Birthdays, Birthdays, Birthdays

Cooper turned SIX years old yesterday!  It's so hard to believe that my Lil' Man is already six years old.  He's such a great kid - Al and I are so blessed to have him.  I say it all the time and I'll say until I die.....I have no idea what I did RIGHT for God to bless me with my two kids.  I thank Him daily.

Top Six things I love about Cooper:

1. Those baby blue eyes.  I still haven't figured out WHERE he got them from, but they absolutely melt my heart. 

2.  He's funny.  Cooper is completely and totally DIFFERENT than his older sister.  O has been a grown up stuck in a kid's body since the day she was born - Cooper is "my kid kid" so to speak.  I love the fact that he's so honestly a little boy and he cracks me up all the time.  His sense of humor is spot on and he loves to make people laugh. 

3.  That cow lick that has caused me grief since he came into existence six years ago.  I'd love to say it's one of a kind but his Daddy has the same cow lick.  But for some reason Cooper's hair spikes it up and he just looks naturally cool. 

4.  His laughter.  It's like music to my ears. 

5.  He still believes that Al and I are super heroes.  I actually hope this one never changes. 

6.  The fact that he's MINE.  I'll probably never love another man as much as I love him.  (Sorry Al - you are a super close second!)

Happy Birthday Cooper Thomas Griggs!  Your Daddy and I can't wait to see how much you grow in the coming year. 

(And Happy Belated Birthday to Al!  Poor thing misses out on a birthday every year since it's only two days before Coop's!  And Happy Birthday Nana, who completely lost her birthday since Cooper stole it six years ago!  Love you both very, very much!)

First Day of School

Cooper doesn't look ready......O does!

3rd grade already??

My lil' man picked out his own outfit for his first day!

Who's ready for school??

First day of school!  Woo Hoo!!!!  Al and I are the parents of a super smart 3rd grader and super handsome 5ker!  I sssooo can't believe how fast our babies are growing up - wasn't O just in 4k like LAST year? 

They both had really good first days and I'm so thankful for that.  Cooper seems to be really stoked about school and eager to learn all he can.  I love it!  I hope that enthusiasm lasts.  Livvie has a new teacher this year but after meeting her, I think she'll do great.  As long as Livvie can suck up and show off how smart she is, there should be no problems.  Ha ha!  

Here's hoping to a wonderful school year! 

New do for school!

Olivia has a new hair do to celebrate a new school year!  How awesome does my girl look?  She actually picked out the cut herself.....and I have to admit, I was nervous at first because it's ssssoooo short.  But it looks great on her and she thinks she is FABULOUS now.  Ha ha!

School starts on Thursday and I'm ready!  I can't say the same for the kids, but Mommy and Daddy are ready.  We do the whole "Meet and Greet" thing on Wednesday.  I know Cooper's teacher already and I think he'll do fine.  Livvie has a new teacher this year so hopefully she will hit it off with her.  It's hard to believe that O will be in 3rd grade and Cooper will be in 5k.  Wow.  Where did the time go??

In other news - my Mom had back surgery for the third time almost 2 months ago.  It's been a slow recovery but I think she's getting there.  She's not 100% yet, but hopefully she's on the right path.  It's been a hard road for her and very hard for me at times.  My mom is a super strong woman and to see her in constant pain for so long has been hard.  But it's made me want to run more and accomplish things I didn't think I could simply for her.   I have to give a big thank you for my inlaws who have kept the kids for the last 2 months.  Thanks Joyce and Alton!  Al and I are very lucky to have parents that are willing to help us out.  This summer would have been tough otherwise! 

Monsters

Cooper has turned into a HUGE milk monster almost over night.  He wants to drink it all the time now.  Which is great - maybe the milk will help him grow.  He's still a runt!  :)

OGG on the other hand, has turned into a doped up, steroid filled terror of a monster.  She woke up a few days ago with a sore throat.  My mother instincts told me to get her to the doctor and thankfully we did.  She tested positive for strep.  AGAIN.  Her tonsils were so swollen, she needed a steroid to help.  OMG, she's bounced off the walls and almost ate us out of house and home.  LOL  I keep telling myself "only two more days." 

Her throat is better now though.  Cooper, on the hand, is still wild as all get out.  

Fantasy Lake

Fantasy Lake rocks! 

If you haven't been to Fantasy Lake in Hope Mills, NC - then stop reading this blog and GO.  We took the kids on Sunday and I can't even begin to tell you how much fun we had.

www.fantasylakewaterpark.com

O and Al went down several of the main slides - which really surprised me about Lil' Miss O.  I guess I should know that my girl really has no fear.  She even went down one of the big green slides that went straight down.  Of course, at the time, she didn't know it did that!  Ha ha!  Cooper wasn't allowed in the main area but there's a FABULOUS kid area.  It's designed for kids 3 to 11 and it was perfect.  Cooper didn't even need his swimmers or anything.  He was a PRO at the Tarzan swing by the time we left.  I can't tell you how many times the kids went down slides,  swung and flew off the Tarzan swings and tried their best at the zip lines over the water.  It was a blast.  We got there when they opened at 10am and didn't leave until 3:45pm!  The Griggs family left exhausted and a little sun burnt.  We definitely want to go back. 

We skipped the pedal boats of course because Cooper said "I will NOT pedal." Ok....Mommy ain't doing all the work mister!  

My only complaint - the sand was frigging hot!!!!  Our poor feet were so sore and tender by the end of the day.  But now I know we need water shoes (or whatever they are called) for all of us next time we go! 

Too Busy to Blog

I suck.  I have neglected my blog so much this year.  It's not that I don't have funny or insightful (ha ha) things to blog about, I just don't have the time.  It being summertime, you would think I would have all the free time in the world. 

I'm still in this running craze, and that my loyal blog friends, is what is keeping me from my blog.  By the time I work all day, go run/workout, come home and spend time with the kids - I have little interest in sitting here in front of the computer.  I've got to get back into the swing of it though, I basically use this blog as a scrapbook for the kids so I've been neglectful.  Ha ha!

Cooper and Livvie are growing like weeds.  They are enjoying the summer so much.  They are both so frigging tan, it ain't funny!  I think they have grown gills.  They collapse in bed at night because they are exhausted.  I love it.  Although I honestly can't remember the last time I gave them a bath, I'm sure Al has.  At least I really hope so.  They haven't started to smell so I'm taking that as a very good sign. 

The weather has been so hot, it's actually been miserable to be outside some afternoons.  I loved summer when I was younger, but the older I get, the more I hate it.  Fall is the best season EVER.   It's made it hard to keep up with my running, but I'm doing it.  I have to run on the treadmill, which I really don't like, but it's better than quitting I suppose.  Anyways, that's the update for now - hopefully I can get back into the mind frame of blogging and have some great blogs for you all to read.  :)

A comment can do that?

I lost a friend.  On Facebook.  Which I guess isn't really a big deal.  I was never really close to this person anyways.  What bothers me is why I was defriended.  Want to know why?

Over a status.  Yes, over a status I posted on MY wall on Facebook.  Is that not total BS or what?  I'm entitled to my opinion, it's my space - so why does something I say bother someone so much they defriend me?  Oh well.

My status was simply "Congrats New York."  Apparently my friend didn't feel the same way - which is completely and 100% fine with me.  But don't email me and tell me how just because I apparently support gay rights that I'm wrong and shouldn't feel that way.   Hell to the NO.

Do I believe gay people should have the right to marry?  YES.   Do I think homosexuality is a sin?  YES.    But you know what else?  I sin EVERY DAY.  So who am I to say that sin is any worse than the ones I commit?   I can't - because that's not my job.  I have loved ones and friends that are gay - so yes, I support gay rights.   I can't imagine someone telling me that I can't legally wed the one I love simply because we're the same sex.  I mean, to me - love is love.  And if I love you enough to want to spend the rest of my life with you - it shouldn't matter that you're a man or woman.  All that should matter is that love has brought us together.  It's sad that people I LOVE don't have the right to have that same bond that I have with my husband. 

And since this is my blog and I'm completely honest here - let's face the facts.  Straight people don't do a great job of making marriage look fabulous.  I mean, 50% of all marriages end in divorce. Let that sink in a minute.  FIFTY PERCENT.   So what the heck is the problem?  Spouses cheat, husbands beat their wives, people stay in loveless marriages for their kids sake - yet as a society most people feel gay people will ruin the institution of marriage.  I can not even begin to tell you  how ridiculous this is to me.  But if that's how you feel, so be it.  I didn't email you and tell you that I thought you were completely nuts and hated gay people.  Do me a favor and don't email me because all I can tell is that straight people do a good enough job of ruining the institution of marriage.  And that ruin started a long time before gays wanted the right to legally marry. 

Here's my thought process - when you stop looking at someone as "gay" or "straight" and instead simply see them as a PERSON, then you begin to realize *no one* should ever be told what they are allowed to do and not to do.   Since I'm being honest here - I feel like that's what Jesus would do.  How can He turn someone away that loves Him, worships Him, is a good person and does good deeds simply because they loved someone of the same sex? 

Lady Gaga says it all in her song "Born this Way."   So to my ex-friend - I wish you all the best and maybe one day we can be Facebook friends again.  But if not, that's ok too.  After all, this blog and my Facebook page is just that - MINE.  You can defriend me all you want, but you'll never change my opinion and beliefs. 

It's hot outside

With temperatures in the high 90s and low 100's (yes, it was 102 degrees today!) this is how my son stays cool.  He's in the sprinkler business folks.  

Father's Day

Tomorrow is Father's Day and I've shared pictures of two of my favorite dads.  Al and my Daddy.  :)  I know a lot more guys that are wonderful dads - but I don't have pictures of everyone! 

You know one of the things I love about Al the most?  The fact that he's such a hands on Dad.  He's not one of those guys that sits back and watches what his kids do - he gets out there and is part of it.  He didn't miss any of the kids games, never argues if I ask him to take one of them to the doctor or whatever, and is always ready to help me out if I need it. 

He's a great role model for Cooper and I'm so thankful for that.  I have no doubt that Cooper will grow up wanting to be as wonderful a dad - and man - as his dad.

Thank you babe!  I love you and all that you do and I never tell you enough.

Super OLD (ha ha) picture of my Dad.  I couldn't find any current ones saved on my PC so this is what I had to work with.  My dad is wonderful - I can't say enough good things about him.  Al reminds me a lot of him because they are both so patient and good natured.  I'm blessed to have such a wonderful dad.

Neither one of my guys would be so great if they hadn't had good role models.  At least, that's what I think anyways, and it's my blog, so you know how it goes.  :) 

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there I know!  Enjoy your day tomorrow.  :)

Beach

The kids have been at the beach for the week with my parents.  I missed those little monsters ssooo much.  But I have to admit, it's been a wonderful week for Al and I. 

We ate dinner in the living room, slept in on the weekends, went on golf carts rides in the evenings, even went to the gym a few times.  I had flashbacks from days before we had kids.  So carefree.

But then I would pass by one of the kids rooms and I would seriously hurt in my chest.  They drive me nuts and I promise you that 5 minutes after they got home today, my blood pressure was already up 10 points - but I can't imagine life without them.  Even Molly missed them and they nag her ALL the time.

So, the week was nice - a week that Al and I used to really reconnect but I'm glad Livvie and Coop are back.  Even when I had to watch Big Time Rush again for the first time in a week.   

Hip Hop

The kids finished the dance year with their recital and they both did GREAT!!!  Livvie is always a "show off" and this year was no exception.  She loves to be on stage - no matter what she says.  She tries to pretend she doesn't like the attention, but my girl is a *HAM* - MAJORLY. 

Cooper did great too for his first year - I was worried he'd get shy because he does.  All the time. Just like his Daddy.   But he was totally digging it and was the cutest boy in his group.  (Yes, I am biased, but a complete stranger told me the SAME thing.) 

My two hip hop dancers!

2011 THA Mother's Day Program

Cooper was a Fire Ant (notice the nice home made costume) for his Mother's Day program at school on Friday.  He was the cutest little Fire Ant in the whole wide world.  He made me some of the cutest gifts too, I was so proud of my little man.  He had a small speaking part too and I laughed my rump off at him.  His line was something like "I hope they have fried chicken and jello in a bowl." but he said it so fast that you couldn't really tell what he said.  Poor thing said he was nervous!  How stinking sweet is he?  

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!!!! 

Cooper's basket....he's getting a little better about finding eggs.  :)

Me and the wild ones......gosh I love them!

Griggs grandkids from Oldest (Olivia) to youngest (Josie).  2011

Daddy and the kids. 

Ate it

Just so you know, if you ever get trapped somewhere with OGG, you're probably a dead man.  Here's the conversation I had with her earlier about her baby egg she got from school that she's *supposed* to be treating like a baby.  Oh yeah, she's in 2nd grade by the way.

Me: Olivia, where's your baby egg?

O: I ate it.

Me: What??? You ate your baby?

O: It wasn't a baby, it was an egg.

Me: But you were supposed to pretend it was a baby and take care of it.

O: Oh....can I get another egg then?

Me: No way, tell your teacher you ate your baby.

How funny is that???  

Funny stuff from funny kids

Olivia and Cooper have had me rolling in laughter the last few days.  Cooper is my clown but Olivia is my "subtle" funny girl.

O:  Hey Mommy, how do you spell flaws?

Me:  F L A W S.  Why?

O:  I'm going to write down all my flaws.

Me:  Olivia, you have no flaws.  You're perfect.

O:  *eye roll*  I'm just going to write what I don't like about myself.

*Olivia sits and writes and then just sits, looking off in space*

Me:  Done?

O:  Yes, read my flaws.  *hands me her list*  I only have ONE.

Do you know what my girl thinks is her ONLY flaw?  FRECKLES.  I laughed sssssoo hard I could have cried.  I told her I thought her freckles were perfect but she insists that when she becomes a teenager, she will cover them all up with make up.  Oh O!

Now Cooper!  He had a baseball game the other night and came home all excited about they won by one point.

Cooper:  Mommy!  We won!

Me:  Awesome!  I'm so proud of you.

Cooper:  Hey Mommy, did you know Daddy has skills?

Me:  *looking at Al with that "You better not have" look*  Oh yeah?

Cooper:  Yes!  Daddy has skills.

Al:  Yes I do.  I can throw the ball, hit the ball....

Cooper:  NNNNOOOOO Daddy, I said you had skills.

Me:  Ok, I'm confused, what do you think skills are Cooper?

Cooper:  *sigh*  You know, red skills, yellow skills, green skills.  You eat them! 

Al:  I think he means Skittles.  Because I did have some Skittles.

Cooper:  Yes, that's what I mean.

Me:  *laughing*  OMG!!!  I wish I had this conversation on video.

Eight

Olivia turns EIGHT years old tomorrow.  I am still in shock that baby girl is already eight years old.  I know it's cliche, but it seriously feels like yesterday when she was born.   Wow, eight years have flown by faster than I ever imagined.  I wish I could slow the next eight down. 

We had a small family party this year - Olivia was supposed to have a friend spend the night on Saturday and then we were going to go to the zoo Sunday morning before the party that afternoon.  However, OGG woke up Friday with a sore throat.  Saturday we ended up taking her to Urgent Care only to find out she has strep throat.  Awesome right?  So, the sleep over had to be rescheduled....which O was not pleased about.  Thankfully after a few doses of antibotics, her fever was gone and she felt well enough to have a small party.  I teased her and told her that apparently every eight years she was going to be sick on her birthday because she was sick on her first birthday too. 

 Me and my baby girl.  The first one that called me Mommy and made me realize that I could love another human being so much that I feel it in my bones. 

 She's a huge fan of Pink Chicken skirts.  Her BFF Belle needs to go into advertising bc without her, O would never know about these skirts.  They are crazy expensive!

Happy Birthday Olivia Grace!

Lost Respect

I'm a huge George Lopez fan.  But not so much now.  I don't care if you like Kristie Alley or not (I actually do, but that's beside the point) - NO ONE has the right to compare you to a dancing pig.  Honestly, I found it insulting.  Not only to her, but even personally.  I'm no twig and I've battled weight issues my *entire* life and for someone to humiliate an overweight actress for her weight, well then what kind of example are giving out to girls like my daughter? 

I don't see George Lopez out there dancing away.  I will give it to Kristie Alley, she's got guts.  I could NEVER do a show like Dancing with the Stars.  I think it's wonderful that she decided to give it a try.  She's already shown America that us full figured girls can dance and look super sexy doing it.  At this point, she's my idol.   But when George Lopez goes on TV and publicly makes jokes like that - well then, you might as well have told my almost eight year old that she was fat too. 

And if you're one of these people who say - oh, he was just joking, lighten up - well then 1.  You don't respect other's feeling apparently 2.  You don't have kids and don't see how this could affect girls self images 3.  You get a kick out of insulting women  4.  You're skinny and hungry.  So I say to you - KISS IT. 

So Mr. Lopez, I may still find some of movies and shows funny, but I don't think I'm much of a fan anymore.

Take me out to the ballpark....

My little man is a ball player.  His Daddy is thrilled.  Beyond the moon in fact.  Today was the Dixie Youth Jamboree and Coop had his first game.  At 10am, it was already HOT.  I'm not sure how these little boys deal with the heat in those long pants and socks (and Cooper's went up to his thighs, no lie!). 

Coop had a blast though - scored TWO runs for the team.  He even asked Al "Daddy are you proud of me for coming across home plate?"  How stinking cute is my son? 

Mom and Dad are enjoying this new experience with Super Coop too! 

 Cooper T. Griggs - the cutest five year old baseball player ever!

                            Trying to hit the ball.....ended up hitting off the tee but got a good hit!

On base!

It was a fun day, but also a pretty scary too.  One of the coaches on the opposing team had a seizure on the field during the last inning of the game.  The boys were escorted off the field while the coach was tended too and taken off by ambulance.  I pray that the coach is ok and doing well now - it's definitely an image I haven't been able to shake yet.  Most of the boys didn't even realize what was going on because it happened so fast. 

I am looking forward to more games though - although I am NOT looking forward to the two games a week schedule for the next 9 weeks.  Oh, and I haven't mentioned that Olivia is playing softball too and her schedule is just as crazy.  Fun.

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!!



Thanks to Nana, the kids insisted on green hair.  Turned out pretty cute I thought.  And do you see what I see on O's picture?  That's right - she's smiling.  Finally.  Yay!

Melting My Heart!

I fail to mention how awesome Olivia and Cooper can be - and it makes me sssooo proud.  The other day at the grocery store, Olivia took her change purse full of coins.  She had intentions of getting her and Cooper some candy and I told her that was fine.  When we got to the check out though, I told O that I would pay for her and Coop's candy.  There at the check out was a jar for the local Humane Society.  Olivia asked me what it was for and I told her and do you know what my loving little girl did?  She emptied out her ENTIRE change purse and put all her money in that jar. 

How stinking sweet was that?  It totally melted my heart.  She was worried that it wasn't *enough* but I told her that she gave all she had and that was more than enough.  She smiled.  

It's moments like this that remind me that even though I'm an imperfect person and parent - I do manage to teach my kids some perfect life lessons.