Happy Birthday, Graydon!

Graydon is TEN today! Double digits! Two full hands!

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

This is a big birthday for Graydon. He has been counting down the days until he turned the big 1-0. This kid is eager to grow up. He doesn't just want to be older, he also wants to be bigger. I've found Google searches for 'how to grow bigger muscles' and 'how to get taller'. He doesn't like being small. I found him doing some yoga poses the other day in an attempt to stretch himself out so that he would be taller. He makes me laugh, but I continue to pray that his pursuits come from a place of wanting to be his best self instead of viewing his current version as something inferior.

This year, he tried flag football for the first time and loved it. I almost wish our school had a football team because he did really well in the position of running back. But I'm also glad that we don't since that sport can cause so many injuries. Basketball continues to be his favorite sport anyway. School is going well and he continues to get good grades. Math is definitely a strong area for him. 

If he could have it his way, he'd spend all of his time watching You Tube videos, playing on his tablet, or watching TV. He loves his technology and wants to create his own You Tube channel. Thankfully, he also enjoys going outside to play basketball. When his screen time is over for the day, his next favorite thing to do is play board games. We've been playing a lot lately. His favorite TV show right now is 'The Flash'. He, Andy, and Curtis have guy time at night when they watch this show together.

It's hard to believe that Graydon is ten-years-old! I am thankful for this whole decade of being his mom and pray for God's blessing to be upon this next one. His favorite song this past year has been "Believer" by Imagine Dragons and it was his specific request to have this song in his slideshow video this year. Ask and you shall receive!  Happy Birthday, Graydon Andrew! Welcome to your 10s!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

Three kids all dressed up and ready for church.








All five of us after the first service.


The kids and I went home after the 6pm service. Sometimes we stay for the 8pm service, but this year we didn't. I had a little laugh when Graydon asked Andy if he was going to the 8pm service.

Curtis was jingling his bell bracelet.


After the kids and I got home, they opened up their presents from Uncle Jeff & Aunt Steph. After watching some Christmas movies, it was finally bedtime. A little while later, this happened.




Christmas Morning

Graydon was the first one up - which is usual. But we got to sleep in until about 8:15am. Our kids are gracious to us on Christmas morning. Bella was actually hoping to sleep in even later!


Before presents, we sing 'Happy Birthday' to Jesus every year.


We rolled dice this year to determine the order of opening gifts. Graydon rolled the highest number followed by Bella and then Curtis. Bella really wanted us to take our time with present opening, so we opened gifts one at a time and were able to see what everyone got. She's a girl after my own heart.




It's hard to tell, but his first gift was a boomerang.


Bella's package contained a water bottle, earrings, headband, and iTunes giftcard.


It is gratifying to watch Curtis open gifts. He gets so animated and excited! Each kid got a board game. Curtis was hoping for Jumanji!


Graydon got Monopoly.




Bella now has a heated blanket for her bed. We love to be cozy and warm in this house.


We took a short intermission to open a gift that Curtis had wrapped. It was the first gift that went under our tree and he placed in there about five days before Christmas.






It was a couple of pictures that he drew!




His next gift was a heavy one - it knocked him backward!


A karaoka machine for our guy who loves to sing!




Graydon received a stadium for his Bey Blade battles with Curtis.


Curtis is in a collared shirt and tie phase so he was pretty pleased with this box.


It contained new pajamas, a collared shirt, and about five new ties!


Now it came time for the kids to open the gifts they picked out for each other. Bella bought Graydon these revolution rings. They are so fun to play with.


Bella  opened her gift from Graydon. He taped it up pretty good!


A plant for her room.


Graydon got Curtis this squishy to help get his collection started.


Curtis chose this puzzle cube for Graydon.


Curtis also picked out this salt lamp for Bella.


Bella chose this pizza blanket because "it's random, just like Curtis." So true.


Andy and I also received a gift from Bella. She made me this little book titled "Reasons why I love my mom"


It didn't take long for the tears to fill my eyes.








There are several pages of reasons and each of them are illustrated. I love it so much. And I love her so much!




She also created a painting for Andy with his favorite phrase on it.


She is one thoughtful and talented young lady.


Stocking time!


Candycane hearts.


All sorts of goodies for our road trip to Wisconsin.


Making towers with their treats.




After everything was unwrapped, it was time to try out all of the new stuff. We found some Christmas karaoke songs on You Tube and sung quite a few. We connected the karaoke machine to my phone via blue tooth and were able to follow along with the lyrics on the phone screen while the music came out of the machine. The microphone worked great and there were even disco lights. Such a fun sing-along we had!










Graydon took his boomerang out for a spin.






And we played a 4-5 hour long game of Monopoly. We had to take a couple of breaks before finishing. I think this was the first time that I have even played this game to the bitter end.


And it was a bitter ending for everyone except Andy. He got his hotels up at just the right time and before long squeezed the rest of us dry. $950 rent will do that. And we all kept landing there!


Our Christmas was relaxing and fun and everything we wanted it to be. And it was just the beginning of all the celebrations.