Happy 45th Anniversary Mom + Dad!

WOW!  45 years of marriage.  Congratulations to Barb and Don for this incredible milestone.  They are an inspiration to all.  They have made it where so many others have not - ups and downs along the way but always with their hearts and minds firmly focused on the most important thing in the world - FAMILY.  They both embody dedication, love and unwavering commitment to their faith and their family.  We are so blessed to have them as our parents, in-laws and grandparents.

They are beloved by so many who I know wish them a very heartfelt and happy 45th wedding anniversary!

We love you Mom and Dad! 

Your adoring family

{photo taken during our recent family trip to WaterColor}

Doug + Ty at work for the Saints

How CUTE is our nephew Tyler {TY}?!?!?!?! 

He got to go to work with his Daddy {my brother Doug} at the New Orleans Saints {where Doug is the Director of Communications and New Media} a few weeks ago - one of his very favorite things on this earth to get to do.  

What a lucky little guy to get to hang out with all the super nice, big football players while they practice! The official team photographer grabbed this photo - priceless!!

Grinnals Family "Wordle"

Just before bed tonight I had the girls throw out word that best describe their family and living in Celebration.  We quickly made up this "wordle" for the Grinnals Family. Pretty cool!  Only took about 3 minutes and we played around a bit with colors and layouts and all settled on this one.  Annie has already made one of her own.  Fun!

Aunt Kathleen is Getting Married!

We are so, so, so excited that Aunt Kathleen is getting MARRIED!!!!  Yay!  She is marrying a great guy from England named Judd on March 14th, 2009 in his hometown of Elton England.  

Annie and Gracie are so excited because for the first {and probably only} time they will be flower girls!!  Judd and Kate met on "Survivor" in Fiji {she is a producer and he is the boat captain} and have worked together in China, Pulau, LA and are now in Gabon, South Africa filming the current season.  

They truly are the global couple and we are looking forward to meeting all of their cool and interesting international friends at the wedding next March. Check out their super fun, custom wedding website at www.juddandkate.com!

Happy Birthday "Big Don!"

Heading out to for a special weekend up in WaterColor, FL to celebrate Dad's 70th!!!! My brother Doug, sister in law Carolyn and nephew and niece Tyler and Lauren are meeting us there from New Orleans and we have rented a fab house for the long holiday weekend!

He is such a special, special man and the best father anyone could ever ask for!!  He has always put his family first - every day, in every way and we all love him so much!   

We are looking so forward to getting together for some rare family fun in the sun -'togethering' at its very BEST!!!  I promise to share pics when we get back!

Happy Birthday Dad, Big Don, Papi and Dirty DP...you are ADORED by all who know you!!!!

Easter in Celebration!

Easter was a great day - we headed to Church, had an Easter egg hunt with the boys next door, Parker and Justin in the park in front of the house and then enjoyed a yummy brunch at the Celebration Golf Club with a very popular bunny!! 

Disney Cruise!

We had a ball on our most recent Disney Cruise [my 12th!!!! - Hazard of the job - 9 of those were back when I was at Disney Weddings setting up the entire cruise wedding and honeymoon program!!].  

It was a last minute and very impromptu 4-day getaway with my Mom and Dad and Kathryn and her 2 girls Caroline and Katie.  

Patrick stayed home and worked while we had a high time on the high seas!!

Annie is 8!!!

According to Annie, "8 is GREAT" - she really had a fun birthday week and is appreciating for the first time how fun it is to have a St. Patrick's Day birthday!!

Check out her "Club Penguin" cake made by friends and incredible cake designers here in Celebration Terri and Melissa - [the image I sent to them that Annie designed and the final product] isn't it amazing?  Annie did not want to cut it and even when we did it was little by little and after 10 days I told her we HAD to finally part with it!!

She had a great time with some of her closest friends at a pool party at the Artisan Park pool and summer kitchen at the end of our street.

Time sure flies - she is growing into such an incredible girl and we are so proud of her each and every day.  Sniff, sniff!!

10 OUTSTANDING Years!!!!

Happy, Happy 10th Anniversary to the best husband and father I could ever ask for!!! It seems like just yesterday we stood in front of our cherished family, friends and industry colleagues and exchanged wedding vows on that perfect February afternoon. What an incredible and dare I say, 'outstanding' ten years we have had together!!

As we watched our 'wedding movie' tonight with Annie and Gracie, it was bittersweet to see and hear all of those very special people who were there with us that day but are no longer here: Grandma Rose Grinnals, my Grandpa Harry Emerick [who did not make it down to Florida to the actual wedding but was there with us in spirit that day], Aunt Rita Hunter, Cele Lalli and Nate Weil. How lucky we are that we have their memory preserved forever in film and on video. What a gift.

The top photo still tells the tale of the way I feel when I look at Patrick - he is the one who makes me smile, who supports me in every single thing I do and who loves his family with every fiber of his being. And oh yeah, who makes me giggle like a schoolgirl!

I love you sweetie - thank you for the best 10 years of my life! To many, many, many more!! R.

Valentine's Wishes!

Hi from Annie!! Happy Valentine's Day everyone!!

Littlest Soccer Star!

The newest Grinnals soccer star has entered the game! Gracie is loving her first soccer experience and she thinks her coach is the best ever! Coach Patrick [aka "Daddy"] is having a ball with the 4-5 year olds this season - Go team TIGERS!!!!

p.s. Exciting week last week - Gracie scored her first GOAL!

Out of the Mouths...

From Gracie the other night at bedtime:

"Mommy - How did God paint me??"