Park Play-for Bethany

Last week my sister-in-law Bethany came down and spent the weekend at my Mom's house. While I was sad that because her brother's who rent out her basement apartment were sick with the swine flu and my brother was starting to get symptoms had made her quickly pack up her newborn and 1 1/2 year old and get out, the girls and I were more than excited to spend some time with them!!

We snatched up Eden one afternoon and took her to the park to play in the sun and we all had a wonderful time.
Her favorite things were the spinners!
We were later joined by Bethany with Leif and Amber with Lincoln for their first outing (I wish I had taken a picture, but alas I didn't).I am glad everyone is feeling better and back home, but the girls do miss our cute Eden!!

Friday Insperation is Back!!

After a much too long hiatus, I have begun scrapping again!! I have so many fun and wonderful kits in my downloads that I could hardly contain myself this week as I have stuck with my goal of doing two layouts a day to get myself caught up. As you can tell I am almost a year behind, but if I can keep plugging along I will make progress. I would really like to get Liv's book finished up to the end of 2008 so that I can print her book, she asked me all the time when I am going to do that, I have to keep explaining to her what a slacker I am and I need to finish last year first!!! It has felt good to be creating again, I really do love it!!

So without further adieu, enjoy my newest completions:

Carnivals and Races and Parades...

As I gently layed Abby into bed Saturday night she hugged me tight and whispered in a tired but content voice "Mom, this was the best day ever, when will it be Strawberry Day again..." and drifted off into dream land filled with carnivals, races, parades, BBQ's, cousins...

Strawberry Day's in Pleasant Grove sadly only comes around once a year, but we take full advantage of it!! Here is the recap of our event filled weekend:

Friday night we went to the Carnival with Cory and Jill and clan. We had a great time riding the rides:Liv HAD to go on the Farris Wheel this year and she wouldn't be left behind on the Roller Coaster either!! I couldn't believe how brave she was, coming off smiling and giggling, we may have a dare devil after all!! Eva loved going on the marry-go-round and driving the cars, her smiles and excitement and waves were precious.

Of course cotton candy was passed around and we initiated Lily into the sugar lovers group!! Sorry Jill!!! We went home tired but excited for our early rise on Saturday morning for the big race!

My family hit the pavement strong at 8:00am and cruised our way to the finish line. Once again we cleaned up at the awards ceremony with Cory, Jill and Kobe taking 2nd in their age groups. Alex coming in 3rd in his. My dad, continueing in his long tradition of domination, took 1st place once again by crushing his record and coming in at 19:30!!!! Holy crap he is fast!! Way to go Dad!!I love this picture because not only is it a great action shot of his determination, but look at his competition- can you say 18 years old at the most and my Dad is totally passing him!!!!
I didn't finish in ribbon contentions, but at a little over 25 minutes I was happy with it, placing me 10th out of 41 in my age group!

Next up was the kid run and Abby was beyond excited to participate in her first race ever. We had practiced several times and she was ready! Asher was also running and they took their places at the starting line. They were a little unprepared for the race madness and soon found themselves casualties of the group getting tripped up and hitting the pavement, but I was so proud that they both jumped right up and kept on running as fast as they could go!At the awards Abby was thrilled upon measure to find that she had taken 3rd place!!!! She got to go up and receive her ribbon and join in the Griffiths family tradition of Strawberry Days champions!!!Next we went to the parade and had a grand time, with it being overcast with some sporadic drizzles of rain it was actually quite nice.
Abby and Liv's favorite entry was this float with the Royalty atop a majestic elephant:Eva love the "tiny ponies" drawing this stage:and I loved the Lehi city float, very unique and fun, I loved that they had the Royalty in Safari dresses!
After that we went to my moms for a Father's day BBQ and the girls played with their cousins for hours and we all got to hold the new babies and eat good food. That evening we got home, bathed the girls and let them sit on the couch to unwind and found them falling asleep at 7:00pm so we scooped up our little darlings and layed them in their beds. It really is too bad that Strawberry Days only comes once a year!!!

That GOOD kind of busy...

(WARNING: its a long one, so that all people involved can snag the shots they want to keep)


Even though it has pretty much been the worst week ever to be enrolled in swim lessons (with it being cold and rainy every single day!) the girls had a blast, learned alot and Liv finally passed Level 1- hooray for Liv's we are so very proud of her, I guess third time really is the charm!!Abby's teacher said she was the best swimmer in her class! You go girl! Eva and I were doing a Mommy and Me class at the same time as the other two. While I missed watching how Liv and Abby were doing I fully enjoyed my one on one time with Eva. She was the top of her class mind you, I give all the credit to myself for being the most fabulous teacher!!! (it couldn't possibly be natural talent!) She will be a champion swimmer I am sure!!!!

Yesterday was a busy day traveling around the state visiting my very cute new Nephews born just five days apart. It is kind of dejavoo with last years birth of my two sweet nieces just one week apart in June!!
First we went north to visit Amber in the hospital.
Here is Trace and Amber's little Lincoln, not even one day old:(Eva had to warm up a bit to him declaring several times "I not like baby boys!", but she came around eventually!!!

After visiting with them in the hospital my in laws were just around the corner so we met up with them for lunch and had a great time. I love this picture not only because of the smiling faces but because I am totally in it even though I was taking it!!!After that we headed further north to see our next new baby.
Here is Kelly and Bethany's little Lief, six days old:This time Eva was a pro and jumped right up to hold him- see she isn't a boy hater after all :)
Seriously so cute, I think it was good that Paul was busy at work during this trip, I think he would be way too jealous of all the testosterone flowing!!! I am so happy both mothers are doing well, that the deliveries were easy and low key- but I am sure they will be posting the full story and stats soon!

Then to end our day we looked at more tile for the bathroom. I have been having a hard time finding some that I like in relation to the cabinet and counter top color- but I think I found the winner last night so we are a go to move forward- hooray!!

Attention all readers

I have just signed myself up for the Strawberry day's 5K and Abby for the half mile kids run! Saturday June 6th is the final day of early discount price registration so you had all better get your butts in gear and get yourselves signed up!!!! The race date just sneaked its way up on me, being two weeks away on June 20. This is a fun one steeped in Griffiths Family tradition! We will be several family members short due to baby arrivals and knee surgeries (I secretly wish I was one of the latter, no no, not the former) but it will be a good time and all you closet runners should come and join us (hint hint). Abby is so excited to run in her first race- I am happy she wants to join me in something that I love to do.

See you all at the starting line!!!