End of the Summer Splash!

Melissa and Alexader! Family Swim at the Hightowers...
This summer has gone by too quickly! We only made it to the Hightower's pool once!


Entire Griffin Group in one place.... and no broken bones...yet.
Happy Summer.

Wists...awesome site to collect photos and links of my favorite things!

Baum Voyage!

I miss the Baums!
waaaa-haaa-haaa!

Seriously these people touched so many lives by just chillin' in Terre Haute, IN and being themselves! It's been bittersweet to look back at photos of their time here. They are AWESOME but they are also far away now.(sigh) I can't put into words how important our friendship has been. I learned so much and yet there is a big gaping hole that had yet to be filled with their presence in our lives. I am feeling sad but also highly inspired to try to be all I can and present for others in my relatively new environment. Instead of giving in to my (unfortunately) usual habits of self pity I remember Amberly and remember to chill out ad enjoy the ride. Life is what you make it and other cliches come to mind here. I appreciate Amberly's ability to be herself with out expecting you to be her to.! HOW COOL! It was wonderful to celebrate individuality and I hope to forever remember her unassuming love of people and things with out an expectation for those things to fit her or conform to what she thought was right. Not to say that the Baums are perfect (To be perfect they would have to clone themselves and everyone could have matching sets.... like the Water Buffalo on Veggie Tales!)nor did they allow themselves to be walked on nor indulge in other peoples poor decisions out of "respect" for the individual or to be politically correct. They are Good peeps doing the best they can and they just happened to be a beacon for some of us who weren't doing so hot in these great areas of expertise I have previously described. I hope and pray that they were able to find strengths in those around them here and grow from them. The Baums deserve every bit of growth they get for they are sure to share and spread it where ever they go. Till we meet again: Have fun, be Green, be yourself, be loving and when all else fails....Read the Nursery Manuel.
M

Spring Breakin' Baker Style

Another crazy young mom(who has two toddler boys of her own)and I drove to UT for Hannah, Chloe, and Eli's spring break! It was insane but fun when we finally arrived! We missed Chase and Clint a ton but we were sure to play with what toys of Chase's we could find!
We just found out that Elder Uncle Chase just got transferred into our College buddies' ward, ROB AND KIERRA BURNS (whose wedding I shot! I was so fun to hear that they might see him!~!!!! We miss our friends from VA. Rob hasn't seen Chase since Clint and I were married in the Seattle Temple, when Chase was 11 years old... now 20!
We are all great over here in the Mid west. Next Saturday I am going to be in a 5K That is up in Indianapolis. There are supposed to be live bands along the street that we will run on and the race actually ends on the INDI 500 Race track!!! It should be awesome! (I am running it with the same crazy friend that drove out to UT with me)Holla back attcha Wendy Willson!
HUGS!

March 24thish 2009

more photos from Alex'a Bday!