*T*E*N* on Tuesday...

1. Counting down...3...2...1....seriously?!? Where has the time gone? Christmas in 2 days?

2. I am totally one of those people that is last minute shopping this year. I was at Target today and I knew that it would be a challenge. Boy was I right! But with my peppermint latte in hand, the annoying people weren't so bad!

3. Explain to me why driving 25 mph in a 45mph zone is acceptable??? Really! GET. OUT. OF. MY. WAY.

4. The kids had their Christmas program this past Thursday. It was a great night...even if we couldn't see Brennan during his song. Something about the 60 preschoolers from 3 classes all on stage together. LOL!

5. Is it bad that I have not wrapped one single gift yet?

6. Brennan earned his orange belt tonight! He was very excited:) Master Oh is such a wonderful teacher. He is stern and loving all at the same time.

7. I love that even though my Christmas tree isn't real...the wreath above our fireplace is. AND it is still smells wonderful.

8. Fred...oh silly Fred. He has been SO much fun in our house the past month. I will be sad to send him back to the North Pole until next year.

9. I know that I have said this before, but honestly, I have NO idea where all my laundry comes from. Honestly, I could do at least one load a day and never be caught up. I wish Santa would bring me a new washer and dryer, ones that did the laundry all by themselves.

10. My little angel...

Lots of love,

The Grady's

A moment...

Do you ever have those moments where you want to freeze time? Those moments you just want to capture in a photograph that you will be able to look back on and cherish forever?
I had one of those moments today. I was sitting on our bed, folding laundry when Brennan came into the room and climbed up on the bed and put his head in my lap and curled up next to me. He didn't say anything, just curled up for a few minutes and laid there. My silly, hyper, crazy, little boy...
Lots of love,
The Grady's

Dinner Party

Holiday Dinner party...I will let the pictures speak for themselves...

Lots of love,

The Grady's

Birthday girl

A few shots from the Birthday Girl's Day!!

Lots of love,

The Grady's

A belated bday msg from "Jeffy"

A week late but the excitement is still there with your little party happening today.

To my daughter, the girl that has grown up in front of my very eyes. You amaze me everyday with your sly comments (you are really going to wear that Jeffy? you are so silly dad? don't embarrass me!) to the intense listening skills that i see in your eyes when people are talking around you. You soak it all up like a sponge. You are shy but I catch you dancing and looking at yourself in front of the mirror as if you were a movie star (you don't know i am watching).

You are the little girl that it never is burdensome having my one on one time with you every school morning (don't tell mom about getting treats). We are the two that get to school 10 minutes before everyone else and analyze the important things in life - example .. "why does it take the soccer field at school 3 months to grow when all 120 golf courses around us take 20 days?" or "why does it flood in our town when we have had .015 inches of rain".
You are the little girl that acts independent around me but makes me realize how much you still care when you make me stay until the bell rings for that goodbye kiss and hug. Keep it up little peanut.


Happy 7th!
Jeff
I love you em

(as you and bren find it funny to call me "Jeff or Jeffy" but i will always be your dad.)

To my little girl,

For some reason this year I am struggling with the knowledge that you are SEVEN years old! I don't even know where all the time has gone. This past year seems to have flown by...

I am amazed at how you have grown in the past year. So many big milestones...starting 1st grade, going from reading a few words to full-blown chapter books, losing a few more teeth, and so much more. You read anything you can...books, billboards, signs, notes, anything you can.

You have started taking two dance classes, it is obviously something you love to do. We tried gymnastics for a few months, but it didn't have the same appeal as your dance classes. You are truly in love with dancing, music, singing (even though you aren't so adept at that), and anything where you get to show your stuff.

You still continue to be a great big sister. You help your brother just about anytime he asks. You take care of him, watch out for him, laugh at him, laugh with him. He is so incredibly lucky to have you for a sister. I know someday he will see that:)

I love how responsible you are. I love how you are so independent, yet still love to sit and cuddle sometimes. I love how you have taken an interest in cooking, even making your own lunches. I love your silly laugh and smile. You bring so much light into our lives.

I love you forever,
Mommy

Ten on ....what day is it?

1. I have been buried under 32 parent/teacher conference. Complete with 10 translators, 8 retention notices, a handful of wonderful parents, a screaming match between mother and child, a horrible revelation of a terminal illness, and a partridge in a pear tree.

2. I am addicted to the Lifetime Channel's back-to-back reruns of Grey's Anatomy. Love watching that damn show.

3. My poor baby girl is sick. Slight fever. Sore throat. And a birthday in two days:( Poor thing.

4. You know the greatest thing ever? Walking out in the morning to find the wreath you hung so carefully above the fireplace, laying on floor with pine needles scattered everywhere. Awesome.

5. Meet Fred. He is our newest family member, at least until Dec. 24th. Fred is our "Elf on a Shelf". The kids are utterly fascinated with finding him every morning. I love it.

6. Thanksgiving was wonderful. Family and friends. Turkey, drinks, pie, thankfulness. All things that you need to make a fantastic day.

7. Lights up outside. Check. Tree up and decorated. Check. Advent calendar. Check. Stockings hung. Check. Christmas cards created and mailed. Check. Christmas must be soon!

8. Brennan is cracking me up tonight. He is silly. Giggly. He is a total clown. I love it.

9. It is so strange to me that people come to our home, our city, as a "resort destination". I mean seriously. I was at the store the other day and I think I was the only car in the parking lot with a California license plate. North Dakota, Washington, BC, Idaho, Montana...you name it. I mean come on people...why?!?! You drive around like you are on vacation!!! It is SO annoying when all I am trying to do is go to the store, the bank, the dry cleaners, just normal errands. UGH!

10. 22 days and counting...

Lots of love,

The Grady's

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