The Happiest

Sawyer is perhaps the happiest baby in the world. He is so content and easy going. This afternoon he blew spit bubbles until they covered his chin and then charmed us with those big open mouthed grins of his. We are all pretty smitten with him!

A Ray of Light

Today was a long, slow day, with everyone up and at 'em bright and early. Oliver has been on a sleep strike forever and even though February is the shortest month, the cold has made it feel long. 

Hyrum got a much needed hair cut yesterday, and asked if I'd leave it a bit longer on the top. He likes the long, messy look. 

The little boys played the day away and we all enjoyed the extra sunshine pouring through the windows! 

Camilla brought "Heidi" home from the library today and eagerly pulled it from her backpack to show me. She asked if I would read it to her before bed and it made me so excited! She's been craving extra attention lately and I can't wait to start this book with her tonight! 

The kids busted out their sweaters and runners after school and enjoyed playing on the patio with their nerf guns. The sunshine felt so good on our faces and made us all so excited for Spring. As I made dinner I felt super grateful to have healthy, happy children playing outside my kitchen window. 

While they played I made up a batch of Zucchini muffins from an extra ripe zucchini we still had from last year. I made sure to add some extra chocolate chips!

 

The littles came in tired from running around and ate two whole pans while they watched a show. Thankfully, they were still hungry by the time dinner rolled around.

Sawyer: Three Months

Sawyer is three months old and growing big! He is turning into quite the chunk and his cheeks get more kissable with each passing day. He has grown an extra chin and I keep finding extra rolls when I change his diaper. He is almost rolling already and likes to pretend to do sit ups when he's laying down. His giggles are delightful and he is pretty ticklish! Everytime I change him he giggles as I pull his arms out of their sleeves. This sound brings all of his older siblings running and they crowd around him with wide smiles as he delights us with giggles and coos. He is well loved and never short on snuggles. Six littles is starting to feel easier and I don't find myself counting kids as often anymore. We sure love you Mr. Sawyer!

Planting Peppers

This morning we woke to a beautiful sunrise! The nights have been exhausting lately with children appearing at my bedside all throughout the night. Some with bad dreams, others with tummy aches, and one who peed the bed. Some mornings it's hard to open my eyes and get out of bed.

I am really enjoying the extra light that creeps through our blinds early in the morning. The extra sun is so welcomed on these cold, Winter days. 

After Daddy and Nana left for Edmonton, I went to town to pick up dog food for Reese. Next door to the pet store is Mr. Stannix's office and I had to stop and admire the new banners that were put up last week! When the kids saw their last name on a sign Camilla exclaimed, "We're famous!" It was pretty hilarious. 

My dad invited us over for second breakfast and then we spent the majority of the afternoon visiting and going through seeds for the greenhouse and garden. We sorted all of the pepper seeds into categories according to taste and heat and then planned how many of each we would plant for the greenhouse this year. It was decided that we would plant LOTS because we really enjoy making salsa and pasta sauce. We then researched a bunch of different tomatoes online which we will be starting in a month or so inside. When the kids got home from school we planted a whole bunch of pepper plants! Camilla helped create the labels and the boys had fun getting dirty while we scooped dirt into the little pots. Oliver thought playing in the tub of water was the best part. He's going to have so much fun this Summer! While the boys were writing in their journals before bed Joe asked, "How do you spell 'peppers'?" I made sure to spell it nice and slow, "P...E...P-P..." Before I knew it both boys were giggling, "Mom said pee pee!" It was a rookie mistake and ended up getting them giggly enough that sleep came much later than it should have for them. I managed to be serious and remind them that it wasn't appropriate to speak that way, but as I turned to leave their room, a small smile formed on my lips, I couldn't help it.

A Quiet Sabbath

Today we enjoyed a slow, quiet Sabbath. 

As I sat on the couch next to Joe, I admired his freckled nose and boyish features. He is looking so grown up lately!

We've enjoyed an extended visit from Nana. Today she made her cinnamon biscuits for us to enjoy and I couldn't resist having mine with a cup of tea.

She is going home tomorrow, and the kids are going to miss her! They've had lots of special one on one time with Nana this week coloring, building lego and making colorful ice castles.

Mommy Daughter Date

Camilla and I were able to escape on a Mommy Daughter date this morning. We hit up a local coffee shop for caramel steamers and ended up getting them for free! 

Apparently it was national kindness day and we were the recipients of a random act of kindness. We enjoyed a nice little visit at a tiny round table while warming our hands on our cups. 

This girl is getting so big and I feel so blessed to be her Mom. She is so responsible and witty! She keeps us laughing!

I'm already looking forward to our next one on one outing!

Mr. Oliver was ready for his nap by the time I got home and asked to snuggle Sawyer for a few minutes while I read him his book. It was about the cutest darn thing I've ever seen! I love the way these two love each other already.

First Light

 The sun is coming up earlier each day and feeling it's warmth on a cold Winter's morning makes everything a little bit better. Joe looked so adorable on his way out the door this morning that I had to make him stop for a picture. He was wearing the hat I got in Costa Rica years ago and his smile and freckles were all too much for this mamma's heart! He is so full of energy and life and I just love him. After school the kids were pretty sure it was warm enough for sweaters and were excited to go outside and play! The sun was bright and energies were high! Before too long they were begging me to take pictures of them as they jumped off the front step. We had fun laughing together at the way each of the pictures turned out and the different poses they made. I'm so glad that they love being outside!

Cabin Fever

 It was not the warmest day by far, but it was still much warmer than it has been! I needed to get some fresh air today so I bundled up the two smallest of my littles and we took a short walk around the Acreage. It was a tad on the windy side and shortly after we stepped outside it started gently snowing. We didn't make it too far, but it was enough to clear my mind and wake up my sluggish body. February has been so cold and so hard for me this year and I can't wait for Spring just around the corner.

Baking in a Blizzard

Today was one of those days where you drink warm liquids and bake lots. As I watched the kids get on the bus I couldn't help but feel as though we are living in a snow globe that has just been shook. While the snow swiftly blew around outside, I managed to bake a gazillion cookies. I lost count after four dozen.

I made a double batch of our favorite ginger cookies. One batch for the freezer and the other for the cookie jar. 

Then my mom sent over a small jar of M&M's she found which inspired a double batch of monster cookies a short time later. Most of these went in the freezer for snacks, but I left some out on the cooling rack for after school.

And when you bake that many cookies, a sling is a must. Sawyer was happy to sleep away the morning snuggled next to me while I put pan after pan in the oven.

By the time the afternoon rolled around we were all feeling quite listless. Ollie napped while Fin and I enjoyed a game of memory.  The pictures on the cards made me smile with snowy scenes from a make believe world.  I wished I could be getting ready for a nap under a warm rug, just like the characters on the cards. 

We were quite happy when the sun decided to come out in the late afternoon. The days are slowly getting longer!

Toothless

Hyrum was super brave and got his big tooth yanked out today. It's been wiggly forever and he really wanted to earn a few extra bucks from the tooth fairy!

Also, we love it when Daddy is home. Just look at that chubby little hand on his Daddy's neck. Hyrum was kind enough to snap a picture of the scene for me while I was nursing baby.

Happy Valentine's

We started our day with heart-shaped eggs, and finished it with heart-shaped pepperoni pizza. The big kids came home with their bags full of class valentines and way too much candy. After a long week of solo parenting, I let them watch TV and eat treats to their hearts content. Mr. Stannix flew back from Toronto today and got in late tonight with Nana and a bouquet of flowers for me and his little girly. 

Homemaking

Today the snow was falling while the bread dough was rising and the dishes kept piling. Baking warms our home and my heart. We go through a crazy amount of bread around here. I'm pretty sure I make a dozen loaves each week. 

Today's dough got turned into five loaves of bread and a dozen cheese pizza buns for school lunches. 

Sawyer slept away the afternoon in his bouncer snuggled in a mamma made blanket.

I was able to use homemade tomato paste for these and they turned out so yummy! They keep great in the freezer and get pulled out for school lunches when needed.

My Dad made sure I wasn't feeling too lonely with Mr. Stannix out of town. The littles sure love having Grampa to wrestle and play with during the day!

The boys got some time outside when the sun came out. Ollie loved shoveling a path around the yard and didn't want to come back in! We are sure missing our Daddy and excited to see him tomorrow night!

Minus a Bazillion

This is how babies survive the frigid temperatures of the Great White North. Going anywhere with a baby is a big job, but especially in these brutal Winter months.

Another Snow Day

It's been snowing all day and the kids are all home from school again today due to the buses being cancelled. The mornings are bitter cold (-35) and I'd just as soon stay home and snuggle up with my kiddos.

I cherished a few quiet moments with Sawyer snuggled on my shoulder in the late afternoon. Somedays it's hard to put him down while he sleeps. I know I should be cleaning something or other, but these baby snuggles are much more important right now.

Afternoon snack was warm apple sauce muffins smothered in butter. I enjoyed mine while I warmed my body in a sunlit window.

Sawyer also got in some time with Grampa. I felt so grateful for my dad while I looked at the two of them visiting in the sunshine. Life is good.

Happy Sabbath

The more boys I have, the more I fall in love with these fancy onesies with painted on ties and nerd glasses. Our actual white baby dress shirts are getting a little grey after all these years (and baby spit up). Happy Sabbath!

Daddy's Eyes

 Daddy came home for lunch a whole lot this week. One day we spent most of the time convincing Joe that he has his Daddy's eyes. He didn't believe me, so I had to take a picture. Then he started giggling uncontrollably. It was pretty funny!