I will do that...

Olympic fever is high with us.. watching prime time and tuning in at times during the day.  My phone ringer is even singing me that glorious theme song!

The kids have endless questions about the sports, the scores, the medals, and the teams. Addison decided there should be a purple team... hummm wouldn't they have to add a ring for that? ;)

I've realized there are some real teaching moments within these conversations .. today it was about building each other up.  Addie said that she wants to be a "gymnasticer" when she grows up. She was watching the gymnast on the tv flip on the beam. She looked impressed and then stated "I will do that." 

Earlier in the day Garrett was "air swimming" during a race.. he then said "Mom, I think I will do swimming in the Olympics."  I of course told him i would be there watching (even though I know my heart couldn't handle that.. )

So at this point both kids that can talk have declared themselves top athletes, bound for the Olympics. 

Addie started doing her tricks and started crying because she can only do cart wheels and rolls.. not the tricks she was watching. Garrett then told her she couldn't do tricks like that.. to which Addie said "I will do that." And again,G told her it wasn't going to happen. 
{Enter teachable moment}

At that point they got an earful about telling someone that they cannot do something.. and how if you hear it enough - well you know. 

My point is.. it was a good life lesson. And a chance to show them that cheering for each other takes everyone further than contradicting a dream or goal.  Pointing out how the athletes cheer for each other even when competing is easy.. so take the next two weeks to pick out some teachable moments and really cheer for each other.  *\o/*

Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.
~ romans 15:2

Olympic time!

I LOVE the Olympics.  Absolutely Love.  

Sport.. Love of the game

Pride.. for our country

Underdogs.. the comebacks

Bios.. the amazing stories to become an Olympian

Ceremonies.. medals, flags, podiums, & anthems

Tears.. of joy

Unity.. of the nations

 Celebrations.. of personal & national achievements 

Records.. the unbelievable performances by the athletes.

Song.. the Olympic song

I just love it all.  

travel ... let's take a break

catching up a little on our trip diary...

Hanging out in Indy was one word.. FUN!!
Upon waking the kids paired off again... girls against and boys.  Girls dawned tutus at a tea party while the boys had serious conversations about collecting coins, the arch, and beyblades.... very serious topics.

 

Next we were "Party rockin in the house tonight... everybody have a good time!"   Seriously these kid were crazy..Dance Party Central!!   It was a great mornig and we stayed in our pjs till after noon.

Let me mention that having 6 kids in one house was of course loud... but also a perfect chance for Matt and I to catch up with our long time friend.  The kids played so well together and kept themselves busy .. we actually had our own time!

Aub took me around their town of Carmel, IN... which has a very cute downtown area.  We did a little brousing ..all the while with a non-stop dialoug of catching up on everything from our latest pins on pinerest to how hard it was to say good bye to friends in NV. It felt so good to sit down and have a real conversation - face to face.  Our luck with living near eah other coldn't have been worse.  No sooner did we get stationed out in San Diego from Maine, they moved from Long Beach (would have been 2 hours away) to Chico in northern CA.   then when we moved up to northern NV (would have been a few house away) we missed them by a month as they moved to Indy.  Can you believe that?  man ... seeing it in writing makes me think they were fleeing us!! LOL.

We went to a cute cupcakery and had the most delicious cupcakes ever! Adds sweetness to the memories!

Travel take 6

After a relaxing evening of Panera (yay!!) & some night time swimming we were off to the St. Lewis "Gateway Arch".  Matt and I chatted on our way about how we were here 5 and a half years ago.. with Garrett just a little older than Micah.. crazy.  This time Garrett was soaking up the museum of Westward Expansion just as fast as he could.  He was especially interested in the peace coins that were traded when signing treaties.  Addie liked looking at all the displays.  Micah pointed at every animal and said "dooowg".  It was nice and cool in there.. so I was happy. (Can I just interject that the humidity is going to be so hard to get used to again. I have not missed it.)
Garrett is really not fond of heights .. so I wasn't too surprised when he didn't want to go up in the arch. So we checked out the gift store... turning. 51¢ (x2) into two flat pennies pressed with the arch.  Garrett also chose to buy a mini arch .. complete with facts and Addie chose a "wand" (a pencil with a large arch earaser).
It was a Fun morning!!
Then back into the car for a rather short, in comparison, drive.  A destination of Indianapolis was next. G wrote more in his journal.. citing the large white cross we passed and the baseball and football stadiums to a growing list.
We arrived at Aubrey... my bff's... home and settled right into immediate fun. Boys went into her son Mason's room and girls went into her twins room. Addie fit herself in as the *blonde* triplet. She raided Kiah and Theia's closet.. sharing even pj's! The big boys went to work on boy things like building a fort and comparing rare coins... oh and spying on the girls! They were busy :) Which meant WE could talk.. real face to face catching up!!
So happy.

Travel.. take 5

Crossed over into Missouri after our restful night in Topeka .. said with some sarcasm.   Micah fell asleep and when we arrived at the hotel.. he woke Up!  He happily entertained us until 1am.  ... Actually, I just cant complain. They all have done so well on the trip.. and poor little dude stuck turned backwards in a carseat listening to Garrett read us facts about the St Lewis arch or the state ir Ohio. .... so a late start to the car was welcomed.

When we crossed the MO state line I texted my friend Stacia... mom of G's kdg bf .. Lucy.  Jokingly I asked if they were close to highway 70 at all as I knew they were visiting the state. Of the entire state of MO they were only 45 min away! And for military friends with a chance to meet up... that is so not far! So Stacia loaded 3 of her 4 kids into the van.. told us what Mcdonalds to meet them at and we had a plan!!

We surprised Garrett who was completely shocked to see his friends. They chatted non stop and they all enjoyed a humid time on the play ground. The sweating was well worth it.  No one wanted to go.. but promises of seeing them soon in Jax made it better.  Thank you so much Kemna family for meeting us... love you and see you soon!

Back in the car we went... but not too far. We had a destination of St Lewis... and a date with an arch and museum in the morning!!

Travel take 4

Amber waves of grain.... go on and on.

That's Kansas in a nutshell.  Not a whole loot to look at from the highway.  Honestly, I was hoping for more windmills.

Since I couldn't click my ruby studded heels to be sent home (oh come on.. I had to have one Wizard of Oz reference).. we just drove and drove and drove. Kids did great. It is questionable if I would have made it had I not driven most if the day.

Garrett entertained himself by taking pictures of himself.

Even though Kansas was seemingly unending... it redeemed itself at one of the last exits... it was the site of the First Dunkin Doughnuts that we have seen!! We didn't need a heart or a brain... just caffeine!! The Griffins are finally running on Dunkin again! !

Travel take 3

We had a great day on day 3... no real travel progress.. but a fun family vacation day.  We decided to go to the Rocky Mt National Park since we had to forgo going up to Yellowstone, the Badlands, or Mt. Rushmore as they were all too far off the highway for our young travelers... pocket that for when they are older.  And judging by the way they enjoyed the one day they spent being "Rangers".. they will love that someday plan.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH!!!

It was a beautiful day up in the Rockies.  Warm and sunny.. then a quick change to cloudy and rainy.. then back to sunny!

As we were driving up we stopped at one of those lookout points. Garrett was happy to see a grey jay through "benoculars" (he still calls them that). He also got to pet a chipmunk as it was scurrying away.  Getting back into the car,  Addie said "well. Hiking is over now." .. haha we had only walked from our car to the ridge a few feet away!

We traveled up to Ridge Path Road, the highest paved road in the US. We were over 12,000 ft high! Above the tree line.. where nothing but mossy stuff grows. The mountains were green and rolling up there.. which forced me to bust out with a fabulous rendition of "The hills are alive... with the sound of music...." (to which addie covered her ears). 

The huge rocks were fun for us all to climb. Addie was successful and proud. Garrett scaled them in sandals.  And Micah had no fear.  Sadly we didn't see any big horn sheep or elk as Matt had hoped ... but as Garrett recorded in his journal we saw a few butterflies, some flies, a bird, and a marmot chewing on the wood at the bathrooms.  Now really.. what's an elk when you see all that?!