For the last few weeks our family has been battling a nasty flu and cold which has left us all sleep and energy deprived. It started with Daddy and worked it's way down the family. The night that I felt the aches and chills creeping up on me I knelt by my bed and pleaded with Heavenly Father to make it a quick one! When I woke up the aches were gone, and I have been able to carry out my mothering responsibilities with all of the other side effects, so I am pretty grateful for that! Sadly, the blog was put on the back burner and has lacked the heart and soul that I long to put into it every day. While I've been posting one liners and uploading pictures here and there I have also been jotting down the little moments that bring me joy or make me smile each day.
I have made it a huge goal of mine to get down and play with the kids more throughout the day and worry less about the mess, the laundry, and the endless trail of socks up my stairs. It has been so rewarding and I have felt such an increase of joy as I get down to their level, look into their eyes, and let them climb all over me with hugs and kisses. One afternoon I found myself lying on the floor with Finley propped on my stomach, Joseph sitting on my feet begging for a rocket ship ride and Camilla at my head chatting my ear off while she ran her fingers through my hair. Even though it felt a bit chaotic, I paused and enjoyed that moment as much as I could, soaking in every detail right down to the smoothie mustache on Joseph's face. Mothering so many little people is tough some days. While being a mother is totally fun and rewarding, it is also exhausting and thankless. Remembering the little things helps me make it through the day with some sense of joy and satisfaction even when the storms come and it seems like no one is listening to me.
Our days have been starting extra early again. As much as I would love to be up and ready before the kids, it seems impossible as they wake well before 6:00am. I am usually either nursing Finley or just getting back to sleep when I hear the boy's toes hit the floor first thing in the morning. It isn't long before they are racing around the house playing tag or fighting over a toy, or screaming at each other. I dread mornings that start off with arguing. If I'm feeling energetic I will cave to the requests for pancakes with Gramma's saskatoon syrup (which has lovingly been nicknamed "wacka-toon" by Joe). After breakfast we plug away at our regular routine of morning chores and tidying their bedrooms. A part of me dislikes nagging them to get things done in the morning, but I cherish the time that we have all together knowing that Camilla will be heading off to school in September and our mornings will change. For now I enjoy the slow pace and extra time we have to do things like scripture study and prayer together, even when there's fighting and tears. I know this is time we will never get back!
If it's nice we spend the afternoon outside. If it's cloudy, we will craft, bake cookies, or I will make up a batch of bread. One time I made peanut butter and jam for lunch while Joseph stood on a stool being my "helper" and when I put the glob of peanut butter on one slice of bread he immediately stuck his fingers in it grabbed it off and stuck it in his mouth. He proceeded to do it again with the next one. While we were crafting pne day I heard Hyrum say something like, "I'll be done this picture in a jiffy. You should see it Mom! It's gunna be fabulous!" Sometimes our afternoons are rough and filled with fighting and I will hear things like, "Mom! Joe hit me with a noodle!" (the kind you use to float in the pool). And I will never forget one afternoon when I was baking up a storm and Hyrum came in quickly to grab something. Though he didn't say anything, the way he inhailed deeply through his nose twice before opening the door and heading back out showed me that he was enjoying the smell of freshly baked goods. In that moment I loved that little boy and most especially the feeling of safety and security I associate with the smell of fresh baked goods.
Dinner time is hit or miss. Sometimes they love eating what I make and other times I'm left to wonder why I even bother cooking. A few nights ago I had to laugh when Camilla and I were trying to convince Hyrum to eat his veggies. I told him it would make him grow and Camilla chimed in and said, "Yeah, Hyrum, I'm already five, it took me a lot of veggies to be five". I will also never forget when I sat down next to Joseph with a freshly prepared plate of Cafe Rio only to have Joseph dump a cup full of water right on top of it. Mr. Stannix drained it out for me in the sink and I grudgingly ate my soggy wrap.
After dinner I will put a few kids for baths rotating each night. I will still never forget one night when Joseph asked to be wrapped up like a baby after his bath. I snugged him up in a towel and cradled his toddler body in my arms. He caught his reflection in the mirror and sweetly exclaimed, "Oh baby!" After jammies are on and teeth are brushed we say family prayer. It made me smile one night while we were staying at the acreage and I over heard Camilla and Hyrum arguing over personal prayers in their little bedroom. Hyrum was refusing to say his after being lovingly reminded by his big sister and then he asked why he should and she exclaimed in a sharp whisper, "Because it's important!" Ah I love that girl. One night when everyone was in bed and the house was quiet I found myself folding laundry on my bed as the last of the days sun dipped behind the roof tops and illuminated my bedroom with it's orange glow. I could still feel the faint warmth of the orange rays on my face as I sorted socks and folded onesies and I will never forget the peace and contentment I felt in that very moment after a long days work.
I have made it a huge goal of mine to get down and play with the kids more throughout the day and worry less about the mess, the laundry, and the endless trail of socks up my stairs. It has been so rewarding and I have felt such an increase of joy as I get down to their level, look into their eyes, and let them climb all over me with hugs and kisses. One afternoon I found myself lying on the floor with Finley propped on my stomach, Joseph sitting on my feet begging for a rocket ship ride and Camilla at my head chatting my ear off while she ran her fingers through my hair. Even though it felt a bit chaotic, I paused and enjoyed that moment as much as I could, soaking in every detail right down to the smoothie mustache on Joseph's face. Mothering so many little people is tough some days. While being a mother is totally fun and rewarding, it is also exhausting and thankless. Remembering the little things helps me make it through the day with some sense of joy and satisfaction even when the storms come and it seems like no one is listening to me.
Our days have been starting extra early again. As much as I would love to be up and ready before the kids, it seems impossible as they wake well before 6:00am. I am usually either nursing Finley or just getting back to sleep when I hear the boy's toes hit the floor first thing in the morning. It isn't long before they are racing around the house playing tag or fighting over a toy, or screaming at each other. I dread mornings that start off with arguing. If I'm feeling energetic I will cave to the requests for pancakes with Gramma's saskatoon syrup (which has lovingly been nicknamed "wacka-toon" by Joe). After breakfast we plug away at our regular routine of morning chores and tidying their bedrooms. A part of me dislikes nagging them to get things done in the morning, but I cherish the time that we have all together knowing that Camilla will be heading off to school in September and our mornings will change. For now I enjoy the slow pace and extra time we have to do things like scripture study and prayer together, even when there's fighting and tears. I know this is time we will never get back!
If it's nice we spend the afternoon outside. If it's cloudy, we will craft, bake cookies, or I will make up a batch of bread. One time I made peanut butter and jam for lunch while Joseph stood on a stool being my "helper" and when I put the glob of peanut butter on one slice of bread he immediately stuck his fingers in it grabbed it off and stuck it in his mouth. He proceeded to do it again with the next one. While we were crafting pne day I heard Hyrum say something like, "I'll be done this picture in a jiffy. You should see it Mom! It's gunna be fabulous!" Sometimes our afternoons are rough and filled with fighting and I will hear things like, "Mom! Joe hit me with a noodle!" (the kind you use to float in the pool). And I will never forget one afternoon when I was baking up a storm and Hyrum came in quickly to grab something. Though he didn't say anything, the way he inhailed deeply through his nose twice before opening the door and heading back out showed me that he was enjoying the smell of freshly baked goods. In that moment I loved that little boy and most especially the feeling of safety and security I associate with the smell of fresh baked goods.
Dinner time is hit or miss. Sometimes they love eating what I make and other times I'm left to wonder why I even bother cooking. A few nights ago I had to laugh when Camilla and I were trying to convince Hyrum to eat his veggies. I told him it would make him grow and Camilla chimed in and said, "Yeah, Hyrum, I'm already five, it took me a lot of veggies to be five". I will also never forget when I sat down next to Joseph with a freshly prepared plate of Cafe Rio only to have Joseph dump a cup full of water right on top of it. Mr. Stannix drained it out for me in the sink and I grudgingly ate my soggy wrap.
After dinner I will put a few kids for baths rotating each night. I will still never forget one night when Joseph asked to be wrapped up like a baby after his bath. I snugged him up in a towel and cradled his toddler body in my arms. He caught his reflection in the mirror and sweetly exclaimed, "Oh baby!" After jammies are on and teeth are brushed we say family prayer. It made me smile one night while we were staying at the acreage and I over heard Camilla and Hyrum arguing over personal prayers in their little bedroom. Hyrum was refusing to say his after being lovingly reminded by his big sister and then he asked why he should and she exclaimed in a sharp whisper, "Because it's important!" Ah I love that girl. One night when everyone was in bed and the house was quiet I found myself folding laundry on my bed as the last of the days sun dipped behind the roof tops and illuminated my bedroom with it's orange glow. I could still feel the faint warmth of the orange rays on my face as I sorted socks and folded onesies and I will never forget the peace and contentment I felt in that very moment after a long days work.
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