Reorganizing "Gracie" Style...

I run a pretty clean ship here in the Tait Home...but there are many days when I just can't keep up with this adorable little tornado! I'm amazed at HOW FAST she can empty a drawer, rip up a stack of papers or start eating a magazine...(She likes to eat paper...) Yesterday I found a big bite out of my cookbook and the Ensign! I'm constantly swabbing paper out of her mouth. Today she decided to re-organize our CD collection. I think she did a fine job.


In an effort to make Gracie even MORE MOBILE, our good friend Janna, let us borrow her baby walker. Gracie really loves pushing it around the house. It's exhausting work - you can hear she's nearly out of breath in the video because she's so excited!

On Top of the World!

Last Week, we headed up North to let Gracie experience Glacier National Park! The Park is only about a two-hour drive from our house. We entered Bear Country before "Going to the Sun Road" closed for the season.
We hiked and hiked...and this is what awaited us when we arrived - Avalanche Lake! It's beautiful. Others on the hike saw a Black Bear...we stayed clear, as to not become one last FEAST before hibernation season.


Gracie was so tired. She missed most of the scenery and slept through almost the entire hike.


We were exhausted at the end of the day. We hiked five miles around the park. Five miles doesn't seem TOO far...until you have a baby! Next time, we'll take the bus tour! This is on the Trail of the Cedars!


We saw dozens of Mountain Goats. They get so close to you...it's amazing. At one point, all of the Wildlife Photographers were capturing the perfect shot with their telephoto lenses...It was then that we walked up, and once Gracie saw the Mountain Goats - She went crazy - Pointing, Laughing, and Making Noises. Inevitably, the Mountain Goats ran away...and we got a number of dirty looks. What?! She really likes animals! :)


Gracie couldn't wait to get out of the backpack and discover! She really wanted to splash in the water!

The Balloons Didn't Stand a Chance!

I threw a Baby Shower for a good friend last week. I decorated with a variety of balloons. The next day Gracie found and then ATTACKED the Balloons! Ahh...the PERFECT Teething Relief!

I'm Cutting Teeth Here People!

Her face says it all! Gracie's two front bottom teeth are coming in, and it's NO SECRET! They are awfully sharp - but she is being a trooper! It's also been a week of milestones for Gracie. A couple days ago, I looked over terrified to see her scaling the stairs...YES - She knows how to crawl up stairs! Wow - she is learning more and more each day!

Always on the go...

She LOVES being outside - where she can listen to all the dogs bark, cars vroom and birds chirp!

The Sweetest Sight!

I came home from work today for a quick lunch break...and this is what I found! I'm pretty lucky...don't you think?!

Gracie Takes Us for a Spin on Labor Day!

She has skills behind the wheel...and she's only 9-Months-Old! Never Fear - the Truck was in Park the entire time.


Jody has wanted to go camping with the family this entire summer...so we decided Labor Day weekend - we would make it happen. However, Mother Nature didn't quite agree with us. It was soggy and wet all day Monday. We did go up into the Woods for a Picnic. Jody was able to try out the camping grill I gave him, and we ate some delicious s'mores!

A Trip to Utah...

Jody had some meetings this week in Park City, so Gracie and I had a chance to visit with extended family. It was wonderful to see everyone! Here's a picture of Grandma Wiscombe doing Patty-Cake with Gracie.


A Lazy Day lounging in the Backyard.


She Loves the Pool!


Swimming in Grandpa & Grandma Wiscombe's Pool.



Grandpa & Gracie


After an intense basketball game of Horse and Lightning. Michael - Gracie is trying to steal your "Man Rag." :)

Love You All!

Good Friends Just Get Better With Time...

Here's the Now and Then
NOW- Today two of my closest friends from High School came over to my parent's house...and we laughed over memories. What's so special is that we each shared the day with our own daughters.
Ashley and Mallory,Gracie and Me, McKenna and Emilee - A Whole New Generation of Friends!


So this is really quite hilarious...THEN...It's crazy to think this picture was taken nearly a decade ago.

Emilee, Ashley & Me

While we were down in Utah...I went through my old bedroom at my parent's house and found some STELLAR photos! And yes...I am going to share some of them with you. While I reminisced about funny memories of roommates, high-school sleep overs, and the friends who have had an outstanding impact on me...I realized how lucky I am to call you all my friends!

Roommates 2002 - Tracy, Me, Christina, & Melissa

Always Cheering, Always Dancing, Always Laughing...Brittany, Cathy & Melinda...Summer of 2003

Amelia and Melly doing some SERIOUS Karaoke!




Brittany, Melly, Amelia & Jeana...Roommates at BYU 2003-2004



In every picture I found with Melinda - we were dancing! Love it!















Thanks Girls for Always Coming to cheer me on at Performances!

We saw this sign at a gas station we stopped at on our drive down to Utah. It sums up this post perfectly!

The Thrills of Silverwood!

This is a Forgotten Post! We went to Silverwood Theme Park on August 1st. The North Idaho Theme Park has a great deal to offer...including a water park. Jody LOVES water parks - unfortunately for us, it was quite chilly! As you can see from the pictures - the weather didn't stop Jody from making a SPLASH. While Gracie and I cuddled together in our hoodie sweatshirts - Jody tried out all the slides and the two giant wave-pools.


I think Jody is having way too much fun on the Elephant Ride. Gracie looks expressionless!


We went to Silverwood with our good friends Briant and Kim. Jody loved the "Aftershock Roller Coaster." It drops you 177 feet backwards at 65 mph! I made the "height-requirement"...(I know...right...some of you are thinking ‘you are really taller than 5 feet?’) But my head still ping-ponged back and forth in between the over-the-shoulder harness...so I think I am still too short! :) I'm an old-school wooden roller-coaster kind of girl....so the Timber Terror was my favorite.

Raspberry Days at Bear Lake!

The First Weekend in August means it's time to drive to Bear Lake for some Boating, Raspberry Shakes, Lots of Laughs and Good Times. Jody's parents have built a beautiful cabin in Fish Haven, ID where the entire family can gather and make great memories. This year for the TAIT FAMILY REUNION - the whole family was together, including the whole crew from Utah and Kerry, Stacy and their kids from Florida.

Every day was crammed with fun and excitement. We drove to Lava Hot Springs where we floated the river. That was intense.


Kerry and Greg Plunging into the Pool.





Jody Doing Some Free-Falling!





We enjoyed the pool, and the boys went off the 33 foot High Dive. Yikes!


Jeff and Lacey had the spectacular idea to rent these bikes and race around town.

And now for some more action shots...


*Thanks Kylene for snapping the "drive by"...(err...pedal-by) picture...even though it almost ended with us in a ditch!


*The water was choppy anyway this day...so it made for an extra bumpy ride on the tube!


Gracie Loved her First Visit to Bear Lake!


We also went on a gorgeous hike up to Bloomington Lake - where the boys showed off their skills on the rope swing.