Christmas2012

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Homewood Wrestling Tournament

Friday and Saturday, TCHS wrestled in the Homewood Dual Tournament. They wrestled really well and won 2nd place. Brian Hancock beat the number one 113 pounder in 5A from Pinson Valley, who was undefeated. Solomon Archibald beat the number one 120 pounder in 5A from Scottsboro, who was also undeafeated.

I used to not be that in to wrestling because I didn't understand what was going on, but over the years I've been forced to learn about it because wrestling is a big part of the Griffin family and is often the topic of discussion when Pat and his dad get together. Now that I know what's going on, I really get in to it and love watching it.

Pat's dad wrestled at the University of Alabama, started a wrestling program at West Blocton High School and then went to TCHS and started one there. He has been coaching at TCHS ever since and I don't see him giving it up anytime soon. Pat loves coaching with his dad. They are both very passionate about coaching and love helping the kids better themselves. It makes me so happy to see him doing what he loves.

Pat's goal is for TCHS is to win a state championship. Most places in Alabama have a youth wrestling program and most middle schools have a wrestling team. In order to be the best, TCHS needs both in our community. At some schools, like Grissom, wrestling is really big and the whole community gets in to it, which is what Pat would like to see happen in Northport. What Pat and his dad do with their kids in 3 or 4 years, it takes other schools 7 or 8 years to get the same results. They both believe that the opportunities are endless if they get a youth program going and that TCHS will be churning out state champions left and right.  

Pat coaches club wrestling in the spring and he's in the process of putting together a youth wrestling club for kids ages 5-12. He is hoping to have it up and running in the fall. So if you have any little ones, he wants them to wrestle! Pat's dad helped Echols Middle School start a wrestling program three years ago and they are excited about those kids moving up to TCHS. 

I think wrestling is a good sport for kids to participate in because it doesn't matter how big or how small they are, they can wrestle. There are 14 weight classes that range from 106 pounds to 285 pounds. A lot of sports require boys to be big, or tall, or fast, but most kids can find their fit in wrestling. Wrestling helps improve speed and agility, it builds strength and stamina, and teaches self-discipline and hard work ethic. Wrestling is a one-on-one sport, if you lose the only person you can blame is yourself and not your teammates. There's no politics with who a coach "thinks is better," or picking favorites because the kids have wrestle-offs to see who starts. Pat wrestled in high school and he enjoyed it much more than football or baseball because it is an individual sport and gave him a feeling of accomplishment and personal achievement.

I played with my new camera Saturday, here are some pictures from the tournament.














TCHS wrestles at home on Tuesday at 5:30, we would love for you come and see what wrestling is all about! Have a great week.  

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Anna's going to the chapel...

Earlier this week Anna asked a bunch of the girls to go to dinner Friday night. I had a feeling she was going to ask us to be in her wedding and...SHE DID! We ate at DePalma's and it was delicious. Anna and I have been friends since 4th grade and I am so excited for her. Keith, her hubby-to-be, is one lucky guy. They're getting married October 20th. I can't wait for all of the wedding festivities to begin.



the bling = absolutely gorgeous

Congrats Anna and Keith!

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Peanut Butter Cookies

This is one of my favorite cookie recipes. It is super easy, only requires 4 ingredients and the cookies are delicious (if you like peanut butter)!




You'll need:
1 cup of peanut butter
1 cup of sugar
1 tsp of vanilla
1 egg

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Grease a cookie sheet.
3. Combine all ingredients and stir them until mixed well.
4. Roll the dough into 1 1/2 inch balls and place them on the cookie sheet.
5. Press the balls with a floured fork.
6. Bake for 12 minutes.

Enjoy!

Monday, January 2, 2012

Happy New Year!

2011 was such a great year…

I found out that I successfully made it through my first semester of law school (praise Jesus).  If all goes as planned, I will graduate on December 15, 2012. 

Our wedding party threw a crawfish boil shower for us and it was so much fun!  Pat is obsessed with seafood, especially crawfish, and so we’ve decided to start an annual crawfish boil this spring.  He’s already pumped about it!    


 
The tornado that tore through Alabama destroyed Granny’s house and Dad’s work warehouse.  I am very grateful both of them were unharmed and only material things were lost.  Many others were not as fortunate.  I’ve never seen our community come together like it did after the April 27th tornados.   

My life-long best friend, Courtney, graduated from RN school and became an ICU nurse.  Her co-workers brag about her all the time because she’s damn good pretty awesome at what she does.  I’m so very proud of her.  She also started hanging out with Michael.  He’s a pretty cool guy and I’m hoping he sticks around because he fits right in with our crazy group of friends.       

Sandy graduated and got a job in Nashville working with babies as a cardio-respiratory therapist.  She met a boy this year too, Chad.   

Anna graduated and passed the CPA exam.  She works for Warren, Averett, Kimbrough and Marino, LLC, the biggest accounting firm in AL.    

Kristy got a job as a medical sales representative in Birmingham.

We bought our first house! I have loved learning to cook and trying new recipes, hosting get togethers and decorating.  Pinterest has been a life saver.



Courtney planned the best bachelorette trip ever, in Nashville.  Me and nine of my closest friends stayed at Sandy’s ballin’ condo at The Cumberlands.  We ate at Puckett’s (delicious) and Margaritaville.  We had so much fun in downtown Nashville hanging out, singing karaoke and dancing.  Oh, and we rode a mechanical bull.  I loved, loved all the country music!       





Pat and I had the best time at our wedding.  We wanted to host a fun event filled with family, friends, good food (Renee Robertson can cook it up) and good music (Mojo Trio is unbelievable) to celebrate us tying the knot, and it was everything we could have hoped for and more.  Courtney and Rachel learned Jason Aldean’s Dirt Road Anthem and rapped it with the band at the reception…we loved it!  Megan Forehand captured the day just perfectly.  She is so talented.      







Pat got a job at Tuscaloosa County High, teaching history and coaching wrestling.  The wrestling team has had a good season so far.  We are excited about Tuscaloosa County being able to host the section tournament on February 11th and we are looking forward to traveling to Huntsville for the state tournament the following weekend.

We heard Alabama in concert at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater and it was awesome.  We both love some Alabama. 

Sipsey got her master hunter title in October.  She is now a hunting retriever champion and master hunter.  We are planning on breeding her this summer and I am very excited about precious lab puppies!!! I hope Pat knows that we are going to lets me keep one.



I was a bridesmaid in Kristy’s wedding.   She and Martin had a beautiful ceremony at Holy Spirit, the same church Pat and I were married in, and a fun reception at North River.



Pat and I celebrated 7 years together with a trip to Cracker Barrel and Bass Pro Shop (surprise date, planned by me, which was right up his alley.) 

Several friends got engaged (two thanks to matchmaker Sandy)…Jessica and Brandon, Kristy and Martin, Bryan and Weezie, Anna and Keith, Jake and Jennifer, and Carla and Eric.  2012 is going to be filled with lots of showers and wedding fun! I’m excited. 

We hope everyone has a blessed and prosperous 2012!