Griffiths Family News

How [will you spend] summer vacation?

2010-02-17T08:54:00.000-08:00

Yikes! It's been a whole year since the last post on our family blog. So, I thought I'd better get on and write something. (Hmmm. Let's see. I know:)

How about, everybody post what your vacation plans are for the summer. We're getting a little spring fever around here, which is conducive to summer dreams!

For our vacation, we're planning to head over to the Colorado mountains with our trailer and go 4-wheeling. Should be lots of fun! In the later part of the summer (August) we have a reunion in Idaho with Steve's family where we will haul our trailer, again, to spend a few days in different mountains.

We have spring break coming up right before Rachel's birthday. We will probably end up going down to New Mexico to train a web site client on using their new design. Rachel isn't too excited about that plan--she'd rather spend the week before her birthday celebrating up north at a fancy new pirate restaurant. But it's the best time we have for training. Besides, we'll get a free hotel room, since our client owns the hotel. ;-)

Megan and Jessica made cute Valentine's Day hats at library story time.

House Fire

2009-02-03T21:35:00.001-08:00

This is the boys' room downstairs - just smoke damage.

I was going to upload the pix all here, but can't figure out how to do it without taking forever. I'll email them to everyone. Kurt, can you put them on the blog? Thanks.

Celebration

2009-01-28T19:54:00.000-08:00

Chad and I went up to the Canyon to spend some time celebrating with Missy, Alex, little Alex, and Noah. We hadn't been able to get together with Chad since his birthday. And now that he has a new job that actually pays money every month, we had more to celebrate. Little Alex helped me make a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, red sprinkles, and blue candles. He and Noah were particularly excited about all "Uncle Chad's" presents. Many from Christmas (Mom & Dad sent them and Chad just got them now). Alex, in particular, kept hoping one of them was for him. Both the boys did really enjoy the gummy worms Grandma & Grandpa sent to them.

Noah has started to pose for the papparazzi. Aim a camera at him, and he immediately goes into "cheesy grin" mode. We sure had fun! Oh, and Kurt - Chad likes the shirt. Says he'll have to wear it to work. I don't know how many girls he can impress with it, though. Maybe it'll show his sensitive side. (;

Trip to Mesa

2009-01-26T10:46:00.000-08:00

There's not much going on in our lives right now. We had a nice visit with Grandma and Mom and Dad in Mesa; although, Rachel, Megan, and I all took turns being sick while we were there. One of the highlights of our visit was dinner at the "Organ Stop." They have an incredible organ there, played while you're chowing down on pizza, that controls a piano, puppets, lights, and lots of other things. We also went to a children's museum that's not far from Grandma's house. The kids had fun in the little art village there.

Finally Figured it Out

2009-01-26T09:11:00.000-08:00

I finally figured out how to post. Thanks to Kurt for your help. The kids just ran in to tell me the "fridge is broke" so I'll have to post more later.

--Shauna

Updated My Wishlist

2008-11-20T10:28:00.000-08:00

So... if you are feeling generous I updated my wishlist on http://avien.com/griffiths

Bigney family on Halloween

2008-11-02T21:18:00.001-08:00

Halloween with "The Boys"

2008-11-02T21:14:00.000-08:00

Melissa did it again - cute costumes for Alex & Noah. Alex is a Blue & Red Crocodile and Noah is Peter Rabbit.

Changes

2008-10-22T20:38:00.000-07:00

Well, everyone, it looks as if my life is about to change again. It's been coming on gradually and then, one day, I just knew: I don't really enjoy much of what I am doing for work. The trainings always cause me huge anxiety and then I feel like I am never measuring up. And things are being scheduled so that trainers will be on the road almost every week starting in January. So I started looking for another job. Today I got a job offer to teach first grade in South Jordan. It is a 1/2 hour commute, but that's the biggest drawback. So sometime mid-November or December I will be joining the ranks of public education once again.
Janelle

Picture Day

2008-10-11T08:54:00.000-07:00

(download the pictures)

Conference Weekend

2008-10-05T21:47:00.000-07:00

Rachel stayed overnight at my house Friday night... we had a great time after I moved her air mattress away from the sliding glass doors in my room so she couldn't hear the "scary" noises outside. We had Macey's donuts and eggs for breakfast and watched some cartoons. Rachel took a bath in my big jet tub while I watched conference. She got to play with some of the toys in my second bedroom, too. Then we went to lunch at "Max & Cheese". It is a kid's cafe, with a lot of fun decorations and things to play with. Rachel had an "Octo-dog", which was a hotdog that looked like an Octopus. Shauna and Jessica came over and we did some shopping together, too. I think the sleepover was a success - Rachel asked to do it again sometime!! (:

Atlanta News

2008-09-30T16:13:00.000-07:00

Well, gas is still scarce, but luckily I found some yesterday morning so I should be able to get to work until the crisis is over. Peter is a handsome boy and is very well behaved. Of course, he hasn't quite figured out how to do anything besides eat, sleep, and cry when he's hungry. Tracy's parents have been staying with us and they've been a huge help. Tracy's Dad likes projects, so he has already gone to work and built a nice shelf system in our pantry, giving us about 2x the space we had before!

Birthdays

2008-09-23T16:07:00.000-07:00

Well, little Noah is now a year old, and boy is he a loveable bundle of trouble. He's a daredevil climber and seems to have a radar for the most dangerous thing in any room. We had a small gathering on his birthday-just us and Mom and Dad. It was monkey themed for my little monkey. I subjected everyone to a healthy cake(I've been on an anti-processed sugar kick). It was sweetened with orange juice. I think it tasted alright, but I'm biased. The Bigneys had a second cake for him on Sunday. Actually, they made whoopie pies, which are big cakey chocolate cookies sandwiched together with cream. Noah seemed to have fun being the center of attention. I'll see if I can figure out how to post some videos of the big day(s).

Janelle Update

2008-09-21T16:36:00.000-07:00

I am home from Virginia and Phoenix - made it in Saturday afternoon. That was a long, exhausting trip and I am glad to be home. I worked hard with Heather at the Phoenix Scrapbook convention, but I also enjoyed it. I got to teach a couple of the classes and have to admit, it was more fun than teaching computer software. I just love the creative design side to scrapbooking.

I am missing my nieces and nephews and trying to figure out a way to see them more often!!!

News from Covered Bridge Canyon

2008-09-18T18:18:00.001-07:00

Howdy to everyone… I hope this finds you all well, happy, and gainfully employed, given the precarious state of the economy. Congratulations to Kurt & Tracy on the safe arrival of Peter Rockwood Griffiths… 8 lbs 13 oz, 21 ¾ inches. Mom & I are planning a trip to Georgia for Thanksgiving and blessing him the Sunday after. In fact, we are using mapquest to plan a trip to Indiana by way of Branson, MO to visit Rex & family leaving home about 12-13 Nov, after election day. We’ll stay in Corydon for 5-6 days… then down to Dacula for Thanksgiving week… then back to Arizona by way of Clinton, Oklahoma where we lived the first 2 years we were married… we hope to attend Church there… might see some of the members who were there 40 years ago.

We are having the exterior of the CBC house painted this week. We’re also in the midst of remodeling the Kitchen. It’s a mess right now… with cabinets on the floor and all but 4 chairs of the old counter removed. We have new microwave and electric range with ovens to install… and a new refrigerator. Right now we’re cooking on a hotplate and the old microwave. We got the ceiling sheet rock repaired in the TV room where it had been damaged by leaking roof and swamp cooler. Also, purchased several new light fixtures.

Anyway… we’re doing quite a bit of renovation… with help of Steve, Alex, Melissa, and Chad… Thank you very much (Mahalo nui loa)…!

Grandma G. seems to be doing quite well… gaining back her strength little by little. Thanks to Lisa, Leslie, and Jenny for visiting and checking on her regularly to help with laundry, housecleaning, and shopping for her… and occasionally bringing in KFC, In and Out Burgers, Fish & Chips, etc. She still hasn’t felt up to attending Church… and doesn’t get out of the house much. Pat & Spence are planning to be there with her for Thanksgiving… and, we will be with her for Christmas/New Years… and probably stay until April, before returning to Utah.

Mom’s shoulder has not been bothering her so she hasn’t felt the need to have the operation to remove the calcium deposits that were causing her so much pain a couple of months ago. We celebrated Noah’s first b-day last night… he had a grand time ripping open his gift packages… and eating his cake.

Baby Peter

2008-09-18T10:09:00.001-07:00

Peter was 8 lb 13 oz and 21 3/4 in long. That makes him our 2nd largest baby after Thomas (Mr. 10-pounder). Everyone is doing great, although we could all do with some more sleep!

Writing Blog Posts

2008-09-18T08:38:00.001-07:00

I've been using Windows Live Writer to post entries to the blog. It is much nicer than the online editor! If you are on Windows, I highly recommend checking it out.

Today is the Day!

2008-09-15T05:02:00.001-07:00

We will be at the hospital at 10:30 am ET to start the induction. Everyone's excited! Tracy's Mom came into town this last Thursday to help out. Stay tuned for pictures and such!

#2 Son on the Way Monday!

2008-09-13T10:58:00.000-07:00

Tracy will be induced Monday morning!

Porkypines

2008-09-03T18:17:00.000-07:00

The other day in the car Ivy was reminiscing about her kindergarten fieldtrip to the zoo. She said that at the zoo they had porkypines. "And you know what else?" she asked. "Baby porkypines don't have any porkies!"

Janelle (a.k.a. Aunt Nellie) update

2008-09-03T10:54:00.000-07:00

Hey all - I am really starting to get into the groove of blogs. Helped along by the fact that I actually have to train on them as part of one of the applications I do.

This week is prep week - trying to get ready for an online training tomorrow morning (6:30 a.m. - yuck!) and a week long training in Virginia Sept. 16-20. Next Thursday I am going to Phoenix with Heather (Jensen) to help with a scrapbook fair. I will get to see Grandma, so I'm excited.

Meanwhile, my calling as single adult rep in my ward and trying to get a side-business going (as a "designer" for Heartstring Designs, Heather, Carl & Sharon's company) take up most of the time that I am not at work. It's been pretty busy - but then it always is.

I have decided my fondest dream would be to be independently wealthy so I could do whatever I wanted during the day and not have to work. Anyone volunteer to become rich enough to support the rest of us?

Ivy's Birthday

2008-08-30T06:48:00.000-07:00

Ivy turned 6 years old yesterday! She had a great time. One of her friends came over after school to play before dinner. Ivy's birthday theme was "butterfly princess" and so they made some princess crowns with glitter-glue and other delightfully messy things.

For dinner we had Chicken Alfredo - Ivy's favorite! Then it was time for presents. Thanks everyone for the gifts! Ivy loved them. She is excited for all the fancy presents and art projects. Tracy even got her a little-girl makeup kit. In fact, Ivy didn't waste any time this morning getting dressed up to look just like a fancy-nancy butterfly princess.