TEAM GRAVES - Stories

The Graves children are growing mighty fast. Gavin and Blake are kindergardners this year, and Maggie is in a preschool program three days a week. The boys are enjoying soccer, and it is fun for us to watch them grasp the game more and more. Gavin and Blake tay busy with art classes, swim lessons, and soccer. This winter they really want to try basketball...so we are going to give it a shot. They love playing with the neighbors across the street. Their teachers tell us that they are very well behaved, and are doing well in school. Recently a parent emailed me to share a story about Blake being extra kind to her son. Those moments truly warm my heart, and remind me and Adam of why we are working so hard to keep them in line.

All three kids are doing fantastic. I just had a surgery, and am already back running. Adam is still working for Verizon, and is trying to keep more reasonable hours. It is hard to give up that overtime pay though with a one income household. We all sacrafice in some way I suppose. We are really looking forward to the holidays this year. Much love from our family to yours.

The Graves Family is ready for some summer fun, beach, pool, water park, Busch Gardens, and more beach...Hopefully we will be able to have some more cookouts with our friends and family!! Gavin, Blake, and Maggie are growing up so fast...I wish I could slow time down.

Gavin and Blake are graduating from preschool on June 3, and they will be headed to Kindergarden next year. According to their teacher's they are more than ready to handle the big jump into ALL DAY BIG BOY SCHOOL. They will be in uniforms which is going to be a lot easier for mommy...arguing over clothing, shoes, and socks every morning is NOT FUN!

Maggie will be 2 years old in July. She is a very shy, independent, smart, dainty, loving little Daddy's girl. She wants to do EVERYTHING Gavin and Blake are doing, including swimming without mommy's help. She is a very low maintenance baby. We are putting her in preschool two mornings a week next year, and my friend kelly is going to be her teacher. I am soo thankful for that...she is wonderful...

Gavin and Blake are going to go to soccer camp this year, and we are venturing to Alabama again at the end of July to visit Adam's family. Maggie is going to do a little kidding camp to get her feet wet. We are still staying as busy as ever, and summertime is our favorite time of year. Much love...

I remember the longest, scariest night of my life. I remember worrying if little Gavin was going to make it. I remember wondering if God made a mistake choosing me to mother these two babies. I remember most of all wondering, how these little boys will ever grasp the enormity of their role in our family's life. Five years ago today I had an emergency C section, and watched the teams of doctors swaddle, and incubate my identical twin sons. I never heard anything over all the noise, I just focused on their little tiny fingers, and noses. I cried and thanked my Dad, and Grandfather for their safe arrival. I thought the gift was opened....I had no idea that these two were going to give me gifts daily. After 49 days in the special care nursery, watching bradycardias, tube feedings, breathing machines, weight loss, weight gain....we brought them home. I slept on the floor for three nights in fear of something happening to their sweet little hearts. Never in my life did I know I was capable of such selfless love. My heart was and remains overflowing with joy from these two boys. Gavin and Blake, thank you from the depth of my soul for making me a mother. Thank you for rescuing this family from a deep abyss of sadness from the loss of Dad. You are so so loved. -Mommy

Gavin and Blake were awarded the "Peacekeeper" honor at their school. It is Christ the King's version of "student of the month". Their teachers wrote the most wonderful things about them. I was so so proud of them. There teachers said that they were so kind, shared without having to be told, listened, were well mannered, and Blake's teacher actually called him an "angel of God". I thought that was pretty profound. My cup runeth over....

Gavin and Blake have started school at Christ the King, and are really doing well being separated. They have different personalites, so they are drawn to different playmates, and activities. Blake is quiet, likes to read, and is very well behaved in class. His teacher raves about him everyday I pick him up. Gavin is gregarious, outgoing, and drawn to more active kids. His teacher matches his personality....don't know if that is the best choice...but so far we are good. The boys started another season of soccer, and get to play with their school mates, and Sammy V...which was unexpected but such a treat. Our families are very close, and our children have literally grown up together. It is nice to spend Saturdays watching soccer games with them. The boys seem to be enjoying soccer so far. They aren't exactly "aggressive"...but are fun to watch. And of course all we care about is that they are having fun at this juncture. Olympic training will begin after the age of 7...kidding.

Maggie is doing great! Sweet little baby...full of herself...and in awe of her big brothers. Of course she wants to do EVERHTHING they are doing, which can be challenging...and had led to a couple of meltdowns. HA HA! So far we are enjoying the fall. So excited for Halloween!!

The Graves have had BUSY month. We have been to Bush Gardens, Ocean Breeze, Alabama, the pool, bike rides, and the beach. We got to visit with my childhood friend Jessica a TON, and the kids absolutely adored her. We have spent a lot of time with The Parr family, mommy's long lost sister...and their baby Summer who is Maggie's age. We had a rain soaked fabulous day at Busch Gardens with Jessica, who is such a trooper, and a wonderful friend! We rode pretty much EVERY ride possible at Busch Gardens. Gavin and Blake rode their first roller coaster (The Big bad Wolf)...honestly mommy' teared up a little...We have spent a lot of time with the Veverka family, who we love so much as well. The summer has FLOWN by. The boys have one more year of Preschool, and are starting at a new school. August 25th is coming up fast.

We spent a week in Alabama with Adam's grandparents who are the most gracious and kind people. We ate wonderful food, and spent some much needed quality time with Adam's Dad, and cousins. Hopefully those pics will be sent via email soon. Gavin, Blake and Maggie, are growing up so fast. They are healthy, love the outdoors, but mostly each other. It is such a gift to watch our babies be so bonded and love one another. I hope they are able to stay this close all their lives. I feel so blessed as a mother to have this opportunity. i joke that God made a mistake and gave us the wrong kids because they are just such amazing children...i never imagined this would be my purpose. I am so so so blessed with great family and friends. Thank you.

The Graves went on a roadtrip with Bunkie, and Tom Tom...that would be our GPS that yells at us! HA! We got to visit our Aunts, and Cousins, and see the Smithsonian and the Baltimore Aquarium! It was a busy trip, but so much fun. The boys had an absolute BLAST...they got to see REAL dinosaur fossils...the T REX at the Natural History Museum...and all the great exibits, and animals. That museum was amazing. We had great food, and great company, and can't wait for another visit.

Josh is in Rome for work. Currently traveling and exploring, and having a wonderful time. We are so jealous! Ughhhh what I would give for a trip to Italy...Summer is coming...up next is our nephews first birthday in Richmond! Time flies...

What a beautiful day for Easter. Dinner at Bunkie's was wonderful as always. We missed Uncle Josh, who is traveling in Rome for work. Poor Blake was sick and home with Daddy and Grandpa...Gavin got to have a special night with Bunkie, all by himself..So glad i got to spend some much needed quality time with my twin nephews...Such precious precious babies in this family. We are incredibly blessed. Happy Spring!

All is swell in the Graves household. We have our house on the market, AGAIN! Hoping for a miracle in this market. I ran the Shamrock half marathon with a college team mate, Misa, Josh, and Jen...it was brutal. I did it in 1:46...about an 8 minute mile...Pretty good for a mother of three. Josh of course ran it in 1:21...with the Kenyans. So nice to have a college buddy to run with, and of course she made two new life long best friends in Gavin and Blake when she decided to play...yes, DINOSAURS with them. They call her Misa Saurus...and miss her daily!! HA!

Last minute I decided to do the UKROP 10k (6.2) with my friend Kelly. It was just the girls (Kelly, Mags, Abs, and me)...and I did it in 46 minutes...7:30 pace...pretty fast...and again, BRUTAL! I am really enjoying running and training for these races. I joke that all this excericise is free therapy! HA HA

Life is a little bit stressful with our housing situation...but we are hopeful things will turn around and we will be in a better place soon. Adam and I LOVE learning experiences...ha ha ha...we just have so many of them. We are sucking up all this great weather...and ready for the EASTER bunny...and good times with our family!

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