The Long Trip......to Utah!!!

We went to Utah this weekend so we are late getting this posted. We were able to spend Friday with the Trappett family and play with the cousins. We went down to Herriman on Saturday for Eli’s Baptism. Eric spoke at the Baptism on the Holy Ghost. We are excited for Malia to be baptized in December. She is looking forward to it and spends a little time each Sunday with Daddy to prepare for baptism. We had lots of fun playing games with all the families. It makes us long for a bigger family. Aidan came away from the weekend with a new favorite. He was up this morning running all over the house wanting a “gogurt”. Guess we can add those to our grocery list! Malia started gymnastics again for a six-week class and was really excited. She picked up right where she left off. No worries. And her favorite color is no longer rainbow – it is now blue – but not just any blue – cerulean blue!!  We started her on a new morning chart to hopefully make mornings not so miserable. She is old enough now to get up and ready by herself without us constantly calling after her. We will see how she does. If she can do it for 10 days in a row she gets to go out for ice cream.  Hooray!! Mommy is still trying hard to do Zumba two times each week. She loves it and has fun, but sometimes it’s really hard to go. Daddy started his third business and hopefully one of them will eventually pay off.

Aidan's Song

New Year's Resolutions!

The Graybill Family has set a new goal to publish a journal entry at least once a week about our comings and goings! Just to give a little idea of what is going on in our life.

Aidan has been down this last week with Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease (HFMD). It is horrible. I hope no one ever gets it. There is little to do to help him. He has sores all over the inside of his throat, mouth, and lips. He can't sleep, eat, and for a few days didn't even really play. He is slowly getting back to his regular self. However, they say to keep him away from everyone for 7-10 days. He is turning into quite the talker. I love to here him say "polka dot" and thank you which he says "welcome".  He loves to watch Transformers and I think we have seen it at least 25 times this week.

Malia is busy as always with piano, school, and ballet. She is quite the popular girl at school and everyone wants to play with her and be her friend. She is learning to make good choices, be a good example, and be kind to everyone. Malia got the reading award for her class this last semester.

Our family finished the Book of Mormon in 90 days for our Primary Challenge. It was some very long reading days. Aidan learned when we picked up the scriptures he was ready to say "NO!" We have since slowed down and he reads along with us.

Better Late Than Never

Malia's first day of school, new glasses, and Aidan's birthday. I can't believe Malia is in first grade and Aidan is 2. Can they just stop growing!!!

Family Picutres #2

Family Picutres #1

Snow White

So Malia's ballet recital was tonight. Didn't get amazing pictures, but hoping to be able to post a video clip as soon as eric gets home. We did get some real photos taken, but I thought she was adorable anyway. She did so good and got to be the line leader and the curtsy leader. I was so proud of her tears welled up in my eyes. it was like a dream to see my daughter out there performing. She loved it and wants to do it again next year!!!!

And of course - i was so lucky to have a great babysitter take Aidan - and wouldn't you know it - didn't miss me at all (or the ballet!)

Aidan Nursery

18 months!!

So Aidan had his first day of nursery yesterday. I can't believe he is 18 months already. He is so much fun. He loves Malia and she is so great at taking care of him. He went right in to the nursery when he saw the balls bouncing around. He loved snack time and our primary chorister said he just went crazy singing and dancing during singing time. He got a little cranky the last 10 minutes and kept looking at the door like he was ready to go. Of course by then toys were put away, snack time over, singing time done and just getting ready for parents so who wouldn't be bored!!

here are a few pics from the day. not the best shots for me - i have lost 37 lbs and will be doing it again come may. will post some better pictures later!!

Last Year

I hope that we can be better at updating the blog this year. Some of my friends have printed their blog into kind of a family journal. That would be a great idea if I can keep up on things. So here is a rundown of the last year.

Eric is still working at Delorum. They have done really well this year and he has enjoyed some fun projects. Their biggest clients right now are Zumiez and Potandon. You can check out their work at www.delorum.com Eric is the Elders Quorum President in our ward and definitely magnifies his calling. He is such a wonderful example of the priesthood to our children. He has had many opportunities to serve others as well as family. He does a great job at helping out at home and never complaining. We were able to get a sprinkler system set up in the front yard just in time for winter. So he is anxious to put it to work this summer and get some stuff done for our yard.

HyDee has decided to go back to school and finish her Bachelor’s degree online at BYU-I. She has about 30 credits left and looks forward to the spring of 2012 for graduation. She is still working a few hours a week at IBEX and is so grateful to have an opportunity to work with and for great people. She decided to embark on her greatest trial yet and started the HCG protocol in the middle of January. This phase goes about 40 days and hopes to be able to lose 40 pounds. Then she has three weeks of maintenance before it goes back to regular daily eating. Then starting again around the first of May for another 40 days and hopefully another 35 pounds or so. It has been extremely hard but so far very rewarding.

Malia is 6 yrs old, in kindergarten and loves school. In the summer she got to play t-ball and do swimming lessons. She is excited to do swimming again this summer. We gave gymnastics a rest this year and she has been doing ballet. She was in the Nutcracker performance in December dancing The Chinese Dance and was very successful. She didn’t even get stage fright. She will be performing in Snow White June 2nd and we are all looking forward to that. She likes to play barbies, games, anything with friends, and watching movies. Right now her favorite pastime is to play the Indiana Jones wii game with daddy. She is a wonderful sister to Aidan. She always plays with him and makes him laugh. She is a great help to her mother.

Aidan is growing like crazy. He is almost 18 months. My how time flies. He walks (or runs) all over and is VERY busy. He loves balls, cars, and his sister. He says a few words like mom, dad, ball, car, dog, woof, sister, baa (for bottle), and makes some really great sounds. He hates wearing shoes but loves to play with them. He loves cheese and fruit. He hates the snow (hopefully next year that will change).

Our family has had some really great visits this last year with our family and are excited this year to get to go to Egypt at the end of March and to California at the end of August.

That’s all for now. Hope everyone else is good and happy and hopefully we will post a little more often. We love you all!

Stay tuned!

We are up and running again - I hope - give me a few days and I'll have a good one for ya!! Happy Valentine's Day!

It's Official

Okay everybody - it's official. A. is part of the forever family. It was a wonderful day for our family. Lots of family and friends were able to attend and we had an amazing sealer. The children were beautiful. It was an amazing experience with our biological family as well. After the temple we had A. blessed and E. did a great job. We are so grateful to all who come and showed their love and support. We sure missed those that couldn't be here. We feel so blessed by our Father in Heaven to have two amazing, beautiful and wonderful children.

Picture Tag

I have been "picture tagged" to find my 6th folder and my 6th picture and tell the story that goes along with it



This is a picture of M. on Halloween at the Ward Trunk or Treat back in 2005. All the arizona cousins dressed up as part of the "Strawberry Shortcake" crowd and M. was Orange Blossom. Isn't she adorable. My how time flies.

Now it's your turn - Here are the rules.
1. go to whereever you store your photos and select the 6th picture in the 6th folder.

2. Post that picture and the story that goes with it on your blog.

3. Tag 6 other people that you know and notify them via e-mail or comment on their blog for them to do the same.

I TAG: Kristina, Alicia, Catherine, Tamara, Tiffany, Wendy

Good Luck!!

COLD!

Well we have just been as busy as everyone else. We enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving in California with Eric's family. It was fun to see everyone. Malia enjoyed all the cousins. She played hard sun up to sun down and absolutely loved being outside so much. It was great to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa and the Greats as well. Aidan has grown so much. He is almost 16 lbs and very healthy. We are just about ready for Christmas and are all very excited for the holidays. We had our snowfall this week and it stuck. Temperatures have been hanging out in the 20s. Eric loves it! I think I will pass. Already looking forward to the spring. We hope everyone is well this season and enjoys a wonderful holiday.

FAMILY

Holy Cow!

I amazed by so many mothers. It is such hard work for me to balance two children, I don't know how so many of you do more than that. Shout out to all mothers - You are AMAZING. Thank goodness my mother and father are so close or my house would never have been clean these first 6 weeks. I am so grateful to have a wonderful husband who is not afraid to change diapers, feed baby, make dinner, fold laundry, read stories and on and on. How did I get to be so lucky?

Well, it has been so long and there is so many things to say. Aidan is growing so fast. It is hard to believe he is almost 8 weeks. He is such a big smiler and is babbling a lot. He can recognize all our voices. Malia is so good with him. She loves to lay out the diaper, hold him, watch over him and fee him. We feel so blessed to have two wonderful kids.

Malia is excited to be a bride for Halloween and even more anxious to tell us everyday what she wants for her birthday. We are going to California for Thanksgiving and will be there to celebrate her birthday. She is always telling us how she is going to "share" her birthday with her cousin Olivia. We can't wait to see everyone there.

Well other than that we are just busy. Sorry I am not an avid blogger. You get what you get. These pictures are for my brother Todd in the Middle East. Love you guys.

Family

Well we have had Aidan since September 1st. It has been exciting, fun and exhausting. He really is a great baby - sleeps good, eats good and poops good. We took him to the dr. and he is gaining weight and is in excellent health. We are so grateful. It is still a little difficult for me to let him sleep or be in the car seat. I am constantly looking to make sure he is breathing. Malia adores him and is always asking to hold him or feed him. Lately she has even asked to change a diaper! She is adapting well. After a few days she felt a little left out, but we are trying to make sure she knows how important and loved she is. She is really doing great. She starting preschool just before we got Aidan and started gymnastics up again yesterday.

So that keeps her a little busy and us as well. It has been a hard adjustment for me to have two kids. VERY BUSY!! I am still trying to get a good balance to try and get everything done. I don't know how so many mothers do it, do it with more children, and do it so wonderful. Kudos to Mothers Everywhere.

Baby Aidan

Okay - a few more little details. Mom went in to be induced friday morning 6 am still hadn't delivered this morninng at 6:45 am so decided to do a c-section. mom and baby are great, healthy, and strong. confusion on birth weight due to birth time. here are the proper stats. love to all enjoy the picture. hope to have the baby sunday or monday, but will post more later.

Aidan Taft Graybill
7 lbs 14 oz
21 inches long
august 30, 2008
7:14 am

HE"S HERE!!!!

AIDAN TAFT - 8lbs 2 oz - 21 inches - saturday august 30, 2008 - 7:14 am

NEWS!!!!

okay - latest and greatest. if no baby by friday morning then baby will be induced. keep our birth mother and baby boy in your prayers. let you know more later!!!