Griffin Family : December 2015

Sunday, December 27, 2015

12/27/15 Merry Christmas!

Family skyping with Bryce

It was so fun to see you and talk to you Friday!!! You look really great!

Darth Vader came to visit before Christmas!

This week has been busy and fun and fast.

Katie and Holly and Dad went with Gma and pa on Monday morning to breakfast. Wendy and Emma came too. They celebrated Katie's 14th birthday at Denny's. We had stuffed crust pizza from Pizza Hut for Katie's birthday evening and had fun celebrating Katie.

Tuesday the girls had dentist appointments and no cavities! YEAH!! But they are supposed to go back to get their teeth sealed early next year.

Wednesday Katie spent the afternoon with the gparents sewing and getting ready for Christmas. I think they all had fun.

Guess he told Andy a thing or two.

Somewhere in this week we got all the presents wrapped and treats made and everything ready.

Thursday evening we enjoyed family time and AJ joined us from Provo and we did our traditional drive around town to look at the lights. Hot cocoa and treats afterward.

Friday morning we told everyone to wait until 9 a.m. (So nice to have grown up kids!!!) Dallas and McKayla came over and Holly woke AJ up with a spray bottle. (I think he secretly loved that?! I KNOW Holly loved that!!!) We read the Christmas story and then opened presents for about an hour. The usual way, each one picking a present from youngest to oldest until they were all gone.

We enjoyed cinnamon rolls, an egg/sausage casserole McKayla brought, little smokies, chocolate milk, apple cider. It was yummy.

The highlight of the day was getting to see you and talk to you for an hour!!! Wasn't long enough but it was sure good to see you.

Not too long after we hung up Ben and Laura came over along with Wendy and Eddy and family. Randy and Kay ended up coming too and Maddi's friend Camilla. So we had 21 for dinner. We squeezed in the kitchen and enjoyed a pretty good spread of food. (Smoked turkey, ham, smoked cheese, rolls, cheesy potato, green bean casserole, salad, jellos, Laura's world famous cookies) I'm sure there was more but you get the idea.

The kids played upstairs -- ping pong and hanging out. The adults did an exchange of favorite things and that was fun too.

Saturday we borrowed the star wars movies from Taylor's and watched IV and V. We plan to watch VI next and then one of these days we'll go watch the new star wars.

It's been nice to have some quiet time and play games and hang out and not have anywhere we need to be or anything we have to do!

Quote for the new year/week:

You've got to think about big things while you are doing small things so all the small things go in the right direction.

Love you lots and looking forward to a great 2016!

Love you! Mom

Multitasking...

Enjoying Hot Chocolate!

Hot Chocolate!

Yumm!

McKayla made delicious Hot Cocoa!

Everything's ready for Christmas morning!

Sporting my new jammies, boots and treats!

Opening presents!

Hmmm...which one should I pick?

My favorite gift! My Honey!

Bryce on the big screen

Big spread!

Andy hugging on his lil sis!

Cheers!

Randy and Grandpa Griffin

Yummy Christmas dinner.

Abby and Grandma Griffin

Wendy and Andy filling up their plates

Katie and Holly opening gifts

Chilling!

Aaron trying to figure out what he got

Emma loves her pillow and reading light and treats

Katie loves her book!

Favorite things game

Katie, Andy, Randy & Kay Phillips

Grandpa and AJ

Favorite things game

Sunday, December 20, 2015

12/20/15 Firsts and lasts and Party Week!

Holly's first visit to the temple. She loved it!

It's been a busy week as every activity wants to get in a Christmas party or concert or whatever. I think Monday was our only quiet night all week.

Sunday we went to gma and pas and there was a neighborhood party but we didn't go out of consideration for everyone else (Dad had a nasty cold and we didn't want to share it!)

Holly and mom

Monday the primary presidency stopped by with a gift and said thank you to me for playing the piano. That was a nice surprise. They didn't stay long.

Tuesday Katie had her concert. They were supposed to be there around 6:30 or so and the concert was supposed to start at 7. Only it didn't. So when I got off work at 7:30 and came over I only missed half of the first song. Great for me. Bummer for dad who had to sit for a long time waiting!

Wednesday the girls (yes Holly is in YW now!!!!) went to the Fullmer's house and then delivered baskets to widows etc. Sister Meyer had an operation this past week on her wrist so we took them dinner (homemade soup, rolls and brownies).

Thursday the girls stayed at gma and pas house all afternoon and evening. Katie had art club and walks over after school so I just told her to stay. Then I brought Holly and we hung out until I went to Dad's company party from about 6:30 - 9 p.m. The girls went out to McD's with Gma and pa and watched a movie and just had a nice time with the grandparents. I think they all loved it! Dad and I went to Hank's restaurant (down by Sun River Golf Course) and dad won a big soundbar for the TV. He had to cover more games so we were able to sneak away before the party was over and get him back to work.

Katie kissing on mom

Friday was Holly's last day of girl scouts. We had a Christmas party there too. We played minute - to - win - it games, made treats. played a scavenger hunt game and exchanged small gifts. It was a good little party. Holly is sad girl scouts is over. She loved it. Activity days ended this week too. It's the time for lots of lasts for her! And firsts!

Katie turns 14 tomorrow and can't wait for her first stake dance. (Noooooooo!!!!) Unfortunately she is older than most of her friends so she is not sure who she can go with. Or when the next one is. But she's excited!

So for my quote of the week:

The starting point of discovering who you are, your gifts, your talents, your dreams, is being comfortable with yourself. Spend time alone. Write in a journal. Take long walks in the woods. Robin S. Sharma

Katie is great at rebounding!

I have been spending a lot of time putting together the family blog and looking back on old journals and letters to friends and family and stuff. I am really enjoying reflecting on the things that have happened in my life and the progress that we've made as individuals and as a family. I sometimes read an entry and wish I had included more detail. I sometimes look at times I didn't write and wish I had because i know things happened that I can't remember as well as I'd like.

So my thought for you this week is write more. Write longer letters home (we are saving those for you so it's like a journal!). Write more in your personal journal that you are keeping there. You will treasure the memories later. It might be 25 years or more before you go back but it is a treasure you and your children will enjoy!

Oh and of course take more pictures. Because a book with pictures is WAY more interesting!!!!

The count down in on!!! Get to see your cute mug in just 5 days!!!!!!!!!!

So EXCITED!!!!

Love you Boo!!!

Mom

Oh yea! And I totally forgot to include: Holly went to the temple for the first time Friday night. Katie, Holly and I went. Gma and pa Griffin were working along with Uncle Ben and Aunt Laura Squires. We arrived at exactly the right time. No one but temple workers were in there. We came in. Got our clothes. Got confirmed. Got baptized and were done in record time. Probably 45 minutes total! The spirit was strong and it was very peaceful there. I think Holly really enjoyed it. I k

Holly hustling up the court

now I did.

Geesh - I forgot to tell you about the amazing basketball game Saturday too. And the ward party! Holy smokes! It really was a busy week!

Winning feels great!

In the girls game they were down 2- 8 and then the made it 4 - 8. And then right at the end of the game it was 10-11. And with maybe a minute or two left, not much, Katie lays in a basket for 2 points making it 12-11. The other team tries to score but has no success and time expires. What a game!!!! I thought they were done for sure!

Marlee came to visit over the Christmas break

Saturday, December 19, 2015

12/19/15 Ward Party

Breakfast at the ward party with my girls!

Ward Party: They had a good turnout. We had the usual eggs, pancakes, ham, milk and fruit. Brother Olsen's directing a play and the kids from his play came and sang 3 songs and danced. It was cute. Primary did 2 songs and then we did a little sing along. I played for all of that -- about 6 songs total. Then santa came. I was the photographer (but had to give up my camera in the middle to play the piano). I took a picture of each child on Santa's lap. I included a couple of my favorites!