Slots, drinks, food, drinks, casinos, drinks...

Well, you get the picture...you know it is a good Vegas trip when it takes until Thursday to actually post something about it on the blog. Yes, we made it home from Vegas in one piece. We left Friday morning to head to Vegas to celebrate Whitnee's 35th birthday. And a celebration it certainly was. I am not sure we slowed down until Sunday afternoon when we were boarding the plane to fly home. A total of about 8 hours of sleep in three days, lots of walking, plenty of drinks, not a whole lot of food, and definitely a lot of laughs.

Happy Birthday Whit, lots of memories to keep...

Our plane

Whitnee and I prepared with champagne for our flight to Vegas.

Sitting right behind the pilots...notice there are two!

One was in training...just what I needed...a pilot in training.

Whit and Jeff at the bar at Excalibur after a rousing round of Beer Pong.

How many shots have we had?

Night #1...early on in the night...

Joseph and Jeff

Silly girls...the night is still young!

Ready for Night #1

On the cab ride to Mirage, Night #2

Revolution Bar at Mirage

Some guy in the bar behind us was dressed in a woman's dress,

complete with a purse on his arm. He lost a bet! Too funny!

What a great time!

Lots of love,

The Grady's

10 on Tuesday

1. I cannot believe that it is almost the end of July! Where has this summer gone?

2. We received our summer mailer from the kiddos school. Really happy with their teachers for next year. Cannot believe I am going to have a 1st grader in a month!

3. Took Brennan to the Dr. last week for his 4 year old checkup (yes a few months late). He is in the 95% for his height. LOL! Completely healthy all-around!

4. This is a busy week for celebrations. 1 anniversary, 3 birthdays, and a partridge in a pear tree.

5. Emerson is WAY too much like me. She was organizing her dresser drawers, closet, and shoes today. Scary.

6. Look what we found on the beach on our vacation. Crazy!

7. I know you are probably sick of hearing this, but it is seriously hot here. Hottest day of the year today, 116. Gross.

8. I miss my two long distance friends. Carrie and Christa...we have to figure something out to see each other. It has been too long!

9. I ordered some new prints for the large frames over our fireplace. I can't wait to see how they turn out.

10. Heading to Vegas this weekend...

Lots of love,

The Grady's

Oceanside

Sun, sand, amazing weather, great house, and awesome friends. All the ingredients for a fabulous vacation.

Joseph, Brennan, Domenique, and Emerson

Isn't this a great action shot? He totally ate it 1 second later.

Domenique and Em enjoying the sun.
Morning walk

Emerson

Daddy and Em watching the sunset.

The four of us....completely sun-soaked.

Whitnee and I lounging on the deck.
There is nothing better than running through the waves.

I love this shot.

Lots of love,

The Grady's

Vacation Teaser

I hope to be able to write about our wonderful vacation tomorrow...but I had to share this amazing view. Probably because I miss it so much and that it is 116 out the past few days.

Lots of love,

The Grady's

110% Boy

Brennan is continuing to prove that he is a boy, through and through. This morning he was running down the hallway, slipped and smacked his head on the tile floor. You have to love the goose-egg smack in the middle of his forehead.

Can you see it?

Lots of love,

The Grady's

10 on Tuesday

1. I think Brennan is finally on the verge of not napping. 4 years old, I really shouldn't complain he did last this long. But, I am starting to have trouble getting him to lay down each night for bed, so time to cut out the nap.

2. I went to the knee Dr. last weekend to go over my MRI results and low and behold I need surgery. I have a large (3 cm to be exact) tear in my medial meniscus, basically the tear is opening and pulling with every step I make. So July 23rd I get to have it fixed.

3. Both kids went to the dentist the other day and did so amazing! No tears, no fussing, nothing! They had x-rays, a cleaning, and fluoride. Hooray!

4. Is this not the funniest picture? Brennan was playing in the pool with the water jets. LOL!

5. I was thinking about it the other day, for my knee surgery, I have to be put under anesthesia...that will be a first for me! Only two hospital stays in my whole life, Em and Bren, but never was I put out.

6. I was grocery shopping the other day and found this red pepper hummus...I just can't stop eating it. It is so freaking good.

7. I have become addicted to Bejeweled on Facebook. Bad idea.

8. I was at Target today and they were putting out school supplies. Are you kidding me??? I am finally getting into the groove of summer and they go and burst my bubble!

9. Can you believe all this craziness over Michael Jackson. I mean seriously, he was a great artist, but come on. All three networks broadcasting his memorial? Good grief.

10. Heading to the beach on Sunday for a week, CANNOT wait!

Lots of love,
The Grady's

4th of July

We had a wonderful, relaxing 4th of July celebration. We spent the day lounging around the pool at the Romano's house, it was 110 outside! Early in the afternoon we had some great friends join us in our celebration. An all American dinner of hamburgers and corn on the cob, followed by making smores, and finally our own lively fireworks show!

Emerson and Abby enjoying dinner.

Brennan jumping from atop the waterfall!

Domenique and Em getting ready to roast their marshmallows.

Lots of love,

The Grady's

Happy Birthday Nana!

We spent this past weekend in Newport Beach with Jeff's mom for her 60th birthday. She wanted to go to the beach, so we flew her down for a weekend in Newport. We had a packed weekend with a trip to the Long Beach Aquarium, a day at the beach, a bit of shopping, and lots of eating out. The kids had a blast too!

Brennan playing in the starfish pools.

Emerson and Brennan looking at the tropical fish display.

Lots of love,

The Grady's

Ten on Thursday

1. Summer is finally here!!! I am so excited to have some time off at home.

2. Some people have spring cleaning...I have summer cleaning. I just took 10 bags of "stuff", two bookshelves, toys, books, etc. to Goodwill. Phew, gotta love a clean house!

3. I have had pain in my knee for almost 6 months now. I finally went to the orthopedic Dr. yesterday and now I am scheduled for an MRI next week. We shall see what is happening and go from there.

4. I am finally getting caught up on my DVR tapings. I watched the last 4 episodes of Brothers and Sisters in the past few days. I think I actually liked waiting and watching them so close together, made it that much better.

5. I think the kids are enjoying summer almost as much as me. Although I wish they would learn to sleep in a little bit, 5-6am is way too early for me.

6. I don't think I ever shared this. In Brennan's preschool class, they gave out classroom awards at the end of the year. Brennan was awarded "Best Runner". How funny is that?!? Forrest Gump watch out!


7. Well, we have our first 100 degree day for the month of June today. We have been incredibly lucky with our weather lately....low 90's and gorgeous.


8. Are you watching the Bachelorette??? I am such a dork and get myself sucked into these darn shows!


9. I love that Brennan still takes naps! He has always been such a great sleeper, and at 4 years old he still loves his nap.


10. Emerson cracks me up. We went to Toys R Us today. She is 6 going on 13...instead of a toy or game or whatever. She chooses a Music disc thingy for her MP3 player. Wow, what are we in for.

Lots of love,
The Grady's

5th Birthday Time!

We celebrated Domenique's 5th birthday yesterday with a girl's trip to the nail salon, dinner, cake, and of course presents!

Domenique enjoying her manicure!

Emerson loving it!

Emerson helping Domenique read her birthday cards.

Happy 5th Domenique!

Love,

The Grady's

Seeing old friends...

Our good friends, the Butier's, were in S. CA this past weekend for their vacation. We had the opportunity to catch up with them in San Diego for the day on Sunday. We meet at their hotel and then made our way over to Coronado for a day at the beach. The weather was amazing, clear as can be.

The kids had a great time playing in the sand and just hanging out with each other. Bummer I didn't get a picture of Mason! Next time:)

Lots of love,

The Grady's

It's that time of year again...

for swimming!!! Emerson, Brennan, Joseph, and Domenique horsing around in the pool.

Lots of love,
The Grady's

Dancing Queen

It is so busy in the Grady household as the school year winds down. It seems like everything is happening all at once!

Emerson had her first dance recital this past weekend at Xavier High School. It was quite a production, with performances ranging from the preschool dancers up to the high school dance team. She was totally in her element, dancing and watching others dance.

Her dance was performed to Staying Alive, right along with the Music from Movies theme. If her enthusiasm for this recital tells us anything...looks like we are in for many more years of dance recitals ahead.

Emerson with her friend Taylor

Dancing Queen

Look at her go!!!!

Lots of love,

The Grady's

Ten on Tuesday

10. I am annoyed. The firewall at work won’t allow me to update the blog. Hence the reason there are few updates these days, my computer time at home is limited and now I can’t update from work. Darn tech people!

9. Total space cadet lately…Brennan had his 4-year checkup yesterday. Guess which mom forgot to take him?

8. I have been to Target three times this week…I think they put something in the air conditioning there that brainwashes people to keep coming back. At least that is what I am telling Jeff.

7. Is it summer yet? Only 22 days left of work.

6. Emerson’s speech teacher told me that almost 80% of her patients are in for the long haul of speech therapy. But Emerson falls in that 20%, we will actually be graduating soon!

5. I can’t believe we have been over 100 degrees everyday this week…not sure I am ready for the heat quite yet. Although the pool has been super nice to swim in.

4. My poor brother had to have emergency surgery for a perforated ulcer last week. All while training with the National Guard to head over to Iraq. Good grief!

3. My good friend Alayna had a beautiful, baby girl last week. I just love new babies! She was only 6 lbs. 10 ounces…my babies only weighed that much while they were still in the womb! LOL!

2. Mother’s Day was so nice. Brunch in the morning, shopping at Old Navy and then a pedicure. What more could I ask for?

1. I think I am addicted to the news. I read this http://www.drudgereport.com/ and this http://www.desertsun.com/ all day, everyday.

Happy Birthday, Brennan!

Dear Brennan,

Adding another candle to your cake this year...four already! Where does the time go? I went to visit a good friend who had a baby today at the hospital. As I walked down the halls so many memories came flooding back to me. And wouldn't you know it, she was in the same room I laid in exactly 4 years ago today! Your birthday is always a day for celebration and this one is no different. Four years ago you entered our lives, changing us forever. I have come to realize that not only were you put here for a reason, but you were placed into our lives to give us strength. Strength we didn't know we had, until we had you.

You have grown up so much in the past year. You started preschool, began really articulating your thoughts, and have really developed this great personality. You know all your letters and are beginning to put all the sounds with them. You have begun to write your name and even stay inside the lines when you are coloring. But trust me, you can still be very stubborn and you certainly know how to wrap mommy and daddy around your little finger.

You are certainly all boy. You love playing in the dirt with your cars, running around like a crazy person inside the house, and playing with swords, dinosaurs, bats, and trucks. You still haven't given up your blanket and elephant, but mommy hasn't tried to hard either. Someday you will be ready to not have that security right there with you.

I am thankful everyday for you and all you bring to my life. I am so lucky to be your mommy, to care for you and love you everyday. You make me laugh, you make me smile, and you make me want to scream at times, but the love I have for you is certainly unmeasurable.

Happy birthday my little boy!

Love,

Mommy

Party Time

We had a little pool party to celebrate Brennan's 4th birthday. The kids had a great time swimming, eating pizza, and watching Brennan open his presents. He was so cute, thanking each person after he opened their present. We now have a room full of "boy" toys: Batman cars, Star Wars gun, trucks, cars, and even a skateboard!

Horsing around in the pool with Joseph

Loving his new skateboard!

FOUR candles!

Lots of love,

The Grady's

10 on Tuesday

1. We went to Stagecoach Festival (www.stagecoachfestival.com) this past weekend and had an amazing time! Between the people watching (yes, guys and girls in speedos, lol), enjoying really good music, and hanging out with friends we had a great time. We saw Reba McEntire and Brad Paisley FRONT ROW on Saturday night and Kid Rock and Kenny Chesney Sunday night. All great performances, very impressed by Kid Rock which was surprising to me since I wasn’t a big fan before. He puts on an amazing show!

2. Emerson is sick:(She is coughing and I took her temperature yesterday afternoon and it was 103.1. OUCH! I am not sure she has ever had a fever, poor baby!

3. My baby’s birthday is next week….FOUR! Wow.

4. We are state testing at work this week. I love and hate this time of year. Love that it means we are almost done (32 days to be exact!), but hate the pressure of testing.

5. On that same note…I am SO excited for summer to be here. Not excited about struggling to entertain the kiddos each day, but excited to be racing around so darn much.


6. We got a new coffee pot for Christmas and I wasn’t convinced that I would love it. Boy was I wrong! www.keurig.com

7. There are so many things I would like to do this summer…too bad we don’t have a money tree growing in our backyard!


8. This is so random…one of my biggest pet peeves at work is the sound of the automatic pencil sharpener. Especially when kids continue to sharpen a pencil that is already sharp…so annoying!

9. I am reading “Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher” aloud to my students. Such a great book! Never read it when I was a kid, but a good adventure book for 8-10 year olds.


10. Brennan starts every sentence lately with "Moooommmmmyyy" or "Daaaaaadddddyyyy"...we tell him a million times that we are right here and he doesn't need to call our names, just tell us what he wants too. But nonetheless we hear "Mommy" or "Daddy"!!!!!

Lots of love,
The Grady's