Bradock-3 months old

Bradock just keeps getting cuter and more fun by the day. I just can't get enough of him and that's probably why I have such a hard time picking only a few pics that are my favorite for the blog. Him and Avery look so cute next to each other, but it's amazing how big Bradock looks next to her. He seems so little still, but next to a newborn he is such a big boy. He has become so alert and very focused. It's so fun to make him smile, which is not hard to do. He is such a happy, smiley baby.

Brett's White Coat Ceremony

July 23rd was Brett's White Coat Ceremony and first day of dental school. Brett was on cloud nine and I couldn't be more proud. He has worked so hard and has sacrificed so much to pursue this dream. We are extremely impressed with the Arizona Dental School and know that he will receive great education and experience. Thanks to all our family and friends who have helped us so much along the way. We look forward to these next four years and hope it goes by fairly quickly.

I Got Tagged

I didn't realize I had been tagged by Katie awhile back, so now I am finally responding. Here it goes:

Jobs I've Had:
1. Safety Manager for United Blood Services (this is my current career and I have been there for 2 1/2 years)
2. Secretary at Big O Tires
3. Secretary at Gunnells' Tire and Auto (I know, I know...I practically smelled like rubber my whole life. That's what I get for working in the tire business for 8 years)
4. Hostess at Applebee's (I was so glad to finally find a job in Boise that I was willing to work anywhere)

Places to go for a weekend getaway:
1. Rocky Point (I want to retire there someday, but I want to learn Spanish first)
2. My parents house in Pinetop, AZ
3. Flagstaff or anywhere in northern AZ
4. Cali

Movies I can Watch Over and Over:
1. Dirty Dancing (Who doesn't love this movie)
2. Moulin Rouge
3. Along Came Polly (My brother-in-law, Chance, reminds me of Ben Stiller. He does a great impersonation, especially of him in Zoolander and Starsky and Hutch)
4. A League of Their Own

My Guilty Pleasures:
1. Shopping (I am such a buyer's remorse type shopper. I always feel bad when I by something, but then I get over it quickly)
2. Icecream in a cone
3. Popcorn (I can thank my dad for this one. Growing up my dad always made fresh popcorn on the stove every Sunday night. He popped it perfectly and added just the right amount of butter and salt. Now I can eat popcorn like it's going out of style. I always ask Brett if he wants popcorn and I will only make it if he says yes, but then secretly and selfishly I don't want to share any.)
4. Reading a good book (I could seriously survive on a deserted island as long as I had good books to read)

Places I have lived:
1. Texas (Yup, I was born a Texas girl)
2. Missouri
3. Idaho
4. Utah

What were most likely the first things you thought of when you saw your significant other for the first time?
This is a funny question because Brett and I went to the same elementary, junior high and high school, but we didn't date until after high school. When I saw him again, 3 years after I would say:
1. He has an amazing and contagious smile
2. He's hot
3. I want to kiss that boy
4. This is the kind of man I want to marry

Places I have been on vacation:
1. Washington D.C.
2. New York
3. Hawaii
4. Mazatlan, Mexico

Favorite Foods:
1. Yummy gourmet salads
2. Chips and Salsa
3. Chicken, Chicken and more Chicken
4. Peanut Butter (I could eat a whole jar of peanut butter and I love it on bananas, apples and just about anything)

If in a "jam" with your spouse, what tactics do you use to get out of the doghouse?
Brett is the kindest, most forgiving person I know and he never outwardly shows if he is upset with me (I know, I know He is too good to be true, but he really is.)

Websites I visit (almost daily):
1. bankofamerica.com (I am obsessed with our finances and I always ask Brett about new purchases that pop up that I know weren't me)
2. hotmail.com
3. blogspot.com
4. google.com

Best First Kisses Landmarks:
Wow, I think I'm with Katie on this one. I don't really remember where my first kisses with guys occurred.

Places I'd rather be right now:
1. Laying out on a beach somewhere reading a book
2. At my parent's house in Pinetop, AZ (it's so dang hot right now, just about anywhere sounds better than Mesa)
3. On a cruise (I have never been on one and would love to see what the fuss is all about...hint, hint Brett)
4. Visiting my brother in Bolivia (I miss him so much and would love to see him right now)

Now I get to pick 4 other blog buddies to do this:
Well, since most of my "Flaherty Friends" have already been tagged I will have to leave it to one:
1. Kimi Fry (I love ya girl and miss ya tons)

Bradock's New Cousin, Avery Hall

My sister-in-law, Mindi Hall, gave birth to the first granddaughter this afternoon (yea it's about time)!! Avery Hall weighed in at 8lbs. 13oz. and was 21 inches long. Both Mindi and Avery are doing great. Avery looks like a little round cabbage patch doll. I am so glad Bradock will have a cousin close to his age. Congratulations Matt and Mindi. We love you!!

A Day at Saguaro Lake

Thursday evening the Flaherty clan headed to Saguaro Lake for a fun time on the water. Let's just say the trip didn't exactly go as planned. Brett convinced me that we needed to go to the lake one last time before he started dental school, so we made it a family outing. Everything was going great and everybody was having a great time, especially my adorable nephews, until Brett got out on the water to wakeboard. He took a few passes and well, let's just say my husband doens't have the greatest luck when it comes to wakeboarding. He came down on a flip wrong and his left knee gave out. 2 1/2 years ago he did the same thing to his right knee, also while wakeboarding, and ended up having reconstructive surgery. He has also had nose surgery twice due to wakeboarding (what a die hard!!) He is scheduled to have x-rays and an MRI done, so hopefully he will have good results. As of right now his old crutches have become his new best friend. He will start dental school on Monday, so that will hopefully keep him out of trouble for awhile (probably not, but wishful thinking.)

Life is Good

I have to say these past few weeks have been the busies, craziest weeks ever. We moved in to our new house on July 2nd and here are a few pics. We got most of the painting done and a lot of things hung, but we still have quite a bit to do. Bradock's room isn't near done. We still need to make his bedding and get some more stuff to decorate, but we have a pretty good start. We had our court date and sealing that week and Monday, July 9th, I went back to work. Tuesday Brett had nose surgery, which went very well. It has been a long week, so today we went swimming at our community pool. Bradock loves the water. My mom actually bought the little baby swimmer thing. It said 9 months on the box, so I thought he wouldn't be able to use it, but it works great! Now that I am back to work full time I am going to be looking forward to my weekends with Brett and Bradock. They are the best part of my life.









Even though our day at the court was a happy day, nothing could compare to the day Bradock was sealed to us for time and all eternity. July 7th (no we didn't plan it to be 7-7-07, it just happen to be the quickest date after our court date) we became an eternal family in the Mesa, AZ temple. It was an amazing and unbelievable experience. Our sealer talked to us about how lucky our little boy was, but I know Brett and I are the lucky ones. The sealer talked about our responsibilities as parents and that, through our faith and righteousness, we could be apart of Heavenly Father's family. What a blessing. Bradock looked adorable in all white, especially with his great skin, and was literally an angel. I know he knew exactly where he was and I really believe he could see all those on the other side that had a huge part in getting him to us. The Temple is an amazing place and I know it is the House of our Lord. He resides there and his spirit spoke strongly to us that day. We will be forever in debted to him.


On July 5th Bradock was made legally and officially our son; even though I don't need a piece of paper to tell me that. Our lawyer presented our case and Brett and I had to tell the judge that we were willing and able to take care of and provide for Bradock. It was a very interesting, even a little intimadating, experience, but the judge deemed us worthy and our adoption was made final. It was a happy day!!