Garbage Men

Ryan has always had this thing for Garbage trucks. He thinks they are pretty cool for some reason. Today, both Ryan and Hunter got the opportunity to act like Garbage men as they went to my firm and picked up trash outside the building. The wind blew a lot of trash over the past months in to the bushes and trees outside the firm and made everything look grimy. So, Kirby Joseph agreed to let Hunter come and pick up trash and earn money. Hunter invited Ryan to come along as well. We spent over two hours crawling through bushes and thorny trees picking up trash, but in the end the boys did a fantastic job. The collected two large bags of trash and really cleaned up the outside of the building. At times, they would get distracted but we were able to complete the task. Hunter was excited to earn money and Ryan was excited to be a part of the whole thing - though he only earned $1 but did a lot more work than that! However, Ryan did find a dollar bill while picking up trash which he was so excited about. I am so proud of how hard they worked and how good everything looked when they completed their job. They are such good and wonderful boys!!

Captain Underpants and other Strange things

On Grandma Griffin's b-day, Ryan had to go visit the doctor. Ryan has complained of some chest pains at various times in the past 3 or 4 weeks, so Stacey took him to the doctor to get it checked out. Apparently, the doctor did an EKG and took some chest X-rays but they believe that there is nothing wrong with him. He may have a little acid reflux. But while at the doctor's office, they decided to give him his 5-year old shots. He got three shots (just for the record - none were injections of steroids - though I want him to be a baseball player, I don't want him to be one that bad!). He said they hurt but according to him he 'only cried a little.' Mommy was good enough to reward him for being so good by taking him to Target and he got to pick out a toy - he settled on a Star Wars battle droid lego set. He was such a big boy and so proud of himself for being so strong. Hunter reminded me that when he was five he got his shots and picked out an orange tow truck Transformer - honestly, that kid has such a great memory - he remembers where he got every single toy from the time that he was 2. Hunter is now reading his third Captain Underpants book. Actually, he checked it out of the library yesterday and starting reading it today and finished reading it right before bed. I think the book has about 200 pages in it, but it keeps his 8-year old mind occupied and he will read it cover to cover. Strang book and strange title, but apparently the book is a popular book for 9 and 10 year old boys. He is also reading a book called Poppy Returns. This is a little slower reading than Captain Underpants, but he will read a couple of chapters a night and is getting toward the end. I am glad that he is reading as much as he does, and I don't mind that he is reading Captain Underpants, even if Captain Underpants is taking on the Nasty Nose Nuggets....

Book of Mormon in 75 days

It has been quite a while since I have read the Bible or the Book of Mormon, so I decided that in 2008 that I would read the Book of Mormon within 90 days. I set the goal to read 7 pages a day which makes it so I can read the whole book in about 72 or 73 days. I am currently at page 272, which is about a day or 2 behind where I should be. But so far things are going well. I realize that this is probably not the best way to read scripture, but I figured that just reading and finishing the book is better then what I have done recently, i.e. not reading at all. The best way to read is to study, ponder, and pray about the things you read - then ask our Heavenly Father if the things you have read are true. The Holy Spirit will witness to you that those things are true by feelings of calmness, understanding, and burning desire in your heart. I will keep you posted as to when i finish the book.

A Simple Fire Truck

Ryan is almost 5 years old. He has been our baby for so long - but now with Samantha in the picture he looks like a giant compared to her. He seems to have grown up very quickly in the past 2 weeks, but he still is my little boy. Ryan received a present from his Grandma and Grandpa McClanahan on Wednesday - it was an early birthday present. They bought him a lego firetruck. Hunter and Ryan spent quite a bit of time putting that truck together. Hunter has become somewhat of an expert at putting together Legos, so Ryan let him at it and offered some help. Today, Ryan got mad at his Mom and so he broke apart his firetruck. Mommy told him that she wasn't going to help him put it back together because of the way he acted. Well, after quite some time he realized what a mistake he made in breaking apart his firetruck and he asked Mommy to help him put it back together again. She reiterated the fact that she wasn't going to help him. He asked for the directions and she got them for him. He ended up following the directions and putting that firetruck back together. When we got home tonight one of the first things he told me was that he put that lego firetruck together by himself. I was so proud of him and amazed that he could do that by himself. He is really growing up and becoming more and more self-sufficient. He was also so proud of himself for accomplishing that. As a Dad, I get this overwhelming feeling of love when I see my boys accomplishing tasks or doing things that show they are growing up. Even when Hunter does something as simple as putting the trash can away, I see him growing up and I can't believe I have a son that can accomplish a more mature task. I can't wait until both Hunter and Ryan can shovel the snow off the driveway and mow the lawn....

The Griffin 5

It has been almost 2 weeks since Samantha joined our family. We have really enjoyed the adjustment. She has been the sweetest thing - she rarely cries, only on the occasional diaper change and when she doesn't get fed fast enough. We have really noticed how patient she is in everything so far. She lets us do just about anything to her and she doesn't complain. Hopefully, that will continue throughout her life. Samantha appears to be happy - though the only time she smiles is when she is asleep or falling asleep. Hunter and Ryan absolutely love her. They keep telling us "I just love Samantha." Sometimes they say it as they are playing with their toys or doing something that doesn't even involve their sister - but I think they just have this overwhelming sense of joy and love that comes over them and they have to express it. Tonight as I drove home from work, I stopped to pick up Ryan at his friend's, Ben, house. We talked on the drive home and I asked him what he thought about his little sister. He responded with a full heart and tendor voice, "She is the sweetest thing." We all love her so much and have to fight over who is going to hold her next, but she has easily transitioned into our family. Sometimes Stacey and I have this realization that we have a daughter (whenever I say that it seems so weird after having just boys for so many years) and an extra person to our family - a feeling that is hard to explain, except that you will understand when you have children of your own. But at the same time she has felt like she has always been a part of our family and that is why she is so easy to love. Tonight, I got to hold her and she fell asleep on my chest. I just rocked her for quite some time and took in the alone and quiet time I had with her. There is nothing more precious then having a child curled up in your arms with her head on you chest. What a wonderful addition to our household!

Sami Part II

Hunter and Ryan were so excited to come visit Samantha at the hospital. At precisely 7:30am (I am sure he wanted to call earlier), Hunter called me on my cell phone. I told him that Samantha was born and he got so excited. He wanted to come to the hospital right away. He asked how she was doing and I told him a little bit about her being born during the night. He then gave the phone to Ryan for me to tell him about Samantha being born. Ryan was just getting up and I told him about his new little sister, but he then told me that he was 'too tired' and gave the phone back to Hunter. By 9am, the boys were at the hospital as Grandma McClanahan drove them there. I met them in the lobby of the hospital and took them to see Mommy and Samantha. They were so excited, but when they actually saw her they were speechless. They just stared at her and finally Hunter said "She isn't what I expected." Apparently, he expected someone a little bigger and perhaps could move around. With Samantha being extra tiny, it was such a shock to him. But both Hunter and Ryan took turns holding her and they instantly fell in love with their little sister. Ryan could not stop saying 'I love her!' Grandma McClanahan said that both boys got dressed and ate their breakfast faster than they ever had! There was no constant reminder and no pestering - they could not wait to get to the hospital!! What a cute little family we have! After they left, Stacey and I tried to get some sleep but the nurses, etc. kept coming in every 20 minutes to check on Stacey and the baby. We talked to Hunter later in the day and he said 'Do you NEED me to come to the hospital?" So, Hunter, Ryan, and Grandma came back to the hospital and spent more time with Mommy and the baby. They love their little sister!!