Chick-fil-a 5K

I wanted to share some pictures from our 5K run this weekend in Nashville. It was a great excuse to go and spend some time with Uncle Bryan, Aunt Ryan and Mary Paul. It was sponsored by Chick-fil-a and benefited muscular dystrophy. Before the race they had music and the Chick-fil-a cow was dancing with the kids. Landon and Addi really liked that part. The run was fun and challenging. The route was filled with many more hills than I am used to, but I should have expected that in Nashville. I could have sworn Ryan said the route was flat though :) Anyway, it made it that much more challenging. It was also a night race which made it unusual too. Most of the time the runs are in the morning. It was the first race for Andi and G-Mama and they both finished and felt good about it. Uncle Bryan, Uncle Dave and John watched the little ones while the girls ran. Also, everyone got free Chick-fil-as...Yeah!!!


The Running Koppe Women pre-run!


Landon loving the cow!


Landon groovin' to the beat of Hannah Montanna!


A proud G-Mama with her grandkids!


The Running Koppe Women post-run. Oh how we were glistening (ok sweating! :)


Andi and her running partner Melanie, a friend from North Augusta who goes to Lipscomb.


The 3 sisters proud to be under the Finish Line!


Me and Sam just after we both crossed the Finish Line!


Go Sam Go!!!! Dave captures the action at the end of Sam's run!

Another Fun Week at the Griners.....

We had a fun but busy week last week around the Griner house. The week began with it being Spirit Week at Andi's school. She dressed up for tacky day and 80's day (doesn't it make you feel old?) She looked cute, as always, and had fun. Then, the middle school band played at a middle school football game on Thursday night. So, we had two football games to go to last week. The game Friday night was an away game and Mike had to work, so it was just me and Andi with the little ones. They actually did really well considering how long we have to stay in the bleachers. I make sure to bring lots of snacks and a big blow pop sucker for each one. That keeps them busy for a while :) John did great in the marching band and the drumline has their own feature section which looks really cool.
Last week was also my birthday, so now I am another year older. I have hit the 32 mark and admit it does not feel much different than 31. I can acutally say now that I have to stop and think sometimes if asked how old I am. Sad to say the years already seem to be running together. Plus, as you other parents know out there, once you have kids with birthdays (especially 2 kid's birthdays right before your birthday), it is much more fun to focus on and make sure their birthdays are great! I did enjoy the flowers Mike gave me, however, and the kids all gave me very nice cards.
Back to the week..... On Saturday morning everyone loaded up in the car (minus Mike because he had to work) and headed for Nashville. Sam and Dave were there too and so was Mom. We visited on Saturday during the day and went to a really neat indoor playground at a church right up the hill from Ryan's house. It is a huge playground big enough for adults too. I am a little jealous having such a nice air conditioned playground so nearby. Everyone got in on the fun. That night all the girls ran the Chik-fil-a 5K. It was a hard run (very hilly) but everyone did really well. On Sunday we went with Ryan's family to church and then G-Mama took us out to lunch at the Rainforest Cafe. It was really funny to watch Landon and Addi's reaction to all the animal noises, animals themselves and mock thunderstorms. They were a little freaked out!
Overall, it was a fun week and weekend! This week shouldn't be as busy (but you never know), and we are looking forward to a visit from Mike's mom Grandma Kay this weekend! This new 32 year old will say bye for now!

John and G-Mama catching up with eachother while visiting at the big indoor playground.


Do you think Landon is having fun or what?


Andi way up high in a fish's mouth.


Sam coming down the big slide. You really did go fast!


Here comes Ryan!!!


My beautiful birthday roses!


Addi squishing herself into another box. If you remember from an earlier post she loves to sit in these little boxes. This one's a little too small though.


Addi in the box showcasing her crazy hair!


My proud Georgia Girls showing off their Bulldawg spirit even though we do live in orange country!!


Andi looking very tacky on tacky day!


Girl's Just Wanna Have Fun! Eighty's Day?? Was that so long ago?


Andi playing flute at the middle school football game.


Goooooo Jackets!!!!!


Landon and Addi staring at trash and probably wishing they could have some of those Skittles.

Birthday Bash!!!

Ok, so this is definately the longest post I have yet to make. Next time, my goal will be to have them in a better order. But for now, here goes.....

Family Fun Begins.....


16 years and counting!!!


Andi enjoying her cookie cake as a 14 year old!!


Addi loving her sweets, as always!!



John and Andi's own cookie cakes from the best and only place to buy cookies, The Great American Cookie Company!

John's Birthday Bash.....


Addi enjoying her Orange cupcake!!


Landon a little less messy than Addi!


Sam and Andi having some fun on this beautful day!


Kirby taking his shot at the poor little fish!


Andi after the Cupcake and Water war!


Attack, Attack!!


John with Andi in a chokehold get ready to attack with the water!


Mara showing signs of cupcake war too!


My handsome 16 year old!!




The Whole Party Gang!!


John's party begins with hanging out with Cody and Kirby!



The "fish" pinata that John chose for his party. No real reason he chose a fish.


John and Mara playing on the computer.


We had a great week last week full of birthday fun and FOOD! Right now we have cupcakes, two cookie cakes and 1 1/2 birthday cakes and tons of candy all leftover from birthday parties. WOW! Needless to say it has been hard to keep the "watch what you eat" idea in check.
We had a family birthday celebration on Thursday night for both John and Andi. John is officially 16 and Andi is 14! They are really growing up in so many ways. Then, on Saturday John had a birthday get-together with several of his good friends. It was a lot of fun complete with good friends, Tennessee football, birthday slide show of all his 16 fun years, pinata smashing (poor little fish), and cupcake food and water fight. Thankfully, the last activity began and stayed outside! It was quite crazy! Sam was able to come over and hang out for a while too, so that was helpful and nice. John has a great group of friends and I think they all had fun together.
On Sunday night we had the youth group Sunday night devotional at our house and had more cake with our church family. We have a great youth group and youth group leader, so it was fun.
Both John and Andi had great birthdays and recieved lots of cards and gifts. They are both currently saving their birthday money (they both got a lot!). I want to thank all of our family and friends who remembered their birthdays and helped to make them so special. It means so much to me and Mike.
So, we have been busy! Landon and Addi just go with the flow and, as you see in the pictures, LOVE all the cookies and cake!

Labor Day Weekend and Beyond.....

Fast Times in the Griner Family!

John Jamming out with Exit 352 whlie his youngest fans have fun too!!







Landon and Addi enjoying some CARS movie time... Mike and John enjoying?????






Pizza night at the Griners. Can you tell who likes her pizza the most??? Notice her clothes are off for a reason!








Addi and Landon playing cars with Dad and Addi's two antennas!





Mom and Sadie catching some zzzzzs on Labor Day Weekend!

It has been a while since I posted but we have been busy, busy! Labor Day weekend was fun. G-Mama came down for the weekend and we started the weekend by going to John's first football game. They won and the marching band drumline looked great. John had a lot of fun and so did we. The little ones almost made it through the entire game, but then started having meltdown, so Mike took them home and put them to bed. It was a nice break for me, as I have never been able to stay for an entire football game. Last season only I could put Addi to bed so I always had to leave early. Mom, Andi, and I enjoyed the rest of of the game and then came home for more visiting.
Saturday we went to see the movie Ratatouille. It was Landon and Addi's first movie so it was an adventure. They made it about 30 minutes. Luckily, Mom had already seen it so she took them out to play on video games and run around. John, Andi and I really liked it. Then we did a little shopping and let the little ones play in the fountain downtown Knoxville. Once we got home, Mom took John and Andi out for Japanese and when they returned Mike and I had some time out. It was a busy day.
We loved having G-Mama with us at church the next morning. Then she took a nap with Sadie, hence the above picture. Andi went with her to spend the night at the river house and we all joined them for a cookout on Labor Day.
This weekend, John's band Exit 352 had a concert and we had some good playtime. There are several pictures above of the little ones during some play time and movie time. They love Lightening McQueen from Cars and love playing cars with eachother. Even Addi gets excited when she sees a monster truck! There are also a few pics of pizza night. As you can see Addi loves her pizza! She is our junkfood junkie! She loves sugar and salt. I think we will have our work cut out for us with her diet!
We have a busy week of birthdays coming up. John will be 16 (WOW!) and Andi is turing 14! I am sure I will be posting some birthday pics soon!