cleaning up my mess.

Today was a harder day.  Seems like there have been a lot of those lately.  I have had an especially hard time with Alex.  He THRIVES on doing what I tell him not to do and it gets under my skin.  In any case, after the kids were in bed tonight, Bry was at bishopric meeting and the house was quiet (the kids actually went to sleep.  yay!) I started sweeping the dirty floor.  There is something about cleaning the kitchen floor that gets me waxing philosophic.  The day was playing back in my mind; I looked at the food-strewn floor that had been swept a few hours earlier, I thought of cleaning up the kids' mess and needing to clean up my "mess."  Them spilling food on the floor is the equivalent of me losing my temper.  I clean up their messes, the Lord helps to clean up my messes.  I said a silent prayer, asking for forgiveness for the lack of patience I had had with Alex.  Then the thought came to me that Alex is doing the best that he can.  It may not feel that way, it may still be frustrating, but in his little 2 year old world he is sure trying hard.  I think that needs to be my mantra, "they are doing their best!"  Or maybe, "They are doing their best, YOU are doing your best, give yourselves a break, laugh and let it go!!"  I think we'd all benefit from that train of thought ;0)

Note to self: We do have happy times

318 days.

318 days: white crayon + water color cards for new babies Violet and Kyle :0)
317 days: finished cards for Violet and Kyle, got them and other post cards ready to mail.
316 days: fed Snickers. Made gluten-free PB chocolate chip cookies.  Taught Brie about criss-crossing PB cookies :0) She figured out why you use a cooling rack.  More Tangled packet fun. (10/4)
315-305 days: time with Aunt Emmie
304 days: made cards for Mémé and Bry's campus visits
303 days: Looked through highlight pictures from phone to music (instant video :0)).
302-296 days: Mémé was in town!
295 days: got ready for trip
294-292 days: trip to Bloomington Normal, IL.

26 October 2013
Wow, it's been SO busy lately!  I can't believe we're already in the 200s.  Between getting sick, Bry being out of town, two visitors and a road trip to Illinois, Brie and I haven't had much one-on-one time lately :0(  I'll need to remedy that.  No need to dwell on it, but want to do better...

291 days: Unusual Sunday, went visiting teaching with Lij while Brie spent time with her day.  That's a rare occasion.
290 days: At the Hintze's.
289 days: At a Halloween music time with the Hintze's and Shop 'n Save during nap time.
288 days: Brie dressed up in some of my clothes then we played "airplane" (sat on the "plane", had snacks and watched a few short shows on PBSKIDS.org)
287 days: Washi tape {mini} pumpkin decorating and getting ready for our Halloween dinner :0)
286 days: Little stroll (while the boys & Bry stayed at home) to the Leasing Office, getting October birthday cards ready.  Better late than never?!
285 days: We all took naps after church.  Daylight Savings messes with our sleeping schedule.
284 days: Getting apples ready for FHE dessert tonight (Caramel {Snickers} Apples) and putting together quote hand outs.  And watched this scarf tying tutorial...love that Brie's a girly girl with me :0)
283 days: "Tea party" in a blanket fort in Brie's room--strawberry cookies, snuggling and listening to opera :0)  Hardest: Dad gone a lot traveling. Happiest: doing our tea party together.

282 days: Putting together snack packs for our upcoming road trip.  Personalizing each ziplock bag with shapes and colored markets ("Mom you always make things so special."  That sweet girl!).  Reading stories together on the couch from the Friend November 2013.

BelleFontaine Cemetery.

After seeing several billboards advertising the BelleFontaine Cemetery as being the other sculpture park in St. Louis, we decided to make a family outing of it.  Bry packed the lunches and I packed my camera.  (Bry did the driving and stopped when I wanted to take a picture.  He's such a good sport.)  The kids enjoyed the scenic tour for a few minutes, so the sack lunches saved the day.  Although a little tedious for the kiddos, it really was worth seeing, especially at this beautiful time of year.  In the end we had World's Fair Doughnuts for dessert.  How can you lose? :0)

(2 November 2013)

  

To see a list of notable burials (including William Clark & Sara Teasdale), click here.
Glad we saved this little family outing for AFTER Halloween ;0)

our success.

Last Friday (1 November 2013) Bry proposed his dissertation and it was accepted!!!  This was such a BIG milestone.  He surprised me twice that day, first with a SWEET email (pasted below) to the family and then with a dozen red roses when he got home from school.  He wanted me to know that his success was indeed our success and thanked me for all of my support.  Sure love that Bry :0)  That evening we went out for dinner at Maggiano's to celebrate.  I'm so glad we're on this adventure together.

By way of "job market" update, Bry has 3 campus visits done (New Mexico, Illinois, Central Michigan) and 4 to go (University of Toledo, Oklahoma State University, Georgia Southern University and University of New Hampshire).

Dear Family,

I wanted to send you an email to let you know that I successfully passed my dissertation proposal today! This is one of the biggest hurdles in the program. It consisted of a 1 1/2 hour presentation with my 3-member dissertation committee presenting a paper I am working on and outlining the analysis for a third paper I will put together between now and the dissertation defense. The dissertation defense will be scheduled sometime in mid-April and will be the final hurdle for completing all the degree requirements to receive the Ph.D. I felt very blessed today and in the days this week leading up to the proposal--I know I am in good hands! AND I have to put a shout out to the most wonderful companion, confidante, and cheerleader ever...SARAH!! I keep telling Sarah that all these events are just as much her achievements as mine because she is the one holding everything together!

Thanks for all the prayers and support!

Love, Bry :)

Can you move in?

(16-22 October 2013)

Back in the Spring my Mom was going to come out to visit and fly back with me & the kids to jump start our Summer visit.  When it didn't work out for her to come she said that she needed to make a rain check for later in the year.  A few weeks ago, the day after Em left, she called about coming to visit. I  mentioned that I thought we had things under control, but that having her here would be like Christmas and that we would LOVE to have her visit!!  She booked her flight and a few days later she was here :0)

The first night here we all went to try out Andy's Frozen Custard (Ashley, thanks for the info!) in Kirkwood to celebrate Bry getting his 5th fly out.  After the kids went down Mom & I headed over to Target where she (& Dad) thoughtfully outfitted Bry (dress shirts, under shirts, a pair of black dress shoes, socks, belts and pea coat) for his upcoming job interviews and as an early graduation present.  Mom was the perfect person to help with the preparations!  One of the many blessings of her visit.  We got to bed late as we helped Bry get ready for his first fly out to New Mexico State University.  At 2:30 in the morning Lij woke up throwing up and I felt SO yucky (probably from getting only 2 hours of sleep).  Thank heavens for our home teacher who came to give us priesthood blessings then took Bry to the airport at 6:00 in the morning!! And yet another reason I was grateful that my Mom came out when she did.  She has always been so wonderful to take care of us when we got sick, and this time was no different.

Aside from taking care of us sickies, she helped me run errands, figure out my new sewing machine, loaded us up with healthy goodness at Costco, made Nana's baked apples, encouraged me to get in bed at a reasonable hour, gave me foot rubs, came to an Oktoberfest with us, had a tea party with Brie, got Brie & Alex hooked on pomegranate juice ;0), did laundry, kept the kitchen cleaned, took us out to eat and took me shopping to the Scholar Shop (a great consignment store) and Kohl's.  She listened to me share some things that had been weighing on my mind, and ordered a book "Parenting with Love" and started reading and implementing it with me (HUGE BLESSING!!  Providential timing in helping me to set a much more loving tone in our home while Bry is busy interviewing and it's just me and the kids.).  I could go on and on.  At several points I asked if she could just move in with us ;0)

This time in particular when she left, it not only felt like my dear Mom was leaving but one of my best friends.  I love you SO much, Mom.  Thank you for EVERYTHING!!  And Dad, thanks for sharing her with us ;0)

Standing small.

Yesterday Elijah turned 8 months old.  I can't believe he's only four months away from his 1st birthday.  With the holidays those months are going to fly!

I just wanted to take a minute to mention how much Lij has grown up the last few months.  He has become our ATB (All Terrain Baby).  He crawls and sits, is now pulling himself up next to things and is standing.  One of my favorite sights is of him standing next to the back door, looking outside.  Bry and I were joking last night that even when he's standing tall he is so small :0)

We're kind of slow in the food department so he's still just eating purées (fruits & veggies mixed with oatmeal or rice cereal), but we did introduce him to chicken purée over the weekend.  Not his favorite, but he doesn't mind it too much if it's mixed with something else.  He loves the puff snacks and Mum Mums, and is getting better at holding and drinking from a sippy.

He likes to be where the action is and is often under foot.  It's so fun to come in a room and see all three kids playing.  We still have to watch for Alex, he's still so intense with everything that he does, but is trying to share and be sweet with Lij.  In fact the first thing Alex wants to do when he wakes up is see his baby brother, and if he ever hears him crying he comes and asks, "what's wrong Lij?"  I'm trying to encourage that sweetness and brotherly love as often as I can.

Brie ADORES Lij!  One of her favorite things is carrying him around or making him laugh.  She's great to help out when he's crying, when I need a diaper for him, or to feed him while I'm working in the kitchen.

He recently cut his 3rd tooth.  Man, I forget that teething is no fun for anyone.  But for his sake I'm glad he's getting some little chompers :0)

We sure love you Elijah!  You are a JOY in our home.  Thank you for all of your smiles, giggles and snuggles.  We are SO grateful to have you.

Graden Nerd Squad.

(Click to enlarge picture)

Since Bry went on the job market last month I've had academia, colleges, professors and all things graduation on the brain.  So when vistaprint.com was running a special (40% off + free shipping) I decided to peruse Pinterest for ideas and then designed some family tshirts in honor of Bry graduating.  I was planning on saving them for May, but with a NERD theme for Halloween I couldn't help but pull them out to use.

To start off the evening we had a fun and festive dinner (mummy dogs, witch chips, buried dip, boo juice and chocolate cobwebbed pudding cups).  When it came time for trick or treating we got in our rain gear (It had rained all day long) and headed out.  It sprinkled here and there and we got dripped on when the wind blew the wet branches, but other than that it was really pleasant and perfect for tromping around and puddle jumping in our galoshes.  There weren't a lot of other families out so the kids were told at almost every door to take a handful of candy and to even take a few pieces for their parents.  We didn't mind that ;0)  Brie led out and was the first one to each door, I got to hold Alex's hand as we walked around the complex and Bry carried sweet, content little Lij.  

Halloween jokes are a tradition here in St. Louis, so this year we were prepared.  With a little bit of prompting and coaxing at a few of the doors Brie told her practiced joke, "Why did the cyclops give up teaching?  Because he only had one pupil."  I thought that was fitting for our NERD theme ;0)

All in all we had a FUN evening celebrating and spending time together as a family.  We're squeezing in the moments as we can between Bry's campus visits.

organizing buddies.

Brie and I were decorating for Autumn/Thanksgiving today.  I gave her a bunch of fake flowers and asked her to arrange them how she wanted in a certain vase in the living room.  A few minutes later I come in to find Brie in the corner, looking like a gopher digging up all of the junk that usually resides there.  She didn't just stop at putting the flowers away, she wanted to have the corner organized as well.  Man she takes after her parents!  A few minutes later I was in the dining room folding laundry...

Brie: Say goodbye to your favorite movies.
Me: Why?
Brie: I'm putting them away.
Me: On the shelf?
Brie: In a box.

I couldn't help but laugh.  She sounds like a little miniature of myself.  How many times have I told her to say goodbye to something that I was packing away.  Too funny to have the tables turned :0)

yucky again.

Alex has been sick practically all month. My family affectionately calls him our little vector.  Poor kids seems to pick up and spread one bug after another.  In any case, he currently is getting over a cold.  Today at breakfast he mentioned that he was feeling yucky again.  Then he mentioned saying a prayer.  I asked him if he wanted to say it, after which this little scene took place.

Alex: {putting his right hand on his head as if he was giving himself a blessing and wrapping the other arm around his stomach like he was folding his arms} Dear Heavenly Father...I feel yucky again and again and again, amen.

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!!

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!!

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.

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)

Neighbor love.

family walk around the "block" as often requested by Alex.

SWEET Bry spent part of our date night making these (sand dolllar sugar) cookies with me for a nautical-themed baby shower. 

Playing Cinderella and scrubbing the floor on Saturday.

All 3 kids in action.  Love when they play together....and no ones cries or gets hurt.

My boys :0)

Adam & Alex (my pantless wonder) checking out the Hintze's new patio after dinner.

The kiddos cleaning up after breakfast.  LOVE that learning how to help out around the house.  

First bath with all 3 kiddos.

Love him!

both babies at the Donut Drive-In, do we see a pattern here?

diaper hat :0)

Family picnic at Wilmore Park.

Brie = her Parents' daughter.  Bry & I both love to organize things.

Target, another reason we love you :0)

handsome boys, General Conference.

All snuggled up for a chilly family walk, Fall is here.

Azhar had her BABY!!

Bry & I on our way to the temple (thanks to Emmie!).

oh my Brie :0)

Brie teaching Lij how to stand up.

Getting a package ready for Em's baseball and tractor lovin' friend.

Brie is SO sweet with Lij.

A gorgeous sunset reflecting in the "ditch".

Lunch time.  View from the dryer...love turning around and catching glimpses of these 3 together.