Party time!!

Over the weekend, we celebrated Griffin's birthday by inviting a whole bunch of family and friends over to our house. He is a very lucky little boy to have so many people that love him. 

The theme was SUPERMAN!! But if Griffin is saying it, he has to put his arms up and out like he's flying or showing his muscles.

This year's invite:

We decided to buy a small pool for Griffin to learn to swim in, and maybe a little for me to float around in too. However, even the flattest spot of our yard is actually not very level. So after many hours spent pulling and pushing a semi-assembled pool around the yard (in the dark, after Griffin went to bed one night), we gave up and just decided we would give it a go and see if it lasted. 

I heard that it went through some extensive testing during the party but never looked as though it would collapse. I gave a short warning that at any moment all the children could be on a swift ride down the hill. So glad that worked out.

trying to deal with the thought of growing older

this is the "deep end"

Bennet is a cutie

Bristol joins in....this is Griffin's current "crush"

even Landrie came down!

it didn't take long to get Briley in the pool

Claire is always one of the first names Griffin says when
he talks about his "friends"

gifts from Aunt Shasta & family were thoroughly
enjoyed even though they couldn't be there

Briley and Bennet were big present opening helpers

Mrs. Donna from daycare gave him a bear
from her collection....over 20 years old

besties

Chase is brave!

Let's hope this next year goes much slower than the previous 3.....

Fourth of July Weekend

It's felt like an extra long 3 day weekend. We needed it. Not only to get more things accomplished but to also rest up. I think we've done a little of both. 

Little brother's room is almost finished. The last step has been getting Drew's clothes out of the closet in that room. We bought another dresser to cram in our bedroom, so between it and an additional rod our buddy Eric installed in our little closet....hopefully, we'll be able to manage. 

Friday night we went to Drew's parents' house as usual for BBQ, swimming, and a fireworks show. Griffin thought the fireworks were too loud and only semi paid attention to them. With so many other kids around, he stays pretty busy trying to keep up.

get her!

Grandma Delores came down for the fun

little Ella enjoying the pool

Briley and Bennet 

pretty Sophia

Uncle Brent helped G get warm

and tossed the rest of the kids in the pool

Thank you Todd for lighting all 800 sparklers that Griffin burned

first time getting to do one!

everyone loves snakes.....

two hands, watch him go

end of the evening

partial crowd shot

and we had to do a few more before we left

We also got a little sun this weekend by hitting the pool with Tammy and Griffin's crush, Bristol. 

Today, I bought a small pool for our house. It's bigger than the $10 plastic pool option, but small enough for Griffin to stand up in. We'll see how long it takes to get it put up, but I'm hoping we can use it to teach Griffin to swim. 

A special moment......

I happened to be eavesdropping on a conversation Drew was having with Griffin this past week. He asked Griffin what he wanted to do when he grew up. I was curious as to what funny occupation he would name. Surprisingly, it didn't take long for him to simply say "work". I'm pretty sure my Republican (capital R for emphasis) husband was smiling ear to ear. But after another pause, Griffin added "and hunt". 

I've never seen Drew cry, but I was sure I was about to witness it at that moment! He couldn't have been more proud!!

We'll never forget that. Ha ha!

Baby Brother's 3D Ultrasound

Today was our 3D ultrasound for baby boy #2. I was considering not doing it until I imagined him asking one day why Griffin was special enough to get a CD/DVD and he wasn't. I'm trying really hard to give him the same treatment, although I hear it's natural for most children after your first to not get as many pictures, videos, etc. I may have set the bar too high. Ha!

Baby brother was very uncooperative but after walking in the parking lot, drinking Sunny D, flipping from back to side, and a lot of pushing around by the ultrasound tech........we finally got a few pictures in the last 5 minutes of an hour's worth of trying. His hands and a foot were in his face pretty much the whole time. I appreciate the reassurance of knowing he's doing fine in there. Also, the confirmation that he is definitely a he. 

We also got to see him yawn several times....here's a real creepy open-mouth shot in 2D:

35 Months Old

We love summer. Griffin has been rocking a farmer's tan for at least a month now. He's very much a water bug and is more than ready to do his fair share of swimming. I think Mrs. Donna from daycare is going to give him swimming lessons in July. She's been the city pool manager for as long as I can remember. 

Griffin's also aware that his birthday is coming up very soon. He knows he'll be 3 (and that he's currently 2) and when you ask him what he wants, his reply has consistently been "candles". I'll be sure to get him 3 individuals rather than the number. 

In the past month we have been to Branson, St. Louis, the animal shelter for a visit, a wedding, a roping, a graduation party and we've also spent 2 separate weeks without Drew while he went to New Mexico on business. I don't see any slowing down until after baby brother makes his debut.