Sometimes I like to sell stuff.

One of the upsides to living in such a tiny space with so many people is that we have a lot of stuff we don't need and we don't have room to store.  Which is really okay with me because we have learned to live with very little.  The more kids we have the more things have to go.

Well there have been a few times in the past year this has been very beneficial.  But this month has been the best so far.  In order to make room in our house and garage I sell stuff on KSL. I had a lot to get rid of this month and we were fortunate enough to be able to sell quite a bit.  Armoire, Cribs, changing tables, car seats, etc.  I pray for ways to help contribute to our family financially and I am grateful for the ways the Lord provides for me to do so.  Between doing hair from time to time and selling what we don't need I am able to make a significant contribution to our income.

Why do they keep growing?

I was looking back at pictures of Cage and Buddha from just 8 months ago when Rugger was born and I couldn't believe how much my babies have already grown since then.  They don't look like babies anymore.  They look like kids.  I hate it!  I really love the age they are at right now.  SO Crazy and fun and it's like the world is completely magical to them.  They love to play with each other, talk to each other, follow each other around, translate for each other when I can't understand what they are saying.  I just love how well they get along and how hard they fight.  I love that they encourage each other and dance and play and sing off key at the top of their lungs. (thanks to Daddies genetics)  They couldn't be more happy to be with just each other.  When you separate them it is like they become completely different kids.  They love each other and they are truly best friends.

I remember K at this age and thinking she seems so grown up already...partly because I think the kid was born 30 years old but also because there was no perspective to show the difference.  Miss K was our only for a long time and she acted like a little adult a lot of the time.  So to see the difference between each of these beautiful spirits that live at my house just amazes me.  I love that they are all the best of friends already and FIERCELY protective of one another.  

I worried about having K and Cage be so far apart in age (not that I had any choice), but they are sisters through and through and love each other.  When we got pregnant with Buddha I prayed that he would be a he.  I was scared to impose on the already blossoming relationship of my girls by adding another baby girl 13 months from the last.  I love my children for all of their individuality but I also love them for who they are when they are with each other.

From the eyes of the toodles...

 Cage and Buddha took control of the camera...

All Hallows Eve!

I love Halloween.  I love seeing how each of my children will react to trick or treating in comparison with previous years.  I love seeing how all the kids in the neighborhood dress up but most of all I love visiting my grandparents.

 The Monkey!!

 The Pumpkin!!

 Tinkerbell...well as close as I could get to catching her.

 She started out as a witch and switched to a Wizard!

When I was growing up I can't remember a single year that I did not go to visit my Grandma Gordon.  I have loved taking my children to follow in the same traditions I grew up with.  This year we added Grandma and Grandpa Coombs as well.  My kids don't really care to spend the whole night trick or treating but they love seeing my grandparents and I love that they can!

Black Out!!

We decided to take just the boys to the black out game this year.  It was so much fun...after we got half a BBQ sandwich into Rugger.  Man that kid can eat!!

My sweet boy was so happy to be at the game with out the girls.  He cheered and cheered!

obvouisly post sandwich:)

Not sure what Buddha is doing but it kills me that Michael and Rugger both do the same half smile.

They look nothing alike...lol.

Sometimes I just want to scream...

I am generally a very happy person.  I try not to complain too much and if I do it's usually because of the way my day has proceeded.  I have never been a mom who has a difficult time parenting.  Hate me if you must but I rarely have days when I am frustrated or angry with my children.  They know the rules and the consequences, I just choose not to let the choices they make affect me or my day negativiley.  Call me crazy but I love to see my children fail from time to time, just to watch how they'll handle it and how much they will  grow.  It is beautiful to watch the people they are turning into.

I do have days however when I am frustrated with myself.  I put a lot of pressure on myself to do better than I did the day before but I fall short...often.  I'm realistic.  I understand that I can't do everything.  I understand that I will have "off"days.  I understand that I am human and will make mistakes.  But sometimes I just want to scream.  I have a list of things that need to be done and literally no time to do them.  I thought maybe I was just being "lazy"...but then after paying attention for a few days and realizing I literally do NOT sit down until after my children go to sleep at night and then I get right back up and finish dishes, laundry, or do yoga.

So reality check Trish!  you have 3 children who are very small and VERy close together in age.  you have a sometimes over dramatic, very involved 8 year old.  your husband is gone 50-80 hrs a week with school, church, and work responsibilities.  Things will just have to slip through the cracks because it is not worth losing the time with your babies before they are not babies anymore.

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:)