02/20/17 Excerpt from Letter to Ray and Suzanne

February 20, 2017

Becky and I had a fun visit.  She was a trooper and stayed at work with me all week (poor thing...already decided when she comes back next year I'm taking a day off!!!).  We took 2 hours off and went shopping at Kohls, DI and Ross.  Ended up finding some cute skirts and blouses for Becky at Ross.  We got a matching skirt!!!  Not that we'll ever wear it at the same event but maybe we will?!  Who knows?!  

Kevin and Becky came for BBQ night and we had yummy dinner and then played jackbox.tv.  That is a really fun interactive game that allows 8 people to all play a computer game together on the TV.  

AJ is off to Texas to present his thesis at some conference.  So he's gone for the week now until Saturday I think.  He'll be flying out at 8:30 tonight. 

I had off today -- YEAH!!!  I got up and went to the gym and did a weight lifting class. Then I came home and spent 4 hours trimming bushes and trees in the yard.  Filled 2 trash cans to overflowing.  But everything looks really nice!  I got an electric trimmer and it has been awesome - I have about 20 rosebushes -- and I did those a couple of weeks ago and then all the other stuff today.  Total of 5 trashcans of debris. 

We also played pickle ball with our friends this afternoon. Dallas and McK and Bryce and Marlee also played on another court. 

We took Dallas and McK and Bryce and Marlee to Rigatti's tonight...first time we've been back since your birthday.  And we called ahead 45 minutes and still didn't get our meal for 45 minutes after we got there.  Sigh.  Probably be another 8 months before I go there again.  They are so slow!!!!!  We got 4 pizzas (mediums) and it wasn't enough so we went to the Red Barn and got ice cream afterward.  It was fun!

Bryce and Marlee aren't engaged (she is on her mission until April and can't get engaged).  But will you please save June 3 and plan a trip here that weekend? 

AJ is dating a girl named Helena who honest to goodness could be Marlee's older sister - bushy red hair and all!!!  I hope she is the one because she is adorable and it would be fun to have grandkids I couldn't tell apart! Haha. Not getting my hopes up though!

We survived volleyball and basketball season with Katie and soccer season for Holly starts Tuesday -- so we are still -- as always -- keeping everybody busy and engaged in good activities!

Oh yea, and we are planning a trip to Hawaii in April.  A friend at work sold us one of his weeks at his condo -- the Cliffs at Princeville on Kauai. You'll have to look it up.  It looks AMAZING!!!!  I'm so excited. 

Andy is headed to Logan Wed-Saturday this week for playoffs.  Some idiot (I can say that right?) decided that Logan needed a turn at hosting playoffs so the whole state has to risk their lives to get up to stinking snow country to play basketball!!!! BOOOOOO.  You probably won't see him because he will be coming through late both times and will be with Robert so I don't think they'll stop.  Who knows though, right?!

Anyway hope you are doing well.  Take care and tell me what's going on in your neck of the woods!

Love you! Shelly

02/20/17 Grandpa and Grandma Griffin - some fun facts

Who was interested in who first: Grandpa

Grandpa asked Grandma out at the swimming pool they both worked at.  Grandpa thought he'd be super smart. He found out Grandma's first name (Jean) and then went to the time cards to find out her last name.  He found a Jean Baker and started teasing grandma saying, "I know your last name!"  She said, Oh yeah, what is it? And he said Baker!  

Of course he was wrong, Jean's last name was Bahr (her true first name is Marva). 

Grandpa made lots of jokes about Jeans after that!

Who is most sensitive: Grandpa

Grandpa is very aware of Grandma's needs and always super sensitive to what she might want or need. 

Grandma is more sensitive to everyone else: She is always worrying about everyone else and afraid she might have hurt their feelings.  She is very perceptive to others and always interested in what's going on in their lives. 

Who has the worst temper? Grandma

Gordon used to really push Grandma's buttons.  She would stand up on a stool to smack him. 

One time Grandpa needed some copies made and grandma stayed late after work to make the copies. She had all kinds of problems with the copier and was really frustrated by the time she complied the project.  And late. When she got home Grandpa complained that she was late and she took all the copies and scattered them everywhere because she was so frustrated and upset!

To be fair, neither one really has much of a temper.  It takes quite a bit to get them riled up.

Who is the most social? Grandpa

His jobs require it -- TV, teaching, road scholar.  Grandpa loves to "have the mic" and take control and lead groups or tell stories.  He loves telling cowboy poetry. He is very friendly. 

Grandma has an inferiority complex from childhood and is somewhat reserved because of it. 

Who is the hardest worker: Grandma

Grandma is always busy at something; job, kids, knitting, fixing, cleaning, sorting, sewing. 

Grandpa is also a hard worker often going to school and having multiple jobs and serving in church callings.  But when he is done he relaxes better -- putting his feet up and watching a game or tv. Grandma can't stop.  Even when she's "done" she has a project going. 

Who is the Messiest: Grandma

She makes more messes and she cleans up more messes!

Who is the earlier riser? Grandma

Who is the better cook? Grandma -- she does it all!  Grandpa doesn't cook  He can bake, but doesn't really care to!

Who cries more? Grandma -- Men aren't supposed to cry!

Who is the better singer: Grandpa says he can't carry a tune but he does well when he sings with others. 

Grandma is reserved and doesn't care to sing. 

Who is the better driver: Grandpa.  Grandma doesn't drive much. 

Who is the bigger spender: Grandma

Who is smarter: Grandpa is more educated, Grandma is more street smart.

02/1417 Visit from AJ and Valentine's Day

Aj and Helena Haueter came down from BYU to visit over the weekend.  Friday night Andy worked and Holly had a party so Aj and Katie and Mom and Helena headed to Sullivan park for a walk up to the Hell Hole.  It was a lot of fun.  Afterward we went to Albertson's and AJ treated us to some ice cream.  The car sounded kind of clunky and I asked him about it but he just turned up the radio and said it was fine. 

The next morning AJ and Helena headed to Zion National Park for a hike.  They got almost all the way there when AJ tried to apply the brakes and they weren't working properly.  Apparently something broke...but not what mom was complaining about the night before...cough, cough.  Luckily the traffic they were trying to stop for moved on before the car got to them and AJ was able to stop and pull over.  Also fortunately Helena had AAA insurance which gives a free tow up to 200 miles.  So they towed the car back to St. George, borrowed Dad's mustang and headed out to ZNP -- hours later than planned!  

Sullivan Park hike

Bryce, Marlee, Helena and AJ

Look -- matching girls!!!

Aj and Bryce both like Red!

For Valentine's Day it sounded fun to make sugar cookies.  We decided to make swig cookies and loft house cookies to see which was better.  Holly made swig, Mom made loft house.  They were both delicious.  To be honest by the time we tested them side by side we were all too sugared up to know which was better!! They were both great!  Didn't realize just how many cookies 2 batches could make and ended up spending hours cutting, cooking and decorating cookies.  Girls took a big box to school, mom took a big plate to work and refilled it at lunch time, delivered to McAllister's and Taylor's and still had lots of cookies!!!!  It was fun and Andy wants to make this our new tradition...we'll see!!!!

Katie, the usual cookie maker, had a project due and didn't help!

Holly and Dad preparing the cookies for baking.

They make a good team!

The artist is at work decorating his cookies. 

He's pretty good at this!

02/06/17 Student of the week