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!!!

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!!!