In February of 2011 a job with the Utah State Legislature, as an analyst, opened up. Although we'd loved our time in Sacramento (9 years), we'd hoped that we might someday live closer to family. Nathan tried to warn me that it was unlikely he'd get the job, as there were 238 applicants for the one position. We prayed that if it was right, Nathan might get the job. We were thrilled when the job was offered. In June 2011 Nathan started work, so we rented out our Sacramento home, said a teary goodbye to great friends, and moved to Utah.
Nathan's parents invited us to stay with them in Orem, while we looked for a house. It'd been a few years since Grandma and Grandpa raised their four boys, but they were very patient with our crazies! Grandpa told me once that he knew it was morning when he heard gunfire! (With or without play guns, everywhere my boys play is a war zone-or a Star Wars zone. I didn't feel too sorry for Grandpa since he is the gun enthusiast in the family.) On August 1, we put an offer on a home in Layton, but it was a short sale and didn't go through for 6 months. In the mean time, Daniel (2nd) and Liam (K) attended Cascade Elementary (the same elementary that Nathan attended from Kindergarten through second grade). Although we were eager for a home of our own, we felt that we'd been led by the Lord. When I witnessed Grandpa having a mini stroke and was able to get him medical help, we again felt assured of the Lord's hand in our lives. Finally, the papers were completed and we moved to Layton (with lots of help from family and our new ward) on January 23rd, 2012. We have loved our new home and neighbors and never plan on moving again!
The boys adjusted quickly to their new school and have loved the neighborhood with lots of friends to play with. They also love the UT snow. Our neighbors in CA laughed when the boys would rake leaves from their yards to dump in ours, so they could jump and play in them. Here, the neighbors laughed last year when, my boys would go out to shovel the tiniest bit of snow off the driveway and even collect enough to build a snowman before everything else melted off a few hours later. This year they've loved the winter wonderland, digging snow forts, throwing snowballs, and going sledding.
Being an hour between both sets of grandparents, has allowed us to make lots of great family memories. We went with the Bohman side to Bryce Canyon, magma lava tubes, and hiking up to the Kanaraville waterfalls. With Grandma and Grandpa Brady we've done lots of rock hunting including Garnett hill in Ely, pyrite cubes at Pelican Point, fossil horn corals at Skull Valley, and trilobites outside of Delta. We also got to go to the Steed family reunion (Nathan's grandparents) in Bryce Canyon, exploring Kodachrome Basin, Grosvenor Arch, and The Devil's Backbone. It was so neat to hear Great Grandpa Steed share stories of his family, and explore where he grew up.
Nathan has really enjoyed his new job. He is a policy analyst for the Utah State Legislature, covering issues relating to Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement. He writes legislation, researches issues and policies nationwide, and he was asked to manage the Legislative Intern program this year (supervising 70 college interns). In church he has been a teacher to Liam's primary class, until just recently when he was asked to teach the men in Elder's Quorum.
I (Michelle) have kept busy arranging, rearranging, and decorating the house (my kind of fun)! I have enough walls to paint, curtains to make, and rooms to redo to last a lifetime. I have also kept busy as Daniel's scout leader, and helping in the boys' classrooms. I had actually started to enjoy running (a new concept for me), when I got sick and found out I was pregnant, back in June. With nearly 5 years between Caleb and this new arrival, it's been an adventure!
Daniel, Liam, and Caleb have been so excited for the arrival of the new baby. Daniel and Liam told us from the start that they hoped it would be a boy. When I asked why, Daniel said it was because he wouldn't want a girl to bring Barbies in his room. Very important! Caleb hoped we'd have a girl, but we later found out that he thought he'd marry her! I tried to explain to him that we're not that kind of family. I guess having a fourth boy saved us from that one. Liam loves all babies, and told me that he wants to be a babysitter when he grows up. At one point Daniel thought we should name the baby 'Daniel' after him. (Maybe that's not such a bad idea for a mom who can't seem to say the right name for any of her boys.) While we anticipated Benjamin's arrival (boy #4) we enjoyed Caleb's prayers in his behalf. In one prayer he asked that, "Baby Benjamin will be cuter than a baby duckling." He also prayed that Benjamin wouldn't eat his legos or Star Wars action figures. It is so fun to hear what kids are thinking. Caleb told me one day that he was sure Benjamin was swimming in my leg. I did feel a lot of aches and pains (although not so much in my leg). Liam told me that I should swallow some toys so that the baby would have something to play with. The boys all went along with the idea and decided that my aches and pains were simply Benjamin playing soldier. There were times that I did feel under attack.
On February 6, 2013 at 1:02 PM, Benjamin Thomas Brady arrived! He weighed in at 7 lbs. 8 oz. and measured 20 1/2 in. long. He has strong dark eyes, lots of dark brown hair, and a deep dimple in his chin. He reminds us of Daniel and Caleb as infants, although he has his own look. He is a good tempered baby, but even just after delivery, showed off his lung capacity. I told the doctor that he had to be loud to fit in with his 3 brothers. His brothers beg to hold and kiss him. They sing him lullabies when he cries. They think everything he does is cute (sneezing, stretching, sleeping, looking, and bathing). Nathan has given him the nicknames "Benja
mini" and "Bitty B" (like his initials BTB).
Caleb, who will be turning 5 in May, keeps us laughing. He loves to play Star Wars with his big brothers. He has done a great job in preschool. He loves being read to and is beginning to read on his own. Each day Caleb tells us which animal he is pretending to be for the day. His favorites are squirrels, humming birds, armadillos, mudfish, baby puffer fish, roly poly bugs and baby alligators. He recently gave his first talk and has recited several memorized scriptures in primary. (I tried to prompt him on his first scripture, and was asked in no uncertain terms to sit down and let him do it himself!)
Liam turns 7 this week (March 6th). He is at the top of his class. He is an excellent reader. He loves playing games on the Wii. For most kids, playing computer games doesn't require energy, but Liam can't hold still. He jumps up and down for the entirety of the game--great exercise! He also loves Angry Birds. Liam has always looked out for his brothers, and his new baby brother is no exception. He worries any time Benjamin even whimpers. He does his part to keep him smiling by putting on puppet shows for him. Liam is always surrounded by lots of friends.
Daniel, who will be 9 in May, was baptized by Nathan last June. It was such a special day. We were so thankful to live close enough for grandparents on both sides, as well as great grandparents, and lots of uncles, aunts, and cousins, to be there. Before he was baptized Daniel met his goal to read the entire Book of Mormon. Daniel was busy this year playing soccer, Jr. Jazz (basketball), skateboarding, and tennis. He has also earned his Bobcat, Wolf, and fifteen beltloops awards in the cub scout program. He loves science especially tornadoes, volcanoes, and tsunamis. He loves going rock hunting.
So there you have it. The Brady Bunch in a nutshell. Nathan and I are constantly thanking the Lord for bringing us here. We feel so blessed to have such wonderful family, friends, and neighbors. You've loved, motivated, and inspired us. We are most grateful for our knowledge of our Savior, Jesus Christ and his atonement, which allows us, despite our shortcomings, to continue to learn and grow. We hope you are all well and that you know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.
