A Short Update

We've had a busy month, but it's been good. Omai has been spending a lot of time coaching at Brighton and so far they've had a fairly successful season. They just played Jordan tonight and killed them (somethink like 46 - 21 I think). They also beat Skyline (a big win) and Alta, which has helped the team keep their spirits high and work hard. It's fun watching the girls improve and to be a part of something Omai loves so much.

Bailey's growing a lot and from what the Dr. says she's healthy and strong. We're slowly but surely getting her room put together--okay really we only have her room painted, but we have great plans for everything else.

We went with Omai's family to the Draper Temple open house last Saturday and had a great time together. The whole process took a while, but the experience was great. The temple was beautiful and I kept thinking about when Omai and I got married about a year and a half ago. I love him so much and I can't imagine life without him. What a blessing he is in my life. We're so excited to be parents together and can't wait to see Bailey's little face and to hold her and kiss her. What a great experience we are about to embark upon.

Christmas Time

We had a great Christmas this year with lots of festivities and parties to attend (too many if you ask Omai). We decided to do something a little different instead of exchanging gifts with our families--we did a Sub-4-Santa. On the Graybill side we helped Oakland Construction provide books, socks, and underwear for all the students at Edison Elementary (we provided gifts for 15 kids). My family provided Christmas for a family in my mom's ward for a single mom who has four boys ages 8, 7, 6, and three months old. We communicated with the grandma to get all their sizes and information. She told us that the little eight-year-old was very worried about Christmas coming because he didn't think Santa would find them. He wanted to spend Christmas at his grandmas' house because he was sure Santa would find them there. We were able to help Santa find them this year and it was so great to be a part of bringing a little joy to them. I think we all teared up a little when we read the note left by their grandma who thanked us profusely and said we were all now her best friends. It was a great experience.

Another fun thing was that my mom resurrected our old Christmas dresses for the little girls. We all gathered on Christmas day where the girls received their dresses and then we attempted to take pictures. The picture part created a bit of challenge--probably more so than the dresses. With six little kids; the youngest being less than 2 months old, the "photoshoot" was more entertaining than anything.


Overall it was a great Christmas and we especially loved the four-day weekend. Happy New Year's everyone!

Have You Ever...

I saw this on a friends blog and I thought it was fun to think and reminisce about my life and adventures. It's a little long, but fun! To participate just copy and paste in your own blog, and bold all of the things you have done. Happy remembering!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23.Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon (how 'bout a half marathon)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie (does a home video count?)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
Give it a try!!!!!

Christmastime is Here

Omai and I went to the Messiah Sing-A-Long last night at Abravenel Hall and had a good time enjoying the music. We didn't take any sheet music so we just listened to everyone else sing. I'm not much of a singer anyway so I don't think music would've helped. Omai had a great attitude even though he doesn't care much for things like that. He would've rather been at the Jazz game, but he still came and didn't complain. He didn't have any leg room though--they weren't really thinking of the seating for those who are 6'3". Maybe on our next outing we'll head for the Jazz game instead. We had a great Thanksgiving--you can't beat three dinners huh. We had dinner with the Graybills a couple weeks ago, dinner at my dad's on Thursday, and then dinner at my mom's on Saturday. We have a fridge full of leftovers so we'll be set for at least a week. It provided many opportunities to think about all the things we're blessed with. What a great time of year!

babies and basketball...

will be the theme to our '08-'09 winter season. Bailey is already the most spoiled girl in our home and she's only the size of an orange. She has a new bed, dresser, paint for her walls, a new shelf, new outfits and I guarantee there's more to come. But that's okay because it's just a taste of how things will be for her on the outside. Well, we'll try to keep it in check.

She is growing a lot though now and kicks me all day. Most women say their babies are quiet during the day and only wake up at night, but not Bailey. She kicks and kicks all day, then at night she gives me a few good-night kicks and calls it a day. Hopefully she'll maintain that schedule after she's born. We're thinking she might like soccer or at least something active because I don't think she ever stops moving. I just can't wait til those kicks are coming from an 8 - 9 pounder--that will be so fun.

Omai's coaching basketball again this year for the Brighton High girls team. They have their first game this Wednesday at home against Viewmont if anyone wants to come. I'm thinking the Varsity play at 7, which is when Omai will be coaching. He says they'll have a good team this year because the girls are fast and have improved dramatically since last season. Most of them played through the spring and summer on various teams so their skills are much better.

Omai has also decided to start playing basketball every week with some old friends from high school. He'll probably play about 2 - 3 times a week. Like I said--babies and basketball.