Other things we have done...

Besides all the birthday celebrations, there was a lot happening in the Griffin family this month.  We drove out to Reidsville, North Carolina, the first weekend in May.   Hayne's cousin Joanna Johnson (now Beutel) was getting married.  It was a beautiful outdoor ceremony and reception on the Apple family farm.  The Apples, Virginia's family, have lived on this land for over four generations. Joanna was lucky enough to get married there.  She could not have ordered a more beautiful day or perfect setting. We are very happy for her and hope many, many blessings for her marriage.

 The Cousins

From left:  Wesley Johnson, David Apple, Joanna (Johnson) Beutel, Hans Beutel, Jacob Apple, Elizabeth (Griffin) Westbrook, and Hayne Griffin

Mama and Cord

Alathea is now very interested in the things that I do, like take pictures.  At the wedding reception she got a hold of my camera, and this is what she produced.  Nice work for a novice photographer.

Tia (Laela's nick name for Hayne's sister)  is trying her best to get in the frame with Uncle Brad!

Hiya Papy

A few days after the wedding, the kids and I headed to Minnesota.  This trip was on shorter notice due to the generosity of my parents, and Hayne's extremely busy work schedule.  It was a great couple weeks to hang out with my entire family, and of course, celebrate everyone's birthdays.  I love getting to watch my kids interact with their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. I do not have the proximity to family I would like, so we are making up for it with extended visits.  My kids live with my parents for two weeks at a time, and it makes for very sweet relationships.  We have been very lucky to get to Minnesota as much as we have.  My kids, Laela in particular, really know and love their cousins.  

Wendy and Triston

Laela's photography at work on Papa!

Hide and Go Seek

Hanging out with Preston.

Wendy with Cord and Triston

Spiderman Davis

We really wanted to grill out one night, but a massive thunder and hail storm was raging outside.  We waited for a while to see if things would let up, but when it became apparent that it would not, dad took care of things.  He put on all his rain gear for fishing in the rain (I am still not sure how that is fun - sorry Caleb) and saved the day.  The fact that we should have been in the basement as tornadoes were touching down and destroying parts of Minneapolis, was a bit lost on us at the time

Auntie Drea and Lae

All six of the grandkids.  Lalea (3), Cord (1), Davis(4),  Kiki (3) , Triston (1) and Preston (3).   Quite a crew!

May Celebrations!

There is so much that our family has to celebrate in May.  Birthdays galore - including two of my sisters-in-law, my neice, my nephew, and myself.  However, the birth of my two kids is the biggest deal to me.

Three years ago, on May 11th, Alathea Joy was born at Mission Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina.  Hayne and I did not know what to expect of parenthood.  The beginning days were immensely challenging.  It was a combination of fear and exhaustion that caused the difficulties.  Fear that I would somehow do something to hurt her, or I would sleep through her crying, or that I would not know how to meet her needs or stop her crying.  Exhaustion due to the fact that I could not sleep through a cough let alone a cry, and that there were MANY times I simply could not make her stop crying.  Those early days, though they seem to last forever, are short lived.  Before I knew it, she was smiling and cooing and crawling.  Then she was laughing and walking and talking.  Laela is simply a joy - just like her middle name.  She brings life to the room with her constant chatter and exuberant personality.  She loves to talk, dance, sing, and be around people she loves.  She constantly reminds me how much joy there is in simple things like taking a walk or playing with play dough.  I love this little girl and feel grateful that I get to be her mom.

Laela's party with her friends in Black Mountain

Party with the Griffin Family.

We also celebrated Tia's (Hayne's sister) birthday!

Celebration with the Johnson Family.  

My niece Kiersten (Kris and Anni's daughter) also turned 3.

Two years and a day later, Cordiner David joined the family.   When I had Cord I merely experienced exhaustion (this piece is unavoidable - sorry to all my friends who have not had kids yet) but not so much fear.  We kind of knew what to expect.  However, babies, like people, are individuals.  Cord did not always do what his sister did, but that just made him more interesting to figure out.  He is my little cuddle bug, where as Laela will only hug me if I bribe her :)  Cord is sensitive, but growls at me when I do something he does not like.  He flirts with people, but if they try to hold him, he screams bloody murder.   He is his own person and we are all crazy about him - even Laela who affectionately pronounces his name Co-ord.

Friend party.

Griffin Birthdays! 

Johnson birthdays.

 My nephew Triston (Caleb and Wendy's son) turned 1 as well. 

It was also Annika's 28th birthday!

We will not celebrate with three parties every year.  This one was special, but as everyone can see, there was much to celebrate!!!