Matthew Moments

You know those times in life where you feel like you want to crawl into a dark space and hide because you are so humiliated. Well, I had one of those experiences the other day. I was embarrassed not for something I did, but my children. To fully understand the situation I have to explain events that happened earlier in the day....

Matthew and Amanda were playing upstairs and I went to check on them. Matthew had decided to show private parts and thought it was funny. So I sat him down and explained to him that we don't do that. I said we don't show our penis to others and left it at that.

Later in the evening the kids and I decided to visit Jared at the hospital because he was working late and we hadn't seen him all day. We just stopped by for like 5 minutes (you see where this is going). Jared and the attending doctor were at their stations which are close to each other, and the kids and I were getting ready to leave when Matthew just blurts out "penis". Jared wonders what exactly am I teaching our kids.

And then Matthew says it again and louder this time so that the attending doctor can hear. I can see him smiling. Matthew blurts it out again and starts laughing this time. I feel my face getting red and it doesn't help that Jared is starting to laugh. Oops, he said it again, and again. All the while I am saying Matthew don't say that. Amanda is laughing and I am pretty sure she doesn't know why. At this point I feel the need to explain to the attending Dr. why my son is saying this word and it doesn't help the situation at all. Then a nurse comes in and Amanda says "my brother just said penis". YIKES! Where is the duck tape when I need it.

As I was leaving I manage to say "it is good to see you again Dr. ", and he replied "likewise" with a grin. Jared called later that night and said that it was the funniest thing they had heard all day. Apparently Dr. G was laughing for a while after I had left, and Jared too.

So my embarrassing moments are more my children's moments. I am sure that one day I will look back at this moment in my life and laugh. But just not now.

Trip to Utah

My Mom and Dad were very gracious and let me stay with them, eat their food, mess up their house, swim in the pool, and play the whole time. The kids had lots of fun!
I feel so blessed to have the best in-laws. Cheree is the best. I like her so much because I think we are alike. Mindy and Renae were in a community play and Amanda and I were able to go see it our last night in Utah. The boys stayed back at Grammie's house and went to bed early and the girls went to "play". It was tons of fun!

Honestly, how do they fall asleep like that? It looks so uncomfortable.
Yeah! All of my sisters were all the same house at the same time. That rarely happens so it was definetly a moment to capture. Top left-Tiffany, Courtney, Brandee, Me, Shanda, Aimee, Mom, and Brittany. Love to All!
Ethan and cousin Savannah were having a bath together and got out at the same time. Ethan is crying because he didn't want to get out and Savannah is just looking at him like "What's wrong with you dude?"

We went to a really neat Dinosaur Park near Ogden, UT. It was mostly outdoors and they have livesize statues of all different kinds of dinosaurs. They look alive and they even roar from time to time. The kids are about to be "eaten" and are screaming for their lives.
Amanda and her cousin Audrey pose for a picture. Amanda got to sleep over at Audrey's house that night. She had a great time!
Ethan is digging for fossils at the dig site. He is using a brush and discovering dinosaur bones. What a genius already!
Matthew is sitting on a really ugly crocidile/dinosaur looking thing. YIKES!

We went to the Carrilon Bells Concert. It was fun to listen to, but the kids had more fun playing in the water fountain. They are completely soaked and were pretty cold by the end of the night. And they had fun running up and down the hills too.

So I just tried to upload a video of Ethan and Matthew being very wet and cold. But the video ended up at the bottom of this post instead of the top where they usually end up. So if you want to check it out then scroll to the bottom. And I am also realizing that it will probably take me a couple more days to get all of my Utah trip in here. I took alot of pictures and did more stuff than I thought. So check in every so often because there will probably be more pictures on my Utah Trip post.

Matthew and Grandpa Burt standing at the lake behind my Grandma Holmes's townhome. Matthew was quite fond of Grandpa and followed him around when he was home.

My kids and I at my Grandma's house. The kids like Great Grandma Holmes because she always gives them icecream when we come over.
Behind my Grandma's house there is a big tree with a wooden swing on it. Those are the best kinds of swings because you can get going really high. I thought this made a cool picture. You can see Amanda's and Aimee's silouhettes against the sun setting in the sky.

A couple day after I got to my mom's house we went up the canyon for dinner with Mom, Dad, Aimee and Nate & Tiff and their kids. The kids had fun riding their scooters on the path.
Amanda and Rylan are climbing up the dirt hill before dinner. My kids are drawn to the dirt, especially if it is before they are going to be eating.

After having dinner at the canyon we walked up to Bridal Veil Falls and let the kids play in the water. The water was so cold but the kids didn't notice. They were having too much fun.
He is smiling because he can no longer feel his feet and now he can play to his hearts content.

Amanda, Matthew, and my little sister Aimee climbing on the rocks at the falls.
Matthew and Bradley enjoying the cold water at Bridal Veil Falls.

We stayed at Jeannie's/Grammies house when we first arrived in Utah. We played in her pool and had dinner with Cheree, Krysta and their families. Here are all the cousins on the Griffith side starting from top left ..Mindy, Adam, Renae, Grammie, David, Amanda, Ethan, and Matthew. We had a great time and we love our family!

Grammie gave Matthew a Slip'N'Slide for his birthday while we were in Utah. The kids had a blast playing with it because Grammie has a grassy hill at the side of her townhome. It was truly a water slide.

Our Summer....So Far

Hooray!! Matthew turned 5 years old on June 13. A super fun rocket cake complete with debris falling off the side and rocket candles to help it take off into outer space.
Eating his yummy rocket cake. The red and blue M&M's were his favorite part.
Look at all my presents! I can't wait to open them!

No summer would be complete without a trip to the Toledo Zoo. We go there often with the kids. It is a great Zoo! Amanda and Matthew are just being hatched. Ooh aren't they cute!
Going for a turtle ride. My these are slow turtles they aren't even moving.
A trip to the zoo wouldn't be complete unless you get a picture of the family with an elephant's behind in the background. But it's okay because that's the baby elephant.

Our summer started by having to say good-bye to some dear friends. The Bardwells were our neighbors in Iowa. Jared and Steve went to DMU together and we both ended up in Michigan for residency. They moved to Atlanta this summer and we already miss them. Nathan is sitting with Matthew and Ethan and they are enjoying some very delicious smores.
Did I say delicious? That would be an understatement. Scrumptious!!
Amanda and Mikayla are best of friends. They have been friends since before they were 1 years old. Miss you guys already! Good luck in Atlanta!