The Most Unusual Places...

Why hang out in your crib...when you could be spending time in the cupboard or maybe even the sink! Gracie helped unload all the food items from the cupboard while I put the groceries away the other night. She enjoyed the comfort of the cupboard. I even closed the door to see what she would do...NOT even a peep. I opened it back up to a big smile. She loves to discover.

She's always reaching for the sink...so we let her hang out in there for awhile - supervised of course. This girl cracks me up!


Buy Aveeno Lotion...Gracie is a fan!

Time to Bundle Up!

Is she Ready for Halloween, or is she just Braving the Montana Chill? We went on a walk the other day and remembered very quickly why you wear so many layers of clothing in Montana. Brrr...It has gotten cold here! Gracie stayed warm in her Lamb Hat and Mittens. This was good practice for her - scoping out her Route around the Neighborhood - for her First Trick-Or-Treating Experience!

Tales of Those Troubling Teeth!!

Well, Here They Are! Can you see her THREE new pearly whites?! (If you maximize the picture - you'll get to see what I think are left over Sweet Potatoes on her nose too!...Yummy.) These are the little guys that have caused so many Tears, Tantrums and Sleepless Nights! The other front top tooth is on its way!


We will all be happy when they are cut. Poor little Gracie is dealing with the pain the best she can!


To take Gracie's focus off her teeth, (and because Jody loves waterslides) we decided to hit up the Wingate Hotel waterslides just down the street from our house. Gracie loves the water as much as her Daddy!


Splash, SPlaSH, SPLASH!!! She couldn't even look up for a picture - she was having way too much fun. Thank you to the little boy, from another family, who wanted to take part in the photo! :)

SPOOKY TIMES!

With so much Autumn Spirit in the air, we decided to have a PUMPKIN FEST! The food was extra spooky and yummy. I made Pumpkin Stew, which cooked in a pumpkin in the oven. The pumpkin looked a little deflated after an hour baking in the oven...but the stew was MMM MMM GOOD!




What would a PUMPKIN FEST be without Witch Finger Breadsticks, Caramel Apples, and Eyeball Cupcakes? We have really creative friends who surpassed my expectations when it came to the food. It was so fun.


The Little Ones loved the party too!

Party 'Till the Cows Come Home!

This picture is just CLASSIC! To say we just had fun at Qwivals Family Fun Center would be an Udder-Statement. We had a blast getting lost in the corn maze, riding the Crazy Cars, the Go-Carts, and sharing some ice cream!


I couldn't wait to kick off the fall season with a Corn Maze! It wasn't a crowded night at Qwivals so Jody and I were the ONLY ones playing an intense game of Laser Tag. Of course - Gracie played too. Jody carried her around, and they hid in the shadows. She was a pretty easy target since her white onesie was glowing under the Black Lights. But I think Jody used her to block my Laser Shots. :)

A Friend Her Size...

Gracie has been playing with her new buddy Jaxon almost every day! I feel so blessed because Rachel (Jaxon's Mom) has been willing to watch Gracie for me so much lately while I'm at work. It's such a relief to leave your baby some place where you know they will be in good hands! Gracie and Jaxon have loads of fun playing in the red turtle, which can hold water or sand - depending on the weather conditions. In the collage above - Jaxon really isn't poking her in the head...He's showing me where Gracie's Ear is.

I Love this picture below...Gracie's trying to convince Jaxon that he really wants to hand over the toy!

Having Fun!

TAGGED!

My friend Jeanine tagged me...and it took me a few days to think about it, but here are 6 quirks about myself. ENJOY.

The rules are list six quirks about yourself, and then leave a note for 6 friends on their blog to tag them! My six people are: Emilee, Kylene, Molly, Jessi, Tammy and Melly.

You will all most likely brand me OCD after reading these quirks...but please love me anyway! :)

Example 1: I have a difficult time leaving the house if something is out of order. If a dirty glass or unfolded blanket catches my eye...I feel I have to put them in their places. Maybe this is why I am late every place I go! :)

Example 2: Jody calls me the "Laundry Nazi". If you are going to help fold the clean clothes - you just have to wash your hands!

Example 3: I go through a box of Cranberry Almond Crunch Cereal every couple of days. It's soooo good.

Example 4: I can sleep through almost any alarm clock....but NOT Gracie's Cry.

Example 5: When I smash a spider or bug in our house...I usually talk myself through it. "Okay, Brittany, Here we go...you can do this." And I use half a box of tissues for extra protection!

Example 6: Jody informed me the other day, I make up words that don't exist. They always sound right in my head! :)

University of Montana Homecoming!

This past weekend, hundreds flocked back "HOME" to Missoula to celebrate Homecoming at the University of Montana. I had to work...so myself, Jody, Gracie, and the ginormous KPAX camera all went down to the annual parade together. Here's the story I did from Saturday. And Yes!...I put Gracie on the news every chance I get...so in addition to some friends who you might recognize...see if you can spot Gracie in the story below!

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!