All the Small Things...

A Trip Down Memory Lane...

I kinda have to confess, this show might have been more for me than for Keiran. 

 

Why?  Well, KK really likes Elmo.  He used to LOVE him, but that was quickly replaced by his love of Blue's Clue's-- bordering on OBSESSION actually.  In fact, he watches A LOT of Blue's Clues and when he requests a new show, he will say Blue's Clues Steve or Blue's Clues Joe.  90% of the time it is Blue's Clues Steve.  Hooray for Steve!  I feel the same way, man.

 

Okay, so when Elmo Live came around I HAD to get the tickets, but not because of KK's massive love for Elmo, but because of PATRICK's MASSIVE love of Elmo.  

You see, Patrick was an Elmoaholic.  Full blown addict.  Like 12 step addict.  Elmo was his life and I LOVED it.  Nothing Elmo ever sang grated on my nerves.  He was so sweet and his little voice was perfection.  I, too, worshipped the ground Elmo walked on.

So now 17 years later, Elmo tickets become available and I jump at the opportunity to go.  Not necessarily to see Elmo again (although he was awesome!), but to get into a mini time machine and go back to those days of simpler times.  The days when Dan was at school and it was just me and Patrick at home in our little Provo home watching Elmo and stopping by everyday at the Thomas' house to play or craft or eat (best neighbors ever!).

And so at Elmo Live, while Bert was on stage dancing away to Doing the Pigeon or Ernie was singing all about visiting the moon, I just looked at KK (who is Patrick's DOUBLE) and remembered how great I've had it.  A REALLY great life with a really great husband and really great kids.  So, for two stupid kids who probably got married way too young and probably had kids way too young and probably even had way too many of them-- we've done pretty good.

Besides-- Elmo's favorite number is 5, so 5 kids is pretty poetic.  :)

 

BTW- the Sesame Street letter of the day was "K".        love that

 

Summer Day #15

 

 

Okay, I must confess posting this after the US lost in the World Cup is not so fun.  :(  waa waa

BUT-- I still have really great memories of MOST of the game and our crazy US fan-base!

Our whole family gathered around the TV to watch the US play Ghana and before long Dan walked in from outside marching back in forth in front of the TV with our flag.  Well, then the pandemonium began!  KK had a turn at it and then, Scarlet, who can't be left out of anything had a go!  

We were a little down when Ghana scored the first goal, but knowing that the US is a 2nd half team, we still held out hope.

Then the gorgeous Landon Donovan scored his penalty kick and the house went MAD!  Patrick picked up the flag and took off running up and down our street screaming, "GGGGOOOOAAAALLL!" at the top of his lungs while we all stood in the front yard screaming "GOAL" as loud as we could.  It was about the funniest thing I've ever seen and I'm sure the neighbors think we're even more ridiculous than before.  

Let's just pretend now that that was the end of the game, shall we?!!?!?

No?  Well, the US lost and shattered our World Cup dreams and we were a sad house with a great memory of our crazy eldest son.  Worth it?  YES!!!!

Summer Day #13

 

The kids LOVE when Grammy comes to the games because she always has a purse filled with treats and toys.  Today it was a parachute man, bubbles and red licorice and Ring Pops... always Ring Pops!  

 

Summer Day #1

So it's the first full day of summer and where else would you find the Greding 6 1/2  than at a soccer field?

Patrick had a tournament in Camarillo (Yeah!  A hometown tourney!!!).  The weather was perfect, the games were exciting and Patrick played great!  They ended up with a loss (own goal- yikes!), a tie and a win.  Not our best tournament results, but still super fun and a great day in our awesome California weather!!!  A fun way to start off our summer!

We then headed home and watched the US tie England in the World Cup!!!  HOORAY FOR THE USA!!!   It was a very soccer day for us.

  

To complete the first day of Summer, Michelle, Megan, Jennifer and I headed to Muvico for a little dinner at Bogarts and then Sex and the City 2!  I LOVE spending time with my friends!!!

 

 

  

The Day Has Come...

I can hardly write about it.  So wonderfully depressing.  So happy for him, so sad for me.  He is such a good son.  I love him... 

Patrick's Night...

 

Patrick Halloween 2009...

Homecoming...

So Patrick went to his Homecoming tonight and I have to admit I was freaking out inside.  He's my baby and he's doing something so old!  I remember Homecoming like it was yesterday!

We won't let him date until he is 16, so he went stag with a group of guy friends and they had so much fun.  He, of course, met up with all his girl friends there, but we just believe in keeping the teenage dating scene to a minimum for as long as possible.

Anyway, while he was getting dressed I got really emotional.  He looked so handsome and grown up and I was so proud of him and yet I wanted to scream at time and make it stop.  He was just watching Elmo and playing with "dinomores" yesterday it seems.  :(

Here are some pics of my boy-

 

You rarely read my blog, but in case you ever do see this... I LOVE you, son.  

Number 5...

Summer Days #17

On our way home from the Santa Maria Tournament, we stopped at the Santa Barbara Pier for clam chowder, lobster bisque and fish & chips.  OH YUM!!!  

They have a little shack on the pier that I once saw on Rachel Ray's show, $40 a Day where they serve the MOST DELICIOUS clam chowder.  It's so delicious.  SO DELICIOUS!!!  It is so fun and relaxing eating clam chowder or crab out on the pier watching all the boats and surfers go by.  I LOVE DOING THIS!!!

Afterwards, we headed to the pier's  yummy candy store and got our fill of fudge, taffy, caramels, licorice, gummies, and chocolate covered everything!  No one loves a candy store like the Gredings!  :)