Syrup Udpdate!!!! Christmas mostly:)

It has been a long year and we have learned a lot. Like it is is nearly impossible for both parents, of three children ages 7, 2, and 1, to go to school full time with 30 credit hours between them while one is pregnant and the other takes two upper level sciences courses!!!! but live and learn eh? Good news-I got all A's this semester! I'm pretty sure Michael did well too, but our babies are sure glad we are home for a few days now.

I decided I didn't want to have to worry about my hair for the next few months, seeing as they will likely get even more crazy here in about 6 weeks. SO....Brown it went. I don't really love it, I have really grown accustom to my blond locks, but this is much more of a wash a run kind of color. It's much darker than I would like though so hopefully it fades a bit in the next few weeks or I'm going to have to put some highlights through it.
Christmas was Awesome!
This little princess got a Nintendo DS (with much help from Santa's mother-in-law) And was so excited she was actually speechless...I don't think this child has ever been speechless in her life!

This little monkey was so sick and miserable. Christmas was likely a blur to her:( She got the hand mouth and foot virus and couldn't eat or sleep for about 4 days.

Grandpa Maxwell got these flags for his car and was so excited when the Cage wanted to play with them, until she yelled "Go Utes!!"

This crazy kid just wanted the camera! Like that shiner? Courtesy of the Cage.

Grandma Maxwell's for Christmas Eve was great. The kids all got jammies with their names and their nick names on them:) plus some awesome Dr. Suess gear!

Seriously, she was really miserable.

This was about as excited as she got:(

These pictures are really out of order but I found these on the camera. Cage decided to be the photog while no one was looking.

Grandma made these Beautiful dresses for Christmas! The girls loved them! And I had to throw this picture in because my couch is finally finished!!!!! Thanks to mom, dad, Steph, and Michael.

Movie with the Griffee side. Uncle Adam and Auntie are holding the hands of the three amigo's. These three little crazies are only 8 months apart in age and they will all be in the same grade in school. Gotta love cousins.

Stolen picture-courtesy of Steph!

The first night it snowed in December we gave the kids winter jammies:)

The NAmes?

There was one more I forgot on our list...Luca.

So far I am leaning toward Raphael mostly because when I first heard it, it resonated with me. Also, because I do not like the nic-names for the other names we like. But I have heard several for Raphael and I don't mind any of them....Rafi, Rafa, Reaf, etc.

Gotta say, never ever thought I would even consider Raphael...EVER! but if we do name him that I already know what his first Halloween costume will be:)

Names?...

So our poor little Gabriel did not get his name until he was two days old so this time Michael and I decided we would like to name our child before he's born. So here is the short list...

Raphael
William
Kingston
Dominic
Michael
and Isaiah

So tell me your vote?...

The Cage!

My sweet little baby girl is not what the majority of the world would technically label as "sweet". To live with this tough little princess you would see just how tender and sweet her little spirit is. She is crazy and FULL of energy, she never takes naps (hasn't since before she turned 2), she is the most driven child I have ever met, there is nothing to change her course from what she sets out to do, she is everyone's best friend and everyone's protector-especially when it comes to her cousin Deeds and her brother, she is Fiercely loyal, and a complete Daddy's girl!

The other night this little monkey was climbing on her sister's bed while she was supposed to be listening to scriptures. I told her that if she did not climb down I was going to take her binky, so she pulled it from her mouth and threw it to the floor and said "here's my binky." I love this little monkey and the craziness that comes with her. She has always been very smiley and so happy to just to be. She is what most consider to be a handful but I wouldn't have her any other way. She is amazing just the way she is.

Buddha

I can not believe how big my little man is getting. He is 16 months old and the quintessential toddler. He is the sweetest little guy except when his cousin Gwen is around, then we call him jaws. Apparently her back looks very tasty. He loves to cuddle and play with you and he is very protective of his sisters already. I always assumed my girls would be the "sweet" ones but this little man has got them beat. Don't get me wrong my kids are all sweet. Cage is the toughest little princess you'll ever see. She'll give you a beat down while wearing her rain boots and petty skirt and a very engaging smile(the smile is her fathers for sure). KK is very thoughtful of others and can read people easily. But is also very much a seven year old girl. But Buddha is a tackle-you-to-the-ground and then make sure you are okay before he does it again kind of kid.
I love my babies and can't wait to add a new little crazy to our family.

Completely forgot.

I completely forgot about my other blog until tonight. So here's the link if you're interested.

Michael's family takes a trip to Cancun every other year and we have been so blessed to be able to go and enjoy it. This year however, we decided it wouldn't be a smart thing financially(good thing we had foresight on that one), or time wise to go with both of us being in school and me being pregnant. So Michael's dad took a few friends with them instead. I had no idea how much I looked forward to that trip until we got a beautiful text from Michael's dad, Dan, of the sunrise on the beaches we love. Both of us could really use a break from reality right now and I am struggling with it being cold and yucky around here. Oh well, there's always next time. I will just have to dream of our beaches and the sunshine:)

Mixed...

I don't have anything in particular to say today. I really enjoyed the lessons at church today about sometimes not being able to see the end of the road but knowing that everything in between now and then will be worth it in hindsight. It was reaffirming to me that Michael and I are right where we are supposed to be even though it is so hard. I am so grateful for a husband and children who love me and who support me. I and I am grateful for the blessings we receive.

Just my thoughts...

Michael and I both went back to school as most of you know and things have been rough. Things have actually been really rough for the past year. Not anything that has to do with our personal relationships with each other or our families, or even with school, but all the necessities.

Every few months it feels like the bottom is going to fall out of this tug boat we're on and we are going to be drowning. We both know we are doing exactly what we are supposed to be doing right now in our lives but I tell you what, it's not easy. I didn't expect it to be easy but I also did not expect it to get worse and worse. We have been through a lot in the past few years and this doesn't even touch some of the struggles we have had to face as a couple and as individuals but it's sure working it's way up there. It is a struggle to see the positive in the situation we find our selves in but I am trying. I have almost always been able to see the silver lining in everything I have ever had to go through...and people I have been through a lot!...but for some reason this one's escaping my view. Maybe it is because it feels endless. We chose this journey and I am happy to take it, and so far I feel like I have learned so much but I feel like I must be missing the mark in this trial. I am struggling to see the reasons behind the struggles we now face and why they seem so endless. I am praying for the Lord to teach me what it is I need to know and what we need to learn together, because to go through this for the next 10 years of school and residency, etc. seems unbearable.

Don't get me wrong in my rantings, I am absolutely enjoying our journey and cherishing the things we get to experience as individuals and together. Our trials have always brought us closer together, not pushed us apart (no matter what they have been) and I am so grateful for that.

Follow up

I asked Kailye the day after Michael and I talked to her if she had thought about we we had talked about the night before while she was in school. Her answer..."NO, I was too busy playing with my friends!"

Seriously, where did this kid come from:)

Adopted!

We told this little princess last night that she was adopted. Kk is a girl of extremes so I was ready for the worst. She is either happy or sad, she doesn't react or over-reacts, she is angry or content. There is really no middle ground for her.

We told her that daddy adopted her when she was a baby and she had another daddy when she was born who decided she would be better off with one daddy instead of two whole families. From the moment we started talking to her about it she clung to Michael like she hasn't since she was 3.

I can not tell you how many times I have thanked my Heavenly Father that Kk's biological dad was a sensible person, willing to sacrifice so much for this little girl. It's not that he didn't want to be there for her, he just knew that she had a GREAT daddy already.

I know there will likely be several questions in our future but so far she's content just knowing.

I was a bit surprised by Kk's reaction to the conversation. Her statement pretty much sums it up.

"You didn't adopt me dad, me and mom adopted you!!"

She is a smart little girl!

This week or two at the Griffe house...or away from it?

Michael took the Cage in his car on our way home the other night and this is what I found on the camera later that evening. Is she cute or what?We took the kids with the Mauss family to Gardner Village. It was so nice and the kids really loved seeing all the witches.
That girl a diva or what?

Is this the sweetest face you've ever seen. He's the real deal that one.

Gwen and Buddha in their festive attire.

Seriously can't get enough of that face!

Is it a bird or a plane.no it's Utah Girl!!!

Michael took the girls to the game the other night and they loved riding the train up and back. Sure beats traffic.

Poor Nat her mean brothers always find a way to smoosh her!!

Three of the five loves in my life!

Grandma "Lana" wanted to take the kids to get pumpkins. It was cold but we had so much fun!

The kids maze was so much fun they all got in on the action.

Searching for the perfect pumpkins.

Found them! The Cage took quite a while to find hers.

But really she just wanted to carry this tiny thing around. She tried her pumpkin but is was "too heby for me". She took that little gord to bed with her tonight:)

buddha really just wanted to pet the animals. He even chased after someone's lab they had with them:)

The favorite of all three! Buddha screamed and screamed when I took him off to leave.

It has been crazy around our house but we are still trying to do all the things we normally do this time of year. I love to fill my children with experiences and memories!

Fall Break..or not!

Dear UVU and professor who shall remain nameless,

My definition of a "break" would include 4-5 days off with absolutely no school work to do what so ever! Now apparently you missed my memo about my specifications seeing as you went ahead and just decided to give me 2 days off. And about that school work part...ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Why would you assign a 4-6 pg paper due back right after the break. COME ON!! I am sure this will not give me the "rest" I so very much desire from your institution of crazies. Let alone the time it is going to take me to dig out from under a house that has not been taken care of well for the past 2 months, as I have been slaving away in your library and classrooms.

Why can't you understand that I have 3 children and am pregnant with the fourth. That my 7 year is in school and has homework and piano to help with. That my 2 year old who potty trained herself decided last week she was too busy to use the toilet anymore. That my one year old-bless his sweet little heart-has turned into a FULL BLOWN Griffee BOY!! That I am full-time student, with a full-time work load. That my husband is taking 18 credit hours an hour away from home, as well as trying so desperately to support our weed of a family. That we don't even have time to mow the lawn regularly, or weed the gardens, let alone sleep on a regular schedule.

So for future reference, when I ask for a "break". I mean a REAL break:)

Love-your slave!

Quick Update...picture to come later

We have been busy. School, work, school, play, football, school, kids, and school. Have been what has happened around our house lately.

Kk LOVES her new school and visibly learning a lot. Woohoo!!

The cage is still crazy but lately especially funny. She will even tell you she's funny.

"Mom, stop talking to me."

that was the latest quote from the monkey.

Buddha is getting really big. He outgrew most of his clothes the other day, literally.

Great for Kik not so much for me. Thank heavens for older cousins!

He turned into a total boy about the same day he out grew all clothing. I walked into the family room to the Cage screaming because he had double fistfulls of her hair!

Michael has been studying and going to school. We are praying he will have some work to do durring fall break this week.

I have been studying, taking care of kids, going to school, and being pregnant. That should pretty much explain it all.

We are finding out tomorrow what the next crazy is...BOY or GIRL?

None of you will know because we aren't telling:)

Pictures!!

I Have meant to post pictures for a while but I couldn't get them to load.

This is my favorite part of my yard right now. I love the flowers.In our garden we planted lots of Green Pepper plants. THey are almost as tall as Kailye.
I have never seen any this big.
This is usually how Michael finds me when he comes home from work or school.
I have had a lot of studying with my school load and the only time I have to do it is after the babies are in bed.

For a few weekends in a row we went up to the cabin. It is no doubt one of my favorite places on earth.

We even saw a moose!!! It was crazy!!

This kids had so much fun making Marley jump after rocks and sticks in the river.

On the walk to the river we saw a double rainbow that went straight through the Meadows. It was increadible. My camera does not look anything as brilliant as it did.

I got bored with my hair again so...back to blond I went:)
It's so silly how it makes me feel more like me.