Five Years Old!!!!

Cooper Thomas Griggs is FIVE years old today!!!!

I can remember five years ago like it was yesterday - honestly sometimes it still feels like yesterday! Cooper's birthday wasn't supposed to be his birthday....he was actually due at the end of September. So, it was quite a struggle and a very scary time when Cooper came into this world. For the past four years, I still get that anxious feeling in my chest on this day. I am happy and excited beyond words - but there's always that part of me that remembers the "what if" that could have happened that day in 2005. Al and I are so blessed that God watched over us and Cooper during that time and granted us the privilege of being his parents!

Cooper woke up this morning and said "Mommy, I don't feel five years old - I still feel four." How flipping CUTE is that???

I love the person my little man is becoming - he's absolutely the best little boy in the world. He's so sweet, so funny, and so stinking CUTE. He melts hearts with those baby blues and makes friends with everyone with his funny personality. Cooper - you're awesome!

Happy Birthday Cooper! Mama, Daddy, and Sissy Grace love you to the moon and back.

Cooper's Birthday Party

Cooper celebrated his FIFTH birthday at the YMCA this year. We had a small turnout (which happens to poor Coop *every* year since his birthday falls so soon after school starts) but we had a blast! All the kids LOVED, LOVED, LOVED swimming in the pool and even some of the adults joined them! I kind of wish I had wore my bathing suit too! :)

Josie chilling in the pool. Isn't she just the prettiest little thing?

4 out of 5 of the Griggs kids!

O and Loren - these two fight like sisters!

My sweet, sweet, sweet birthday boy! It's so hard to believe he's 5 tomorrow!

Six days left

I only have six full days left with my four year old Little Man. Then he'll be FIVE.

FIVE.

Whoah.

I am slowly realizing that I am no longer the mom of "young children" but the mom of "young kids." It's kind of cool, exciting, and sad all at the same time. :) He's growing way too, too fast. Cooper is such a great kid - absolutely exhausting at times, but still great. Cooper constantly reminds me that life shouldn't always be taken seriously. He's my little clown, my little joker - and I love it. He thrives on making others happy - a trait I think he gets from Mommy. :) His laugh makes my heart explode.

But still - FIVE????

First Day of School 2010-2011

Today was the first day of school! I can't tell you how happy I am that school is back in and the kids are back into a routine. Not looking forward to homework and all, but hey - I can't have it all I suppose. :) The kids had an awesome first day. Mrs. Eddy said Cooper had a great first day and she could already tell a difference in our little man. You have no idea how happy I was to hear that! O said she had a great first day too - she's pretty excited that there's one new girl in her class. THA is such a small school, that when you get a new student, it almost feels like Christmas.

Ms. OGG - my beautiful 2nd grader!

Getting ready for school with silly faces!

My super cool 4k-er!


Hurts my heart to see them grow so fast! But aren't they the most precious, beautiful, handsome little kids you've ever seen? I believe so too. :)



Here's to hoping we have an awesome year at THA!!!!

A new start

It's that time again folks! School is starting back! Yay!!!!! Public school starts tomorrow around here but the kids don't start THA until Thursday. We have spent all weekend getting everything we need for the school year. Our biggest battle this year - shoe shopping!

O has a pretty decent fashion sense - although she's still hit and miss sometimes. At 7, she still thinks that the more colors, the better. That's not always the case though you know? She picked up some UGLY Sketchers and I *refused* to buy them for her. Now my girl, if she wants it, she's dead set on it. However, Mommy is the same way. I was dead set that I was NOT buying those shoes. Thanks to our new "rules", I pretty much got my way. Of course, I still let her choose which pair of shoes she wanted, but I picked out which three pairs she can choose from. :)

The Boy wasn't much easier when it came to shoe shopping either. He picked up some really ugly Sketcher shoes too (what's up with this brand anyways?) and again, I had to put my foot down. For the record, they both came out of the store with some really nice Nike tennis shoes. They will thank me one day for keeping them in check, I just know it. :)

Now for registration, dentist appointments, hair cuts, and the meet and greet and we're ready for school to start!

Being Sherriff is a Hard Job

We've got some new "family" rules in the Griggs house. Al and I discussed how the kids will be disciplined from here on out because - quite honestly, the old way just wasn't working. I know time out and talking works for a lot of people, but it was going no where with us. Now, before anyone jumps to judging me because I believe in spanking - Al and I don't jump right off and spank our kids. If they misbehave, we correct them and give them a warning. We make sure they understand why they are in trouble and what they need to do to stay OUT of trouble. If they continue to misbehave, then yes, they do get a spanking.

My kids are good kids - and 9 out of 10 times the warning has done the trick. Honestly, kids need a little fear of their parents. I had it - to some degree, I still do! I'm not here to be my kids BFF, I'm here to be their mom. Al and I are in charge of molding these kids into adults, so yes, we've upped the anty (is that a word) on disciplining the kids.

This is the part of parenting that I hate. I absolutely hate being the "Bad Cop" but I know it's part of my job. At least I have an awesome Daddy that helps out. And since the new rules have been laid out - the kids behavior has improved A LOT. They are like two different kids. We are laughing, getting along much better, enjoying each other's company - just being happy. Our course they are still kids and still fuss and fight, but not nearly as much as before.

Sometimes you have to lay down the law. It ain't easy baby, but it's worth it!

Charleston

I want to go back - without the kids! Soon!

Happy Birthday Tommi Lynn!

Happy 33rd birthday to my "oldest" friend Tommi Lynn! By oldest, I don't mean age wise!

I look at this picture of me, TL, and Marty and it makes my heart heavy with memories! TL and I had ssssooo much fun together growing up. We lived next door to each other until she moved away when she was like 12. Or was it 13? I can't remember, but that's not really important (or is it because I wish she was STILL my next door neighbor!). I just know that when she moved, my heart broke! I wish my kids had friends like this in our little neighborhood. But they don't. :( I do hope that they both make a friend (or a few friends like in my case) that they keep for their whole lives. Tommi Lynn may have moved away, but she has always been one of my most dependable friends. Thank you TL for being a great pal and for all the wonderful memories! I love you dear friend and can't wait to celebrate the next 33 birthdays with you (and many more after that!).

I'm having a Ya-Ya Sisterhood moment tonight! :)

August

You turn your head and before you know it, there's August knocking on your door. In two short weeks (jumping up and down), the kids will be going back to school. Summer will be over. Sad for them, but Mommy is really looking forward to getting back into our routine!

This has been the best summer ever - I'm not sure if it's because the kids are at the YMCA and doing some really fun stuff or what. It's just been a really laid back, fun summer. Some days after camp, Al and I take the kids back up to the pool to swim - that has been a BLAST. I think I have enjoyed the pool as much as the kids. :) We've been to the beach for the week, been hiking, taking a trip to Charleston this weekend, spent Saturdays at the zoo, gone for ice cream at the Peach Farm - you name it, we've probably done it. I hope the kids have had as much fun as I have.

Not much else is going on - Cooper's birthday is approaching quickly! It still amazes me that he will be 5 at the end of the month. My little man is growing up faster than I like. His new thing is break dancing - or attempting to "break dance". Check out my FB page and you will see some videos of him. Olivia is still on a mission to become famous and practicing her "singing" every day. Only my kids. :)