Monday, September 22, 2008

Mama's Birthday and Family Fun Weekend!!

This past weekend was full of fun and perpetual "chaos"!! First, we celebrated my birthday on Thursday night. The kids and Mike gave me several gifts, all of which I really liked!! It was also a sad day, because we had to say good-bye to one of our pets. Andi's bird, Zildjian, past away on Thursday evening. Andi was very sad, as we all were. Zildjian had been a part of our family for five years, so it was sad and strange for him not to be around anymore. We buried him under a tree outside Andi's window. That wasy whenever she looks out she can remember him.

Friday, Uncle Bryan and Aunt Ryan with Mary Paul came into town. It was so good to have them here and we loved our visit!!! The cousins had so much fun playing together. That night we went to the football game. We were playing Anderson County highschool where one of the football coaches is the husband to a good college friend from UGA named Holly Norwood Samples. So, she came to the house to hang out for a while before the game to visit with us. She has a little boy named Web who is just one month younger than Addi. He was soooo cute and a huge football fan. It was sooo good to see her and catch up! Then, we all sat together at the game too. Along with my mom, Uncle Dave, Aunt Samantha and Kaori who met us there. John and Andi did great performing, as usual, and everyone had fun being together!

Then, the next day everyone came back over to hang out and have dinner together and celebrate birthdays!! In the midst of everything, the brother-in-laws were able to get in some mountain biking Saturday morning, and Uncle Bryan literally re-built our computer!!! We are so thankful to him for taking the time to clear out our hardrive and help us start over!! It has made a huge difference in our computer and he also updated our software! We are so blessed to have a brother-in-law that can do that, becasue goodness knows Mike and I are not "computer people"!!

Everyone left Saturday evening and I was wiped out!!! I had to work yesterday, so today I have been trying to catch up on everything around the house from the busy weekend! Hope everyone else had a good weekend too!!

Enjoy the pics, of course they are out of order :)

Here are the first pictures we have ever seen of Mary Paul in a veil!! They are a little foreshadow of what she will look like in say, 25 years!!??!! So sweet!



All the little cousins ready for lunch!!


John and Andi at the football game after their performance. How grown-up!


Addi in her pink dress up dress complete with purse!


Landon, Addi and Mary Paul getting some good dress up time. The music was playing and they were having a ball!! One day Landon will probably hate these pictures!!



Here Landon decided they would play Ring Around The Rosy! Landon is definately the boss!


At the game Kaori was soooo smiley, as she usually is!!


Here Kaori is really into the football game!!!


Mike enjoying her while she is sooo smiley!!! This was a big deal, because usually Kaori cries with Mike !


RCHS Drumline, with my son as the drum captain!!


What a good lookin' boy!!!


Thursday night we celebrated my birthday at home!! All the kids gave me some cute things!! One of the things they gave me was this hat! I really like it!


A card made especially for me by Andi!!


One of the most fun movies, that I had been wanting for a while, Hairspray!


What a blessed mother I am!!!


Addi enjoying her "3rd birthday cake" this month!!


The kids gave me a Life is Good shirt that says this::: Very sweet!!


Landon and Addi loved handing me the presents!!


An ice cream cake from DQ! Yum, yum!!


Landon giving us a birthday party smile!!


Mike bringing me my cake!!


Landon looking at the camera before the cake came out.


Addi get ready for some serious cake action. Check out that butcher knife in the background....serious cake cutter!!!

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Andi "Officially" Turns 15!!

This week is a fun one! Frist, we celebrated Andi's "real" 15th birthday on Monday. If you remember, she had a party a couple of weeks ago, so Monday night we had a family party with her meal of choice and cupcakes. She also opened her family gifts. It was a fun night and a fun time to celebrate her 15 years.

Then, this weekend all the family is coming into town for a September / October birthday celebration. Everyone will go to the kid's football game on Friday night and then we will have our "party" on Saturday. It should be a fun weekend!! I am looking forward to having all the cousins together, and will hopefully get lots of pics!!

Until then......

Before the "birthday party", Landon and Addi were working on one of his many cars. Then John stopped by to help too!! These are moments I know my dad would've LOVED!!



Mike getting ready to deliver the birthday cupcake!!



Andi was being so silly and excited about her big candle in a little cake!




John gave Landon some crazy hair!!!


The two Griner brothers!!


John decided he needed some "icing camo" or maybe a sugar facial!


Andi holding up her Scooby Doo topper. There was really no reason to have Scooby Doo cupcakes, it was a total random act!


Andi giving me a "HUGE" smile!


Addi also gave me a "HUGE" smile!! She was looking up at her daddy.


Landon was also looking up at his daddy!


Andi busy keeping a thank-you note list!! A great habit to form!


Addi enjoying her cupcake!!


John again with the camo!!


I think Mike and Andi were in deep conversation!!


Do you think she likes it??? It was a new watch from John.


Andi opening her cards and money!!



Does Landon know how to mutilate a cupcake or what???


John was being a model for me!! It rarely happens that I can even get him to look at the camera, so these are rare pictures for your viewing pleasure!!





Andi reading her cards and looking 1 year older!!