Griffin Family Blog

Being Thankful

2011-11-24T10:15:00.002+07:00

Psalm 100
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Know ye that the Lord he is God: and it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

We had our Community-wide Thanksgiving Service at church last night and this was the scripture that was read and preached. It was a great service! It is always my favorite service of the year. The singing is amazing, the atmosphere even better. Our regular Offerman Baptist Church people are there and we invite the Church of God and Evergreen. Evergreen is a "black" church and let me tell you - they know how to worship! I enjoy having them in this service every year. Actually, the entire congregation was upbeat last night and very receptive to the Word that was read. The preacher did an an awesome job of encouraging and speaking the truth.

We sang a song recently that spoke to my heart. It is called "Blessed Be Your Name." Hear it here. It says "Every blessing you pour out I'll turn back to praise. When the darkness closes in Lord, still I will say, Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be your name.
You give and take away, you give and take away, my heart will choose to say Lord blessed be your name."

The last part is hard for me because I've had something taken away from me this year.

But I choose to say.......Lord, blessed be your name!

I am thankful to God for so many things. I am thankful for my salvation, my husband, my children, my parents, my church, my job, my friends.

I want to wish each of you a special and Happy Thanksgiving! I am thinking of you on this day and my heart is thankful for YOU!

Remember to take time to thank God for your blessings.

Miscarriage

2011-10-28T21:21:00.004+07:00

This has been the hardest few months of my life, for several reasons. But most recently is the loss of my 4th child. It happened on Sept 21. It has left me with so much confusion and so many unanswered questions. Why? Why? I've been angry, sad. It has been very hard to deal with and there are still days that I don't know what to do.

I have so many blessings in my life that you just don't know. I am so thankful for everything God has blessed me with. But now this....I don't know why I got pregnant in the first place (I was on the birth control pill), I don't know why I didn't feel right from the beginning, I don't know why I had to lose this baby......I'm so sad. I was supposed to be 11 weeks pregnant and I went for my checkup. It had been a month since my previous checkup and I did not feel right. I have been stressed, worried, you name it. I never publicly announced my pregnancy because deep down I had "that" feeling.

Nathan has been my rock through all of this. It is simply amazing the kind of man that God has molded him into. He was with me the day of my appointment. I silently prayed for everything to be okay, but I "knew" it wasn't going to be. The dr. did not hear a heartbeat with her machine, so she sent me in for a sonogram. Once the sonogram popped up on the screen........I hate to even remember.......I immediately knew that life was no longer in me. There was nothing. No movement. No heartbeat. Just an empty, gray sonogram. I lost the baby at home the next morning. I eventually went in for a dnc that afternoon.

I've cried so much since that day. There are only a few of you who even knew I was pregnant, but I've learned that so many more people knew too. My parents were so excited and they spread the word. But now it's like, "go back and spread this bad news". I can't stand it. There are so many people that knew about my pregnancy just from hearing it from someone else. But now it's over.

I'm so sorry for any woman who has ever experienced this. It is just heart-beaking and dark. It is hard to get over. Especially hard for me because i have had three healthy, beautiful babies. I never thought that this would happen to me.

I'm so glad Nathan has been there for me. And my parents. And my church family. I've received cards, phone calls, texts, emails of encouragement. It really helps. It is just so hard to go through.

Natalee gave me a Bible a few months ago and it is the ESV translation, and I have read a passage over and over again and it brings me comfort:
Romans 5: Peace with God through Faith
It reads:
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

I know that i will eventually feel better one day. For now, I am thanking God for my many blessings.

What I've been reading

2011-08-24T09:02:00.007+07:00

If you have a child, then you have probably read the "What to Expect" books. They have been a lifesaver to me. They have answered many questions and have helped me understand exactly what it is that my body is going through! I feel like they have helped me be a better mom too.

I learned so much from the books when I had Natalee. Now, I did call my mom an awful lot, but not as much as I would have if I did not have these books. I re-read them when I had Trent. Then, again when I had Ryan.

Ryan is 10 months old so I've been reading the book "What to Expect The First Year".

Well, life is crazy around here, so I've only read it up to the ninth month. Surely he's missing out on something because I haven't read about it yet!! For example, I know he should be eating more table food than he is, but I still give him baby food. Actually, he just started getting all of his teeth, so I think he's getting ready for the "real" stuff now. I gave him mashed potatoes from the table tonight and he loved them.

I like these books because they help me to know what to "Expect." I am a planner. I like to know what is going to happen, when it is going to happen, and where it is going to happen.

God has been gracious enough to let me plan most of my life just how I wanted it. But, he sees the need every now and then to jump in there and say, "This is how I want it, Becky. You're going to do this my way."

So, I'm dusting off my copy of this book and I will be reading it all over again for the fourth time:

If you are smart enough to realize what I just wrote, then you know what is going on with me right now!!

My favorite picture of 2010

2011-08-18T08:56:00.003+07:00

It was Christmas Day.

For us, Christmas Day is a day of relaxing and enjoying time with the family. We do not have to rush here or there. We have no obligations. We sleep as late as possible until the first kid gets up - this is usually Trent. After he gets up, I go ahead and get up Natalee because I want them to be able to look at their presents together. The past few years, I have tried hard to not "over-do" Christmas with all of the presents and stuff. I try to keep it as simple as possible. Yes, the kids get presents. I do not have a certain amount of presents that each kid gets nor do I spend a certain amount of money on each kid. Nathan and I shop together and come up with some special gifts that we think each kid will love.

This past Christmas was very special. I felt so blessed. Ryan was two months old and I could not have asked for a better baby. He has been a good sleeper, eater, everything since the beginning. Trent is such a sweet boy and he loves his baby brother so much. Natalee has always been a good girl and has a funny side to her personality. All of them are such a joy to be around.

I remember the night of my favorite picture. It had been a long, Christmas day. We spent most of the day at home. I'm sure we ventured out at some point, but what mattered most to me is that we were together.

At the end of the day, I went to feed Ryan in his room. As I sat in his rocking chair feeding him his bottle, Natalee and Trent brought their cups into the room and sat them on the table. They began to play in the floor - laughing and giggling and putting on a show, which is one of their favorite things to do together. As I sat there laughing at them, I looked over to the table to see what time it was. 10:15 pm.

That is when I saw something else. I saw just how incredibly blessed I am. I saw a green sippy cup, a pink cup with flowers, and an empty bottle. These things belonged to my children. My children. Natalee, Trent, and Ryan. My healthy children. Silly children. Happy children. Good children.

My heart was overwhelmed at that very moment. God has blessed me beyond my wildest dreams with three children and I've never done anything to deserve any of this. Each one of my children is special to me and I love them with all of my heart.

Surgery Update

2011-03-02T01:50:00.006+07:00

Just before surgery this morning.....

Watching cartoons just before surgery....

Trent's surgery went amazingly well. The Dr. said everything looked perfect and went as planned. After surgery, Trent woke up and ate a popsicle, drank Sprite, and began talking with us. He even joked a little!

We took him to Kmart to get a prize and he chose a game for his Leapster. He also liked some flipflops too, so we bought them. We went to eat at Western Sizzlin and he had two bowls of icecream, one strawberry and one vanilla. He didn't want any jello - said he didn't like jello. Uh-oh. He should be fine though. We bought plenty of icecream.

We are home now and he is resting in his bed. Please continue to remember him as he recovers - he isn't taking to the pain medication too kindly. He is having some side effects. Hopefully it will be temporary. If it continues, the Dr. said to just give him Tylenol for pain.

The nurse told us several times how cute Trent is - she said he's a "pretty" boy. It's funny, but he is. I know "pretty" isn't exactly a word to describe a boy, but it fits. She said he has the cutest, most perfect little lips. She was amazed that he never cried. He never cried before or after surgery. She gave him a ride in her big red wagon when it was time to go home. He enjoyed it.

We are thankful to be home now and resting. This little fella is gonna be just fine!

This is in recovery...

The wagon ride...

Surgery

2011-03-01T06:59:00.003+07:00

By the time you read this, maybe the surgery will be over and done with and there will be good news to report.

Trent's surgery will be at 7:45 am on Tuesday morning. We are supposed to be there by 6 am.

I have good expectations so far, but the closer it gets, the more nervous I get! They are putting my baby to sleep.....and that scares me a little. I would rather it be me than him. But, this has to be done in hopes that he will no longer get strep throat like he did last year.

Send up a prayer for my little Trent would you?

He Loves Me

2011-02-25T10:37:00.003+07:00

I'm talking about Trent. He shows it in different ways. Like one night this week, we were sitting on the couch and he somehow snuggled his way into my lap. I didn't mention anything about the fact that my soon to be 4-year-old was sitting in my lap. We just kept on talking like normal and I sure was enjoying every minute of it.

Trent is a lot like me. If he loves you, he is going to tell you he doesn't. If he wants to compliment you, he will say something mean instead and then give you that shy little sneaky grin. You have to about bribe him for a hug. I remember a friend of mine once saying "Becky doesn't give hugs." Well, I used not to. They made me uncomfortable. But after graduating high school, I've given a lot more than I ever thought I would because I realized just how important my friends and family were to me. Trent is the same way.

If I catch him being sweet to me and loving on me, I might say "you love me don't ya?" His response, "no I don't" followed by the sweetest smile you have ever seen.

The funniest thing to me is how he shows his love to the people at church. I can't tell you how many times I have heard a woman holler "ouch!", but it happens pretty often. To show his love to the women at church, Trent just casually walks by them and "whops" them on the tail! Yes, he really does. So many women have asked me why he does that. It is obvious to me - he is showing his love. I've told them over and over...if Trent hits you on the tail, then it means he loves you.

Today we had a special day - just me and Trent. I took him to the hospital to do paperwork for his surgery next week. He will be getting his tonsils removed on Tuesday. He was a good boy the entire time. The nurse asked us both questions and he would use his manners each time. He said "yes 'mam" and "thank you". For using his manners, the nurse rewarded him with a book. She was impressed and it just made me smile inside to know that he was being such a good boy.

Trent and I ate lunch together too. I asked him what he wanted and his response...spaghetti. So, we went to Rockin Bear. He got spaghetti and I got a bbq. After that, we went home and napped together. But, our time wasn't over yet. We picked up Natalee from school and while she was at gymnastics for two hours, we went to the park. That's where Trent made me the happiest....

We got out of the car at the park and Trent grabbed my hand. We walked hand in hand toward the swings. Halfway there, I scooped him up and gave him some sugar and told him I loved him. We played on the swings a while and then he was ready to slide. I bent down to talk to him and he caught me by surprise....he just threw his arms around my neck and gave me the biggest hug.....and then he kissed me on the cheek! I had the biggest grin!

My heart is so full of love for this little boy. I'm so thankful to be his "mama".

Trent's Dr. Visits

2011-02-14T10:55:00.002+07:00

I'm thinking about my little Trent tonight. He's got to go to the Doctor tomorrow. He will be having his tonsils out soon and the doctor wants to do a test on his ears to make sure he may/may not need tubes also. Of course, I'm hoping that he doesn't need tubes, but I just want what is best for him.

For some reason, Trent has had Strep Throat constantly for the past year. Yes....constantly. We did not realize it until Nov 2010. Sure, it seemed like every time we turned around that he was getting diagnosed with strep again, but none of us stopped and actually counted up the times.

Turns out that Trent was treated for strep about 7 times in 2010. What is puzzling, though, is that he does not have the classic symptoms. Yes, he occasionally gets the fever with it....but not every time. The only thing we've noticed is that he will lose his appetite when it "flares" up.

He is not contagious. No one in our family is contracting it from him...... no one at daycare is getting it. It's just a weird thing.

We took him to the doctor in Nov and told him, "Doc, it seems like he gets this an awful lot." He looked in Trent's files and it was like every other month!

What has happened is that Trent will lose his appetite (or possibly run a fever), we take him to the Doctor, the Doctor tests him positive for strep, antibiotics are prescribed, Trent takes all of the nasty medicine, and we then think that everything is fine. Come to find out, the medicine never fully worked! Sure, he would feel better and we would think he was fine. We never thought to take him back to the Doctor and test to see if the medicine worked!

Poor baby has basically had Strep Throat for at least the entire year of 2010 and we did not realize it!

Well, now that we know what has been going on, he has seen a specialist. Looks like he is going to have his tonsils and adnoids taken out. First the doctor wants to make sure that his ears check out and he doesn't have fluid buildup or anything.

Would you say a little prayer for Trent? He goes for his ear test on Monday and then we will be scheduling his surgery soon. He's been a happy boy through all of this. He even has his appetite now and says he feels fine. Poor baby still has strep throat though, and he needs some prayers from us all.

Comforted

2011-02-09T09:55:00.003+07:00

My work schedule is pretty good. The best days are T/R when I work from 9 am to noon. Love those days!

However, I work long hours on M/W. I am at work between 9:30 am to 7 pm. I have a class between 11 and 12:30. Then another class between 5:30 to 7pm. The other hours in between are my Office Hours in which I must schedule to do work in my office - stuff like grade papers, meet with students, etc. I get a lot done on these days.

I love my job, but there are times when things get stressful. This week was one of them. Monday morning. It all began. It was a long day for me on Monday. I had a lot to do. Students are getting stressed because due dates are approaching....they have tests to take....and all the other things that we all remember as a college student. Well, believe it or not, the teachers feel the stress too.

I had great classes on Monday, but I was very ready to get home. Nathan has the responsibility of the kids all by himself on Mondays. He is quite capable, but I still worry about not being able to be home until 7:30 or 8 pm. By the way, he did an awesome job this Monday. He had the kids bathed and had a yummy pot of homemade soup waiting on the stove when I got home.

Still, I was stressed as I left work and headed home. I wanted to be able to blink....and then be home immediately. I rushed to my office after class, gathered my purse, and headed to my car as fast as possible. As I left the College, I had to stop at the red light. I had my blinker turned on, ready to turn right and be on my way. I was in a hurry. And that's when I saw it.

There was a big rig coming from the left. He was zooming into town and I had to stop and wait on him to pass before I could continue on my way. But there was something unique about this rig.

He had a cross on the front of his grill. It was a cross outlined in lights. I just stared at it as he approached me. He got nearer and I took a look at that cross..........and I was immediately Comforted.

Comforted in knowing that my Lord and Savior loves me. Comforted in knowing that God is there for me. Comforted in knowing that He cares for me each and every day. Comforted in knowing that He has blessed me with a job that I love and with a husband and family that love me so much.

Just seeing that cross on that big rig made me relax. My tense shoulders fell back into my driver's seat. I let go of the steering wheel for a moment and forgot about the fact that I was in a hurry.

As the truck passed, a smile came across my face......and I said a silent prayer....."Lord, thank you for showing me 'that' tonight. Thank you for being there for me. Thank you for the driver of that truck who is displaying his testimony wherever he drives each and every day."

And then, I drove home to the family that I love.

The Weekend

2011-02-07T10:42:00.009+07:00

I got sick in in the middle of the night on Friday. I caught what turned out to be a 24hr virus. Nathan stayed away and he even took the kids to a birthday party on Saturday morning so they wouldn't be near my germs. Ryan already had a touch of it, so it was already too late for him.

Well, that little virus bug got a hold of Trent on Saturday evening and I felt so bad for him. He didn't know what was going on. He had never been sick like that before. Actually, he has....maybe once....but he was too little to remember. He felt so bad.

We had some company over on Saturday and I informed everyone before they came that I had been sick and Trent was too. However, everyone still came......maybe it was because Nathan was cooking a delicious meal of Japanese. Yep, he got a new griddle a few weeks ago and he can whip up some gooooood Japanese. He cooked steak, chicken, veggies (peppers, onions, zucchini), fried rice, and white sauce. Bridgett helped him out too. I finally got a little appetite back by Saturday night, and it was a yummy supper.

On Sunday, I planned to stay home with Trent and Ryan and keep our germs to ourselves instead of give them to everyone at church. Well, guess who woke up sick? Nathan. He has been sick all day and stayed in bed most of the time. I think he will feel better by Monday morning because this thing seems to only last one day. Natalee has been fortunate enough to stay well so far.

Since I stayed home today, I was able to do a lot of organizing. I'm still working on a bunch of piles all over the house. Remember my new motto? A place for everything and everything in its place!

Trent and I cleaned his entire room including the closet. I went through his toys and got rid of some. I went through some of his clothes that were too small and boxed them up for Ryan. I feel that I was actually productive. I've been thinking about doing a chore chart for the kids. I was inspired when I read a friends post here. So, Trent and I sat down and came up with his very own, simple Chore Chart. He helped with it and we talked about it. He knows exactly what to do each morning, afternoon, and night. It consists of 1. Get dressed 2. Brush teeth 3. Homework 4. Help with supper 5. Take a bath 6. Put on pajamas 7. Brush teeth 8. Clean up all toys.

I've added a few blogs to my list of "blogs I follow". If you are thinking about organizing, you should check out some of them. The Cowboy Phraseology girl has such a simple, beautiful style. She can accessorize really well and she has inspired me to clean up my unneeded, unwanted junk. My new favorite blog is IHeartOrganizing. She has decorated her home to be beautiful and functional. She has an awesome playroom that I would like to mimic in our upstairs room.

Check them out if you have a few minutes. You might even get inspired to do some organizing. Ya'll have a great week!

Photos of 2010

2011-01-27T01:00:00.001+07:00

Click here to view this photo book larger

Piles

2011-01-26T09:43:00.002+07:00

Piles here, piles there, piles everywhere!

While I was at home with Ryan for three months, I was able to do a whole lot of thinking. I realized that I needed to be a better mother, better wife, and better friend. In the past few weeks, I've began to realize that there are piles of stuff all over my house that distract me from being these things. These piles distract me from my joy, distract me from time with my family, and distract me from things I know God would have me to do. I feel that I need to make my house into a home. Until now, we have just lived here......now I want to "dwell". I want my home to feel more cozy and comfy.

So, we have started to de-clutter at the Griffin household. I took a few pictures this afternoon so that I will be able to see my "before meets after" and feel proud of myself.

I began by tackling my kitchen counters. As you enter my home from the garage, you walk into a small entryway which leads to the breakfast table and the entrance to the kitchen. Well, my arms are usually full of things such as keys, cell phone, mail, purse, diaper bag, my afternoon snack, sometimes a kid or two, etc. You name it and I've got it in my arms. So, once inside, I dump all of that stuff.....you guessed it - on the breakfast table and the kitchen counters.

These things never seem to find their place. And all of that clutter drives me crazy! I have to look at it everyday. There is a sign that was at Nathan's shop that says "A place for everything and everything in its place." This is my new motto. That kitchen counter and breakfast table have seen the last of their clutter. I'm making a place for all that stuff.

We made progress this weekend with one side of the counters. And you know what, I can't stop looking at them! They are so clean and clutter free and it feels so refreshing! Now, we are working on the side where all the mail usually gets dumped. I have a solution in mind and I will share it with you later.

Until then, I've got some more de-cluttering to do!

Randomness

2010-12-02T01:24:00.006+07:00

Hello! I haven't forgotten about this blog, honest. We have been having lots of fun around the house these days. Here is some "randomness" that we've been up to since I last posted.....

Flag football for Trent....

Flag cheerleading for Natalee.....

He's a Patterson Eagle and she's a Pierce Co. Bear :-)

Sleeping for Ryan.....

Brothers watching the Homecoming Parade.....

Natalee riding with her team....

My 33rd Birthday......

Bedtime stories with my kids.......

Halloween! They were M&M's.......

More sleeping for Ryan.....

Group picture taken in Nana's yard......

Natalee's 7th birthday party!! Cake #1

Natalee's Cake #2 (We celebrated twice, one with friends and one with family)

Trent in his pilgrim outfit he made at school......

Ryan Jesse, finally awake......

and Laughing.......

I'm loving these days!

Ryan Jesse Griffin

2010-10-20T20:26:00.006+07:00

Ryan was born on October 6, 2010 at 2:03 pm. He weighed 9 pounds, 1 ounce and was 21.25 inches long.

Days changed

2010-10-05T02:38:00.002+07:00

Well, the Doctor just called. She will be out of town, so we are moving the days back.......I go in on Wednesday and hopefully will have the baby on Thursday. But who knows! Just stay tuned.

Baby Griffin

2010-10-04T21:27:00.002+07:00

Well, he's not here yet! TODAY is my due date and I'm sitting on my couch writing this blog. I went to the doctor today and she suggested a two day induction. So, I go to the hospital in the morning at 7:30 am.The actual inducing part will be on Wednesday morning. I've got my bags packed and I'm ready. I'm going to let Nathan pick the "going-home" outfit for the baby. We will be having a busy week. Just pray that we all make it through and that the baby has a safe delivery (and that I have a pain-free delivery!)

"Bellyshots"

2010-09-10T21:24:00.006+07:00

This may not be what some of you think.......

This is the only "bellyshots" I've ever done!!

Believe it or not, I've had requests for these.....so, I know I've got some good bellyshots of ME and this BABY somewhere.....

Let me take a look......

Oh no! Definitely a "bellyshot" but probably NOT what you had in mind! This is my father-in-law!

I'll keep looking.....

Now this is a cute belly!! But still.....I know I've got one somewhere.

Dear heavens! Have I ever told you these kids are crazy!! I'm not sure where they get it from!

I promise.....I think I found one of me.....

And there is it. This "bellyshot" was taken about 4 weeks ago. I've grown some since then.

I had a 4-D ultrasound done on the same day this picture was taken, so here is a look at "Leroy Eugene"..... PS.... This is NOT his real name......we just have not decided on his name yet.....

How cute is that little fella!

Finally, one more "bellyshot". This was taken two weeks ago at the baby shower given to us at our church.

That's all for now. I hope none of those pics traumatized you too much!

Baby is doing good. His heartbeat has been strong. His size is good. My blood pressue and blood sugar have been right on......so now, we will just play the waiting game for two more weeks! That should be plenty of time to come up with a name, right??

First Day of School 2010

2010-09-10T21:15:00.005+07:00

Natalee has a wonderful teacher this year in first grade and she has enjoyed school each day. She even got her hair cut for the new school year. She loves it short!

Trent has one more year of daycare before he gets to go to "big" school with his Sissy. Can you tell he is disappointed??

And we've got a baby due in two weeks and we will have all of this to do over again......but it will be "so worth it!"

Graduations

2010-08-06T09:12:00.005+07:00

Natalee had her Kindergarten Graduation back in May. She had a wonderful teacher and a great year at school.

We had her a Graduation Party at Aunt Bridgett's swimming pool. We invited her "graduate" friends from church. They are Jamie, Will, my girl, and Carter.

Here is her graduation picture.......she is so beautiful to me! Her smile looks so genuine. She was very proud that day.

Trent also had a Graduation, kind of. He participated in the "big kids" graduation at daycare even though he is not going to Pre-K yet. He has been part of their class since last year.

Trent learned so much last year! They learned letters, numbers, shapes, colors, and how to write their name. Ms. Lisa even taught them a Bible verse for each letter of the alphabet up to the letter K. He was excited to recite his "part" of the program.

This video shows him singing one of the songs.....

Blessed Mom

2010-07-26T02:47:00.004+07:00

My Mother's Day 2010

My day began with breakfast at Trent's daycare. They always make sure that the kids honor and celebrate every occasion, especially Mother's Day. The look on Trent's face is so precious to me....he was so proud to give me the gifts he had made. I got a flower, notepad, hand-made card, and a jar of skittles.

My sweet little boy......

My mother is special to me.....she cooked dinner for us at her house. The food was delicious as always!

Natalee celebrated Mother's Day in her kindergarten class by inviting me to a Mother's Day Tea. Each girl in her class had made her very own "bonnett" and the boys made "baseball caps". The classroom tables were decorated with pink tablecloths and we ate cookies and had some delicious punch. Natalee gave me a flower, poem, and card.

Here is the letter Natalee wrote for me:

If you are a mom, you know what it feels like to be truly "blessed". Children are so precious....not only in our eyes as moms, but also in God's eyes.

I love to be able to spend these special days with my children. They mean everything to me.

I'm afraid.......

2010-07-19T03:19:00.004+07:00

I'm afraid that I just might live with some rednecks......three of them to be exact!

Nathan takes pride in his Harley - he washed it up good the other day. Then, to dry it off.....well, you can see what he did.......automatic dryer..."Redneck"

It was a very hot day in May, and since we do not have a pool (yet....maybe next year) nor do we even have a "sprinkler", I turned on the sprinkler system on the front yard and let the kids run loose and have a good time. They thought it was lots of fun. What can I say? "Redneck?"

Atlanta Trip #1

2010-07-09T07:06:00.004+07:00

We took a trip back in April during Spring Break to see the Atlanta Braves play ball and to visit the Coca-cola Museum. If you know me , you know why we went to the 2nd place! : )

Natalee and Trent love taking trips. They love staying in the motel and everyone sleeping in one big room. They especially love seeing and doing things they have never done before. Natalee is at the point where she enjoys hearing stories from us about how we came to the Braves games when we were her age. I'm thankful that me and Nathan are able to take them on trips and make memories with them.

Here's some pics:

First stop- Braves game. We saw an awesome game......however, Trent was ready to go in the 2nd inning because he was upset that it wasn't "his turn" to play. He dressed up in his baseball pants, shirt with "Trent 17" on the back, cleats, hat, and glove. He was READY to PLAY! We made it through the entire 9 innings. The Braves won the game and we enjoyed a fireworks show afterwards.

He's thinking....."when are they gonna let me play, Mama?"

Next stop - the Coca-Cola Museum! I could just live there. I used to collect Coke stuff, but I haven't bought anything in a long time. Most of my Coke stuff is upstairs and we will use it to decorate the new playroom.

More summer events to come: Mother's Day, Natalee's Kindergarten Graduation, Father's Day, Orlando Vacation, and Atalanta Trip #2......stay tuned!

God Hears and He Answers

2010-06-17T09:22:00.005+07:00

There is something I must share with you.

I've always prayed. I pray for my family. I pray for my friends. I pray for people who have a need. I pray because I know that God is able to answer prayers.

God wants the best for His children and He will give us the desires of our heart if only we ask. There have been times in my life when trials have challenged me. Looking back, I realize that God was there by my side the whole time.

There is one prayer that I've been praying this week.....and God answered. I have to tell you.

Natalee asked Jesus into her heart tonight!

We have been having VBS at our church. The preacher invited any student who felt that God was speaking to them to stay after class to talk with him. Natalee stayed. Our preacher Bro. James asked her the right questions and she knew the right answers. He shared with me and Nathan after church tonight.

When I talked to Natalee, she had tears in her eyes. I asked her if Jesus came into her heart tonight and she shook her head "yes". She could hardly talk about it. Later at home, she asked me to talk to her in private in her room. She told me how her heart was "beeping" and that she thought about getting saved tomorrow night, but she knew it would be too late....she wanted to get saved tonight!

She understands so much to be such a young girl. She has always wanted to know the explanation about things, and I've always been honest with her. She knows that Jesus will be in her heart for all of eternity and that he will always be there for her, no matter what.

God answered my prayer tonight. PTL!

So, here is my question to you......will God always be there for you? Have you asked Him in your heart yet?

Trent's 3rd Birthday

2010-05-23T01:55:00.003+07:00

My little boy turned 3 last month! Nana made him a cake with footballs and baseballs per his request. PS, Nana makes the "best" cakes!

One of Trent's favorite gifts is this monster truck.

Natalee, Trent, and cousin Carter eating at the kid table.

Trent and his new sunglasses

Here is Trent on one of the mornings after his birthday. He is such a big boy and insists on doing everything by himself. On this morning, he requested a bowl of "pillow cereal". I asked what he was talking about and he told me, "that yellow pillow cereal like Daddy likes!" Well, I looked in the pantry and figured out what he wanted.......Captain Crunch! And, yes, it is his daddy's favorite too.

Easter 2010

2010-05-23T01:40:00.004+07:00

EASTER 2010

For Easter this year, we attended Sunrise Services very early in the morning, and it was such a blessing to be able to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus with our church family.

We went to my mom's for lunch. She cooked a great meal and then the kids had fun hunting eggs.

Circle of Life

2010-05-16T04:08:00.002+07:00

Philippians 1:21 "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

God demands that we live our life to reflect the eternal love of Jesus for those who do not know him. That is how we should live our life, but what should our death say about us?

Nathan's grandfather is on his deathbed. The family has been gathered for two days now since his release from ICU in Jacksonville. Papa Walker is a good man. As the verse in Phil states, "to die is gain", I've been thinking about what Papa will gain from death.

What do you gain from death? What does the person that dies have to gain from dying? I guess that answer is different for everyone, but Papa will gain Heaven. He will be able to see the face of Jesus and walk on streets of pure gold. His body will be renewed and restored. He will be ever-present with his Savior for all eternity.

Papa was a minister for several years. He has shared the Word of God with so many. He was a man of God and God used him in mighty ways. The fruits of his labor are plentiful - that is one thing he has to gain.

He is struggling for every breath he takes and it is only a matter of time before God will call to him, "Come home, my good and faithful servant."

I titled this Circle of Life because as Papa's life draws to a close, there is another life growing inside of me......a boy by the way! This baby's life will be affected by the life that Papa lived. Papa will leave that legacy for all of his descendants to come.

Papa has a lot to gain from "his" death. What do you have to gain from yours?

One more makes three.......

2010-05-07T20:46:00.005+07:00

We're having a baby!

I know this may surprise some of you because you had no idea. But, we decided back at the end of last year that we wanted one more baby. God blessed us and now I'm 4 1/2 months! Due date is Oct 4th.

Just to fill you in on some details in case you are wondering.....I haven't said much to anyone until now because the first three months of pregnancy were not pleasant. If there was ever a pregnancy symptom in this world, then I had it. You name it.....moodiness, irritability, lack of energy, sleeplessness, nausea, moodiness....or did I already say moodiness?? : ) It was like, "I cannot control any of this!" It was frustrating. But, as soon as I hit the second trimester at month 3, I could see the silver lining. Things have been better. My energy has picked up and the nausea is gone, but Nathan says the moodiness is still there! I can't believe he would say that to a pregnant woman!

Natalee and Trent are super excited about us having another baby. Trent says he wants another sister, but Natalee doesn't care. She has already said, though, that the baby will have to share Trent's bathroom because he has two sinks and she only has one sink in hers! I think she is marking her territory don't you?

We've been busy planning on getting the "playroom" ready for a nursery for the new baby. The playroom will now move upstairs, and the kids are thrilled about that too. So, this is definitely a fun time for all of us right now.

I don't have a picture to post, but, Yes, I am "showing". I've got Easter pictures that I will post one of these days, and you can tell I'm pregnant in those. Plus, Trent turned 3 and I have to post birthday pictures! I'll get to it, I promise.

I find out next Thursday whether we are having a boy or a girl, but if you ask Trent......"Mama is having a dinosaur!"

Well, that IS how I feel sometimes......

Trent

2010-04-08T08:02:00.003+07:00

This is one crazy boy! He got into Natalee's jewelry box and put on a necklace around his neck and bracelets on his ears for "earrings."

I love this picture of Trent. He got a toolbox from Nathan as a gift and he puts it to good use everyday. What I love about this picture is that it is exactly how Nathan works - one leg bent beneath the other one. Trent was using his pliers to "fix" my dining table.

This one is of Trent playing in my closet - his favorite pasttime. Check out all of the toys behind him. He emptied the "trunk" of his motorcycle which included a cow, calculator, paper guitar, spoon, tape measure, thermometer, etc.

Trent can ride his bike - with training wheels!

More Updates

2010-04-08T07:39:00.003+07:00

Trent riding his "motorcycle"

Celebrating the 100th day of school: Natalee's class decorated hats with "100" items from home. Fun! We hot-glued pennies, pipe cleaners, buttons, stickers...you name it. Everything but the kitchen sink.

Remember the snow? We drove to my aunt's house in Mt. Vernon because they got a decent enough amount to play in. The kids loved it!

I think this snowball ended up on me - compliments of Mr. Trent!

Me and my snowbunnies

Natalee and her snowman!

Backtracking

2010-04-08T05:39:00.002+07:00

Here's what we've been up to since Christmas

Christmas 2009

Christmas 2009 - Natalee and Trent's favorite gifts from Santa: She got a nurse's uniform with all of the accessories and he got a Georgia Bulldog football outfit. Here: she was doctoring his injury.

Uncle Brad's birthday: Dec 28 - he's how old now??? Or worse, how old am I now???

These kids love to save money.......good trait to have, right? They enjoyed wrapping it.

Girly time! Natalee painting my toes for me.....and she does a good job!

Dinner Party

2009-12-22T09:31:00.005+07:00

Two weeks ago I was able to host a dinner party for the women at my church. We meet once a month to study a lesson, pray, eat, and socialize. For the month of December, we decided to explore a new path - we had a "Progressive" Party. This is where the meal is planned out so that the appetizer is at one house, the soup/salad at another, the main dish at one, and the coffee and dessert at another.

I volunteered my house for the main dish and I wanted to impress! I got busy cleaning and Nathan helped out a lot. Also, I knew the best cook around and I knew that she would help me cook that day. Nathan's mom helped prepare a meal of homemade bread with cheese spread, slow roasted pork loin with gravy, twice baked potatoes with everything in them, and sauteed broccoli with cheese sauce. Let me say that the meal was so delicious!

I had the entire house decorated with Christmas everywhere. Wreaths on all of the windows outside, Santas inside, snowmen, a beautiful tree, you name it. We pushed back all of our living room furniture to make room for two round tables. All the tables, including the dining and breakfast tables, were dressed with gold, green, and red fabric table linens. The silverware was tied with cloth napkins, a ribbon and decorated with a candy cane.

The women had a fabulous time. The meal - delicious..... the house - festive....... and the company of a few godly women - a Christmas memory that I will cherish for a lifetime.

Birthday Girl

2009-12-19T11:07:00.003+07:00

I wanted to share some pictures from Natalee's birthday party. Her day began around 10 when she finally got out of bed. Her birthday was the day before Thanksgiving and I just let her sleep as late as she wanted. This is her spot at the breakfast table and I fixed her favorite - syrup with waffles! : )

Later that day, we had a family party. My mama made the cake - it was a "lighthouse" cake by special request from Natalee. She also wanted a lighthouse helium balloon. I have no idea why she chose these things, but we delivered because she wanted it!

She had a great party here at the house with her family. Two days after her birthday, she was able to invite two friends over for a spend-the-night party. I promised them a movie and popcorn and guess who had to be right in the middle??? Little brother! The girls didn't mind though - they thought he was cute!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

2009-11-25T22:11:00.001+07:00

Happy Birthday to NATALEE!!!
My sweet little girl turns 6 today!!

Jacob's Here

2009-11-09T10:19:00.004+07:00

We picked Jacob up at the airport last Friday and he has been staying with us for the past week. He will be here for another week as well. It is always a treat when he visits because he is such a crazy guy - the same old Jacob from 1994. It's hard to believe that we've known him that long. In case you don't know the story, I met Nathan through Jacob. So, I blame Jacob for all of this!!

Jacob has enjoyed playing with Natalee and Trent. He knew that Natalee would love to draw, so he brought her a gift of coloring pens from Russia.

As I cooked supper one night, I overheard Natalee and Jacob at the breakfast table. He was teaching her Russian......not sure how well that went, but he tried!

Jacob's plans for his vacation here in Patterson included eating some southern cooking, playing horseshoes, doing nothing, and going to Walmart for absolutely no reason at all!! We've made sure he has accomplished everything on his list. He is a southerner at heart....maybe even a redneck!

Dressing Up - Trent

2009-11-09T10:11:00.003+07:00

Trent dressed up as a baseball player for Halloween. He has a complete outfit including baseball pants, jersey with his name on the back, batting gloves, and cleats that are two sizes too big. Boy is he cute in it all!!

This picture below was taken at the Fall Festival at our church.

Dressing Up - Natalee

2009-11-09T09:53:00.004+07:00

Natalee dressed up as her favorite singer Taylor Swift. She was very beautiful. As soon as she was finished getting dressed, she wanted to hold her guitar so she could pose for pictures. Aunt Bridgett did her hair and make-up. She even put jewels around Natalee's eyes and on her hand. Grammy made the dress. It was very beautiful, long, and it fit perfectly. It is supposed to be similar to the dress in the video "Teardrops on my Guitar."

Getting ready....

Notice the computer in the background....it has Taylor Swift on it.....everything had to be perfect.

Natalee was so excited to be dressed up like Taylor Swift. She sings her songs all of the time.

My Birthday

2009-11-09T09:36:00.004+07:00

I am so loved. My husband planned a birthday party for me and invited all of my family including in-laws and out-laws. It was a special evening and I enjoyed being with Nathan, Natalee and Trent, my parents Danny and Judy, brother Brad, Granny Crawford, in-laws Dorothy and Dwayne, Granny Griffin, Bridgett and Rick, neighbor Kathy, and neighbors Batch and Jodi. My older brother James send me a text and I got a phone call from niece Kelsey and nephew Carter.

My mama has made me a cake for every one of my birthdays for the past 32 years. This year, she got a little creative. She added up 19+13=32. I was 19 when I got married, and I've been married for 13 years. How clever.

Bridgett loves me too. She knows I love chocolate cake and this is what she made for me.

Me with my one and only.........

Pumpkin Patch

2009-11-09T09:21:00.003+07:00

We visited the Pumpkin Patch the week before Halloween and these are what we found........

Grammy and Grumpy (and Granny Griffin) rode with us to the Patch. This is a picture of them on the hay ride.

Me and Natalee and Trent had to ride the "cow" train. Natalee is riding in a cow named "Jasmine". In case you didn't know, that is her middle name. Me and Trent are riding in "Bessie". It was a grand ole ride, I'll say!

Ga. National Fair

2009-10-19T02:25:00.009+07:00

We went to the Georgia National Fair in Perry on Saturday. Let me tell you one thing, it was COLD!! We definitely did not have enough layers and we were cold the whole day. But one good thing, Nathan got to eat his caramel apple, Natalee got her cotton candy, I got my funnel cake, and Trent rode some rides. We had a great time! Here are some pics.

The first thing we saw once we walked in the gate was the tractors. If you know Trent, then you know he loves a tractor!

I talked Natalee into riding in the chairlift with me and Nathan. I guess I love heights, remember the hot air balloon ride? But to be honest, I don't like going over bridges...

Trent loved this fishing game. He played it about 4 times. After the second time, we asked the lady if he could just fish for fun and pretend that he was winng a prize!!

Here is Trent's favorite ride, the motorcycles. I guess he takes after his daddy on this one. Hog Wild!Natalee and Trent both liked the car ride. It would swing them around VERY fast on the corners. It was priceless to me to hear them giggle and have fun on this ride. Trent is in the green car and I just realized that it is Natalee in the background in the pink car. I need an award for capturing this shot!
Me and Trent on Dumbo.

Trent wasn't too sure about the chicks, but Natalee loved to hold her chick and talk sweet to it.

Natalee's favorite ride, the swing. I was actually surprised that she enjoyed this one. She even rode it twice.

Me and the kids.

INTRODUCING...............

2009-10-02T19:55:00.004+07:00

Introducing Natalee Griffin singing the number "Should've Said NO" by Taylor Swift

Just so you know, Natalee is responsible for her own wardrobe during these performances - I had nothing to do with this outfit or the socks.

All I can say is........this girl loves to PERFORM!

How to Play Baseball

2009-09-26T08:24:00.006+07:00

How to Play Baseball by Trent Griffin aka "T Griff"

Below, you will find Trent's explanation to me on how to play baseball. I love #4!

1) "First, you blow that whistle"

2) "Then, you catch that ball"

3) "Then, I have to run, Mama."

4) "Then, I WRECK!"

"And that's how you play baseball, Mama. Want to play with me?"

New Bookbag

2009-09-20T07:24:00.004+07:00

Every day that I take Natalee to school, Trent wants to go too. I must explain to him that he has to be 4 years old to go to school with Sissy. He is already looking forward to it. To prepare, his Grammy bought him his very own backpack. It is brown and orange and it has a motorcycle on the back of it. Now, if April 6, 2011 would get here sooner so he could go to "big" school with his sister.

The Squirrel

2009-09-12T08:12:00.003+07:00

My Aunt Marie found a baby squirrel in her yard that was about to be eaten by her dog. Luckily, she rescued the baby squirrel in time, but now she must care for it until it gets old enough to go out on its own.

She brought the squirrel to Nana's house on Labor Day so that Natalee and Trent could play with it.

Natalee loved it right off the bat. When the squirrel was in her hand, she giggled and laughed and then giggled some more. She said it was "ticklish" to her. She even had a chance to feed the baby squirrel its bottle.

Trent, on the other hand, wasn't so sure. He didn't want to hold the squirrel at first. He was just fine with watching it at a safe distance while someone else was holding him. But then Nathan came along and put the squirrel on Trent's neck.

Trent finally got brave enough to feed the baby squirrel while Aunt Marie held it for him.

You gotta love that expression! : )

How Cute is He

2009-09-07T03:24:00.006+07:00

No, I'm not posting a picture of my husband although he wanted me to. I'm posting pictures of my little boy, Trent. These were taken at Sears.

This is my absolute favorite picture that was taken this day. I love how cute and innocent his face looks and I also like the fact that he looks like a big boy in those jeans.

Trent fell in love with this motorcycle at Sears. The photographer actually has pictures of Trent posted throughout the mall so she could advertise "sessions" with this same motorcycle.

I picked out this Pajama outfit for the pictures. They were a gift to Trent from Grammy. I have always loved to see my kids in their pjs. And those little bare feet are too cute!

This is Trent's big boy outfit. He was posing perfectly for this shot. He loves to wear those little shoes. He turned two in April, but we had these pictures made in July.

This is one of my favorite poses because it captures his big, beautiful blue eyes.

This is Nathan's favorite because of what it appears he is doing to this motorcycle. Should I mention, this little red motorcycle is not a Harley........

I like this picture because Trent has always loved to "work" on things at the house. You may recall a previous post about his airplane that always needs "workin on."

Need I say more about this one??

What We've Been Up To

2009-09-07T03:11:00.002+07:00

Since school has started, we have been trying to get back into the swing of things. It has taken me this long to find a spare minute (that is not sleep-deprived) so that I can update you on the last few weeks.
First thing, let's start with sleep. Trent has been in his big boy bed since May.....but that doesn't mean he stays there. He gets up in the middle of "every" night to make his way to our bedroom and sleep the rest of the night with us. I don't function well when my night's rest is disturbed. Needless to say, I have plenty of concealer that hides those dark circles under my eyes. By the way, Trent has learned to go to Nathan's side of the bed and throw his arms up because he learned that "mama" will march him back to his bedroom.
Next thing, how about gymnastics. Natalee has started gymnastics and absolutely loves it. Her favorite is the balance beam. This surprises me. I just thought she would be scared of something so high. Natalee has caught on very fast and her teacher calls her "Superstar." Her teacher even wants her to begin gymnastics two days a week instead of just one day. Natalee is all for it. But that means that she will not be able to do Rec Dept cheerleading, which is something she also wanted to do. She's still debating.
Third thing, how about work. My fall classes are going great and I've just about learned everyone's name. It's funny how I recognize their face and can even recognize everyone's handwriting before I ever learn their name. I only see these people twice a week and it just takes me time to learn them.
Finally, how about football! Nathan is extremely excited that it is football season. I must admit that I am excited too. There is just something about this time of year that gets me looking forward to College Football - maybe it's those Dawgs!
So, there. That's what we've been up to.

First Day of School for My Little Girl

2009-08-22T07:44:00.003+07:00

Natalee was very excited on the night before her first day of kindergarten for two reasons: 1) She loves school and has been looking forward to going back for about three weeks now. 2) She lost her "eighth" tooth and knew that the Tooth Fairy would have a gift for her when she woke up.
Yes, I said that right....her eighth tooth. My little girl is only 5 (she turns 6 in November) and she has lost eight teeth already. The dentist said this is perfectly normal and that some children just lose teeth earlier than others. Natalee was pleased to find $4 from the Tooth Fairy on the morning she woke up to go to Kindergarten. Just in case anyone of you out there want to support a good cause, I have set up a savings account for the Tooth Fairy. I will oversee all deposits. I'm simply making this statement because I don't see an end to all of these teeth falling out of my daughter's head! : )

Above is Natalee as she began her day as a Kindergartener. She had the most beautiful smile and she had even greater expectations. Let me say that it has taken about two weeks for her to adjust. I think she may have expected all of the fun and "play center" time that was involved in Pre-K. But let me mind you, kids take the CRCT these days in Kindergarten, and they've got work to do.

I am very proud of her because she has read me a book every night this week. She is learning new words every week and she has gotten more excited each day because of this great accomplishment. I think she may turn in to be a little bookworm like I was as a kid.

Here is Natalee at the end of her first day of Kindergarten. Granny Griffin gets her off of the bus and she goes straight to Granny's couch to eat an icecream sandwich and watch her favorite show "Martha" on PBS.

Guess where I went?

2009-08-06T03:51:00.002+07:00

You may not believe it, but I finally went to the movies at the Drive-in! And I didn't even go with my husband! Who, you wonder, did I go with? Well, I guess I will tell you. I went with Natalee, Trent, my mom and dad, cousin Brittany, niece Kelsey, and nephew Carter. Yes, we had to take two vehicles because we wanted to make sure everyone was able to see the movie through the windshield.

We drove to the Drive-in on Tuesday night at 9 pm in Jesup. We made a stop at Sonic to get everyone a milkshake, cherry limeade, or other favorite drink. I ordered my favorite - a Java Chiller. The weather was very nice. There was a nice breeze blowing the entire time, so we kept the windows rolled down. Also, the moon was (almost) full and it provided a nice glow on the ground which allowed us to see our way to the concession stand and restrooms. (Restrooms - by the way, Trent is potty trained! He is wearing "big boy" undies now and he is very proud of himself.)

The movie we saw was a Disney one called G-Force. It was about these animated "gophers" that save the world. It was quite comical and had all of the latest hit songs (Boom, Boom, Pow etc). It was a pretty good movie, but I think Natalee liked Kung Fu Panda better. We saw the latter movie in Waycross a couple of weeks ago at the $1 movie for kids.

Anyhow, now I can mark this off of my list of things to do before I die - I've been to the Drive-in!

Natalee can ride her bike

2009-07-31T09:15:00.003+07:00

Natalee learned to ride her bike at the beginning of summer a couple of months ago. I am proud to say that "I" taught her how to ride it. Yep, I began by teaching her how to balance her bike while she strolled down the driveway. Then, I taught her how to get the pedal just right so that she could push it down and start pedaling. And she did it! I was very excited. I think she even surprised herself that she was actually riding her bike! She is a quick learner and I am so proud of her.

Jekyll Island Beach Trip

2009-07-27T02:10:00.004+07:00

We went to the beach a few weeks ago with Aunt Bridgett and Granny Griffin. Also along for the trip was Aunt Cindy, Uncle Robert, Jay and Brooklyn. Jay and Brooklyn are Natalee and Trent's cousins from north Georgia. They came for a few days to visit Granny. We went on a Tuesday and the weather was great. We usually don't go to the beach in Georgia - we prefer to go to Daytona. However, it was a nice trip that day. The kids played in the sand and found some seashells. We took some snacks and plenty of sunscreen. I couldn't get a group picture of all of the kids - they wouldn't all participate at the same time! So, I'll just share pictures of my two.

Trent loves this float. He will even play by himself in the water as long as he is wearing this. He likes it better than traditional "floaties" that go on the arm because this one has the extra piece around his belly that keeps his head up above the water. He can't stand for water to get in his eyes.

Natalee played in the water a little bit, but she preferred to build sand castles and play with her paddle ball game that I bought her especially for this beach trip.

Downtown Disney

2009-07-24T03:03:00.006+07:00

We went to Downtown Disney on our last night of vacation in Orlando. We enjoyed a great theatrical-circus performance at Cirque du Soleil. The show was late, 9 pm I think, so we stocked up on M&Ms, popcorn, and coke so the kids would stay awake. Needless to say, the show was lively and interesting enough that they didn't need all of the sugar and caffeine we bought them. Their favorite part of the show was watching the clown do his comedy bit in between performances.

One part of Downtown Disney that I will remember, but Trent will probably never recall, is the ride that he, Natalee, and I took in the hot air balloon that you see behind us in this picture. During our entire trip down there, he kept telling me that he wanted to ride it. So, after the circus show, I bought three tickets for us to ride. Nathan said he would stay on the ground and collect the insurance money if something happened - how nice. As we began to board, Trent realized how big the balloon actually was as it hovered over us. I had to sweet-talk him and let him know he would be okay. As we got to the top, he held on very tight around my neck and went to sleep! At first I thought he passed out, but I checked him and he was breathing. Natalee enjoyed it, but she held on very tight the entire time.

While enjoying the evening, we had to make a stop at the Harley Davidson shop at Downtown Disney. They had a couple of motorcycles set up for pictures and we took advantage. I think these two guys look mighty handsome!

Here's my girl Natalee on a Harley!

Natalee and Trent on the motorcycle - in the background is "Grammy" and uncle Rick.

Here is Aunt Bridgett and Uncle Rick as they carry Natalee and Trent around on their backs while we walked around Downtown Disney.

SeaWorld

2009-07-20T09:20:00.010+07:00

While in Orlando on our vacation in June, we visited SeaWorld and enjoyed seeing all of the animals and all of the great shows that they have to offer. Above you will see Natalee and Trent at my favorite show, Shamu. We had to see this show twice. They had an afternoon show, but then we returned to see Shamu Rocks a few hours later. Both shows were awesome!

The Griffin family posing at SeaWorld. We had a great time despite the fact that it was nearly 102 degrees! You will see in a few pictures below what the kids did to cool off.

"Mr. Cool" and Natalee

Me and Trent riding the teacups. I rode this once with him and I think Nathan also rode and even Bridgett and Uncle Rick. It was Trent's favorite ride in the kiddie section.

This character came up to greet Natalee while we were taking a break from the heat and eating a snowcone. I know that whoever it was had to be hot wearing this costume.

Here was one of Natalee's favorite parts. I forgot to pack her swimsuit, so we purchased this one at a stand nearby. It definitely looked like a lot of fun and so refreshing! Natalee also liked to ride the small Shamu rollercoaster.

Trent even got in on the water action. This was our downtime between animal shows and it definitely got the kids re-energized.

Orlando Vacation

2009-07-14T20:05:00.007+07:00

Our family took a week-long vacation to Orlando back in June. We stayed at a nice resort about one mile from SeaWorld. The resort was very family friendly. It had 7 pools. There was also a restaurant, game room, tennis courts, etc. We stayed there with Nathan's mom and dad and Bridgett and Rick. Granny Griffin and Aunt Audrey also went with us and they stayed in a condo in the next building. We had a relaxing time. Ms. Dorothy cooked many meals while we were there, so we just lounged around most days. Trent loved the kiddie pool because it was only about a 1 foot deep. It had an "island" in the middle that he would wade to and play at as well. He also liked to feed the ducks. Natalee liked the 3 foot pool. It had a waterfall and she eventually got brave enough to jump under it.
One thing everyone did most nights was to play card games. They took Phase 10 very seriously. Even Natalee and Trent got into it as you can see in the picture.

We did visit SeaWorld and Downtown Disney while in Orlando and I will post that soon.

"Aunt Mama"

2009-07-11T02:20:00.004+07:00

Trent is in the cutest stage. Two-year-olds can come up with the craziest things to say. His most recent phrase is calling me "Aunt Mama." At the moment as I am writing this, he is in the bathtub calling for me to go in there. He drags it out...."Aunnnnttt Maaaaammmmaa!" I just think it is hilarious. When he gets impatient, which is pretty often, he calls me "Aunt Becky." I'm not the only one he's doing this to - he even calls Natalee "Aunt Sissy" and Nathan "Aunt Daddy." How funny is that! I'm attaching a picture of how Trent looks right after bathtime.

Dress-up Day at PES

2009-07-07T09:45:00.004+07:00

During the last week of school, Natalee's Pre-k class participated in the dress up days. One of the days was a "cowboy/cowgirl" theme. Natalee's teacher told them to wear boots, cowboy hats, etc. I told Natalee she wouldn't be able to dress up this day because she did not have any boots. She told me "Yes, Mama, I do have boots - my Harley boots!" She wanted to wear them to school, so I let her. Together she and I picked out the denim skirt and the pink shirt to go with it. Under the pink shirt is her pink/white Harley t-shirt. She may not have been dressed up as a "cow"girl, but she was dressed up, that's for sure!

June Update

2009-07-07T09:30:00.003+07:00

Hi everyone. I cannot believe that I have only posted ONCE during the entire month of June. Well, I'm just having so much FUN that I haven't stopped to share everything! That's partly true. We HAVE been having a lot of fun. We went on vacation to Orlando for a week. While there we visited SeaWorld, Cirque de Solei, and Downtown Disney. I've got good pictures that I will share soon.

The other part of my month of June included me going back to work. I started teaching summer classes on June 3 and I have been very busy with it. If you have ever taken summer classes yourself, or taught them, you know that it is a lot of material in a short amount of time. Needless to say, I'm wore out at the end of the day even though I only teach two days a week. So, I need the other days to catch up on some rest and also to grade the endless amount of homework that I assign. Hey, if I didn't give them homework, then they probably wouldn't study! That's my philosophy.

So, now that the summer semester is half over, I plan to post some of the fun things that I've done with my family in the past few weeks.

Workin' Man

2009-06-08T07:52:00.003+07:00

Trent is just like his daddy - he loves to "work". He has his own play tool set complete with hammer, screwdriver, wrench, and tape measure. His most recent job was to fix his airplane. His airplane seems to get "broke" an awful lot. When it gets broke, Trent parks it and gets right down there with it so he can "fix" it. Notice all of his tools laying around - like I said, just like his daddy. It only takes him a couple of minutes to get the airplane "fixed" and then he cleans up his tools, loads them in his trunk, and heads off to chase after his sister.

Little Miss Sunshine

2009-05-29T00:41:00.002+07:00

Natalee, Trent, and I read books every night before bed. They love picture books. They also have some new favorites. Uncle Brad gave each of them the "Little Miss" and "Little Mr." books for Christmas. Natalee has enjoyed reading ALL of her books. Her favorite is Little Miss Sunshine. I found a t-shirt with "Little Miss Sunshine" on it and I had to buy it for "MY" little miss sunshine.

"I Help Water 'Plowers' Mama"

2009-05-23T07:03:00.004+07:00

Trent is 2 and he is such a talker if you get to know him. At first he is quiet, but it doesn't take long for him to open up. He talks real good except for one letter. He uses the "p" sound because he is yet to say the "f" sound correctly.

So, for him...feet is peet....frog is prog....fish is pish......food is pood.....finger is pinger......and flowers is plowers.

Here, he is supposed to be helping me water flowers, but he is trying to wet me instead. Probably because I wet him a few minutes before!

Jacksonville Zoo

2009-05-20T20:50:00.003+07:00

We took Natalee and Trent to the zoo this past weekend. Trent's favorites were the birds and snakes. We would pick him up to look in a display case for a snake and he would ask, "Where's it at?" He wasn't scared of them. Natalee liked to watch the monkeys play. She said, "They are so cute!" Both of them enjoyed riding the carousel and feeding the giraffe as pictured here.

My Mother's Day

2009-05-14T19:28:00.004+07:00

On the Friday before Mother's Day I was invited to breakfast with Trent and "tea" with Natalee. At Trent's daycare, we shared a breakfast of cinnamon rolls and an orange. He gave me a card and some "sugar". If you don't know him, he's pretty stingy with that sugar, so I felt pretty special when he gave me a kiss.

At Natalee's Pre-k, the children sang songs about their mothers and then we all enjoyed sugar cookies and punch. Natalee gave me a flower, a drawing of me, and a card. Natalee is pictured with her friend Zayne.

On Sunday, Nathan had a card waiting for me in my seat as we loaded up to go to church. He thanked me for being a great mom for our kids. How sweet!

Model Airplanes

2009-05-07T20:10:00.002+07:00

Instead of our usual Sunday afternoon cat-nap this weekend, we decided to go watch an "air show". We rode to a field just outside of Patterson and watched some model airplanes being flown. There was a group of about 6 grown men out there and each one had his own plane - big boys with toys! The model airplanes were very neat - the men had them painted and decorated so that they looked very real. Trent asked me, "I ride, mama?" Natalee wanted to ride one too. They didn't understand that these model airplanes were too small to carry them. Stacey's husband, Jay, flew his plane on Sunday. It was the fastest one out there! Natalee and Trent are pictured here standing in front of Jay's plane.

Swim Time at Aunt Bridgett's

2009-05-05T18:54:00.002+07:00

Why is it that the water in a pool can be freezing, but kids still want to swim anyway? Aunt Bridgett's pool was looking clear and inviting on Saturday, but the water was too cold for me. Natalee jumped right in and had a good time swimming with some friends from church. Trent preferred to get the water hose and spray all of the girls!

We love Lemon Cookies

2009-05-01T08:57:00.003+07:00

Here is a picture of us girls at Stacey's wedding a couple of weekends ago. We are sinking our teeth into our favorite treat - lemon cookies! We have always loved these lemon cookies that my mom makes. She made a batch especially for Stacey on her special day. These cookies go way back for all of us - I used to make them and give them to my friends every year at Christmas. Sometimes, I think that is the only reason they liked me - just for the cookies! JK : )

Pictured is Theresa, me, Stacey, Erine, in the back - Carrie and Kristi.

My New Car

2009-04-27T02:30:00.005+07:00

Eight years, two kids, and 190,000 miles ago, I bought a new car. It has been a great car, too, but let me just say that it was well past time for a new one. I've had my eye on the kind of car that I wanted for over a year and Nathan found a good deal on one....in Texas!

Yep, Nathan found my new car on E-bay in Denton, Texas. It was a great deal and we could not pass it up. The GMC Acadia we bought is an 07 model with low mileage. It has all of the bells and whistles that I wanted in a "family" vehicle. It is a 7-passenger with leather seats, captain chairs in the 2nd row, and a built-in DVD player for the kids on long trips. I could not have asked for anything better. I love it.

Getting the car was an adventure. As I said, it was in Texas and as you know, we were not. Nathan booked us a flight out of Jax early last Thursday morning. Brad took us to the airport, we arrived in Texas around 2 pm, bought the car, and began the 16-hour drive back home. It was a long drive, but it was fun. We stopped at a Harley shop because Nathan insisted that my new car had to have a HD tag on the front. We stayed Thursday night somewhere in Louisiana, then we finished our journey all day Friday. I arrived Friday evening just in time to finish up rehearsal for Stacey's wedding.

Look at the picture again....ain't it pretty?!!

Stacey's Wedding

2009-04-22T08:19:00.003+07:00

The big day finally arrived! Stacey and Jay were married at Bristol Baptist Church on Saturday April 18th at 6 pm. I was honored to be matron of honor in their wedding and Natalee was thrilled to be a flower girl again. Stacey is a childhood friend of mine and we go WAY back - more than 20 years! Now that makes me feel old. Well, I guess I am.

Mine and Natalee's day started with getting our nails polished. Natalee felt special because I let her get a design on her toe that matched mine. Then, we met up with Stacey and chauffeured her to Waycross to get her makeup put on. After that, Natalee got her hair styled and Stacey and I grabbed a bite to eat. I wanted to make sure Stacey had something in her stomach because I didn't want her to pass out at the wedding! After getting my hair styled, we met up at the wedding and I helped Stacey get into her wedding gown.

Stacey's gown was beautiful and it looked great on her. The wedding ceremony was beautiful too. There were many friends and family in attendance and I think that Stacey and Jay were happy to see everyone celebrate this day with them. The reception was good too. It was decorated beautifully with lights in branches and red roses. Stacey's wedding cake was pretty. I didn't get a piece but I'm sure it was yummy.

After the wedding, everyone blew bubbles as the newlyweds made their way to Jay's truck. I was disappointed that the groomsmen didn't even wreck his truck - it was clean as a whistle.

Stacey, I'm proud of you and I'm very happy for you. I think you will find that marriage is a lot of fun, but it also takes a lot of work. I wish you and Jay the best of luck!

Exciting News!

2009-04-18T09:41:00.001+07:00

I got a new car yesterday! I'm so excited about that!

Stacey is getting married tomorrow! I'm so excited about that too!

Pictures and more news of both of these EXCITING events will be coming soon.

Easter 2009

2009-04-16T06:40:00.004+07:00

This was a good Easter. There was just something about this day that I can't quite describe. It was peaceful, special, and we were able to spend some quality time with our family. Our Easter started out with church, of course. Trent wore his new Polo that Grammy gave him. Natalee wore a new dress that me and Nathan bought her. The church service was good - it always is. We were able to reflect upon the real meaning of Easter - that Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose again from the grave so that we might receive salvation through Him. After services, Grammy (Nathan's mom) cooked a delicious dinner. Actually, you will find us around her table every Sunday! After a meal of ham, turkey and dressing, macaroni, rolls, corn casserole, and all the trimmings......AND dessert...we were stuffed! However, Natalee and Trent still had to hunt Easter eggs. So, Nathan and Rick hid the eggs in the front yard and the kids had a great time finding them. After the egg hunt, we took the kids home and they took a nap. In evening, we went back to church for the night service. Again, it was good. Pictured you will see Natalee and Trent on the steps of our church and you will see each of them as they opened their Easter baskets which were filled with yummy treats! Let me just say again that THIS was a good Easter.

Birthday Boy

2009-04-11T20:06:00.003+07:00

Trent turned 2! I cannot believe that my "baby" is already two. On Monday we had over friends and family to help celebrate Trent's birthday. Nathan and I had to work that day, so thanks to Aunt Bridgett who did all of the shopping for the hamburgers, hotdogs, and balloons or else we may not have had a party! My mom made the cake - a school bus cake and Trent was the driver. She put a picture of Trent in the driver's seat and the passengers were Natalee, Kelsey, Carter, and Brittany (cousins). It was so cute and delicious too! Trent got some great presents. I haven't figured out his favorite yet because he likes to play with all of them. He stayed up late that night and had to play with his Choo-choo from uncle Brad. He also likes the remote control tractor that me and Nathan gave him. When he goes outside, he likes to play with the ball set that Aunt Bridgett gave him. Oh, and the lizard - cousin Brittany gave him a fake lizard and he likes to chase everyone around the house and scare them with it. 100% boy!

Trent's TRAIN RIDE

2009-04-06T08:50:00.002+07:00

In celebration of Trent's birthday which will be on Monday April 6th, we took him for a Train Ride in Cordele, GA this weekend. Several members of our family attended with us. We rode the train all day Saturday from Cordele to Archery. The train made several stops along the way. In Americus, we at hotdogs and fries at a place called "Monroe's". Then, we toured the historic Ryland Theater. While in Plains, we toured the campaign headquarters of former president Jimmy Carter. We enjoyed some good pecan brittle and icecream while there! We also visited a town called Archery which is the birthplace of the former president. Trent enjoyed all of the sightseeing as well as riding the "Choo-choo." I think his favorite part was shopping for his new hat in the gift car that was located on the train.

Harley Dude

2009-04-01T08:57:00.000+07:00

Trent is a Harley dude! He loves to ride the Harley with his daddy. Our neighbors gave him this Harley hat and he wouldn't take it off all weekend! Here, he was sporting his favorite hat while riding his "Harley" around in our living room. Notice the shirt - it says "Chick Magnet". His dad has one in XL just like it. Just kidding!

Nathan's Birthday

2009-04-01T08:36:00.000+07:00

Nathan's birthday was Friday and you will never guess where he wanted to go....the auction. He has found himself a new hobby. There is an auction in Waycross called the Chicken Coop and this is where you can find Nathan on Tuesday nights when he is able to go. He found a couple of good deals, but I had to laugh when he brought home a "case" of 20 packs of chewing gum. What are we going to do with that much gum? Anyhow, this picture was taken at the resturant on Nathan's birthday. He turned 34. Here, Trent had to have a toothpick to be just like his daddy.

Singing in the Rain

2009-03-28T19:23:00.000+07:00

Actually, more like "playing in the rain." We got a little bit of rain on Friday and I let Natalee and Trent play in it after they got home from school. Trent was laughing so hard and putting his hands over his head. Here, they both got under Natalee's umbrella and posed for a picture.

Go Bears!

2009-03-28T02:16:00.000+07:00

Okay, I know it's not football season, but Natalee loves to cheer for the Bears. Her dad and I gave her this outfit back in November when she turned 5. She likes to get dressed up and do dances and cheers for the Bears. She even fixed her own hair. I think my mom gave her the pom-pom. Ready? I say "GO", you say "Bears"....."Go Bears!"

Oh to be a Kid Again

2009-03-24T19:38:00.000+07:00

Doesn't this look yummy? On Friday night, I made a dessert and Trent heard the beaters going. He came running into the kitchen and said, "I lick, Mama." He got this beater clean as a whistle and I took care of the other one! Some things will never change : )

Frisbee Fun

2009-03-20T04:57:00.001+07:00

Today after school, Natalee and Trent played with their frisbees. After a few tries, Natalee finally learned how to throw it "near" me. Trent has not mastered it yet though. His frisbee kept rolling into the flower bed. All in all, it was a beautiful afternoon for some outside fun.

Trent, my Man

2009-03-18T02:38:00.000+07:00

Trent is all boy! He loves tractors, trains, and anything to do with the outdoors. As you can see here, he was enjoying some time pretending to drive a real tractor. He pulled every lever he could get his little hands on. He definitely thought he was big stuff that day!

Natalee's Excitement

2009-03-18T02:32:00.000+07:00

Natalee was recently a flower girl in a wedding for our cousin. Let me say that she was the most beautiful flower girl ever! Her two front teeth were very loose, but thankfully she still had them for the wedding. The following week, however, both of them came out. She handled it much better than I did. Needless to say, she is still cute even though she is "snaggle-toothed" !

Hi!

2009-03-18T02:24:00.000+07:00

Hi Everyone! Meet us - Natalee, me, and Trent. My husband Nathan is not pictured because he took this picture of us. I would like to say that I am excited about beginning this blog so that I can capture many of the precious memories that happen around me everyday. Enjoy the read!