The Big Reveal!!!

Last week my sister Chelsie and I decided to take on the job of getting the girls moved downstairs. So to get them excited about the move I let them pick what color they wanted to paint one accent wall, pick out their own new bedding and decorate how they want. Annie's room is up first , she chose pink for her wall color and some grown up bedding. I did try to talk her into the cutsie little girl bedding but she wasn't having it. My baby is growing up! Chelsie did an awesome job with the flowers and vines coming up her wall to match the bedding. She free-handed all of it! What a talented sister I have (thank goodness too, she was really the mastermind of coordinating Annie's room together). (P.S. it's not really painted, she has her own little vinyl business). We had a heck of a time trying to find curtains and a bed skirt that matched the hot pink and brown so we decided on the cream instead. I think it fits quite nicely together.
Notice the nightstand on the side of her bed, Joel and Robbin gave this to us several years ago so Nels and I spent all day Saturday stripping this and Macee's little dresser and re-finishing them. I am very happy with how they turned out. It was a lot of work, but saved us a lot of money too!
Next up is Macee's room. Her room was a little easier for me. She chose purple for her wall color and picked bedding that had lots of things to go with it, including curtains and wall stickers.
There is the little dresser we also re-finished.

My Grandparents made this little kitchen set for Chelsie, Amanda, and I when we were little. My grandma is an amazing toll painter and has made us some really cute things over the years. I am glad that my girls have the chance to enjoy it also. Get ready Manda this is coming to you when you have that little girl! P.S. Since the girls first night down here on Friday Macee has slept through the night 5 out of the 6 nights. Monday night she came up and slept on the couch. I think we can claim a VICTORY in this fight against her sleeping in an actual bed! It has been WONDERFUL!!
Here is my hubby hard at work tonight fixing a few sprinklers. I saw him walking out of the garage with a pick axe and a saw (a little scary) and was wondering what in the world he was going to do. He promised me he wouldn't tear up the yard to much. Thanks Nels for being such a good handy man! What would I do without you!

Go Dr. Jonathan Griffin!!!

We were able to fly to Seattle this weekend for my brother Jon's graduation from Medical School. We are soooo proud of him and Ashley for enduring the long road and overcoming all of the trials that come along with medical school. Jon will be starting his residency in Boise, ID in Family Medicine. We know they will do great and fit right in down there.

I would like to tell you a little bit about these guys who I love so much. Jon is my oldest brother who is 4 years older than I. He and Ashley have been married for almost 13 years. They have 3 beautiful boys Quest, Koby, and Kylan. We were able to go and visit them last summer and had the funnest family trip we have been on. Jon and Ashley are motivated, strong, kind, loving, and always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone. There is no doubt that with Jon's fun loving personality, commitment, and genuine concern for everyone around him that he is going to be an AMAZING Doctor. Jon is also a great listener. I love these guys so much and hope that they will be able to move a little closer to home someday. So here's to you Jon and Ashley for making it through!!!







On a side note, Nels and I had a great weekend together getting away and being able to hang out together. We got to Seattle at 7:30 pm on Friday night and me, Nels, mom, dad, Chelsie, and Jon (he flew in from Boise at 7:30 also so we got to hook up at the airport) we all went to eat at Bennihauna's (not sure if I spelled that right). If anyone ever has a chance to eat there it is sooo yummy and very entertaining. The chef cooks your food right in front of you. Then on Saturday we had Jon's graduation at 10 and then Ashley put on a really nice reception/going away party for him from 1-3. After that Nels, mom, Chelsie and I went to do a little shopping and we met up with Ben and Lauraleah and their kids and went to the Cheesecake factory for dinner. It was dad's birthday on Saturday so my little neice Taylor told our waiter that it was her grandpa's birthday (we were all threatened with our life if we told anyone it was his birthday, but you can't get mad at the granddaughter right?). Ashley's family was also in town so we ran back to Jon and Ashley's to visit and say goodbye and flew home Sunday morning. It was a quick trip, but well worth it. We had fun and I am so glad we could be there to support Jon.

P.S. Thank you Chase and Krista for staying with the kids. I know they had a great time partying with you!!!

Mom, You Have 4 Options...

Since Macee has graduated from pre-school she is really bored and drives me crazy all day until Annie gets home from school. It seems like she is always asking for a friend to come over or if we can go do something fun. So the other day, I was trying to get a few things done and she had been asking me all day if she could have someone come play. I was giving her every excuse I could think of when finally she said, "Ok Mom, you have 4 options." A little surprised by this I asked her what my options were and this is what she told me:

1. You take me to Exotic Pets (a fun little pet store here in town).
2. You take me to the park.
3. You let me have a friend come over.
4. You let me go over to someone else's house.

I was pretty impressed with her giving me "options." So we did end up going to Chelsie's and she got to play there for awhile.

Mommy Carter

Carter obviously got way too much sleep during his nap today. We tried to lay him down but he just cried for a half an hour so being the kind loving mother I got him up. Now he is running wild into the girls bedroom and yelling at them telling them to go to sleep. Like he is tormenting them because is gets to stay up. He is really starting to talk and tells us "No Mom" and "No Dad" all of the time. Now he is trying to change the channel on the TV and type right along with me. Let me tell ya, this little boy has sure brought a lot of energy into our home!

He is really sweet though. Lately I have been laying on the couch every chance I get (especially in the afternoon). He will bring me a blanket and snuggle up next to me for a few seconds until he decides to go play. It would be nice if he could get a little brother to hang out with, someone who wouldn't drag him out of their room and lock him out. I was just thinking how grateful I am for my little boy tonight and his little personality and I thought I would share.

Our month of May

So it has been forever since I did a real blog and a lot has happened since then so this will be a make up blog over the last month. So get ready here we go...

First of all, I think the news has spread to most everyone that we are expecting our fourth baby December 18th. I am 10 weeks along today and am feeling ok, just really tired and nauseous. I haven't thrown up yet which has been soooo nice! I am ready to stop laying on the couch every chance I get and to get moving and start getting things done. Hopefully in a few weeks. Thank goodness for my wonderful husband who is very understanding and helps me with everything when he gets home.

Second, we went just got home from Salt Lake Tuesday night from Macee's follow up appt. on her leg. Everything looks good, except there is a cyst down by her growth plate which the doctor said was normal and he said that it should go away on its own. YEA!! We go back
November for another check up, if the cyst gets any bigger they will have to go in and remove it.
We are so glad to be home in our own beds. We left Friday morning went to Rexburg for Monica and Quincy's wedding and then headed to IF to stay with Grandma and Grandpa Hobbs. Long story short, we all got colds along the way, Carter threw up a few times and we had some major fights in the car on the way home. It was nice though because we were able to spend a few days with my Grandma and Grandpa Griffin in Ogden also. But a total of a 620 mile drive home on Tuesday did us all in (we had to drive to Salt Lake from Ogden and then all the way home from there, YUCK!).

Third, Macee had her pre-school graduation last night which was super cute. I can't believe she will be in Kindergarten all day next year!





Annie, Macee, me, my mom, Chelsie, and Adria did the Women's Run also on May 10th. We walked the 2 mile and had a really fun time. (I really didn't ride in the stroller the whole time :)).




























May 11th was Carter's Birthday and Mother's Day. Then May 12th was my Birthday. So we did a 3 in 1 party at our house on Sunday. Carter and I both got really spoiled. Nels and I went out on a date the weekend before and did a little shopping.

Well that is about it, if I think of anything else I will do another post, but this gives you the overall events of this month. I think it took me an hour and a half to do this post and now I can't figure how to get rid of the underlining. So hope everyone is having a great month of May!!

P.S. Happy Birthday to my little sister Amanda in Kentucky!! She is the big 24!!

Happy 28th Birthday!

I just wanted to wish Andrea a happy birthday today and I thought I would do it by doing my own top ten list of why I love her!
10. Her right eye always squints when she smiles!
9. She is a great mother to Annie, Macee, and Carter
8. I have never met a harder worker
7. Our home is always clean, you can ask her sisters and sister-in-laws
6. She is very easy to talk to and is genuinely cares for everyone she knows
5. Her competitive spirit never her lets her do anything second rate, you can ask her sisters on that one also.
4. Andrea is very honest and always tells me what she really thinks
3. She is beautiful
2. Humble, I am sure she will be thoroughly embarrassed when she reads this
1. Andrea has been the greatest blessing in my life, the best things in my life (children, family, work, and church) have been strengthened or made better since Andrea has been a part of my life.

Happy birthday, I love you! Nels

The Billings Biker Gang

As you can see we have started our own little biker gang here in Billings. Drea and I have felt like big "FAT" couch potatoes this last winter, well I have at least. Since I hurt my back in November the only time I have broken a sweat was going up the stairs to get some potatoe chips, so to say the least I needed to get out and do something.

Macee and Carter love the kid carrier rides and as you can tell by the pics Annie wasn't too happy about not being able to hitch a ride behind dad. Also, this being our first time out since last summer Annie was a little unsure about her bike riding skills. After alot of prodding and whining she finally got on and did great. When we finally got back home she reminded us that we were going on a family bike ride the next night.