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

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