - j