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!!!

Memorial Day Weekend 2008 in Atlanta

We had a great time last weekend in Atlanta for Memorial Day weekend! We had great visit time and play time. On Sunday afternoon we had a big family gathering and all had fun catching up with family that we do not get to see very often. It was a strong reminder of how thankful we are for our families and for the freedoms we can enjoy because of the brave armed forces that we remembered this past weekend!! Below are lots of pictures from our fun family get together on Sunday afternoon!!!

Here is my handsome cousin Wes!!He is a college grad preparing to take a once in a life time rock climbing adventure all across the country!


Addi and Will hanging out. Will was making all kinds of growling noises at Addi and she was just standing there looking at him like he was crazy. So funny! It was great to see Courtney and Will on this visit too.


The kids playing with some new toys!


All the Delk family grandkids and great-grandkids with GG!!!


The Delk family kids, all six of them!!


Funny little Mary Paul in her cute swim suit!!


Addi still did not like the water but she did like the swing!


Landon, however, loved the water and was wet most of the afternoon!


Sam with Kaori in her new swimsuit!! Jeremy and little Taylor in the background hanging out near the kiddie pool. It was so fun to see my cousin Mandi, Jeremy and Taylor!!


The chefs of day at the grill, Adam and Andi!


Landon climbed right up and snuggled with his Uncle Bryan, it was so sweet!


Sam with Kaori in one of Kaori's favorite inventions. She loves her carrier!!! It is a sure bet to get her to sleep!


Addi looking at Kaori's arrival pictures with Uncle Dave!


Addi giving me a great smile as a bathing beauty!!


Cousins Addi and Mary Paul both bathing beauties in their ponytails!! So cute to watch them together!!

The Past Couple of Weeks at a Glance.....

We have had a good past two weeks! Summer is officially here at our house as the kid's last day of school was yesterday!! We are all very happy for the arrival of summer and all of its plans. To kick off the summer me and the kids will do our traditional G-Mama visit beginning the first weekend of June. We plan on making a Six Flags trip and it will be the first one for the little ones. It should be fun and interesting! John and Andi are the busiest with their summer plans. Andi is going on two different mission trips, one to the Lakota Indian reservation in South Dakota and one to the Gulf. John is going on a big vacation to California with one of his good friends and then he is going on the Gulf mission trip as well. Then they both have band camp the last two weeks of summer, so summer will go by very fast!! The little ones and I will be hanging out and possibly making some visits to see Aunt Ryan, Uncle Bryan and Mary Paul as well as my friend Amy and her kids. She actually came to visit me this last week and it was so good to see her. We used to work together in Augusta. She is staying home with her two girls now and was able to make the trip during the week. I am so thankful that she came to visit!! It is not easy making a 4 hour trip by yourself with a two year old and four month old, so hats off to Amy!!! We had a great visit!!!

This week also marked Andi's last year of middle school. I can't believe that next year I will have two highschoolers. Andi finished 8th grade with all A's!!! She recieved a Presidential Award for Scholastic Excellence! She is so incredibly smart and talented in many ways!! We are so very proud of her and the young woman she is becoming. Next year will be a big one for her being a freshman and a member of the RCHS colorguard!! We are so excited for her!

Last week John was asked by his marching band director to be the Drumline captain next year. This is a big honor for John as usually it is only seniors who have this responsiblity. John will be a junior next year so will be the captain for two years!! What a great leader we have and we know John will do a great job!!

Below are some pictures of my visit with my friend Amy and some pictures of Andi with her favorite teachers!!
Here are Addi and Abbi. Abbi is one week older than Addi! You can imagine it got a little confusing with an Abbi and an Addi!! ( I made them their matching dresses and they wore them to church on Wed. night. They were so cute!!)



I put several of these group pictures up because as many of you know it is so funny trying to get group pictures of kids. I love to see what all of them are doing in the different pics!!




Addi cheesing it up!!!


Addi and Abbi again trying to get them both to look at the camera!!


Abbi showing off her pretty brown eyes!!!


Some more group shots!! Too funny!!





Andi with her favorite teachers and friends from this past year!! Doesn't she look so pretty and grown up!!!

Mother's Day Weekend!!

Amazingly I did not take any pictures of my Mother's Day weekend, however it was great! Friday, all of us except Mike and John went to Atlanta to see my mom's play that she directed. Aunt Samantha and Kaori came too. It was so much fun and she did a great job!! Saturday morning we went shopping to get Andi some summer clothes and then took G-Mama out for a Mother's Day lunch and celebration. I am so thankful for my mother and the wonderful grandmother she is to my children. I have a great example in her and admire her in so many ways!! I love you MOM!

After lunch, we headed back to TN. Once home, I was admittedly very tired and crashed in bed at 9:15. The next day was busy at church (I was teaching two classes), but once I was home I was able to relax. It was so nice. Mike and the kids made me a special lunch and dessert. They make me the same thing every year and it is my favorite! Then they gave me flowers, a new candle, and then John and Andi volunteered to babysit for my big gift of a facial, manicure and pedicure at Salon Visage! Wow! I was very surprised and excited! My husband was so great and then let me take another long nap!! I absolutely LOVE being a mother and find my greatest joys in each one of my children!! Hooray for all the Mothers!!