Happy Birthday Josh

He is a great dad


A great example of hard work


An amazing cook (that's our old kitchen by the way)


a wonderful teacher


And, he is mine. Happy Birthday Hon.

Happy 2nd Birthday Amanda

My Sweetest Amanda, I remember the day you were born as if it was yesterday. It was a Saturday and we were going to have lunch with Grandma and Grandpa Poshtyar. We woke up in the morning and started to clean our apartment in Mountain View. Then we all got in the car around noon. I remember telling your daddy that I think my bladder is out of control but we didn't think much of it. When we got to grandma's house we were very hungry and grandma like usual had prepared something super Divine. I was sitting on the chair in the living room and got up to use the bathroom and boom my water broke. Yep, there was water all over Grandma and Grandpa's Persian rug. Just like in the movies. No pain or anything, yet. Grandma gave me a towel and said, "I guess we are going to have a baby today." And indeed we had. By 7:30 that evening, you were born.
You are the sweetest girl. Your smile is contagious. Words can not describe how much we love you. You are mommy's little friend, daddy's little girl, Collin's sanity (He would have gone nuts without you to play with) and Samantha's big sister. In a nutshell, you are a blessing to all of us.

Sep- Oct in a Nutshell

Well, we have been pretty busy the past couple of months. I am not even sure if I remember everything that has been going on. The kids are keeping us on our toes, that's for sure; but life is good and we are keeping busy. Here are some of my favorite moments that I happen to catch on camera. It is almost impossible to catch all the precious moments but what a mother of three can do...

Oh the beautiful Santa Barbara beach. We went there with Josh for his Yardi Conference in September and the beach was gorgeous.

Amanda's kissable toes

gotta love the hair.

Samantha soaking up the sun

Collin picking out a pumpkin for his best friend's birthday present from our front yard.

So, we went down to Mountain View for Landen's (Collin's best friend) birthday party. We had a blast hanging out with our friends. We had missed them so much. We were all smiles from ear to ear on our way back to east bay.

Baby Samantha always has a smile for me that melts my heart. She is an absolute angel.

We brought our pumpkins that Josh grew in our front yard (we can't afford a real landscaping yet) for our trunk or treat. We are going to have pumpkins for a very long time.

The biggest one was 47.2 pounds. Pretty impressive for a first timer, don't you think?

Our little pumpkin laying against a pumpkin. Gotta love her spit ups.

I had to snap this one when we were hurrying for church. She just looked too adorable with those pig tales. She doesn't always let me do her hair but my old Halloween bangles and a lip-gloss did the trick.

My most favorite people in the world.

Note to Parents of Trick-or-Treaters

Halloween can be a scary time, and not because of the ghosts and vampires going door to door but because of safety concerns regarding trick-or-treating. As parents it is our duty to protect our children on Halloween and every other day of the year.

Proposition 8 protects our children from being taught in public schools that same-sex marriage is the same as traditional marriage. In health education classes, state law requires teachers to instruct children as young as kindergarteners about marriage. (Education Code §51890.) If the same-sex marriage ruling is not overturned, teachers will be required to teach young children that there is no difference between gay marriage and traditional marriage. (see www.protectmarriage.com)

Proposition 8 doesn’t take away any rights or benefits from gay or lesbian domestic partners. Under California law, “domestic partners shall have the same rights, protections and benefits” as married spouses. (Family Code §297.5.) There are no exceptions to this. Proposition 8 will not change this.(see www.protectmarriage.com)

As parents of children, we ask that you join with us to protect children without endangering equality and vote YES on Proposition 8.

A Consideration on Proposition 8

By Josh Bradshaw

I believe all men and women are created equal and that all should have the same rights regardless of race, religion, gender, social status or any other categorization. I also believe the first marriage was performed by God between Adam and Eve and marriage originated as a religious ceremony. Two beliefs that are reported by many to be at odds when it comes to Proposition 8 on the ballot which would amend the constitution of the State of California to read: "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."

How can I reconcile equality with religious belief? How can I decide with finality the correct course of action for the pen in my hand on this fall's ballot without fear of offending those living in monogamous homosexual relationships and at the same time not offend a loving God who created all of his children?

I reconcile the two beliefs by considering the following: Over time in national, state and local governments legal benefits have been associated with marriage, the union between a man and a woman. These benefits are significant enough that those who cannot obtain marital status feel they are, although created equal, not considered equal. Among those who feel this way are some of my friends, co-workers and family members, people who I respect and consider created equal to all of the other members of the human race.

I then consider the equality problem as not that same-sex couples cannot marry but that same-sex couples feel they cannot obtain the same government-granted legal benefits associated with marriage. In granting marriage to same-sex couples, the State of California effectively breaks marriage as established by God; mending domestic partnership, creating a legal union equivalent granting spousal benefits similar to those achieved through traditional marriage for same sex partners could possibly be solutions for equality. There are also possible alternatives that would instead of increasing benefits granted to homosexual couples, decrease benefits granted to heterosexual married couples.

While strongly believing equality belongs to all people in this state and nation and the entire Earth, I support a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union between a man and a woman because I believe there is a way for equality to exist, for equal rights for everyone, without same-sex marriage. I will vote YES on Proposition 8 in the election this November.