Little Buddy Off to College

The past few weeks have been ccrraaazy.

Seriously.

It seems as though they flew.

One of the big events was sending Bannon of to college. 

(Can you believe he is 21?) 

It seems like only yesterday the kid was at his prom!

Since school has started for him I have gotten so many texts saying how much he is loving Mass. and how he is really enjoying school and learning. 

A few mornings ago I woke up to a text that told me he had sent me an email and that he wanted to know what I thought.

This is what I read.

"Who Am I" 

I stand in front of you today

and you wonder “Who am I”

Well let me give you a glimpse

through my own two eyes.

Just 3 weeks in the past and 21 years

I was born into this world while my dad cried quite near.

Now if ya'll can't do the math

That was on August 27^th

And we sit here today on September 11^th.

Born in the state of Washington

But Arizona raised

The green grass I never saw

And those grasses I never grazed.

1 brother, 3 sisters

An athlete I was sure to become

Though I played all sports

None felt the same as with a hockey stick as my gun.

As I stepped on the ice

I knew it would be my life

Though it was a tough battle

I knew I could fight.

It brought me here to Becker

In the fall of 2012

I'm here to play hockey

But into my education I wish to delve.

My decision for my major I just keep fighting

I know it's between psychology

Or possibly creative writing.

For my future I don't know

I'd love to play hockey

but I'm not gonna stand here and sound so cocky.

I'm slowly but surely leaning towards writing

Even though psychology

is at my heel roughly biting.

The study of the brain to me is quite intriguing

Though I'm sure the study would be quite fatiguing.

At the beginning of the summer

my creative mind started to grow

And the idea of a book started to flow.

My mind began to race as I started to write

it even kept me up night after night.

The story of a man

I dare not wish to be

I won't go into detail

because right now, the story is just for me.

So now as I end my story

I wish you all well

Because with the story of my life

I'm sure I bored you all to Hell.

 Not bad uh?

It was for an assignment for class.

I cried my eyes out.

I couldn't be happier for my little buddy! 

Way to crush it Ban!

xoxo.

-- 

Kinsey Wedding 5.21.11

There is nothing more exciting to me than when one of my family members gets married.

It is even better when I have an all access pass to photograph it all.

Leslie was the most beautiful bride. Ever.

Conrad won us all over.

I couldn't be more happy for the both of them!

Not to mention in true Bradley tradition... the party afterward wasn't to bad either!

Home 2011 Part 2: Get The Camera Out!

The best thing about going anywhere for me is the adventure.

Even it is just going home.

I love the idea and possibility of being in a new environment and seeing what I see.

I also think that when I go home everyone loves that I break out my camera and shoot up a storm.

This year was no exception.

I am very blessed that my family appreciates my photo obsession and gladly obliges to be my muses.

Even some of my friends!

THANK YOU TRAMPAS!

Over the course of the week before the wedding I pretty much did anything and nothing I wanted.

This included:

Putting Mom in a couture dress in a middle of a field!

Hanging out out at Cornorstone Coffee Co and eating one too many great wraps!

Meeting baby Rylee...

Making Trampas feel like the paparazzi were following him around all week!

Getting to see what it is like to "break a horse."

Ace (who is 9 months old) and I are soul mates.

He made me want to learn how to ride.

Enough said.

I got to hang out at Aunt La's and listen to Big Ray sing.

(The Mom shot these!)

We all got to see Lacie Jayne stick her tongue out over 1,ooo times...

Did I mention the local celebrity yet?

Got to see new places in nature in surprising places that I had never seen..

I attempted to learn how to quilt.

This made me find a new appreciation for all those women who do it.

It is tough and I am not good with straight lines!

Oh and finally... I hung out with Trampas... a lot.

I miss the Cowboy and those fields.

Not a bad way to spend a week and seeing what I saw through my lens uh?

Home 2011 Part 1: iPhone Shots

In April of 2010 I got to go home to shoot Ryan and Justine's wedding. If you missed that sweet post click here. Lucky for me this year, another member of the Bradley family got married and I was asked once again to shoot their photos. Can someone say yay road trip?

A little over a week and a half ago I got to go back up to WA for the 2nd year in a row.

Going home to me is becoming one of my favorite things in my life.

The reason for that is whenever I leave, I leave knowing I did nothing but laugh for the week I was there.

Here is some of the proof and the stories to go with them via my iPhone.

This past winter I became addicted to Starbucks. I know you coffee snobs out there don't think it is anything great. What do you know anyway?

Anywho. After getting in the car with Mom and making it to about Ogden I was dying for a good grande nonfat 6 pump hazelnut 1 Splenda latte. (Sick yes blah blah blah) Lucky for me I have the "Starbucks App" on my phone! No problem right? I mean, it said it was only 2.7 miles away and we would be there in 6 min.

An hour later and 2 missed Starbucks on the way we found one.

Needless to say... Mom not the biggest fan of Starbucks. he he he....

First night home usually means a trip to Hot Rods.

Sadly (becasue the owner of the bar whom I caught pooring the wrong booze for shots and stealing...) this location might change. Yearly now we have rounded up the fam and had a crazy night! This year was extra special due to the fact that when we showed up a whole other part of the family was there celebrating one of my cousins 21st birthdays. Yep. Whiskey, Coors Light, John Deer hats, sparkles, and cowboys with their chew.

One of my favorite things about being back in the country.

On a seperate night out we (Josh and I) went to one of the other 3 bars in town and I had to teach... yes teach, the bartender who also happens to be the owner how to make a lemon drop!

Like the glass?

Yes, the man owns a bar and no martini glasses!

Priceless.

After the first night in town my cousin (the Bride) had to get her hair done.

This might of been one of the funniest experiences thanks to the stylist.

I was talking to Leslie (bride) about dating and some situations I was in and the stylist says,"You want to know my advice? Make sure you get them run a background check, credit check, and make sure they pee in a cup."

Mmmm... interesting dating advice don't cha think?

A few days later we went to see my Uncle Jasper.

I love this photo because he looks like Charles Manson.

Creepy? Yes.

Do I still love it? Of course!

Did I mention he has a sweet old Chevy chilling in his front yard?

(Bring on the Redneck jokes?)

But seriously! How cool would this be to fix up?

Another thing that I took up while out in the country... Quilting!

I started making this one for a friends puppy.

Don't ask why his dog.

I don't know if I'll ever get to give it to him.

However I am taking donations for a sewing machine or a machine itself!

This picture is of chinese food. I have no idea of the name of the place.

It is in the Dalles.

Do you see that the plate size is bigger than my Mom's head?

Gross.

My Aunt opened a deli in our hometown (more on that later).

This is a sign in it.

I guess I should of put this up with the Starbucks post!

While in town we got to go through old family photos we have never seen.

This cute girl is not me.

It's Sissy Sofia.

Yes, she isn't my real sister.

But damn near as close to one I've got.

You can't tell me it isn't the cutest thing you have ever seen!

I can't wait for her to procreate and make cute babies!

I also got to go to the Tri-Town and see two girls I've known most of my life.

One has the cutest boys in the world and an adorable blog!

The other didn't know backpacks with wheels were already invented and still listens to music on her Discman.

Not kidding.

We got to have a mellow fun night just catching up and reliving all of the old times we had in the middle/high school days.

I couldn't of imagined my childhood without these two.

I am so happy that they are both still a part of my life.

Did I mention Cry's boys?

I am so in love with them.

Seriously GQ.

She will have her hands so full when they turn 16!

Another amazing thing?

Here is my childhood home.

I love driving by and seeing the trees my Mom planted when were were just kids.

It is amazing how some things change and some still stay the same!

Can't wait to share part 2!