That time of year...

Tomorrow morning is the morning I look forward to and dread all at the same time. Tomorrow morning Brennan has his checkup with Dr. Hashmi, his cardiologist. I get all anxious and worried before these appointments, anticipating what they will find. But at the same time, it is a huge relief when he gives us the good news we have been so lucky to receive each appointment thus far.
I will update tomorrow and let you know how it goes.
Lots of the love,
The Grady's

10 on Thursday

1. Did you feel the cold air? Didn't you know that hell froze over? I joined Facebook this week. What am I thinking???
2. 30 parent teacher conferences in one day. 7:45 am-5:15pm...I was on fire. I am not sure those parents know what hit them!
3. Explain to me how you cannot be bothered to attend your child's parent teacher conference. Explain to me how you let your child go into a classroom everyday for more than 6 hours and you have never once even attempted to meet their teacher. Explain that.
4. We have a very busy couple of weeks ahead...somehow our social calendar just exploded!
5. The kid's school annual fundraising Gala is this Saturday, just bought a dress today. Talk about waiting until the last minute.
6. I would love some ice cream right now...which is why I never buy it and have it in the house.
7. Is it 9pm yet? I want to watch Grey's and actually stay awake through the whole thing.
8. I am having the hardest time with lunches lately. Can I tell you how much I hate coming up with different things for the kids to eat? I hate it! I feel like I pack the same things all the time.
9. We are hosting "Fish Friday" tomorrow..amazing how many different types of fish we have had in the past few weeks. It is actually a little fun trying to come up with something different for all of us to eat.
10. I am so thankful that tomorrow is Friday! This has been a long week and I am done with it.

Happy "early" Birthday, Jeff!

I love surprises...I like getting them, but more than that I love making surprises happen. Jeff's birthday isn't for a couple of weeks but in my mind that gave me the perfect opportunity to surprise him with a little weekend away.

The Black's, Romano's, and Jeff and I headed out to Newport Beach Friday night to begin our celebration. Dinner at Roy's in Newport, then a fun night back at our hotel. Saturday morning after sleeping in (yes, past 7am!!!) we headed down to the bay for an amazing breakfast, walk on the beach, and then shopping at Fashion Island. Saturday night we headed out for dinner and a night on the town. In my mind, it was the perfect weekend. And thankfully Jeff completely agreed.

Thank you so much to Tad and Tif, Whit and Joe...without all of you this weekend wouldn't have been possible. We love you all!

Lots of love,

The Grady's

Visit with the Hargreaves

This past weekend we had a great visit with Andrew, Connie, Hayden, and Austin. It was really great to see them and be able to hang out. We had a casual visit with some BBQ, games, and a trip to the street fair. Hayden got a taste of having 4 other kids around to share toys and play games. Austin was completely spoiled by all of us, not hard to do since he is so darn cute!

Our turn to visit AZ next, looking forward to seeing them again very soon.

Lots of love,

The Grady's

In case you were wondering...

I have not totally dropped off the face of the planet. But I am buried at work and exhausted when I do get home. It is the lovely time of the school year when I have many things left to grade, report card grades to calculate, parent conferences to schedule, oh and actually still teach.
When I come up for air again I will definitely be back on track.
Lots of love,
The Grady's

Thoughts on Thursday

1. I have been really bad about blogging lately, I guess I was just burned out a bit. Maybe nothing felt exciting enough to share. Working hard to be around more often again.

2. Our light went out in our refrigerator about two weeks ago. It wasn't the bulb but some circuit board. Anyway, you never know how much you really need that light until the darn thing is gone. Jeff fixed it last night and it is heaven!

3. My little girl is growing up too fast. We caught her cleaning up her room and then her brother's before school the other day. She said it was nice to come home to a clean room. My goodness!

4. Where has the time gone...is it really March already???

5. I have been really watching what I eat lately, portions, content, etc. I am down to a weight I haven't seen since I got married...wow. Only problem, half my closet of clothes don't fit.

6. I wish I could put away my teacher frustrations when I get home. My poor kids are getting the short end of my patience lately. Makes me sad.

7. What happened to this little guy?

When did he get all grown up too? He will be 4 soon!!!

8. I have become a texting addict...Jeff had to switch my cell plan to include unlimited texting.

9. How is it that I did a big grocery shopping last Saturday and we are already low on so many things?!?

10. It is Lenten season for Catholics. I went to mass last Wednesday, Ash Wednesday and listened to the priest talk about all the things that people give up. I decided this year instead of giving something up, I would do something instead. I have promised to find more patience in my classroom with my students each day. I have also vowed to do a Random Act of Kindness each day. Both of which have been very fulfilling so far.

Brennan's update

Jeff took Brennan to his regularly scheduled ear checkup on Monday. They first saw the doctor and he did his exam. He could see a bit of fluid on both ear drums, although he wasn't sure if it was causing a problem. The tube in his right ear is still in place (18 months later!), but said that it looked like it was just about ready to fall out. After discussing things with Jeff he suggested that Brennan have another hearing test to see if the fluid was causing any problems at all.
So they headed over to the hearing institute. After the normal tests, we had some great news! Not only has the right ear maintained the same good levels, but the left ear has completely regained all of it's hearing capacity, to put him within the normal levels. YIPPEE! So unless something major changes and he develops some horrible ear infections, then he is good to go!
One more hurdle crossed...
Lots of love,
The Grady's

Happy Birthday Kaitlyn!

We had a great two day celebration for Kaitlyn's 6th birthday. It all started Friday morning when Tif and I told the girls that we were taking them to school, instead of their normal routine. We told them it was a "free dress day" and that we had to run an errand first. About 20 minutes down the freeway, Kaitlyn started to panic a bit and says "Mommy, I think we are going to be late for school". This is when we decided to spill the beans! We told her Mickey Mouse wanted to help celebrate with her, so we were heading to his house. She said..."Seriously?!? We are going to Disneyland!?!?". We spent the entire day enjoying all the rides.

Saturday the celebrations continued with a fun birthday party at Tad and Tif's house. Kaitlyn had a ball playing with her friends and enjoying the day.

Happy Birthday!!!

Lots of love,

The Grady's

What happens in Vegas...

You are all familiar with this phrase....but I think it is important to share a few details of a trip that was filled with some amazing adventures!

We took a trip to Vegas this past weekend to help celebrate our good friend Joseph's birthday. Normally the drive to Vegas is about 4 hours. But, Joseph decided to surprise all of us with a quicker mode of transportation! Can you even believe it?!?

Tiffany our co-pilot

40 minutes in the air certainly beats almost 4 hours in the car!

We stayed at the MGM Signature Suites, which I highly reccommend. The rooms are beautiful with lots of living space. The next two days were spent eating, drinking, gambling (a bit), people watching, and laughing unitl we cried many different times.

We can't wait to head back for another trip soon!

Lots of love,

The Grady's

Do you ever wonder?

I guess this only applies to other bloggers...but do you ever wonder who is reading your blog? Are they people you know? Or are they people that bounce here from other blogs, like I do all the time to blogs of people I don't really know. I certainly wonder who is out there...
post a comment! I would love to know who is out there:)
Lots of love,
The Grady's

Close to my heart

I never thought I would be one of those people that had a cause that they felt strongly about. In fact, I never could completely understand some people's dedication to raising money for a cause or in some cases their complete devotion to a particular cause. About 4 years ago, I began reading a blog about a sweet family that lost their 9 month old daughter to leukemia. It was then I began to understand that mom's commitment to helping other families to deal with all the heartache she had just endured.

I truly understood that desire after the birth of Brennan. I don't think you can really feel that pull, that intense desire to make a difference, until you are faced with the harsh reality of what cause you are fighting for. That cause for me is raising awareness for congenital heart defects.

February 7-14, 2009 has been designated Congenital Heart Defect Awareness week. An estimated one in every 100 children born in the United States each year have a malformed heart, making it the MOST common birth defect.

To be honest, before I had Brennan, I had never really heard of heart defects in newborn babies. Two days before I delivered him, he was diagnosed with a heart defect that we were told would take his life. After two open heart surgeries and about a week spent in the hospital we brought him home for good. Without research, amazing doctors and surgeons, I am not sure that we would have the same end result.

I cherish everyday we have with him, because I know what the alternative could have been. I know there are many other families that have lived in our shoes, and many more that will. I can only hope that as research and technology advance, so will early detection of the defects and the procedures used to repair them.

Please take an opportunity this week, to find out more information about these defects, tell someone you know about this important week and what it means, ask a question to learn more.

"A mended heart is a special heart."

Lots of love,

The Grady's

10 on Tuesday

1. Work sucks right now. I feel like I have so much material to cover and just not enough time in the days. My students aren't exactly the best behaved either. Ugh.

2. Watching Biggest Loser, amazing how these people lose more than 10 pounds in a week. Who does that???

3. Conversation the other night with Brennan.

Me: Brennan, you need to sit down and eat your dinner

Bren: Mommy, I WILL.

Me: Brennan, I am not going to ask again, sit down and take a few more bites.

Bren: Ugh....Mommy you are, you are making you crazy!

LOL! I guess I must tell him that often, nice.

4. Why do they make bowling shoes in the most obnoxious colors? 5. I think I am one of the last people not on Facebook. But honestly I just can't imagine managing that on top of emails, blog, etc.

6. Praying for some colder, rainy weather later this week. February and 80 degree weather just don't work for me.

7. My knee is seriously messed up right now. It is really starting to make me mad, I can't do any kind of exercise, nothing. Had an x-ray, no visible bone issues, going back to the Dr. tomorrow. Need something figured out.

8. Emerson had her first mini dance recital last week at school. Jeff was able to go and watch, since it was during the school day. He was so amazed at how natural she was performing. She totally ate it up.

9. Why do more stores not carry Tall sizes? I mean honestly, I am not a giant. But basics at just about any store are not long enough for me. That is so annoying.

10. Jimmy Buffett just released 7 west coast tour dates, the most I have ever seen. Can. Not. Wait.

Lots of love,

The Grady's

Birthday fun!

I love birthdays! I love helping others celebrate their birthdays, I love surprising people on their birthdays, and even better I love my birthday. This year certainly did not disappoint. Jeff told me about a week ago that he had some plans for me for the day, little did I know all he had in store for me.

My morning started with an amazing massage at one of the local resort hotels. My mom picked me up at home and Tiffany, her mom, and my friend Whitnee all joined us for some pampering a the spa. The spa was wonderful, complete with private pool, sauna, steam room, and very attentive service. After our treatments we took in some lunch by the pool.

After lunch the 2nd part of my surprise was to discover that Jeff had gotten a two hotel rooms at the Hyatt for all of us for the night. He had spent the day there with the kids playing in the pool and sliding down the water slide. The thought it was the greatest thing ever! They couldn't stop talking about it.

My mom took the kids home and Jeff, me, Tad, Tif, Whitnee, and Joseph spent the afternoon lounging around the pool. We had a mellow dinner, and my final surprise was to be joined by my parents, our great friends Cindy and Steph, and Pam and Craig. We danced the night away at the local piano bar.

I really do love surprises even though I am a total control freak, and not knowing what was going to happen next was a little frustrating. Tiffany got a kick out watching me not be in control, laughing all the way through. But even though I was sure what was around the next corner, it was the greatest to feel completely taken care of.

Thank you sweetie, for putting so much time and thought into making my birthday so special, I love you.

Love,

The Grady's

Feeling loved...

It all started over 6 years ago...I logged onto a website looking for some advice on my first pregnancy. What I ended up finding were two of the greatest friends I would ever know.

Over the course of my pregnancy I began posting on a message board for other moms due the same time that I was, in November. Time passed and we talked about everything imaginable related to our pregnancies and our lives. We all had our babies and still continued to talk about problems or achievements we were having with our new little babies. As the months wore on, some women were able to "check in" at least a few times a day, some women began to form closer bonds with others, and some stopped posting altogether. I can't quite pinpoint the time it happened, but I slowly stopped posting on the public message board and I instead began emailing Carrie and Christa instead. See, we were some of those that had started to develop closer bonds with each other.

It has been at least 4 years now, and we rarely miss a few days without an email in each other's direction often several email "conversations" each day. We live in very different parts of the country (CA, OH, IA), yet we have been fortunate enough to see each other in person almost once each year. These girls have seen me through some of the highest and lowest points in the past 4 years...we have this amazing bond and amazing friendship that I will never quite be able to explain. We know that we can count on each other for support, understanding, and unfaltering friendship. I know that if I called either of them and asked for their help, they would be on the next plane out my way...I am so very grateful for them.

A few years back we decided (probably after we all had our 2nd kids), that instead of buying the kids presents on their birthdays and holidays, we would splurge and get each other something special on our birthdays. I mean really, the kids are always spoiled, why not spoil ourselves. We work hard thinking of just the right thing to get, and somehow we always nail it.

This year is no exception. They are always able to read my mind...I couldn't have asked for anything better. I have been wanting something that I could wear everyday and now my little ones will always be close to me.

Thanks for making the start of my birthday week (yes, I celebrate for a WHOLE week!) so special. I love you girls!

Lots of love,

The Grady's

Zoo and Theatre

This weekend we took advantage of the beautiful weather outside and took the kids to the Living Desert. Our annual passes expire next week, so wanted to make sure to squeeze one more trip in. The kids were very content watching the huge train display and playing at Gecko Gulch playground.

Jeff and Brennan panning for gold.

My school district partners with the local theatre to provide art experience to our 3rd grade classes. I am our school's coordinator and this week I was offered 4 tickets to see the Musical Production of Flat Stanley. Emerson and I invited Tif and Kaitlyn to join us at the theatre. The girl's seemed to really enjoy their first theatre experience!

Lots of love,

The Grady's

Macaroni and Cheese Casserole Recipe

Here is the recipe I used the other night, super yummy!

1 spray(s) cooking spray
8 oz uncooked macaroni, elbow (I used whole wheat pasta)
10 3/4 oz Campbell's 98% Fat-Free Cream Of Celery Soup, or Chicken Soup
1 cup(s) fat-free mayonnaise
8 oz low-fat cheddar or colby cheese, shredded
1/2 medium sweet red pepper(s), chopped
4 oz whole-wheat crackers, mashed into crumbs
2 chicken breasts, cooked, diced

Preheat oven to 400ºF. Coat a 9 X 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
Cook macaroni in a large pot of boiling water until just tender, about 7 minutes; drain and transfer to a large bowl. Add soup, mayonnaise, cheese, pepper and chicken; mix well to combine.
Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish and top with cracker crumbs.
Bake, uncovered, until top is golden, about 20 to 25 minutes. Slice into 6 pieces and serve.

ENJOY!

Lots of love,
The Grady's

10 on Tuesday

1. So last week I am was out of my classroom for three days, and this week I am out for another three days to attend a conference in Pasadena. 6 days of sub plans is not my idea of a good time.

2. There is nothing better than dancing in the kitchen to random music with the kids. Memories to cherish.

3. Once again I am addicted to watching the Bachelor. It is certainly a show I have grown to love and hate. It is like a train wreck, you can't turn away from it. He better pick someone good, and not waste my time.

4. Explain to me why it was 83 degrees today and it is still January! What happened to winter?

5. Why does our house get dirty so fast? I mean we clean, dust, vacuum, do dishes, pick up toys...and still every time I turn around I feel like the house is messy!

6. When did my little girl become a little lady? I mean she acts so mature sometimes, so much like a little lady and not my baby girl! I hate it.

7. I have to wake up at 430am tomorrow and instead of going to bed, I am posting and watching Biggest Loser.

8. Homework tonight for Emerson: spelling words, sight words, and a full page of addition problems. A little afraid that Emerson would be overwhelmed...boy was I wrong. She sat right now and did it all with a smile on her face!

9. Brennan scared the crap out of me yesterday morning. Long story short, he decided to play hide and seek without letting me know he was playing...and I thought he was just gone. All of this happened before 7am, not how I wanted to start my day.

10. I made the yummiest homemade macaroni and cheese last night. Low fat, with sliced chicken, delicious!

Lots of love,
The Grady's

Just what we needed...

After spending three days driving, attending grandma's funeral, visiting with family, dealing with Grandma's affairs at her house, and grieving we certainly needed a little relaxation. Our good friends invited us up to their cabin in Lake Arrowhead for the weekend. So we made our way up there Friday night to reunite with our kids and enjoy a weekend of great fun! While it may be close to 80 degrees at home, it was still fairly cold up the hill. Cold enough to have some great snow on the ground. The kids (and the adults!) had a great time sledding, eating snow, and throwing snowballs.

Kaitlyn taking a break!

Daddy and Brennan

Emerson and Mommy

Domenique eating snow.
Brennan sharing his snow with Lauren (one of the cutest things I saw all day!)

Tif getting ready to give Emerson a push!

Lauren getting ready to slide down the hill!

Jeff giving it a go!

Brennan

Joseph and Brennan

Lots of love,

The Grady's

In Memory

Friday, January 2, 2009 Grandma Panero passed away at her home in Visalia. Jeff's grandma was a beautiful woman who lived a long and wonderful life. At 89 years old she has seen two world wars, served in one of them, travelled halfway across the world to be with her love, had two children, 1 grandchild, and 2 grandchildren. We feel so blessed to have been able to spend some quality time with her this past Thanksgiving. She loved the time she had with Emerson and Brennan, loved watching them play and run around. She always said that Brennan was a true Irish boy, rosy cheeks and running wild. She loved to talk to Emerson about school and all she was learning.

We will travel to Visalia Wednesday for her funeral...and to say goodbye to a wonderful grandmother. We love you, Grandma.

Lots of love,

The Grady's

Happy New Year!

We celebrated New Year's Eve at our friend Nina and Greg's house this year. No better to way to celebrate then one where you are surrounded by friends! We watched the ball drop in New York and actually made it a few more hours before heading off to bed. The only problem with this great night, the fact that our kids still woke up at their usual 6am! Ouch, not so fun after only a few hours of sleep ourselves.

Tif and I trying to stay warm!

Nina giving Jeff a New Year's kiss.

Nina, Whitnee, Tiffany

Whit and I

New Years Day was just as great! We all hung around in our jammies watching football, eating lots of food, napping on and off well into the afternoon....what better way to celebrate the new year!

Lots of love,

The Grady's