Sunday, November 20, 2011

Laws of Life


Each year Matthew has done a Laws of Life Essay for a writing competition. You are required to write an essay based on a quote and each year he has been in the finals. I thought the family might be interested in his essay for this year.


"Families are like fudge-mostly sweet with a few nuts."

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All families have "that one". You know, the one that sits in a chair and breaks it, sets his hand on fire while preparing fondue, makes a fake hunting video with a BB gun, and piles the family in an RV for a road trip across the country. Except that in my family, it's different. In my family a different person has done each of those things. Due to my dad being over confident in his fondue lighting skills, the chair my uncle was in snapped under the weight of childish laughter. Somewhere in our house lies a video entitled "Opossum Hunting" starring Aaron Bivins, Josh Bivins and myself; testing out a Wal-Mart BB gun by shooting at darkness while pretending we were waiting for a "ten point buck possum" to cross our path. And all of us were partially responsible for coming up with the idea of loading into an RV for a trip to the Grand Canyon, which made us all somewhat responsible for the mounts of memories made out west.



We all have sweetness in us as well but in different ways. For instance, my older cousins find it "sweet" to pinch my cheeks and yell "Baby Cousin" at the top of their lungs upon seeing me. Really? I thought we were past that. My mom finds it sweet that I still give her "reals hugs" in front of my friends at age seventeen. My brothers, Aaron and Josh, who once found it sweet to bomb my cousin's Barbie village, now find it sweet to check stocks and talk about investing. My dad finds it sweet to check the obituaries every day and not find his name listed. And I- I find it sweet that we somehow haven't killed each other yet.



If you haven't noticed thus far, my family is a tad-bit different. We find the sweetness of the fudge inside the nuttiness. We look past little things. If one of us were stuck on a question on "Cash Cab", we would definitely go for the street shout out option. We aren't afraid to make our presence known. We have been known to start a ruckus or two with a chant like, "g-double o-d-j-o-b, good job! Good job!" We can turn the most serious occasion into a comedy club, or the most disorganized event into a well-oiled machine. Even in my immediate household of three, we can make a pretty big batch of fudge.



The best thing is a family doesn't have to be confined to the people you see on December 25th. I have a family that reunites every fall for a little over three months- the Central High School Cross Country team. Together we are the biggest fudge square you have ever seen, and I hope you're not allergic to nuts. What makes this fudge so special is how we all come together. Sometimes we are looked upon as the guys that are not big enough or fast enough to play football and only about half of us try. The other half are there for the girls or to "get in shape". But, no one looks at that. We're all one big family; a family that can love each other one second and annoy the life out of each other the next. We all pick on each other, usually myself the most, but it's all out of love and out of sweetness. We are all crazy nuts; put all of us next to a group of fourth graders and you wouldn't know the difference. However, that's what makes us special. That's what makes the Central Cross Country team the greatest helping of fudge ever.



My family doesn't own the nicest cars or the biggest house. I don't go to a private school, and out of state tuition looks like a mountain of money, but I would never ask the baker to give me different fudge. I hate eating nuts, but I love living with them. I love to run with them, and deep down I know the next four years won't be the same without all of them. I love my fudge.









The picture was taken at Senior night for Cross Country. I just wanted every one to know what "Baby Cousin" thought of his family.



Saturday, November 12, 2011

It's Been A Long Time...





I have been in front of this computer now for almost an hour and still can't get the pictures to behave correctly. So, this time, I'm posting this no matter what and then Meghan will have to tutor me some more.

I wanted to give everyone information about Thanksgiving and Christmas. First, do you remember where we were last year at Thanksgiving?
This photo was taken by Meghan on her early morning walk with her sister Hannah.




This year Thanksgiving will be held at Joy and Tom's home. Dinner will be around 5:00. Please let them know if you are attending so we make sure we have enough food for everyone. We don't want anyone going home hungry. Give Joy a call if you have any questions.

Two years ago we spent the Saturday after Thanksgiving at Meghan's for the BIG game and wreath making.

We had food that was delicious... (the picture of the food was suppose to go here, NOT in the middle...)


Matthew dressed up for the game.... (Guess which picture was to go here?)

This year we are doing it again and it will be held at the Balte home. Food will again be present (well, of course, what's a get together without food?)
This time we will be making table center pieces. You should bring your own supplies. This will be Saturday, November 26th beginning at 1:00 PM.

Family Christmas will be Christmas Day, 5:00 and Ginny and Jeremy will be hosting. Please let Ginny know if you will be attending.

Meghan, I expect a call from you sometime this week so you can tell me what I'm doing wrong!

Janice

Friday, August 5, 2011

Monday, August 1, 2011

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Family fun weekend is quickly approaching!!!

It's almost here!

For those of you that won't be present, we will miss you.

I sent an email out today but I'm also posting the information here.

Check in is at 3:00 on Friday, check out is 11:00 Sunday. Cost is $45.00 total for each person. Money should be paid to daddy in the form of cash.

The menu is:

Friday night: Lasagna, salad, and garlic bread

Saturday morning: Cream cheese pancakes, fruit toppings, sausage and bacon

Saturday lunch: sandwiches, chips etc.

Saturday dinner: Grilled tenderloin pork chops, side dishes as provided by family

Sunday Breakfast: pastries

Sunday: lunch at a local restaurant to celebrate Mom's birthday

Each family should bring:

Drinks, snacks, favorite salad dressing, sandwich makings, 1 ½ “ thick center cut pork tenderloin chops, one side dish for dinner Saturday night and pastries

I will purchase the following and we will split the cost once we are there:

Salad stuff, garlic bread, cream cheese pancake stuff, bacon and sausage

The grill master said that if you bring something other than the tenderloin chop he will be glad to cook it, but the recipe he is using does say 1 1/2” center cut pork tenderloin chop.

Linens (bed and towels) are provided.

Information on Uchee Creek can be found here: http://uchee.benningmwr.com/index.php


See you May 20!!!

Thursday, April 21, 2011

and a new generation is born

Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at 11:25am, will you remember what you were doing?? Jeremy and Ginny always will.....



It's when Emma Grace Griffin was born!!





Great Aunt Janice looking very proud!!




Hannah, first cousin once removed, thinks Emma is GREAT!!



Emma and Mommy


Beautiful says it all!!!!



I'm sure there will be LOTS more posts to come!! By the way don't forget about Family Fun Weekend. I bet Emma will be there!!!!!!



Thursday, February 10, 2011

Who changed the blog?

Family Fun Weekend





Family fun weekend for 2011 is scheduled for May 20-22 at Uchee Creek Army Campground at Fort Benning. We will check in on Friday May 20 and check out on Sunday May 22. It is Mom's birthday weekend so join us and earn your brownie points. You can check out Uchee Creek Army campground by going to http://uchee.benningmwr.com/index.php


As of today we have reserved 4 chalets that will sleep a total of 24. The chalets are $125.00 per night. We need to get a count on who will attend so that we are not paying for something we are not using. Approximate cost for the lodging will be $58 per person (includes both nights).

Remember all the fun of last year?


Matthew was bored.

Ginny cried.


Paw Paw told his tall tales and Hannah hung onto every word.

Putt putt was played.



Food was cooked.
Puzzles were put together

We played dominoes.


Mom lounged.
Micky was jumped on
again,
and again.

And to cap it all off...

Tom danced.
YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS IT THIS YEAR!!!!!