Happy Halloween!

For Deeds...Michael and I carved this tonight.

These three little ladies will all be in the same grade in school...look out world here some the 3 Musketeers, Griffee style.

Proof that momma was at the pumpkin patch:)

Michael had to make sure the youngest Griffee grand-kid made it in the picture.

Annual pumpkin carving at Grandpa Dan's

Michael brought home this beautifullady a few years ago and I love her.  Every holiday and brithday we dress her up to fit the day or season.  This year she's a witch!

All they need is Mary Poppins and an Unmbrella.

picture of the parents taken by miss K...sorry about being able to see our brains through our noses.

K was just making corn angels:)

a Buddha view....these two look nothing alike:)

momma and the tired Rugger.

Gardner Village with the Maxwell clan.

Dancing with G-ma!!

so I guess k and I were the only ones "ready" for this shot.

a Kangaroo at the Pumpkin Patch?...uh, OK.

Things around here are crazy as usual but we are doing our best to try to make good memories and keep great traditions

Happy Halloween!!!!

Private...Again:)

So after checking the ticker about where people from around the world are that check my blog and how often I think it's time to go private again.

PLEASE send your email so I can send you an invite. Email me at trishgriffee@hotmail.com

Thanks!

Sometimes he says just the right thing...

I have been struggling lately with how much debt we will be in by the time Michael is done with school. I wouldn't worry so much if we were in our early twenties and had no children but we're not and we do! By the time we are done with this part of our journey we will be in our late thirties and have a child graduating high school and a few more headed in right behind her. We knew this when we started and still decided that it is what we felt needed to happen.

I am so grateful for the blessing we have received from following this plan but I am human and I still worry. A lot!! I was stressing out BIG time the other day and Michael said to me exactly what I needed to hear..."We have to make sacrifices in our lives. We didn't make them early on so we have to make them now, it is the only way we will be able to get ahead and to follow this plan."

Not only did the words apply to the way I felt right at that moment but in someways they apply to the way our life is all the time. It is another reassurance to me that I married a good man who has a very strong faith and knows what is best for us all the time. It's me who needs to trust him and have faith. I am trying hard to enjoy the time we are in now and not rush on to the next phase.

House in order.

I have been working hard the past few weeks to get our house under control. We have 900 Sq. Ft. for 6 people. Everything fits like a puzzle around here. One thing out of place and it's a disaster!

The family room has been de-junked for a while but everywhere else was a mess. I have been working on getting the laundry under control...since we used to be able to go 2 months without doing it...and have unloaded 5 kitchen garbage bags full of clothes from the kids room...5!! And they are all clothes that currently fit them! I know what you're thinking, "quit buying them clothes." I don't buy them clothes, the majority of them are hand me downs or things I've made.

Well tonight I unloaded another 3 bags full of stuff!! One is all shoes and one is all blankets and another full of JUNK.

It feels so good to clean out the mess and get things manageable. I am extremely grateful for our house. I actually really like my house even though I did not plan on having 6 people living in it! I am grateful everyday for the opportunity we had to purchase our home when we did and for the inspiration to do so.

The Blessings...

When I met my husband we were both not in very good places in our lives.
What a difference 9 years can make!
I am so grateful for every beautiful day I get to spend with this man. He is inspiring to me and I could not have chosen a better person to spend eternity with. Just like our children, I think God directs you to your eternal companion because that person is who is the best for you. The past 9 years of our lives have had ups and MAJOR downs but I am grateful we made the decision to stick it out no matter what!

The things we fill our days with.

We finally have a backyard!! The kids love it!We spend most our Saturdays pulling the weeds but but it all looks so pretty I don't care:)

This little monkey just wanted her picture taken.

Same with this one..

Buddha got this truck for his birthday and he LOVES it!!
Every little boy needs a Tonka truck.

The 4th of July was so fun. We found the perfect place to watch the fireworks!!

Keija told him to pose but I'm guessing it didn't take too much convincing to get this shot:)

Thanks to a few generous grandparents we took the kids to Lagoon.
Can't keep this kid from the water!

This one turned 8!!

Then this one turned 3!!

Then this one turned 2!!

My precious little girl decided to be baptized. I cannot express enough how blessed we feel to have such a beautiful spirit in our home. I am so proud of her and the decisions she is making in her life.

We like the ZOO how about you?!

Thanksgiving point, we like to go...especially when there is no more snow.Best cousins!!!

I never feel like I have enough time to post what I would really like to say...someday:)

My it's been a while.

With school for me and work for the Mr. life around our house has been outright craziness!! All the babies have been doing so well with it all.


Kk has been taking piano still and had swim lessons this past month. She is loving that it is summer and I am sad it is already half way through and soon I will loose my biggest helper back to the educational institution that is her school:)

Cage is as crazy as ever. She wakes up and puts on a swim suit and won't wear anything else. Which is fine by me, I remember doing the same thing all summer.

Buddha is doing so well with so many siblings to share time with and is having so much fun playing in the new backyard. He's a little brutal sometimes with his sisters but he's getting better.

Rugger is getting so big. He is already almost 5 months old. I can't believe it. I swear this kid was just born. I feel bad that I have been in school and haven't had as much time to love this little guy.

I have been in school this summer and have decided that will NEVER happen again. All 4 kids home and a newborn is too much. After a lot of consideration and prayer I have decided not to go back to school this fall. My babies need me more than I need to get through school and my #1 job is to be the best mom I can for them and that is not happening with me in school.

Michael is still working in real estate and will be finishing up his second degree this fall, in psychology. He is still debating on getting a PhD in Psychology or going to med school. I guess we'll see what the future brings for us.

Life has been crazy busy but good around here. Sorry there are no pictures today but I have babies yelling all around me a Buddha already shut down the computer twice while I've been posting. Much Love-Griffee's