06/26/11 Bryce's 15!

6/26/11

Bryce is 15!

Wow, busy weekend!  Just got home from Salt Lake City.  Friday night Jonny and Demas had a reception and Saturday Laura had a baby shower.   We got up to SLC Friday night in time for the reception and spent the rest of the evening at the Griffin's back yard.  Saturday morning got up and hung out at Grandpa's house - helped clean up the basement a little and then swam.  Ruth and Robert (her boyfriend) came over -- first time I've met him although they've been serious quite awhile I guess.  Wendy and her family came and swam too.  This morning Jonny and Demas talked in church so we stayed and listened to them before heading home and here we are.  Tired!

Tonight there is youth conference meetings 5-6 for me and 6-7 for me and the boys.  The kids are doing a pioneer trek this year which I suppose will be a challenge (21 miles of walking or so over 3 days, 2 nights).  We'll find out more details today.  I thought I was going to have a pretty good group of kids but I'm finding out that they are dropping out -- I think it sounds too tough and they don't wanna, ya know?

Happy Birthday Boo!

The dreaded computer conversion happened at work this week and honestly...so far...it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  I of course don't know how to do a lot of things but I feel like I have a pretty good grasp on what's up.  I think all in all it will be fine.  Within a couple of months I should have things back to the way I like them and it will be like nothing ever happened.  I hope. !!!!

Today's Bryce's 15 birthday and we haven't even gotten to see him until just a minute ago.  I gotta find a minute and go make him a cake and hopefully have a good dinner for him tonight.  Tomorrow morning (as tradition goes) we'll go get Bryce his learner's permit and I'll have me another chauffer!!!! Yippee!!!

You didn't really answer our question last week about what we might could throw in the box to send you.  We have several things but if you have any ideas I'd love to hear them.  This box will probably arrive just in time for your birthday so it's ok to let me know what you want!!!!

Well, I hope you are doing wonderful.  You are still prayed for daily and thought of often.  Love you lots! mom

Letter to Jennifer Davis Mast

6/20/2011 letter to Jennifer Davis

Thanks for the letter.  Sounds as if you are enjoying your summer, lucky girl!  I am enjoying mine as well.  Just returned from girls camp and preparing for a pioneer trek next month.  The following month it is off to Girl Scout camp.  Aaaahhh, summer time!  Work is busy -- got a new computer system today. Tomorrow should be the first real challenge as we have a busy night of court on a new system.  Trying to take it all in stride!  So far, so good!

Dallas, my 2nd oldest son is working for the parks and rec department at Washington City and enjoying that.  He is also doing a summer class to get a little h.s. credit for his work.   He got his driver license this year which has been awesome -- no more carting kids to band at 7 a.m. and stuff!!!  Bryce just signed up for the coolest summer program I ever heard of.  It is ag credits for high school and he gets to go on field trips every week all over the state.  One is a 3 day field trip to Bryce Canyon and some other cool places...at no charge.  What?  Really!  Only a select few get to go.  Lucky kid.  His first trip is this week and he's going to Snow Canyon Anasazi Trail.

Katie and Holly are taking swim lessons every day and have advanced from level 2 to level 4 so far.  They will test again on Friday.  That will probably be their last lesson but it was 4 weeks worth.  (Holy smoke, really?)  This summer is flying fast!

Andy was hired as the editor of a brand new sports magazine and he is really working hard but enjoying the results.  The magazine looks great.  He also has a morning show and does evening games in the school year.  Between his job and mine we aren't seeing near enough of each other!

We are getting into the dog days of summer.  It's been a mild year so far but the 110+ is coming. Unfortunately!  Not so bad when you are pool side but not too good when you are not!

Take care of yourself and family. It's fun to watch the kids grow up and get jobs and be responsible, eh!?

Talk soon!  Shelly

06/19/11 Girls Camp

6/19/11

Just completed another BUSY week.  GIRLS CAMP!

We had a really great time.  We ended up with 11 girls total from our ward.  12 if you count Jillian (she only came and did a fireside and left).  We had 5 non-members and 5 members staying in our camp site and Amanda Turner was a stake youth leader and stayed with the stake.

Laurie Turner was the camp director and she did a great job of lining up workshop and fireside speakers who were all excellent.

Our theme was happily ever after with all the princess type stuff.  The final theme was making it to the temple to begin your happily ever after.

We had a lady speak who was raised by a mother and father who did drugs.  She was passed back and forth as they would end up in jail.  She spent some time being raised by her grandmother.  At some point she moved here to Washington and a young 12 year old boy introduced her to the church and got her to come to church and tried to help her.  She moved away but kept in contact and through the years she eventually was converted and later married the returned missionary boy.  I did not do the story justice but it was pretty cool.

We had speakers talking about the 3 white dresses we will wear in our lives.  Blessing, baptism and wedding.  And the steps we need to take in between to progress to these white dresses.

One of our workshops was on etiquette and what is the right and wrong behavior.  For example is it ok to wear flip flops to church, chew gum, say freaking...etc.  She did a great job and had the kids really discussing topics that are sometimes touchy.

When we arrived at camp I told all the people in our camp site that the were not to wake up Sister Griffin unless they were dying, bleeding or vomitting.  So on the first night at 2:30 in the morning I hear..."Sister Griffin...I'm cold."  I guess one of them missed the memo!  So I got up, took her to the bathroom and put her back to bed in her coat.  And told her to NEVER wake me again...nicely!

There was a cool water slide that went down into a freezing cold lake.  I got the girls to jump in off the dock to join the polar bear club and then after a slide down stayed in the water for about 40 minutes.  I was the only one that did that.  Most of them just jumped in and then squeeled and got right back out.  A couple girls eventually came in for a little while but really most of them were out as quick as they got in.

We had a testimony meeting the last night that lasted about 2 hours.  I think there was only 2-3 that didn't bear their testimony.  All of my non-members got up and spoke about how they knew Jesus was the savior and they were happy for the experience to learn more about him.  One of them said she planned to start reading the scriptures and learning more.  It was really special.

Well I have a meeting in 10 minutes, BYC so I gotta run.  I love you lots and hope you are doing great.

(I saw a Picture of Elder Weaver on facebook...he made it home.  His homecoming talk is today.)

Can't wait to hear about your week.  Love you.  Mom.

06/11/11 Swim lessons & girls camp

6/11/11

Katie's dance group

I hope you are happy and well.  I had a bad night of sleeping last night worrying about you.  Not sure why 'cause that is totally not normal for me to worry. So I hope I just ate something that messed with my dreams and that I wasn't "feeling your pain!"  I wanted to get up this morning and write your mission mama and make sure everything was ok...but I did't.  So, are you good?

The heat has started to really hit here.  I think we were around 95.  So strange to come inside and 78 degrees feels almost cold!  I had to go look at the thermostat cause I was sure it was colder than that.

The girls just finished 2 weeks of swim lessons and advanced to a level 4 (whatever that means?!).  They enjoyed it so much I signed them up for another session.  They go every day for 2 more weeks for 1/2 hour.  They are learning to swim properly (breathing) and I think they may even learn how to dive. Not sure.  They are in class together.  They have been becoming more independent and ride their bikes up to the rec center some days and then come home together too.  It is so nice.  It has helped them to have a little routine in their life.  It is hard to stay structured in the summer but we don't want them watching TV and vegging all day long!

Katie

I don't think I ever told you...Katie made student council next year.  She got to read the announcements the last week of school.  She was pretty excited. She will get to wear a fancy vest and go to meetings and stuff.  I'm sure she'll love it.

Girls camp is this week.  Everything seems to be coming together.  I think we will have 11 girls total...maybe.  3 w/the stake so 8 that I'm responsible for.  Maybe only 7.  I still don't know that we'll know what we are getting 'till they show up.  So strange!  We have planned lots of fun things for the girls and the weather is supposed to be perfect.  75 by day, 45 by night.  No rain anticipated.  Weather forcast said 0 percent.  Can't beat that!

Took the girls to JC Penny today and bought some school close.  It was cheaper than shopping the D.I.  Found pants for $4.99 and shirts for 2.99 - 4.99.  Then I had a coupon for $10 off when you spend $25.  I was able to use it 2X.  We ended up getting 5 pants, 6 shirts and 2 Sunday shirts for the boys for about $55. Sweet, huh?!

Katie

Dad and the boys have been at the Dixie Rebels Football game and just got home.  The girls stayed home and I washed and braided their hair and we went through all their clothes and pulled out all the winter stuff and put out the summer stuff.

Grandma and pa Griffin went to SLC today and saw the tiny twins and gave them a blessing.  They are struggling but doing well for their early arrival.

Well Iove you lots.  Take care of yourself!  love Mom.

06/04/11 Zumba, swimming, summer here we come!

6/4/11

Hi AJ!

It has been a really nice LAZY Saturday -- I'm tired out and happy!

Morning started with getting a bountiful basket and then doing ZUMBA for 1 hour at the rec center.  My friend Kathy from work had never done it before and came and tried it.  She liked it.  I am liking it more and more.  At first thought it was kinda difficult and I felt stupid but I get all hot and sweaty and it is WAY more fun than weight lifting or walking a treadmill.

After ZUMBA came home and cut up all my veggies and then headed to the pool to meet Julene.  Derek seems to be doing well and so is their family.

Came home and got dressed and the boys came home with Dad and wanted a water fight.  So back into a swim suit and all wet again!  Stayed that way until dinner time and then we had potato bar.  Pretty good!

Dad's off at a Rebel's football game and me and the girls did nails and read a book.  Dallas is off playing a video game (boring!) -- but that's what he wanted to do!

It's almost 10 p.m. and I'm starting to feel my busy day!  And busy week.

Fast Sunday is one of the weeks I get to not have any meetings so I'm looking forward to a LAZY morning (probably making yummy lunch and stuff...so I use the word LAZY loosely!)

The girls got new swim suits today (Katie's is already worn out that I just got her a couple of months ago) -- they are doing swim lessons every morning for 2 weeks right now -- and she looks TOTALLY grown up.  It is Scary!  She is kinda of a funny little goof ball...kept grabbing her boobs and being all proud or something.  She kept saying....they feel real to me!  (Her swim suit had built in bra which enhanced her a little bit).  She did some hula hooping today too.  She is SO good at that.  It's crazy!  Dad took a little movie of it...maybe it will transfer to you, not sure!  She is going to have boys knocking down the doors...good thing she has 4 body guards to hold them off!  Looks of things, we'll probably need all of you!!!

We have 10 girls signed up from our ward to go to girls camp this year.  And 4 leaders.  Sweet, eh?!  3 of the girls are going with the stake but they are still from our ward so I count that a success!!!  We get to go back to the same camp as last year because our Cedar City camp is snowed in still.  And we get to go down that cool water slide this year  -- how cool is that!  I hope leaders get to play!!!!

Well I hope this letter finds you happy and well and that it's cleared up a day or two for you.  I don't like rainy places.  Seattle would probably do me under.  I need my vitamin D (sunshine!!!) regularly.

Things are pretty much the same here as always.  Dallas just finished his first week of work (19 hours) at the city and he still likes it.  Of course the weather has been totally awesome and it's not been hot....yet.  I think he may change his toon next week as the temperature rises.

I am going to head to bed now!  I turn into a pumpkin in 6 minutes, ya know!

Love you lots!!! You are awesome.  Mom.