End of Elementary School Round 2 :)

Last year Grant was in school in Maryland where elementary school ends with 5th grade.  So he had a nice graduation and awards day last June.  Then we moved to Alabama where elementary school ends after 6th grade.  So today he got to do it all again!  He received several awards.  Presidential Education Award, President's Fitness award, Highest average in Math, Jr Beta Club, and A-B Honor Roll!  Then they had a cookout at school for the graduates and their families.  It was hot and crowded but nice.  Grant is not the picture taker and does not like to be the center of attention, so of course he is the one who gets to graduate twice!

Grant walking in

 

Receiving one of his many awards!

Walking out after the ceremony

Finally a smile….with his friends at the cookout

With all his awards!  Ready for Junior High!!!  Class of 2016!

Ryan also had an awards day this week but I could not take off for that too.  He got awards for All As, Highest average in Science and Social studies, and a Certificate and medals for being school Treasurer.  As an SGA Officer he got to help with all the school awards and graduations this week.  He loved every minute of it.  My friend, Kelly sent a great picture of Ryan with all his awards to me at work!  I was so proud of him and ALL the boys this year.  We were discussing how just a “few” months ago they did not know many people and were starting at a new school-again.  NOW they have many friends and are doing great in school and sports.  Preston was even voted class favorite this year!  What a difference a few months can make.  I hope I mentioned Preston’s awards in an earlier post, but just in case: He also received All As, Presidential Fitness, and a certificate for being in the Top Ten in his class (he is #3)!  I know I am bragging a bit but I am allowed….I am a proud mom of 3 very smart and wonderful boys!!

Dream house phase 1 1/2…

Forgot to post the pictures of the 2nd part of our driveway to be cut.  It is the one that will come from the main road to the house.  It is nice and curvy through the woods.  They cannot burn the huge pile of trees b/c it has not rained in forever.  Once they burn the pile they can build up the house and shed pads. 

From the main road to the first curve…

Ryan by part of the pile

Shows one of the curves in the driveway

Feelin’ HOT HOT HOT!!!

Mid to upper 90s here..with little to no rain!  I spent HOURS in the hot sun this weekend starting on Friday with Preston’s varsity football scrimmage game.  He played at 1:30 pm!!! BOY WAS IT HOT!  Preston did a great job for his first game on the varsity team.  He even made a nice tackle right before the end of the game.  My picture leaves a lot to be desired but it was so hot, so bright and I was trying to watch also!

That’s Preston’s head in the left side of the picture…on the ground making the tackle!

They got to wear their jerseys to school..he was so proud!

W/ Cousins Nick (#60) and Easton (#19)

Then Grant had a baseball tournament.  We played at 6pm Friday night and won!  Then we played 3 games on Saturday…won 1 and lost 2.  It was so hot a poor kid on another team fell out and had to be taken to the hospital for IV fluids… (he was ok).  Grant had an excellent tournament!  He pitched and caught some in all the games.  The coach of the one of the teams we lost to, stopped us in the parking lot after the game and told him that he did great and that they should never have taken him out (as pitcher)!  We had my parent’s tent/canopy thingy and boy was that a Godsend!  It kept the sun off of us and kept us a little cooler.

Grant struck out at least 15 in 8 innings over the 4 games!  Including his friend to win one of the games! 

@ Catcher….he had a throw down to 2nd and a few outs at home also! He hit the ball great and had a triple, a double and singles! It was very fun in spite of the heat.

Autumn had a great time with Preston and everyone!  Here she and Preston are playing with an Auburn Football!!  Her mom will be proud! :)

We ended the weekend with a pool party for my nephew, Caleb’s tenth birthday!  No pictures but they all had a great time!  More games to tomorrow!! and more 90 degree weather!

Dream House phase 1…

We are getting the land cleared, driveways cut out and the pad for the house and man shed done right now.  The house plans are coming along also.  Phase 2 won’t happen until Dennis is home either for a visit or when he returns.  It is still exciting even though it is still a long way off….

One section of the driveway…the one that will join my parent’s drive.  house will be at the end to the left

“in the driveway”  House will be where you see equipment

Other part will come off the main road near here..this will be the “before” picture…will post the next one tomorrow

Ready for summer!

13 days of school left for me and 10 for the boys!!!  We are SOOO ready.  I LOVE summertime with the boys.  Last year was the summer of card games…we played all kids of games, new and old.  It was great because we moved so we were in a house with no furniture, in other people’s houses, and in a motel.  Cards are easy to pack!  I have so many plans for this summer (as always) and most will not happen (as always) but I am going to try to hit them all!  Some friends and I have already decided to keep up my tradition of a day trip a week: water parks, putt putt etc.  I also want to be able to hop in the car and head to the beach for the day.  We did a “practice” run the Saturday before Mother’s day and all went fine! :)

L-R: Lauren, Ryan, Preston, Corbin, Caleb, Autumn and Grant

Speaking of Mother’s day…this was my present to me!

A fisher price doll house!  Now I need more furniture…”comes separately”!  I DID get it so my nieces have something to play with at my house of boys

My parents are on a trip so we get the hardship of checking on the cat, garden and POOL!  Friday night I started a new tradition of Pool Pizza Fridays!  Nicki and the kids came and we ate and swam until dark!  Then the boys and I went back today…and will probably go back tomorrow!  Also trial runs for summer:  Got to have the beach/pool bag always ready, cooler handy…

left over pizza, hot wings and veggies with dip!

Pool Baseball

Trying to all get on Preston’s shoulders

Grant chillin’

Home run!

The throw to 1st

The boys!

** Hey Dennis, you can click on the pictures and see them bigger<3!

Can You Believe it is May?!

I can’t believe how fast time is flying.  I just added the “Last Day of School” note on my dry erase calendar (my life) on my refrigerator!  Of course I don’t get out until early June but the boys’ last day will be May 27th!  Speaking of school, we passed our inspection with flying colors and are fully accredited!  Ryan came home the other day and said that based on his family tree project, they told him he was an Indian and has him going to an Indian ed club (whatever that is).  He brought home a field trip note to go to a local pow wow so I sent his one dollar in and he went!  He bought a raccoon hat and 2 Buffalo bones.  Grant and Preston were mad that he bought the bones instead of the buffalo BALLS!!! Yuck!  Grant did not go on the field trip and said someone asked him how his brother was an indian and he was not!  Too funny.  As far as I know, we do not have any indian blood but who knows?  He had a great time.

Dennis left last Tuesday and I did not shed a tear.  I am sure they will come at some unexpected moment but he left on the first day of our work inspection so I just dropped him off and sped to work.  Several people had heard he was leaving that day and had kind words and even hugs.  This is such a friendly place to work!  I almost lost it with the first hug but I held strong.  He is in Kuwait for in processing but will be heading on to Afghanistan tomorrow.  He seems to be doing fine and so far the kids are doing great also.  Thank goodness for email…Grant especially has already been emailing him often.  Keep him and all of us in your prayers.

Right before school the day Dennis left

My dad (the former catcher) bought Preston catcher’s gear for his birthday…Grant catches too so it can be handed down

All the Griffin’s @ the town spring festival May 1st… we went to support Kenny and the church praise band.  They did a great job!

left to right: Preston, Autumn, Caleb, Ryan, Lauren, Corbin, Grant

Happy Birthday Preston

Preston is 14 today!  He will be having a few friends over for a sleepover and then a family party for both him and Dennis (leaving) tomorrow night.  I know the time is coming when he turns into a typical teenager but right now he is so good, happy, loves life and enjoys everything.  There are spots here and there but few and far btw…KNOCK ON WOOD!! :)

 

My “baby” then and now….

 

in Kindergarten, his left arm is broken…sent him to school for the picture then took him to the dr :(

Just a few days old!  bad scan…he did have hair:)