*Making the cut*

After almost 10 long years I finally decided it was time to cut off all my long hair. This change has been long since needed but never could muster up the courage to do it. I have not felt good about myself for awhile now, feeling fat, and just not pretty, so this change was good for me and I feel a little more confident now. My sister cut my hair at her new salon she works at and did an AMAZING job. She is so talented and always knows just what to do to help improve my look!

                                           Then and Now

*Soon to be a party of 4!!!*

We are excited to announce that we are expecting baby #2 at the end of January!! I'm currently 13 weeks and baby and I are doing great. This pregnancy has been very different from Jaden's in that I'm not sick all the time, but only get nauseas if I don't eat for a long period of time. I was super tired in the beginning and don't have the energy I used too, but other than that doing well. I'm still going to the gym on a regular basis, so that has really helped with getting energy. Although I can't lose weight I hope to try and maintain a decent weight, and not blow up like I did before haha.

Ultra sound at 9 weeks!

Everyone says that since I feel different this time it's probably a girl, but I believe firmly that it's going to be a boy so I guess we will just have to see. I bought Jaden a big brother shirt that is super cute and that's how I told Josh. He was definitely shocked at first because we weren't really trying for another one quite yet, but really the timing couldn't be better, so we are both very excited for Jaden to have a little sibling. It's really cute too because I tell Jaden all the time to kiss the baby, so he comes up to my stomach and gives it a big kiss, which totally melts my heart. I know he is going to be an awesome big brother and hopefully mommy's little helper too! I'm a little nervous about how it's going to be with two kids, but with the help of my Heavenly Father and our two loving families so close to us now :) it's all going to be just fine!

*San Diego and Update*

It has been forever since I have had some time to sit down and blog, and wow so much has happened since my last post. So first off we moved home back in June, and are basically renovating our entire house (this will be a whole new post later). Because of all the new things we are doing to our house, we are currently staying down the street at my in-laws until our house is complete.

Anyways admist all the crazieness we found some time to get away on our Bracken family vacation to San Diego. This year Josh and I rented our own trailer. Which the company we rented from drops the trailer off right at the beach for you, sets it up, and when your done hauls it away SUPER easy, conveniant, and we LOVED it. We spent four fun filled days on the beach of San Diego with Josh's family. The first day we just relaxed and swam in the ocean. The second day we went on a Kayaking tour, which was so fun and a great arm/back workout. The last full day we went on a 25 mile bike ride around downtown San Diego and up to a huge park, another great workout. Saturday we pretty much just slept in and then packed up and came home. Lots of fun pictures to enjoy!

We are now back from vacation, but being back in Arizona makes me so happy that I didn't mind coming back hahha. I can't wait for our house to be all finished and moved in. Hopefully we should be done with everything by the end of the month. I promise once our house is finished I will post pics. Jaden is loving being in AZ with all the new found freedome of actually being outside. It is hot but we don't mind because it's better than depressing rain ever single day. Oh back trak a little, 4th of July was fun, haha we pretty much worked on our house all day, then sat in my in-laws backyard and ate bbq, sipped root beer floats and saw maybe four or five little fire-works. So nothing big but who cares the weather was so nice that day and we were with people we love! Well I think that is about it for now, but I promise to be better from now on and keep up with my blog, because I treat it like a journal and don't want to fall behind on documenting memories.

*Brityn's blessing weekend*

This past weekend we went back to Arizona for my little niece's baby blessing. Because it happened to fall on my in-law's Stake Conference weekend they decided to have the blessing at their house. The blessing was beautifully done by my father in-law and the spirit was very strong. I love baby blessings, and especially when there family. It's such a wonderful way to start out your baby's life and I'm so grateful that we have the Priesthood authority in our church to perform these blessings.

On Saturday we went and swam in our pool for the first time. AWWW I love our pool, I didn't actually go swimming in it haha but Josh and Jaden did. I can tell you right now getting a house with a pool was the right decision,

especially during the hot summer. We move home a week from tomorrow YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA,this day I thought would never come but it's almost finally here and I'm so very very happy. So here are a few pictures from our weekend and also some cute pictures I took earlier in the week that were too cute not to post.













Hopefully this will be our last "VISIT" to Arizona!

*Oh Canada*

For Memorial Day weekend we thought it would be fun to head up to the great Country of Canada, and well it was to say the least not a good vacation haha. So first off we woke up too late to catch our ferry from Port Angelas to Victoria, Canada. So we sped off to Port Angelas (2 hour drive) to try and make the noon ferry, which on our way we got a speeding ticket. We did end up making the noon ferry, and arrived in Canada a lot later then we had planned. We drive to our hotel, all of us very cranky and exhausted, and all just pass out. Went to dinner, but Jaden was being super cranky so ended up getting our food to go, and back again to the hotel. Jaden didn't sleep good so of course I didn't sleep good, and the next day we end up just taking the ferry back to Port Angelas and going home. No sight seeing, souvenirs, and like two picture so basically we went to Canada to stay in a hotel hahahha.

We originally had plans to go to Butchart Gardens, and then on Sunday go to Vancouver and hike this really hard but awesome mountain. All of which never happened because our sweet little toddler decided to be cranky. He also fell off the bed and hurt his elbow so that had something to do with his bad mood. LOL vacations are a lot harder then I remember but oh well I wouldn't change it, and hey at least we got to see Canada and say we have been!

All the pictures above are taken in Port Angelas. The one below was taken in Canada right before we got on the ferry to go back home.

*Alki Beach*

This last weekend we went to Alki Beach in Seattle. Jaden had lots of fun playing in the sand and throwing rocks in the water. It has been beautiful weather here so we take every opportunity to be outside and soak up the sun. Our stay here is coming to an end and though I am so happy, I will miss the nice summer weather here, but not enough to stay any longer. We will be FOR SURE moving home at the beginning of June and into our house. I can't say enough how EXCITED I am to be in a house and back close to family!

*Minnesota Trip*

I was born and raised in Minnesota till I was 11 years old, and then we moved to Arizona. I grew up in Minnesota with my two very best friends Nicole and Kristie (20 year friendships going strong). Kristie and her family ended up moving to AZ so we have always been pretty close, however, our dear friend Nicole still lives in MN. We had the best childhood growing up and when I first moved to AZ, I would go back to MN to visit every summer.  I have not been back since 2007 when Nicole got married, so I decided that before I have another baby I really needed to get back to my roots and visit my best friend. She has a two year old little boy, and a almost three month old little girl. I had sooooooooo much fun holding and playing with her little girl, and got my baby fix that I so desperately needed. Jaden and her little boy had the best time together, and it was so much fun watching our boys play. We went shopping, played at the park, went to Mall of America and did the underwater sea life tour, and also did a behind the scenes tour which was really cool. Jaden also got a hair-cut while we were there, which I already apologized to my sister about haha. She was deeply offended that I had someone else cut her little nephew's hair since she is the only one to ever do it. I had the best time there and already miss my friend so much. I can't wait for her to come out and visit me next year in AZ. We decided that we have to at least see each other once a year because a 20 year friendship is worth keeping up with!

Jaden getting his hair cut (sorry monk)

Our two boys in their rides!

Jaden getting soaked playing in a bucket of water

Having fun in the amusement park at Mall of America

Sweet Aubrey Lyn!

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Matching PJ's

Nicole and her sweet family

Jaden and Nathan

*My 26th Birthday*

Today was MY BIRTHDAY!! I love my birthday just because it's the one day out of 365 days that is mine! So today was wonderful and these are the reasons why: 1. My husband brought me breakfast in bed 2. I got an amazing workout today 3. I found my Safeway card that I thought was lost, and was able to save 30 cents a gallon on gas. Also saved $11 on groceries w/ coupons! 4. My wonderful parents sent me flowers and will take me on a shopping spree when I move home for a new summer wardrobe 5. I locked myself out of my apartment but was able to break back in :) 6. I made myself a beautiful pink cake, and my dishwasher got fixed which they said wouldn't be done till tomorrow BONUS :) 7. My wonderful husband took me out to the Cheesecake Factory for a delicious dinner just us two! 8. I got the sweetest card ever from my hubby and Jaden w/ money to get my nails done. Also the iPad was our joint BIG present which we have been enjoying every day! 9. Lots of birthday wishes on facebook and text messages from all my friends and family which has made me feel so loved! 10. My wonderful in-laws got me an amazing juicer which I will post pictures of once it arrives in the mail. At 26 years old I'm loving life and couldn't be happier with where I'm at (although I would like to be in Arizona) but Washington has been good to us. I feel very blessed to be where I'm at today and can't wait to see what this new age has in store for me!

Until next year....

*Our little reader*

I'm a little blog crazy tonight hahha but Sunday's are the best day to blog because it's a good time to reflect on the week and of course post pictures from the weekend. Anyways back on subject. Jaden has grown to LOVE reading and basically anything that looks like or is of any kind of reading material. So every night now Josh will sit on the floor, and Jaden will bring him book after book, and they will sit there and read together for about a half an hour before bed. It's so cute and I love to see his love for books and reading. He also likes to sit in his chair and read books too which I think is just too adorable!

*There is beauty all around*

One thing about Washington I do actually love is the beautiful spring time flowers that bloom everywhere on the trees. I'm not sure what kind of trees they are but I want to plant them in my yard in Arizona. The flowers are the most vibrant pinks and reds you have ever seen and I'm in love with them!





So if the trees aren't able to live in AZ I hope to find ones like it. Or just hang up lots of my own pictures that I have taken so I can always be surrounded by this beauty.