Graffamily Gab

2009 IL White Sox Hit Parade

2009-07-03T10:05:00.001-05:00

White Sox put on a hitting clinic.

Caleb's 6th Birthday

2009-01-22T19:24:00.002-06:00

It truly was a rockin birthday party. Thanks to all of you that made it so great!

Tyler's Party on the Pond

2008-01-03T23:11:00.000-06:00

After battling some less then ideal pond circumstances it all worked out and we had a great time celebrating Tyler's 7th B-day. Here's some pix and vidz to help show you the fun. Thanks to all of you that made it a great time!

A Quick Overview Of 2007

2007-12-19T22:13:00.000-06:00

Thanks for checking out our blog. This last year has been a great one for us. One of the bigger mile-markers was the completion of Seminary for me after a 7 year battle. Free at last, free at last! One of my rewards was to get cable. Tyler and Caleb keep telling me I should work there because I talk about how cool cable is all the time. I'm in the middle of my 3rd year at Eagle Brook and moved into the roll as Campus Pastor in February. This means I oversee our campus (one of 3 that we have). You can learn a bit more about my professional life at www.wblbehindthescenes.wordpress.com.
Kathi has gotten involved in every group she can. She meets regularly with the women of neighborhood, she oversees a group of leaders at our church, meets with Moms in Touch which is a prayer group for our school and she has 2 other wild groups of friends that she meets with frequently. Along with that she keeps everyone's schedule in order and is in her 6th year at Target.
You'll learn more about Tyler and Caleb below, but suffice it to say that our life is filling up with hockey, soccer, and t-ball schedules.
We're thankful to be where we are, both in location and in life. We have great parents that are healthy, amazing kids, wonderful neighbors, jobs that have purpose and solid friends.
We wish you all a Merry Christmas!

Hockey Mania

2007-12-18T21:03:00.000-06:00

Between going to the rink 3 times a week for Tyler's practices and games, a frozen pond in our backyard, a MN Wild bedroom and a trip to a Wild game, Chicago Wolves game (minor league hockey) and a Bethel game, it seems clear that one of our dreams of being a hockey family is underway. Someday maybe Kathi will let us boys do other things, but for now we'll "play it her way." :)

Tyler's First Goal

2007-12-18T19:11:00.001-06:00

On Saturday December 15th, Tyler scored his first career game goal. Not only did he score his first goal, he scored 4. It was quite the day and Tyler put on a good celebration. He's in his first official year of Mites and he's off to a great start!

First Days

2007-10-01T21:49:00.000-05:00

This year Tyler started 1st grade which means full days in school for the first time. Caleb moves into his Sr year of Preschool which means he's in school on Tues and Thursday's for a half day.

Summer Highlights

2007-08-01T15:31:00.000-05:00

The Summer of 07 was filled with lots of fun and adventure. Without going into too much detail, time was spent:
Celebrating our 9th year of marriage
Watching Tyler play soccer
Hanging out at Caleb's soccer/t-ball practices
Time at a family members cousins where Caleb caught a 16 inch bass on a Scooby Doo poll
A trip to the State Fair
A family vacation camping (which we were at when the 35W bridge fell)
and helping to organize our neighborhood block party.

A great summer...to say the least.

A Year of Graduations

2007-06-14T22:22:00.000-05:00

In the span of one month, Caleb graduated from his first year at school, Tyler graduated from Kindergarten and I graduated from seminary. Those Graffam's are so smirt, eh?

Here you'll see traditional walk from the seminary to the university, the classic diploma shot right after receiving my hood, a picture of me and my wife (the one who really deserves the credit), and a shot of the Three Grads!

Tyler Graduates from Kindygarden

2007-06-14T22:13:00.000-05:00

Watch out 1st grade - here comes our boy!

Caleb's Pre-School "Graduation"

2007-06-14T22:04:00.000-05:00

Although Caleb still has one more year in Preschool, we had the chance to celebrate the completion of his first year in school. In these pictures you'll see Caleb receive his diploma, relax with his best friend Noah, and of course celebrate the big occasion with a juice and a cookie.

Valentine's Day Photo Shoot

2007-06-14T21:39:00.000-05:00

In the effort to make Kathi a Valentine's Day card, we had some fun trying to get the guys together. No easy task...especially using that self-timer deal.

Bedtime stories - It just doesn't get any better

2007-01-30T21:19:00.000-06:00

Caleb's Birthday

2007-01-30T20:44:00.000-06:00

It was obviously the year of the superhero. With Tyler's connection to Bibleman and Caleb's attraction to Spiderman we've had many super moments. Caleb turned four and had a great with family celebrating the big occasion.

Tyler's Birthday's

2007-01-30T20:34:00.000-06:00

Tyler turned 6 on December 28th. We had a family party (with Bibleman cake) on that day and a friend party (with dragons) in January. His party would put Disney to shame. We had the "shoot the dragon" game with dart guns, hunt for dragon eggs with plaster-paris eggs filled with a surprise, dragon pinata, castle cake and of course Papa Murphy's pizza.

Holidazzle

2007-01-03T20:28:00.000-06:00

If you've never been to the Holidazzle Parade in downtown Mpls, you're just plain missing out. It's a Minnesotan's crazy way of getting outside in cold weather, draping lights all over people and floats and watching a variety of themed floats cruise by.

Graffam's Merry Christmas

2006-12-22T22:52:00.000-06:00

From our family to yours. Merry Christmas!

Caleb's preschool program

2006-12-22T09:18:00.001-06:00

Don't miss Caleb's "singing" debut. He's a natural...

Thanksgiving in Chicago

2006-12-17T19:30:00.000-06:00

Over Thanksgiving we had a great chance to catch up with Gram and Grandpop. Along with getting spoiled with all of our favorite foods, we had the opportunity to watch the Mayor turn on the Christmas tree lights, visit Millennial Park (a photo with the famous "Bean" above) and eat in the Walnut Room.

Momma G keeps us in line

2006-11-16T00:11:00.000-06:00

From NRA to referee, from chef to maid and from comforter to convictor - Kathi has done great things with our 2 wild ones. She still gives 2 nights a week to Target working in customer service and has begun to find more and more opportunities to teach at church and meet with other women.

A Professional Highlight

2006-11-15T21:52:00.000-06:00

One of the more exciting things of my year (and my career) was arranging an event at our church for the men of INFUSE. We had a night at our Lino Lakes campus where we hosted speaker and author Lee Strobel. Although only 140 guys were signed up 10 days prior to the event, 1400 ended up coming. It was a true highlight.

Halloween Pix

2006-11-02T22:08:00.000-06:00

Click HERE to see other Halloween Highlights.

Caleb Movie

2006-11-02T21:47:00.000-06:00

Tyler's a Hockey Player

2006-10-22T22:34:00.000-05:00

Late in October Tyler started hockey through a program called "Learn to Skate." He's done great at sticking with it and his improvement has been amazing already. Here's some footage from his first day and below is after a few lessons.

Tyler's skating

2006-10-21T08:33:00.000-05:00

Kathi and Don

2006-10-20T20:48:00.000-05:00

Thanks to a generous person allowing us to use their cabin we were able to escape to Siren, WI for a weekend away. Here's a couple pix from that trip along with an evening Kathi and I had on the St. Croix with Eagle Brook colleagues.

A Day at the Zoo

2006-09-24T22:33:00.000-05:00

The FIRST Day of School

2006-09-10T23:50:00.000-05:00

Caleb got to start at Eagle Brook's Preschool this fall and Tyler had his first day at Island Lake Elementary as a Kindergartner. Tyler is loving school, Caleb is still warming up to it but both seem to be doing well in their new academic pursuits.

A Memorable 10 Minutes

2006-06-15T18:39:00.000-05:00

This summer I was talked into skydiving. Although I'm not positive I would ever do it again, I'm glad I did. It was a moment of faith I'll probably never forget. Click HEREto see the pix.