Halloween

Dorothy and Batman

The kids had a great Halloween. The holiday started with a full day of fun at school on Friday, complete with parties and art projects. Saturday, the kids trick or treated in two neighborhoods!!! I am sure you can imagine the amount candy we are dealing with now...

Whitnee, Cindy, and I showing off our Halloween shirts


Lots of love,

The Grady's

Update

Brennan got his yellow belt!!! We have one excited little boy:)

Lots of love,
The Grady's

Playing Catch-Up

1. Busy, hectic, active, occupied, overloaded, swamped, lot on my plate, buried…okay you get the picture:)

2. We had Emerson’s parent teacher conference last week. She continues to amaze me…she loves school, loves helping out, loves reading, loves math…crud.... That must mean we are really in for it with Brennan.

3. My knee is healing very well. Much better then I had anticipated. I would say I am back to about 95%.

4. Halloween...great time. Pics to upload. Promise to post soon.

5. Both kids have hot lunch tomorrow. That will certainly make my morning a lot easier. I hate making lunches, I feel like I have no creativity.

6. This time change is awful! This has been the longest day ever!!!

7. November is here...in my head that means cool temperatures, leaves changing, and everything Fall. In reality, it is still in the 90's!!!! UGH!

Lots of love,
The Grady's

Taekwando

Brennan has been attending Taekwando now for about 2 months. He really loves his class and his instructors. We love the fact that it is so disciplined and that they incorporate schoolwork and chores from home into their reward system. Last Wednesday he tested for his first new belt. He is currently a white belt, all beginners start here. He tested for a yellow belt last night, we will find out on Tuesday if he was successful!

Lots of love,

The Grady's

Knee surgery

Well, I did it. This past Thursday I finally had surgery on my knee. I called the day before to find out the time of my surgery, and to my astonishment it wasn't until 430pm. I am not sure what is worse, waiting all day anticipating it or not being able to eat or drink anything all day.

The surgery itself was relatively easy. I had a great nurse who put my IV in on the first try (quite different from when I delivered Emerson and after 6 sticks the nurse finally got it). I was a little nervous being put under anesthesia, and although it was a very strange feeling, it was rather easy.

The Dr. said that the tear was much worse than he had seen on the MRI, closer to 4cm. I am slowly recovering. Was able to take off my bandages this morning and shower (heavenly!). The incisions are really small, amazing actually. They don't stitch them, just use steri-strips, which have to stay on for 10 days. Walking is a little slow, but hopefully it will get easier each day.

Thanks for all the well wishes!!!

Lots of love,

The Grady's

Up to Speed Thursday

1. Yeah, I know...I am awful at blogging lately. I know.

2. Work, school, kids, taekwando, making lunches, gymnastics, dance, speech, trainings, dinner, homework, lesson planning...yeah I think you get the idea.

3. Lice. Yes lice. The nasty, gross thing called lice entered our house 2 weeks ago. Creppy. I don't know how else to describe it. Poor Emerson:( Thanks to a great pediatrician and a very expensive prescription, we are all good and all clear.

4. Taekwando. Quite possibly the funniest hour of childhood sport around. When the "Master" introduces himself as Jackie Chann, you know it is going to be good.

5. Rescheduled my knee surgery finally. Cannot wait.

6. Is September really almost over? Where did the time go? Although the end of September means a paycheck for me...first since June. Gotta love that.

7. So glad that tomorrow is Friday. I am very ready. This week has been busy, crazy, unmanageable, hectic, fun, exciting, neurotic...all of the above.

8. Grey's starts tonight!!!! Enough said.

9. LOVE football. Love it. I think we sat on the couch all last weekend watching college, then more college, then NFL, then more NFL. Love this time of year.

10. Okay, trying to keep myself alert, since I still have 2 hours and 4o minutes to make it through the 2 hour premiere of Grey's. I. Am. Not. Going. To. Fall. Asleep.

Lots of love,
The Grady's

Labor Day Getaway

After a full week back at work and school, temperatures reaching over 110 with humidity, and needing to take advantage of a 3-day weekend...how would would you escape? We headed to the beach!

We spent two days in Newport Beach enjoying the relatively cooler temps and the company of great friends.

Balboa Island

Crystal Cove State Park
Tide Pools

Whitnee with Domenique and Emerson

Lots of love,

The Grady's

? on Wednesday

1. I am a day late...so I have no idea how many things I will write about for Wednesday.

2. We started school on Monday and it has flown by. And it feels like it should be June already. And I am exhausted. And is it Friday yet?

3. Brennan started Taekwando last week. We love it! He is excited to go and I love the life lessons they are teaching him. It is also a bit of comedy to watch.

4. I changed grade levels this year. Challenging? Am I crazy? Excited? Overwhelmed? Thrilled? I really do love it, just trying to keep my head above water.

5. We are having the most disgusting weather at the moment. Hot and HUMID. Last I checked I did not live in Florida. But I have been questioning it quite a bit all week.

6. I am back in the world of lunch making, uniform washing, lesson planning, and homework helping. Craziness is back.

7. Aren't they cute?

Okay, that's all I've got...I need to go to bed.

Lots of love,

The Grady's

How time flies...

First day of school!

Emerson started 1st grade and has loved her first two days. Brennan is in PreK and loving his new class.

Lots of love,

The Grady's

Classic

Overheard conversation this morning...

Brennan: "Sissy, my finger hurts, I bumped it."

Emerson: "Let me see, oh, you will be fine."

Brennan: "But, it REALLY hurts!"

Emerson: "Brennan, just deal with it, you will be fine."

Brennan: "But it hurts!!!"

Emerson: "Just deal with it, I mean, we have to deal with YOU, don't we???"

LOL!!!! I was dying in the other room listening to this...she cracks me up! And, by the way, he stopped complaining about his finger after that.

Lots of love,
The Grady's

Big Bear Lake

We had a very relaxing few days up at Big Bear Lake. We met up with Jeff's dad and Kathy for a few beautiful days up at the lake.

We enjoyed walking around the Village, taking a tour of the lake on the Big Bear Queen, and hanging out at the pool.

It was great to see Jim and Kathy, the kids had a great time hanging out with Grandma and Grandpa!

Lots of love,

The Grady's

8 years...

Happy 8th Anniversary sweetie!
Thank you for making the last 8 years full of great memories!
Love you lots!
me

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