So I have a childhood friend who a year ago decided to keep a family blog that she updated monthly. I have thoroughly enjoyed her posts and particularly love her format of talking about what did work and what did not work each month. This struck me as being truly real about the "good" and "challenging" moments that occur in every family. So this year I am going to try and do the same. I pledge to, on a monthly basis, try and keep it real for you all regarding the Portland Grady Family; the highs and lows, the hilarity, the challenges, and the fun that our family of four and one pet have every month.
The Grady Family consists of Patriarch Chris Grady (sounds so formal), Matriarch Shannon Grady (me), oldest son at eight years old, Dillon Grady, baby girl Finley (Finn) Grady at 16 months, and our lovable ten-year old yellow lab Lucy. Oops, I might disappoint the boy if I don't include the two fish. I have no idea their age, they are just lucky to still be swimming : )
We had a great holiday season. I say season because the celebrating was kicked off at Thanksgiving when the whole family, sans pets, traveled to Parker, CO to celebrate Thanksgiving with my older brother and his family (Joe, Lynn, Keegan, Cobi, and Allie), my sister and her boyfriend (Anne and Steve), and my little brother and his girlfriend (Michael and Cathy). To say the least it has been awhile since all of the Holloway kids were together for a celebration and it was awesome! So much fun with our family and all of the significant others. We even managed to bring back the Turkey Cup, a soccer game we used to play each thanksgiving back when our knees didn't ache just thinking about exercise. The field was much shorter and the pace much slower, but the amount of fun we had was the same. Shout out to team Keegan with the big "W" that day! Thank you to all my sibs and their families for a truly blessed time.
Next we welcomed Chris's Dad and his wife for an early Christmas celebration the second weekend in December. We love their visits for the obvious reasons, but it also gets my butt in gear to get the house ready for Christmas. Got the lights up on the house, got the tree and for the first year the family decorated the tree together, and the house was decorated. Even Finn helped, and never stopped helping until the tree came down. She just couldn't resist the ornaments. Their visit was great with good conversation, meals, family time, and they even got to cheer Dillon on in his basketball game. We never get them long enough, but what time we get we cherish! Thanks Pop Pop and Nana Linda for coming out this and every year!!
Then we had a whirlwind of Christmas time events; the school Christmas Concert at Holy Trinity, enjoying the Christmas lights, and loving our cool, but clear weather. As always the time went way too fast. Once Dillon went on break from school he had a series of overnights with his best bud and great grandma Mary, lots of basketball practices, and we just filled the time hanging out. For the first time we made the Childrens Mass at Holy Trinity where Santa made a visit. We tried unsuccessfully before Mass to get photos with Santa (something I am ashamed to say I had not done earlier and did not get done this year), but we ended up taking some great family photos outside of church that were truly memory worthy. After Mass, we headed over to Grandma Barbara and Grandpa Eric's house for our annual Christmas Even celebration. Great food, great family, and fun times for big and little kids alike opening presents. We are blessed every year by the love showered on our family by all of our family. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for another great Christmas Eve celebration, we are spoiled by your love and generosity : )
This year too for the first time we shared Grandpa Joe and Nana Sarah with my Aunt Mary in Houston, Texas. Since we missed them so much we aren't sure we want to share them again during the holiday : ) They had a great trip and Christmastime in Texas with Aunt Mary and still managed to FaceTime with us and wish us Merry Christmas and lots of love!
There was a big relax the day of and after Christmas. We visited Daddy downtown at his office and managed to have lunch and even hit Target to spend a holiday gift card or two. Dillon added to his Skylanders stash and Finn picked out a new baby. The rest of the week we really just lounged about enjoying our new things, each other, and being on "break".
New Years we celebrated with the Mustonen and Feduccia families and wrung in the New Year with ribs, chicken and sausage gumbo, video games (NCAA football and Wii Dance III), good conversation and good friends. We even made it to midnight!! We hosted this year and this kicked my butt in gear to put all the Christmas decorations inside away. We left the lights up, but they came down the next day. Always a little depressing the first night the lights aren't up anymore.
Finally on the following Monday our beloved alma mater, the University of Oregon Ducks, won the Rose Bowl for the first time in 95 years. It was so cool and Chris, the kids, and I watched together with Finny yelling touchdown with her arms thrown in the air at the encouragement of her big brother. Warmed my heart to see Chris and Dillon high-fiving and screaming at the TV together. Great family time! And an added bonus was that morning after a family breakfast I took Dillon in and had his hair chopped off. Those of you that have known Dillon these past few years know this is huge! Finally I can see those beautiful brown eyes again.
Anyway, 2012 has started out great for the family. We have our challenges ahead, but I feel so strongly coming out of the holidays that we have great family and friends who support and love us that 2012 will be our year to follow our dreams and make ourselves and those around us happy. Our goal is to make those we love know they are loved and appreciated, to stay healthy, and to be happy. Truly happy in every moment. We are so lucky to have what we have we just need to remember it daily that we are blessed. Happy New Year!
