Birthdays!!

Wow, we've had three birthdays in the last two days! The 28th was Al's big day - he turned 35. He had a great birthday....the kids spent the afternoon with my parents so he and I went out to eat. It was very low key - just like Alton! :) Today is my mom's and Cooper's birthday! I'm not sure how old Nana is (she wouldn't want me to say on here anyways) but Cooper turned FOUR. I can't believe it! We had his party at Chuck E Cheese and I made his cake and he had a blast!! I was worried that since it was on a Sunday, he wouldn't have a good turn out, but he did. Thanks to everyone who came out!

Mommy, Olivia (and Ariel), and Cooper

Prince Cooper

Coop's Lightning McQueen cake I made him. Not my best work but I think it turned out ok.

So, I can't believe my little man is already four! It honestly feels like I just had him a year ago or something. He never stops amazing me at what he does and what he learns every day. I am so happy, blessed, honored, you name it, that he's mine. All mine! Cooper is so different from his sister - he loves to cuddle, gives kisses, and is very reserved. Of course, he's perfect. :) We had a very rough start back in 2005, so to have such a happy, healthy little boy is the best gift ever. I can't wait to celebrate 100 more birthdays with you Cooper! Mommy, Daddy and Olivia love you very, very much!

Having a Great Monday

I have to blog about this because it NEVER, EVER, EVER happens - but I'm having a great Monday! No wait - even better than great....I'm having a FANTASTIC Monday. I think it started off because the kids and I had a good morning together. I woke them up a few minutes earlier than normal and sat them down at the table for breakfast. Cooper ate a whole bowl of cereal! I couldn't believe it. Olivia nibbled on some dry cereal (she still dislikes milk of any kind) and we sat there and talked and ate. It was really nice. I got them dressed, lunches packed, snacks made and was ready to go BEFORE my usual time to leave. Wow!!! Seriously, I was waiting for birds to fly in the windows and start chirping me a song. It's just been that perfect of a day. :) There's been no fighting, no fussing, and limited (cause there's always going to be *some*) whining from the Griggs kiddos.

Anyways, I hope I don't jinx myself by blogging about my wonderful day - that would be my luck! I'm taking Earl's (you know from the TV show) and doing the good karma thing. We'll see how it plays out.

Cooper's birthday is FAST approaching and I can't believe it. It's my last week of being a mommy to a 4 year old. I just don't know where the time goes. Seems like yesterday he was just a little baby boy. I think he's going to have a great time at his party - I honestly can't wait. I've even let some friends talk me into baking his cake this year. So, wish me luck on that.

Hope all my loyal blogger readers have a great day!!!! :)

First Week of School

The kids are doing GREAT at school! Olivia thinks she is such a big girl now because she's in the "big kid" building. She does, however, have LOTS of homework (too much IMO, but hey, I'm not a teacher) that we have to do every night. She does pretty well with it too without me having to help her too, too much. She's so grown. :) She's still not happy that Raeva is not in her class, but she's slowing getting over that. I'm still getting over the fact that my firstborn is already in the 1st grade! Yikes!!!! Oh, she made the cutest little hand puppet at school the other day that had stuff like "I have brown eyes, " "I have 1 brother, no sisters" type things on it, but under "my favorite subject in school is ART" - I was surprised! I guess I shouldn't be since Olivia is so creative, but for some reason I thought something else would have been her favorite. I haven't told her yet - but art was my favorite subject in elementary school too! :)

Cooper is doing FABULOUS too! He's really connecting with his teacher this year - although she does call him COOP all the time and that really annoys me because we don't call him that - and seems to be behaving himself. I'm nervous, anxious, and excited all at the same time for Cooper - I know school is going to be a little more of a struggle for him and this year we'll really get a feel for what he's capable of. I really hope Mrs. K is a good fit for him - the class is *much* smaller than his class last year so I think he'll have plenty of one-on-one time with her. Wish him luck!!!

FYI - my little man turns FOUR in 11 days! Can you believe that? Four years already flown by....man!

The Puppy and his Boss!

Cooper loves to play Puppy. Actually, he's so trusting and loves his Sissy so much that he will let her DO.ANYTHING. to him. That even means putting him in the dog's crate at times. Silly, silly kids. Olivia fails to realize at times (well, almost ALL the time) that she's only 6 years old. They were playing "puppy" yesterday and this is what I found

She's so proud of herself for putting her little brother in the dog crate!

He's so funny - he actually enjoyed this and was mad when I told him that he had to get out!

First day of School

The kids started school today. Olivia is an official elementary schooler!!!!! Our big, big 1st grader. I really can't believe how fast she's growing up. Cooper is in 4K and I think he's going to do really, really well.

I'm not sure if you can see this in the photo, but they were NOT happy to be standing next to each other. I am *not* enjoying the sibling rivalry.

Some Cute Pictures

The kids are HOME!!!!!

I don't have any beach pictures YET but here are a few that I think are super cute.

Molly LOVES Cooper - he was fast asleep when I snapped this picture!

Olivia told me she looked "hot" in this picture. She's growing up too, too fast folks!

"Monmy, this is how POPULAR girls dress!" Those were her exact words to me!

I don't like the quiet anymore

The kids have been at the beach ALL WEEK with my parents. At first, this sounded like a dream.....a wonderful, wonderful dream. But by Tuesday, I was ready for my kids to come HOME. It's Friday and I am so excited that they will be home tomorrow afternoon. Olivia and Cooper have "called" us each night and told us how much fun they are having, etc. It amazes me how grown up they sound when I am home with them, yet on the phone they sound so small. Does that make sense? :) I miss them terribly. Al and I have enjoyed having some time to ourselves, but we're not used to this much quiet. The kids very rarely stay away from us unless it's for an overnight trip to Grandma's house. So, this has been tough. I have wanted to call in sick to work and rush down to the beach ALL WEEK LONG. Of course, I haven't.

They have been swimming all week long - at the beach and at the pool. They LOVE water. Olivia called last night and said they had gone out to eat shrimp (her fav) and saw a real life mermaid! Her name was Melody (Ariel's daughter for all you non-Disney peeps!). They are really enjoying themselves and that makes me happy. And sad - because I missed it. :( I am honestly beside myself I am so happy and can't wait to see them. I feel like I haven't seen them in YEARS. They have probably grown 10 feet. :)

I really hope Nana and Poppy took lots of cute pictures so I can put them on here!