BUBBLE! the movie

And special thanks to Grammy who just sent another GIANT bottle of bubbles... which is perfect because we were running low!!

bubble!!

Griffin Inst really much of a talker. He says "dad" a lot. Occasionally he says "mama". I think he says "ba" for bottle and "do" for dog (but I might be making that up). He also points at things and babbles hysterically. But yesterday he blew my mind.

We were walking up on the porch after school and he had his bubble bucket sitting there. He got a giant grin on his face, pointed at it, and clear as a bell he said "BUBBLE"! Drew was like "um... did he just say bubble?" I thought we must have misheard his regular jabber. So I pulled out one of the wands & blew some bubbles and Griffin got all excited "BUB-ble! BUB-ble!" Cutest. Thing. Ever. He did it again this morning when we walked out onto the porch on the way to school. And then he babbled about bubbles on the car ride there. So, apparently he loves bubbles! Now if we can just get him working on "mama" a bit more...

TP'd!

I KNEW it was too quiet!!

daddy called the doctor...

Griffin ADORES books these days. He constantly chooses favorites and walks them over to us so we will read to him throughout the day. He is also going through a MAJOR daddy phase. It is practically the only word he says. While he used to say mama all the time, it is now very rare. So he walked up to me with his Five Little Monkeys book this afternoon and I started reading until this conversation happened :
Me: ...and then five little monkeys said goodnight to their mama...
Griffin: daddy.
Me: they said goodnight to their MAMA.
Griffin: dad.
Me: mama!!
Griffin: *whispered* dad, dad, dad.
Me: fine

Most Adorable.

Griffin has been shy at daycare drop off ever since he started in the toddler room. I can understand why- there are lots of new, bigger kids and he doesn't know the room or the teachers that well yet. He doesn't cry, but he also doesn't want to let go of my hand and he hovers right next to me. He was especially clingy this morning- I'm sure because it is Monday and he got used to being home- so he frozen in the doorway looking nervous. All of a sudden Tanner, one of the little boys in his class, toddled up & started babbling to him, and then he gave Griffin a HUGE hug and offered him the little car he had been playing with! It made me all misty it was so sweet. And even though Griffin still looked shy afterwards, he didn't look nearly as nervous. It's amazing how fast compassion shows up!

Easter Weekend

We had another absolutely incredible weekend. The weather was beautiful, we were healthy and happy, and we enjoyed every second of each other. I definitely do NOT take these days for granted after that long winter.

Yesterday I spent a lot of time in the garden. I have a bed in the front that I've amended with lots of compost so it should be ready for veggie plantlings as soon as danger of frost is over. I also weeded, hung our planter baskets, and set up our bird bath. Our yard is starting to look like a park- I spent HOURS afterwards just relaxing and enjoying it. We also went on an awesome family bike ride to the park and the library, the farm & feed store (where we looked at the baby chicks) and then we stopped for frozen yogurt (which Griffin ADORED).

Drew has been wanting a hammock ever since we moved in here. From the back yard, you can see lots of mountains and we have a giant shade tree. He finally got his prize yesterday too and he & G spent some time contemplating life in it.

This morning Griffin actually let us sleep in until 6:30! SUCH a treat! So first thing after his morning milk, he went searching for his basket...

not quite sure what an Easter Bunny is, but prizes sound good...

Scarlett actually found his basket first

he thought this ball was the best thing EVER

animal crackers were a close second

Later this afternoon we went to my parent's house for Easter dinner (which was AMAZING, by the way. Best ever, I think!) And Griffin had a BLAST being the center of attention. He spent hours playing ball with grandpa and following grandma around the kitchen. He also got a super cool John Deer truck with built-in legos from the Easter Bunny at grandma & grandpa's house! But I think his favorite part was going to the park at the end of their street:

He got to go down the slide, play in the sandbox, climb the jungle gym, and (attempt to) chat with new friends! He had so much fun, he passed out the second we got him into the car.

The best part of my weekend was seeing the sheer joy on Griffin's face. When he saw the chicks, when he got his toy ball, when he was running back and forth between my parents... such simple things! It just filled me with the most incredible sense of pride, well being, and unfathomable love. I feel like those moments where we get to witness our kids' happiness is why we're alive. Because picturing his tiny gleeful face in those moments eclipses almost any joy I've created on my own. Of course, I suppose, he is our creation too. :)

Making the Rounds

Griffin was in a super silly mood tonight. While I was in the kitchen making dinner, he was happily pacing back and forth making some weird shriek noise. Luckily I was able to catch the hilarity on video.

senior pictures

Griffin had another round of school pictures done (seriously?) and they are awesome. I am posting the montage so you can get a feel for all three poses.

I really do think they're ridiculously cute, but he is totally crying in all of them! You might not be able to tell from the scan, but he has little tears glistening in each one (especially the bottom) and that broke my heart! I don't know why... kids cry (especially G these days) but having him smiling through the tears just seemed sad to me.

Then this made me laugh out loud:

Griffin isn't even in this one! Why did they give it to me?

BEST class picture EVER! Poor kids look miserable! Guess it was a bad day at school!