The Graber's

Long overdue update!

2011-01-14T23:13:00.002-06:00

I am obviously not very good at keeping updates on here. SO I will update the best I can or what I can remember.

The updates are about the same as always. The girls both survived volleyball with a good year. They both were on "B" team for volleyball this year. We enjoy watching them both play because they both have strengths and they both have their own weaknesses to bring to volleyball. Basketball is still going on but this was our first test of sibling rivalry. Michelle made "B" and "C" team, while Elizabeth made sub for "B" team and "C" team. I am so proud of my daughters for not fighting each other on whose better than who. I am glad they both see their strengths and weaknesses. We are looking forward to track, softball for Elizabeth and Baton for Michelle. As you can tell they for sure keep us busy between sports and all the other things they do. They are also both very busy with our church C.E. group which Nick and I are head sponsors for this year. We have done a swim party, wiener roast/corn maze, Christmas caroling, gonna be doing movie night this weekend, and then "Know Jesus" at Hesston College. They have also worked at the soup kitchen again this year in Hutchinson. I am amazed everyday at what my girls notice about others and what they know from right or wrong. I know I am a little partial to them but I think they are wonderful girls and I think they will make even better adults. Speaking of becoming older Elizabeth will be driving in a few short months. (RUN AND HIDE IF YOU LIVE CLOSE...HA HA) As you also may know that soon we will have two teenagers daughters. Michelle is turning 13 in May! I just wish sometimes I could slow down time so that I would have more time with my girls before they are gone.

As far as Nick and I well that is just about the same. We are both still working our current jobs. He is still working at Cole Street here in town and I am still doing daycare. The only big news I have for us is that I will be returning to school hopefully in the next couple of weeks. I have been accepted to HCC and I think I finally have nailed down what I want to do but for now I am just gonna start with general classes and see what happens. I am for sure a little nervous about this new chapter but for sure excited about what I have proven to my daughters. That no matter what you can always go back and achieve your dreams. "NEVER GIVE UP" The girls are excited for me but we will see how excited they are when I need them to help me on my homework. HA HA As we as a family have endured alot in 2010 but remembered that as a family we can conquer anything.

I am hoping 2011 will be a better year for us as far as all of our health statuses. Last year was kinda rough on Michelle and I but this year we are prayer for better health. I did make a new years resolution. It was to be true to myself and to do for myself this year without the guilt of feeling like I should worry about others. I am gonna take charge of my life and my future because even though I wish I could I can't fix everyone Else's just my own. I pray for healing for those in my family who need it, I pray for those who have started this year off by losing a loved one, and I pray that the two people who have been there for me all of my life to have the happiness they deserve.

Well for now that's all I have but I am sure in a few months I will try to update again but NO PROMISES! Happy New Year to all and I hope all of you do something for yourselves.

Wow!!!

2010-09-09T21:20:00.007-05:00

WOW! That is all I can say as to the year we have had here at our house. The girls have finally started back to school this week. I am amazed at how fast and how much my beautiful daughters have grown. As the last couple of months have gone by I have realized just how much life is passing me by.

Needless to say we have had a heck of a year. So that this doesn't drag out for hours I will give you the short version of our live. Our year started out with me getting sick and being put in the hospital in Colorado and back here, Michelle finding out she has asthma, a week later she broke her arm, and a few weeks after that she got two of her teeth knocked in. Tomorrow we go to have a root canal done on one of the teeth that was knocked it because it is dying. So to save us some money HOPEFULLY they are gonna do the root canel then recolor it to match the rest of her teeth since the tooth has now turned gray. My father has been in and out of the hospital with lung problems. My brother Michael had a close call when a roof fell in while he was on it and life watched to wichita. Lucky his "Angel" happen to be on duty and he walked away from it for the most part okay.
On a good note the girls have started volleyball. They both are on "B" team and seem to both being enjoying it alot. They are both staying busy now with school, volleyball, and their friends. I am sad to say they are starting to need us less, and less as the years go on and this has been terrible hard for me. I guess I always wanted them to be independent and strong so now I just need to hold on for the ride they take us on now.
Nick and I are both doing well. His job is keeping him very busy and must I say that for those who doubt things happen for a reason him being laid off has brought him to a wonderful job. His bosses have taken very good care of us and have been awesome. I am still doing daycare and if I must say sad to think of how old my little ones are getting now. I now have 7 kids I care for and one more on the way. WOOT WOOT I love babies!!!!

Well for now that is all I will post and I hope everyone out there is doing good.

Lots of news!

2009-12-27T05:56:00.007-06:00

We all doing well here. I am gonna try to catch everyone up since it has been a while since I posted anything.

Nick is still loving his job at Cole Street Service. I feel this job has been a serious blessing for us. His bosses are the best! They have allowed Nick to be off for the girls games, and they always make sure his family is first. He hasn't done much hunting this year because he has to take so much time off for the girls games but hopefully he will get to go out to deer hunt when black powder opens up again.

I am staying busy with my daycare, chasing girls, and making sure everyone gets to their appointments on time. I now have a 3 month old, 1 year old, 16 mo old, 21 mo old, 2 yr old, 4 yr old, and a 5th grader. They keep me very busy. Feeling very blessed with the group of kids I have right now. Nick's little brother and his wife has a new baby a few months ago. My brother and his wife also had a baby this year. So this brings Nick and I's total to 6 nephews 5 nieces. They range in age from 16 years old to just a few months old. Couldn't be prouder of them all.

Elizabeth is doing great. Keeping her grades up in school while trying to juggle basketball, homework, church, and her friends. She has been on the honor roll all year so guess I can't complain to much about the grades. She finally got her cell phone she has been wanting for 3 years. She is doing well in basketball she plays some B team and also plays C team. They have only lost 1 game this season. She is looking forward to going to Colorado in January with her youth group. Nick and I are sponsers for this group so we also get to go. She is gonna be 13 in a few months and this has been a very difficult adjustment for us. Elizabeth had her 13th ear surgery on the 23rd of this month. They went in and repair the hole in her right ear. They tooks some tissue from behind her ear and repaired the hole. She has done really well so far. I am hoping this works and they will repair her other ear and then HOPEFULLY she will be done having surgery.

Michelle is also doing really good. She is on principal's honor roll all year. She also got a cell phone for Christmas. Which is funny because she professed that cell phones are a waste of time but she hasn't put it down yet. HA HA Michelle got braces this month. She has struggled with them a bit because of how much they have rubbed on her mouth and her tongue. But things are getting better everyday. She has also been sick recently with broncitis. But again everyday its getting better. Her team is doing very well also they haven't lost a game yet this year. We have had a few close calls with some pretty good teams but they held out and won. She will be turning 12 in a few months and man I am telling you this child might not have the attitude the other one does BUT she makes up for that in the roller coaster of mood swings.

I am feeling very blessed to have god, my job, a great family, and wonderful friends. This has been a roller coaster of a year but I feel we came out on top and are continuing to move forward. I hope everyone has had a wonderful Christmas and I wish everyone a wonderful New Year's!!!!

Time to catch up!

2009-09-18T00:43:00.003-05:00

I hope everyone is doing well out there in the world! I have came to the realization that I need to try to update a little more often than once every other month or so.
Well things on the Graber front are cruising along at a quick pace. We have made it thru our first month or so of school and so far no major happenings.

We have done a few things this year so far. We took the girls to their first KSU football game and they loved it. We are working really hard on slowing down on the weekends and spending time together as a family with our families. Just amazed how time flies so fast. Our beautiful daughters are going to be 12 and 13 before we know it so we are just trying to capture a few more moments with them before they are off doing their own things.

Elizabeth is playing volleyball on Thursday evenings and if I am not mistaken they have only lost one match. They are all doing well and seem to be growing more everyday in the skills of volleyball. Elizabeth has had to deal with some hardships with the sport of volleyball but all in all she is loving it. We are enjoying our time of going to games which sadly to say will end at the end of October. She has decided at this point(but we all know how girls work about changing their minds) that she doesn't want to play basketball. Kinda sad she doesn't want to play but she has to be the one to make that decision. We are looking forward to everything our lovely ALMOST a teenager has in store for us in the days to come. *NOTE TO ANYONE READING THIS IF YOU HAVE A MANUAL ON TEENAGERS MAY I PLEASE BORROW IT*

Now on to our other lovely daughter. Michelle is still surviving sixth grade so far. Her grades are excellent and she loves school other than to her it is boring. She is still playing the Trumpet in band and thankfully still loving it. She is the only trumpet player in the sixth grade so she gets a little stressed about that because now if she messes up everyone will know it is her. She is enjoying going to watch Elizabeth play volleyball with the excitement to know that next year she gets to play too.

Nick and I are doing good. We are working on trying to find Health Insurance so when our Cobra runs out we have something lined up. I am still plugging away at home doing daycare and loving it most days. HE HE I still have the normal crew with hopefully a new addition being added soon. Nick is still thankfully working at Cole Street Service down town and he is enjoying what he does. I just wish we could keep our own vehicle out of the shop. But by the time we are done this should be good for another 100,000 miles.

Well I hope my little update gives you something good to read and I am looking forward to another great year!

First Day of School

2009-08-20T06:09:00.002-05:00

Well I am gonna make this short but here is our first day of school picture. I must say I am feeling a little older knowing I have a 6th and 7th grader this year. I am excited too because Elizabeth starts volleyball this year. Nick and Elizabeth have been getting up at 545am and running so good bonding time for them. Michelle says no way will she be getting up at the crack of dawn to run but if they want to run at night she will be more than happy to go. LOL Well I hope everyone is doing well.

Graber Happenings!!!

2009-08-02T10:37:00.003-05:00

Well it has been a while and I have no excuse but just didn't take the time to update. Well here goes nothing the last few months have flown by here. I think school starts in 17 days and I am SOOOOO ready.
First I will give you an update on Nick and his job. He loves his new job it comes with some frustrating moments but overall he is glad he took it. He also got a call back from the Bradbury company just under a month ago to come back to work. I am pleased to say he said NOOOOO! I think this job is a good fit for him and he is less stressed then he was when he was at the other place.
Nick and I just celebrated our 14 yr anniversary on July 15th and for our anniversary we are gonna go take a motorcycle coarse at Hutchinson college. I am so excited to take this class. I purchased my first bike a week ago and I made my first long ride over to Halstead. For those of you who don't live around here that is about 17 miles one way. I think I did pretty good and I had a great time. I layed it over lastnight on it side. I didn't hurt the bike but I have one heck of a nasty bruise on my leg. I survived the fall, picked up the bike and took off.

The girls are loving the bike and enjoy taking rides on them. Nicks dad has a bike and we have been borrowing it to go ride. As far as the girls and their summer goes they are sad it is almost over. They have had a very busy, busy, summer! They were attending library 4 days a week, they were doing softball(which I believe we finished with only three losses.), Elizabeth has been volunteering down at the senior citizen center every Thursday, Elizabeth has attended two sports camps for volleyball and basketball, both girls went to camp Mennoscah for a week our final camp this summer is Volleyball camp, and of coarse as much swimming as they can. I can't believe we are the proud parents of a 7th grader and a 6th grader.

I have one more week of work then I am on vacation for a week. The girls and I are going to go stay out at the lake for that week with my mom. Can't wait!!!! Well I hope everyone else is having as much fun as we are this summer.

Life has been crazy here.

2009-05-20T12:15:00.005-05:00

I am sorry it has taken so long for this update but things are finally going a little better for us.

Elizabeth's 12th birthday was on April 2nd! I can't believe how time goes so fast. We celebrated Beth's birthday on Saturday April 4th with family and friends.

On April 6th Nick got his notice that he was being laid off from Bradbury after 16 years. It was a major shock to us and to our family. I think Nick took it well cause he kicked into have to get a job and take care of my family mode. I was just another bitter wife of a recently laid off husband. We got a harsh reality check with the fact that no matter how much you give to a company you are just an employee so all those years of loyalty meant nothing. But there is a happy ending to this story and that is Nick did get another job here in town at the service station just a week or so after being laid off. He is now a greese monkey and loves it. He has been there almost two months now and things are going great for him there. He WILL NOT be returning to the Bradbury Co and I must say I can't be happier with that decision.

The girls have alot going on these last few months. Michelle performed at McPherson May fete and the parade on Friday for baton. Beth marched with the Middle School band in the same parade.

Today is Michelle's 11th birthday. It is still hard for me to believe that my baby is 11 years old. I sometimes wish there was a dail that we could turn and slow time down just a little bit. We will be celebrating her birthday this weekend with family and friends. I am just glad that my girls even though they fight sometimes can get along and love each other.

Well on to me and my job here at home doing daycare. Today is the final day of school for the year. Which for me means 6 kids everyday from 6am to 530pm. I have 8 kids enrolled in my daycare now ranging in age from 8 months to 11 years. I am excited for summer to be here and for the kids to get some time off.

We are now heading into softball season for both girls. This year they are on the same team so our schedule is a little less busy but not by much. I am hoping I can get back to updating my blog a little more often now that things aren't quite so crazy here.

Short Update!

2009-03-05T05:03:00.002-06:00

Thought while I was up this early and no one is screaming mom or for my attention I would update. Things are going okay here. Nick got notice last week that starting this Monday the 2nd they will be going to a 32 hour work week. He now is home on Mondays til he finds a part time job. They will be re-evaluating things in at the first of April and if things haven't picked up they will be laying off 15 to 20 percent of them. Praying that Nick being there for 15 1/2 years will help him keep his job. So for anyone reading this I am asking for prayers for everyone who has lost there jobs, been layed off, or just in crisis at this time would be apprecitated!

On a happy note my daycare is staying busy. I still have my three original girls Peyton, Samantha, and Chelsey. I have Aiden a few days a week. I have Reese and Layton just on Friday mornings and just got a call yesterday for a new little boy possible and he is 5 years old. So far all my daycare parents still have their jobs
so THANK GOODNESS I still have mine. I also have found something new to do on the computer and it is called Twitter. It took me a while to figure it out but I got it now and it's kinda fun to follow others on there.

The girls are doing great Michelle has started Baton practice. They are getting ready for the parade in May. Lizzie is waiting to march in the parade for band in May also she is so excited. They are loving having their own rooms and so far (knock on wood) they have stayed clean. But I know as the newness of being back in their own rooms will ware off and I am gonna have to start nagging at them to clean them. Gotta love those kids though at least that is what my mom says. JUST KIDDING!!! Elizabeth is gonna be turning 12 and may I say I can't believe my baby is gonna be 12 years old. She hasn't really asked for anything yet but I am sure it will be coming soon. Michelle will be turning 11 shortly after that so both my girls are getting older which means so are their parents.

Well I hope everyone is doing well and I will update again later.

Our Day Off!

2009-02-27T21:31:00.005-06:00

The girls and I both were off today so we decided it would be a good day to change rooms. But before moving rooms around we decided to paint them first which we have never done. We had a great time but I have offically decided I am way to old to only get three hours of sleep before getting up and painting again. So here is the girls and I's paint job!

This is Michelle's room!

This is Elizabeth's room!

We are gonna work on the curtain hopefully tomorrow but I have a house to put back together first.

GO ME, GO ME!!!!!

2009-02-19T20:58:00.000-06:00

It has only taken me what over a year almost to figure this whole changing you layout but I did it! Okay girls be proud I posted twice in one week! HE HE HE

Let's play catch up!

2009-02-18T08:05:00.008-06:00

Hello Everyone! I know I am terrible at keeping this thing up but I am trying. We have been very busy with the girls and our own stuff.

We recently took the girls to their first basketball game at WSU! We have never been to a basketball game that wasn't theirs or someone we know at school. We had a great time and hope to return again soon.

The girls both had a good season in basketball. Elizabeth's team won all but two of their games and Michelle's team only won one game all year. But at our house it isn't how many you win it is how much fun you had playing so I call it a good season. Michelle is going to be playing in MAYB tournaments this weekend and possibly again in March. This is something new for all of us at our house so I hope it goes well.

Nick and I are doing great. There have been alot of things going on at Bradbury where Nick works. They have fired 20 or more people since Christmas. We are praying that no one else is fired. My job is keeping me very busy. I am up to 9 kids registered for daycare. I only have 3 full time kids though the others are all part time. I just took on my 3 baby about two weeks ago and I must say little boys are way different then girls. He is 7 weeks old and a cutie!

This is Samantha and she is 5 months old.
This is Peyton she is almost a year old! I have had her since she was 7 weeks old.

This is Kristian and he is 7 weeks old now!

I have kept Conner a few times this month while his daycare provider is gone. I will say now that I think he is just like his Uncle Nick and Daddy! But we really enjoy the time we get to keep him. He is growing up so fast!

Things are our house just never seem to slow down. We are going to being starting Baton again next week. So Michelle and I will be busy on Saturdays doing practice getting ready for the parade in May. So as you can see we are very busy and I must say love that I get the chance to do so much with my girls. They are growing up so fast. Beth is almost 12 and Michelle will be turning 11 shortly after that. I just wish there was a way to slow time for just a little while so I can keep them small a little longer. I hope everyone is doing well and I will try to do better about updating my blog sooner.

TAGGED 8 THINGS......

2009-01-09T21:48:00.002-06:00

8 things I am passionate about:
1)family 2) my children's education 3)friends 4)my job 5)my bowling 6)softball 7)reading 8)honesty

8 words or phrases I use way to much:
1) Really??? 2) you have got to be kidding me 3)don't slam that door again 4) your grounded 5) save the drama for your momma 6) don't say what to me you are not a light bulb 7) Get your homework done 8) who did that???

8 things I want to do before I die:
1) Watch my girls grow up 2) have grand children (no rush) 3) travel 4) someday go back to school and get a degree 5) Get my sports car 6) buy a bigger house 7) Teach my girls as much as I can about life 8) Take my hubby to Alaska

8 things I learned from my past:
1) lying gets you no where but in trouble 2) you cant trust everyone 3) life is too short to hate anyone 4) Communications is the key to any relationship 5) Everyday is a new day so let the past go 6) Love your friends and family like there is no tomorrow cause tomorrow may not come 7) My parents are wiser than I give them credit for 8) Bad people get what they deserve

8 places I would love to see:
1) New York 2) California 3) Alaska 4) Montana 5) Paris 6) Hawaii 7) Utah 8) Las Vegas

8 things I need or want:
1) money 2) money for my girls education 3) bigger house in the country 4) More time with my family 5) a vacation 6) More time in a day 7) more alone time reading 8) a Starbucks built into my house.

8 people to tag:
1) Tarese 2) Mindy 3) Annie 4) That's everyone I know on here!

Happy New Year!!!

2009-01-08T14:45:00.000-06:00

Make a Smilebox greeting

Halloween

2008-11-10T16:55:00.002-06:00

Well while I am here I am gonna post Halloween pictures!

We had a good Halloween the girls each had a friend here for trick or treating. This is the first year I have stayed home part of the night and handed out candy while Nick took the girls trick or treating. The girls came home with way more candy then they will probably eat but that is why we have Nick here to eat the rest. HE HE

Well I will try to update a little more often and I hope this email find everyone doing well.

New daycare babies!

2008-11-10T16:42:00.003-06:00

Peyton is the baby I have had the longest. When she started she was 7 wks old and now she is 8 months old. She is a joy to have around but I think she might be a touched spoiled since she has been the only baby here for a long time.

This is Elizabeth she is 3 months old and a very happy baby. The only time she cries is when she is hungry. Nick has a soft spot for this one. But don't get me wrong he loves having all three babies around.

This is Samantha and she is 3 months old. She is a great baby too and doesn't really ever fuss unless she is hungry or tired!

I really have enjoyed being at home with them and I am very glad to be at home with my own girls. I wish I had about 8 more arms most days but things are really going great. My girls are having an absolute blast with these girls. I also have a two year old who only comes 2 days a week for a few hours his name is Aiden. I have two school kids that are in the 3rd and 4th grade. I have a good group of kids and couldn't ask for better daycare parents.

Quick stop...

2008-09-08T20:42:00.003-05:00

Just wanted to let everyone know things are going good here. The girls have settled into the routine of school and homework. Nick and I are playing co-ed softball on the Bradbury Co team again this year. Nick is coaching our team again this year and does a good job if I must say so myself. Our first game was postponed due to the fields being to wet. I also started back with my traveling bowling league. We meet the first Sunday of every month and bowl 6 games. Surprise I also am doing bunco the second Thursday a month with 7 other moms. I must saying it is nice to have something to do in the evening since I am home all day. Breaks up my long days here alone with the baby. I hope everyone in Utah is doing good!

2008-08-26T12:41:00.000-05:00

First Day of School

2008-08-14T20:49:00.002-05:00

Well the first day of school has come and gone. The girls were up before 6am this morning ready to start their day. They are both in middle school this year and let me tell you I love only having to pick kids up from one school instead of two. They both are in band Elizabeth is playing clarinet again and Michelle will be playing the drums. (No one panic we have ear plugs ha ha) I hope everyone else had a good first day at school cause I know for sure my girls did.

Summer's almost over...

2008-08-08T05:42:00.002-05:00

I can't believe it is another summer gone. My girls have had a busy summer with softball, swimming, we did get to go camping a couple of times, and just hanging out with there friends. They both have enjoyed having me back home working that way they get to go play more with there friends and also have more nights of having sleep overs which to them is good to us it is just means a night of LOUD AND OBNOXIOUS giggling. (which don't tell them this but there daddy and I enjoy it alot) I have realized that my girls are growing so fast. They both are in middle school now and have recently starting shaving. I think that is sad but also very awesome cause my little girls are now becoming beautiful young ladies. I think to myself that you always have to live for today and not yesterday. You can never go back to the past and change the things you have done or things you never did. You must take it day to day and remember it moves so fast enjoy your little ones as much as you can. Cause one day those little ones aren't so little anymore and then you find yourself wondering where did the time go. Well I say goodbye to summer and hello school year.

FIRST BLOG HERE WE GO.....

2008-07-27T15:01:00.000-05:00

Hello Everyone! I am gonna give this whole blogging thing a whirl. I am 31 years old with a wonderful husband and two great girls. We live in Moundridge, Kansas. Nick and I have been married for 13 years. We have two daughters Elizabeth who is 11 and Michelle who is 10. They are pretty much our entire life without them right now I am not sure how much of a life Nick and I would have. We enjoy watching our girls grow up which by the way is happening WAY TO FAST. They both enjoy sports, causing us to get gray hair, being with family and spending most of there time with there friends. We have tried to teach our girls the way of life that brings them up to be respectful, polite, caring, loving young woman. We want them to know that no matter what we love them and they can be anything they set there minds to be. We hope that one day they grow up to be good adults and find true love with someone who will make them happy. We all were so excited when we found out that Aunt Sherry, Jarrod with his family, and Kris with his fiance were all coming to Kansas for Annies weddign. We don't get to spend much time with them since they live so far away and my stubborn husband hasn't gotten us up there yet. HEHE I enjoyed my time with Mindy, Tarese, Annie, Aunt Tindy, Penny, and some of Annies CRAZY friends doing things for Annies wedding. Nick and the girls wish they would have had more time with all of you while you were here. I want to let Annie know that I appreciate that you allow Nick, the girls and I to be apart of the BIG day. We wish Annie and TJ all the best in the world. Every little girl deserves a good husband (he better be good to her or ELSE) and the love of her family. THANKS ANNIE AND TJ! I hope that in October I can convince Nick to go to Utah for Kris and Tarese's wedding. (if not i will come alone with my girls he he) I hope everyone makes it home safe and we love you all! Okay for my first blog it is long enough.