Gathering of the Girls

Vicky and Jenn were supposed to arrive sometime Thursday afternoon. They were flying stand by and arrived sometime Friday afternoon. They spentmost of Thursday in Charlotte, NC.  In the airport.  Not fun. I mean, how many Cinnabons can you eat before you feel Death coming for you? Julie (and Ms. Greta) and Andi were at my mom’s already waiting for them. They ate some pulled pork sandwiches while they waited for me (the party) to arrive. Me and Koley got there around two and sat and chatted with me seesters. There was some Bradley Trivia, some faces on the Wooly Willy Game, and some Easter candy! Which was my fave. My mom had a whole bunch of jelly beans and Robin Eggs and peanut butter eggs and she just dumped them into one big huge clear bowl. It was a free for all and a real feast for the eyes to get your sweet tooth going. Vicky and Jenn brought presents for all the kiddies. Kole got a sun/gear/rattle toy. He loves it. Drags it around with him everywhere he goes.


Teener (Krissy) got there with her kids a couple hours after me and the weekend began.

First on the itinerary was the photo shoot. I love that my family calls it a “photo shoot.” Is that normal? I think almost everyone else says they are “getting their picture taken.” I guess that’s just a little too hum drum for the Bradley Girls. After dinner we all donned our high heels and favorite jeans. We glammed up our eyes and our hair and headed down to the Innov8 Studio. Josh Peterson has been a part of Andi’s life since high school. They are incredible photographers and he was the Chosen One to take our pictures. It was a blast. There was a huge ballroom for the stage. There were those big umbrella flash things. He had an assistant that helped with hair and how to stand to look the best. There was music. There was dancing. There was laughter. There was me--- always in the middle having to stand facing forward feeling like the chubby plum in the middle. But I think we are all becoming familiar with my thoughts on that. “Every game needs a loser and every group needs a chubby friend. I fill both those roles.” Plus! Once I voiced that concern Josh and his assistant were incredibly accommodating.

 www.josh.innov8studio.com

I came home right after “the shoot” to welcome Ken home from SLC.  But as soon as our chores were done Saturday morning,  but we headed back up on Saturday. We got there just in time for a bowling tourney! It was a big surprise. Now, me? I love bowling. I could bowl like 6 or 7 times a week and not be bored with it. I’m not a great bowler- but I break 100. And to me that’s pretty good. I got 105 on Saturday. I threw one round of gutter balls and that just wrecked it for me and then I didn’t know it was the 10th frame and it was and I missed out on all the extra turns. Anyway- fun was had by all. I would say fun was especially had by Jossy. Krissy’s little girl. She’s 3 and really really got into the game. She wore bowling shoes (that were way too big for her) and everything. She even started cheering for other lanes. And Jenn somehow got really cool looking bowling shoes. They looked like Adidas. I almost thought she had packed them and brought them from Pittsburgh. We are all tromping around in our clown shoes and Jenn was sporting really hot looking bowling shoes. If there is such a thing. And I can testify that there is.

Mom cooked and fed us so much good food. Oh I was stuffed. But not too stuffed I couldn’t hop on the two seater bike with Andi Girl and laugh our way around the neighborhood. Have you ever been on one of those? It’s really hard to get started. Especially when you are giggling. And the seat is way too high. And people are watching you as they pass in their cars. It was funny. We were riding around the neighborhood and all the sudden this huge dog starts barking and jumping and we couldn’t tell if it was tied up or not and Andi just starts sca-REAming like the dog was already attacking her. Her screaming made me scream we were both making the bike all wobbly and then we were trying to correct ourselves. Oh, it was fun. The dog was tied up which made us laugh even harder. The evening ended in the hot tub. Nothing like a good soak to let all the fun sink in to your muscles. Fantastic.

Ken was incredible with Koley all day.  Being the best dad.  Ken’s idea of a relaxing weekend does not include a photo shoot, bowling, lots of food, bike riding, and hot tubbing with 5 overly excited girls.  (Well maybe the food and the hot tub part) (Mine does.) But he was up there and in the best of moods and smiling and laughing and carrying on with the rest of us monkeys. I love that man.

My List, My Sisters, My Koley

For starters I can check a second things off my "26 Before 27" list.  (Number 1 was dye my own hair... saving that post.)  I played the piano in church.  I have done it before as an accompanist which to me is always pretty overlooked.  You just figured there is some piano super star playing and you listen to the singers.  I was asked to play for Easter.  I practiced for hours.  Ken was so sick of the song.  I was so sick o the song... "Easter Prayer."  It was a medley.  Why do medleys always have really dumb names?  Anyway I wanted to know the song really well.  To the point where it was almost memorized.  I was there.  I was so ready to play it. I was first on the program... and was doing well.  I play really soft. I get nervous.  About half way through I heard Kole.  Not cry.  Just make a sound and, I am not kidding, I looked up.  I looked away from the music.  I stopped playing for like a second. It felt like a minute.  Slow motion big time.  So embarrassing- and what was even worse?  I lost my place after that.  Because I had it mostly memorized I didn't really know where  I was.  I found my spot but my confidence was shot.  Let's just say the song ended. Period.  There was the normal "You did really good" comments in the hall- I live in a super overly nice ward.  I want to play it again just to say "See!  I CAN play this!  I just got distracted. Come on!  Give me another chance!"  But- I did it.  2 down.  24 left.

Let's see.... I would like to dedicate an entire post to the Bradley Reunion which occurred over the weekend.  At this time I only wish to offer a teaser.  We had our pictures professionally taken on Friday night.  I am incredible misplaced in a family of tall, gorgeous, naturally slender women.  But the pictures turned out great.  I think we were honing Kardashians. (May become more evident in pictures posted later.)  At the shoot, I felt like the problem child.  The photographer and his assistant kept having to stop and say, "Patty could you put your chin up... no... too far.... sigh... back. "  or"Patty your hand is... not right."  "Patty."  "Patty."  "PATTY!"  Posing and looking good doing it are not natural abilities I possess.  I can make killer caramel popcorn and I can read really fast.  I can't pose right for a picture though.  Notice how I am the only one doing nothing fun?  I am just looking at the camera?  Boring.  Boringboringboringboring.  But!  Please also take note of those killer calves!  I am so proud of my legs.

There's news with Koley too!  First off, he has taken off with his crawling as of Friday.  No more GI Crawl.  No more Swiffering.  He can go.  I think it was being around his cousins.  He is completely enthralled by other children.  He just stares.  Like a love-sick teenager.  Or a little puppy being offered the biggest bag of Pupperoni ever.  And wants to be as close to them as he can.  It's so tender.

This is him saying, "Mom you're in my way.  I'm trying to get closer to these miniature humans I keep seeing around here."

Note all his extra joints on his forearm.  There's the elbow, the mid arm, the pre-wrist, the wrist.  the kid has chub.  AND!  He's cutting two teeth!  It's a twofer- toother.  I couldn't resist.  His bottom fronts.  You can't see them yet but you can feel them.  His little gums are sore, sore, sore.  And my nippies are sore, sore, sore.  I swear he is using me as a grindstone.  Youch.  He's going to blog all about it this week- so check over on his des temps en temps.

Get This!

I was reading a magazine (Oprah) article about how to defy your age.  It was a fashion-geared column.  It showed a 31 year old with gray hair (that will be me.), bare shoulders at 60, long hair at 70, and miniskirts at 50.  I'm not for all these ideas mostly because people won't do them right.  They will just read "miniskirt at 50" and think they can slap on some pleather leopard print tighty and look great with their pale legs, spider veins, and saggy knees.  They won't read the fine print.  I love fine print.  And, although, I am not 50 I was most intrigued by this woman.  She stated that when she turned 50 she decided to celebrate all year.  Totally my thing.  She was going to celebrate by tackling 50 new experiences and blogging about them.  Copy Cat Buzzer going off.  What a way to break out of your box!  Now, I am only half her age (plus one year and 8 months) but I am going to do the same thing.  I started a list and am trying to think of more. 
"26 Before 27"
1. Dye my own hair.  I've had others dye my hair before- both professionally... and in the kitchen sink.  But I haven't done it on my own.  Does anyone?  Is there a reason?  Beats me.  Or should I say- I'm going to find out!
2.  Learn to knit.  So when I am 50 I'll fit in with the really cool old ladies.
3.  Decorate a cake.  I have the tools.  I have a book.  How hard can it be?
4.  Go swing dancing.  My Uncle Victor used to swing dance with us when we were little.  Taught us the basics.  A couple weeks ago we did some swing dancing at young women and Mama's still got the moves! 
5.  Golf.  Ken is a great golfer.  I normally.... just drive cart.  Not no more.
6.  Retry the foods I "don't like."  Does this need an explanation?

That's my start.  I've got 5.  I am open to suggestions.... come one.  Give me one.  I need 21 more ideas and I only have  4 months.  Help me out here.