Brady Yellowstone Trip!

This was our first annual Brady family trip. We got the ball rolling by telling everyone that Yellowstone is only 4 hours from where we live. (True, but when you are traveling with 7 kids under the age of 8, who are all on different schedules, the trip ends up being more like 7 hours! Ugh!)
Brooklyn and I ready for travel and taking in the scenery.

The Tetons!

Our first stop once we got into Yellowstone was at Lewis Day Waterfall. It was beautiful!

When we got to our camp spot we noticed that we were not alone!!

I know, I was more hoping for a bear, but dear are cool too!

Much to our surprise, dear were not the only thing invading our camp site! This huge buffalo was a tent away from ours. We were very careful not to get to close, because of all the buffalo attacks we have heard of lately.

Brooklyn looking like a Yellowstone native in her beaver hat!

We couldn't help but laugh when we saw her crazy camping hair in the morning!

Here are a few of the things we saw and did while in Yellowstone.

The wildlife was everywhere, except for the illusive grizzly bear.

We took a 2 mile hike to the upper and lower falls. It was mostly stairs, but well worth it in the end.

All of the Brady boys chill-ax-in on the way back from the lower falls. Joseph, Nicolas, Shawn, Brandon, and Keith, oh and little Brooklyn peaking out from the pack.

I would seriously recommend a baby hiking back pack like this if you are doing any amount of hiking. It was the best thing ever.

Mammoth Hot Springs was nothing to impressive,

but Old Faithful did not disappoint!

Old Faithful about to irrupt.

So amazing!

Playing the dirt waiting for Old Faithful to blow.

The girls all instantly paid attention when Old Faithful went off.

The Brady Grand-kids. Elli, Baylan, Kailee, Jocelyn, Elise, Brooklyn, and Ava. Brooklyn had a blast with her cousins. Someone was constantly keeping her entertained!

Us perfecting the elk horn look.

One of the many Elk horn arches in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Keith and Kristi blew out a tire on the way back, we have a broken toilet seat and broken dryer, Baylan threw up all over in Shawn and Maria's truck, seems like we would stop every time a baby finally fell asleep, and we all had to go the bathroom at different times! All worth it though, to spend quality time together as a family! I hope this is the first of many Brady family trips!

Lamb Days!!

Lamb Days is seriously one of my favorite times of the year! We always go down to Grandma Aagard's to sit and watch the parade. My sisters and I.

Here are all the Brother-in-laws. This is as close as we could get them for a group shot, ... they aren't to much into posing!

Brandon and Jessica with Brooklyn and Rebekah. Notice the matching outfits!!

I made the three girls matching Lamb Day outfits! They seriously looked so cute in their leggings, dresses, and matching hair bows!

Now if only we could get them all to smile at the same time. :)

Emily and Brooklyn catching candy. The Lamb Day parade is great, because they throw so much good candy. I would help Brooklyn catch some, and then catch a few of my own! :)

Brandon doing the same.

She loved watching all the floats pass by.

Getting together with some of the old FG Buddies. Ashly and Sarah!

We entered a team in the Lamb Day Volleyball tournament. Here I am all geared up to play.

Warm-ups were a little rough,

but once we got in our groove,

we were unstoppable! Okay, there were some pretty hot, tiring, and rough games but we came out undefeated!

Our team "Bump Ewe" consisted of my brother-in-law Coby, Me, my sister Jenny, and the hubby Brandon. We played our cousins Ross and Chavonne Bailey's team for the Championship, and they definitely gave us a run for our money.

Whoever thought of having the tournament during the heat of the day was really thinking!! We were constantly taking water breaks.

Our winnings ... gatorade packs!!



Coby's arm started bleeding really bad from his elbow during one of our games. Nobody had any bandaids, so "Super Mom's" to rescue. Jenny and I had the brilliant idea of wrapping a diaper around his arm!! AWESOME ... I know. He finished off the game strong and no more dripping blood. :) We thought of maybe doing knee pads with diapers as well. (We are so creative!)

My Mom and Dad watching the Volleyball games. Always supportive.

Jessica and Coby. Jessica was a great babysitter during the games.

Brandon and I ... sweaty as can be!

Brandon's parents and brother's came over for all of the Lamb Day festivities. We loved having them participate in the hoop-la of it all! Brandon also played in the softball tournament and did very well. He hit a grand slam and made some very crucial stops and double plays.

Lamb Days was seriously such a blast! I am already looking forward to next year. Mark it on your calendars, the third weekend in July!

Miss Independent!

Our 4th of July was very sporadic. We made a last minute decision to go down to Ftn. Green. Here we are at the Moroni Parade.
Brooklyn and Grandma Aagard dressed to impress in their patriotic colors!

Brooklyn is really becoming the little Miss Independent! She would go pick up the candy by herself, plop down, and then try to open it and eat it by herself.

She'd dance when the band would come by. She was being super shy for the camera.

Yay!! More candy!! (Brooklyn's pig-tails have always reminded me of little fireworks, ... with how they stick straight up. I thought it was the perfect "hair-do" for the 4th.)

We were able to meet up with Shawn (Brandon's brother), Maria, Baylan, and little Elli.

The Aagard clan. Jessica is finally starting to show! She is due November 11th, 2010 and I can't wait for her little baby boy to get here. Yay! :)

We decided to make an afternoon trip up Mt. Nebo. It was beautiful! Here we are at one of the many overlooks.

I have yet to hike Mt. Nebo, but it is on my list of "must do's!" Anyone up for the challenge??


Then, it was back to Colorado for Brandon and I. My mom watched Brooklyn while we made the overnight trip!! It was my first time leaving Brooklyn overnight, but she did great. I think I had a harder time than she did.

We went to Colorado for another funeral. One of Brandon's best friends, Aaron Stones, unexpectedly past away at the age of 28.
"This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now. Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. Wrote William Shakespeare, “They do not love that do not show their love.” We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us. Send that note to the friend you’ve been neglecting; give your child a hug; give your parents a hug; say “I love you” more; always express your thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved." -President Thomas S. Monson

Probably one of the hardest funerals that I have ever been to. Cause of death is still undetermined. Aaron will greatly be missed.

We got back Ftn. Green just in-time to attend a swimming party with the Aagard cousins. My sister Alyson has this giant water slide pool. All the kids loved it.

Yes, even Brandon loved it! (The biggest kid of them all!) :)

Daddy and Brooklyn going down the little baby slide!

The kids said that this was their hot tub!!

Chubby little cheese butt!!

She's gonna love this picture when she's older. :)

Daddy and Brooklyn going down the big slide!



My 7 months prego sister Alyson, Mom, Brooklyn, and Rebekah, just chillin' in the shade. Hopefully when Brandon graduates we will be able to move somewhat closer to our families. It is just so much fun when we all get together and I wish we could do it more often.