tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58864933038915910292024-03-13T23:14:54.602-07:00Staying dry in Washingtonstaceygriffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192652415795385672noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5886493303891591029.post-90902780238712529172011-01-05T23:35:00.000-08:002011-01-05T23:47:34.944-08:00Zàijiàn(goodbye)This will be my last blog post from this site. Mark has set up a new blog for us to use while in China. I guess I wont be able to use this one while we are there. Words that pop into my mind to describe how I feel right now are; excited, sad,bittersweet,trust<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium;">ing,discombobulated,happy,in limbo,sentimental,sick to stomach,optimistic,in disarray,frustrated,loved and so many more emotions. Oh, and emotional(just to forewarn everyone). I know everything will be alright and that we are making a good decision for our family at this time. I will keep in touch with everyone, maybe not through FB but emails and maybe even snail mail. Could any of you that read this send me your home address. It's been so long since I've sent an actual letter but I remember loving sending and receiving them when I lived in Taiwan, of course that was pre-email so it might not be as exciting. Zaijian peeps.</span></span>staceygriffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192652415795385672noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5886493303891591029.post-38943262363302631522010-12-15T08:30:00.000-08:002010-12-15T09:10:31.931-08:00New ChapterWe are leaving for China in less than two months. I can't believe how fast time is going. Some days I'm so excited and other days I'm really sad to leave our life here. We have lived here a little over 6 yrs and out of all the places we've lived, this is what I consider to be "Home", well except for Logan(which will always be home). I've lived in Asia. First time I went I was 19 yrs old, second time I was 21, third time I was 24. Now at 42, I've lost some of that "nerve" that I had each time I went to Taiwan to teach English. I was so adventurous. I guess I still am to a degree or I wouldn't be moving to Beijing with my family. I think that's the key though, I wouldn't be doing this if it weren't with my family. A couple things have already happened that have made me realize that this move(18-24 months)has already opened doors to some new friendships and opportunities. First, I was looking online about 1 1/2 months ago for blogs written by people who have either lived in Beijing or who are living in Beijing now. I came across a single woman's blog that is from Tennessee and who lived in Beijing for 3 years. She wrote an amazing blog about her time living in Beijing and about all the things she did there. I really admire her because she traveled so much within China, she pretty much spent the majority of her time with people from China and Beijing and she experienced everything. Her name is Teresa and we've become really good friends through email and FB. I ask her all kinds of questions and she writes back and gives me all kinds of great information. Come to find out she was an extra in one of the "Work and the Glory" films. She is going to be in Beijing in March and I look forward to meeting her in person and hanging out with her. Secondly, Mark's work is being so generous with what they will pay for that we felt like it was an opportunity we couldn't pass up on. Our kids get to go to a private school with amazing benefits, they will pay for Kiah to come over while she's not in school and they will pay for our housing, which during this time in our lives we(as is the case for all of us)need a break from a huge house payment. I don't mean to brag but instead want to say how grateful I feel for this opportunity. It's a blessing in disguise so to speak. It came at a good time in our lives and I truly feel is going to be an experience filled with so many wonderful possibilities. I am going to miss home like crazy, our friends and family, our church congregation here. I'm sad but it's such a short time really that it will be over in no time and we will be back in Issaquah hanging out with friends again.<a href="http://www.artsjournal.com/bookdaddy/Home_Photo_books.jpg"><img src="http://www.artsjournal.com/bookdaddy/Home_Photo_books.jpg" align="right"></a>I guess I shouldn't say this is a new chapter because it's not like my chapter of living here in Washington is over. Maybe I should say it's a new book and my life here in Issaquah is a really good one(like a good book) and I've just sat it down for a minute to check out this new book. That's pretty much what I do anyhow. I always have a few books going at one time. I'll be posting about our life in China, I will keep everyone updated and for those that can or want a big adventure, come visit. PLEASE!staceygriffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192652415795385672noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5886493303891591029.post-61774123547565810702010-11-05T07:32:00.000-07:002010-11-05T08:42:37.495-07:00Traugott und HeleneOur trip to Europe had it's ups and downs for sure. I fell and hurt my ankle and knee at the beginning of the trip which caused pain throughout the rest of the trip. I also got sick and ended up having a sinus infection and bronchitis. It was a trip where one night we took a train to a new city(got in around 8pm) then the next day Mark had meetings all day and I checked out of the hotel around noon and left the suitcases at the hotel and then went out site seeing(as best as I could with a swollen ankle and knee), then we would catch another train around 5:30 and do the same thing all over again. I realize we were in Europe, so I shouldn't complain BUT when you don't feel good and you are running from one city to the next it's not ideal.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/5107947614/in/set-72157625080559669/"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1438/5107947614_6bed6523fd_m.jpg" align="right"></a> Paris with Mark was amazing(except from falling outside Notre Dame) and then the end of the trip was wonderful. 24 yrs ago I went on exchange program to a small little town in Germany, Hereford. We were matched up with a student who first came and stayed at our houses and then we went and stayed at theirs. I was paired with Dagmar Hagerbaumer. Like me she is the youngest in her family and like me she has two older brothers. Our parents are close in age, hers are now 71 and mine are 78. We hit it off immediately unlike some of my friends who never got along with their exchange student. I felt very blessed. While I was in Germany we traveled to Berlin and this was when the wall was still up. Our German teacher set it up for us to be able to travel into East Berlin and meet secretly with a group of LDS German teenagers. In East Berlin the LDS people were not allowed to practice their religion but in their homes they secretly held church. It was amazing to meet with them yet at the same time it was very depressing. I remember their questions were about things like Michael Jackson and movie stars. We weren't allowed to take the money we had exchanged from the German deutchmark into the East Berlin dollar back into West Berlin. We all gave our money to the LDS group we met with.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/5122632944/in/set-72157625080559669/"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1152/5122632944_81eff027b1_m.jpg" align="right"></a> It was very little but they were so appreciative. At the end of this trip we went to Berlin for a night and a day. The whole time I was there I felt like I had a huge smile on my face. Our hotel (which was amazing) was in the East side of Berlin. Where back in 1986 the East side was blah and drab in colors and feeling, now the East side has new buildings, fancy hotels and a huge amazing train station. More money has been put into the East side which was nice to see. I went to the Jewish Museum and spent about 3 hrs there, it was one place I was told to not miss. It was worth the limping around. After that I took a tour bus and sat up top like a tourist but it was nice to sit for a little bit and be able to see all the sites.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/5119345645/in/set-72157625080559669/"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1389/5119345645_93045e5244_m.jpg" align="right"></a> It was amazing to see all the places I remember seeing with my High School class. We would drive by a historical site and I could see my friend Alison and I walking around as teenagers and I couldn't help but smile. After Berlin we took a train to Bielefeld, which is a really small town about 20 minutes from where my host family lives. It was so random that Mark and his co-workers needed to meet with a seller in this small town yet such a blessing. Dagmar's parents Traugott and Helene have sent my parents and my family a Christmas card ever since 1986. As far as I know I am the only one in my High School group that has kept in touch with their student and host family. Dagmar and her 2 yr old daughter Naya came and picked me up in the morning and took me to her parents house. When we pulled up to their home they had stuck an American flag in a flower pot and on the door their was a big piece of paper that said Herzliche Wilkommen(translate to happy welcome or much welcome). They were standing there waving with huge smiles on their faces and I instantly felt at home. We spent a long time talking(Dagmar's dad speaks English pretty well but her mother doesn't speak any English)and looking at photo's. Then we had a yummy soup that her mother made and Dagmar's brother Fred joined us for lunch. It was so relaxing and such a great day spent with her family. We then went to Dagmar's home and let Naya take a short nap and then we went shopping for the kids and to buy a bunch of chocolate for my family.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/5138669024/in/set-72157625080559669/"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1432/5138669024_5c9dd036c5_m.jpg" align="right"></a> That night we met Mark,Dagmar's parents, Dagmar's husband and teenage son for dinner at a Chinese place in Bielefeld near the train station so that we could catch the train to Hanover after dinner.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/5138675664/in/set-72157625080559669/"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1164/5138675664_fd23cb591d_m.jpg" align="right"></a><br /> It was a great night and I will never forget my day spent with them.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/5138684202/in/set-72157625080559669/"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1079/5138684202_370e7b99b5_m.jpg" align="right"></a> It was the perfect ending to a long but wonderful trip.staceygriffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192652415795385672noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5886493303891591029.post-84924150100736229462010-10-25T22:15:00.000-07:002010-10-25T22:31:07.420-07:00Trains,planes and automobilesThis is not a relaxing trip to say the least. It's been wonderful and beautiful but I have never been more ready to say goodbye to my suitcase and the clothes I brought with me as much as I do right now. I don't know if it was the cobblestone streets and my weak ankles or just being tired but in Paris I fell. No surprise I know but it happened. My left ankle and right knee swelled up immediately. Right by Notre Dame so at least I had a beautiful view as I fell in front of everyone. I can walk (thank goodness) but it kills. What do you do though when you still have 6 days left in your trip that includes planes, trains and taxi's? You buckle up and make do. I did see a doctor in my hotel room yesterday in Munich(cost was 180$). She suggested I go to a hospital and have x-rays taken. First she suggested an ambulance which I said "no thank you but I think I'll take a taxi". Mark took me to a hospital where after seeing a doctor(and students, I felt like I was in Grey's anatomy minus the good looking doctors)getting x-rays(which they made me do in my underwear, I think just to make fun of the American)and then seeing the doctor again it cost just 100$. Crazy, US Er's would never cost so little. It's a little strange having students feel your ankle and knee while talking in German. They were all very nice though and very thorough. Now we are in Leipzig and then heading to Berlin tonight. It's been an amazing trip and despite having an ankle that compares to an elephants, it's been great. I get to see my babies in 4 days. I'm so excited. Ich liebe meine Kinder. I think I said that right.staceygriffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192652415795385672noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5886493303891591029.post-10923999109686271222010-10-22T05:45:00.000-07:002010-10-22T06:14:27.081-07:00Hanging out in Luxembourg, LuxembourgI don't have any photo's yet to add to this post but I wanted to get some thoughts out. We have been in Luxembourg for three days now and tonight we leave for Paris. I'm a bit nervous because of the strikes and riots that are going on but we are hoping (based on what people have told us) that the Parisians will take a break for the weekend and not riot, instead go spend some time with their families and relax from all that striking and fighting with the police. I hope! I'm missing the kids a lot. You think you wont because as a parent(and especially a mom) you are kind of ready for a vacation but then of course you realize how much you miss their cute little faces and getting hugs and kisses from them. That's how I'm feeling today. I miss my kids.:(<br />I love Luxembourg though and the people. I love how they speak both French and German and in their conversations they will go back and forth in both languages. I can pick out certain words in German and understand a tiny bit what they are saying but then the French flies right over my head. I'm really excited to see Dagmar and her family next week. I'm tagging along with Mark as he goes from city to city in Germany meeting some of Germany's biggest sellers with Amazon. It's a coincidence that the last town we visit is only 1/2 hr from the town my host family lives in. The Hagerbaumers are picking me up next Thursday and taking me out to lunch and to hang out with them. I haven't seen them since I was 17, yet we have kept in touch every Christmas. Dagmar's parents send my parents a card every year. They are good people. <br />You don't realize how young of a country we live in until you go outside of the US. I love all the old churches here, the fort that goes right through the city and I love all the cobblestone streets, though they are making me feel a bit lopsided for some reason. Things I like so far on the trip; being with Mark,the people(saying Merci goes a long way here),croissants, croissants and croissants. Things I don't like; being away from family,not being able to speak French and that everything seems very expensive. That's vacation though, right? Hope this finds everyone well.staceygriffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192652415795385672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5886493303891591029.post-39804492966369007762010-10-03T18:38:00.000-07:002010-10-03T18:54:41.380-07:00Times they are a changingSofia started 6th grade this year(middle school,oh my)atI MS. What a big change for her. I think she looks too young to be in Middle School, as do a lot of her friends. Sofia said to me one day "middle school is going to be fun, right mom"? What was I to say " No, it was some of the worst years of my school years"! Instead I told her it was a lot of fun and she would love it as well. Now almost a month later, she does love it. She doesn't love all of her teachers (who does?) but she likes going from class to class, she has some great teachers(one being a neighbor of ours) and she's made some new friends. Maybe she will be the 1st kid to love Middle School. Ha ha.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/4948560718/in/photostream/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4111/4948560718_f66a7de217_m.jpg" align="right"></a> Miles started 1st grade and going all day. He wasn't so sure about his teacher(since Sofia had been talking about how she had his teacher and didn't like her and that she was mean, which she wasn't)and didn't want to go. The first day he came home and said to me "Mom, guess what? My teacher is really nice"! Phew, I was so happy to hear those words and hear how happy he was. He has class with two friends, Maggie Noble and Ben Hawkins, both from church. He as well is still happy with his class and loves going. A big plus for Mark and I is that at night he's completely worn out and goes to be much better. Thank goodness. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/4948562132/in/photostream/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4091/4948562132_664b74b098_m.jpg" align="right"></a> It was weird to not take photo's of all three kids on their first day of school. It was strange to not be there for Kiah's first day of school and to have her come home and tell us all about it. Now we talk on the phone and she tells us about school and all that goes along with it. Such changes in our home this year, from college aged, to middle school, to Miles going all day. It's going to be a great year and I'm excited to see the kids continue to grow.staceygriffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192652415795385672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5886493303891591029.post-79957185156489603322010-10-01T13:17:00.000-07:002010-10-01T14:06:16.268-07:00Two weeks in Utah part unoI can't possibly blog about everything we did in Utah and post photo's. That would take too long. Plus Mark is out of town on a hike, so I can't call him to figure out how to do what I want to do with this post. I'll try and get by on my own though. We spent two wonderful weeks in Utah, mainly in Logan visiting my parents. We were able to see family and friends during that time and also catch up with my parents who we hadn't seen in two years. With my foot surgery last year and being in a cast most of the summer we weren't able to visit them. Because of that we decided to spend two weeks in Logan. I said that already, sorry. It was a bit bittersweet because we also dropped Kiah off at school, so it was fun to be with her but sad to leave her. Here is a photo of all that we packed. We had to pack for us but also Kiah's stuff to drop off for school. We were jammed pack to say the least, oh and we had Hope with us. That was fun. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/4888554007/in/set-72157624606912443/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4888554007_8003079689_m.jpg" align="right" /></a><br />Now on to the trip. Here is a photo of my beautiful niece Kim and her nephew Alex (my nephew's son). <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/4900270358/in/set-72157624606912443/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4900270358_0f80cfc3d0_m.jpg" align="right" /></a> Floating down Logan canal is a must. Miles and Sofia loved it. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/4907098625/in/set-72157624606912443/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/4907098625_f82707a3af_m.jpg" align="right" /></a> Here's Mark canoeing out at the marshes. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/4912243628/in/set-72157624606912443/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/4912243628_fa97e9648e_m.jpg" align="right" /></a> We always spend a day or two with the Zollinger's out at the farm. I love this barn and so do the kids. Maybe if one of the Zollinger's read this, they can tell me how old the barn is? I know it's a Historical landmark but I can't remember when it was built. If you look real close you can see Sofia at the end. She's about to swing from a rope. The kids love it there. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/4920299710/in/set-72157624606912443/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4096/4920299710_bb3396deed_m.jpg" align="right" /></a> I wish this photo could truly grasp how beautiful of a night it was when we were driving past the Logan Temple (where Mark and I were married). It was a gorgeous summer night and the moon was breathtaking. The kids were griping about us going down memory lane while in Logan but they love to see the temple an finally gave us a break and didn't make fun of us. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/4922453532/in/set-72157624606912443/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4922453532_5a8994c679_m.jpg" align="right" /></a> No trip to Logan is complete without a day spent at Bear Lake. The blue water, the raspberry shakes and tots with fry sauce. yum. Unfortunately the day we decided to go was so windy that we couldn't even play in the water. That didn't stop us from having fun though. The kids still waded in the water, we went to LaBeau's (where I worked and lived for a summer as a teenager) and took some great family photo's. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/4921935157/in/set-72157624606912443/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/4921935157_2e95f87150_m.jpg" align="right"></a> Kiah and her tot dipped in fry sauce. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/4922505002/in/set-72157624606912443/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4143/4922505002_1f07517f1a_m.jpg" align="right"></a> Family shot that Mark was adamant to get. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/4927156164/in/set-72157624606912443/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4136/4927156164_e332531e00_m.jpg" align="right"></a> We celebrated Sofi's 11th Birthday in Ione,Idaho at Mark's aunt Marcia's house. I don't think it was her ideal birthday, she'd rather have been at home with friends but we made do with what we had. Plus we left the next morning to drive home and we left Kiah in Idaho. I think Sofi was a bit sad about that. Despite their complaining about each other, they are very close and Sofi really misses her big sister. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/4947395266/in/set-72157624606912443/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4149/4947395266_b7fbabb89f_m.jpg" align="right"></a>staceygriffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192652415795385672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5886493303891591029.post-44445350746692413112010-05-13T14:46:00.000-07:002010-05-13T15:14:07.066-07:00To Epiphanies and beyond......While cleaning up my desk and putting photo albums away I found a note that I'd written and put in Kiah's scrapbook I made for her. I thought I would share it. I was going through her album look for photo's I want to use for a gift for her on graduation. I remember writing this little note and the feelings I was experiencing at the time. <br />"I've been writing lately about Epiphanies that I've been experiencing. Some by myself, some with the kids, some with Mark. With the girls I have had similar moments. I've just now begun to understand and realize that Epiphanies are revealing scene's or moments, illuminating discoveries. I have had many of these special; almost heart stopping times with Kiah. When I was in labor with her and it seemed to be going along smoothly, she all of the sudden became distressed. She was facing sideways and would not turn. My doctor told Mark and I that he might have to do a C-section. They wheeled me out of the birthing room to an operating room. I was very nervous(being first time mom and just 23) and I could tell Mark was as well. With hard work from both the doctor and myself(more from me of course) Kiah was delivered at 11:49am on April 3,1992. Whether every mother experiences this or not is of no relevance to me (not to be harsh), it was my moment. They put Kiah on my stomach after they cleaned her up and she was so beautiful. This living breathing being was ours. I touched her little hand and she clutched onto my finger and I looked into her eyes and was in awe. Babies are so inspiring, they remind you of starting fresh, of innocence and all that is new and trusting. Later I would experience this with Sofia but in a different way. Still amazing nonetheless. We get to be a part of their moment that for them is new and unsure. It reminds us to trust again, to look at our surroundings and have faith. As a young mother, I had no idea what was in store for me when they handed me Kiah. I just knew that she was mine, that she trusted me, she looked into my eyes, held on to my finger and we were mother and daughter".<br />That's been 18 yrs now since that wonderful day. She leaves for school and will one day not too far down the road become a mother herself. I love her more than words can express and feel honored to be her mother.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/4576428159/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/4576428159_1f9d26f0e6_m.jpg"left"></a>staceygriffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192652415795385672noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5886493303891591029.post-76181900497874500352009-10-09T22:25:00.002-07:002009-10-09T22:51:13.138-07:00Butternut Squash SoupToday I was loving the fall colors and the smell in the air and it made me crave soup. I tend to crave soup on fallish days and cold days, I'm sure everyone is that way. I went to you tube of all places and typed in "butternut squash soup" and a little video popped up that looked good and sounded easy. The website is www.harvesteating.com<br />You can then look up Butternut squash soup. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceygriffith/3997475076/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3442/3997475076_b58d99e61b_o.jpg" align="right"></a> It turned out really good if I do say so myself. It satisfied my fall soup craving. I also bought a good bread to go with it. We all decided the soup tasted better with a bit of sour cream as well. It was lacking something and the sour cream did the trick. The recipe also calls for one medium sized squash, I would add a little more to make it thicker. I would've liked ours better if it was thicker. I love fall. It always makes me think of being a kid in Logan, Utah. It makes me think of trick-or-treating in the snow, the spook alley that was in the basement of the old library, my mom's soups and the colors up Logan Canyon. This time of the year always makes me a little homesick. I loved sitting with the family tonight at the table, eating soup and laughing. Miles was eating pancakes and done before the rest of us and then he was running around like a maniac while the rest of us ate and talked. That's how most of our meals are. If any of you make this recipe, let me know what you think or if you have one you make that you really like, pass it on.staceygriffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192652415795385672noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5886493303891591029.post-91036384390910147372009-09-18T13:10:00.000-07:002009-09-23T11:43:42.595-07:00My sweet girlToday is picture day at school so Sofi wanted me to do something special to her hair. She had it relaxed almost a month ago and she has loved it. While the woman was doing Sofi's hair I could literally see her pulling the curl out of Sofi's hair. Whatever she put on her hair did wonders. It's that age old story of a girl with curly wanting straight and then there are girls with straight that want curly. For those of you who have felt Sofi's hair before you know it's the nappiest hair ever. I find these little circles of hair around the house and you can pull one end of it out and it's almost 5 inches long and let go and it goes back to this little circle of hair. The girl has the curliest hair I've ever seen. When she was little it wasn't that curly but when it started coming in more it went crazy.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/8481443/in/photostream/"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/6/8481443_1cca5ee3f8_m.jpg" align="right"></a> One time when Sofi was about 2 she was standing at the counter in the kitchen and she took a metal fastener out of her hair and was about to put it in a light socket. I told her she needed to give it to me. Next thing I know she's flinging back and falling on the ground and smoke was coming out of the socket. She was fine but maybe that was the turning point for her hair :) This morning while blow drying her hair and then straightening it she got all excited and said "today I get a plastic comb". I had no idea what she was talking about so I asked. Just a little FYI for those that don't know, Sofi is in 5th grade now. She said that when they take school photo's they offer each kid their own plastic comb to fix their hair and this would be the first year she would be able to get a comb and use it. I almost started to cry. In the past Sofi has had her hair in cornrows, extensions, poofs and headbands for her school photo's. Now with her hair relaxed it lays completely down and she can comb through it. It made me sad that she was so excited to get this plastic comb today. I have watched her out of the corner of my eye as she looks longingly at her friends as they run their hands through their hair, or as Kiah brushes her own hair or puts it up in a ponytail. It's hard to watch.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/3946877398/?addedcomment=1#comment72157622440696486"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2511/3946877398_f78b8d1a70_m.jpg" align="right"></a> It's so fun to watch her now as she looks in the mirror and tries all kinds of new styles with her hair. It sounds so superficial but it's a big deal to her. It's a matter of feeling more like the other girls instead of different. Which at this age, they don't want to be. I'm excited for Sofi today too and that she gets to use the plastic comb. Go Sofi!!!staceygriffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192652415795385672noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5886493303891591029.post-32381199930707219842009-09-06T12:09:00.000-07:002009-10-13T10:30:04.851-07:00A little late but hopefully not too lateI wanted to write up a short note about Mexico since I somehow never did. I went straight from Mexico to foot injury and have forgotten how fun the trip was and how beautiful. It was our 20th anniversary so we needed to do something special. On our honeymoon we stayed in a tiny cabin in Yellowstone with a wood burning stove and no bathroom.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceygriffith/4009056768/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3519/4009056768_6c940e64c6_m.jpg" align="right"></a><br />While that was romantic and all we could afford at that time, 20 yrs later needed to be something bigger. We were gone for 9 days. We first went to Cozumel, which I loved and would like to go back and spend the whole vacation on that island. The water was amazing and the resort we stayed at was magical. We took a boat back to the main island and from there we rented a car and went inland to see ruins. We saw Coba, Chichen Itza and Uxmal. Uxmal was my favorite one of all.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/3630475101/in/set-72157619656233702/"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2463/3630475101_f429ecfe64_m.jpg" align="right"></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/3644757675/in/set-72157619656233702/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3605/3644757675_8004792346_m.jpg" align="right"></a> We stayed at a Hacienda on our anniversary. It was kind of out in the middle of nowhere so I was a bit apprehensive about the accommodations, it ended up being the most beautiful place we stayed at. Mark had arranged for us to have our dinner outside but it started to rain so we ate on our veranda. It was delicious. The pool there was the coolest and after a hot muggy day it felt good to swim in. The place we stayed at has also accommodated Sting and President Bush. It was gorgeous.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/3645310471/in/set-72157619656233702/"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2478/3645310471_79972145ab_m.jpg" align="right"></a> Definitely a step up from a little cabin in Yellowstone. We drove back to the coast and stayed in Tulum which is a cute little beach town.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/3654593162/in/set-72157619656233702/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3388/3654593162_b103a9ee33_m.jpg" align="right"></a> It was at the Tulum ruin that I fell and hurt my ankle and foot.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/3654786650/in/set-72157619656233702/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3634/3654786650_5f932a6ce6_m.jpg" align="right"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/3654519143/in/set-72157619656233702/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3415/3654519143_3104548caa_m.jpg" align="right"></a> Now 2 months later I've been put through the ringer because of that fall. I still have great memories of the trip and loved every minute of it.staceygriffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192652415795385672noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5886493303891591029.post-66151143365325272012009-09-04T23:21:00.000-07:002009-09-05T00:10:46.172-07:00bye bye babyMy baby started Kindergarten this week.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceygriffith/3889280222/"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2611/3889280222_38d5c265f2_m.jpg" align="right"></a> Where did all that time go. I swear he was just in diapers yesterday and drinking from a bottle. Now he's starting school and it's feels strange. I had mixed emotions when I dropped him off, it was sad yet having sent two other kids to Kindergarten and survived I knew I would be fine with Miles gone. It also helped that it was a nice sunny day and I went and visited a friend. The teacher had the kids line up against the wall and wait until all the kids had shown up and then she marched them down to their classroom.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceygriffith/3889264088/in/photostream/"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2540/3889264088_d388e4f22b_m.jpg" align="right"></a> He is so much taller than the other kids that he looks a bit out of place yet emotionally he's the same as the others. Miles had brought in a shirt the night before class and asked me if it was "special" and should he wear it to school? I went into his room and he had his backpack and clothes all laid out and ready to go. When we were leaving to go to school he asked me if there would be a "welcome party" for him when he got there. I love that he was that excited and that he knows to feel welcomed and cared for, instead of feeling scared and alone. It does feel strange to be sending my last child to school. Kindergarten isn't really long enough to do anything but it is enough to have a break. It just feels strange to have him gone during the day and to know he is growing up. He's been such a momma's boy and I hope that doesn't change. When he got off the bus the first day I was ready to take photo's of him getting off the bus. He ran at me so fast yelling "mommy" that I had to brace myself so I wouldn't fall down. He's a lean kid but he's strong! That made me more weepy than when I dropped him off at school.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceygriffith/3889264096/in/photostream/"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2560/3889264096_a18a3e5acd_m.jpg" align="right"></a> It feels good to know you are still loved.staceygriffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192652415795385672noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5886493303891591029.post-38758679132978115582009-09-02T10:29:00.000-07:002009-09-02T10:58:26.546-07:00Last hoorah of summerI have been stuck in the house far too long this summer because of my ankle and foot. On Sunday after church Mark called to tell me he was on his way home after meetings and it popped into my head that I wanted to go camping. Mark would never say "no" to camping so he came home and we packed up in record time and headed off to go camping. We didn't get to our campsite until about 8:45pm, so we just sat up camp and went to bed. There is a fire ban so when it's 9ish at night out in the middle of nowhere, with no fire going on, there isn't much to do but go to sleep. Because of going to bed so early, we woke up early. Mark, Miles and I took the canoe out while the girls slept and it was completely peaceful. It was just what I needed. There were no sounds, the sun was out and the scenery was amazing. Plus I was with my two favorite guys. What more can you ask for? Oh and I had a cold coke waiting for me back at camp. That topped it off. We played by the river for a while and then headed down to cooper lake to go swimming in a swimming hole that Mark knew about. It was the coldest water I've ever gone swimming in, but it was just that initial freezing, it got better. We played for a while and then headed home. It was short but sweet and just what the doctor ordered. Well actually my doctor would most likely be upset if he knew I was out and about on my foot but I had about had it and I needed to be enjoying the last days of summer. Hope you enjoy the video that Mark made. <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="300" data="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"> <param name="flashvars" value="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=da61740290&photo_id=3877149340"></param> <param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377"></param> <param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"></param> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=da61740290&photo_id=3877149340" height="300" width="400"></embed></object>staceygriffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192652415795385672noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5886493303891591029.post-79034187634853947112009-09-02T09:47:00.000-07:002009-09-02T10:29:12.429-07:00Double digits baby!!!!!Sofi just turned 10 and had been counting down the days for her double digit birthday. It's so strange that she is already 10. It seems like yesterday that Mark and I flew to Florida to adopt Sofi. We had got a call the week before she was born from a lawyer in Florida that we had sent our adoption papers to. A Birth Mother had seen our portfolio and had chosen us. I can remember it so clearly. We flew to Florida on a Sunday and Sofi had been born on Saturday afternoon. We went with a car carrier and that was all we had. We flew in around 2am on Monday morning slept a bit and then got up to go to the hospital. It was so surreal and like I was floating on clouds and that the clouds were carrying me from one stage of the adoption process to the next. We met the lawyer at the hospital, signed papers (he only cared about the check and asked about it a couple of times, what a loser),and then went upstairs to the nursery. It was so strange to one minute have it be Mark, Kiah and I and then in the next have a nurse point to a crib and say "there's your baby girl." They told me to sit in a rocking chair and then they gave me Sofi.<ahref="http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceygriffith/3088116397/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3205/3088116397_e044acfd0b_m.jpg" align="right"></a> I held her while Mark made tons of phone calls to family and friends. I fell in love with her instantly and it's been pure love ever since. I can't imagine my life without Sofi, I can't imagine our family without her. It's like there was this spot in our home, in every picture, at the dinner table, while saying prayers, while going on vacations that was just waiting for Sofi to fill it. It truly feels like I was just in that rocking chair holding her and looking at her beautiful big eyes and holding her little fist in mine just yesterday. Now she is almost as tall as I am, she is a spunky, feisty, fashionable little 10 yr old. I'm so glad she is in my life. Happy 10th Sofi!!! <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/3867668666/in/set-72157622175381540/"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2434/3867668666_87a36d4ed0_m.jpg" align="right"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/3868368406/in/set-72157622175381540/"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2669/3868368406_70f62dac29_m.jpg" align="right"></a>staceygriffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192652415795385672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5886493303891591029.post-59095380527929981312009-08-17T12:35:00.000-07:002009-08-17T16:53:02.321-07:00You breath in when I breath outI found this video on a blog recently and loved the song and video. It made me cry actually, well not cry as so much as bring a tear to my eyes. Being immobile like I have, I have been counting on people and needing more support than ever. I loved this video in the sense that we all need that extra support every so often and it's good to know that there is someone there to catch you when you need it. I have been lucky this summer to have great family and friends that have done just that. They've given me hugs when I needed them, and catch me when I need help. I know that there are things far worse than having foot surgery and that this is small compared to other things. I'm just not use to being stuck in the house or not being able to go and do as I please. It's been a test to say the least. Why have I never heard of this group before? They are from Scotland and their accents give me goosebumps( I have this thing, a bit of a crush when it comes to Scottish accents). The video is good and the song is even better.<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oV5-g61GYKY&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oV5-g61GYKY&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>staceygriffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192652415795385672noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5886493303891591029.post-66634979315772421082009-08-16T12:58:00.000-07:002009-08-16T13:05:15.293-07:00Loving me some RilkeI think because I'm down and can't do a lot that I've been thinking of all the things I can't do. I've been known to complain a tad(Mark will laugh about this) about walking and hiking. Of course now that there is no possible way for me to do either, I missing it.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/2936006155/in/set-1030692/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3180/2936006155_dcdb059426_m.jpg" align="right"></a> Maybe this will be my HUGE motivation to get out there more and hike. I was reading from a book I have of Rilke's poems and I found this one. For now I guess I will enjoy Mark's photo's and read about walking and hiking instead. Enjoy.<br /><br /><br /> A Walk<br /><br />My eyes already touch the sunny hill.<br />going far ahead of the road I have begun.<br />So we are grasped by what we cannot grasp;<br />it has inner light, even from a distance-<br /><br />and charges us, even if we do not reach it,<br />into something else, which, hardly sensing it,<br />we already are; a gesture waves us on<br />answering our own wave...<br />but what we feel is the wind in our faces.<br /><br />by Rainer Maria Rilkestaceygriffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192652415795385672noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5886493303891591029.post-84911768686274661022009-08-16T01:21:00.000-07:002009-08-16T01:45:58.147-07:00Going Stir crazyI think after my foot is all healed and I can be more mobile I am going to rearrange and decorate my room. After staring at it for so long because of this stupid ankle, I've about had it with the view. After looking around at my room for weeks now I think it's time for a change. I haven't had much to write about since I haven't really done a lot since getting back from Mexico. It has been a bit of a bummer actually but I am on the mend and I think I see the light. You will notice in the photo's that they are all taken from the same angle, it's not exciting but I thought I would share. Enjoy and if you have any decorating suggestions, fire away.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceygriffith/3824440041/"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2529/3824440041_e1e5eb7ea3_m.jpg" align="right" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceygriffith/3825242488/"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2442/3825242488_b25a81a916_m.jpg" align="right" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceygriffith/3824440063/in/set-72157622050051614/"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2467/3824440063_0d41f09a44_m.jpg" align="right" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceygriffith/3824439995/in/set-72157622050051614/"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2505/3824439995_380f9650db_m.jpg" align="right" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceygriffith/3824440019/in/set-72157622050051614/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3582/3824440019_93690cf05b_m.jpg" align="right" /></a>staceygriffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192652415795385672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5886493303891591029.post-79875415670097626032009-07-15T00:54:00.001-07:002009-07-15T01:15:33.673-07:00U2 and MRI'sYou might ask what U2 and MRI's have in common? Nothing would be my answer. Last week though I had my first MRI (of my right ankle that I hurt in Mexico). I'm very happy that it was my ankle and not my head or body because I think I would maybe go insane or need some drugs to sedate me a little before hand. I was very happy that I could choose music to listen to for the 45 minutes that I had to lay completely still. I chose U2 but it was a toss up between that and Bob Marley. I was afraid I would want to dance a little if it were Bob so I went with U2's greatest hits. It helped and I was so glad that I could listen to music to tone down the loud sound of the MRI machine. Have you seen one of those before? They are huge and so loud. As I lay there on the table being completely still yet holding on to a buzzer thing that I could push if I needed help (yet was told not to because they would have to stop the procedure), I kept thinking that it would be something simple like a sprain and nothing more. Unfortunately it's not something simple like a sprain and I have to have surgery on the 11th of August. I ruined some of the cartilage in my ankle and some of the ligaments. How bizarre is this though. They will drill into the bone and let the blood seep out into my ankle which it will form new cartilage. He also has to repair some of the ligaments. If that surgery doesn't take, then they will take cartilage from a cadaver and place it in my ankle/foot. How fun does that sound? Tons, I know. I then will be on crutches for 6 weeks, the boot after that for a couple weeks and then physical therapy.<br />I have a great orthopedic surgeon though that a friend referred me to and I feel completely safe in his hands. Unfortunately the podiatrist that I went to before him told me it was just a sprain and to wear the boot for a week and then take it easy. I wont be going back to him any time soon. I'm not looking forward to surgery. I have a bit of a fear of surgery and being put under. I'm glad though to be getting my foot worked on and hopefully strengthening it. I can think of funner things I'd rather be doing this summer but I know it will be better in the long run. If you have any movie(DVDs) or book suggestions send them my way. I will have plenty of time to watch them and to read.staceygriffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192652415795385672noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5886493303891591029.post-57955638974868320892009-05-28T11:40:00.000-07:002009-05-28T11:56:51.592-07:00Wisdom teeth are HUGE!I just got back from taking Kiah to get her wisdom teeth taken out. They wrapped her teeth up in a nice little packet and gave them to me. I took one look and had to put them away. It's been so long since I had mine taken out that I don't even know if my parents kept mine or not but those things are HUGE. No wonder we have to have them taken out, there wouldn't been any space in our mouth for them. I feel bad that we had to wait for our insurance to roll over again for the new year, because by the time I took her in, they had all pushed up through the skin. She was scheduled for tomorrow and today I called to see if there was any way to get her in because she's been in so much pain. Luckily they had a cancellation and were able to fit Kiah in. She was one loopy person when they wheeled her out to the car. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4XSzV8GKU-4/SdtfJwScfGI/AAAAAAAAA3o/sklyxcc0KOs/s320/teeth-1.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4XSzV8GKU-4/SdtfJwScfGI/AAAAAAAAA3o/sklyxcc0KOs/s320/teeth-1.jpg" align="right" /></a> She kept poking at her lips and gum's. I would tell her to just lay back and sleep but she would pull the mirror down and poke at her face and try to talk to me and say how huge her face was. It was a bit entertaining to say the least. I had my wisdom teeth taken out when I was 16. My parents didn't have the greatest dental insurance and had to pay for it out of their pocket. They weren't so happy to hear I had 6 wisdom teeth. It was a joke for a long time that I couldn't just have 4 like everyone else but that I had to have 6 and it was 100$ a tooth. My dad only had 2, his parents were probably very happy. I think Kiah will do great and recover fast. She has a pretty high pain tolerance and she is young. It's just hard to watch her go through all these steps that get her closer to leaving the house. Like turning 16, dating, driving, next year she's a senior, getting her wisdom teeth taken out. All those teenage milestones that get her closer to becoming an adult. I will have to take some good photo's later of her, swollen cheeks and all.staceygriffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192652415795385672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5886493303891591029.post-69361864886612775422009-05-27T19:49:00.000-07:002009-05-27T20:06:50.623-07:00Photo's from a funeralI hope a couple of these photo's aren't looked at as morbid but that you can sense the happiness that we all felt at Grandma Smith's funeral knowing that she was with her husband and parents and other family members that have passed on. These photo's show the great posterity she left and the family that came together to honor her and her life. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/3567694624/in/set-72157618538607141/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3331/3567694624_df0fee5060_m.jpg" align="right" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/3569491583/in/set-72157618538607141/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3369/3569491583_46babcd095_m.jpg" align="right" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/3556297665/in/set-72157618538607141/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3642/3556297665_68fae9b1de_m.jpg" align="right" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/3570568181/in/set-72157618538607141/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3302/3570568181_821b89b3dc_m.jpg" align="right" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/3571857080/in/set-72157618538607141/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3656/3571857080_314c5facf8_m.jpg" align="right" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/3558453256/in/set-72157618538607141/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3589/3558453256_c061d76b75_m.jpg" align="right" /></a>staceygriffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192652415795385672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5886493303891591029.post-69022156394811830492009-05-25T21:27:00.000-07:002009-05-25T22:04:32.327-07:00Softly and Tenderly Jesus is CallingMark's sweet Grandma Smith passed away last Sunday and we drove to Rigby, Idaho for the funeral on Wednesday. Her daughter-in-law and two of her granddaughters sang the song "Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling" at the funeral as per her request. It was hard to not cry and also hard to not have a big smile on our faces because she has been ready to go for a long time. Her first husband passed away when Mark was probably a year old and then her second husband passed away in 1992. She has missed him very much and has said for the longest time that she was ready to go and be with her "Howard." She also loved to tell us that she could be taken at any moment because she was humble after all. We haven't seen Grandma Smith for a few years because of her health and because of the distance. We were in her area last Thanksgiving and would've gone to see her but she didn't know who anyone was anymore and Mark wanted to remember her when she was spunky and had her memory. I think it would've been too hard to see her the way she has been the last few years. I wanted to list a few things that I remember about Beula and that I will treasure about her. When they had the Teton Dam flood in 1976 there was tons and tons of fabric that people thought had been ruined by the flood and people were just going to throw it away. Mark's Grandparents (being the resourceful people they were) knew they could wash it and reuse a lot of it. Grandma Smith washed tons of fabric and cloth and made quilts for people who had lost blankets due to the flood and then later she made quilts for her family. We have a quilt with some of that material. Mark's Grandma also made our wedding cake. It was three layers and was beautiful. It had red roses on it. Her and Howard also cooked a lot of the food that we had at our reception. Grandma Smith loved her flower garden and took care of it with such love and grace. The flowers in her backyard were immaculate. Grandma Smith also had rows and rows of raspberries. If we ever stopped by her place in the summer we would go outside and pick raspberries and sit and eat in the backyard and talk to her. She wouldn't let us leave without taking some jars of bottled raspberries. They were delicious.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceygriffith/3564999401/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3556/3564999401_51fe40031a_m.jpg" align="right" /></a>Grandma also flew out to California when Kiah was baptized and then when we went to the Temple with Sofia later that day. She was so happy to be there with us and her family. Grandma Smith had many trials in her life and a lot of them brought on by her own family members but she never gave up and her faith never wavered. Mark's uncle Doug and his family did a video one night a few years ago of Grandma and interviewed her, they wanted to ask a bunch of questions about her life before she couldn't remember anymore. They asked at the end of the CD what she would like to tell her family, that she would want them to remember. She said " to always stay close to their Heavenly Father and to always bear their Testimony of him." Then they asked if she would like to sing a song and she sang the one I mentioned above. It was so sweet. She will be missed but at the same time, she lived a full life. She was 86 when she passed away. We all know she is with her "Howard" and as happy as can be.staceygriffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192652415795385672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5886493303891591029.post-59367676830974755472009-04-19T16:58:00.000-07:002009-04-19T17:06:39.270-07:00My baby is growing up!Miles lost his first tooth this past week. His permanent tooth had popped up behind his baby tooth and the baby tooth had been loose for a while. Sofi came home one day and told Miles that his baby tooth was bleeding and could she wipe it with some toilet paper? He is not wise to the ways of an older sister that has had this same trick pulled on her by her dad. She grabbed the tooth of course and yanked it out without him knowing that she did it on purpose. He just thought it came out on it's own. He was so excited and is still excited that he lost a tooth and had the visit from the Tooth Fairy ( 5$ was not my idea, that was Mark's). Sofi sewed a little pouch for him to put under his pillow for the tooth to go in. It was very cute to watch Sofi get all excited and to get Miles more excited than he already was. It's amazing how fast the teeth start to move. His big one is already moving up to where it's suppose to be. Now another is popping up behind a baby tooth. I think the kid is going to need braces. For right now though I'm enjoying these 1st's with my youngest and trying not to think about the day when he will be bigger and when he's not my baby anymore.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niffgurd/3451302216/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3365/3451302216_a0738c7fe3_m.jpg" align="right" /></a>staceygriffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192652415795385672noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5886493303891591029.post-32315494284800771462009-04-15T16:59:00.000-07:002009-04-15T17:05:21.681-07:00Oh no you didn't!!While at Kiah's state drill competition last month Sofi played with the silly putty that I bought for her and Miles. The competition was an all day event and I knew they would get bored so I packed some things to play with. Silly putty should be safe right? Wrong when your 9 year old thinks it would be funny to put it on her dad's hairy arm. I love the look on his face though and her head peeking through like "am I in trouble?" It took him a while to get it all out and he lost some hair. I thought it was pretty funny actually but then it didn't happen to me.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceygriffith/3446243736/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3398/3446243736_19587c9333_m.jpg" align="right" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceygriffith/3445428187/in/photostream/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3661/3445428187_b9b666cc28_m.jpg" align="right" /></a>staceygriffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192652415795385672noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5886493303891591029.post-61670221673617007232009-04-14T14:05:00.000-07:002009-04-15T17:16:59.562-07:00High Tea with my girlsWe went to Vancouver Island for Spring break last week. The first part of the trip we backpacked out to Mystic Beach (which is very beautiful) and the second part was spent in Victoria,BC. There is a Hotel there, the Empress Hotel and it's famous for it's High Tea. Kiah and Sofi wanted to have High Tea but I wasn't about to spend 45$ per person for them to experience it. We instead found a cute little place called the "James Bay Tea Room." It was very cute and quaint and charged 16$ per person instead of the highly overpriced Empress Hotel(which is cool to walk through and walk around the grounds). These are some pic's of our Tea time. They have all these yummy little sandwiches and crumpets with jam. They have herbal tea or caffeinated tea, you choose what you want. I have to explain that the photo at the end is Sofi sad that the tea and all the goodies are gone. I had to add it because Sofi loves to drink hot tea. It's all herbal of course but she drinks it when she gets sick, when it's cold outside and even when it's hot. The girl loves tea with sugar and now that she discovered tea/cream and sugar she wants me to fix it at home. It was a nice time spent with Kiah and Sofi. They were very cute. It was a beautiful day. The only bad part was when I coughed so hard (I'm still dealing with bronchitis) that tea came out my nose. I ran outside to cough so that I didn't scare any of the old people that were there having their tea and crumpets (I think we were the only young people there). <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceygriffith/3444603993/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3542/3444603993_cf3c84f132_o.jpg" align="right" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceygriffith/3444603973/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3593/3444603973_6b82f125a0_o.jpg" align="right" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceygriffith/3444604021/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3549/3444604021_53680bdfb4_o.jpg" align="right" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceygriffith/3444604039/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3550/3444604039_1885ec858e_o.jpg" align="right" /></a>staceygriffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192652415795385672noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5886493303891591029.post-60810984910745184602009-04-03T16:28:00.000-07:002009-04-03T17:08:22.136-07:00My baby keeps getting older!Kiah(my oldest) turned 17 today. Next year she will be a senior and then out of the house. I can't believe she is already 17 though. I've always associated this time of the year with three things and all of them to me, mean "life, hope and love." I associate this time of the year to those things because Kiah was born on April 3, it's always around Easter and when she was born it was Conference weekend and here we are again with it being conference weekend. I don't want to brag about Kiah on here (because I could ya know, I am a bit bias and I will brag with photo's instead, hee hee). Except to say she amazed me as a baby, a toddler, in Elementary school, Middle school and now High school years. I love her with all my heart. She means the world to me. Happy Birthday Kiah!<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceygriffith/2103880778/"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2081/2103880778_9574e815dd_m.jpg" align="right" /></a> <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceygriffith/3030471442/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3191/3030471442_deed78709c_m.jpg" align="right" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceygriffith/3030513124/in/set-72157609067337498/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3237/3030513124_e6806d88a5_m.jpg" align="right" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceygriffith/50710158/"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/25/50710158_212d23c506_m.jpg" align="right" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceygriffith/40716054/in/photostream/"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/32/40716054_fbf1626a33_m.jpg" align="right" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceygriffith/40712403/in/set-894022/"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/22/40712403_7771080c36_m.jpg" align="right" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceygriffith/2099068411/"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2194/2099068411_6a460c65a1_m.jpg" align="right" /></a> That's my girl!!!staceygriffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192652415795385672noreply@blogger.com4