Fall Fun

As Fall came to a close Brady enjoyed playing in the leaves that were raked up in the back yard. Now we have about a foot of snow and he is loving playing in that when ever he gets a chance!

Elves Gone Wild!!!

My friend, Megan emailed me her family's "elves" and I thought it was hilarious so if you'd like to see our family as crazy little dancing elves follow the link below!!!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1182530467

Here's one of my family (The Morgans):

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1183677317

Here's one of my sister and brother-in-laws family (The Bradburys!)

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1183166600

ABC's About Me!!!

So....I've been "Tagged" several times by several friends and decided to finally reply! So here's a few of the different tags and my "interesting" answers!!!

This one is called the ABC's about me and my fabulous sister-in-law sent it to me:

A- Attached or single?: Very much attached to a super hubby and a super-duper two year old and a growing baby belly!!!

B- Best Friend: My husband- I also have so many other wonderful friends and people that I love dearly like my mom, my girl friends from college, my sister-in-law Nickie, and a couple girlf friends here from church

C- Cake or Pie: Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting or cheesecake!!!

D- Day of choice: Saturday, Saturday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sleeping in, no obligations...wonderful!!!!

E- Essential Item: Mascara, my cell phone, a good pillow and blanket

F- Favorite Color: Green mostly but I love ALL colors!!!

G- Gummy Bears or Worms: Neither unless their sour patch

H- Hometown: Saco, Maine

I- Indulgence(s): Sleep, snacks, free time to do whatever I want, eating out

J- January or July: July for sure! Man, oh man! I'll be having a baby!!!

K- Kid(s): Brady, the cutest 2 year old if you ask me! and another little "Graffer" on the way!

L- Life is Incomplete Without: Family, the gospel, friends, laughter and chocolate (YUP! Nickie you said it all!!!!)

M- Marriage Date: May 2, 2003 What a wonderful, crazy day!!!

N- Number of Siblings: 2 little brothers (not so little anymore!!! 21 and 19) 3 sister-in-laws

O- Oranges or Apples: I do love them both!!!

P- Phobias or Fears: A little claustrophobic: sometimes on airplanes I freak out if I've been on one for a while and just feel like I NEED TO GET OUT!!! Fear of losing people I love (especially a child) Fear of the unknown future!!! Duh, duh, duh!!!

Q- Quote(s): I like to say: "Don't do what you like, like what you do!!!" There are so many others that have helped me through different times and trials in my life. One that has helped me for the past few years is "For everything there is a season!!!...."

R- Reason To Smile: Because my last day of work is this Monday!!!! (And so many more reasons....)

S- Season: Summer (I love the beach, the water, the flowers, being outside, bonfires, hiking, everything about it!!!!)

T- Tag others +: Rachel Chick (Mainly because I haven't heard from you in FOREVER!!!!) and Natalie Thibodeau, and who ever else wants to reply!!!

U- Unknown Fact About Me: Hmmmmm....now if I tell you it won't be unknown anymore! I used to dream about growing out my hair and having dred (sp?) locks, buying a VW "hippie" van and going on a road trip with my "bestest" friend in high school Hil. We were going to learn how to surf and be street musicians!!! I'm still going to own a VW van someday!!!

V- Vegetarian or Meat Eater: Bring on the meat!!! I need my protein fix. There is nothing like a juicy steak and some finger lickin' ribs!!! (Texas Roadhouse baby!)

W- Worst Habit: Being too critical of others and nagging Chris too much (I'm trying!!)

X-Rays or Ultrasounds: Oh, ultrasounds most definately! I can't wait to go to the doctor!

Y- Your Favorite Food: Food(s) in my case! Lasagna, chinese (hot & sour soup), chocolate anything!!! Shrimp, clams and Lobster (YUP, I'm a Mainah!) and many many other things...the list is WAY too long!!!

Z- Zodiac: Virgo

And another Tag: These are different Questions: (This one was from Natalie)

-If time and money was not an issue what would you do...

I would most definately be seeing the sites of the world! There are so many places that I would want to go and things I would do! I would definately have avacation home in Sun Valley or somewhere beautiful in Idaho so we could visit family...I would have a spectacular home and wardrobe, drive a sporty black SUV and eat out whenever I felt like! Sounds fabulous!!!

-Five things you were doing ten years ago...

Let's see- 1.) I was fourteen and I was a freshman in high school. That's crazy!

2.) I was worrying about my body and what boys liked me or didn't like me.

3.) I was playing JV softball and in high honors at school

4.) I was moving from South Portland to Scarborough to live in a really nasty apartment while we built our house

5.) I was just being introduced to the wonderful world of "email" through free AOL CD's that came in the mail. My dad let each of us kids have a half hour to "play."

-Five things on your to do list today...

1.) Get out of bed

2.) Get ready for work

3.) Drive to work

4.) Make it through the whole day of work without throwing up, passing out or having to go home early to sleep

5.) Drive home from work and try to do as little as possible! (WOW, I sound sooooooo lame!)

Five favorite snacks-

1.) graham crackers with peanut butter and chocolate chips

2.) french fries

3.) carrots and celery with dip or hummus

4.) salty potato chips (BBQ etc)

5.) cheese and crackers

Five bad habits-

1.)Late night snacking

2.)not excercising enough

3.)not reading my scriptures enough

4.) Nagging too much

5.)Staying up too late

Top Five places I've been-

Well, no where extremely exciting!

1.) Maine- I ahve been able to go to some really beautiful places that our state has to offer and we're lucky to live in such a beautiful place!

2.) San Antonio, Texas- this was probably the most exciting place I've ever gone because it was a totally random trip that Chris and I went on and our first REAL vacation anywhere together. It was a crazy town but had so much to offer and was really beautiful. I loved the Alamo and the River Walk and all of the fun places to eat like Taco Cabana! YUM!!!

3.) Montana- I was able to live here for a summer and it's truly beautiful state with amazing moutains, waterfalls, sunsets and animals!

4.) Idaho- Although I did my fair share of complaining when I lived there (for 5 years!) I did love so many things about it! I do miss the west!

5.)Washington D.C.- so historic and I love the temple there!

5 Things I Would NEVER Wear Again!

1.) stirrup pants (you know, those ones that had a strap that went under your foot?)

2.) Body suits!!!

3.) penny loafers (And to make matters worse I'd wear them with hot pink or neon green socks!)

4.) HUGE bangs!

5.) scrunchies!!!

5 Favorite "TOYS"

1.) My camera

2.) My bike (I want to get a new one and get a bike trailers for the kids)

3.) My computer for sure!

4.) CD player

5.) Blender (I know this is odd but I do love orange julius' and shakes!)

It Has Begun....

I picked this gross color because this is how I feel....it started Sunday- the queezy, yucky nausea!!! AND the smells, oh the smells! Yesterday it was the beef stew and tonight, of course it was my dinner! Oh how am I going to feed my family for the next eight months?! The only thing that will help...I'm going to bed!

BRADY HAS A SECRET TO TELL YOU!!!!

"SHHHHHHH!!!!!!"

That's right! There's another little "Graffer" on the way! We were so excited when we found out that I was expecting and Brady talks about his little baby (usually says little sister) every day! He is so excited to be a big brother and to hold and cuddle the baby once "it has grown big in mommy's belly!" I haven't had the chance to go to the doctor's yet but I am making calls this week and getting in the next week, hopefully! I'd like to know how far along I am because it's either around 7 or 11 weeks...hence it would be nice to know!

So far I'm feeling pretty good, just extremely tired and hungry!!! I can deal with that! So, we'll keep you all updated!

Happy Halloween!!!!

Happy Halloween Everybody!!!

It's been a long time since my last entry and I really have missed doing it, but life has been busy! We had a great time dressing up as a family as the Flinstones and attending our Branch Trunk or Treat. Since I'm in the Young Women's Presidency, each year we and the Young Men put on the activity for the kids in the branch. This year we had a great turn out and enjoyed some fun games and yummy fall foods! Chris and I were definately the most "in character" and got lots of laughs! Chris was a "real man" for wearing a "dress!!!"

Baby Alexa's First Halloween (our niece)

Happy Halloween from our niece, Lexi!!!

This was little Lexi's first Halloween and isn't she the cutest little pumkin. Right now she's with her mommy and daddy visiting family in Idaho and we already miss her!!! Maybe someday we'll be able to bring the kids Trick or Treating together (when she has teeth, of course!!!)

My Photography- "Maine, the Way Life Should Be!"

For a long time I've been wanting to get back into photography, mainly for my own pleasure. I love capturing beautiful things so that I'll be able to look at them forever! I took several photography classes in highschool and college and have really missed it ever since. I always wanted to do something with it someday. What do you think, are they Calendar material?!

Here are a few recent photos that I've taken of our "travels"

Camden Harbor, ME

Maine Lobster buoys (you'll see buoy "collections" like this all over the coast of Maine). Lobstermen use buoys to mark their traps and buoys are a very "Maine symbol" This display here was obvioulsy supposed to be patriotic (if you look close near the bottom right you will spy the Statue of Liberty!" I'd like to think that they are "Calendar Material!"

This is a view of Ram Island Light off the coast from the portland Headlight. The ligthing was perfect at this time of night for pictures (about 7 p.m. in mid-august)

A sailboat in Casco Bay Harbor, looking out from Portland Headlight. I love the way the light is hitting the sails and also how the lighthouse casts a shadow on the rocks.

Classic New England Charm: red gernaiums in a window box

Honey! I Shrunk the Kid!

Brady is looking a bit small these days! Actually my brother-in-law Nick and I had a fabulous day yard saling and finding some great deals (toddler bed $15, cozy rider car $5 and all of the little Disney figurines a boy could wish for $3...) On the way home we stopped at Swarthmore College for a photo opportunity! Nick and Brady raced to the "Humongous chair!" and after a little finnegaling we managed to scoot the college students out of it for a few minutes! One studious student didn't get the hint that we wanted a picture of Brady BY HIMSELF! He kept sitting there and had his hands on Brady (I think he thought he was helping) Well, it was funny anyways, especially when he finally got the hint!

Mommy and Brady ( we should definately get one of these some day!)

Meeting Baby Alexa!

I must be CRAZY!!!! I decided to go down to Philadelphia on a whim! I'd been deliberating for WEEKS about what to do once Alexa was born because I wanted to go and see Nickie so bad! When Julie, my mother-in-law flew out on a last minute decision I wanted to go even more! They gave me a call when I was on my way home from work on Thursday the 13th and begged me to come. I wanted to so bad but felt that I couldn't because I had work and a lot of things planned for the weekend. Chris wasn't going to be able to go because he started training on that following Monday for his new job! So, I hemmed and hawed about what i should do and went back and forth about it for about an hour before my mom finally came up and said, "Well, are you going, or what!?" So, I said, "Okay! I"m going!" She helped me pack and Brady and I were out the door!

Chris had taken Brady's car seat with him to work on accident so luckily I had a booster seat in the shed. I strapped Brady in, we drove to Chris' work, got his car seat, swapped them out, stopped at the grocery store and got some Red Bull (hehe and some cookies...) and let my boss know I'd be out of town! Luckily he was very understanding. Then we hit the road! I cancelled all of my weekend activties/jobs through various phone calls and it was nothing but highway after that!

Brady was VERY good for me on the drive down. He played with his toys, sang songs and snacked for hours on end. He only slept for two hours of the whole trip! We rolled into Philly just shy of 3 am and were delighted to meet our new neice/cousin!

She is beautiful! Alexa is the happiest, sweetest baby. While we were there it was rare to catch her with her eyes open because she slept so much!

Like I said, she's preparing for another snooze with a nice big yawn...makes me sleepy too!

Beautiful new mom! None other than my fabulous sister-in-law, Nickie! It was so much fun to be together during such a wonderful time! It is awesome having her as sister and a friend! I love you Nickie!!! =)

Brady was the best cousin! He adores her and talks about "Baby Alexa" all the time, saying that "I love her the best!" He was very possesive of her and wanted to be the one to hold her all of the time. He's going to be such a good big brother someday!!!

Can you tell that I'm baby hungry! I loves snuggling up with her and having such precious moments like these. It was worth every penny and the lack of sleep that I got every night that we were there (thanks to Brady!)

We're FINALLY an Aunt and Uncle!!! Baby Alexa has arrived!!!

We are the proud Aunt and Uncle to a GORGEOUS baby girl!!! Alexa Nickole is perfect and beautiful! She looks mostly like her daddy with her mommy's nose and she is chubby and cute! We can't wait to hold her, hug her and kiss her! Brady says: "She is sad? No she is happy! She is a baby! I love Alexa!"

Congratulations Nick and Nickie! We love you! XOXO

Last Days of Summer...

Reid State Park- August 2007

Since the summer is fading away my mom and I took advantage of a day off and we went to Reid State Park Beach in Bath, Maine about 40 minutes away. This beach is amongst a very rugged coastline and boasts island views, walking paths and even a salt water lagoon! It is very beautiful and classic to the coast of Maine.

Brady didn't like the "big scary waves" on the beach and was a good sport playing in the sand for a while. We found the lagoon and it provided a much calmer place to swim for little ones and the water was a couple of degrees warmer, although still very chilly!!! Brrr!!!

Here he is surfing like a "cool dude!"

Our sea turtle!!!

Climbing to the top of the rocky knoll to overlook the bay

Five Islands Harbor: a beautiful little seaside village that my mom and I came across on our way home from the beach. There's a small ferry and a light house on the island to the left and on the mainland there's a small Lobster Pound where the local lobstermen sell catch of the day!

Our Apartment

The Camper!

This was our "home" last summer, where we basically slept. It was manageable but I don't think I'd ever want to do it again! The heat was often very bad and the spiders....ewwwwww!!!! In November of 2006 when it began to get too cold we moved into the apartment above the garage where my grandpa was living at the time. He was gracious enough to let us have his bedroom and we made a private area for his bed in the livingroom. That arrangement worked well until May of 2007 when he made some life changes and moved out to Montana with my Aunt Linda and Uncle John. This left us with the apartment, which we were so grateful to have!!! It had been a VERY long winter (and year for that matter!) We moved into the apartment almost a year to the day from when we had moved back here to Maine! After painting and cleaning we were finally able to call it our own!!!

The view from our kitchen window. My parents have 5 acres, almost all of it is lawn that we have to mow! But everyone in our family loves mowing so we actually fight over who gets to do it (we have a John Deere Lawn Tractor!) What we don't like is raking after mowing!

My lovely flower boxes have been in full bloom all summer. I'll be sad when the last little flowers die away! I planted Pink Superbena, Gazinia's, Dusty Miller, and Zinnias.

The view of the deck from the backyard. It's been really nice having my own first "garden" and experimenting with different flowers. It's very private as it's on the west side of the house by the woods. Brady has a little playset with two slides and a turtle sandbox in this area so I can watch him play while tending to the plants. All summer long he helped me water everyday with his own little watering can! He's such a good little helper!

These are mostly Mums and leftover annuals from the summer that are still thriving

Below: The back garden that I've helped my mom create. She also built the brick patio that leads off from their deck. This garden has grapevines, roses, dahlias, bee balm, cosmos, silver mound, pansies, and purple coleus.

This is our kitchen! It's huge and provides lots of storage!

Our cozy livingroom- aside from only having 1 bedroom, the old appliances and flooring I really love this apartment and how big the rooms are (because it's handicap accessable). in fcat, this is actually my favorite apartment that we've lived in because it's so bright and sunny and it's been wonderful being able to look at my flowers through the sliding glass doors in the livingroom.

Our Cozy, cute bedroom

Our Bathroom is so nice because it's huge and has a washer/dryer!

Camping- Camden Hills, Maine

Camping Trip to Camden, Maine

We camped at Camden Hills State Park and enjoyed "hiking," window shopping, swimming and seeing lighthouses!

Mt. Battie, Camden

You can drive right up to the top of this mountain from the campground that we stayed at. At the top there are several other trails that connect to other mountains and a look-out tower. The views are spectacular!

Penobscot Bay

Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse:

It's a mile walk along this rock jetty to get to the lighthouse