Great Job Dad, Great Job!

Griff likes to watch Ben play pool and be the little cheerleader.  Great Job, Dad!  Do it again!

No, No, No...

Duncan knows what he wants...and what he doesn't....

Swingin...

The other night Griff (who given the weather I simply cannot get to come inside to do anything, including eat, drink or sleep) decided he wanted to swing from the tree, like, he said, a monkey does.  So, he put on his "croc shoes" as he calls them (that's right Gma Kris and Auntie D, I bought him some dreaded CROCS!) whipped on his shades (upside down) and proceeded to swing from the tree.

 

All done with that...

onto the next one...

Sandbox!

Many of you know I am not a fan of sand.  Dirt I can handle.  Sand is gritty, yucky, and so hard to get OUT of your house or car.  So when we had unseasonably warm weather in March and Griffin found his "spot" behind the big tree, and then decided to take his construction minis out there...I was okay with that.  Dirt is fine.  And G would spend ALL day out there, just digging in the dirt...looking for worms or "remipedes" (thank you Octonauts).  He had his magnifying glass out there.  He took Cat Meow.  He was content.  And then, upon many suggestions of "why don't you just GET him a sandbox" we (kind of) caved.  And Ben built him one.  Around the tree.  And the best part (for me anyway)?  We filled it with "play sand" which is not gritty OR gross and it brushes off even easier than dirt.  Score all around!  Griff is completely enamored with his sandbox...and often he will wake up and want to "play in my sandbock" (G speak) right off the bat.  Even when the weather has been NOT unseasonably warm.  :)

The beginnings of the need for the "sandbock"

Perfect place to store Cat Meow, after I told him to try not to get it dirty...

Tucker Bear is always the good sport!

Worms!

Working on the project...filling with sand...

He couldn't be happier

Following a spider with his magnifying glass....

Barbara Streisand

Griffin's new favorite song?  Barbara Streissand by Duck Sauce.  He bobs his head, does the "ooo's" and then stops...puts his hands up, and says "BARBARA STREISAND!"  The first time he did this I nearly peed my pants.

Family

We have been very lucky this past month to have spent a lot of time with our family!  In general, we are not happy about the fact that most of our family does not live close, and wish that we could be able to spend more time with those that we love; this is becoming even more important now that Griffin really gets what "family" means and he is old enough to understand and remember grandmas, grandpas, uncles, aunts, cousins....  In fact, a few days ago we got in the car for a fairly short errand and I needed to call Grandma Khaki, so I asked G if he wanted to talk to her.  He proceeded to burst into tears and exclaim that he did NOT want to talk to Grandma Khaki!  He wanted to SEE her!  When we got home we did Facetime  and that seemed to make it better.  And when Gma Kris and Gpa Tom were up, he would walk up to one of them and ask (sweetly), "hold my hand?"  And after they were suckered in, he drug them downstairs to play trains or cars!  During our March Indy visit, Connor and Griff had the best time playing and I have never seen G so tired.  I can't wait until Erin and Duncan can join in...let the fun ensue!  It is amazing to me that even when Griffin only sees his family for short periods of time, they leave an impact and he talks about them nonstop and always asks when he is going to see them again.  Hopefully as the boys get older we can make "family" time happen more often.  And, although we were spoiled with so much family in March, and we miss them, we are looking forward to more time in April...and a lot of it!

This week, we've been talking about how in a few days we are going to go down to the farm to visit Gma Khaki and Gpa Bill...and see Auntie Kayla, Uncle Eric and Mason!  And...last but not least, tractors!  And a bulldozer!  And, according to Griffin, since Gma Khaki is a "farmer," she should also have an excavator.  Not quite, G, but I hardly think you will be disappointed.  Bring it on!  After the farm trip...we are heading to Florida, which we have also been talking about at length.  And while we are there, G will turn three and share his birthday with Grandma Kris.  And almost right after, we are having G's birthday party and will get to see everyone again.  It will be a full house, that is for sure, and we'd want nothing less (other than to have a couple more spare bedrooms)!

So, although our family isn't as close as we would like them to be, we're grateful for the time we get to spend together and hope that the amount of time will only increase into the future.

Birthday Preview...

I'm officially giving up the practice of law for...crafting?  Nah probably not, but I have had some fun making Griffin's birthday decorations.  Caution!  Fun stuff coming through...

Auntie Liz brought over some caution cones...which Griff immediately placed on his head and declared, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!"

Yeah I made these.  Jealous???

Made these, too...with some help from Asha's cricut, Liz and Claire!

Can't wait for the party!