Father's Day 2008

The Proud Griner Daddy!!!!



Opening presents, Landon and Addison were very excited!!!







Ok, so I am very behind in my Father's Day post! However, in my defense I actually did try and post on Father's Day and the day after but blogger would not download my pictures. So, here I am over a week later finally posting!!

Anyway, I wanted to write a quick post honoring Father's Day 2008. We had a great Father's Day this year! Mike chose big steaks for lunch on Sunday and then we chose a couple of special gifts for daddy!! All the kids had fun pampering Dad for the day, and even Landon understood this year what Father's Day was.

Mike is a wonderful, wonderful father and absolutely LOVES being a father!!! He works so very hard for our family, with long hours at work and then coming home and still having energy to play with the little ones and spend time catching up with the older ones. Mike puts his job of fatherhood at the top of his priority list and it shows in how seriously he takes it!

I am so blessed to have a husband that loves family and time together. For me, it is remniscent of my own father, who I must mention on this Father's Day tribute. My father has been gone from this earth nearly 3 years, however his memory and lessons taught to me are alive and strong. Having had a great earthly father I know how important that role is and the impact it can make on your life. I see so much of my own father in my husband and it brings me joy to know the strength my children will have from their earthly father!

My dad loved being a grandfather!!! I am so thankful that life worked out so that he had the opportunity to enjoy being a grandaddy, because he LOVED it and we miss it!! (I looked for a picture with all the grandkids but blogger wouldn't download a scanned picture, this is Landon)


Me and my daddy after a show I was in (no, I don't normally dress this way!) Dad and Mom were and are always so supportive! Dad always emphasized getting a good education and wanted that for all his girls! Through his actions he taught us how to work hard for our goals and he and mom both taught us how to work together as husband and wife through all life's trials to achieve the goals for your family! I love him and miss him more than words can express!!!!


So, to all the Fathers out there (even if it is over a week late :)
Happy Father's Day to you and know how much you are loved by your families!!!

Summer Begins!!!!!

We have been having a great summer so far!! Last week, we went to Atlanta for a fun summer visit with G-Mama! We had a busy time but it was lots of fun. I took Andi, Landon and Addi down with me on Thursday afternoon and Mike and John joined us Friday night.

On Friday Andi spent some special time with G-Mama and GG at the Jasmine Tea Room and then to a movie. On Saturday morning I surprised Mike with a night out just for us!! G-Mama watched the kids and they went to the Animal Safari in Pine Mtn. They loved it!! Mike was very surprised and we had a great time! We spent the day in Atlanta in Virginia Highlands and Atlantic Station and then spent the night at the Georgian Terrace Hotel across the street from the Fox, which is where we spent the first night of our honeymoon. It is such a pretty hotel! We had such a special time just hanging out and being together. We had not had a night out like that together in 6 years, so we were due one!!!

Sunday afternoon we all swam together, except Addi who refuses to swim! It was so hot, which we got to fully understand on Monday when we all went to Six Flags! It was the first trip to the park for Landon and Addi and they loved it!!! They both rode the kiddie roller coaster and Landon even rode Splash Water Falls!! I was surprised!! We went to Thomas the Train Thomas Town and the kids did like it, but parents beware it is just as boring as the movies!!

Despite the heat index of 102 degrees we had an awesome time. The little ones wore out around 3 pm, so mom took them home and Mike and I stayed and spent some special time with the older kids. They had us on every roller coaster in the park. It had been a long time since I had ridden a roller coaster, at least since before Landon was born. The biggest one, Goliath, was the tallest coaster I have ever ridden on and it was scary! We had a great time and thankfully no one got dehydrated! The park was dead, probably because of how hot is was and the fact that it was a Monday. We walked onto every ride. That aspect made the heat worth it! I have never drank so much Powerade!!
On Tuesday we went shopping, had lunch with G-Mama and then a friend of mine from highschool named Sharena came over for dinner. It was so good to see her, talk about "old" times and catch up on new ones. We came home Wednesday and have been busy back at home!!
Below are some pictures from Six Flags. I meant to take some pictures of the entire weekend, but was just too lazy. I can blame the heat on there not being alot pictures from Six Flags. Notice in the pictures how sweaty everyone is!!!