Long Time, No Blog...

Hello-Ha Family,

Our family blog has been rather devoid of family blogging for quite some time, I thought I would reignite the fire within each of you to overshare, wax philisophical, and say silly stuff about various family members...or not.

As for me, I have an appointment on October 14th at 7pm to have Zeke. I wanted to do it on the 12th, but for whatever reason, my doctor won't do it that day. I refused to do it on the 13th (sorry Michelle, I know you are a 13th, but I don't want my kid to have a birthday that winds up on Friday the 13th, especially not October 13th, sounds very scary). (Incidentally, I noticed when we were at IMC yesterday visiting Joshie that there is no 13th floor in the building). I think the word we're looking for here is ANYWAY, Zeke is going to be here on that day at that time, unless nature intervenes. Or unless I can talk the doctor into doing on the 9th. So Zeke is going to be joining us here shortly.

Zoey has learned how to call Mommy from Gramma's cell phone. This is very frightening to me. My joke about her having a Blackberry isn't so far off afterall. She also says really awesome stuff like "bite, bite, bite" when someone in her presence is eating something and she wants some. She says "okay" when you ask her a question and says "YES!" when you ask her if she is cute. She knows where her tummy and her hair are, but is still confused about her nose. That won't last long if she got the Bradford genes in that department (I still can't decide if she has John's nose or mine). She's very funny and she flirts and teases and bumbles along all day. She keeps me entertained (and everyone else for that matter).

Now for the moment you have all been waiting for (and/or dreading), news on John. He is currently a trustee at the Salt Lake County Metro Jail, but will likely be released soon on ankle-monitor for the remainder of his commitment (till December). I won't go into all the details about why he's there, but it is really just old crap that he didn't take care of when he should have. A word to the wise: Don't drive on an expired license, expired registration, or without insurance. EVER! It costs a lot of money and if you don't take care of it, the trouble just mounts. John and I love each other very much and we love our kids and our family and want to make sure that when he is finished with this mess, that will be the end of the trouble. We ask that our family supports us and loves us and we both appreciate everything that all of you do for us every day. It is an amazing blessing to have such a great family, I wish I could express just how much I love and appreciate each of you.

Okay, now that that's over with, what's happening with everyone else?

Thanks FAMILY!

Thank you all so much for the help, love, and support that you showed to us yesterday with our big move. I am grateful for all of you. The new house is awesome, so quiet, so non-clausterphobic, and so clean. The three of us slept like rocks last night. I feel very blessed to have such a wonderful family that loves and supports me and my little people. You guys ROCK!

Love you!

Jenn

Happy Birthday, Carley

I hope that this entry does not embarrass Carley but we wanted to wish our niece a very Happy Birthday. You are an awesome young lady. We hope that you have a great birthday. You deserve the very best life has to offer.

Happy Birthday!!! We love you!!!

Hugs and Kisses,

Uncle Mark, Aunt Michelle, Emily, Kayla and Hannah

Calm down everyone

Guess what people, I am 39 years old and I don't have to account for my every move with my siblings and/or parents. I have been unable to post or email due to a switch in carriers...but all is well now. My new email is melissamwood@q.com and the blog remains the same. Stop bugging me. If you really want to get ahold of me, call my cell 801-403-5692 or text me. DUUUUUHHHH!!!!!

Found

Melissa is safe and sound in St. George. She was not abducted (at least not by aliens) and she was not in the middle of a covert operation. We spoke to our long lost sister on Saturday night. We believe that they will return on Monday. We (the Mark Bradfords) wish that we were with them this weekend.

They have been found.

Where in the World is Melissa Wood?

Dear Family Members,

Have any of you heard from Melissa? I can't get ahold of her! Not that its unusual, but I haven't seen any emails or blog posts in a great while and I am starting to be concerned that she was abducted by aliens. I have been convinced for some time that she may actually be a spy. She is difficult to get in touch with, she's always rushed, she leaves town without notifying her little sister, and she always has new stamps in her passport. Could it be possible that Melissa is leading a double life? Melissa, I beg you, please call your baby sister, I miss you!!!!!!!

Love,

JBS

Name That Baby Contest

As the time nears that we find out the gender of my bun-in-the-oven, we are finding that the art of creating a moniker for the little tyke is somewhat difficult. With Zoey it was easy, I had that name picked out when I was 8 years old and I stuck to my guns. With this new little bundle of joy, the naming thing is not coming so easy. We have some pretty solid first names picked, but the middle name is proving to be much more perplexing. We would love some suggestions. To make it interesting, if one of you should happen to suggest a name that kicks so much butt that we absolutely must use it, I will personally make you a pan of my ever-famous Rice Krispie Treats. Now, don't start pulling the typical Bradford thing of suggesting Slagathor or Nargowzious, only serious "normal" names will be considered. Let the games begin...

Love you all!

Jenn and John

St. George

Just a quick note to all to say thank you for a wonderful time in St. George. It was fun to be with everyone. It was relaxing and I loved seeing the girls dance.

Congratulations to Jenn and John. We love you guys and wish you the very best. Your little Zoe was delightful to be around.

It was great to spend some time with Joel, Grace, and Sammy. We miss you. By the way Joel, You have a twin for your scooter team. All we need is cowboy hats.

Love you all!

Mark

St. George plans

Just so everyone is aware, we will be leaving for St. George on Thursday night. The Dance competition is on Saturday at Dixie High School, most likely, both girls will dance before 2 pm. There is a minimal charge for entry - so don't forget some cash. If, by chance you do not feel like attending the comp., we will not be offended or mad or sad or even really care. It is up to you. Sure, we would like to see you, but, we do not want you to feel obligated to attend just because we are all in the same local for the weekend. I believe Erin might be somewhat relieved if you do not attend, due to the fact that she will be wearing a dead skunk on her head for her dance (aka, a "Cruella De Ville" wig.") . See you all soon.l Love ya. Melissa

outer space!

my lovely 6 year old is learing about space and the solar system at school. i've always been fascinated by space myself so i started talking to her about it. so we go through the list of the planets and various other things, she told me that "the guys who built the moon took it over to the sun and filled it with light! " how do you argue with that.

we've had a few discussions about outer space , including one about pluto. i told her that pluto used to be a planet but they changed it to something else. i assumed what i said was a little over her head but last night, out of the blue she asked us " why are they trying to get rid of pluto?" i told her it was because pluto sucks.

jb

UM, I changed the background

Hope you don't mind if I added a background to the blog. I was kind of bored and I thought it would spice things up a little. Also, this background reminded me of mom for some reason. If you hate it, go to thecutestblogontheblock.com to change. Melissa

more pics

Sammy - it's just a picture!

The reigning King and Queen of the Kimballs????

Michelle - what is so funny?

Joe and his bff's

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHWWWWWWW! cute

There are no words...this picture speaks for itself

Pictures of the fam

I just wanted to post a few pictures so that Mike will stop hassling me about posting pictures. As you can see, I am not the most artistic of photographers, however, I am learning and I am definitely taking a lot more pictures than I used to. I probably need to take a few classes or something, I don't know. Anyway, kind of boring...I can't always be entertaining, right? Hope you enjoy.

Mike and his girls hangin' on a Saturday night.

Our family my Grandfather Ralph Kimball at his 90th birthday party

the one and only Jefferson Steelflex!

Crazy Crazy Crazy Carley doin' the robot...

The only kind of dog/animal that Lizzy will even look at without tears.

My beautiful little chef!

Pippi Longstocking is alive and well in the Wood household!!

happy valentines day

i love you all

jb

christmas or whatever

to my loving family,

i would like take a minute and share some holiday blah blah blah. first, i am sorry we won't be able to come up this year. we will be up jan 8th through jan 11th for grampa's party.

i have read my older sister's post (on her blog) about christmas news letters. i too hate these passionately, but, i couldn't agree less with the idea that we were nothing to brag about.
the following is a draft of what i think our parents news letter could have been every year:

to all of our friends and family,

we survived another year. we do not wish to waste your time promoting our kid's minor achievements and/or failures .their self esteem is sufficient that we find it unnecessary and stupid. if you care ,or if you forgot what they look like, here is a picture of our kids.

xoxo

the bradford's


now our beloved mother would never write something like that but, if she would i'd like to think it would look something like that.

now the fun stuff. as my wife has been stressing out trying to get a christmas together for our kids, i got to thinking about christmas and my memories of christmas, more specifically our family before we all grew up and became parents. i also thought about some of the fun we as siblings had (christmas or otherwise). i realized that i could barely remember any specific gift i was given by santa or mom and dad or really anybody else. what i could remember were the little things that no one would put in a christmas letter (except this one i guess). i couldn't tell you a thing i got for christmas when i was 5. i do remember that mom was working at montgomery ward at that time (presumably to get christmas money) and that if i went with dad to pick mom up, she would have some malted milk balls to share with me on the ride home. i looked forward to that. or we would go to the fox valley mall to see the over the top christmas decorations. i also remember we had a guy in our ward in chicago who put on a huge display at his home and we would go to see it each year ( i also think i remember that guy was a drummer, i don't remember his name though). i don't recall a single gift.

when we moved to utah, i remember that the first christmas we spent here, was the last time we had a real christmas tree (i think). i remember me, jenn and matt practicing our reactions for what we might find on christmas morning. i think that was also the year mark went to the mtc...... again, i don't remember a single thing i got that year. then we grew a little. jenn and i were pre-teens and melissa and matt were teenagers and i think mark was still living at home. mom sat all (or most) of us down and read a story called the best christmas pagent ever. well, the story is very funny and i've read it to my kids, but the story is incidental...... we had many candles burning and the christmas tree was lit and beautiful and my darling younger sister just went to go sit down and caught her hair in one of the candles setting it ablaze. i promptly smacked her up side the head to put the fire out, she thought i had just whacked her out of plain meaness. i don't remember a thing i got that year.

anyway, the point of all of this is, as we scramble to get whatever for whoever just remember, take that extra time, spend it with your kid, your mom, your friend, give memories not just stuff!

i don't mean to go all soft on everybody. i guess i just miss my family.

i love you all

joel

crucial, clutch, cargo, road gig

thats right folks. my band will begin our journey to total world domination on dec 13 in the year of our lord 2008! the gig will be at the prestigious washington county rec center. only the best of the best of the st george area get to play there. we will be playing a collection of tiny tim covers ( i rock the ukalaili) . no but really, we are playing songs from the 70's through our current decade. it has come togther quite well. i took about 3 years off from playing music. it's good to be back in the saddle. i will try to record our set and post it on you tube or something.

xoxo
j bizzle

Zoey's Magic Pooping Trick

Okay, to preface this, I know that every parent thinks that their child is the smartest and most amazing person ever born. However, in my case, I am afraid it is true. My Zoey has already figured out how to out-smart her parents (which is probably not really that difficult, but she's only 2.5 months old). Anyhoo, this magic trick she routinely performs begins in this way..
1. She makes a real to-do about showing us that she is "grunting one out."
2. She starts to fuss and cry and squawk so much that we really know she is uncomfortable.
3. We rush to her aid, quickly tearing off, what must be the most uncomfortable and horrible mess ever, based on the amount of fuss she is making.
4. Once the diaper has been removed, we notice, much to our chagrin, that she has only pooped a tiny bit and has saved the best for last. She smiles at us coyly as she unleashes the poop fury all over, at first, the bedspread. Soon we wised up to her ploy and used the fabulous changing mat, so graciously given to us by Aunt Michelle.

Now that we are on to her, we undo the diaper, but leave it on, thus tricking Zoey into thinking that we are changing her, but the diaper barrier remains intact, almost always catching the mess. Almost always, being operative there.

This kid is no dummy. Now that we have figured out her poop trick, she has invented the pee trick, quite similar to the poop trick, just with pee. Luckily, she is a girl and cannot aim and shoot like little boys (Josh, I'm talking to you. You peed on me many a time).

Zoey is really good at letting her wants, needs, and wishes known. She is already keeping me moving, and she isn't even moving yet. I can't wait till she rolls over. Oh boy, what have I gotten myself into?

Love you all,

Jenn

Attention Family

Being a new mom, I have realized that I am going to start getting Sharpie-worthy gifts for Zoey soon, as I know I have given many to all of you in the past. As such, I think it appropriate that we institute The Sharpie Award. The Sharpie Award will be given each year at the Farflungfamily Christmas Extravaganza to the family member that has given the messiest, most annoying, or in general most havoc-causing gift throughout the year. We will accept nominations during the month of December, then we will vote and whomever receives the most votes will win this soon-to-be-coveted award. This is intended to be fun and is not meant to hurt anyone's feelings or cause any animosity. I will design and manufacture the actual trophy and will manage the nominations and voting. Please comment on this and let me know what you think.

Love you all,

Jenn

Hannah is funny

Yesterday (Sunday) I was helping Hannah get ready for church. I was helping her get her tights on which I despise. I had just pulled them up around her waist and she said to me "Mom, you got them in my nuts." I just about hit the floor laughing. I then said to her "Hannah, you don't have nuts." She then said to me "Well then you got them in......." She said nothing. I'm not sure if she was thinking about what she does have or what she doesn't have but I thought it was one of the funniest things I have ever heard the child utter.