Thanks to Matt Damon

I decided to start this blog for many reasons - mainly for my family and friends that live across the US. And I really enjoy writing, so blogging comes easy for me. Every now and then though, this blog is my "therapy" and I bravely let everyone in on how my crazy brain works.

So, back to the title - Matt Damon is to blame for a MAJOR hormonal moment I had last night. I've seen the previews for "Hereafter" a few times but never really "saw" them, you know? And I still have no idea what the main concept of the movie is - what Matt Damon's character is supposed to be doing - but I do know I'll NEVER see this movie. Last night while playing games on FB (my guilty pleasure), I looked up and saw a part of the preview where a mother and child is running from a massive wave of water. The look of fear and panic unnerved me. And it's obvious the wave wins the race. So, at that moment, nothing in my heart or head said anything. That would happen a few hours later.

I can't explain it....and if I could, I'd probably be rich - but later that night while I walked by the kids room and looked in on them, that imagine of the mother and daughter running from the tsunami wave rushed into my brain. And the tears started flowing. Not just little tears folks - I mean, real LARGE tears that make the snot run down your nose. Al's response "Mandy, those are just actors you know" - UGH. Just like a man.

Yes Al, I KNOW they are just actors. I KNOW the wave isn't really there about to crash down on them, that it's computer animated (or generated - whatever the word is) but I do KNOW that someone, somewhere during that time, actually went through that. Some mother run for her life with her child in tow. My heart was touched folks - thanks to Matt Damon.

Crazy thing though about this though.....during this whole, little, crying episode I was having - my brain was looking around saying "What the heck is going on? I thought we were going for a glass of water and now we're crying?" And my heart was saying "Shut up Brain, she's feeling something here. Let her cry, it'll be ok." Just for the record - my little episode only lasted a few minutes so please don't think I'm losing it.

And no, I'm not pregnant either. It was Matt Damon's fault for making that movie. I'm sure it's a wonderful movie - it definitely looks like it will be, but I'll probably never see it. My heart can't take it.

What's up Nick?

Today Nickelodeon supported and encouraged "World Wide Play Day" - which normally I would say is an absolute WONDERFUL thing. Problem is - isn't Nickelodeon and other channels like that part of the reason "we" felt there was a need to promote such a day?

I'll be the first to admit that I probably use the TV as an easy way out with my kids. Especially at 6am on a Saturday morning. Yes, Mommy likes to sleep a little later than that on the weekends so I'll pull the "ya'll go watch tv" card. Ok, and maybe I pull that card when I'm trying to help O with her homework and Cooper is running around the house at warp speed. I'm sure there's more examples but I'd like to think those are the only two. :)

Anyways, I just feel that although Nick was doing a great thing with this WW Day of Play gig, maybe they should promote playing outside - oh, I don't know - EVERYDAY. Three hours one day just isn't enough in the grand schemes of things. But I jumped on board today - I forced the kids outside in the heat (even though it's officially FALL) and made them play. The only way to keep them from coming in and out every two seconds was to actually go outside with them. *sigh* (That wasn't supposed to be part of the deal!!!!) It didn't last the whole three hours but I did get some outside play time of those two.

Fall

It's Fall! Today is the first day of Fall! Yay!!!!! *Now*, when is this heat going to go away????

It's been a busy few weeks here in the Griggs household. School is in full force and the kids are LOVING it - which makes Mommy and Daddy love it too! :) Olivia got her first interim report yesterday and so far.................................................she's making STRAIGHT A's!!!!!!! How frigging awesome is that?? I feel so much better about O and her teacher this year. And Cooper....wow, what can I say about Cooper? He's doing GREAT in school this year. And I swear that kid is growing way too fast. You should see his legs, I think they sprouted 5 inches!

Cooper - the DS addict. Sad thing is - he's pretty good at it.

Not sure where O gets her sense of style from.....but I have to admit, she's into fashion in a way I can't quite comprehend. Then again, fashion was never my thing. Maybe she gets that from her Daddy and Uncle Marty. :)

This picture always makes me smile....O with her Halloween wig on.

Now that Fall is upon us, I can't wait for festivals, Halloween, hot chocolate, and cooler weather! Hello Fall, Goodbye Summer!

8 is the magic number

Happy Anniversary to my wonderful husband! Eight years have flown by. I can't wait to celebrate even more years with you. I love you!

Clemson/PC Game

My little Tigers finally got to go see the Big Tigers play! Al and I took the kids to their first Clemson game yesterday against PC. We won 58-21! Of course, it was PC. LOL We had a blast and the kids had the best time ever. They loved walking around the stadium, riding the bus to LittleJohn, getting face paint, eating frozen lemonades, and watching the Tigers run down The Hill! Here's some pictures from our day.

Cooper was so happy to have a football - we had gone to the Red Fox game the night before and he didn't get a football that the cheerleaders threw out. So, Daddy made up for it by buying him a Clemson football. :)

O and a BOY cheerleader! She thought he was cute. :)

Daddy and kids at Howard's Rock. Check out Daddy's smile - I think he was the most excited here folks!

C-L-E-M-S-OOOOOOOOO-N!!!!!

Cool Dude = Cooper T.

Oh, you didn't know my Cooper was the coolest little dude EVER? Well, now you do!

He's a basketball loving,

guitar playing,

burning the rubber bike rider,

major chocolatoholic-like-Mommy,

HIP HOP dancing,

COOL LITTLE DUDE!

Cooper started a boys hip/hop class tonight and he had so much fun! He has been beyond excited *all week long* - no joke there AT ALL. Today when I picked him and O up from THA, he jumped out of Nana's car and said "Come on Mommy, I don't want to be late!"

And Al and I can already tell a HUGE difference in Cooper concerning school. He's been able to recognize the letters A and B and can write them like a champ. This is a huge improvement from last school year folks! It's results like these that make Al and I feel like we definitely made the right choice. Ms. Chure and Ms. Eddy are two of my favorite people in the whole wide world right now!

Cheerleading

Watch out THA, the newest cheerleader is in town! Today was O's first cheering opportunity (not sure what word to use here). She seemed pretty excited about it and did GREAT. Trust me, I was worried but O, once again, proved Mommy wrong. Thanks Baby Girl! She was pretty stoked about getting her uniform today - although the cheerleaders have to re-use old uniforms. Needless to say, O got some of the "leftovers" but hey - we still think she's the cutest cheerleader EVER.

If only this skirt was shorter! Argh! But how pretty and adorable is she?

Happy

Labor Day!!!!

Ra-Ra

My little girl has decided she's going to be a cheerleader. CHEERLEADER. Isn't that crazy? I never pictured O as the cheerleader type - and honestly, this may be the *only* year she's a cheerleader - but I'm tickled pink that she's going to give it a try. She has her first practice on Friday afternoon after school so I can't wait to hear about how it goes. I'm almost jealous that Al has Fridays off and gets to be the one to take her to practice. :(

Watch out THA - Lil' Miss O is getting her cheer on!

Give me a T!

Give me a H!

Give me an A!

What's that spell?

THA!!

(ok, so I'm pretty excited that my girl is going to be a Ra-Ra!)