Mute button!

Oh, someone PLEASE give me a mute button! If I have to answer ONE MORE question from Brady today I'm going to go CRAZY!!! He asks very good questions, constantly...and it's becoming tiresome answering question after question after question....!!!!

Chris and I just found out that our dear prophet President Gordon B. Hinckley passed away this afternoon. I was totally shocked when he called me over to the computer to read the headline. It wasn't what I was expecting at all...I am so grateful for this man and how he has led the church. He has been the prophet for the better part of my life and has been such a tremendous example and leader. His was a way that was so unique- gifted with humor and wit. I will always love the meetings that I was able to attend in his presence while I was living out West. He truly is a man of God and is now with God and his eternal companion. He deserves this rest from the world and his responsibilities!

It is truly amazing to me what miracles can be performed when one is in accordance with the will of the Lord. President Hinckley was 97 years old and probably had more energy than I do sometimes! I am in awe for his work, his ethics and his ever-burning desire to serve the Lord. I know that as a church we have lost a great leader, but I look forward to the rise of the next Prophet and pray that the Lord will be with Him during this time of adjustment.

Wow. So many emotions....I am happy and sad! I'm grateful for my testimony, that it is strong and unshakeable! I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true and that God will raise a Prophet who will continue to lead and guide us. I'm so grateful for this knowledge and the ability to have faith and hope in the future; sometimes it truly is a miracle when such dark shadows surround.

All Dressed Up!!!

These pictures are from when Nick, Nickie and Lexi were visiting us, I just hadn't posted them yet...but don't we all look so nice all dressed up for church? It was great having them at church with us and it would be soooooooooo much fun if we were in the same branch/ward someday!!!

NEW YEARS 2007!!! A Visit with the Bradburys!!!

Chris' sister, Nickie and her husband, Nick and their baby, Alexa came up for a week to spend New Years with us! We were so excited to see them, and we even more excited to find out that Nick had gotten an interview for his medical residency right here in Portland, Maine and a day after they were planning to leave- so it worked out perfectly!!!

Chris waited a long 4 months to meet his first niece, Lexi! He is a very good uncle and it was great seeing him with a baby again! I think he's getting excited to have another little one running around!!!


Brady kicked "Big Brother" practice into full gear with Lexi here! It was a bit crazy at moments but the exposure to a baby was great for him and he loves her so much! He kept wanting to climb into the pack and 'play to read and play with her!!!

NEW YEARS EVE 2007!!!! We celebrated by starting out early at LLBean where Chris still works part-time. They had a special evening for kids starting at 5 p.m. with music, hot cocoa, ice scultptures, fireworks and other festivities- all free! We will definately make this a family tradition!!! They also have free carriage rides, but we got there just after they had finished!

This is "the bubble" as Brady calls it and it allows you to become part of the underwater world of trout and salmon! This aquarium is part of the brand-new Hunt and Fish Building at LLBean and is a neat feature! We had to wait in line for about 15 mins to get a 3 second pop into the bubble, but look at the joy on thier faces! Nothing like a father/son moment!

New Years Celebration- kiddie style! These are some great glasses that Nickie bought for the kids. They lit up and flashed and really helped us get excited for the rest of the night! ...........


..........So excited in fact, that Nickie and I just had to have a turn wearing them!!!!!


Games, good food, good company, party horns, sparkeling cider....what else could we ask for as we rang in the New Year?!?!

After a few days of fog, snow and wind we woke up on January 2nd to a gorgeous winter day!!! We couldn't let this pass us by and quickly decided to pack the kids in the car along with snow shoes, poles, snacks, a sled and lots of snow clothes to head a few miles down the road to Bradbury Mountain State Park. It just happens that Thomas Bradbury, who the park is named after is a distant realtive of Nick's! So it was a special day for him as he "bonded with the land!"

We were able to snowshoe up the mountain and even though it was only 1 1/2 miles one way it was quite the trek for those of us out of shape! Brady did a great job as he walked almost a half mile on his own and then he rode in the sled with Lexi the rest of the way! He was her "special protector" and did a great job!

Once we reached the top we had a small "picnic" and took a group picture of coarse! Nick was a real trooper for pulling the kids in the sled (weighing approximately 50+ lbs!) Both kids enjoyed the ride down so much that they fell fast asleep until a bunch of snow blew on their faces! Luckily we had made it to the parking area, when the two cozy children errupted in tears of shock and cold! I've always called Brady my nature boy! He and Lexi both have many years of adventures ahead of them!!!

CHRISTMAS 2007!!!!

This Christmas was so much fun because Brady really understood more about everything. He had a special table where he got to keep several unbreakable nativity sets, ornaments and a snow globe. This was his special Christmas table and he loved playing with these things! He also made a Christmas chain with daddy so we could count down each day to Christmas which really helped him understand when he's be able to open his presents! (Nothing like a 2 1/2 year old's anticipation!!!) Here he is in front of our beautifully decorated tree!


Decorating the tree with Mommy and Daddy! Brady did a great job helping put the ornaments on and was soooo excited to place the star on top!!!

Visiting with Santa! Chris and I took Brady on a special "Santa Train" with some of our friends, which was a neat experience for Brady. We got to ride in the caboose and decided that it would be fun to take him on one of the local "Polar Express" rides in the future!

A special plate for Santa's treats that Brady got in the mail from Aunt Nickie!!! We opened it Christmas Eve, just in time to write our letter to Santa and leave him a few yummy snacks!!!

Brady and Daddy proudly continue on Graf family tradition by wearing their Santa hats on Christmas morning! When I first became aware of this tradition I thought it was really corny but now I think it's a fun way to get in the spirit and have a great time as a family!!! Don't they look cute?! (Even our dog, Captain joined in!!! What a good sport!)

Andrew's Endowments! He's Going on a Mission!

Well, my little brother is going on a mission! He leaves January 23rd to the Fresno California Mission, Spanish speaking! I just can't believe how grown up he is! We were able to go down to the Boston Temple as a family and take part in Andrew's Endowments. It was really special because it was just us in his session. My mom, Grammie Morgan and I and Chris, my dad, my Grandpa Morgan and Andrew. It was nice to have such intimacy and it was a really special day!

Winter Fun 2007!!!!

Brady LOVES playing in the snow- which is a good thing because we have lots of it!!! Here's our little SNOW ANGEL!!!

ANGEL turned IMP as he gives Uncle Andrew a white wash!!! I wonder who taught him that!?

Like a true Maine winter we have been pummeled with snow storm after snow storm this year- resulting in over 2 feet of snow! Since we live down a long dirt road and our house is the last on the road my dad snowblows the whole road every storm! Here's my brother Andrew and Brady having a blast on the snowblower! Brady loves the tractor and he and Uncle Andrew spun "cookies" to their hearts content!!!