Ode to Sandra

At Knit or Knot a month or so ago, my friend Sandra Wendland gave a mini class on organization in your home. She shared a little laundry tip that has literally saved my sanity. Thanks Sandra! This post is mainly for my sis-in-law, Sarah.
But to you all, enjoy the photos!

1st: Sandra brought some laundry and folded it in a certain way. shirts: fold in the sides then fold up the bottom to middle them top. 3 sections! It makes them small and compact.
2nd: put them in a pile
3rd: turn your pile on its side to insert into the drawer. This allows the child to see what color and design is on the shirt, they get to pick the shirt they want without messing up their drawers. What an ingenious idea! Love you Sandra!!!

Here is Gabriel's drawer of pants and long sleeved shirts.

I discovered my own little technique for pants. I roll them! This way they can lay on their sides, the kids can pick the one they want without messing up the rest of their clothes.

Here are Ammon's "drawers". I do not have a dresser for him. I have a changing table with one drawer and 2 shelves underneath. So, I got some baskets and organized his clothes in them.

Pants and sweats Long sleeved shirts and outfits

PJ's and onesies

OK, that's it. I thought I'd share. It's the little things in life that make me happy! Like clean clothes, folded laundry, and organized drawers!

Sniff, sniff I miss Gary!

My love, my life!

Yes, I know that I have many friends out there who's husbands are in Iraq and gone for longer than ever should be allowed. I feel for each and everyone of you. I am so sorry. I am grateful for their sacrifice-but more for yours! I have been blessed that my sweetie has not had to return yet. In fact, Gary was home for Ammon's entire 1st year! Something that did not happen with Zechariah or Gabriel. I have been spoiled and have taken for granted the bliss it is to have him around. He is now in El Paso for one measly little week. It's sooo insignificant! Yet, last night I couldn't sleep. The bed was soooo empty without him! I tossed and turned all night. And even though we don't talk much during the week (I actually have talked more to him since he's been gone than when he's here) I still miss talking to him in person.

Ahhhh me! I think I'm in love!
Yep, its for sure-I love that man.
I want him to always be with me.
Its a darn good thing that forever is an eternity! :)
I wouldn't have it any other way.

This week's Christmas happenings!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

The day after Thanksgiving was dedicated to "trim the tree". YAY! It puts me in the festive Christmas mood! (if my bank account would only cooperate!)

My dear sweet neighbor saw my enthusiastic approach to the upcoming holiday and brought over a gingerbread house kit that she had bought to give to us a little later. She couldn't wait and apparently neither could the boys.
We HAD to open it right then and build it "RIGHT NOW MOM!!! It's sooo cool!"
Here are the little dears with their creation and their many smiles and candy eating joys that went along with it.

My mother has been here with us since Thanksgiving and she wanted to do a Christmas craft with the boys too. So, while I was out collecting last minute costumes, props, and decorations for our ward Christmas party Thursday, she baked gingerbread men with them. They actually thought this was cooler than building the house! They really love cooking and being part of the whole creative process. Here's what I found when I came home. Zechariah and Gabriel were immersed in their decorating project, Ammon was coaxing the 20th (or more) red hot candy out of my recently turned-to-jello-in-the hands-of-her-grandkids mother. Who cares?!? They had a blast and were so thrilled to do it with Grandma! She was thrilled too. (check out Zech's tongue-concentration at its finest!)

I'm so glad she's here. I keep trying to convince her to move in. I think she has reservations about the early mornings at our house. My kids wake up at 6:30am! No matter what, hence the reason for 7:30pm bedtime!

Ok, I have to ask: Truly, is Ammon not the most beautiful little boy in the entire world? Seriously, I don't think I'm partial anymore-I mean I do have 2 others and they are very good looking boys! But Ammon is such a heartbreaker! He smiles all the time and at everyone. He melts hearts! And OH!!! Those eyes!
Now, if I could just keep him out of my cabinets! :)

After I took pics of the boys and Grandma for posterity and all that (ok really for this stinkin' blog-let's be honest) Zechariah got a hold of the camera and took this one of me. Not too flattering but I am including it b/c it is a great shot of the baby bump. Yes indeed, I was 17 weeks yesterday! Enjoy!

Elijah Aaron Griesmyer is due May 22nd.

I'm thankful for thanksgiving!

We had a great time on Thanksgiving. We had David, Denae, and Finnian Syphus, Jonah, Bradley, and Braedyn Scott, my mother, and our family at our Thanksgiving feast. I took pics b/c it was so pretty but used my phone and have not quite figured out how to get them off! (oops)Anyway, To prepare for the day I was able to incorporate history lessons and fun crafts into our homeschool curriculum. One such craft was the Griesmyer Thankful tree! We had a great time making it and adding leaves to it.

My mom drove from Georgia to Texas to be with us on Thanksgiving. The kids are so excited to have Grandma here! She is a big blessing in my life and I love her. She was so kind as to haul her piano in a Uhaul trailer all this way so that we can benefit from it. Gabriel has proven to be the most musical and interested in it! Who knew?! He is quite the singer and LOVES to play on the piano. I will start them all on piano lessons as soon as I get it tuned. I am excited to have piano music in the house and to have something I can practice on. I can read music, just lack practice. I am so excited and thankful for this HUGE gift of love from my mom!

And yes, as you can see it is put up the Christmas tree time. I love Christmas, no really, I LOVE Christmas!!! I love everything about it! The lights, the music, the celebration of the birth of Christ, the sudden desire to service that enters our hearts more now than any other time of the year. I love the mood, the carols, the parades, the Nature in Lights drive thrus, the secret Santas, the crafts, the baking, etc, etc, etc. My list goes on and on. Most of all, I love gathering with family and am excited to be able to do all of these things this Christmas season.


I am truly thankful that I have such a richly blessed life. We are healthy and happy and are blessed with wonderful friends and family members. The Church is true and Jesus Christ is our Savior. Could there be anything else more wonderful?

A disappointment at "Twilight"

Yes you heard right. I am sure I am writing blasphemy for all you die hard fans out there but I have to weigh in on this much anticipated film:
The sweet love of my life bought me tix to see the movie "Twilight" on Sat night so I hurriedly got a babysitter and we were off on our romantic night out at the movies. I was excited I didn't know what to expect.
I was interested in the scenery, music, and special effects. Beyond that the movie fell flat and lacked the emotional capacity the book delivered so beautifully and powerfully. As an acting major, I enjoy theatre and film VERY much and look forward to engaging in these experiences. I am sometimes critical of what I see but mostly I enjoy the art. I enjoyed the art of this film and little else. The acting was HORRIBLE! The actress who played Bella bugged me in a major way. She never did have an emotional change in the whole movie. I couldn't tell when she went from confusion and anger at Edward's behavior towards her to infatuation and love. HUH??? Was it there? She played one emotion...confused. And what was up with all her audible breathing? Dr. Cullen just made me laugh out loud. Are you serious? I was NOT expecting him at all. The vampire family looked more like fairies than vampires. I mean Bella's eye makeup was way darker than there's! I don't know if I had not read the book if I would have even know what was going on or understood the plot. The best acting was James and Victoria. Too bad they killed James off! All in all, I was disappointed in the lack of meat of the film (where was the bond?) and the acting-was horrendous!
That's my report and I'm sticking to it. I'd give it 2 stars.

It's a.....

BOY!!!!

I had a much anticipated ultrasound today to figure out when my due date is and we saw his little "thingy". I am 14 weeks and am due May 22nd, 2009 with my 4th boy:
Elijah Aaron Griesmyer

Yes, I have had this name picked out since Ammon was only a few months old.

Here's the story:
I was sitting on the couch nursing Ammon; watching Gabe, Zech, and Gary wrestle on the floor of the living room when I had a panic feeling come over me that someone was missing. I looked around and counted, nope all there. I counted again b/c I couldn't shake the feeling. Everyone was there, even Ogden. The next day was Sunday and I was sitting in Relief Society when I had an overwhelming feeling/thought/prompting that I was going to have another boy SOON and his name was Elijah Aaron. It was so strong that it brought tears to my eyes and I audibly said "OK" to the voice/prompting.

Well, that was right after I had Ammon and since I don't see "Monthly Friend" until I am waaaay done nursing I thought it would have to be by an act of God. Well, Ammon was 11 months when I got pregnant again. These 2 are by far my closest together. Since I had no idea when I got preggers, my Chinese birth calendar tricked me into thinking it was a girl. Did I hope? Yeah a bit. Gary and I both did. We are absolutely thrilled,however, that Heavenly Father is sending us another boy. What a strong home I will have with all these soldiers in God's army (that's what Gary calls them) around!
I am truly blessed!

Who am I?

I don't even know what is going on with me anymore.
I'll have one great day where I get up, make a yummy breakfast for my family, iron my hubby's clothes, snuggle my kids, read the scriptures as a family, take a shower, get dressed to my shoes, do the morning chores, have a wonderful day of homeschooling, put the children down for naps, have personal time with Zech, do my afternoon chores, make a great dinner, kiss my husband when he gets home, clean the kitchen, give the kids a bath, read them stories, say prayers, sing them songs, give them kisses, and send them off to bed with nothing but sweet feelings and happiness in my heart for a day well done.
That was Monday.
What happened to Tuesday, Wed, and Thursday???
Tuesday I can't even remember Tuesday.
Yesterday I had a massive headache/migraine??? I don't know. It was really bad.
Today is an absolute disaster! I am sooo emotional! I completely lost it in front of some friends and feel so stupid. I have been crying ever since. Is it pregnancy hormones? Am I losing my mind? Is it too much stress? I can't wait for this pregnancy to be over. I don't mind being pregnant, but I do mind not being in control of myself. I swear if this is not a girl I am going to pissed. Because I have NEVER been like this with my other 3 pregancies.