Afternoon Naps

I love afternoon naps with my little man. We've spent a lot of late nights unpacking this last week so Mr. Stannix sent me for a rest. I love the way Joe fits snuggled up next to me on the bed. It was nice to enjoy a few quiet moments with him while the other two were busy upstairs.

He woke up super happy, and enjoyed the rest of his afternoon being passed around and entertained by everyone at the acreage.



AM/PM

In the AM...

In the PM...

Contraband

The other night Hyrum smuggled some contraband to bed with him.

Where he found it, I have no idea!

This kid is a major artist and is constantly getting into trouble.

This time, thankfully, it was only crayon, since his walls are handpainted beautifully.

Totally washable.

I must say his art work is improving though.

It almost looks like a family of sea turtles.



Home Sweet Home

We are finally getting settled.

We couldn't have picked a worse day to move.

It rained cats and dogs almost the entire day and thankfully slowed down in the evening.

We are in love with our new place though.

It's nice to be off the busy street.

Everymorning I get to wake up to the sunshine pouring in the windows.

And I get to admire these chubby legs!



Five

Five years ago today I married my best friend!

He's super easy to get along with.

Very understanding.

Kind hearted.

Willing to serve.

A good father.

A good provider.

And so much more.

Time flies when you're having fun!

The Funnies

Humor is inthe air around these parts lately. Maybe because we are all so excited about the big move. seriously, last night I couldn't sleep. It felt like Christmas eve. While I have a few quick minutes here are a few funnies from the last couple of days.

Mike and I had to smile as we watched Camilla and Hyrum holding hands as they skipped into the church building yesterday. It was melt-my-heart-wish-I-had-a-camera-cute.

I kept Hyrum still in Sacrament meeting by letting him hold sleeping Joe. He sat proud and tall with his cute little smirk as he cradled his chubby brother in his arms. It kept the bench reverent for a long time.

One of the top things that can be said to ruin a romantic moment, "mooooom! I need a wiiiiiiipe!"

Someone drew with permanent marker all over the hardwood floors two days before we move out. Can you guess who? Luckily, I caught it quick and managed to scrub it off with baking soda.

Hyrum wore a cow Halloween costume all afternoon.

One of the leafs of the giant cardboard box has been transformed into an indoor hammock by the littles (pictures to come).

Hyrum is afraid of Dobby the house elf from Harry Potter.

Joseph is so close to crawling! I will often find him sitting on the floor with one leg stretched our behind and one in front. He may bum scooch like his brother. His babbling is the best!

Even with boxes piled high and our house in disarray (hopefully not for much longer) the Stannix's are finding things to laugh about.

It's Been a Slice

The room off the deck is filled to the brim with boxes. I am both extremely excited and sad. The pictures of friends, family and newborns that once graced the front of my refrigerator are all packed away and I am now greeted by a very white, empty fridge when I walk into the kitchen. Pictures have been taken down, walls washed. My mind has been filled with so many memories over the last few days. I am very sad to leave this quant little house behind. We've brought two babies home to this house and crammed three children into the tiny upstairs bedroom. I almost cried last night before bed as I reminisced with Mr. Stannix on the couch.

Mr. Stannix is officially on UFE leave which means no more work until October! It was great to spend the day as a family, eating a slow and late breakfast and organizing. While everyone napped away the afternoon I made up some freezer meals to help next week go more smoothly. It's still so unreal to me that we are moving to our very own home. We're just crossing our fingers that everything goes according to plan because with all of the flooding down South, our lender's office is under water which has made them difficult to get a hold of.

Althought I am crazy excited, there are a few things I am going to miss. I am going to miss driving the tree lined streets. All of these Elm trees are my favorite, and it is especially beautiful in the Fall. I am going to miss our front yard with the big spindly tree that shades us in the Summer. I am going to miss the firepit in the backyard where so many smores were made. I am going to miss the East facing back deck that catches the warm suns rays in the morning. I am going to miss the way the sun shines through our livingroom window in the late afternoon.

I am looking forward to a spacious kitchen with room to make amazing meals and an island to knead my bread. I am looking forward to having a dishwasher to help with clean up after our family dinners. I can't wait for Mr. Stannix to put together our new table where we will gather everynight for dinner together. I am excited to decorate Camilla's bedroom and make it her own (at least until she has to share it). I am excited to have a quiet sitting room with the TV tucked away in the basement. I am super excited about the fenced backyard where I'm sure the children will put their imaginations to good use. I am excited to have more than one bathroom so that Camilla doesn't have to do her potty dance while Daddy is showering in the morning. And I can't wait for the new washer and dryer. 

It's been so great making memories in this little old house!



His Love for Hockey

Yesterday morning I woke up to little feet clunking and swishing downstairs. It took a few minutes to register before I jumped out of bed and came down to find exactly what I had suspected. Hyrum found the skates that I had packed away for the move and was happily shooting and scoring in a hockey game at the crack of dawn. Luckily the skates are dull and I was able to convince him to move from the kitchen to the carpet for his big game. This kid's love for hockey is priceless, and this get-up had to be captured.

Month Seven

Joseph,

I have been terrible at keeping up with the monthly birthday posts. Having the three of you so close together makes it tricky to get things done around here. But with your brother and sister snoozing and you snuggled in my arms, I feel compelled to record a bit about you at SEVEN months.

You have the most adorable little cheeks and I want to kiss and munch them all day long.

Your giggles are so contagious.

You love tangling those chubby fingers of yours in my hair. Sometimes I love it, and other times it drives me bonkers.

You still wake up a lot at night. As soon as we move into the new house we will definitely be working on that. A part of me has gotten used to functioning like a zombie each day, but a part of me can't wait for more sleep. I will probably miss sitting up with you at night enjoying the stillness of your streetlight lit bedroom and listening to all of my children breathing quietly.

You love stroller rides and sit forward with excitement as you take in the world around you.

You love to swing at the park.

You are a big eater and love everything. Your big sister loves to feed you and takes such good care of you. You can now drink your bottles independantly, but still prefer to nurse.

You have two bottom teeth that have almost fully grown in.

You are becoming more mobile and stretching your limits. Often this results in a face plant, but I feel like crawling is just around the corner. For now you scour the living room floor for left over crumbs, shreds of paper or any other microscopic objects you can grasp with those chubby little hands. 

Your new found mobility makes you trouble with a capital "T", in a good way. You hardly like to sit still anymore and Sundays are a gong show again.  You love using your voice at church which means we get to spend a lot of time in the halls.

You talk a lot and have learned some great little sounds. Your siblings like to have conversations with you.

Your hair is growing in and I adore your fuzzy blonde head.

You hate your carseat. Everytime I try to sit you in it, you arch your back and buckle your knees. But I like that you're a little bit feisty.

You adore spending time with your older siblings and often hold their hands in the car. 

You bring so much joy to our little family. And we wouldn't trade you for anything, the good and the bad.

Love,
Mom

The Brothers Snuggle

Sometimes I wish I could freeze time just so I can soak up every last bit of the moment. Daddy needed a ride to work this morning and I had to laugh when we found ourselves awake before the children. I quickly packed his lunch while he got ready and then went up to wake the sleepy heads.

Camilla looked at me, then rolled over and went back to sleep while I moved her limp legs into some pants. Hyrum started stirring and happily wobbled over to kiss me good morning. We joined Daddy in our room and watched him tie his tie. Joseph was sound asleep beneath our duvet with his arms outstretched. He had joined us around six this morning.

Hyrum sweetly kissed Joseph on the hand and then climbed the edge of our bed like it was a mountain to be conquered. He snuggled up close to him, careful not to wake him. He put his face close enough to Joe's that his eyelashes almost brushed Joe's cheeks as he blinked. They both were so still and so quiet. Mike and I could have watched them all morning if we didn't have to go. It was such a sweet little moment. Before we had to end it, I grabbed Mike's cell phone to snap a picture. Those two brothers melt my heart, and moments like that are priceless.

Hyrum cracks me up so much. Today we were in the middle of washing walls and he asked for cookie. When I told him that there was none left, he grabbed my hand and said, "You gotta make some more cookies, Mom!" Like it was a crime that the jar was empty. His deep little man voice made me smile. So we made some "nickerdoodles" a little too close to lunch time, and then ate them. It helped brighten the cloudy day.

Crash and Burn

I've been trying to keep the kids up in the afternoon so that they go to bed a little easier.

The result has been a lot of this...



Father's Day

My life has been filled with so many great examples of righteous fathers. I wanted to take a few minutes on this special day to wish them a very happy father's day! I'm not sure if my Dad knows how influential he's been in my life. I married the man I did because of the example I had growing up. I am grateful that my Dad is a worthy priesthood holder, who is sensitive to the promptings of the Spirit. One of my favorite things to do with my Dad growing up was to drive with him, especially as a teenager when I was struggling with friendships, boys and future goals. His listening ear, wisdom, and words of advice and encouragement kept me going during those hard times. I am so glad that I can always count on him for advice and help. I love ya Dad!

Today my heart is also full of gratitude for my own husband, the father of my littles. I love him dearly and am so grateful for all that he does for us! He has adapted so well to fatherhood. I love watching him with our children. I had been struggling giving Joseph his bottles of formula all week and he just would take them. Finally, the other night I gave the bottle and the baby to Mike. He patiently rocked Joseph as he fed him his bottle. I love watching him nurture our children. He is such a loving father and I couldn't have asked for anyone better!



HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

Weekend Dates

I am a total believer in the importance of going on dates even after you've been married. It's been a little tricky to squeeze these in with such a young family, but we make a point of at least doing something monthly, even if it's just catching a movie at the theater in my hometown when we go out to visit the Acreage. We kind of jam packed the weekend with dates. This morning Mr. Stannix and I went Canoeing for a few hours at Rundel. Even though it was the smallest pond ever, it was still fun to spend the morning with my main man laughing and learning to trust his steering techniques. It has been soooo long since I've been in a canoe and I was a little scared at first. I also like being in control and we had a lot of awesome steering wars. It felt good to hang out on the pond (even though it was threatening rain and the wind never stopped) and laugh together. And when I pulled my camera out of my trustee plastic ziploc, you should have seen the look on his face! Yup, I'm crazy.

We spent the afternoon with Mike's brother Andrew, Christina and her Mom. It was fun to visit and see them. It had been far too long! After dinner we took off to the theater to catch the new Superman movie. It was good, but would have been even better if I didn't have to close my eyes for half of it. Me and 3D don't do well together. I'm excited to watch it again snuggled next to Mr. Stannix in the comfort of our own living room. Joe now takes bottles of formula, which makes me feel like a new lady. It was nice to be able to leave him twice today and not have to worry about pumping or if he will be hungry. The kiddos had a great evening with Uncle Mike and Auntie Chris. They must've tuckered them out because they were fast asleep when I went up to check on them. I planted a long gentle kiss on each of their heads and pulled their covers up snug before going to bed myself. I sure do love when I get to spend a few hours away, it makes me appreciate the time I have with them so much more. It also makes me appreciate my husband a lot more! I had so much fun with him today!

 

These Little Moments

It was another one of those days full of moments that I don't want to forget. And for the sake of my terrible memory I took note of them all day just so I could record them here to smile at later. Camilla joined us at somepoint in the middle of the night and with the way she sleeps all sprawled out in our double bed, I decided I'd get a better sleep if I hopped out. I woke up in Camilla's bed this morning with Joe snuggled next to me. I peeked an eye open when Camilla snuck down the creaky stairs with her cute little bed head. A few minutes later Hyrum ran across the room and jumped on our bed with his Daddy. They sat on the edge of the bed together facing the window. The morning light shon through Hyrums blonde hair as he snuggled in close to his Daddy excitedly chatting away. It was the cutest moment.

After breakfast was all cleared up I made up a batch of Daddy's favorite cookies. The children snuck a bunch off each pan, as usual. It made me smile. Sometimes all a day needs is a few warm cookies to make it better.

Before lunch we took off to the river valley. The wind was picking up and I could see the clouds building, but we chanced it anyway. On our way home it poured, just like our last adventure. This time I came prepared with an umbrella. Camilla skipped behind me, umbrella in hand. When the rain picked up I held it so we could both be covered. She decided to keep dancing along behind me, sticking her tongue out for raindrops. Her hair was all wet and dripping and her eyes looked extra blue. She was full of laughter and enjoying every moment.

In the late afternoon just as I was taking buns out of the oven, Hyrum came in to get a drink from the water cooler. As he pulled his cup down off the table it slipped and spilled all over the floor. Recognizing it as an accident I bit my tongue and passed him a towel to wipe it up. He responded enthusiastically and instead of wiping it up right away he began pretending to slip and fall. As he said "whoa-oooa-o" and wiggled his little body around I couldn't help but grin ear to ear and let out a laugh. Man, that kid makes me smile. He would wiggle his arms up and down with just his pointer sticking out. He eventually wiped most of it up (probably with his pants) and then joined us in theliving room.

We looked forward with excitement to Daddy coming home from work and met him on the front lawn. I love seeing their eyes light up as soon as their Daddy peeks out from behind the tree down the walk. They are so glad when Daddy comes home.

Tonight as I tucked in Camilla she asked me to lay with her and scratch her back, like she does most nights. So I layed next to her and we whispered together. I told her all of the things that made me glad today, her sharing with her brother, helping me with Joe, singing. When I asked her what she was thinking about I saw her toy giraffe pop up from where she was playing with it. "I was just wondering where my giraffes mommy was," she replied. I smiled to myself, wondering if she had even heard any of the things she had done that day that brought a smile to my face. Then she said, "Were you in-pointed in me when I didn't share my puppy with Hyrum?" Oh man, my heart melted. I love that girl! So thoughtful, even when she seems to be worried about something else.

Early Morning Chats

Hyrum loves his morning chats with his "Bampa".

This particular morning, he was too cute not to take a picture of.

My children may or may not have had peanutbutter cookies for breakfast that morning.

Highs and Lows

With just over a week to go until the big move, we've been busy packing away. The last few days I've been a little under the weather. Yesterday I pulled out the biggest box we had and let the kids play with it. It provided endless entertainment all afternoon and even made a great spot to nap for miss Camilla. That box was pretty much the highlight of our day.

The lowlight was probably when I picked up Joseph and propped him up on my hip before realizing he was oozing out the sides of his diaper. So he went for his evening bath a little early and then sat naked while I wrangled the other two into their jammies.

New Floral Pillows

On Saturday after the kids woke up from their naps we noticed Hyrum's legs were covered in streaks of black marker. We went right upstairs to investigate and found this...

I guess he thought my side table could use some color and my wedding quilt needed character. I now have new chevron (well, pretty close) patterned pillow cases, and floral throw pillows. Anyone who knows me well enough knows how much I 'love' floral. Thankfully it was dry erase marker and not permanent. The stuff on the side table pretty much wiped off, and I'm crossing my fingers that it will come out of my quilt. 

It's a good thing Mr. Stannix was home and noticed his legs first. I might have lost it if I went upstairs and found my quilt all marked up. Good thing he's so darn cute when he gives me his "ohhhh, sorry mommy" face.

Missing my Newborn

The other day my heart ached for the newborn stage again. I miss cradling a featherweight tiny body in my arms. I have been soaking in all of the cuddles and snuggles I can get from baby Joe before he embraces his independence. Whenever he falls asleep for his naps I find myself holding him just a little longer instead of doing the dishes. I love feeling his soft hair tickle my chin and I love putting my lips to his face while he takes those deep sleepy breaths. He cut his first tooth on Saturday! He also likes pulling himself up on his knees and rocks back and forth when he sits on the floor. It's all going far too quickly!

I had the opportunity of watching a first time mom interact with her little one. I admired the care and attention she gave to her sweet baby girl.  I couldn't help but smile. It brought me back to myself four years ago when I was constantly worrying about this or that with my new baby, wondering if she was warm enough or comfortable enough, or happy and jumping at every little cry or sound of discomfort. Then gradually I slipped into this role called motherhood, gained a little wisdom, and started to worry less and less and just enjoy the journey.  And oh how sweet it has been! Still, whenever I see a newborn, I can't help but want another one.

Family Fun

This is the first weekend in a while where we have had nothing crazy going on. We were able to spend today together as a family and it was the best. It's always great when Daddy is home. We spent the morning watching Camilla's first dance "recitle". The girls were so cute. Camilla would wave and blow kisses while she danced across the room. She really enjoyed this session of dance. When she finished she ran over to us and Hyrum exclaimed, "CAMA! Give me a huuuuuug!"

While the kids napped, Mr. Stannix and I went to work cleaning out the creepy basement, sorting things and getting more packing boxes. We managed to get the whole desk in the office taken apart and more boxes filled. It finally feels real that we are moving. When the kids woke up, Mr. Stannix asked them what was missing in the office. Hyrum replied, "Gramma!". It was pretty funny. Since they napped for so long we took them to the park for some fresh air and sunshine. Even though it was late in the day, the weather was gorgeous. Mr. Stannix got some kite flying in and then played with the kids on the slide. They were so glad to have their Daddy playing with them. I stood enjoying the sand between my toes, and a wiggly baby in my arms watching my most favorite people. I loved seeing their smiles, the sun glistening off their blonde hair while the wind swept it away from their faces. I smiled at Hyrum's bare belly as he giggled down the slide in his Daddy's arms.



We finished off our evening at the park by checking out the water. Camilla thought it would be funny to splash Joe. His reaction was pretty cute. When everyone was tuckered out we picked up some fudgsicles and headed home to BBQ some chicken for dinner.

I finished off the evening a very happy lady. The children had strawberries and sugar for their bedtime snack. I sat on the chair across from Hyrum and admired him while he ate. He was sitting on the big couch in front of the window, the sun shining on the top of his head. I couldn't help but smile as he maneouvered a big strawberry into his mouth. He looked so cute, and I felt so blessed. There is nothing better than being surrounded by my family.

A Big Sister

A big sister is; a teacher, a helper, a big tease, someone to boss you around, a mentor, someone to laugh with, someone to sneak cookies with, a listening ear, someone to get you into trouble, a playmate, someone to share a snack with, someone to wipe your tears away when you fall, someone to wake you up in the middle of the night to giggle with, a good example, a mini mommy, and most importantly a best friend.

Keeping it Real

This afternoon Joseph was playing in the laundry basket and filled his diaper. A few minutes later when I was sure he was done I went to change it and found that it had been filled to the point of oozing out the top and making a nice little pile behind him as well. It was the kind of diaper that called for an impromptu bath. Just as I got him out the timer went off for the bread and buns in the oven. Joseph layed naked in the hallway on his towel chanting "Da-Da-Da" over and over again while eating his chubby, freshly clean, little toes. I rinsed his cloth diaper and cleaned up the mess. Soon I had Camilla at my feet in the kitchen asking for fresh bread and honey, a baby who needed to be diapered quick before things got out of hand, and buns that were getting extra golden brown. It was one of those moments where I just had to laugh at the chaos and enjoy the fact that my home is filled with children running or rolling around my feet, demanding my attention and giving me the hugs and kisses that I need, just when I need them. Once things settled, and I had gotten a diaper on Joseph I enjoyed blowing raspberries on his chubby tummy and pressing my lips against his soft baby skin. Now for that bread and honey...

Navigating Life

How did June sneak up on us so fast? I feel as though it was just April. A lot of exciting things are happening for us this month. In just a few short weeks we get possession of our first home and celebrate five years of marriage. The best part is that Mike is on UFE leave for the summer and only has a few weeks of work left before his hardcore days of studying and hanging out with us begin.

I started packing boxes yesterday. I always wish I could leave it for last minute because taking down pictures and packing up books and trinkets makes our home feel so empty. So I fill a box here and there when I have a few minutes and stack them in the office. The children aren't sure what to think, except that they like playing in the boxes. I am so excited to move and get settled and make our house a home. I managed to get our utilities all taken care of today. I laugh because every time I get on the phone the kids have a million things they want to ask me.

At lunch time Hyrum decided to throw his gazillionth tantrum of the day complete with yelling at the top of his lungs, shoving food away, and tears. I managed to stay calm and we worked through it. Eventually he stopped, but he still refused to eat his lunch. I took a leftover pancake from breakfast, rolled it up and stuck it in his hand. When I peeked back in, all was quiet and he had gobbled it up.  He's my pancake lover. He would eat them three times a day if he could. As I looked at him sitting at the table with pancake stuffed cheeks, I couldn't help but smile. I asked if it was good and got a nod in response. I was filled with such immense love for my blonde little man. It's hard navigating this world as a toddler.

Joseph is getting more and more active each day and now tries to lift himself up onto his knees when he's playing in the laundry basket resulting in a face plant. I'm afraid the days of letting him play in there are coming to a close. He talks almost none stop now and is so curious about the world around him. He's always saying "Da-Da" or "Mamamamamamama". It brings a smile to my face. I love when he tries to join our conversations or talk to his siblings.

After dinner Camilla spotted a wasp in the kitchen. We all evacuated and left it up to Daddy to kill it. He went out to the garage and grabbed a hockey stick. Soon Hyrum was by his side with his mini-stick. It was cute watching them both together at the doorway waiting for the wasp to come out of hiding. It was a very eventful evening. We watched it buzz around for so long that I even took a bathroom break. It was pretty funny.

Bed times have been a gong show to the point where they almost stress me out now. It's becoming harder and harder to settle all three littles into the same room. I am so looking forward to having an extra room in our new place to help with the chaos. Hyrum takes forever to fall asleep lately and after all of our hard work, Camilla deliberately wakes him up after we go downstairs because she wants him to sleep with her in her bed. We were almost one kid less tonight. Jokes aside, I do love them and I do love that they have been so good at sharing. We're just at a rough patch right now. I blame it on the sunlight that pours into their bed room windows begging them to play outside for just a little longer.

Summer Splendors

We are loving these long Summer days.

So many afternoons have been spent playing outside,

laying on the grass, chasing bubbles,

playing with sidewalk chalk,

and soaking up the sun.

Today Camilla asked to sit up high in the front yard tree.

I love that tree, and I will miss it when we move.

She sat up there and sang songs for quite a while.

Hyrum ran around the yard blowing bubbles and dodging bugs.

He's in his own little world most of the time,

and just enjoys the outdoors.

I love him and his big blue eyes.

 Joseph just sits in the middle of it all and watches,

while he eats grass of course.

Oh summer, how we love you!

Tonight I was delighted with giggles in my livingroom

while Daddy dressed Joseph.

There is nothing better than baby giggles.

I adore my boys!

Saturday Spoils

Today was a long, full day! We were all up bright and early to get ready for various activities. Mr. Stannix went for a hike with the young men this morning. The children and I got to venture out and ride the city bus to Camilla's dance class. They were pretty excited about the whole thing. Luckily it's still a novelty so they sit in aw and wonder the entire time. Joseph fell asleep in the carrier on the way there which made life a lot easier. We got a super nice bus driver who made the kids helicopters out of the transfer tickets and gave them to us when we got off. It was nice to walk and explore the city, and thankfully the weather was nice too! While Camilla was at her class the boys and I played at the park. I chased Hyrum around for a little while. I love hearing that boy giggle. When we went to pick up Camilla she was waiting in the drama room patiently to show her teacher a dance move she had mastered. It was cute. Although this class is a fun, low key class, miss Camilla takes it pretty seriously. I love that girl and her talent for music.

We took the bus home again and as we walked we passed by Bonnie Fest. Our community puts it on every year around this time and it's great for the little kids. 

 Camilla was pretty excited about the petting zoo, she would have stayed all afternoon if I'd let her! The animals are always super friendly.

I love that they let the kids sit and hold them all.

 

This one little goat seemed to love Camilla. It was adorable. Nothing like baby goat kisses!

 Hyrum loved petting things, but stayed pretty close to my side. I'm sure it would have been easier for me to help him if I didn't have Joseph sleeping in the carrier. Hyrum was so patient.

 Eventually I did manage to get him that friendly baby goat to cuddle. He was so gentle and loving with the little thing. His facial expressions were priceless, I should have captured them a lot better. That little smirk of his gets me every time. Camilla got to hold a little piglet. It was pretty squealy, but thanks to a friend, we got it to calm down for a few minutes on Camilla's lap. They were sad to leave, until Camilla bolted off to the bouncy castles!

When they were finally bounced out, we decided to check out the booths quick, grab some cool stuff and head home for lunch. The kids got little balloon animals and a free mini slurpee. They had a lot of fun! Hyrum was pretty tired and zoned out on the stroller ride home.

 

After lunch and naps we headed out to my cousins for a little birthday party! I'll have to post more on that later, since I forgot my camera and need to steal pictures from my sister. The kids loved playing with their little second cousins and it was super great to see my sister! I do think it's about time for bed. Joe is finally yawning, we'll see how lucky I get in the sleep department tonight...