www.tried-n-true-recipes.blogspot.com

My new "cookbook" recipe blog is now up and running! I'm going to TRY and do a post a day (or more depending on what I cook) as I try some new recipes and make some "oldies." I hope you enjoy the recipes as much as my family does! Check it out!

Snowshoeing in Winter Wonderland

I do have to say that one good thing about living "way out in the country" is the opportunity to walk out the front door and go for a nice long walk in the woods! There's an established snowmobile/ATV trail that runs from the front of our yard, back through the woods and around again (the trails goes on in other directions as well) but it provides us the chance for some winter fun!

Saturday we went out and got some fresh air as a family. My parents used their cross-country skis and Chris and I snowshoed. Brady walked and was pulled along in his sled. It was so great to feel a part of nature and get some exercise! All in all we guess we went between 2 and 3 miles!

Calling ALL recipes!!!

So, I've visited many of my friends blogs lately in search of great recipes! Many of my friends post their own recipes on their blogs (thanks guys!) or have recipe swaps or sites on their favorite sites lists! I have found quite a few recipes that I'm excited to try! I am trying to be "healthy" and fairly frugal. As a pregnant wife and mommy right now I desperately feel the need to change up our dinner "routine" and try some things that are new....so why, you may ask am I telling all of you this?

I would like your TOP 5 FAVORITE FAMILY MEALS!!! If any of you care to share I'd love it if you emailed me your VERY VERY favorite (fairly easy and healthy) meals to my email address! I've been going through PILES of recipe clippings that I've been saving for years and just haven't tried...so in order to get inspired and have some fun I'm going to be starting a little side blog about my search for GREAT FOOD!! I'll inlcude the recipes and pictures of meals that my family tries AND LIKES and of coarse I'll give a shout out to where ever the recipe came from!

So friends, help me out!!!! Send 5!!! Thanks!

Cowboy Brady!!!

Brady the real Idaho cowboy! He is pretending to be WOODY from TOY STORY! Dress-up clothes are the best! I remember having so much fun with the big box full of play clothes that we had as children!

Yee-Haw!!! Giddy-up cowboy!!! (Riding "BULLSEYE!")

Happy Birthday Brady!!! 3 years old!!!

Brady's 3rd birthday was on February 5th! He was a super bowl baby so we usually have a birthday party and then a superbowl party! This year we had BIG plans to go to a local indoor kid's place called Joker's (like Chuck E. Cheese but way bigger) however, we got snowed out on the night we planned it...and haven't had the chance to go yet. Brady has been very patient waiting to go!

We did have a fun night as a family though. Brady helped me make these yummy cupcakes and then we had pizza, popcorn, ice cream and watched a movie.

Brady loves Toy Story and his Aunt Nickie and I were thinking the same thing because we both got him a BUZZ LIGHTYEAR costume! It was pretty funny when he opened up two of the same presents in a row and was like, "Hey, why do I have 2 Buzz's?" But he LOVES playing dress-up and we'll get a picture posted soon!

The big present was the new "pets!" Brady has been wanting some fish for quite some time. We went out and we all picked out two fish that he named BUZZ (fantail goldfish) and ZERG (the calico fantail goldfish). He loves them! He picked out the little plant and the green, blue and clear "rocks" for the bottom. Every day he helps to feed them and we clean the bowl together at least once a week! We look forward to when we have a bigger place and can get an aquarium with all sorts of different fish!!! They are so pretty to look at!

Bowling!

These pictures are from a month ago, but better late than never! We went bowling as a family the day before Andrew left on his mission. Brady loves bowling and was so excited to have his very own set of special shoes!

He did a great job bowling without bumpers and was able to enjoy his own lane and as many balls as he wanted! Hey, a score of 23 isn't so bad for a 3 year old!

Our Valentine's Day!

Brady and I made up a few pictures for family and friends. The plan WAS to have them posted on Valentine's Day morning so everyone could see them and KNOW that we love them and were thinking about them! Well, we all know how plans go sometimes! Anyhow, here they are now and we truly do hope that you all know how very grateful we are to have you as family and friends in our lives. We have been truly blessed! This picture is hard to see but each heart has people's names in it that Brady wanted to put in a heart! He named each and every one!


This was a picture that Brady and I drew for Chris and suprised him with in the morning after we made the bed! We cut out lots of hearts and had gotten his favorite candies! Chris and I don't get each other very much right now for Valentine's Day. I won't let him spend money on flowers because they just die in a few days (Trust me, when we make more money he knows he'll be buying them then!!!!) So usually what we do every year is save the gift card that my Grandparents gave us for Christmas to a restaurant and we go out for dinner and a movie! This year we tried out the LOnghorn Steakhouse! It was good, and VERY expensive! Thanks Grammie and Grandpa Morgan, however, Texas Roadhouse still trumps!!!

We also suprised Brady with some hearts and some chocolates and we got some cards and chocolates from my parents (my mom snuck up in the middle of the night and left them on the table!) We didn't get pictures of these things though...we also got a package in the mail from Grammie and Grandpa Graf!!! It had a special "Book of Mormon Heroes" book for Brady and some candies! (**Thanks **) and we got the cutest card in the mail from Aunt Nickie, Uncle Nick and Lexi!!

Here's Brady showing Chris his "suprise!"

Chris managed to sneak in a suprise for me as well by whipping up a breakfast while he was getting ready for work!! At first I was confused by the "glob" of jelly on top of the peanut butter toast, but then I realized it was a heart! Awwwwwwwww!!!! How creative!!

The VERY exciting news!!!!!!

So, we were so excited when we found out that we went right out to dinner to celebrate and then we went shopping and bought the "first outfits!" Yes, there are two outfits, but don't get too excited, we're not having twins! (I just liked both!!!) Here's me on Sunday (18 weeks: 4 1/2 months for those who don't speak "pregnancy talk!")

Here's our wee little one (profile of head)! Chris was so excited to be there and we both were so happy to see such a healthy, active baby!

We are having a GIRL!!!!!!!!!

Olivia JulieAnn Graf will make her debut around July 13th!!!!

Be patient everybody!!!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!! XOXO Okay, many of you know that today IS the day!!! That we find out what we're having (hopefully all goes well with the ultrasound!!!!) Chris and I took the opportunity to get out for the afternoon and evening to have a special night together, so just be patient, hold the phone calls and when we get home tonight (LATE) I'm going to be posting my bloggin' brains out!!! =) So early tomorrow morning or very late tonight you'll have many exciting new posts and news!!! WE LOVE YOU ALL!!!