Red, White, & Blue {Cookie Decorating}

 My mom makes the best sugar cookies and homemade frosting in the world. not kidding. As a child I always loved decorating cookies, and now my sisters and I still love to do it with my mom and our kids (and occasionally a wiener dog named Derby too)!

We made these on the 2nd to take to our 3rd of July party, and it was so hard for the little ones to not eat the cookies! We told them they could each have one, and then we had to save the rest for the party.  The temptation was just too much for my Jacky boy.  He grabbed one off the table and announced that he was going outside to eat it. I quickly said, "No Jacky. Come here now." He handed over the stolen cookie and then covered his face with both hands and burst into tears. It was the saddest thing ever. Needless to say we went outside and ate a cookie together! 

Sometimes you just have to let them have another cookie.

xo

The heart of {art}

Last week my sister and I took our kiddos to Ceramicafe to do a little painting.  It was so much fun to watch the kids get so excited about it.  They loved every minute of it, from picking their piece to choosing paint colors, and the of course, the actual painting of it.  Children are so creative, and so uninhibited.  They are not afraid to express themselves through art.  I love that. Somewhere along the road of my life, a little bit of a perfectionist came along for the ride.  That, combined with my indecision, has hindered my ability to be {artistic}. Or maybe that just isn't my gift? No psychoanalysis necessary! ha. I don't know, but it sure is refreshing to watch children in that sort of setting.  Children really know how to live.  The are free, they are honest, they love and they laugh- uninhibited by things we adults get hung up on.  I love seeing the world through their joyful and innocent eyes.  They still have so much to learn about life, and yet they are teaching me about it.

"He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them.  And he said: 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'"

Matthew 18:2-3

A New Sister

Last month was a whirlwind of non-stop events! We had wedding showers, Easter, my husbands 10 year reunion [eek], and then the wedding!  This past weekend we drove up to L.A. to celebrate with my brother Matthew, as he married his dream girl! It marked the last of a string of busy weekends for the Bradford family!  I feel like I can finally relax again {as much as a person caring for a toddler and an infant can that is}.  

Such a handsome Groom :-)

The celebration began with a beautiful Catholic ceremony in the church.  I really loved the seriousness and reverence with which they approached the holy covenant of marriage.  Our society has totally forgotten how sacred and holy marriage is supposed to be. It is just that; a holy pledge, or covenant between a man and a woman, in the presence of Almighty God. 

After the Mass, we drove to Camarillo to the beautiful Maravilla Gardens, where they renewed their vows in front of their friends and family. Jack and his cousin Jonathan were the ring bearers and Olivia and Bella were flower girls! They were so adorable and they did a great job walking down the "island" 

[as Jack called it.] 

Walking down the "Island"

the wedding party

Jack wore a truly vintage jonjon that my brother [the groom] wore for a portrait when he was Jack's age. So precious and sentimental!

One of my favorite parts of the night was the speech Mara's father gave about giving away his baby girl. Sean and I are only beginning to understand what being the parents of a girl means. Sean was especially moved, imagining the day {a long, long time from now} when he would give his baby girl away.  Looking at this tiny, beautiful little baby, it is hard to imagine that day. 

 I did snap a few shots of his first dance with his baby girl. She already has him wrapped around her little finger.  He adores her.

It was a beautiful wedding and we are so excited and blessed to welcome Mara into our family!  She's so sweet and will make perfect wife for my big brother! It was so much fun, and so special to celebrate such an amazing, beautiful couple! 

Congratulations Matty & Mara!

Merry Christmas... Love, the Bradfords

So this year was a little crazy and we had  a lot going on, so sending out Christmas cards fell to the bottom of the to-do list, and consequently were never done. I'm not OCD about those kinds of things though. I think they are nice, but ultimately, they just end up in the trash anyway, so I'm OK with not sending them out. I figured anyone who is close to us will, most likely, see the blog and that will suffice. So to all our family, friends and loved ones...

Merry Christmas!

I hope your holidays were filled with love and the joy of the Lord!

Here are some pictures of our celebrations....

{Christmas Eve Morning Hot Coco with Minty Mallows- yum!}

Christmas Eve with the Bradfords

Jack and his cousin Ellya

Jack and JonJon at Christmas Eve with the Gillettes

All the cousins/2nd cousins on the Gillette side :-)

My sweet parents and siblings :-)

So Blessed!

Christmas Morning at the Bradfords

Opening Stockings with Auntie Jessa and Jovan

Loving his apples that were in his stocking from Grandma and Grandpa...literally ate them all morning. He wouldn't even eat the cinnamon rolls because he just wanted apple. ok.

Trying to figure out my Christmas present...new Canon camera lens!! love it! 

Breakfast anyone? Yum!! 

Christmas Dinner with the Gillettes!

Best brothers a girl could ever have. Love them.

Michael and JBug {and more playing with the new lens }

Loves Coco!!

Fighter Fighter Dog!!

We had such a fun Christmas! I'm a little bummed we didn't take any pics of opening presents at our house....we were too busy taking video of Jack! We are so blessed and love our families so much! We also love our Savior Jesus Christ and are so thankful for Him coming to Earth so that we might have life. 

Cookie Decorating!

The kids with Mia & Papa

Tis the season! Last week was filled with delicious treats and wonderful traditions! Every year the girls in the family get together for a baking day, and now that we have kids the best part is the cooking making/decorating! We had such a fun day and the kids LOVED every minute of it!  

{pre-cookie pictures}

Good thing New Year's is right around the corner...we'll be in need of some serious detoxing from all this sugar! So worth it though...right?