Me: Ackgh! Griffin, what is on your face?!

Griffin: Drawings.

Me: What did you draw them with?

Griffin: Markers.

Me: Well, we are going straight to the tub to wash your face off.

Griffin: Don't wash my face mommy. It makes me sad.

School pictures!

Griffin's first set of school pictures are so stinkin' cute, I had to share them!!! Thanks to my mom for letting me use her fancy scanner to put them into digital form so I can put them on the blog. We are still trying to decide if we will buy any of the sheets or not, it is ridiculously expensive!!

You may notice that he's wearing flip flops in one of them. That makes me laugh so hard, because he looks all cute and dressed up, and then he has on flip flops. On this day, I actually dressed him and brought him to school, he insisted on his flip flops (as he usually does, he loves his flip flops). But, recently Sean has been working later shifts, so he gets Griffin ready for school and takes him in the afternoon. When I show up to pick him up at the end of the day, I am usually horrified at the outfits he puts him in. Blue sweatpants and an orange and green shirt, or pants with holes in them, shirts too small, nothing ever matches!!! It makes me laugh so hard when my little ragamuffin boy comes running up to me and I discover what creative outfit he's got on that day. I don't blame Sean entirely, I have a feeling Griffin does a lot of the picking out of his cloths.

My son's sleep habits are killing the environment.

Since the day Griffin turned two, we have been fighting a losing battle with naps. He has gradually phased them out completely with great deal of screaming and crying along the way. It seems like the only person who can get him to take a nap at all is my dad, although I have no earthly idea how. Even at school, during naptime when all the kids in the classroom are fast asleep, Griffin will be playing around with his blanket, reading a book, or talking to the teacher. The only card we can play in the great nap battle is to take him for a ride in the car. This activity serves two purposes, it lulls Griffin to sleep and allows me to have a much needed break from the madness. Sadly, even that is losing it's effectiveness. Our drives grow longer and longer, as Griffin has figured out the purpose of these little "trips" into the mountains.

After a particularly busy day today, Sean and I found ourselves taking the "long" way home from running errands. Plus, it was a GORGEOUS day, perfect for a little drive in the mountains. Griffin, wise to our ways, started crying about "his home" as soon as he realized what was up. We were talking and not really paying much attention to him. From the backseat we hear Griffin say, "Pleeeeeze! I go back to my house? I'll be your best friend!"

Needless to say, the nap never happened, but at least we got a great view of the mountains, and a good laugh.

Fashion Shoot

ne of the things Sean seems to love doing with Griffin (in addition to elaborate games of hide and seek, sliding around on the wood floors in socks, and a new favorite: boxing matches) is taking HUNDREDS of pictures of him in one setting. Ever since he discovered the "multiple shutter" button on our camera, it has been ridiculous. Here are a few from their most recent "session". Griffin has started playing along with him, making all kinds of faces and poses. I also wanted to show off his "summer" hair. I was really liking the blonde, shaggy look. Unfortunately, another one of Sean's favorite "games" to play is "shave Griffin's hair while mommy is out."

Validation!

One might wonder what would compel me to yell out the word "moist" repeatedly at my radio in the car this morning. Especially given my extreme aversion to the word. It was a moment that would have made my friends laugh hysterically. Let me explain....

I was listening to the radio program, "Wait, Wait, don't tell me" on NPR while running my errands with Griffin this morning. It's a program that has fun with the news, with special celebrity guests, quizzes and news related games. I am SOOO old. Anyway, the segment I was listening to had one of the hosts reciting limericks, and the caller had to fill in the blank of the final word. The first two were easy, but the last one was a little trickier. After hearing it two times, I figured the word out before the caller, thus resulting in my yelling "moist! moist! It's MOIST, you fool!" at my car radio. The caller did eventually get the word, and the host went on to explain this little tidbit of information. The word "moist" is a word that a great deal of people share an aversion to. I wish more than anything I could get the article he was referring to, so I could post it here for all to see, but I can't find it. However, there are several other articles found on the internet confirming the unpleasant nature of the word moist, among other "oi" words.

See!!!! I'm not the only crazy one out there! There are scores of people who have the same issue with that word!

Finally!

Anyone who has had a single conversation with me in the past, oh, 6 months knows that I have been desperately searching for a job. I had nearly given up hope after not getting a really good one I interviewed for a few weeks ago. This job was one that just seemed to pop up, and I thought, "One more time. I'll just give it a shot." Things moved quickly after that, with a last minute interview last Tuesday, and then another on Thursday. After the one on Thursday, the clinical director told me she really wanted to give me the job, but she would call me for sure on Monday. After waiting an agonizing weekend, I just got off the phone with her, and I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!! I am so thrilled! I can't wait to start!

So, the all important details that everyone will be wondering about.....

It is a substance abuse agency for women and their children, called House of Hope. It's a very respected agency in SLC, and has been recognized by the governor. To start I will be working with the residential clients (just the women who live at the facility) and then some outpatient. Once I get the hang of things, I'll move to do some work with the children's center also. I love that I'll have so much variety. I will be part time, 32 hours a week, which is really great for transitioning our family to having two working parents. But, enough hours to feel like I really have a job and be able to justify childcare expenses. The hours are Monday through Thursday 8:30 to 5:00. I haven't had a "normal" workday in ages!!!!

I start next week!!!!!

Well, I will surely keep everyone updated, but right now I have to save Griffin from his torture chamber (sorry, his bedroom) and take him swimming.

HAPPY DAY!!!

Wedding PARTY!

This is the coolest thing I've seen in a long time! I wish I had been brave enough to do something like this at my wedding! It would have really made it the awesome "rock opera" that I had envisioned. I can only imagine what our crazy minister (or, Babs, as she's not-so-affectionately called) would have thought, she would have had a total fit! I don't know though, with that silver belt maybe she was showing a little bit of her inner "star" potential.