Ghoti.

I remember one day in seventh grade when one of my teachers went up to the board, wrote GHOTI and asked us how to pronounce it. Goatee? I don't know. No, she said, it is pronounced FISH. She was pointing out how odd English phonetics can be. (Amen to that!) For those who have never seen the ghoti example, I'll break it down...

GH = F = as in rouGH
O = I = as in wOmen
TI = SH = as in naTIon

Weird, eh? Anyway, that's really beside the point. I really just wanted you to check out Brie's Fishy Face...

...I think she's decided to go pro ;0)

Is it ridiculous...

...that I have tell myself to sit down and read through the instruction manual for my new camera?! Don't get me wrong...I am OVERJOYED to have it, but realizing how much I need to learn overwhelms me... A LOT! I think I've got something down, point, shoot and the picture doesn't turn out the way I had wanted. Such is life. There is always a learning curve, eh?

In spite of all that I just said, I'm having fun playing around with my camera :0) So, here's a sneak peek of what's been going on in the Graden household the last little while:

(My dad also bought a new camera, same model as mine and all.

We've had fun figuring out the cameras together.)

Brie really doesn't like having her diaper changed, SO...every time I bring her to the changing table I tell her that the Ribbity family is saying, "hello Brie, ribbit, ribbit" :0) As silly as it sounds it seems to help.

My mom was so sweet and got us a free sitting and 8x10 portrait from Fotogenix. As much as I wasn't so pleased with their exorbitant prices and stringent policies (It's against copyright laws to scan their pictures to upload to blogs, Facebook and such. Bummer. So this is as good as it gets.) I am so happy to finally have a NICE official family portrait. YAY! Thanks Mom!!! :0)

My handsome husband.

Just couldn't help but take a picture :0)

Brie with her blankie. She LOVES her blankie and has started hanging onto it when I get her out of her crib. I have to admit though, it's so cute how excited she gets when she sees it :0) And this weekend I was feeling yucky and it kept her entertained for almost two days straight. Yay for the blankie!

Brie waving...

...and waving some more. Too cute.

P.S. Does anyone else leave their kids in thier jammies all day? I just can't bring myself to picking out a onesie then a shirt then a warm sweater and pants and socks...when cute, sweet, simple, snuggly footed jammies will do :0)

Little Black Rain Cloud.

So for whatever reason, the last few days I've had a little black rain cloud hanging over head. This morning, I got on my computer to "connect" with the outside world...thankfully our home page is set to LDS.org so I "happened" upon a little MormonMessage on gratitude. It was just what I needed to see. (To watch it, click here.)

Wow, how gratitude makes all the difference!

I'm grateful for...
a warm and safe apartment
having family so close
a wonderful husband
a CUTE daughter, especially her smiles and giggles :0)
good health most of the time
the knowledge of the gospel
my Savior
my senses
a BEAUTIFUL World
my gifts and talents

the list goes on...

What are YOU thankful for?

New camera, New special!

So I am loving my new camera and REALLY wanting to use it for some photo shoots :0) I've got an offer up on my photo blog that ends Saturday...check it out if you're interested and spread the word. Thanks everyone!

www.bellepetitephoto.blogspot.com

Blog Comments 101.

A few years ago I had NO idea what a BLOG was, let alone how to leave a comment. So if anyone is like I was, here is a little lesson on how to leave comments on a Blog:

First scroll down to the end of the post...

You can tell it's the end because it tells who it was posted by, at what time and so on. Right next to the time it was posted you should find the word "COMMENT(S)".

Click on the word "COMMENT(s)"...

...and that will take you to a comment box. Type in your comment and click "PUBLISH YOUR COMMENT". And Voilà! Your comment should be posted :0)

At this point, I still am confused about this part :0), I think you just have to hit the back button on the internet browser to get back to where you were before you commented.

In any case, I hope that was helpful to someone. It's fun to be able to leave comments AND on the other end...I always get SO excited when someone has left a comment on one of my posts. So there you have it. Blog Comments 101 :0)

Measuring up.

So at Brie's 9 month checkup our PA was going through the list of developmental milestones and asked if she had started clapping and waving. It caught me off guard because Brie has always been "on track" with her previous checkups, but I really couldn't recall ever seeing her doing either. He didn't seem worried and just moved on to the next questions. But what do you think we've been working on ever since? :0) This week she has started to clap and to wave...I'll admit I was a bit relieved to see that she had reached those milestones, but more than that it's SO cute! Isn't it funny how such little things can seem so victorious and exciting?

I have to admit that it's so hard for me not to compare Brie with other kids...look he's taller...Brie's so much smaller...he's walking...she's only crawling, etc. The last time we went in for a checkup I was asking how Brie COMPARED. Our PA assured me that it wasn't about how she measured up to everyone else but how her own curve looked.

Last Sunday---don't worry I'm tying this all in :0)---I bore my testimony in church...it had been a LONG time. I can't even remember the last time I got up to share my testimony. In any case, I shared the experience I'd had at Brie's check up and how it got me thinking... we are so quick to compare ourselves to others and worry that we don't measure up, but God doesn't compare at all He just looks at our own personal curve of progression to see how we're doing. It was a good reminder. A good reminder to not get so down on myself when I don't "measure up" and to give others the benefit of the doubt when they seem to be "falling short."

The moment has arrived...

...I purchased my first DSLR !

HAPPY DAY :0)

I'm SO excited to read through the Owner's Manual and learn all about how to use it. And with the excitement comes a small confession...although I have always LOVED taking pictures...the science behind photography totally overwhelms me. BUT...here's my chance to dive in and really learn and grow and become a true photographer. Wish me luck!

Miss Giroose.

So I've got to admit that Halloween has never been a favorite holiday of mine. Probably because I get scared easily (like as a little girl when I got scared while watching "the Care Bears" or "Rainbow Brite."). There's something about the yucky, gruesome, scary side of the holiday that just doesn't do it for me.

HOWEVER, this year Tim and I decided, the day before, to decorate for our family Halloween dinner. We made it cute instead of creepy so it was fun to do, and I actually went to bed excited for Halloween to come. That's a first!

And the moment you've all been waiting for, the costumes ;0)...


Mr. Moose + Mrs. Giraffe = the Proud Parents of Miss Giroose

(i just have to point out that during the evening

we were mistaken for dogs and deer. Hmm. Too funny.)

.

.

.

So typically for Halloween we have Mummy Dogs (hotdogs baked in crescent rolls), Witch Chips (tortilla chips) and Boo Juice (Apple Cider). Not high on nutrition but fun. This year we decided to add a few more goodies.

I found a fun recipe from Betty Crocker. The cookies looked nice and easy, but Bryan and were struggling to make the cookies look as cute as the picture. Imagine that :0)

Instead of getting frustrated Bry had the idea of turning

out cookies into MUTANT spider cookies...

GREAT idea sweetie! I think we'll add these yummy cookies to our repertoire of Halloween goodies, but from here on out we'll forever make the MUTANT variety :0)

Something else we added this year was a jello slurping contest...

and Crystal Balls (Vanilla icecream rolled in a YUMMY mixture that Em made up. That Em, she sure has some yummy concoctions :0))

Mixture= Skor bar, pretzels and kettle corn

crushed into little pieces.
Note: Don't put TOO much onto the crystal ball, a little goes a long way.

A few shots from our H A L L O W E E N party:

Mr. Giraffe himself. Looking good :0)

Rach and Pops.
(I think this is the first year my dad

has ever dressed up on Halloween. Go dad!)

Miss Giroose watching a bit of "Harry Potter"

with her dad before heading to bed.

YAY for a FUN and memorable Halloween!

trav·e·logue (trv-lôg, -lg)

Saturday, 10 October 2009

Andy and Char came over for breakfast.

We don't get to see them much so it was definitely fun to visit.

Huskies Fans :0)

Grandpa & Grandma all dressed up for one of

their many outings while we were there.

What a good looking couple :0)

Ok, so it isn't THAT interesting that Brie and Bry were doing laundry...it's really the wall paper I want you to check out. I LOVE that about G & G's, they have all sorts around the house. Here are a few found in their basement...

(Laundry room, play room, bathroom)


Later that evening we went back over to Jon & Marlene's where I got to meet Brigette and Shon (Michael's wife and son) for the first time. Too bad they don't live closer...they're so fun.


Shon with "Kitty Kitty"

CUTE.

Sunday, 11 October 2009

Brie and Bry outside of church

Brie with her Grammy and Papa

So sweet.

Monday, 12 October 2009

Monday was really laid back, especially since Bry headed out for work on Sunday night--it was so hard to see him go :0(--and because G&G had an appointment in town. Brie and I watched "Strawberry Shortcake" and "Care Bears" :0)

Brie watching TV with Papa.

Grandma telling me how to make her famous Walnut Cream Rolls. Yum.

Tuesday, 13 October 2009

Last day in Seattle...

After having lunch with Grandma and Aunt Linda

Our stroller, Grandpa bringing our luggage into the airport, lots of KIX & Cheerios and a nearly empty flight made our traveling experience very doable. Brie is sure an ACTIVE but CUTE sidekick. We had fun :0)

And there you have it our WHOLE trip! Thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU to Paul & Teresa, Grandpa & Grandma, Jon & Marlene and Michelle, AND Justin & Rebecca for letting us stay with you and for everyone else who made our trip so wonderful!!