He's Ten ya'll

My baby boy is TEN! 

Seriously, when did that happen? 

My boy loves sports. Any sport and he'll play. Baseball is his absolute favorite. 

At TEN Cooper likes:

Playing his xbox

Basketball 

Baseball

Staying home 

Clemson football

Wow. A whole decade. It's been the best 10 years for me kid. I can't thank God enough for giving me you. 

Can't wait to see where the next ten years take you. 

Cruising!

We took the kids on a FIVE night cruise to the Bahamas. Other than the room being way too small for the four of us, we had a great time. 

We stopped in Nassau and Freeport. We decided to snorkel in Nassau. It was wonderful! I suggest snorkeling to anyone going on a cruise. It's just that much fun. We did a private beach day in Freeport. The water was crystal clear. Nothing like what we see at the beach. 

Here's some pictures: 

We all look cheesy. We were ready to get off the boat and go snorkel. :) 

Kids at the grand staircase

So can't wait to go back!!!

Sweet summertime

Summer is here!!!!  

Hallelujah!!!!

Of course both kids passed.  I have a rising 7th grader and a rising 4th grader. Wait, what??? 

She's so grown it hurts. Literally. She and I fight. Girl drama. It's hit full force. But I love her more than anything. Oh the joys of the middle school years! :) 

Can he please stay my baby forever??? He's our little athlete - loves baseball. 

We have a lot planned this summer. Ball camps, wrestling camp, beach trips, and our first family cruise. So excited about that. 

Here's to school being out! 

Sammy

We have a new member of the family. 

Meet Sammy. 

He is seriously the sweetest puppy EVER. We are all in love with him already. 

Welcome to the jungle Sammy! I think you'll fit right in. :) 

My ball player

Cooper LOVES baseball. 

And that's putting it mildly. He eat, sleep, breathes baseball right now. 

I won't lie. I get tired of the late games, the endless practices, and washing his white uniform pants constantly. Ugh. 

But I love that he loves it. So, I guess I kinda love baseball too.  He's happiest playing second or third but as long as he's playing - he's a happy kid. 

Him in action: 

Looks like a natural right? :) 

O turned 12!

OGG turned 12 this past Saturday.

WOW.

She is growing up into such a wonderful little "woman" - she has left all that "being a kid" stuff behind her.  I'm not sure my heart is ready for this.  She is, of course.  :)

At TWELVE, Livvie likes:

Photography

Nana and Poppy gave her a really awesome digital camera to take pictures with.

iPhone

She can't live without it ya'll.

Friends

She's finally at that age where she's making friends that she will probably have for a while.  This excites and frightens me.  I want her to make good, solid choices, but also want her to take a chance on someone.  It's hard as parent to not try to influence your kids in the friends department.  So far, she's done a pretty good job.  I've interfered very little. 

Softball

This is new for Livvie but so far, it's a favorite.

She's been the absolute best time I've ever had for the last twelve years.  I can't believe these years have flown by so fast, but they have.  I pray every day that she and Cooper turn out to be 100 times better than I did (not that I turned out bad, but just because I want them to have an even better life than I have - you know what I mean!).

Love you forever Olivia Grace.  Thank you for being mine. 

Ball life

Seems like baseball and softball is our life these days. Cooper moved up to kid pitched baseball. It's been a learning experience to say the least. He loves ball though, so that makes me happy. 

Livvie is playing softball again. I was worried my girl wouldn't like it but so far.....so good! She's doing really well. I'm proud of her for trying something new. It's been awhile since she's played. 

So, since we eat/sleep/breathe baseball, we headed to Clemson to see a game. We had a blast! And saw a good game and our Tigers get the win. 

Cooper was in heaven. No lie. 

Back to Blog Land

I know, I know.  Where the hell have I been?

Life.

Life has been so wonderful lately.  My babies are 11 and 9.  Growing up faster than I want them too. 

Cooper is ALL SPORTS.  And a wrestling CHAMP!  He's now playing baseball and we are looooovvvviiinnnngggg it.  I love to see him in his little uniform.  He moves up to kid pitched baseball so I'm anxious to see how that turns out.

Olivia is not all sports.  But insists on playing softball this year.  I have no idea why but I'm going to be the "encouraging mom" and let her play.  It will probably only last one season.  Someone please bet me.

I have to get back into blogging - I am missing opportunities to save memories for my little family.  So I am making a COMMITMENT people.  You will be getting Griggs family news in your face.  So be prepared.  :) 

My sulky 11 year old. :)

My wrestling star. :)

10 years.....

April 4th was OGG's TENTH birthday ya'll.

 

TEN.

 

Can you belive the First Born is already a whole decade old?  Me either.  I know people say that times flies, but you don't really understand that statement until you have kids.  Then it's like - BAM!  Your kid is 10 years old and only 3 inches shorter than you.  (True story)

 

Al and I can't imagine life with Olivia.  She is our strong willed, independant, BOSSY, little girl.  In other words, she's perfect.  :) 

 

At age 10, Olivia likes:

 

Monster High

LPS

Taylor Swift

Kesha (I know, I know)

FaceTime

Ghost Adventures (thanks to me)

 

Her Dislikes:

 

Cooper (poor little brother)

getting up early

tennis shoes

being called O-livia, even though that's HER name! She thinks it's Alivia....silly

 

Happy birthday Boo! 

 



Biker Chick

Who would have thought I'd be a biker chick?

Certainly NOT me a year ago. I l-o-v-e it ya'll.

And then it was March

I guess I'm a big ole LIAR.  Remember I said I was going to blog more often?  I haven't blogged in a month and a half.  In Blog Land, that might as well be years ya'll.

 

I won't say I'm sorry.  I'm not.  Instead of making sure I blog periodically, I've been enjoying my babies.  Taking trips.  Countless pictures.  Kissing on my husband.  Making memories ya'll. 

 

I do need to share those memories with this blog - I keep this up mainly as a scrapbook type thing for the kids to look back on in a few years and think "My mom is cool as shit ya'll."  (That's all I'm aiming for, really.)

 

Then my brother had to go all "I'm starting my own blog" and I was like "Oh hell no!  I am the blogger of this family" and well - I'm back!  :) 

 

Not much of interest has happened since January.  We took a weekend trip to the beach and stayed at a hotel with an indoor water park.  First time EVER.  It was FUN.  Especially since the kids are old enough that I don't have to stay right up on them in fear they might drown.  I think we'll make this an annual trip from here on out.  I never knew the place existed until a few weeks ago.  You learn something new all the time ya'll.  Never stop learning! 

 

Basketball is OVER.  Thank you sweet baby Jesus!  I "accidentally" forgot to sign the kids up for soccer.  I am sports out.  I am tired of them.  The kids are tired of them.  So, we're taking a break.  It could be a break up, but I won't say that just yet. 

 

Al and I rode the motorcycles on Saturday.  I was a little nervous since I haven't been on the Shadow in about a month, but it was nothing.  Felt like I rode all the time.  I feel more confident on the bike every time we ride.  I hope/plan to be able to ride myself to work on it during the summer.  No pressure though. 

 

WW is going well.  I lose a few pounds one week, I gain a pound back the following week.  It's like this all the time.  Vicious, vicious, cycle that drives me nuts.  I am hoping to get over this "hump" soon or I may lose my shit.  For reals.  I need encouragement like crazy ya'll.  I want to give up about 10 times a day. NO lie. 

 

That's what's been going on ya'll.  I won't promise to do better, cause we all know how that may work out.  I will make an effect to post a little more. It's been a while since the cutest kids ever were posted on here right? 

 

 



Winter Formal

Olivia had her first school dance at her new school on Friday. I was always super excited about school dances, but not my daughter.

She refused to wear a dress. (I think she did this out of spite since I told her my prom dress was too big for her.)

She refused to let me do something cute with her hair.

She refused to smile. I mean really! (See photo)

I swear this girl is going to be the death of me.

Olivia the Diva

O: Mommy, when I grow up I want to be a WWE Diva!

Me: Really?

O: I don't want to get married or have a boyfriend.

Me: You can still have a husband and be a Diva.

O: No, they make you pretend to like and go out with other wrestlers.

Me: But it's fake.

O: Well, it looks real.

Randomness

Just some random pictures that show what we've been up to lately.

Down baby!

I am down 2.2 lbs since last week.  Woot!!! 

 

I am so happy I could have ate a candy bar.  BUT I didn't because that would have been totally stupid right? 

 

Keep the motivation coming!  

Kid Funnies

Me:  I went to my first Weight Watchers meeting tonight.  It was pretty fun, I even knew a few people there.

 

O:  Hey - was Jessica Simpson there?

 

Me:  Hmmm.  No.

 

O:  That sucks.  I bet she goes to a better meeting.

 

 

 

 

Cooper got a "Do it Yourself Diary of a Wimpy Kid" book from Nana and Poppy for Christmas.  One of the pages asks what video games you would take with you if you were stranded on a deserted island.  His response?  WWE 12, WWE 13, and Raw vs Smackdown.  No, he's not obsessed AT ALL ya'll.

 

 

 

 

 

O:  I'm going to be 10 my birthday.

 

Me:  Yes, I know.

 

O:  You know what that makes me right?

 

Me:  A bigger pain in the butt?  Burn!!!

 

O:  *eye roll*  No.  A Tween.

 

Me:  What?  Are you sure?  I thought you had to be like 13 to be a tween.

 

O:  No, it says online Tweens start at age 10.  So, I'm going to be a tween!

 

Me:  Great, you've got Drama Queen mastered already.  *smile* 

 

Cooper:  *walking up*  Olivia, you're going to be a tween????

 

Me:  *sigh* 

New Year, New Me!

You know those resolutions I blogged about before the New Year? 

 

Well, so far, (and I realize it's only the second week of January), I'm sticking to them!  Except for the juicing part - I've decided juicing just is not for me.  AT ALL.  I give kudos to those of you who can do it.  Al's giving it his best shot and I'm very proud of him.  It made me feel very yucky and sick.  I just can't do anything that makes me sick.  Sorry, I'm out!  Ha ha! 

 

I go to my first (ACK!) Weight Watchers meeting tonight.  I've been following the Points Plus program online and on my iPhone app, but it'll be good to actually go to the meeting and talk to other people who struggle.  I'm excited.  I'm nervous.  I'm scared I'll make an ass of myself.  But I'm tired of the weight I've put on over the years and I want to get it off.  Accountability is the *only* thing that will work for me I believe.  Wish me luck.

 

Remember when I use to run a little?  Well, I plan on getting back into that too.  I felt great when I ran - even if I did have to take walk breaks.  So, starting this week, I'm getting back on track with that too.  Slow and steady folks - I don't want an overnight fix. 

 

How are your resolutions going so far?



Coming to an end

2012 is almost over.

Christmas was wonderful. I am so blessed to have my little family. The kids got way too much but loved it all. I would say they are spoiled but I know I've contributed to that. Haha.

New Years is a few days away and I've already made my resolutions. 1. Start running again. 2. Lose weight and eat less JUNK. 3. Juicing??? 4. Have fun with my babies. I don't usually do these because I never stick to them but I'm determined this time. Wish me luck!!!

What are your resolutions??

Santa's Lap

All the cousins were together last Friday and had an opportunity to sit on Santa's lap. Of course, Santa ended up being a girl - which did NOT fool all the kids.

I'm talking about Olivia of course.

We did get a cute picture of Joyce and Alton with all the present grand kids. There's one more coming in May!

Newtown

Friday was one of the worst days in America.

 

It was one of the worst days for me.

 

Evil is in this world folks - and the more we try to take God out of it, the more Evil will prevail.  I don't know what the answer is to what happened on Friday at that school.  Tougher gun laws?  Maybe.  But I think it goes deeper than that. 

 

Our country needs to address mental illness.  And the lack of help or treatment many people with mental illness face.  That, in my opinion, is the true issue here.  That young man had made his mind up on what he was going to do.  Whether it be with guns, knives, or a bomb - he was going out in a big way.  Our society has to do something. 

 

I got home Friday and I hugged and kissed my babies.  Cooper let me as usual - O was hesitant but I think she saw the tears in my eyes and knew it was important.  They don't know much about what happened and I plan on keeping it that way. 

 

I cried.  Alone, in the shower, away from the kids and Al, I cried.  No, I take that back.  I weeped.  Weeped for the mothers and fathers who have lost their whole world.  Weeped because I know it could be my town.  I'm thankful it wasn't and I pray a school shooting is something I never face.  As a parent, you want to think school is the safest place other than home you can send your kids.  Now we know that's not the case.

 

Pray for the families and community of Newtown, CT.  Pray for the family of the shooter.  Pray that there won't be a copy cat.  Pray that if your child/children go to school, they stay safe.  Pray for the teachers that protect our kids. Pray for the little ones that don't understand their friend is gone.   Pray for the parents that found today to be the most difficult day to drop their kids off at school.  I know it was hard for me.  Just Pray.