I need a camera!

I left my almost dead camera at my in laws over Christmas and cannot upload all the cute Christmas photos of my kids. Well, I told them to keep the camera, just send the memory card since the camera would work about 30% of the time anyway. So here I am in cyberspace with no fun pics to post and really nothing too exciting to say. Except that I got a phone call from my dear friend Lia Hopper last night and it just thrilled me! Why is it that in the world of no long distance charges and everyone over the age of 8 owns their own cell phone do I still think that friends who live across the world cannot be reached over the phone? Honestly, I'm not a big talker on the phone. Ask Kelsie, my friend and neighbor who calls me but I never call her. And we talk like 5-20 times a day! Yes, I am a pitiful friend. It is truly not because I do not think of my friends. I just don't think I could be too interesting to talk to them and take up their time. I mean I can barely homeschool, clean house, play with my kids, and get all the other duties done in a day without spending it on thew phone. Can you imagine if I was a phone talker???

This morning I was proud of myself. I told the boys all last week that they could play and chill at home before we got back into our routine and schedule. Everyday I reminded Zech of this. "Monday we start homeschool again and your chore chart". So this morning, my boys snuggled with me in bed when they first got up, we talked then had breakfast, then read our scriptures and had prayer. I sent the boys to their rooms to make up beds and get dressed, then we did math and reading lessons. We were done by 8:30am!!! I told them they could go play while I got dressed and did some chores (which ended up being me playing on the computer) then we would make crafts, have snack, and do a science lesson. I guess its time for snack, crafts, and science. But I do feel good. I was worried that I wouldn't have time to do homeschool and get the house ready to sell and take care of all my other duties.

Today I am Wonderwoman!

SOOOO happy to be home!

Oh my gosh! Has it really been a month since my last post? Well, I could blame it on a whole load of things but the honest story is...I don't care! teeheeheee Is that bad?
Oh bloggers, I am boring anyways, my camera is dead, and I have had a very long, tough, fun, and exhausting vacation.

On Monday December 22nd @ very early in the morning my superhero husband, 3 little boys, 2 very large black dogs, and my pregnant self loaded into my van to embark on a very long journey to Ohio for Christmas. Monday night we stopped in Memphis, TN for the night. The next day we were on the road again and would have made it to my in-laws had the roads not decided to ice over and become treacherous for all vehicles. We stopped for a rest right on the Kentucky/Ohio border only to find out roads were being shut down. I was sooo tired and stressed (and sick-let's not forget how sick I was)! And then my sweet husband suggested we stay at the Holiday Inn that I swear just appeared from the sky next door to the gas station we had pulled into. "Ok!", I said as I choked back tears of relief. (another night's stay was sooo not in our budget plan) Of course the next morning when we set off the roads were clear and sky was too. So we arrived at the farm on Christmas Eve night. We stayed through Sunday and were able to see all Gary's siblings (except for one- Sarah and Daniel couldn't come down from Maine). Oh, the day after CHristmas I called in a favor to a doctor friend of mine and he called me in antibiotics to the local pharmacy! Let the healing begin!!! YIPEEE!!! Oh my gosh-what a blessing! Monday Dec 29th, we were in the car again driving from Ohio to GA to meet my brothers for a week in a lake house at Lake Lanier. It was soooo much fun! I couldn't believe we were actually all there for the whole time! That rarely happens. I was able to go see my Aunt Sis, and family in Powder Springs, GA on New Years Day and had a blast testing out the Wii Fit she just got for Christmas. Saturday morning presented another trip in the car as we loaded up to drive to Florence, AL for my niece Kayla's baptism. She was so beautiful! She sang an awesome song with my brother, Jason that I can't wait to find on lds.org too. We camped there Sat night and hit the road AGAIN Sunday morning for the looooong trip back to TX. I got home at 9:30pm last night and was overwhlelmed at the beauty, relief, and happiness that I felt to come home. I love my house and am going to be sooo sad to say goodbye to it, my friends, my neighbors, etc. come April when we pack up and head to VA.
Needless to say the boys are playing and playing and playing-they are SOOOO stoked to be home! And I am wasting my time on the computer. Oh, life is grand! Did I say I am happy to be home?

I AM SOOOO HAPPY TO BE HOME!!!!!!

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.