Last Post of 2009

Happy New Year's everyone!!!!

Christmas 2009

Merry Christmas!!!!

Santa has come and gone for another year.....and man, I am GLAD it's over! :) Santa was very good to all of us this year. The kids got way too much stuff (as usual) and Al and I even got a few goodies. :)

Even Molly got some gifts - here she is styling her new sweater. I wish I could say she loved it, but I would be lying....she hated it! LOL

Olivia was happy she got Woody. She also got Jessi from Santa.

Cooper got some "boy dress" up clothes. :)

Olivia's Santa stash.

Cooper's Santa stash.

The kids were up by 7am....and I was ssssooo not ready to get up. Ha ha....they were ssssoo excited and after about 5 seconds, you couldn't even see the living room floor. I think we have about five bags of trash thrown in the garage. SSSOOO....as much as I love Christmas, and I love seeing how happy my kids are, and how I love celebrating what Christmas is about - but I am glad tomorrow is a new day. :)

Happy Holidays everyone from the Griggs family!!!

That's MY Girl!

I'm not sure how Olivia and I got on the conversation of Christmas *enter sarcasm here* the other day, but she had me CRACKING up!

O: Mama, I can't wait for Christmas! Am I off the naughty list?

Me: Yes Boo Boo, you made it off the naughty list. *snicker*

O: You know, Christmas isn't only about getting presents.

Me: Oh really? What is it about then?

O: Raeva says she likes to give instead of getting.

Me: I bet she does - it is nice to give.

O: I like to give Mama, I really do.

Me: I know you do Boo.

O: But you know what?

Me: What?

O: I really don't mind getting either.

Me: I know that too Olivia!

That's MY girl! LOL I have to say, she really is starting to understand the whole "meaning" of the season now. She even packed up some of her older toys and told me that I could take them and give them to kids that weren't able to get new toys like she could. How sweet is that?

See you next year!

It's hard to believe that the kids are DONE with school until the new year! Is it me or has this year just flown by? The kids had their last day of school today and they won't go back to THA until 1/5/10. That sounds sssssooo far away to me! Al is the lucky parent that gets to stay home with them - ha ha! I *am* jealous that I will be at work these two weeks, but I know Al would prefer it be me....oh well! That's what he gets for having wicked time off. :)

As far as school goes, I think both the kids are doing better. Olivia was going through a "phrase" (or at least I hope so) where she was rushing through her work and not taking her time, making mistakes, etc. She seems to be slowing down and doing much, much better now. She's such a smart cookie and her main problem is that she thinks she KNOWS everything already. Cooper is doing FABULOUS with his new teacher. You have no idea how thankful I am to have "that" situation over with! You can tell he's learning so much. It's hard to believe that Olivia was just in 4k two years ago and now he's there....time is flying!

2009 has been a great year for us!

Ginger Bread House

Yesterday the kids were DYING to decorate the gingerbread house (thanks Nana!). Last year we had one that came with already made icing....this year, not so lucky. Ha ha! It was pre-made, which means the house was already put together. THAT kind of bummed me out a little because that was the funnest (is that a word?) part of it last year. SSSSSOOO....I made the icing following the directions but it came out wwwwaaayyy too thin. What can I say, I'm just not that domestic. Needless to say, the candies did not really stay on our house well. It didn't seem to bother the kids though and they still had a blast.

See how my icing dripped down? Total bummer for me. But Cooper loved it because it gave him an excuse to eat tons of icing!

Olivia finally took charge (imagine that) and did the icing herself. She did pretty well too.

Our finished house!

He was having a blast.

She can smile!!!!! All it took was decorating a gingerbread house!!!!!

My son....

the copycat. Someone please tell me when this phase ends??? Here's a constant scenerio at our house right now.

Me: Cooper, come here.

Coop: Cooper, come heeeeerrrreeee!

Me: Funny Cooper.

Coop: Funny Cooper!

*Olivia comes over to give her two cents*

O: Stop copying Mommy COOPER!!!!

Coop: *in sassy little voice* Stop copying Mommy COOPER!!!!!

O: Mommy, make him stop copying ME.

Coop: Mommy, make him stop copying ME.

Me and O: UGH!

*We stomp off - and hear Cooper giggle in the back ground*

What a little stinker!

Letters to Santa

We have had a WONDERFUL, wonderful weekend full of Christmas activities! Last night we headed to Byerly Park to watch the Polar Express - yes it was COLD, but it was a lot of fun sitting outside wrapped up cozy in blankets watching such a great movie. After the movie (which the mayor provided us with hot chocolate which I thought was *awesome*), the town's Christmas tree was lit and Santa was there to greet the kids. The tree this year actually came off our street, so that's pretty cool. The kids were beside themselves with Santa being there - oh and Mrs. Clause and some elves too.

Today we headed back over to the Christmas tree to drop off our letters to Santa. We did this last year and Santa wrote back! Olivia and Cooper loved this so I hope this stays a tradition for as long as possible!

Look at Cooper's expression in this one! Priceless.

The kids after they put their letters in the mailbox.

Cooper needed some extra help putting his letter in the Santa box!

Olivia putting her letter in the mailbox.

Our town's Christmas tree.

Christmas Parade 2009

Today was Hartsville's Christmas Parade. It was COLD. And Rainy. But the show must go on! We had a lot of fun - saw all kinds of neat looking floats, horses, Rudolph, and yeap - even Santa on top of the Fire Truck. I have more pictures on facebook, so check those out too!

Hartsville's Farm League State Champions

Hartsville High Red Regime

Rudolph - this was a pretty awesome float!

Olivia and Cooper waiting on the parade to start!