Family Pictures

I'm not smart enough to figure out how to put these pics on my blog but you can view our pictures by clicking here . This is our photographers blog, she also has a link to see the rest of the pictures on this website. She did a fabulous job and I highly recommend her if you need any pictures taken of your family. She really captured my family's personality and I love how informal it was.

He's Out Of Control!

Oh my sweet little Max-man! This little rascal is wearing me out! He won't just sit and chill ever!! If he's not asleep he's going a hundred miles per hour. Going up the stairs, trying to go down the stairs (or fall down the stairs), emptying every cupboard and drawer, biting me, or crawling mock ninety toward any hazardous thing he can find. How old are kids when they watch t.v.? I guess I'm lucky that he is such a good sleeper because I don't know if I could take it if he was awake much past 8:00 p.m. I don't remember Hank being so on the move or so fearless. I've got a feeling I'm in for some emergency room visits with this one, and he's not even walking yet!! How cute is this picture by the way? "Mom the phone is for you."

Griffin Family Field Trip

What to do on a hot summer day...pool, park, shopping....how about a trip to the Kennecott Bingham Canyon Mine? Probably the most random family outing you could imagine. Randy was certain that it would be the coolest thing we've ever seen. After all, it is one of the only man made structures on earth seen from outer space, next to the Great Wall of China. Randy definitely has some of his dad and grandma in him. I have to give it to him, we had fun, and it was something different to do. Hank had a great time seeing the massive trucks and learning about what copper does. Try explaining that to a three year old who asks five thousand questions.

This is the size of the tires on the massive trucks they use at the mine. They cost $20,000 each and the trucks that use these tires carry 355 tons of rock and dirt in one trip.

(I pay attention! NERD ALERT)

It really is quite amazing how huge this actually is...who knew this was only 20 min away?

Hank was too cool to put his arms in the air like daddy and Max.

I'm not sure who got more excited about the trucks, Randy or Hank. I found these pictures Randy took of the trucks when I wasn't paying attention. Cute, what a little boy at heart!

After we saw a fifteen minute movie about the mine and walked through the visitors center, of course we had to check out the gift shop. We talked Hank out of a $99.00 dump truck and he settled on a hard hat with a light on it. Oh, and a little pouch of colorful rocks.

Our kids can never claim we don't do anything fun!

Happy Anniversary!

Congratulations to me and Randy for NINE years of wedded bliss! We decided to celebrate on Saturday so we could go golfing and out to eat. Many thanks to Kim and Ryan for watching our little babies at 7 in the morning so we could go. We played at Sleepy Ridge and had a wonderful time, mostly because we both played really well. Randy has the most genius new club that looks like a putter but you can chip with it, I think it's called a 37 degree something. It's fool proof and I'm pretty sure it saved me at least 10 strokes. I shot a personal best 44 on the back, not too shabby for how infrequently I play. We picked up the kids and took naps and then went to dinner at Ruth's Chris in Salt Lake. Amanda and Rick watched our kids, thank you to them as well. I promise we will repay the favor when you have kids. I think we owe you a good 2 weeks straight! Dinner was very fancy, sorry Hank but we spent your college tuition on steak and salmon. It was really good, they took reservations so we didn't have to wait, and it was relatively quiet and intimate for a restaurant. It is such a luxury to take your time and really enjoy your food without kids to distract you every five seconds. We had a great, relaxing day together and loved every minute of it. I can honestly say we have more fun together now than we ever have! Not to get too sappy, but marrying Randy nine years ago was the best decision I've ever made. I love you dear! Here's to ninety more!

Hank's First Tattoo

We've become quite the fair/carnival rats this summer. I just can't get enough dirty stinky rides for some reason. The kids and I went to the Utah County Fair last weekend with my mom and my cousins and their kids. By far the coolest thing there was the airbrushed tattoos the kids got. Hank picked his out in about 2 seconds, I guess the tiger with the huge teeth really spoke to him.

Coy and Sadie got skull tattoo's and Cy got the superman logo.

This is Curt and Chris the next generation...except I think Coy and Hank are tougher, they're all tatted up.

My sweet mom really is a trooper and I love our stupid little adventures. My sisters had to start back at work this week so I guess it's just me and you, mom.

Max found all the livestock very funny. He kept laughing and clapping his hands. He is such a ball of energy, I was sweating my butt off by the time we were done here.

These two are so precious together. They really need to play more!

My sweet Dara came to town!!

Flashback ten years ago...we were chilling in Hawaii, just beginning a life long friendship. We thought we were so old and independent then. We look like little babies! This is us in Maui for Thanksgiving. I'm pretty sure we hitch hiked to this restaurant. Who wouldn't pick up these two hotties?

This is us at the famous Matsumoto's shaved ice shack...again, I'm pretty sure we hitch hiked here.

Flash forward to 2008...still hot and workin' it! This time we have a car.

Dara flew out for the week and we had a fabulous time, of course. Nothing has changed, yet everything has changed. I feel like we haven't changed a bit in 10 years but our lives have taken some interesting twists and turns. Who knew when those pictures were taken 10 years ago that I would be married for nine years with two kids? The thing that touches me the most is seeing my kids with Auntie Dara! It's always an adventure when Dara comes to town. She was thrust into life with children and I'm sure it was a bit of a culture shock. Here are some highlights from the trip.

Dara looks just like a mom in this picture. We went to the Dinosaur Museum on the worst possible day, $2 Tuesdays. I'm pretty sure everyone in Utah County was there. We went to a sweet 3D Imax show, had some dino nuggets, and called it a day.

Tender moments with Dara and the kiddies. We went to the Legacy Center Pool one day and surprisingly enough, no closures due to poop in the pool. Dara and Hank really enjoyed the lazy river.

Randy said we were being too serious in the previous photo so we had to flash our signature peace out homie sign.

We went out to eat one night at Trio in Salt Lake and I had the best salmon of my life. The atmosphere was great and so was the food. Thanks to Nicole for watching the kiddies.

Sisters!

Mom and Dara--so sweet, I think they really bonded on this trip. I feel bad that mom and dad's Harley trip was cut short but it made it possible for Dara to spend some quality time with them.
In addition to the above photo's I took her to Target, Ikea, Harmons, Cheesecake Factory, Shade, and I made her buy "Twilight", so I think she had the total Utah experience. She doesn't have a blog yet, but I'm trying to convince her to join the dark side.

Dara, I miss you already, my love! I know we will see each other soon and I'm sure we will talk in about four hours. I'm already planning our next adventure... I'm thinking Cali? Thank you for being my best friend all these years...many more to come.

Random Pictures From Last Week

Hank and Max just got some darling new "bersey outfits". Hank thinks it's wonderful that he can pick Max up now.

This is Hank's favorite pose. He was stoked after going down the big slide with Randy at the Legacy Center

We went to the Owlz game last weekend, a very fun thing to do if you're bored this summer. Hank was very interested in why people were cheering or booing. He also loved to dance to the music. He thought it was hilarious to pretend like he was sleeping every time I got the camera out. Randy looks a little retarded in this pic and Lucy is the most photogenic kid I know