Halloween 2013

Sami was a GOOD witch and Lily wanted to be an owl. They were so excited to wear their costumes. Ryan was an injured athlete and Hunter is under the Grimm Reaper mask. Lily had a Preschool party. Once the kids got home from school we ran over to Dad's work for the Annual Saalfeld Griggs Halloween Party. Then from there we went to Trunk or Treat at the church. Sami and Ryan still wanted to trick or treat when we got home so they ran (Sami literally) to a few neighbors houses. We had so many trick or treaters out in our neighborhood, the weather was AWESOME this year! John and I went to the Short's Annual Halloween Party, we dressed as bank robbers.

Oceanside, OR

We had a Griffin family reunion in Oceanside, OR...Mom and Dad and all of John's sisters and their families were there. Brandon was definitely missed. We went to Tillamook for ice cream, we went to the tide pools and flew a kite. We went to see two lighthouses and a fun beach in Newport that was crazy windy.

Chalk Artists

We have had beautiful weather and the kids have really been enjoying being outside soaking up some vitamin D.

Busy morning

We are on a smoothie kick around our house. With the new Vitamix it makes them a breeze and healthy too. Lily loves to color...I love how her little hand holds her crayon

Christmas 2012

Christmas was very quiet this year, just our little family. The kids have a 3 week break and we are going to enjoy relaxing and being home together. Here are some pictures from our Christmas. Our Nativity...love Hunter's face, Lily is the Angel, Sami (Mary), Hunter (Joseph) and Ryan is a Shepard.

Christmas morning, waiting to see what Santa brought:)

Santa brought Ryan binoculars

Santa brought Lily a baby stroller

Santa brought Sami a table and chairs for her kitchen and for coloring

We look forward to the family update and reading about everyones year

Santa brought Hunter a Bear Grylls knife...YIKES!

Paintball with Napoleon

Hunter was almost 4 when the movie "Napoleon Dynamite" came out, and he has quoted the movie ever since. He has an amazing memory and can hear things once and repeat them verbatim back. We have heard a lot of Napoleon at our house through the years. When we moved to Oregon and he wasn't so excited we told him that Napoleon Dynamites parents lived in our ward and I think it made it a little easier of a move from Colorado. He has been waiting for Jon Heder (Napoleon) to come home and visit his parents anxiously for almost 3 years. John and the boys play paintball with the Shorts and Sister Short is Jon Heder's older sister (you following?). Well for a couple of weeks before Christmas Hunter was told that Jon Heder was going to be playing paintball the Saturday before Christmas and Hunter was EXCITED to say the least. He had a blast. John said Jon was great with all the kids. Ryan was team captain for one round and got to pick who would be on his team...who do you think he picked first? Yep, Napoleon. Here are some pics John took with his phone...Napoleon grew a stash and they got photo bombed!

Halloween

John and I went to a Halloween party at the Shorts. It was fun. John was Legolas (maybe a little more of a Legolas who just woke up) from Lord of the Rings and I went as a Doctor. Dressing up is not my favorite thing ;) I was supposed to bring a scary appetizer so this skull head with cheese and crackers is what I made. It still freaks me out to look at it. Here are Sami, Lily and Ryan dressed up for John's work trick-or-treating...Sami and Lily were Princess Butterflies and Ryan a Pro Baseball player.

We have a teenager....

Hunter is now 13...I can't believe it! In some ways it seems like it has been a while but in others it has gone so fast. I have to keep myself from hyperventilating just thinking that in a little over five years Hunter will be leaving on a mission. When you are in the thick of raising your kids it is amazing at how fast and short of a time we have with our children before they leave home. Hunter is special to us, he made us parents. Hunter is such a good boy who tries very hard to do what is right. Yes, he has his "moments" but honestly he is growing into a very mature, thoughtful young man and we are so blessed to be his parents. Hunter is really into Bear Grylls (Man vs Wild) everything. He likes to get grossed out watching him eat nasty things and survive on his show. I think Hunter would like there to be a Zombie Apocalypse someday so he can test out his survival skills. Hunter has even assembled a zombie apocalypse survival kit that is tucked away under his bed in case it should ever happen. Hunter is a good student, he tries to do well in his classes. Hunter's English teacher recently told him that she thinks he he should become a writer because he is so detailed and talented with his story telling. He was very excited about that. Hunter ran cross-country this year for Straub Middle School. We are proud of him for trying so hard and making the commitment to do this, it was not easy for him. Hunter is so helpful at home with his siblings. He is always willing to watch the kids so John and I can go on a date night or grocery shopping. This has been a blessing for us. We love you Hunter!!!

17 Years....WOW!

I really can't believe it has been 17 years since John and I were married. My mind is blown. Man.....I LOVE him! He is crazy and wonderful, silly and caring, an amazing father and my best friend...what more could a girl want?

Sami learned to ride a bike....

Sami saw a little Barbi bike at our neighbors house and asked if she could use it. She wanted to try without the training wheels. We thought she could probably do it so we took the wheels off, Sami got on the bike and with one pass down the street she took off and was riding by herself. We couldn't believe it. She rode the bike the rest of the afternoon without any problems. She was so excited and proud of herself and kept saying "I'm a big girl now!"...now all she wants is a bike.

Fairytale pictures....

While in Utah visiting family I decided to do some pictures of Sami and Lily at the Garden Park Ward. I have done pictures here with the boys before and I LOVE THIS PLACE! Kamille came a long to help with the girls and help hold my lighting modifiers (I couldn't have done the pics without her). We started around 10 am which isn't the best for lighting but we found some places that worked. I wanted to do a fantasy theme since I have had these dresses for years for my business and I held on to them when I sold most of my props hoping that someday Sami would fit in them and little did I know I had Lily coming along, they were the perfect size for both of them. I made their crowns out of starched lace and spray paint. Now I have to decide which ones I want to blow up for my displays in my house.