Addie has a J-O-B

See that darling little worker in the background?

That is my Goonie.

Gabe and I snuck into Famous Footwear after we dropped Addie off for work. We wanted to see her in action!

I grabbed my camera, and Gabe said, "No, No, what are doing with that?"

I said "I want to get documented proof of my girl workin'!"

Well, Gabe advised me NOT to do it, but he as well as everyone else should know that I would never pass up an opportunity to embarrass one of my kids!

So, I was hiding behind a pillar, watching her do her thang when I pulled out the Nikon and snapped a shot. DANG IT, I forgot to turn the flash off! The store lit up really bright, and Addies head looked up, she stares right at me and says, "OMG!!" Then she put her head back down and pretended nothing ever happened.

It was classic, classic I tell ya!

She did amuse me with one pose before telling me to get the heck out of there and take my stupid camera with me.

Gabe apologized, and led me out the door.

They are NO FUN!!

Back to School 2009 Edition

Where did the summer go?

That is the question me and my kids have been asking over and over in the final days before school started back up again. I am amazed at how fast it goes, and here we are again, starting a new school year. Another reminder that my kiddos are getting bigger,

and Gabe and I are getting older.

I present to you....(drum roll please)......

Noah Spencer Griffith

5th Grader!!

School: Entheos Academy

Teacher: Mr. Kent

Shoe Size: 8 in men's (yes...you read that right!)

Wants to be when he grows up: Movie Director, Producer and Creator

(** note- Noah actually started school last Wednesday, but I thought since Addie started school today, I would combine the two of them)

I do not know how many eye rolls I get the morning of the first day of school,

but I assure you, it is a lot.

They seem so much older to me on the first day of school.

Even more so than the last day of summer break.

When I picked Noah up that day and listened to the excitement of him explaining his first day of school, I became overwhelmed with emotion. I felt so lucky to be sharing that moment in time with him. He is such a miracle, a fighter, and I feel honored to be his mother.

There is not a moment every single day that it crosses my mind how lucky we are to have Noah.

I feel like I always have to explain after saying something like that.....yes, I feel honored to be a mother, period. All three of my children are remarkable
and make me a better person everyday.

But there were moments in Noah's life where I dropped to my knees and begged, pleaded, screamed and cried to whatever greater power exists in this world to give him a chance.


Now...after that little rant.... I introduce to you.....(drum roll again)......

Adison Gabrielle Griffith

11th Grader!!



School: Copper Hills High School

Subject most looking forward to: Peer tutoring and ASL

Shoe Size: 9

Wants to be when she grows up: Special Ed Teacher,
specializing in Autism and Down Syndrome children
(what parent couldn't be proud of THAT!!)



Isn't she perfect? I just can not believe where the time has gone. She is just two years away from going to college, and I swear to god she was just born.

Her age also brings a lot of memories of her birth to light.
See, it was at the end of my Junior year in High School when Gabe and I had Adison.

Talk about a scary time in life.

Each one of my kids have taught an important lesson in life, and I hope one day, Addie will be able to understand how grateful I am for the lesson of pure love and selflessness she gave me.
There is so much I want for her future, becoming a young mother is not one of them.
But, for me, she must know, that I never truly knew what love was,
until the day she was born.

Wow, I am waaaay too emotional today....sorry about that!

Having your kids get older is such a bitter sweet ordeal.

But I am so grateful for the chance to call these

silly creatures 'My Kids'

Heart Camp 2009

The first ever Heart Camp with Intermountain Healing Hearts

took place on Friday, August 14th-Saturday, August 15th.

It was held at Camp Wapiti up Settlement Canyon.

Intermountain Healing Hearts is a group of families effected by CHD

providing support and encouragement to each other.

I am honored to be a part of such an amazing organization.

The main lodge where we ate and the kids played many games.

I really thought the plaque outside the main lodge was very fitting to the occasion.

The pool I was afraid the kids would not get to use, but we had a break in the weather on Saturday and the kids were able to swim after all.

The committee prepared treats for the movie night.
They had nachos, ice cream, brownie sundaes and root beer floats.
They had a giant movie screen set up in the field were we all sat with our families and watched 'Escape to Witch Mountain'

This is a 'not so pretty' picture of me with Noah right after I helped the kids load their stuff into the cabin.....during a hail storm!!
I volunteered to take care of dinner on Friday, and lunch on Saturday.
It was so much fun to get to be a part of the camp.
I really need to thank my wonderful friends
who came out to help me:
Carrie
Spencer and Chandra
Melissa
you guys really are the best....thank you!!

The kids had a great time getting to know each other,

and playing outside getting ready for the festivities of the day.

We were assigned cabin #12. Zane was very sad we did not get cabin #11 because it had a picture of a dinosaur on the outside of it.

We had a lazy morning on Saturday.

It was gloomy outside and the beds inside were so much more inviting.

We finally dragged our lazy butts out of bed for a yummy breakfast of

pancakes, fruit and eggs.

We went from a dark sky filled with angry clouds

To THE most amazing sunset I have ever seen.

Intermountain Healing Hearts plans on making the camp a three or four day camp where we send Noah away to be with kids like him every summer. I feel so lucky to have found this group. I want Noah to always be aware of the fact that their are other kids who are like him, and that he can grow up having support as well as giving hope to others by his amazing progress.

5th Birthday's are for WILD THINGS

5 years old already....where has the time gone? Our little Z man, our baby, is getting so big!!

We had an awesome party. We hired 'Wild Things' to come show us, teach us and let us feel the animals of Zane's choice. It was a great idea for a party, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a unique birthday experience!

Blue Tongued Lizard- Wali

Hedge Hog- Huff 'n' Puff

He liked to stay curled up when the kids were feeling him.

He also made a noise that sounded like a steaming kettle.

Sugar Glider- Bitty (soooooo cute!)

African Grey Parrot- Congo

He was such a sweet parrot.....he blessed us when we sneezed.

Pueblan Milk Snake- Harmless

The kids were really open to touching the snake

It felt like a cold steele pipe. It was really neat.

Chinchilla- Gizmo This was the softest thing I have EVER felt!

Rex Rabbit- Curly

The kids LOVED all the animals

After the animals left, we had a scavenger hunt!

The boys found the zebra hiding in the dog kennel.

Pinata Time!!

Noah and Nick were a good aim...once the blindfolds came off

Nya had the bat backwards

Little Alie was too sweet to hit the zebra hard

Zane was ready for action

We brought in the big guns and had Addie break it!

Z man opening his gifts

A gun.....he is in heaven

Dinosaurs....again, he is in heaven!

5 candles.....where does the time go?

Cupcakes made by Mommy

He can't even wait for Daddy to light the candles before we wants to blow them out!

Letting Daddy help him read his cards

That is one happy 5 year old my friends!

And this is one worn out Uncle Mike!