Our Little Flower - February 26

Laurel Joy

two months old

From Dimmitt to Grangeville - February 11-16

February 11 - The kids watched from the driveway as the movers loaded the last of our belongings onto the moving truck (including their bikes and our backyard swingset!). Then the truck drove away...

February 16 - The kids watched out the upstairs window as the same moving truck arrived at our new house and began to unload all of our belongings (including their bikes and our backyard swingset!).

We love our moving truck!

Saying Goodbye - February 10-11

This is a hard post for me to write...in fact I almost didn't do it. It's not easy to say good-bye, but it is part of life and right now it is a part of our life, so I wanted to take a moment to document it.

The week of the move we had to say many good-byes to many very special people. These are just a few of those moments that I was blessed enough to capture with our camera. So many memories wrapped up in just a few photos as we said good-bye to...

friends (both big and small)...

favorite teachers...

very special neighbors...

our family...

and countless others who have touched our lives in so many ways.


A very dear friend reminded me that the reason we cry at good-byes is because we have loved each other well. And in the midst of our tears...

is a joy that comes from knowing that this life is not all there is. We have a hope in something so much greater, so much bigger than anything we can experience here. As our family follows God in obedience and seeks to be a light for Him by sharing the hope we have with others, we are blessed to know that these good-byes are not forever.

"...so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life." Titus 3:7

Mommy's Helper - February 7

Sabrina has been such a great helper with Laurel while I've been packing this week. I couldn't help but smile when I walked down the hall and discovered this sweet scene in one of our empty bedrooms. Love this girl...

Cathryn's Shower - February 6

The girls and I drove to Lubbock for Cathryn's baby shower. Here are just a few pictures from that fun-filled morning...

Mom and Cathryn

Monique, Sabrina, Jen, Laurel, Cathryn, Carol, Megan, Kim and Grady

Lots and lots of wonderful presents...

for a sweet baby girl!

My sweet girls...ready to welcome their new cousin into the family!

Pizza with the Bairds - February 5

Our friends the Bairds invited us over for supper...the kids had lots of fun making bagel pizzas for everyone...

and then dressing up in crazy costumes.

A couchful of ten wild and crazy kids...we love the Bairds!

Snowy Days - January 28-30

Just a few of my favorite pictures from all of our snow this weekend...


attempting to ride bikes

wrapped up with my sweet baby

a little walk

having "snow" much fun together

long legs make great snow angels

Zane: "I need to hold Sabrina's hand!"

snowman at Noni and Papa's

the aftermath of six kids playing in the snow!

Mommy Monique- January 23

Monique has always loved playing with her baby dolls. We have enjoyed watching and listening to her while she takes care of them. She takes it all very seriously and having Laurel around the house has given Monique even more reasons to practice being a mommy.

While I was taking pictures of Laurel the other day Monique came in with Baby Emma and asked if she could use the little camera to take pictures of Baby Emma. She says she is going to scrapbook them after we move!

But by far the funniest thing she has done was when I was sitting in the chair feeding Laurel today. Monique climbed up beside me with Baby Emma and said "She's hungry," as she pretended to nurse her. She is such a little mommy!

Just one of the things... - January 22

that made me laugh today!

You know you're moving when... - January 21

you answer at least half of your kids questions with "It's packed".

in an effort to clean out the freezer, you feed the kids strawberry ice cream cones for a snack in the middle of winter.

the kids don't mind it when you pack their toys because they're busy playing with all of the boxes!

Sisters - January 19

So grateful for my girls...and so happy they have each other...sisters are a blessing!

Box Tunnel - January 17

Wyatt, our resident engineer, created this box tunnel in the middle of our living room. The kids spent the rest of the afternoon crawling through it while Danny and I packed and packed and packed some more!

From My Chair - January 16

This was the view from my chair this evening as I finished feeding Laurel and got ready for prayer time with the kids and Danny...I am so blessed.

Baby in the Mirror - January 15

The kids love that Laurel is starting to actually look at them when her eyes are open instead of just starting into space! She is becoming more and more alert every day.

Helpers - January 14

Since Laurel's arrival the older kids have become very helpful with our daily activities. Their favorite jobs are fixing lunch (they love putting their own honey on the peanut butter sandwiches) and helping with the laundry (especially when they get to push the buttons to start the washer). Today I was busy with Laurel when it was time to put Zane down for a nap, so Sabrina and Colter offered to read books and snuggle with him before his nap. It took a little longer for him to fall asleep after they left, but they loved helping and Zane loved the extra attention!

Sticker Lessons - January 11

Zane loves doing his "sticker lessons" while Wyatt and Sabrina are doing their morning lessons. As soon as they sit down at the table and start working he comes running in and says, "Mama, I do my sticker lessons now?"

Packing - January 8

Packing has started at our house which means boxes are plentiful! The kids are finding all sorts of ways to play with them...climbing on them, hiding in them, crawling through them. Best of all we can pack their toys while they are busy playing with the boxes!

Two Weeks Old - January 4

Laurel Joy @ 2 weeks old

Griffis Family Top Ten 2009 - January 1

Our Top Ten for 2009

1. Laurel's Birth

2. Decision to Move to Grangeville

3. Zion National Park with the Griffins

4. Family Mission Trip to Paisano Encampment

5. Homeschooling Wyatt and Sabrina

6. Visit to Grangeville

7. Megan and Nathan's Wedding

8. No Training Wheels

9. Monique Writing her Name

10. Zane's Big Boy Bed