A Griggs Visit.

Every year in the spring time Papa's Pa and Ma come to see us for a few days. This year they brought Auntie R and M (Papa's sister and her 5 year old daughter.) with them. The kids all got to meet last fall on our 'big trip' and the boys counted down the days until M got here. Grandma and Grandpa and Auntie R were just a bonus. They were SO excited. Finally the day arrived and all I heard was "WHEN MOMMY?" After lunch I said repeating what I'd been told. Well after lunch turned out to be 3:30pm and the girls had napped and gotten up, J and L got to stay up to see M, J had 'prayed to God that the next car was them... But it wasn't" I had to do a small lesson in "God doesn't always work the way we want him too." J sat on the trampoline and watched the driveway with a steady gaze that un-nerved me. I kept glancing over my shoulder to see what he was staring at! Finally we ran some races and played some games and low and behold!!! Here came that familiar little red station wagon and inside was M!!! There was no need for introductions! Grandpa and Grandma had brought J a surprise and boy was he!! A bike!! With a helmet and knee pads. I'd know then were bringing it and had been making J practice on his little bike and had explained to them that 'some day' J would get a big bike and L could have his 'little bike.' So when the time came J readily gave L his little red bike and hopped up on his big new green bike and off he went!! He loved it. And I'm told he even thanked Grandpa and Grandma without prompting!! Good job!! L wasn't too impressed with the gift of the little red bike as he really prefers his trike. He'll grow into it. Grandma on my bike pulling E and R in the cart. Below is E running for the cart in hopes of a ride. Her hopes were realized in the top picture. She was so excited!!
3's a crowd, or so they say, these 3 little Griggers seem to be having a great time.
M and L watch while J goes down the slide head 1st. Didn't take long and they were all doing it. Even E who flew and looked like she'd break her neck. ( I put a stop to that.. thinking that it couldn't be good for her.)

J pushing R on the swing. What a great big brother he is.

Here is L and M on one of the park attractions. I love how M's braid is flying with the movement.

We had a great weekend with the Griggs. Hot dog roasts and bike rides, trips to the local park for playtime and pizza. The kids renewed their friendships and I hear M is planning on coming back next year :) Auntie R had never been to our place before so we showed her around and tried to give her a picture of what it had been like and also what we hoped it would be like in the future. Papa cooked all weekend and thankfully the dishwasher did all the dishes. For there was a LOT of them. Here is a HUGE bubble Grandpa blew and I quickly caught a picture of before a child popped it :) R caught in a bubble. I didn't even try for this picture... total fluke. The whole crew (-Papa and L and I.) having fun with bubbles in our front yard.Morgan 'getting' bubbles. Hey R maybe you should put her in Karate!! She looks like she's in the middle of a move!! :) The empty box behind her was from the dishwasher. The kids had been using it for a playhouse but it had been rained on and so later in the day after our hot dogs the kids and Papa burnt it. M was shocked!!! They voted and she was the only one who wanted to keep it. Auntie R says M never gets rid of ANYTHING and she couldn't believe that they burnt the box!!! Grandpa and Grandma also brought bubble wand thingies and everyone had a great time blowing bubbles, letting the wind blow bubbles, popping bubbles and chasing bubbles. The boys also found out that Auntie R is great fun on the trampoline!!

L attacking Auntie R. She would lay really still on the trampoline and they would get closer and closer and closer and then she would jump up and scare them. They loved it. L was the only one of the 4 that would turn and attack instead of run away. He'd run two steps then turn and yell and jump on her.

And of course.. bottle feeding the sheep.

Sunday morning came all too soon for the children and we sent our visitors off for their 2 day road trip with a huge waffle breakfast, with eggs, bacon and lots of great tasting milk. The shavings pile in many of the pictures is as far as the children are allowed to go down the driveway. The shavings themselves were from a house my parents re-did last summer. All the insulation was shavings and they delivered them right to the house. Beautiful.