Griffin is 5 years old today!

Our precious son was born 5 years ago today at 12:27pm in the middle of a terrible Texas ice storm. Here it is 5 years later and a big winter storm has hit again on this day.
I just went through all of the scrapbooks I've made highlighting Griffin's life. It was fun to look at all the things we have experienced together. I will sit him down tomorrow, cuddle on the couch and look at them with him and celebrate his 5 years.

Some of Griffin's favorite things:
- Nintendo DS
- Eggs and sausage
- Playing with his Daddy
- Chasing his kitty cats around the kitchen island
- Popcorn
- Going to preschool and Sunday school
- Numbers

We are so blessed to have him in our lives. I can't wait to see what is going to become of this little person!

Outside my window

This is what I am looking at right now. It might look pretty but BOY am I getting tired of this.

Ellen just had to call me this afternoon to tell me that it was 88 degrees in Dallas. Lovely. Thanks for that!

This picture is of our driveway AFTER Dallas shoveled it. He started at the top and by the time he got to the bottom, it was completely WHITE again.

My dad tried to give me encouragement by saying, "Well the good news is, it will melt." He forgot to mention it might be in APRIL!!

....and for my Texas friends

You think those cool diggers at the park are for sand.
I. . . don't. . . . think. . . . so.

Winter Family Fun Day

We got up on Saturday morning and noticed it was going to be a very nice day. It was already in the high teens with temps expected to reach the mid-20's AND THE SUN WAS SHINING! I was looking at the newspaper and saw that there was a Winter Family Fun Day (WFFD) in Oakbrook which is about 30 minutes away. We decided to head out for some lunch then go to the WFFD. And it lived up to its name. The first thing we hit was the nature center. Dallas and Griffin were making animal tracks in the moon sand and looking at various animal furs under the microscope. They also had several small creatures (turtles, mouse, spiders) to look at and some furs and bones to touch.

We headed outside to go on a scavenger hunt. There were 16 items in all to find. We were able to find them all except a cocoon and a squirrel. The funny thing they had on there was scat. Griffin thought that was funny. We were almost done and under a bush were some berries/pods of somesort. Dallas convinced G that it was bunny poop so we were able to check that off the list.

Then we came to the sled dogs. We learned all about them and even saw them take off and run around the pond a few times. They were beautiful and so excited to run.

Then we ventured over for some snow-bowling. Then over to a small hill for sledding.

Then we got to try out snowshoes. Griffin loved this and was very good at it. I have a pair of snowshoes that my sister (who now lives in Austin, TX) gave to me since she figured I'd have a much better chance of using them then her. I haven't used them yet but maybe I could get G a pair and we could venture out sometime.

We rounded the pond and found a nice playground and spent a lot of time there. Back at the nature center we enjoyed a campfire, s'mores and hot chocolate.

We spent about 2 hours there then rushed off to catch the second half of the Texas Aggies play basketball. We should have stayed at the park longer.

Cathi

My trip to Texas

Over the first weekend of February, I went to Texas for the FUMC women's retreat at The Prothro Center at Lake Texoma. It was an awesome weekend. The theme was "Cleanse your Soul." My good friends Ellen and Cheryl were in charge and they did a great job. I got to visit with so many great, old friends. I got to room with Beth who came in from Atlanta. It was so nice being with a group of women who I have shared so much of my life with. I love them so much! I can't wait to go again next year. I think the best part besides seeing friends was being able to run along the shoreline of Lake Texoma in 80 degree weather! I loved it!

The adventure began when I woke up on Thursday morning to the skies dumping snow. My friend got me to the airport nice and early only to sit and sit and sit. I was suppose to leave at 3pm and I think we finally took off around 8:30pm. I had to opportunity to share the gospel on the plane with a wonderful woman who was trying to get to Orange, TX for a funeral. I later found out, she didn't arrive until it was 1/2 way over the following afternoon.

The adventure continued on my return home. The flight was delayed about 2 hours and fortunately I knew this before leaving for the airport. Evidently it started to snow again in Chicago. Dallas and Griffin were at a Super Bowl party and it snowed about 4 inches while they were there. The roads were terrible and it took them almost 2 hours to get to O'Hare. We landed fine and sat on the tarmac for well over an hour. Dallas and Griffin arrived at the airport just 5 minutes before I finally got off the plane. Thank goodness I carried on my bag and didn't have to wait for it! We pulled in to the driveway at 12:15am!

Cathi

Valentine's day cards

Griffin and I went to the store the other day to pick out Valentine's day cards and a small gift to go with each one for his classmates. He selected Valentine pencils. He came right home, sat down and started on the cards. He got out the tape and taped a pencil to each one. I was so proud of his determination to get it done without my help. I guess my boy is growing up!

Finally!

Something happened and I wasn't able to log on to my own blog for the past 11 days! Thank goodness I got it working again. Now to catch y'all up on our lives! Look for a long new post tomorrow!!

Cathi