Early Morning Wisdom

Brad here.

So, Friday night, at precisely 2:30am, my sweet wife sits up in bed and shakes my shoulder until I am awake.

"What's the matter, honey? I ask.

With a very authoritative voice she tells me:

"All chopsticks are tapered."

She then curls up on her side and immediately falls asleep, leaving me to wonder...

Saturday night. I don't even know what time, Chrissie shakes my shoulder again until I am awake.

"What is it, sweetheart?" I ask.

"Nevermind," she replies, then goes back to sleep.

I believe it is subconscious payback for my snoring. If so, I deserve it.

(By the way - all of our chopsticks ARE tapered - I checked.)

The Eagle

The Missionaries

On Monday, August 3 - we went to Matt's setting apart to be a missionary! He reported to the MTC on August 5th and is going to Santiago, Chile. We are so proud of Matt. He has always been a great nephew and he and Taylor have been so close throughout the years. Since Taylor is only 6 weeks behind him I took a picture of them together. Hopefully they can get a picture with their name tags on at the MTC before Matt leaves. It was such a nice night and the Spirit was so strong. I know Matt will be a wonderful missionary and I am grateful for the good example he has set for my boys. We love you Matt!

Look at all of these future missionaries!

23 Down and Eternity to Go!

July 18, 1986 was the best day of my life! I was blessed and lucky enough to be sealed to my best friend on that day! Brad has been the best husband I could ever imagine. It's funny how much I loved him on that day and I couldn't imagine loving him more than I did then. But the years only make it better. The dimensions of love become so much bigger and deeper. It's hard to imagine until you actually live it. I am so glad I get to spend eternity with him. Thanks Brad - for being my best friend and for loving me!

4th of July

We have been lucky enough to go to Imperial Beach, CA for the 4th of July for 6 or 7 years now. We went for a couple of years with Andy and Suzette, then we turned it into a McBride Family Reunion and we have all gone for several years. We all love it and can't imagine not doing it. We go to Coronado Island on the 4th and play and eat until they shoot fireworks over the bay.

These are the condos where we stay in Imperial Beach. It is the last little city below San Diego - right before you get to Mexico. It is the perfect place. Right on the beach - and it has a swimming pool and hot tub!

The cousins posing on the golf course before the fireworks

We drove up to Newport and took the kids to Crab Cooker. Brad's family used to go there when he was little and he introduced it to me when we got married. It has always been one of our favorites. This is Ryan enjoying a little clam chowder with bread.

We went over to the Newport Temple when we were done. We got to go through it before it was dedicated. It is so beautiful.

The tradition of getting buried in the sand!

Suzette was nice enough to watch Ryan one morning while we took the older kids to the San Diego to do baptisms. Since Danny just turned 12 in March it was his first time. It was neat to do it as a family.

Every year Brad and Sue build elaborate sand castles or animals. This year it was this cute octopus!

I love this picture of Brad and Ryan!

Danny

Ryan really got into boogie boarding this year. He loved it!

Waiting to get into the Spaghetti Factory in San Diego

The whole week at the beach there was a lot of rip tide. On our last day there, the life guards had to rescue a big group of about 30 people - and our oldest 3 and Diana were among them. They weren't about to drown or anything, but the rip tide pulled them out past the waves and it was really hard to get in. The whole thing was pretty dramatic! It was really nice to have a family vacation before Taylor leaves in September. It's such a great tradition!

I Hope They Call Me on a Mission . . . They Just Did!

On Thursday, June 25, Taylor's mission call came! He was so cute - we were planning on calling family and a few friends when it came, to come over that night so he could open it. However, when I called him at work to tell him it was here, he couldn't stand it. He said he couldn't wait and wanted to open it "right now"! So, we called Emily at work so she could listen on speaker phone. I can't believe how nerve-racking it is. We all guessed places it would be . . . Taylor guessed the Southwestern United States!

and . . .

it's somewhere foreign . . .

somewhere in the Caribbean . . .

Taylor was called to serve in the Dominican Republic Santo Domingo East (Spanish speaking) mission! Wow!!!

Of course we had to start learning everything we could about it! It is the 2nd largest island in the Caribbean and shares an island with Haiti. Santo Domingo is where Christopher Columbus first landed - how cool is that! Also, his mission president is from a tiny town in Chile that Brad served at. They are close in age - I wonder if they were there at the same time.

Isn't it beautiful? Taylor Bradley McBride will report to the MTC on September 23, 2009 - just 5 days after he turnes 19! He will spend 3 weeks training there and then will fly to the D.R. and spend 6 weeks in the MTC in Santo Domingo.

We are all so thrilled for him and are prouder of him than you can imagine!

Dad

My dad (Earl McGregor Patterson) was born on June 22, 1931. He would have been 78 years old last week. With Father's Day and his birthday only 1 day apart it made me miss him extra. He was a wonderful father! I have so many good memories of him. We got especially close after I left home. When I lived in Provo he would call me almost every day, and when I lived in Mesa, he would come down and stay with me and take me out to dinner. I am very blessed and greatful that he is my father. I love you Dad.

Fathers Day 2009

This was the first Father's Day without Emily and it just wasn't quite the same. How did I get blessed this much to have Brad as the father of my children? I know how lucky I am and I hope they know how lucky they are! Brad is good and kind and strong and fun. He has taken being a father seriously - ever since he held a newborn Emily in his arms. He is such a good teacher and sets such a good example. He has always honored his Priesthood and taught the boys to honor theirs. Brad has always made time to coach the kids in various sports. It has been harder since he was made Bishop, but he has coached basketball and soccer for many years. The kids will never have a shortage of family memories either. We have been on so many wonderful family vacations, but some of our best times have even just been around the kitchen table. He works hard and provides so much for us. Thank you for all of the love and sacrifices you make for your family. We love you more than words can say!

3rd Ward Camps

This isn't a very good picture, but it's all I've got. Danny went on his very first Scout Camp up by Big Lake and had a great time. At the same time, Taylor and Alex went on a High Adventure with their age groups to California, and the girls in our ward had Girl's Camp at Camp LoMia - all at the same time!

Brad and I had the privilege to go up for Bishop's Night. This was our 3rd or 4th time. Brad spends a lot of time making up games and different things to do with the girls. They really love it when he come. I'm sad because this is the first year I didn't get a picture of Brad with all the girls, but this one is of him in action!

Father's & Sons # 17

This is Brad's 17th Father's and Sons in a row! He took Taylor when he was 2 (and was able to get rid of the binky) and hasn't missed since! They always have a great time. Don't I have a bunch of handsome boys?! I got to spend some quality time with Emily and we even got to get a pedicure!

Graduation Continued (a month late)

Taylor Bradley McBride - Highland High School Class of 2009

The graduating class of 2009 and Taylor is in the group up front singing. It is the Advanced Vocal Ensemble.

Graduation day - Thursday, May 21, 2009 was a gorgeous day. It was cloudy and cool and we were so excited that we wouldn't have to sit in the blistering sun. After Taylor's party, we took off to the high school with a couple of umbrellas and a couple of ponchos between the six of us - just in case. Well, almost right after we got there it started sprinkling, then started raining steadily. It rained that way for the whole entire time! Poor Ryan was freezing to death before it was over! They said that they were showing it in the gym, but we were afraid that if we left, that there wouldn't be any seats in the gym. So we stayed put and it was something we will always remember! We are proud of you Taylor. I can't believe two of our kids have already graduated!

Cricket (June 4, 2000 - June 2, ,2009)

We lost our sweet doggy today. We all have been having a really hard time with it. She got Valley Fever and it got into her bones and organs. We have been treating her for a month for it, but she just kept getting sicker and sicker and even quit eating. She died this morning and Brad was with her. We got to spend a really good few hours with her last night though, because we thought she was going to die then. I'm really glad we all got to say good bye and let her know we love her. This has been the first family pet death we have experienced and it has been a lot harder than I expected. We will miss her a lot.

We got Cricket in July of 2000 on our anniversary. She was just 6 weeks old and very cute! She was such a sweet thing - not a mean bone in her body. Her bark was very annoying, but she didn't really bark the last month and now I am really missing it. She loved to chase birds, lay in the shade, get her tummy and her ears scratched. She loved pizza and anything else she wasn't supposed to eat. She loved to jump up on the wall and peek over and bark at the Gooches. She was a lot of fun, and she will be dearly missed.

Post Graduation Day - May 21, 2009

Alex, Taylor Emily, Danny, Ryan

Danielle Short, Taylor and

Travis Hatch and Taylor

Tauvaga Kelemete (from our old Highland Ward) and Taylor

Jacob and Taylor

Lauren Plowman and Taylor

Rachel, Taylor, Ashley and Bethany

Ashley and Taylor

Taylor and Bethany

Brad, Rachel, Taylor and Bethany