Summer 08

I am not really good at keeping up this blog so I will wrap up our summer in this entry.

The summer has gone by much too quickly around here. I was very busy with work and when I wasn't working just running around with Dave and the girls. Kenzie and Alex came to stay with us for two weeks so Ella had a blast playing with her cousins. Ella spent her mornings at Picasso and Safari camp (which she loved by the way). There were days she came home as a painted canvas herself. Then the afternoons and evenings were full of summer fun. We had two weeks to get in as much fun and excitement as we could and we did a pretty good job.

Lily is developing quite the personality and is as sweet as can be. She is 5 months old now. She is calm and loves to cuddle. She easily adapts to our busy crazy lives and is just the happiest baby every. She loves attention but is also content playing with her toys and just watching the world around her.

Dave is doing great. He loves his job and his girls. When he is not working he is playing princess, puppies or baker. He leaves in a few weeks for his annual guys hike. (I think he might feel a little naked without his princess fairy wand or stuffed puppy Ella insists he play with daily).

As for my summer I had the opportunity to meet Dwana Smallwood one of the most beautiful and renowned dancers of our time as she came out to teach at my intensive so that was exciting for me. I produced a show at the Mondavi Center in Davis and just enjoyed my girls. I am beginning to understand why everyone always says to enjoy each moment as they pass too quickly. There were many moments this summer I just wanted to freeze so that I could enjoy them much longer. I am leaving for France for work for 10 days and am so sad to leave Dave and the girls but I have a feeling they are all a little excited to have run of the house while I am gone!

So in a nut shell all is well with the Bradfords. We are happy, healthy and busy as ever!

Mothers day Photos

The girls took photos to give to me on Mothers Day. They are both smiling at the same time. Nows thats a photographer accomplishment!

FANTASY LAND

We live in a world of Fantasy at our house. We are never mommy daddy and Ella but characters in the fantasy land of Ella Bleu. She is ALWAYS in character. She also makes sure that everyone around is also in character. We don't have to worry about not knowing our part as she feeds us our cues line by line. We do have to be careful as she tends to change the scene without giving us prior notice and we are expected to join her immediately in her new world.

The other day she came up to me huddled over walking like an old lady and holding a pretend apple. I didn't understand until she read her line. "Hello My pretty would you like to eat this delicious apple?" I am getting pretty good at impromtu scenes so I pretended to take a bite and fall down to my death. I then heard "Ella" say I'll be right back. I stayed poisened on the floor until her return but it was not the wicked witch whom I expected but Prince Eric who had a quick costume change into my bright yellow rain boots (she believes they magically make her a prince). He bent down on one knee and gave me a kiss. I of course awakened by true love's kiss hugged him and we walzed around the house during our wedding.
Never a dull moment!

Lily's Blessing Day

Lily was blessed last Sunday. It was a wonderful day for the Bradford family. David gave her a beautiful blessing and we were surrounded with family and friends to celebrate with us.

She is almost 6 weeks old and is developing and growing every day. She is so sweet and LOVES to be held and cuddled. She is alert for her age and spends most of the day with bright eyes just taking in this new world. She has always been a good sleeper but last night she was great! She slept through the night for the first time. Lucky me!

Shirell & Shanes Wedding

Shiranes Wedding

February 21st Shane and Shirell were married. It was an amazing wedding. Nana was quite the wedding coordinator. It was a coincidence for us that the wedding and the Lily's due date were within the same week in Mesa but really worked out for the best. The wedding helped us to take some of the nervousness we felt with the adoption away as we targeted our energies as we were surrounded by the festivities of the wedding. So many family and friends made the trek to AZ to share in this wonderful day. Shirell looked beautiful!!! It was a party to say the least and we all had a great time. We wish Shirell and Shane a lifetime of happiness and love.

Ella Bleu

Ms Ella Bleu is now 2 1/2 going on 10. She is very smart and has quite the imagination. Every day she wakes up and is a different animal or princess. Today she came into my room to wake me up with a "Good Morning Mama blue bird, I am baby blue bird". Yesterday it was baby snake, the day before that baby elephant. She has a strange OBSESSION with puppies. She has at least 100 stuffed puppies as we can't leave them in the store as they will be "sad, cold and hungry." We can't let that happen now can we? She does have her favorite Perro that papa got her in SF. He goes EVERYWHERE with her. We have 3 backup replicas in the closet but we can't fool her. She wants the one and only. Ella and I are working on a plan to get her a real one but daddy is pretty hard to crack. Its just a matter of time..... She loves her ballet classes and playing dress up with every princess dress ever made. She really is not quite sure about this new baby Lily and recently asked when she was going home. She is very independent, incredibly stubborn, sensitive and sweet.