Bryan and Sarah Graden: October 2013

Thursday, October 31, 2013

teething process.

Brie: He's trying to be calm during this teething process. (After mentioning how Elijah's teeth have been coming in "smoothly" and that they're "so cute.")

I love how she words things. Cracks.me.right.up.

Happy NERDY Halloween.

With a SMARTIE PANTS for a Dad {future Professor of Accounting}, I thought it'd be cute if we all dressed up as nerds. $1 frames from the Dollar tree, a little washi tape and we were in business for their mini photo shoots. I can't stand how cute the kids look in their glasses. And for the record, when I attempted to put Lij's frames on his face he of course instantly grabbed at them and pulled them off. Just envision Elijah strategically placed on the coffee table in our dining room, both hands gently but firmly held down by his Mom with a camera a few inches from his face ;0) My kids are good sports!

Hope you all have

a SAFE and FUN Halloween!!

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

apple picking adventure.

With a Yelp deal in hand ($10 for $20), Em, the Kiddos and I headed out on an apple picking adventure. On the way, after trekking through East St. Louis and driving for what seemed like forever, we finally made it to the Millstadt Farm. To Alex's great excitement we ALL loaded a little "bus" and headed out to the orchards. When I say ALL I want you to envision Em, Alex, Lij in his car seat, our giant sit 'n stand stroller, Brie AND her baby Jenny (strapped snuggly into her respective car seat and stroller) being awkwardly squished up 3 steps into a little shuttle. We were quite the sight to behold :0) Once in the beautiful orchards I of course snapped a few pictures (you better believe I'm going to coordinate our outfits and take pictures when it takes 2 hours to get everyone fed, dressed and out the door then 40 minutes just to drive to the place ;0)). Then Brie & Em picked apples while I watched Lij eat grass and Alex run around throwing rotten apples. All in all I'd say it was pretty successful.

When we'd had our fun we rode the little bus back in and carried our two bags of apples to the register. "That'll be $45." I almost choked as I heard the amount. What in the world? There is NO way I could pay $25 extra dollars for a bag of over priced apples. I asked the cashier if we could possibly leave some of the apples for them to sell in their store since we had no idea that they'd be that heavy. She was pretty grouchy about it but finally agreed. We set a conservative amount of apples behind the register. Next I pulled out my Yelp coupon. She stared at it blankly and said she didn't know what it was. After making a phone call she told us that I could only use it to buy things in the store. Great. At that point we had no shame, we took the large and heavy bag of apples, placed it behind the register and set the much smaller bag on the scale. Em paid the total and we headed inside with our receipt in hand. Thankfully a lady inside was much more approachable and understanding and allowed us to use the Yelp deal. Thank heavens. As we were walking out I told the kiddos to say goodbye to Eckert's, that'd it probably be our last time. We've made a lot of great memories there, but I think next fruit-picking season we'll find some place a little bit closer to home. There's no need to spend an hour and a half in the car to chase Alex around in a muddy field and then to get the run around at the register ;0)

As a side note, on the way back to St. Louis, Em insisted on making a quick stop so she could buy a car phone charger. I was adamant about it taking too long and said that it would be at least a 20 minute detour. She said she'd pay me $10 if she took longer than 7 minutes. I wanted to see this ;0) We stopped by a Radio Shack and she put on miss hustle pants and was back to the van in 4 minutes flat. As she opened the door she asked, "How bout them apples?" I ate my words and she kept her $10. One thing I have to say about the whole experience is that Em is way better at adventuring than me. If one or two things go differently than planned I start to panic and stress out. As Em would put it, "Don't sweat the petty stuff and don't pet the sweaty stuff." I could use A LOT more of that in my life. Em, thanks for the adventure and helping me to lighten up and laugh a bit. In the end, the outing did this often-uptight sister's soul some good :0)

lifesaver.

(4-13 October 2013)

What kind of big sister gets a sub for her class for a few days, gets in at midnight, spends her ENTIRE Fall Break in St. Louis...helping to: do errands, grocery shop, take care of her sick nephew and keep her little sister sane while her husband is in Provo for a symposium?! MY BIG SISTER! Thankfully we had some fun moments in there too ;0) Snuggling with Lij, playing with the kiddos, take out, planning and prepping for a dino baby shower, decorating for Halloween, apple picking, GNO (Pei Wei, Maggie Moo's, Old Navy, Michaels), "What Not to Wear" and "My Fair Wedding", lots of chocolate and many a trip to Target! Em, thanks for being my lifesaver and for being such a good sport during an exceptionally crazy week at our place. (And THANKS Mom & Dad for making it possible for her to come out AND for extending her stay.) We love you!!

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Big Steps!

Bry sent me this email yesterday to announce that he'll officially be proposing his dissertation in a few weeks...

You are invited to attend the proposal examination of

Mr. Bryan Graden

As he presents topic proposal

"Lease Accounting Rule Changes and Debt Covenants Characteristics"

Friday, November 1, 2013

10:00 am

Simon Hall Room 110

Examination Committee:

Richard Frankel (Dissertation Chair)

Beverly & James Hance Professor of Accounting

Gauri Bhat

Assistant Professor of Accounting

Jared Jennings

Assistant Professor of Accounting

Big Steps! It amazes me how well he has handled this whole whirlwind of a process.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

according to iPhone, 4.

Yesterday was HARD! One of those if-I-wasn't-a-mature-adult-I-would-totally-run-away kind of days. It was the day after a tough weekend of me + Lij being sick (thank Heavens Em was in town while Bry was out of town), lovely extra monthly hormones and Alex was OUT OF CONTROL!!!! Plus Lij was still fussy and not napping well, I was tired and was done dealing with Alex's constant shenanigans. Thankfully yesterday is over and today is a new day. This morning I got up early and got caught up in the gratitude journal. I realized that I've been slacking in the notice-and-take-time-to-record-my-blessings department. I seriously think that contributed to my attitude (insert complaining "It's so hard! why me? why such a CHALLENGING 2yr old?" etc. etc. ETC.). Then I sat down this afternoon to do an "according to my phone" post and was once again struck by all of the fun little moments I'd forgotten from this past month. Yesterday it seemed like I had the worst lot in the world and my life was void of happiness. Wow. Some black and white thinking going on there. In any case, I'm grateful I took time to look through these pictures.... little reminders of those three little faces that bring me so much (laughter, love...hard lessons to learn) and that handsome face who sees me through it all. Life is good. God is good. Glad to be reminded. Now let me just remember it!

cooking with my sous-chef.

just love that Tiffany!

Labor Day Picnic with Hintzes.

Amazing Tie-dyness ;0)

attempt to sport a scarf. Cool that it's from Italy in the 70s when my Uncle Paul served his mission there.

making "magnet people" with Brie.

Sweet note from Katlyn when we went to feed her guinea pig Snickers...

my cute little helper.

helping Laura color-coordinate her move. I am totally doing this again for our next move. Worked SO great when we moved here to the Lou.

Painting with Breebsie. Very therapeutic, much needed.

Headed to Stake Conference in the rain. So cute to see them share.

Welcome Home picture of Snickers.

Lij's 6 month check up.

Cute book.

:0)

Brie loves when we, I mean she gets to give Lij a bottle. Was happening almost nightly around six months. Growth spurt?

Brie + Bry = Back porch camping

On our way to hi-tea.

White crayon + water colors = Magic :0)

Prezels for our object lesson and treat for Family Home Evening on prayer.

yet another Tea Party Tuesday, followed by...

...impromptu dancing with fake flowers :0)

just had to try this CUTE turkey hat on Lij, but Target you didn't get me this time ;0)

watching a rain storm.

celebrating news of Bry's first scheduled campus visit---NMSU. Ted Drewe's :0)

Bry skyping with my family, oh that smile...it melts me.

"Who is that handsome guy? Bryan." (as said by Brie ;0))

LATE night/EARLY morning snack as we worked on job applications.

Brie helping me prepare pears for purée and pie filling.

our babies while cleaning the church.

Alex bringing out Bry's shoes so that he'd come play wit him :0)

After Sarah's baptism. WONDERFUL moment.

Always wanted to see STL Balloon Glow, never worked out. Oh well, at least saw this little stray hot air balloon ;0)

At Steak 'n Shake for an impropmtu dinner out. It was such a LONG and hard afternoon. We undoubtedly looked like crazy parents with Alex jumping up and down in the booth (I didn't even care, was past the point of caring...) and Lij standing up and losing his pants. Oh my. Looking so put together and lovely ;0)

finally had a little me & Alex time, playing with dry beans and bowls.

who loves stripes? we love stripes :0)

Tea party + card making with our neighbor Katlyn

putting on our Disneyland hats (per Alex's request after doing a nutty FHE lesson on acorns & hats & squirrels)

early morning family outing to get our annual brats from G & W Sausage Company

Little sneak peek of Halloween...

Bry helping us make cheddar jalapeno cornbread muffins. He called one afternoon to say he was burnt out and feeling brain dead. I told him to come home! What a treat to have him home at 3:30 :0) :0)