74 Years Young

Last week my dad celebrated another birthday. Every additional year I get to spend with him is the best gift to me. I told him on the phone that day that he's never aged to me. He seems exactly as I remember him as a young girl. He was always present, always, every sporting event, every competition, every party, every family event. He was the last one asleep every day at our house and the first one awake each morning. I have never doubted the amount of love he has for me, or my siblings or my mom. He's just a good guy to the core. I read some letters he wrote home while he was in the Marines, even then the love he had for his siblings and parents was so obvious. It seems like the only time I've ever seen him sad are the times when someone in his family was hurting or suffering. Best. Family. Man. Ever.
I have a million funny stories about him. He's always a good sport. When Chris first met him he felt bad for my dad because of the things his kids would make him do. He has always bent over backwards to help me out. I remember a football trip to St. George for a Saturday night football game. I was torn because my good friends mission farewell was the next morning that I really wanted to be at. The bus wasn't leaving St. George until Sunday morning so there was no way I would have been able to make it. He drove down to the game and then drove me back with him in his car through the night so I could be at my friends mission farewell. He probably thought it was so ridiculous, especially for a dumb boy, but since it was important to me, it was important to him. He came and stayed at my house for a month while I was on bed rest pregnant with Rozlyn. He got Charlotte ready, made our meals, drove Chris back and forth to work and took care of the house. Best. Dad. Ever. Even now when I call I have to hide if I'm feeling sick, if I ever suggest feeling down or not feeling good he'll ask if I need him to come down. I know without a doubt if I ever said yes, he'd be on the next plane to TX, no questions asked.
While he was serving his mission in Riverside, CA he would go on early morning bike rides every day and sometimes call me on a break. Those were some of my favorite phone conversations, it would be 5:30 his time, 7:30 my time, just after the kids had left for school and I was getting things in order at home for the day. I guess I was the lucky recipient because of the time zones, it would have been to early to call anyone else. I love to make fun of him for the time he called on his birthday, at 5:30 his time. I told him if he just would have given me more time I would have called him and wished him a happy birthday but that I usually waited til at least 6am to make those calls. I loved those conversations!
So I guess Happy Birthday isn't as much for him as it is for me. His life honestly is a gift to me. Happy Birthday to me. Celebrating you is as good as it gets!

Serious Catch-Up!!

Chris - Chris is always busy, always, which doesn't make him the happiest because all he dreams of doing is sitting on the couch doing nothing. He's busy at work where he was recently made a V.P. of his company. We proudly display his new, updated business card on our fridge. We are all very proud of him. He's also still busy at church serving in the bishopric. Our bishop shared a story last week about the youths trip repelling. When Chris was on top of the tower ready to come down, they asked if he was scared. He told everyone that repelling had nothing on conducting and that is the truth of how he feels. Along with sitting he couch and doing nothing, he dreams of sitting in the corner of the primary room, playing the piano. He is super dad, I'm surprised his back is holding up from the kids jumping on him each and every night. They love when he gets home. On the same note, he has awesome abs thanks to the workout he gets every morning and night after prayers, when he stays on his knees and they all try to push him over.
Rainie - I'll leave out the obvious: chauffeur, chef, story teller, referee, homework/music tutor, hairdresser, CFO and CEO of GFO (Graham Family Operations). I started going to a morning bootcamp at 5:30am that some ladies from school did. After a few freezing mornings and cancellations from rain I had they awesome(???) idea to invite everyone indoors to our church. Now I have 20++ women counting on me every Mon. Wed. and Fri. to let them in. I don't like commitments and can't wait for the weather to warm up so if I so desire to sleep past 5:00 am I can. I also started playing basketball - and I love it!!! I truly stink, can't make a shot to save my life, but I love the exercise and the laughing. I don't think it's a laughing sport but for whatever reason it gives me the giggles. I go into the gym every week determined to be more serious, I still haven't succeeded. My mind is currently consumed with re-decorating my house. Everything is brown and orange and dark and autumnish and I decided that I need more bright and light in my life, which requires a whole home make over. I will miss the decor for Halloween and Thanksgiving which requires no extra decorating, oh well. These kinds of things are hard to explain to Chris, suggestions??
Charlotte - I don't have a hard time in my life getting older, I've never been sad to be 20, 25, 30, etc. However, Charlotte getting older is a different story. It pains me so much to think that she'll be 11 in a few weeks. Whoa!! When did that all happen? She's doing great at the piano and harp. She just went to the High School yesterday with Chris to pick out her band instrument. After trying them all out, she went for the trumpet - apparently she's a natural. She gets great grades and still loves to read. She's planning on swimming again this summer. She loves babies and is so helpful to have around when I need Mallory to be entertained. She is happy, carefree, free spirited, and makes us all laugh.
Rozlyn - Rozlyn is our best family representative, she never has to be told how to act, she behaves perfectly and makes us all look a little better. That's when she's not at home:) She gets lots of awards at school for everything. She recently competed in her school spelling bee with the other 3rd and 4th graders. She finished 4th - it was really fun and exciting. It's kind of weird to have a smart kid - I can't really relate. She's doing well at the piano and keeping up her social life. Her social calendar is always very full. She started soccer again and her first game is this Saturday - go Storm!
Mason - We are so glad he's in our family. He adds a magical dynamic that no one else can. He loves school. LOVES! He dreams of being a scientist or engineer someday. It's a tough decision because he loves science, but also loves that engineers get free soda and doughnuts at work. We found this out when they had to draw a picture of what they could be if they stayed drug free at school - his was him as an engineer, with a doughnut in one hand and a soda in the other. He talks very fast and has been in speech this year since he's a little difficult to understand. He loves to make math facts for himself and loves maps, especially the United States. He knows most of the states and tell you very important facts about them as well. Mason is also the first member of our family to have a book published - Dingo Trouble, out for release on May 2. There's an author signing that morning and then we can order some. The story of how this came to be is a longer story for another day. One funny thing though is that the advisor at the school who is helping him was putting together his "about the author" blurb on the back. She had to email me because he couldn't clarify if he had 2 or 3 sisters. We keep gently persuading him to try things other then school, science and maps, like sports - he has no interest in any of it - he tells us that they're all to sweaty for him.
Mallory - our energizer bunny that never stops. She's usually the last one asleep and the first one awake. She thinks sleeping is the enemy and fights it with all her might. She goes to school two days a week. She loves (borderline addicted) to the iPhone, iPad and treats in the pantry. She loves music and dancing, she's very dramatic and emotional. That's fun:) She talks like a Vally Girl and makes us laugh. She recently moved in to share a bedroom with Charlotte. So her new name around the house is "Roomate". She has plenty of lovin to give, lots of hugs, lots of kisses, kitty kisses - when she licks you (ewww) and general affection. Sometimes it's more then any of us can handle.
More posts to come, maybe better written and even edited but I'm checking -update the blog- off my list of to-do's now. Done!