Hey Everyone - help me win!!

via inside.nike.com

As you may know, I am running the 2009 Nike+ 10k Human Race on Oct 24th. For the past month or so, Nike has been giving away prizes to the participants, through various contests.
The lastest contest is to get as many people signed up for the (free) Human Race 10k (free) as well as join a Race Ambassador group. My Ambassador is Shannon Duffy (check out her FB group page, if you want), and she is giving away a brand new Nike+ Sportband, which is what I use to track my pace, miles, etc. My current band is almost 2 yrs old and I would like a brand new and improved Sportband. The way for me to win is to get the most people signed up for the Race and to join Shannon and I's group, Team Runner's High. Not only will I have a chance to win the Sportband, but by joining - you too can win! There is a contest for a free Nike+ Human Race t-shirt as well as a chance to win a free pair of Nike+ shoes!
Did I say this was all FREE?
So check out the links below and join today!!
If you do sign up, let me know your Nike+ user name. That way I can get credit for encouraging you to sign up and so that we can be friends in the Nike+ online community.
The contest ends on Oct 15th.

Join the Human Race!
http://inside.nike.com/blogs/nikerunning_humanrace-en_US?register=true

Join Team Runner's High! We need more participants:
http://nikerunning.nike.com/nikeos/p/nikeplus/en_US/plus/#//challenges/detail/2015454533/

Posted via web from BLU3

Aidan and Amelia are ready for their various activities.

Amelia is going to her first soccer game and Aidan is headed to Cub Scouts.

Posted via email from BLU3

Todays drive home

The view from the top of the Oquirrh Mtns on my drive home.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Posted via email from BLU3

FINALLY!!!

I finally got my free Nike+ Lunarglide runing shoes that I won from Nike! Yeah, yeah, I know, how can I complain about receiving a free pair of cool shoes, right? Well, it has been over a month since I won, and I've been super excited about getting them so I can wear them on all my runs. I think I've heard the ghost of Qui-Gon whisper "Patience my young Padawan" a couple of times over the past weeks. Anyways, they're here, I'm excited, and I know what I'm doing tonight after work - running!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Posted via email from BLU3

Star Wars in Concert is coming to SLC!! I want to go!

Just got the news today that Star Wars In Concert is coming to Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City on Oct 16th.  I want to go so bad.  Check out their website for more information and to see how awesome it's going to be.  www.starwarsinconcert.com Soo..if anyone wants to give me a belated birthday present-here's your chance. ;)

Posted via web from BLU3

Nike+ Human Race 2009

I just signed up to race in the Nike+ Human Race on October 24, 2009. It's a 10k race that's held on the same day all over the world. I participated in it last year and ran my first 10k ever! I anticipate beating last years time, as I did poorly.

Posted via web from BLU3

I'm back Nerds!

Hey everyone - I just remembered I have a blog! Ha ha, just kidding. I figured I'd better write something.
If you don't know, I spend most of my online writing and updating on Facebook or Twitter. So if you're not on Facebook, you probably think that I have died as I haven't updated for a few months. But most everything I've done for the past few months is on Facebook.
For those that don't know what Facebook or Twitter is: Facebook is like this blog except for more interaction between people and it's easier to update what's going on in life by using short statements or a paragraph and you can use lots of pictures. Usually I update Facebook two or three times a day, while with this blog.....well you know.
Twitter is an even shorter way to post statements of what you're up to. You have to do it in less than 140 characters! It's actually quite fun and creative. You can also post pictures on Twitter in a roundabout way. What you do is post an internet link of another internet site that has the picture on it, and users can click on the link to see the picture.
I mostly use Twitter to keep up on breaking news, Star Wars news and events (cause I'm a Star Wars fan if you didn't know by now), updates about authors and books that they have written or are writing (that I am interested in), and things like that. You could also use Twitter to keep in contact with friends and family and their day to day doings, but none of my friends or family are interested in using Twitter and they stick to Facebook.
One more thing, if you're not on Facebook and you're a family member of mine-you should join! As the majority of my cousins, my mom, and some aunts are on Facebook and it's good to stay up to date that way. You would be able to quickly get linked up to everyone and start chatting away real soon. 'Cause face it - writing letters is too much of a bother nowadays! And for better or worse, phone contact is now reserved for special occasions.

One more thing, my son Aidan is getting baptized this weekend and guess what you can read all about it on Facebook! Ha ha!

Back to Investigating

After 11 months of being on the training team at the Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS), due to the budget cuts - I was moved back to casework. More specifically, Child Protective Services Investigations. There are good things and bad things about casework and so far so good.
I really enjoyed the training team and I was starting to hit my stride, I thought, in being able to stand up in front of a group of people and start teaching/sharing new concepts with them. I had a lot to learn still, but felt I was getting there. Nevertheless, changes were made that I had no control over.
Still, I feel that I learned alot while on the training team and was able to learn and study different interviewing techniques that have helped me now that I am back doing actual casework. I have to make the transition from understanding the concepts to actually putting them into practice on an everyday basis. It's definately a transition for me.
Now for the past 7 years that I did casework, it took an emotional toll on me dealing with other people's problems and trying to help them change their lives. In looking back, I could tell that I dealt with it poorly adn was not very happy with my job after awhile. This time around, even though it's only been a month and a half, I have been able to feel a difference. The biggest difference has been excercising on a regular basis. Being able to go to the gym, lift weights and run, have made a big difference. It feels good to be able to work out all the feelings of frustration and get the endorphins flowing!
So it's back to Investigations for me and trying to keep Utah's kids safe.

testing 1,2,3 !

Feb 4th 2009

So I've been reading these books by Malcolm Galdwell - Tipping Point, Blink and his latest Outliers. They are kind of pop psychology type of books, but very interesting in their own right. The author does a very good job of examining different social issues and then giving reasons and solutions on why these issues exist. Such as how the month or year that you are born can influence your success in life, (and it's not a astrology answer) and how ethnicity and culture were the cause of so many plane crashes in the 80's and 90's. He does a great job explaining and presenting evidence as to how his thesis are accurate. At the very least, Mr. Gladwell is able to help someone think outside of the box as well as to look for ideas and solutions where you wouldn't even think to look. I've enjoyed his books and look forward to his next one. He is also a writer for the New Yorker and has submitted some equally interesting articles there. My favorite is the comparison of teachers and football QB's and how their jobs are similar. This was explored in his article 'Most Likely to Succeed'.

I've been obssessed with Facebook this past week for some reason. I've been adding alot of 'friends' and joining causes and groups. I think it's a reflection of me not having a real social life, and that I spend too much time on the computer. (Like right now) Although I have met up with some old friends and talked with them a little. I will be going to dinner on Friday with an old mission buddy I haven't seen for a couple of years, so I guess Facebook has some positives. (as I justify my time spent on the computer) So if you every want to get ahold of me, just check Facebook, I'll probably be there.

January 2009

I know, I know, it's been over a month since my last post and you all are chomping at the bit to know what is going on with the Brady's. Now you can stop the incessant worrying and sleepless nights.
All jokes aside, my new goal is to update a least once a week. It is a new year and a time for New Years Resolutions, right? Sooo....we will see how this goal pans out.
Not much has happened this month outside of the usual, everyday living life sorts of things. Aidan is playing Jr. Jazz basketball with all of his neighborhood friends. He sure likes playing and although he has yet to score a basket in a game, he sure is a hustler! Aidan still likes 2nd grade and is becoming an even better reader as time goes on.
Rachelle came home with some great news yesterday. She won a 3 night stay to Aruba!! So it looks like we will be going to Aruba (for free!) sometime in the next couple of months. We have yet to decide whether or not the kids will be coming. There are advantages to having them stay home and there are some to letting them come with us. I'm going to start a poll on that. Make sure you vote!
For me, not much has happened. I will be hitting the gym more often and working harder so that when I go to Aruba, I'll at least look somewhat presentable. Last year I lost 25lbs of fat, but I still need to lose more. I'm thinking 20lbs, we'll see how it goes.
Amelia is still tall and has been having fun at pre-school. She is learning the letter 'T' next week, and has been having fun sounding out words to figure out which words start with 'T'.

The Force is strong with these ones.

Here's an updated photo that my brother-in-law, Brent, spiced up for us. Compare it to the original that is posted in the Halloween Costumes blog. I think it looks awesome!

Family Photos

The Brady Family Picture


Boys and Girls



Aidan and Amelia

We finally got some new family pictures taken this year. It was fun to get all dressed up and to go take some pictures. The studio we went to was actually someone from our ward who lived down the street and has a studio in her home. So the whole process was fairly simple and didn't take too long.

Rachelle is almost done making our Christmas cards, so those will be going out soon and they will have a family picture in them. Make sure to prominently display it on your fridge.

Cute Pictures pictures of Cute Kids

Here are some pictures I took of Aidan and Amelia while waiting for church to start.

Menagerie of Current Events

Well it finally snowed again. I think I complained so much in my last blog that I was able to postpone the winter. It feels good to have so much power that I can affect the weather. But our last snow in November was just a small storm that melted the next day. This new storm looks like it will last all day. It's been snowing since this morning. Well, I guess the kids will get their snowmen this time.
I do like snow around Christmastime I do have to admit. I just hate shovelling it out of the driveway and sidewalks.
Anyways, we decorated our Christmas tree last week and got all of our decorations up and started putting presents under the tree. It seems like every year Christmas gets funner. The kids get excited about their presents and start counting down the days until Christmas Day. I try to trick them into telling me what they got me for Christmas, but they've figured out it's okay to keep a secret when it's about presents. I almost got it out of them a couple of days ago. I'll keep trying.
For all you U of A fans out there, I hope the football team kills BYU in the Vegas Bowl this year! That would 'sweeten' the University of Utah's football season even more. If you haven't heard, the #6 Utes are going to the BCS this year and will play #4 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. I'm hoping for an upset.
Go Utes!!
I'll post pictures of Christmas tree decorating, snow fun and more later.

NOOO!! NOT SNOW!!

Here's a picture from last year. This is what we have to look forward to:

This is the wonderful time of the year when the Brady's think about moving south for the winter. We got our first real snow of the year, plus it's freezing cold all the time. The kids love it of course as they run around in their coats and gloves, throwing snow at each other. They unavoidably come and ask me to help them build a snowman and a snowfort and a snowcar for their snowman to drive to work in. Okay, just kidding about the snowcar. But, unfortunately for them, there is only about an inch on the ground now, so no snowmen. Maybe next week.



I hate winter now that I'm older. Rachelle and I like to sit in our rocking chairs and start talking about the good ol' days; about how we would have to walk to school in a blizzard, uphill both ways, etc. These kids have it so lucky nowadays. They have nice warm wintercoats with hats and gloves. While we had Levi jackets with socks on our hands for gloves, and moonboots to wear. Stupid moonboots never kept the snow out.



Did I mention that I hate winter?


Oh and by the way, its SNOW COLLEGE not NO COLLEGE.

Halloween Night

This Halloween was a good one for us here in West Jordan, Utah. This is the first Halloween in a few years that it either hasn't been snowing or freezing cold. It was a nice night and we were able to spend a couple of hours trick or treating, it was great! Due to it being a nice night, there were lots of neighbors out trick or treating, so it was very sociable. The kids got lots of candy and had a fun time. It was good for us, as mom and dad, because this was the first Halloween where Aidan and Amelia weren't afraid to go to the door by themselves and say trick or treat. We went to a friend's house halfway through and had chili and homemade root beer. This was nice to rest from all the walking and to eat something else besides candy. All in all, it was a good night and we had lots of fun.

Halloween Costumes 2008

Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano

This year for Halloween Aidan and Amelia chose to dress up as characters from the latest Star Wars movie, the animated Clone Wars. Aidan is Anakin Skywalker and Amelia is Ahsoka Tano. Rachelle made the costumes over the past couple of months. For our church Halloween party, we had a 'test run' for the costumes and they were able to get all dressed up for the party along with all their friends.

Annual Chili Cookoff

As a long standing tradition, about 3 years now, our church has an Annual Chili Cookoff. We all gather together and eat bowls and bowls of different kinds of of chili that different church members have made. This makes for very fragrant church services the next day - but that's another story. This year we combined it with the Halloween party and all the kids and some adults dressed up for the party. It was a lot of fun. Prizes were given out for the Best Chili, Spiciest Chili, Best Bread, Best Overall Pie, and Best Apple Pie. Rachelle won the Best Apple Pie award and the Bishop of our ward was quoted as saying, "This is the best apple pie I've ever tasted!".

New Blog

Well, after much deliberation and procrastination, I decided to jump into the blogging world. Here is my first blog. I hope that it only gets better from here and that I can actually write and post things that people would want to read. I guess we'll see how it goes.
My hope is that family members and friends will be able to check this blog out and see how the Brady family is doing and what we are up to. We don't do much, but it can still be fun to check in and see how others are doing.
We currently live in West Jordan, UT and have been there for over 4 years and plan on being here for much longer. I work as a social worker for the State of Utah with DCFS, I am on the Professional Development Team and I develop trainings to improve caseworker practice. I help train the different workers throughout the state of Utah and help them improve their skills. It's a job that I enjoy doing. I also work 4 hours a week at 24 Hour Fitness, so that my wife and I can get a free gym membership (I got tired of paying a monthly fee). I also work part time at the US Post Office doing data entry for 16 hours a week. It's a mindless, boring job; but it's part time on the weekends and it pays decent for a skill-less part time job.
My wife, Rachelle, still works for Jetblue and has been there for a number of years. She works on the Getaways Team and is involved in helping customers book vacations. She works part time from home and enjoys it. Rachelle is a scrapbook extraordinaire and enjoys hanging out with friends and family while scrapbooking. She is involved in sewing custom costumes for the children so that they can have cool Halloween costumes. Rachelle does a great job at doing these costumes that the kids not only wear for Halloween, but are able to wear them all year round. This year's costumes are Star Wars based.
If you don't know us well, we are big Star Wars fans. This year the Halloween costumes are based on the new Clone Wars cartoon movie and TV series from the Star Wars universe. My 7 year old will be Anakin Skywalker and my 4 year old daughter will be Ahsoka Tano, Anakin's padawan (apprentice). We will post pictures as soon as the costumes are complete.
Aidan is 7 years old and is currently in second grade. He enjoys school and is having success in school. He is a good reader and speller and even enjoys math! He is becoming more and more social and getting lots of new friends.
Amelia is 4 years old and has started pre-school this year. She is learning all the fun things that pre-schoolers learn; ABC's, numbers, colors. Amelia had already learned these concepts prior to pre-school, but is now learning how these letters and numbers are important in our lives.
We have a dog, Chewbacca. He's annoying.
At this time my mother is living with us and has been in our home for the past three months. She just started working again and got a teaching job in a different part of the state, so she will be moving out and starting a new chapter in her life soon. We have enjoyed having her around and the kids have gotten to know their grandma and have had fun with her and her cats. Rachelle and I have enjoyed the opportunity to get to know her and to have her willing to babysit while we go out and are able do things as a couple again. That has been very nice.
So this has been a brief snapshot of our life at this time. Like I said, I'm new to this and I know it's not a very entertaining blog at the moment. I hope to change that over the next few blogs and get into a rhythm so that people will come check out the Brady Bevy blog. Thanks for checking this out and hopefully we'll see you next time!