Can you feel the Magic!

Can You Feel The Magic?!!

I think with everything we had going on I wouldn't have been surprised if a "Partridge In A Pair Tree" appeared at the front door.  What a MAGICAL month, and of course with Ainsley EVERYTHING is MAGICAL!

No pictures due to someone (Sydney) showing Tate what a "selfie" is = a broken camera.

Caleb had a 2nd grade NIGHT party.  I showed him some smooth dancing moves so he could get the party started!

Ainsley had a kindergarten NIGHT trip on the POLAR EXPRESS.  They had hot chocolate, read a book, crafts, and when they rang their bells Santa appeared!  Very Very Cool!

Aubrey had a 3rd grade musical about space!  It was so fun to watch.  She knew every song and all the actions! 

Tate learned to bowl and roller skate!

I took the kids to their school super hero skate night!  

I have been spending more time at the school helping with testing in Kindergarten and 1st grade, doing cutting and laminating.  Tate is my side kick!  

  Add in a couple of major doctor appointments and all was very crazy!

 On December 14th, way passed bedtime Winston came through our door.  The kids ran downstairs and they were in love.  A part of the family instantly he is a 3 month English/Victory Bulldog.  Unfortunately, they wouldn't hold it until Christmas Eve, he cried the entire first night which made all 4 of the kids cry all night.  It was a super fun night!  It took Andy and me a long time to agree on a dog.  I lost on the indoor dog thing and now I find my self cleaning everything x10…making sure the house doesn't smell like dog and the kids don't spell like dog.  It's exhausting but he is the only one who will watch Little Women and It's A Wonderful Life with me, he sits with me while I fold clothes, and he is always by my side when I do the dishes.  

 On December 16th life went upside with Tate's 3rd surgery.  100% hearing now, no more swollen tonsils, and a cranky STUBBORN determined 4 year old.  After 3 days of not eating OR drinking OR taking his medicine (lots of throw up), the threat of him going back to the Hospital made him down that medicine so quickly, frown while he drank, and a slobber intake of some applesauce!  From then on a slowly but shirley he started drinking "Uncle Nate's Muscle Juice and Uncle Nate's favorite medicine".   

 The Christmas Picture…next year I am going to video tape the events leading up to the pictures.  Tate was up all night still sick so he had to have a superhero shirt on while begging him to at least put a suit shirt over top!  Aubrey wanted to wear jeans, Ainsley wanted to wear her Converse, and poor winston was just trying to be compliant.  This is take #8.

Drop off breakfast for the teachers and class parties drop of a "meat tray" at 2 classes, and play fun Christmas Bingo with Ainlsey's class!  If Tate wan't still so sick I think he would have had a lot of fun but after I did the game with Ainlsey's class we had to leave.  

 Christmas Eve… a little ice and snow but the kids were excited.  They helped with all the dinner…they picked out what they would like and then helped make it.  We watched some fun Christmas Shows and made a stocking for Winston!

 On Christmas Eve we watched Mr. Krouger's Christmas and opened pj's from their Clark Grandparents….ONE DIRECTION pj's.  There was screaming and then "This is just so MAGICAL and AMAZING and WONDERFUL!"

Christmas Eve 

Ainlsey 6, Caleb 8, Aubrey 9, Tate 4

5:30am, not so bad.  30 minutes earlier then normal….and they were excited!

Waking up to stockings full and presents under the tree. 

Note: Winston pulls on the ribbon and when I asked Tate what he was doing with my ornament he said "I am just using it to play baseball mom" so the tree is looking a little scary and now I understand why my ornaments have vanished.  

Santa brought winston a shirt!!!  He kept backing up, maybe trying to back out of it but he does like it now!

Around noon Andy's parents drove up to spend time with us, exchange presents, and eat leftovers!  

Winston's hiding spot and resting spot.  The kids pretty much wipe him out.  He did end up making a trip to the vet (something I just couldn't do) and ended up with an Upper Respiratory Infection plus glitter on his nose.  Apparently being in a cozy warm room with a warm fireplace always on is not good for this puppy.  

The day after Christmas Ainsley lost another tooth.  Looking pretty bare on the top!  

All I wanted for Christmas WAS my Two Front Teeth!  With 3 missing teeth an apple is going to be pretty complicated to eat!  She can tie her shoes now, and got bells put on from her teacher!

Christmas Newsletter

Our Yellow Brick Road 2013

The Griner Family

Our Yellow Brick Road started out slow with an excellent routine and relaxing.  The kids loved their sleepovers at Grandma Griners house and we loved spending time at the lake.  We took at trip to Utah for a week and the kids got to meet all of their cousins and see almost all of their grandparents.  It has been a fun year that ended in fast pace with a bunch of twists, but we have had a fun 2013!

Andy (34) Enjoys his job as an Occupational Therapist, his patients, their families, as well as his co-workers.  He has been there 5 years now!  He has become quite the song writer, writing both children and a little in the indie rock genre.  As well as forming a band! The kids love hearing him play!  He is deacon’s corm advisor and enjoys his involvement.

Aubrey (9) Is very artistic, loves the color blue, and receives phone calls from boys now.  She loves to go to the pool and get a tan or float around in the lazy river.  She loves to read, ride her bike, and loves to just run and run without stopping.  Independent, shy, and beautiful.  She loves going to church and she loves to make good choices, if it isn’t choosing the right then she isn’t involved.   She loves school and you couldn’t ask for a better big sister!  When Aubrey grows up she wants to be a teacher.

Caleb (8) This has been his year.  He has grown so much (not physically, he is still a corky little dude) but he just gets it.  You name it, he can spell it.  He loves math and science.  He loves reading books about important things, books that make him laugh, and books that make him question everything!  He loves to swim, explore, and of course, catch every bug that ever existed in this part of Kansas!  Over the summer he went to science camp, ruined a new shirt but got first place in the volcano experiment!  Most importantly this year Caleb chose to be baptized.  He is a wolf scout now, thinks school is pretty cool, likes to tell weird jokes, and that darn 3DS is talked about often.  When he grows up he wants to be a scientist.

Ainsley (6) Loves, Loves, Loves, Everything!  She loves school, she loves homework, she loves her teachers, and she loves her family.  She doesn’t just like anything.  Everything is LOVE and EXCITING and THE BEST DAY OF HER LIFE.  She is a swimmer, and her gym teacher said she has a future in track, she is a pleaser.  She loves dogs.  She loves that she is a “Taylor Swift Fan”, she loves to ride her bike, explore, ride the bus, and most importantly she loves One Direction.  While we still haven’t figured out the start of her craze, she knows every song.  She loves to sing.  She loves to play with friends-anyone will do, her siblings, and she love to help around the house.  We love our Ainlsey she is our sunshine.  When she grows up she wants to be an Artist!

Tate (4) He is a GIANT with a heart a gold. My buddy, my heart.  That might be why I just laugh a little when in a very serious manner he tells people his full name is Delton Griner Tate, dresses like a different super hero on the days that we are in public, and picks the music we listen to (only music sung by a boy).  He is a swimmer.  They wouldn’t let me put him in a swim class because his birthday missed the deadline, and wanted him to do a mommy and me class instead, he showed them!!!!  He jumped right off that diving board without a life jacket!!  He loves to ride his bike, explore the fields, roller skate, and bowl!!  He says “Thanks” for everything, extremely grateful for everything, and gives the best hugs.  His year ended with his final surgery and also regaining 100% hearing in his right ear! When Tate grows up he wants to be a construction worker, the ones that are in the dirt during the day!!

Winston (indoor puppy)  On December 14^th he came through our door and life has never been the same…English/Victorian Bulldog.  The kids instantly fell in love…he was born on September 24^th.  So we (meaning I) get the pleasure of potty training and house training him.  He loves the grass, music, the bottom of the Christmas Tree and has become my movie buddy.  Named by Tate and Andy. 

Sara (28) This year I learned that my kids are ALWAYS hungry, the 4^th of July is still my favorite holiday, and life is better outside.  I learned that chiggers are the worst part of summer, games with my kids are finally fun now, and Ainlsey is still unbeatable at memory card games, even if I practice before she even sees the game!  I learned that even if my boys wake up and constantly walk around the house with only one sock on they do not have a sensory problem they just don’t really care, which explains why so many of their socks go missing!  I have learned that through all of the doctors appointments, specialists, waiting, researching, listening, long words, graphs, and referrals that watching closely, asking questions, and never stopping leads to solutions and understanding.   I have learned how magical GPS is, it knows where everything is, I never get lost, and I am never late (almost never late)!   I have learned and finally come to the conclusion that we are Kansas lifers, RockChalk we are here to stay!

The Griner Family 2013

Andy, Sara

Aubrey, Caleb, Ainlsey, Tate

Winston

HALLOWEEN DAY 2013

 Halloween

A week of rain.  Hard core, endless rain storms that no one can survive.  In my entire life I never remember it raining on Halloween so I wasn't exactly sure what to tell the kids when it continued to poor down on Halloween morning as they got ready for school.  Since they weren't allowed to dress up in Halloween costumes it was just like any other day...except they could ride the bus home or meet me out from because I would be there for class parties.

Tate and I had had an eventful week in the rain.  Endless rain, endless traveling in the rain, Evaluations, and Doctors appointments.  Not fun for Tate to have to go and sit through, especially since they weren't about him but he was a trouper until he started throwing up on Wednesday....leading to non-other then a strep throat test (+) and medicine that he had to be chased and pinned down to take.  Why?...we do not know!

Ainsley got to wear pajamas on Halloween!   

Mummy-wrap game.  Ainsley teacher is the only one who lets me bring a younger sibling and good thing because I was in charge of the craft!  Tate had been taking his medicine for 24 hours so we were in the clear and since he is a clean little Tater he had had 3 baths and a shower.  Ainsleys new teacher is so incredible.  I never thought I would say this because we love Miss Susan but Miss Purcell has been such a great fit for Ainsley she is right up there is league with Miss Susan.  That is saying a lot!!

During the Halloween Party it stopped raining and the sun came out.  Making the weather perfect.  Kansas weather...what can you say!

Trick or Treating...Caleb picked his costume out 5 minutes because we headed out.   Not age appropriate but you choose your battles, and I have had too many this week.  Our neighbors were so fun this year.  The kids were bummed at first that we weren't driving them to our old neighborhood to trick or treat until the first two houses.  Personalize trick or treat bags, big candy bags, king size candy bars.  Awesome candy.  It was the best with perfect weather!

*Ainsley lost another loose tooth...her phobia of blood has NOT improved.  Was she excited or more terrified?  It was really hard to tell.
*Caleb started his new 4th grade reading homework.  It works alot better for him.
*All 4 kids got to be in the Primary Program, parts memorized, and they did really good.  Tate made it half way through!
*The trash company picked up my washer this week.  It was kind of sad...I felt like I should have left a note of gratitude on it because my new one take 30-45 minutes longer a load and makes a really weird sound.  Tate and I actually thought someone was breaking into the garage because I couldn't place the weird sounds.  Boy I am going to miss my washer I always complained about.

With the Halloween stuff tubbed up and Thanksgiving out Gratitude is in that air and I talked Andy into getting pumpkin inserts for the air fresheners! Pretty big deal!
Go Chiefs!  9-0!

Back in the Fall of it all!!

Back in the fall of it all...

 Spirit week...Pajama day, red day, team day, halloween colors day... all sorts of fun days!  The best way to start back to school from FALL BREAK!  

 Ainsley's very first field trip.  Good thing she has a scarf in every beautiful color made by her Grandma Grayson!  Andy's mom came up to watch Tate so I could go with her. Tate loves when he gets to spend time with Marlene and it was my first field trip with one of the kids, I am so glad I got to spend the day with Ainsley. 

 They did a matching activity before they got on the bus!  That Ainsley can do matching and patterns in her sleep!  She loves LOVES school!

 It was fun to be a parent helper and be in her group.  We had a great group.  It was a blast at the farm.  Ainsley is the bravest person I know but terrified of goats.  HAHAHA!  

 Everything was so fun!  It was freezing cold!  Ainsley picked out a pumpkin that weighed more then her, I think!  So heavy!  

 I always wonder what it would be like to do a THEME for Halloween.  One time when Aubrey was 3 and Caleb was 2 they were Cinderella and Princess Charming and then for a spring activity Caleb was a Greeser and Aubrey wore a poodle skirt!  If only we could go back to the days before Batman ruled the world and NO WAY IN KANSAS are they going to match each other!  When I tell them other normal families that love each other do themes.... they are quiet and then onward with their choices.  

Saturday while Caleb was at Andy's parents we took the kids to Andy's yearly work tick or treat!  It is fun to see the residents so happy and the kids love it too!  Ainsley was a monster.  Aubrey was Princess Leah.

 Tate IS Batman...he might continue to be batman until the costume is unwearable!  He was BATMAN last year and for the month after and whenever a babysitter comes over he sneaks it out.  He dreams about it and constantly talks about it.  He tells people when we are at the park he is going to be batman, so yes...BATMAN!    

Only a couple more days until November....we will live it up!!!  We love OCTOBER!!
We also went to the Clinton Ward Party this year.  It has been a couple of years since we have gone.  It was just as fun as always.  Fun friends and family, like we have never left.  Our children love that ward.  A spooky haunted walk, a trampoline, a big fire, and lots of food plus grandma and grandpa!  It doesn't get any better then that!

Getting back in the fall of things would have gone a lot smoother if our washer wouldn't have broke in the middle of a full load.  Luckily I had all the clothes done from out vacation but still.  I do 2-3 loads a day.  Add towels and sheets.  Laundry is life.  Routine.  Tate and I spent the week looking for a new washer.  Andy said that if I promised to NEVER over fill it I could get a front loader.  Well, that is the most OBSURD promise...I couldn't keep that considering my extensive laundry history over the past 11 years.  So, Thursday after 5 different stores I found one Andy wanted.  Draining water, ringing out clothes is so stupid and SUPER gross.  They should have an emergency button!!  Of course even if it looks like you have all the water you don't so when you go to move your washer… watch out for your brand new floors because your washer will just exploded with freezing cold water.  NOT A GOOD WEEK.  When you are so used to a washer, 10 years.  A new washer is hard to get used to.  I will.

I also ran out of gas....it has been a good 8 months so its about time, plus all the phone calls with the school and meetings and driving back and forth from the school, and trips to drop off paper work...I wouldn't really call last week a score one for me.  I could have used my movie buddy, but she moved.  A laughing, last minute, 3 hours after, get it, understanding, no judging, still laughing, movie buddy who likes the previews, likes hot chocolate is something I really didn't appreciate for the last 3 years.  I miss it, those are good for a mom to have. 

Fall Break 2013

What do you do when you have a week out of school?

I thought about it...and since the pools are closed and my dad was a no go on baptizing Caleb in the ocean Utah it was!!!  Caleb's baptism, my sister Steffaney's baby shower, Seth and Karalee's baby blessing, Spencer and Kristen's baby blessing, and my Aunt Carolyn's retirement as Elder Ballard personal secretary meant everyone was in town!  My kids had all the family they could imagine!!

 On our way out of town the Rudd family was kind enough to let us park Andy's car at their house...best old neighbors in the world!  If we would have known that we had 22 hours of driving ahead of us I do not think we would have left....Nebraska is a nightmare and Wyoming is rude!  Me with my sweet driving skills, road watch out!

 Utah was lovely...the kids were so excited to see my parents!  We stuck a note in Tate's pocket just in case (My grandma and grandpa love me but sometime I get curious...with their phone number).  They took all 7 of their grandkids to a halloween hay extravaganza!  While they were there I got to hang out with my sibling at the grossest restaurant known to man-kind, Rodizio Grill.  BLAH!  Andy was in heaven because no way would I ever eat there again.  It was like a scene from Miss Congeniality!  All that half cooked meat being shoved in my face just did not sit well with me but it was good to visit without kids! 

 Once we had the kids back we went to Eagle Mountain to Spencer's new house and fed the kids and played.  My Grandpa Hyde joined us!  Then he hung out with us in Orem while we set up for the baby shower.  He was a sport and even shared Ainsley blanket with her!  Tate had fun playing with Ella and Aubrey had fun playing with Dallen.  

My mom made yummo cupcakes and rice crispy treats!  The best soups ever that we ate the next day too!   My Grandma Ras helped my with the marshmallows...she is always by my side. Then and now.  Pretty cool!

Tate and I had fun getting baby stuff for the baby shower...I must say that a lot has changed in 4 years.  Aubrey and Ainsley did the coloring.  Tate was VERY invested in the "baby" of it all.  Telling everyone we do not have a baby but we are having a baby party.

Ainsley just loved all the Grandpa's!  She made sure Grandpa Ras knew where to go and sit.  Tate just loved him.  He is a big, very strong guy so he felt like he has a lot in common with him!:)

Zohorob was the best!  Not only did he hook up his wii for Caleb but he brought Caleb his favorite cereal and made the kids french toast.  He took Caleb, Aubrey, and Tate a LATE  3D movie!  The kids just thought he was incredible!  So fun!

 Ainlsey and her Aunt Sydney...other then Ainsley having athletic ability and I pretty sure they are exactly alike (oh and Ainsley being social).  Ainsley had a special sleep over with Aunt Sydney where they went shopping, Ainsley ate a taco in her car, sang music, and watched HOCUS POCUS...pretty much the best Halloween movie ever made for kids!  Sydney taught Ainlsey the cups song with a cup and gave her a necklace.  It was the best night of her entire life!!  In the morning when Syndey was suppose to put her hair in piggy tails Sydney said "Do you want your hair in piggy tails..or do you want to look like MOVIE STAR?"  So, now Ainsley always wants her hair down!  Oh boy!!  Also, everything is...Aunt Sydney likes likes this or Aunt Sydney does this....hopefully this wears out soon!

 On Sunday it was a big day.  In the morning we were in Eagle Mountain for Spencer's son Conner's blessing and then stait to Magna for Seth's son Daniel's blessing.  At 6:30 it was Caleb's baptism!!!  

Family made the last minute drive....It was pretty great.  

The kids sang, while Andy played.

I think it is great that Caleb made this decision.  While a goofy kids, he's a good one.  

While he was drying off my mom was leading us in songs and it was quite an experience for me to be able to sing families are forever with so many family members there, in the same room.  We have never really been in the same room like that.  It has been years, we have been through so much.  Almost all of my grandparents were there.  It was just awesome.  It was great to have Kelly Harmon and his wife there too!

 Caleb, Ashlee, and Chase (Jane...walking)

 CALEB ALL BAPTIZED!!

On Monday we went and visited my Grandpa Clark and Grandma Nita...Ainlsey wants to be an artist just like her.  They were both wearing purple (how about that?!)  She gave Ainsley fancy paint and something to paint!

 Ainsley, Grandma, Caleb, Grandpa Delton Clark, and Tate Delton

sitting in the same chairs they have had for 20 years!

 Hanging out with Uncle Greg at his new office.... fun lemonade!

 Kickin' it!  

 Jack, Tate, Ainsley, Jane, Paris, Aubrey, Caleb..at Aunt Ella's cool as ever new house.  Tate found the cool buddy ever with Jack...once he found someone who love Batman as much as him he just knew Jack was the four year old cousin he could roll with!!  The kids had a blast on Uncle Matts swing and playing in there AWESOME yard!

 On Tuesday we drove to West Valley City to see Uncle Seth's new house!  He hooked up the wii and they fed us lunch!  It was a blast!   

Ainsley loved to hold Daniel, a big squooshy fun baby!

 Tate trying to teach Daniel how to roll over...he told me he was worried that Daniel was going to roll away and I said babies do not know how to roll.  So he got down on the floor and showed him how.  Then I told him.  You do not know how to spell...it is kind of like that.  He just didn't relate the two because he said "Mom, rolling over is so darn easy"

 In the late afternoon after spending time in Lehi at Andy's sisters we went to Sandy to hang out with my family!  The fasted family picture ever!!  It was cold but fun to see everyone.  Everyone is grown up, with careers...kids, or in schools.  It is just so great to see us together again and to see everyone healthy!

 On our last night in Utah it wouldn't we be the best trip ever if we didn't see the Chipmans right?!!!  We drop back to Eagle Mountain to their new AWESOME house,  our kids had unlimited fun and we did too!  

 Not a day older right?  Just real jobs, real bills, mortgages, an INCREDIBLE wife, and kids.  

We also saw The Hill Family which was a highlight too, she just had her baby and the kids had a blast.  

We had a blast!  We loved seeing everyone and staying with Steffaney in her new House!!  Utah is a beautiful place but Kansas is the place for us!  There is no place like home!

One of Aubrey and Ainlsey's favorite things were the scarves!  They loves the beautiful scarves that their Grandma Jean made for them!  It was so fun to see Aunt Bonnie as well! 

To end our fall break we pick Nate up from the airport for the big game!  It was fun to have him here for the weeks end!  THE CHIEFS ARE 7-0 now and he saw the kids off to school this morning!  Goodbye fall break! 

From this experience I got exactly what I needed. I wanted my children to be able to be around their family.  On Andy's side as well as my own.  My childhood memories as so clear, my happy thoughts and feelings of cousins, aunt, uncles and grandparents.  Funny memories.  I want my children to be able to have those.  For my children to be able to have this trip and be old enough to remember it. To love there extended family and talk about them all the way home.  That is such an exciting thing for me.  To be able to call up my cousins/uncle and say hey come.  I just love my family so much.  I have such a wonderful strong one.  My children are incredibly lucky.  I am blessed, even though they have chosen Utah to live:)