30 weeks

Thought I would start sharing pictures of my tummy as I slowly get bigger and bigger!  We've officially made it to 30 weeks!

My doctor says I'm doing amazingly well.  I'm not supposed to take on any extra activities, and if I have to go out Christmas shopping she told me to ride in a cart and have my husband pick me up and drop me off at the entrance.  I've ridden around in the cart one time, and I must say it wasn't pleasant because no one would get out of my way, and I got stuck in the aisles a lot!  But the good thing is I didn't come out of the store feeling like I was about to fall over!

At the check up this week Baby A, which is usually the boy, had a heart beat of 138.  Baby B, which is usually the girl, had a heart beat of 140.

This week I've been busy working.  Been trying to get a lot of stuff reconciled and sorted out before the start of 2012.  Also been working on last minute Christmas preparations, think I've got everything except stocking stuffers, and a few little gifts!

Griffin is very excited for the arrival of Marki and Turkey!  Every day he wants to know when they are coming out.  I think we will schedule a walk through of the birthing center and take Griffin along, just so he knows a little of what to expect.  He is also really missing his Grammy and can't wait for her to come up.

Every time they talk on the phone he will always tell her the babies have not come out yet they are still in my mommies tummy.  Except one time he played a joke on her and told her they came out and were in the crib.  Grammy said she was getting in her car right away to come and help!  Griffin was just laughing away, and then had to tell her he was just joking

Happy Birthday Griffin!

Can't believe my little Griffin is now 5 years old!  I will always remember the day I brought this little guy home from the hospital, sometimes when I look at him I can hardly remember him being so tiny and fragile!

Five fun facts about Griffin!

1-He loves going to preschool.  He is learning all his letters and can write his own name!

2-He is a wizard at putting together puzzles! He loves them.  He has been putting together 100 piece puzzles all by himself for quite awhile.  Joe and him have ventured onto the 500 piece puzzles, but I think Joe is having more fun with that one!

3-Griffin loves to tell us that he loves us.  Sometimes he will pop his head into the office, or our room, or snuggle up on our laps and just say, I love you!  You can tell he really means it.  He's always learned to say, "but I love you" after he gets in trouble.  Melts my heart!

4-Griffin knows how to get around town.  He will often tell me where we are going before I can even tell him what we are doing.

5-Griffin has an exceptional memory.  He must have picked this trait up from me.  I am always amazed at the things he remembers, and he remembers them with such detail!  We've had to learn to be careful what we promise him because this kid does not forget!!!

For his birthday this year he decided he wanted a soldier party!

For his cake this year I made soldier cupcakes.  The up close photo was taken with my phone and somehow got pushed to an off site storage place so I got to figure out how to get it!

Griffin wore his soldier outfit and was very excited for everyone to come to his party.  He did get his party taken away because he was being really naughty but he worked really hard and earned it back just in the nick of time.

Easton came and was wearing his soldier outfit, and Ella just showed up as her cute self.

Griffin had lots of fun and enjoyed all his presents!  Just for the sake of remembering this is what he got:

Julane & Dan- Spiderman cars
Heather & Nate- Angry Bird Hat and Joker action figure
LJ- Hot wheels launcher
Mom & Dad- Camera
Julie & Dad- a gun that shoots out discs

I think his most favorite gift was his angry bird hat! When he first felt the package he was a little disappointed because he thought it was underwear.  But once he opened it he said, "Oh my gosh an Angry Bird hat, I didn't know you got this for me. I saw it at the store!" It immediately went on his head!

Pretty much sums up the night! He was one happy kid and thanks everyone for his gifts and for coming to his soldier party!

Baking

Tonight Griffin and I made cookies. Actually, I started and then Griffin volunteered to help.  His job was to add all the flour, salt, and baking soda to the bowl and then mix it.

Griffin takes his stirring job very seriously.  

You might also notice he is sporting a new hair cut.  Joe was able to cut his hair this weekend!  He looks so much older with short hair.

And finally, all scooped up and ready to bake!

Time

When your hair starts to grow out side ways, it is time for a hair cut.

When your hair starts to have more volume and bounce than your mom, it is time for a hair cut.

Griffin has funny hair, as it grows out it just sort of grows out side ways into a big bushy ball.  LJ  has this  same issue, so I guess he got it from me.

Wish we lived closer to Heather because she gives the best hair cuts!  I will just have to settle for one of Joe's.

Diaper

This past Sunday during sacrament Griffin was busy pulling things out of my church bag.  He came across a feminine napkin and pulled it out.  He held it up high and said in his not so reverent voice, "Look  mommy I found your diaper."

Joe and I just started laughing, as quietly as we could, and I quickly grabbed my "emergency diaper" and stuffed it to the very bottom of the bag.  

Is this what I get for trying to be prepared? I mean you just never know when you will need one, or who might be asking you for a spare, KWIM?  Although I have yet to meet someone who would refer to it as a mommy diaper.  The things kids come up with.  

Think we will be chuckling about this one for awhile.

Happy Birthday Griffin

My baby is growing up, he is now 4!

He wanted a spiderman cake for his birthday and he invited Pockie and Julie over for dinner.  We had spaghetti, with garlic bread, and my super yummy buttermilk fruit salad.

Of course before the party began Griffin fell asleep.  He just has a knack for falling asleep at the strangest times.  I was really worried he was going to wake up super grumpy, and he did, but he perked up right up once we brought out the cake and lit it up!

We sang Happy Birthday to him twice and let him blow out the candles each time.  He loved it.  The only thing he ate all night was a piece of his cake, but it was his birthday so I didn't worry too much about it.

I wanted to start a new tradition of getting a family picture on his birthday but I didn't so will try and do that soon, you know before he turns five!!

Shopping with Griffin

I don't really have any ideas about what to type, the pictures seem self explanatory!

Frosty

Griffin has been begging to build a snowman and finally the snow was wet enough to make one.

This Frosty only lasted long enough to take pictures, so Joe had to make a smaller one with his parts and pieces.

Oh the weather outside is frightful...

We sure did get a lot of snow this past weekend, and Griffin is loving every minute of it! Friday after work he could hardly wait to get his snow clothes on and go outside and make some tracks!

It snowed all Friday afternoon, evening, and most of Saturday!  Griffin is looking forward to learning how to ski this season, and he is anxious for Santa to come.  Now that there is snow he has informed me Santa can make it to our house, and he can even live here!

I am ashamed to admit, I still have my Halloween decorations up, and the pumpkins on our front porch, I am sure are frozen until spring...on a happier note we have been rockin' out to holiday music, and I've already got presents wrapped and ready to go under the tree...just no tree yet!

I am getting especially excited to watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation on Thanksgiving Day! It's a tradition!!!

Beat twice in a row...darn it!

Joe and I went to the store and picked up a few games we could play with Griffin.  One game was the beloved and ever so memorable Candy Land.  I must say as I whipped out the board it brought back memories of childhood!

I am sad to report that Griffin beat me two times in a row! He didn't just beat me he skunked me.  I don't know why but he got all the good cards and I kept getting the ones that send you back down the path...the only time I was ahead was when on the first turn!!!

The proud winner!

Are you really mine?

Lately, I have been trying to pay attention more, love more, and appreciate more.  Mostly, I have been focusing on my family, because they deserve to have my full attention, my full appreciation, and all my love!

Today I asked Griffin if he would come out and help me water the flowers.  He was elated to be able to help out.  He also will never miss out on an opportunity to play with the hose!  So while we were out working he found his squirt gun but it was late and cold so I told him we wouldn't be filling it up tonight.

I walked over to water my daisies, had my back turned only for a few seconds and turned around to see this...

I just had to smile and realize, for the umpteenth time, this little boy is smart!

This little piggy...

Griffin had a really fun time in his sunbeam class.  They learned about food and made this cute little apple pig.  Griffin was so excited to show it to everyone!

Really I thought Griffin was going to want to keep it somewhere special but he had something else in mind.  I made him pose with it before he ate it.

Oh and in case you are wondering he ate the whole thing, apple and all!

I love his "smile for the camera" face!

Super Hero's

Griffin and LJ were super hero's last night.  They fought all the bad guys in the front yard and then came in to duke it out with one another.

It was very entertaining to watch these two jump around and fight each other.  Griffin is going to be so lonely when LJ leaves.  LJ is so good to wrestle with him and teach him how to play Nintendo.

Police, and Soldier Men

Griffin loves to play dress up.  While we are working he often dresses up as a police man and shoots all the bad guys in the back yard.

On Sunday we had dinner at Pockie and Julie's house.  We had a little lesson about putting on the armor of God.  Julie put together this neat little outfit for the grand kids to put on as she read the scriptures talking about putting on the armor of God.

Griffin absolutely loved this.  The sword was sharp and dangerous.

Banana box fun

Griffin loves playing with boxes.  He likes to make a long train with the tops and bottoms of banana boxes, and he also likes to use them for race cars.

Joe decided to load him up in one of his banana boxes.

Griffin really had the giggles while he was in his box.  I think he was surprised he could actually fit with the lid on.

Running, haircut

Griffin is just like his dad he loves to run!  Every night he asks Joe if it is running time. Sometimes they will run around the neighborhood, or sometimes through the yard, and on cold winter night or rainy ones  they will run around the island in our kitchen.

Love when his hair gets long because it just starts to puff out like a mushroom!  Today it wasn't as poofy as usual, I think it might have been because he had a bath.

Griffin was very excited to get his hair cut.  He was talking with the stylist and having a good time.  Underneath his cape he had his gun so he was shooting people every once in awhile.

His hair cut turned out cute, we got rid of the mushroom top.  He thought it was so funny when he looked in the mirror and saw all of his hair spiked up!

His hair cut didn't turn out as fabulous as when Aunt Heather cuts it, but it needed to be done.  He didn't cry and I am very proud of him.  I will have to take a picture of his new hair cut, just realized I didn't get the a photo of the finished product!

Dear Griffin...

Dear Griffin,

Since you were not buckled into your car seat did you know you could have slept on the nice nest we made you for on the floor?

Lovingly,

Dad & Mom

Griffin said so.

This past Sunday at Church Joe and Griffin were walking outside.  Joe spotted a bike locked up to the bicycle rack and the conversation went as follows:

Joe: I wonder who rode their bike to church today?

Griffin: Oh that is Jesus's bike.

Computer Hog

Griffin loves to watch You Tube on my computer.  Anytime I sit down to do something he is right there climbing on my arm wanting to watch You Tube.

He likes to watch videos that contain the following subjects:
-Monster Trucks
-Airplanes, Helicopters
-Spiders
-Spiderman

He is pretty spoiled because he has two computers to choose from. Mommy's computer and Daddy's computer, I wonder why he always chooses mine, maybe because I am on mine more?

Spiderman lives at our house!

Griffin adores Spiderman, and he thinks he is spiderman.  Here are a few funny things he has said to me lately regarding Spiderman.

Griffin: Mom?
Mom: Yes.
Griffin: Spiderman loves you.

I am ashamed to say up in the corner of my kitchen there is a cobweb.  The other day my sweet son says to me:
Griffin: Oh look mom one of my web's is up there!
Well after that comment I just can't bring myself to vacuum it up.  He gets so excited every time he spies it and he loves showing everyone who comes over.

He currently has one Spiderman shirt and he has to wear it everyday.    I am on the look out for more Spiderman apparel.

As we were putting on his shirt the other day he said:
Griffin: Oh look mom it's me!! As he was pointing to his shirt.

And a comment not related to Spiderman.  The other day we were Skyping with Heather.  Heather mentioned that he got a hair cut and Griffin replied while rubbing his head: "Yeah its pretty fancy"  We just started cracking up.