Halloween Overload!

Halloween was non-stop action this year.  We definitely lived it up.  Sit back and enjoy the longest Halloween recap post ever!

We began our festivities with pumpkin carving on Thursday night. Grandpa Griff was on site to assist with the carving, Randy was the official pumpkin cleaner outer, I was also a carving expert, and the kids were busy running wild and wrestling. 

 Hank really wanted the werewolf and Grandpa was happy to oblige.

 He also mustered up the strength and artistic ability to carve this bat.

 I started off my carving with a classic jack-o-lantern face.  It didn't really challenge me too much.

 Max really wanted the spider but Randy and Griff were too scared to attempt it.  I willingly accepted the challenge, although I don't know why! It was much more work than I bargained for.  Max wasn't nearly as impressed as he should have been.

This is the best the pumpkins looked since it was pouring rain on Halloween night and I couldn't light them.

The next day Hank got to wear his costume to school and have his Halloween party.  Then Randy and I dropped the kids off with Kunz and we headed up to Salt Lake for Evil Ball 6!

Let me introduce you to Anita and Waldo, officially the most random couple ever!

Where's Waldo?

I kind of enjoyed my long black locks, not going to lie!

Sarah and Brett as the adorable Coach Taylor and Tami. (Friday Night Lights for those who are out of the loop.)

These two definitely made the most dramatic transformations.  I'm still scared.  Where are my mommy and daddy?  All I see is the joker and the wicked witch of the west.

You could not tell it was my gorgeous mom at all.  She was robbed in the costume contest.

 Ahhhhh! I really hate freaky things, like my daddy turning  into the joker.  Brett did an amazing job on my parents make-up.  Who knew Coach Taylor was such an artist?

 My viking aunt and uncle.  I really think Chris needs to wear this costume to work.  They won best overall costume.  Chris was having a little too much fun with his horns!

Grandma Gaga partied it up all night.  I think it's pretty rare to have an 80 year old grandma who knows of Lady Gaga.  She even requested "Poker Face"!

 The Grinch and Cindy Lou Who aka Larry and Becky

 The evil ball hosts, Devo and his wife Amy Winehouse aka Phil and Jil

 We had two officers on site Riley and Ryan...just a little FYI, Randy rocked this costume 4 years ago!

 Ahhh look these sweet BYU co-eds aka Wyatt and Lindsay

 Tami and Anita had some killer dance moves.

 Where's Waldo?

I can see where I get my dance skills!

 Oh HUN!

 Gaga got her groove on as well.

 "Crack That Whip"

Waldo and Anita danced the night away!  We had such a great time.  Thanks Phil and Jil!

The kids were anxious to see our pictures the next morning and were a bit troubled by how crazy we all looked in our costumes.  Max insisted on taking a picture of mom, a normal picture.

See Max, mom is back to normal.  I remember seeing my parents dress up when I was little and it was a bit unnerving.  Sheesh, it's still a bit unnerving!

I made a quick jaunt to Costco, whipped up some delicious black bean chili and cornbread, and got the kids ready for trick-or-treating.  Grandma Jackie, Grandpa Curt, Grandma Jeri, Scott, Kunz, Lynn, Kate, Dan, Sarah, Brett, Grandma Yvonna, Grandpa Sherm, and all the kids came over.

Mr. Buzz Lightyear

Snake Eyes

The weather was awful.  Rain, wind and cold wasn't going to stop these two from getting their candy.

Colby and Hank were on a trick-or-treating rampage.  They started at 5:30 and didn't quit until 9:00!

That face...I can't stand it!  He needs to wear a tight purple hat all the time.

Hank humored me and held the umbrella for one house and then ditched it since it was really hindering his speed.

Max really loved trick-or-treating this year.  He endured the harsh conditions for over an hour and then proceeded to take a bite out of nearly every piece of his candy in his bag.

Jack-man was the cutest puppy I've ever seen.

Isabel and Lucy really got into character.

Dyson rolled in around 8:30 after hanging out with his friends. This is a great look for him!

CANDY!!!! Oh my sugar overload Mino.  He was so wound up it took him a good hour to fall asleep.  We all crashed last night and didn't wake up until after 9 this morning.  What an exciting, exhausting Halloween.  I'm sort of relieved it's over.  Happy Halloween!

Wet Weekend!

Friday night, Randy and I decided to check our timeshare availability so we could take the kids somewhere overnight.  We found a 2 bedroom condo in Bear Lake open on Saturday night so we booked it and packed our bags Saturday morning.  I love spontaneous road trips.  Before we ventured out of town we went to Hank's last soccer game.

Despite the dark clouds looming overhead, Hank had a big crowd present to cheer him on.  My mom and dad were there as well as Jeri and Scott.  Hank was sprinting extra fast for them!

 Unfortunately the rain ruined their last game and they only got to play one quarter.  They had such a fun season and a great team.  Their coach was very intense to say the least but he made sure all the kids had a great experience.  The assistant coach did a fabulous job subbing players in and out.  He is a master with the stop watch.

After a quick stop to Chick-Fil-A and the Halloween store, we were on our way to Garden City.

 

The drive up Logan Canyon was spectacular.

The kids were overjoyed with our accommodations.  We had 2 huge bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a living room and a kitchen for them to run wild in.  They claimed the master bedroom to be theirs.

 Hank couldn't wait to try out the pool.

 Since it rained nearly the entire time we were there, we hung out at the indoor pool 90% of the trip.

 Vacations RULE!

 Classic father and son photo

 Remember how I spent a fortune on private swimming lessons for the kids this summer?  Remember how well they were both swimming just 2 months ago?  Hmmmmmmm.....

 It appears they completely forgot what they learned.  Hank was scared to death when Randy made him swim to the side and Max wouldn't even get his face wet.  Awesome.  Money well spent.

Post swimming we headed to a nearby pizza joint.  Max fell asleep in approximately 20 seconds and didn't move from this position the entire time we ate. 

 After watching The Boy Who Cried Werewolf, (a classic) the boys crashed and didn't move until 8 the next morning.  They woke Randy and I up with swimming suits in hand.

Of course we agreed, I mean what else are you going to do at 8:30 in the morning?

Hank could swim all day long, his brother on the other hand was ready to go back to the room after an hour.

 He refused to wear his wet swim suit outside so he we just wore a sweatshirt and his running shoes, a look only Mino can pull off.

 Hank and I stayed awhile longer and had to take a picture to prove I was in fact on this trip!

 After we checked out we ate at a classic small town diner.  I  tried desperately to get the boys to walk by the lake with me but the rain and cold wind was enough to deter them.  They preferred the warm car to a frolic on the shore with their mom, oh well, maybe next time.  It was nice to relax and get away even if it was only for a day.  Family time is the greatest.  I love my boys!

Fall Perfection

We have really been enjoying the warm fall weather this past week.  I am trying to squeeze in any last sunshine before the coldness sets in.  Jeri took the boys to Hee Haws during their fall break.  They had a great time.  I managed to capture some pretty awesome action shots.

 

I can't tell you how happy it makes me to see him jumping and flipping and being his usual energetic self.

 

 I have to admit I was a bit shocked to see Hank just bust out a flip without any instigation by me or his cousins.  It was a pretty brave move!

 Max had no fear!

 

 Max really wanted Hank to ride on the little train with him. Hank was happy to oblige.

Hayride--I don't recommend this if you have a full bladder...just sayin'

 And of course the corn maze.  Max wasn't really a fan but the other boys had a blast fighting over who found the way out.  

We had a great time at the park with Sarah, Jack and my mom the next day.  The boys love scaring the seagulls.

 I'm glad to see they don't have a fear of birds like their mother.  Sarah has a full recap of the impromptu baseball game/obstacle course that followed on her blog.

 

 Earlier this month, Randy and I had a fabulous time at my cousin Wyatt's wedding.  It was up at Sundance and it was beautiful.  We had a fabulous dinner and danced the night away.  I think I want a do-over of my wedding.  Maybe we will renew our vows on our 15th anniversary. That gives me four years to prepare something incredible.  Randy and I also went golfing last weekend and I finally hit the ball well.  It's been a disappointing golf year for me but thanks to the Ranches Club Champion (Randy) I got some tips that really helped me out.  I am really loving this time of year.  I am so grateful for my family and most importantly their good health.  Here's to hoping for another great week of fabulous weather!

What a difference 2 weeks makes!

It's hard to believe 2 weeks ago we were up at Primary Children's Hospital, hoping and praying to get home as soon as possible.  Hank's blood tests were improving when we left but still not normal so obviously I've been a bit anxious and nervous about how he is recovering. We got home and resumed life as usual, perhaps a bit more paranoid life, but Hank went to school, Taekwondo, and his soccer game.

 

He didn't miss a beat!  His soccer team was so excited to have him back on the field.

 He even scored a goal early in the first half.

I tried really hard not to freak out every time he fell down or acted tired.

On Sunday, we spent some quality family time together.  We went on a long bike ride, ran around at the park, and enjoyed a nice 3D movie.

 He cruised along the bike trail with the same speed he always does.  

 Max didn't do too shabby either on his new Lightning McQueen bike.  Yes he is riding in his jammies!

Hank has been acting really good as you can see, yet I haven't been able to relax.  I've been so worried that things were going to go wrong again. This whole experience has left me terrified and anxious.  Yesterday Hank had some blood taken again, much to his dismay.  I have bad memories of American Fork Hospital thanks to an incorrect diagnosis 3weeks ago.  He met with his pediatrician today to discuss the results and I'm so relieved and excited to say things are improving!  His blood pressure is good and they are going to discuss taking him off his meds in a few weeks.  His kidneys are functioning much better and his red blood cell count has gone up.  In fact, every area they checked has drastically improved from 2 weeks ago. They will continue to do blood tests every 2 weeks for the next few months until things are completely normal.  Our doctor is very encouraged with Hanks progress.  He expects even better results from his next blood test.  I can breathe a bit easier now. 

Oh yes, and we had his parent teacher conference last night I'm happy to report that Hank is a genius with lots of friends. No surprise there!

Birthday #3

After nearly a week delay, Max finally got his birthday party.  Before the party recap I need will give you just a taste of the Mino man at 3 years old.

1. He weighs 31 pounds (44%) and stands 38.75 (80%) inches tall.
2. He still loves the Wiggles and prefers the episodes with Sam Wiggle as opposed to Greg.  Jeff is his favorite.
3. His diet consists of milk with a splash of chocolate, toast with jam, dino nuggets, waffles, and goldfish.  He isn't much of an eater. 
4. His favorite movies at the moment are Cars, The Chipmunk Movie, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Toy Story, and Finding Nemo.
5. He is still sucking his fingers whenever he can.
6. He can be the sweetest most loving boy ever and then flip a switch and turn into psycho child.  He has a problem hitting, pinching, and biting...mostly it's just Hank and I on the receiving end.
7. Every movie he watches he assigns a family member to each character.  For example, he is Lightning McQueen, Simon, Buzz, and Nemo.  Every time that particular character comes on the screen he shouts, "THERE'S MAX" or "THERE'S MOM" or "THERE'S DAD".
8. He loves to play on the computer.  Curious George and Toontown are his favorites.
9. He doesn't really have a favorite toy but he tends to play with anything Hank loves.
10. He is completely potty trained and has been for 6 months.  He did that one on his own!
11. He knows all his colors and can count up to 20.
12. He has developed a little stutter, for example: "wa wa wa wa what's that" or "I I I I I want to play" or "don don don don't do that".  It's sort of funny right now but I hope it doesn't require speech therapy in the future.
13. He is Hank's biggest fan.  After Taekwondo he always says "Good Job buddy, you're awesome".  
14. He is able to play with Hank now without causing major frustration on Hank's end.
15. He still takes an afternoon nap most days...although lately he's been fighting it.
16. He loves to read stories before bed.  He would read 50 books if I would let him.  His favorite are the Froggy books and David Get's In Trouble.
17. He is capable of flooding the bathroom after 5 minutes in the tub.
18. He loves to help me make pancakes, waffles, and chocolate chip cookies.

 We held Max's unbirthday on the 29th of September.  He was so excited to finally have his birthday.  Hank helped me pick out every present for Max this year.  Every gift he opened Hank was shaking with excitement.  He was especially excited for Max to open the present from him.  

He got him a SF 49ers shirt (just like the one he has), some hotwheels, Star Wars bandaids, and some camo rain boots.  Max also got a Toy Story Game, playdoh, books, and clothes from Randy and I.  The big present this year was a bike.  Hank brought it out for him and Max said "Cool bike Hank" not realizing it was for him.  Once he found out it was his, he was pumped!

He figured it out really quick.  Knowing Max, those training wheels won't be on for long.

After a quick stop at the pediatricians office with Hank, where I found out absolutely nothing, we stopped at Chick Fil A for lunch.  We met Sarah, Jack and my mom there.  The boys had so much fun together.

 Then it was party time! Max was feeling very photogenic so I had to take some shots while he was in a good mood.

 I'm not sure but I think some crepe paper threw up in my kitchen.

 The cake

 Kunz, Jeri, mom

 Mom and Dad

 Grandpa Sherm and Grandma Yvonna 

 Jack-man

 Danna, Sarah and Kate

 My dad and Randy tried to copy Max's smile.  Not nearly as cute!

 Max and Monet shared a tender moment.

Max blowing out candles might be my favorite thing ever.  His cooperation for photos ended about here so I didn't get pictures of Grandma Joanne, Hayley, Lucy, Isabel, Dyson, Colby, James, Darcelle, Jimmy, or Erica.  None of his uncles made an appearance...boo uncles! Only the Portland boys are excused.

 I had the genius idea to break a pinata since Max likes to hit everything in sight. Worst idea ever! Max was beyond pissed when Hank broke it open.  Oh well, I tried.  He got such wonderful gifts from everyone.  Thank you to everyone who came and called Max on his birthday.  

I

 It was like Christmas morning yesterday when Max woke up.  They painted, they played in their tent, played army guys, games, playdoh, you name it.  Needless to say my house looks like it was Christmas morning.  Disaster!  I think its safe to say he had a wonderful birthday.  I can't imagine my life without Max in it.  He adds so much happiness and energy to our home.  He always keeps me running but I love his wild spirit.  He is truly unique, funny, sweet, out of control, adorable, and loving.  I love you Maxi!

In other Griffin news, we have a new addition to our family courtesy of my mom and dad.

They insisted on getting Hank a Wii after a safe return from the hospital.  He was shocked to say the least as was I.  We are still trying to figure out a way for Hank and Max to play together without killing each other.  Hank is one spoiled little boy!  He deserves it though.