Most beautiful Caribbean Beach

We went to playa Rincon this weekend and had a blast. It was absolutely beautiful. Hope to go back someday soon.

My cousin Beckah

Well, she got here without a hitch--even with tropical storm slash hurricane!

Madison Princess

Well, we DID start something! I was about to leave to workout when Madison woke up and was hysterically crying. I tried talking to her, holding her...I had no idea what was wrong. She has bad allergies and her eyes were all swollen so I thought maybe she was sick or something. After about 10 minutes of just holding her, turns out that she had taken out the little pink curlers that we put in her hair last night and her hair just wasn't curly enough! She was SOOO distraught! So I stayed home from working out and we curled her hair a little more, but of course couldn't stop there! We then had to take pictures. This could seem like a new bad habit, but at least she is caring about her appearance--before brushing her hair was a nightmare! Now she asks me to :)Isn't she beautiful!!!

The Campo

It is so fun to go to the campo and see how most of the real world lives...granted, I can come home and take a shower and wash my hands, drink water that is decontaminated and not worry about the heat or bugs! But, our trip to see our housekeeper's girls was awesome. The girls loved all the animals: bunnies, a donkey, ducks, turkeys, pigs, and lots of chickens. They were so kind to us and so friendly. The grandpa used this gigantic machete to peel and orange for Layla and I just had to document it! They were kind enough to let the girls ride the donkey and we saw all kinds of fruit trees--avocado (which we ate, mango (season over), cherries (which we ate--the red color fruits), squash, beans, papaya, gourds---everything right there by their house. Such a beautiful country and people.

Layla Zooloo

I bought this cool necklace from a Colombian friend of mine that is made from a "Dalmation bean." Hence the black and white spots. I am usually not so daring in my choice of jewlery, but this was just too cool. Layla put it on, naked of course, and she reminded me of Shaka-zulu. So cute!

Morning Sunshine

I came home from working out this morning to find my two little princesses dressed up and ready to take pictures. I think we have started something here! :)

Happy Birthday Tobias!

Tobias turned 35! "I,m lucky to still be alive," were his words. The girls and I all went to his office to give him his presents and then Mikaela ate most of his favorite Toblerone :) Then we made him his favorite cake and shaped it in a heart. Mom and Dad then went out to dinner--yes we had dessert first with the girls and sang Happy Birthday. Dinner was quiet and nice, and it was fun to get dressed up. We were suppose to go to a resort just the two of us, but our nanny needed to go out this weekend to help some people in the campo. It was serendipidous that we didn't go because the rain started Friday morning with a tropical depression and there was a huge accident on the way to where we would have gone killing 20 people. So we decided we would just dance at home and have some alone time. I sure love my husband! We listened to my new favorite song that describes my Tobias to a T. Basically the words say that No matter the season it is always Christmas time because I know your mine. He is my miracle. I love you Tobias.

just for dad

So...these are pictures just for grandpa! Happy memories :)

Beautiful girls

Well, I have to say our girls are beautiful and actually pose for pictures sometimes. We try to capture these moments and linger on the memories :) We have had a fun time dressing up and doing our hair. Hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

Animals, animals!

We go to a ranch of our friends often, and the girls just love the animals and getting dirty. The mangoes were such an added treat this year!

Everyday life in the DR

Drive-thru Mango shopping...Who could ask for anything better??


Grocery shopping for yummy food! Notice the sticker on Opa's head!


Swinging in the backyard.

Resort WIth Oma and Opa

Well, this is our third trip to a resort and we feel absolutely spoiled! Look at this beach! The girls got their hair done and refuse to take it out! They swam 24 hours a day with daddy while mom sat under a tiki and enjoyed the breeze. We went to a fun Japanese restaurant and they had fire!!! Wahhoo! The seafood restaurant was actually really gross...but the Japanese place was awesome! Sushi was yummy and cooking in front of you kept the girls attention for long enough that we could eat our food! We took long walks on the beach early morning and late evening. We ate and ate and ate...The girls really liked getting anything they wanted. Talk about gorging and wasting! Resort atmospheres are fun and can be relaxing, but they are also incredibly indulgent. We are ready to go home at the end of five days, eat healthier and do something productive!

Beach Bums

VACATION WITH OMA AND OPA

We are almost done with our tour and are just now finding the most amazing places to take visitors! This little Isla Catalina (island) was incredible. We took a huge catamaran out to one side of the island to snorkel (Mikaela decided to sleep again to avoid the big swells and the less-than-smooth ride) and then they took us to the other side that was absolutely phenomenal! The water was so blue and clear, and the sand so white! It was paradise. No vendors, not many people...it was perfect. We got drenched on the bumpy boat ride back, but both girls slept the whole way. This must have been Oma's favorite trip. Too bad we don't have a boat!

Punta Cana Vacation

We just had a family vacation on the east coast of The Dominican Republic and all absolutely loved it. We love that we have the time and means to do these things that make such an impact on our little family. The beaches in this country are awesome! We loved swimming, playing and enjoying being together.

Mikaela turned 2!

Mikaela is two! What a day of fun with the family. We opened presents and just kind of played the whole day. Tobias took the day off of work and we enjoyed opening presents and using them throughout the day. Most of her friends are not around right now (just moved and vacation) so Madison was very distraught that we didn't have a big party for her. Madi needed them (and boy have we had them!) but we almost had to force her to open her presents. Finally we just let Madi do it for her (that is what Madison really wanted anyway!) I learned that home made cake is always better--period. We wish family and friends could have been closer, but it was a good day and we sure love our little family. The biggest event of the day was that we got rid of her binki!!!! We are still working on potty training... if she is naked, she will go in the potty, if not forget it! Oh well, we rushed the first one and are still paying for it. I am just not stressed about this one. Parenting is definately NOT about knowing all the answers!

These are our girls with MY birthday cake! So fun! I'm 31!

Pigeon excitement!

Our Layla sure loves animals. Isn't her little voice so cute!

Princess Madison

Madison and mommy had our date night together at Princesses on Ice (Disney production) It was great fun! Madison dressed up like Cinderella and was in heaven. She keeps asking when we can go again. She kept saying during the performance, "Why can't I go up on stage??" I asked what she would do on stage and she said she would do what they were doing. I think we have a future actress on our hands! :)

Daddy--open your eyes!

Tobias was surrounded by so much joy he could hardly even keep his eyes open!!!!

Happy Faces!

Can you see the seventh heaven on their faces?

Humpback Whales

So this is why the whales are called humpback. If they are going down into the ocean for a long dive they will flip their tail and splash downward (they need the momentum). But if they are just going down for a few minutes then they just hump their backs and keep swimming. This is our famous couple--there are more pictures below that are bigger so you can see more detail.

What a VIEW!!

This is the amazing pool where the girls just loved to swim! It feels like we are always on a tropical vacation..oh wait, we are!

Tired girls . . . and Dad

This is what happens after all day in the sun watching whales--we were toasted and exhausted!

This is a beautiful little bed and breakfast we stayed at when we went to see the whales in Samana. It was really a wonderful retreat and as always, never long enough!

Madi's Cinderella the first

Poor Cinderella the first, died of some kind of crazy diarrhea that just showed up out of nowhere. We bought her a new bunny and it had to be named Cinderella as well. This is the first...probably of many. The girls wake up wanting to be with the bunnies and all through the day we are playing with them. It has proved very therapeutic and a wonderful blessing for everyone. The only rule for the grown-ups is that Tobias takes care of them...period! The girls' most important rule is "BE GENTLE WITH THE BUNNIES!!" Sometimes rough love is all they know :)

Madi's turn

Mikaela was brave enough to grab a pigeon at the park the other day, but Madi just didn't get the hang of it. She cried so much some guy felt sorry for her and brought her one to hold. That is one thing that I love about the DR, the people love the children.

Brigham

We've had some visitors this year and Brigham was the latest to leave. It was so fun to share our home with him and some of our favorite adventures. The girls loved him and cried when he left. Tobias was so excited to have an adventure buddy! Here we are at a restaurant on the ocean--great food and better company. Incomparable scenary.

Bird Lover

Here we go again! Our friends were grossed out by the pigeons on the Cathedral's grounds, but our girls were in heaven. The birds would land on your arms and eat like crazy the corn we gave them, and then our girls would grab them from my arms. Mikaela was hilarious and in seventh heaven! Again, we always no diseases are transmitted!

Puppy lover

OK, so this girl is going to be a vet or something! She absolutely loves animals and can't keep her hands off them! It is so fun to be around her when the excitement starts. This dog was at the beach and we successfully avoided him for three hours and then lost the battle! She would pet him and lay by him and talk to him--it was really cute. We are hoping no diseases were transmitted in the process!

Eternal Summer

We love the DR!
When we got back from Christmas break the weather here was absolutely perfect! We loved going for walks and being outside--it was just so perfect. The weather is starting to change and get muggier and hotter--but we still LOVE IT!!!! WE go to the beach at least once a week, and with all of our visitors we average more than that. I get to go lots because I am always home--constant vacation is nice...and we get to come home and feel "useful" because we still clean up and go to work and school. Having the Caribbean within 40 minutes is wonderful. We will move in December, but we don't talk about it much as we are just really enjoying our time here.
Our girls are growing tons and we are too actually. This is like a Spring of our lives--Russia was literally and figuratively a winter. We will remember this time for years to come. Madison is 4 and a half and we are now beginning to have to make some school decisions for her. She is already doing pre-kindergarten here and could continue in the Fall--but then going home in January she would not be able to continue because her birthday falls in November. Likely she would have to repeat kindergarten again in Mozambique. We have been praying and reading a lot as many things are coming up. Madison is very intelligent and learns very quickly - her current struggles are more with emotional development, controlling her temper and change in general. We have been working hard and are making improvements, and we have wondered if the home environment will be easier for her at this age. As we read and pray it is heartening to see how the Lord whispers and helps us understand things and then we will find answers with books we have been reading. We are leaning towards taking a break from her "schooling" until Africa so that mom and Madi can concentrate on some home-based learning for a while.
Just so it doesn't seem negative please know that Madison is an incredible little girl, so energetic and creative. We went to see Disney on Ice and she kept saying, "but I want to be on the stage, Mom!" I told her that she would be a wonderful actress someday. She also LOVES our two bunnies and actually will wake up happy if we take her a bunny first thing in the morning--which might not seem like much, but is an incredible achievement!! Her little friend Emma just moved back home to America and we were saw her and her family off at the airport. Emma and Madi had really made a connection, in part because the are quite similar. When she left Madison cried and cried, and they just didn't even know how to say good-bye. It was sad for everybody - friends make such a difference in our lives, even more when you are overseas. We are so grateful for the gift of having friends, and feel very blessed.
Layla is so big now with beautiful blond hair. Each time we go to the beach it gets blonder. The ends are in cute little curls we just love. She is starting to talk a bit more and it is just too fun to hear her new words. The girl bunny is named Cinderella but Layla has started to say "rella." We love it. She is a great helper around the house, especially with the laundry and dishes. Both of the girls love water! Any excuse to get wet is so wonderful. They get soaking wet helping to wash dishes with me and we are all happy.
Mikaela and Madison have more recently developed quite a bond, and often are partners in both helping and in "crime." They also get noticed wherever we go, mostly because their coloration is so much different than most Dominicans. Everyone seems to love their blond hair--and people also just love babies and little kids here. If they go with me people are so much nicer! Thank heavens for nice people. And thank heavens that there are things, like cute kids, that help people remember the softer, kinder side of life. We all could use help to focus on the good in our lives so that we can approach all that comes our way with more hope--I know it has made a difference in our lives. We love you all and hope this finds you well.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Hooray, Hooray! We love Christmas and the new year!

This Christmas season was very special for us as we were able to see all of our families in America, and spend lots of quality time with them. It is nice to be back in the Dominican Republic as we were all done with our winter experience; six weeks was perfect! The girls loved the novelty of the snow, but also loved coming inside and getting warm. We had a one day trip to the Oregon Coast and froze...it didn't stop Madison from getting waist deep in the water with her Aunt Anna though! I kept telling myself, and anyone who would listen, that the coast in Oregon was beautiful, but in one week we would be laying on the sand and soaking up the sun 40 minutes away from our house in the DR! :) Being with family and forging those bonds was something unforgettable that the whole family will cherish for a long time to come. It was the highlight of our year. 2007 was a crazy and eventful year--like most every other year in the Tobias and Niki Bradford family.

January 2007 brought us here to the Dominican Republic and the detoxing from Russia began :) Actually, being in D.C. started the process, but having our own home with all of our things and a "normal" life and schedule really sealed the deal. Madison and mommy had been living out of suitcases since May 2006-we were ready for some stability! After the original adjustment to the heat, mosquitoes, washing everything with bleach before eating, and the constant threat (not as bad as we were lead to believe) of crime . . . we had our stuff unpacked and organized almost by the end of February. It took us four months to hang the pictures because of the cement walls, finding steel nails and figuring out to get them to stay in and not fly off the rock-hard wall while nailing them in! Moving is always a huge chore, but we welcomed this one whole-heartedly. The Dominican Republic has been nothing but wonderful for us.

Niki turned 30 shortly after arriving and we celebrated with some new friends with yummy food and lots of laughter. Tobias gave her 30 calla lilies and her dad gave her a beautiful bouquet of roses and daisies that helped brighten the crazy house atmosphere of the first few weeks. Madison started a little preschool and mom started to return to normal after so much moving and new babyness. We are lucky to have someone who helps us keep the impossible marble floor of our gorgeous, but BIG house clean and do some occasional babysitting. No carpet, just beautiful and HARD marble floors. Mikaela was six months old when we came and was just learning how to sit up. She ended up with a few nose bleeds and now after a year has two chipped teeth. Poor girl! We love the marble, but it might not be the best for tiny babies :) Juana, who helps us at home, is a lifesaver! Thursday nights are date nights and Juana watches the kids and puts them to bed. She spends the night since going to her house in the night is not particularly safe. We love having her around as I think any mom would!! The girls love her and their Spanish is now excellent. Madison would only talk to Mikaela in Spanish and Mikaela will only say some things in Spanish; it cracks us up!

Some of the other highlights of 2007 include Mikaela turning 1 and Madison learning Spanish! For Mikaela's birthday we left her cake on top of the car while going to a friend's house...only to discover it on the road home :( Our friends made an impromptu cake and we had a great time anyway. Madi ate most of Layla's cake which we thought was hilarious...Mikaela didn't seem to know what to do! Right after her birthday some Columbian friends came to stay with us for, it turned out to be, three months. Clarissa was a single mom trying to make her way here with her 13 year old daughter. Her boss ended up copping out on his end of the deal and Clarissa was kicked out of her apartment. After three months of searching and trying and much pain...they were able to get their lives in order and return back to Colombia. We miss them! They were such a great addition to the family for a while! Truly they were part of the family. We learned lots about Colombian cooking, hard work and "pride." We joked with them all the time because they didn't love the DR and would always say it was better in Columbia. If anything ever frustrated us we would say, "ah, if only we were in Columbia!" Madison had a great time with them too. This last year has been a big one for Madi! So many moves, a new little sister and starting school. She ended up really not liking the all Spanish school we put her in and so we switched her for the next year. The three months we spent with the Colombian ladies Madison learned Spanish with no problems and loved having two other people to love and pay attention to her! Funny how we can do and learn things when there isn't pressure. If only we knew how to create the right environments!!

Madison turned four in November, but already can write her name and knows lots of letters--all thanks to her new little school. It has been such a great thing for her to "try out" school and work out some of the bugs that come with a classroom setting. We are all learning a lot about learning and about working together as a team in our family. It has been a hard year in that aspect, but we have worked really hard and feel that the Lord has lead us to things we needed to know about and change. We have learned so much!

Our two favorite things here in the Dominican Republic are the beaches and the Botanical Garden. We have spent tons of time at the beach and the our whole family acts like fish. The girls just lounge in the sand and water like that is where they belong--so much different from Russia! The snow phenomenon only lasts so long in our house! We go about 3 or 4 times a month to the ocean and just don't get sick of it. Any of you are welcome to visit any time!! The National Botanical Garden is right in front of our house and so we go walking there almost daily. Niki has recuperated her back for the most part by walking in the garden. It is an incredible place! So many trees and oxygen-- a great place to escape the city :) The girls love to feed the fish and the pigeons there so we go at least a few times a week as a family. Mikaela goes with Juana every morning when Niki walks for exercise and therapy.

The next Bradford adventure will take us to Mozambique, Africa in the capital city , called Maputo. It, too, is a coastal city which we are all excited about (that means beaches close by!!!). Madison will start "real school" there and hopefully we can stay for three to four years. Tobias will have a wonderful job where he will be in charge of the public affairs section of the embassy and have lots of responsibilities. He is really excited to do something more in his area of interest. Working with visas has been challenging, and has made him realize that our immigration system could use some serious reform! At least we get to be in the Caribbean doing all kinds of fun things while he completes this work assignment. We look forward to Africa a lot, but we are just not ready to go yet. It has been a lovely place for us as a family and we don't want the "honeymoon" to end! Oh well, life always has stages, right?

This is a new blog site so we are hoping it is user friendly and that you like our updates. We love staying in touch with everyone, but feel uncomfortable sending so many mass emails. If you guys are interested in our crazy lives, you can check up every once in a while. By the way, we LOVED getting all the Christmas cards. We love friends and family and love seeing everyone's pictures and hearing of their lives. It is a connection that we don't take for granted--thank you!!! We love you guys! May your new year be filled with lots of the changes you want to make and lots of love from those close to you. Hope you like the pictures. It is amazing how time flies! Love to all!

The Bradfords