Best SIL - She's Mine!

So life has had some "stressful" moments over the past month, we get stresses in our life often but the past month has been exceptionally insane.

I always try to make the best of every situation, I really do.  But lately I had moments of, things won't get better this time around, woe is me.

I'm so, so grateful to have the most amazing sister-in-law, she lives in California but we email daily and have for the past few years.  She listens to me vent, we go through struggles together and I couldn't possibly be more grateful to have her in my life or love her more than I do.

I got the best surprise in the mail this week, a beautiful horseshoe necklace that has definitely brought the Iowa Griffin's some much needed good luck this week.

Not the best photo in the world, but seriously, how stinking cute is this necklace???  My phone takes horrid pictures, I'm still using a non-smart phone so it can't be helped.  Hopefully very soon I will join the rest of the world and upgrade to a "smart" phone :)

Just feeling very blessed today for this amazing relationship I have with my sister-in-law, she is truly one of the kindest, sweetest, encouraging people I know and I cherish our sistership.  

Yeah I made up that last word, it works for us :)

Goodbye Summer...

I hope everyone had a truly wonderful summer, ours was pretty darn good.  We had plans nearly every weekend and loved seeing family at different reunions and events.

This year is flying by, I still can't believe Bella is in Kindergarten, she LOVES school.  I love it every night when I come home she is super excited to tell me about her day and everything she learned.  She did have a couple of "boring" days last week, but she still had fun.

Dance is back in full swing, Bella was so happy to see four kids from class last year are in her class this year.  She is learning a lot of new tap steps and ballet moves, she has truly grown to just love dance.

We went to Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines, we just love that zoo.

Bella really loved the seals.  It was HOT that day, like 100 degrees, humid, we were just dripping sweat but still had a great time :)

Bella's big "brother" Tybalt turned 7 this year, his age is really showing but he still acts like a puppy.  Those two have such a strong bond, I love this photo.

Bella and Grandpa before the Lamont Days parade.  My dad and his brothers drove old tractors in the parade, it was awesome, my dad was so excited and proud to do that :)

The Koch reunion hay ride is always a blast :)

We took a family trip to Adventureland, Bella LOVES Adventureland and so do I! :)

My beautiful baby nieces Evey and Lyla, they have grown so much, I just adore them.

Kindergarten!

I can't believe it, Bella started Kindergarten yesterday.  I took the day off so Kyle and I could both take her on her first day, then they only had a half day and I wanted to be able to pick her up and have a fun afternoon.

She did good when we got there, picked out her lunch choice (they have four choices every day and each student picks what they want first thing in the morning), then it was time to join the morning circle and for mom and dad to leave.  She got a little sad and didn't want us to go as she stared at the circle of new faces wondering where to sit.  She chose to sit towards the back and promised us she would be brave.

It took everything in me to hold in the tears until we got outside.  What a feeling, leaving her with all those new kids, a new teacher, a new environment and knowing she was a little scared.  But she made it through and had a great day.

How strange, our life has changed once again, as many parents lives have, we now have a school age child and there will be many school events to look forward to.

I still can't believe how fast the past few years have gone by, so proud of our little princess and hopeful that we are raising her to be a strong, sweet, caring, independent person.

My Baby Brother is 30!!!!

That's my little brother Larry or "Bud" as we call him :)  I found the banner idea on Pinterest (my new addiction that could be an entire post in itself:) ).

The birthday cake, thanks to my sister Jenn for helping me with this.  The planned idea was a flop, I ruined two cakes in bundt pans, I've learned I do not get along well with bundt pans ;)

Ahahahahahaha, I know him too well, he was THRILLED with this gift from us and he even wore it the following Sunday at volleyball!

Isn't she just the CUTEST?!?

Mmmmmmm, Rumchata shots with my gusband and Bud, we love you David.

Me and my hubby :)

A birthday celebration for Bud wouldn't be right without volleyball :)  Maybe Ed and I were having an impromptu dance off???

Just have to do the running pose again!

Kisses :)

The boys, love this photo!

Our cousins Ronnie and Courtney and their two little girls were here visiting from Virginia, it was wonderful having them here to celebrate with us :)  I'll have more fun photos of our girls enjoying their time together soon!