Jarring Jam

This week, I took a trip out to Rocky for a few days to visit the acreage and my fam!  It was great to get out of the city and walk around in my bare feet again, all around.  My Mum had the day off, so we spent the afternoon making home made jam and jelly! Once you taste this stuff, you'll never want to go back to store bought again.  This stuff is sweet, and juicy and rich and delish! I have a hard time even eating store bought jam because I was spoiled growing up! Thanks Mum!!

MMM...Apple Jelly!

Gramma and Cami Stir the Raspberry Jam

When we were done, we had to do up dishes, but the best part is licking out the pot before ya wash it! Check out the jam that fell off the spoon before it hit my mouth!! 

Camilla did this while we jarred

One delicious batch of raspberry jam down! 

It was so fun to work with my mum and learn all her tips and tricks! I can't wait to make my own jam, from my own berries some day! It was so much fun! The rest of the afternoon was spent hanging out and laughing, and getting dinner ready for everyone. Camilla loved the room to run and move at the acreage! She enjoyed spending time with her aunt and uncle and gramma and grampa.  It was a lot of fun!! Definitely worth the trip out!! I even got some jam to take home with me!  Mr. Stannix was so excited to have something other than cheez whiz on his toast in the mornings.

Home made Bread!

Today, I cleaned and made home made bread! I can tell I haven't made bread in a while (it takes 2 people a while to go through 4 whole loaves) because my arm was hurting before all of the flour was even mixed in.  Maybe I need a little more exercise?

I can demolish almost a whole loaf on my own when it's hot and smothered in butter. YUM! I'm off to get another piece!!

Simply Sunday

As I post, Mr. Stannix is bathing our niña.  He was kind enough to give me a few minutes to myself and watch her in the tubby.  Today was an interesting day.  Mr. Stannix was sick and unable to go to church.  Not a fan of going solo, I can tell ya that much.  It was difficult trying to swing Choir and playing the organ in sacrament meeting, but we made it through. :)  She was a bit of a Mommy's girl today and wouldn't go to anyone, made it difficult to pass her off.  She screamed the whole way out while I went up to the organ to play.  Everyone chuckled, poor girl.  Kinda funny though. 

Tonight, Mr. Stannix and I watched Zorro together.  The couch cushions were off, infront of the couch so that Camilla could climb up and down them for a while, so we got some blankets and layed in front of the TV for a movie.  At the end, Camilla plopped right down in between us and snuggled.  It was such a great moment to remember.  It reminded me of one of my recent favorite songs "Let them be Little".  It talks about letting our kids be little, letting them giggle, and letting them sleep in the middle. It is one of the best things just watching Camilla as she is snuggled up between us.  Her head bouncing slowly to the music, feet resting on both Mike and I, and her just snuggling.  She started conducting to the end credits, it was priceless.  She sticks her pointer finger out and waves her arm.  She's such a talented little girly already.  She loves music (and especially spanish music I found out today, she sure had some moves going!!).  She's such a little joy.  Every moment is so worth it. Specially when she gives us her little smile, or runs over and wraps her arms around our neck and smothers us with her giant open-mouthed kisses.  I wish she could stay little forever, but at the same time, I'm excited to see her grow up, and see what she will become.

I wish I had some pictures to share, but the camera sat all alone today. 

I hear a giggly girl and a draining tub.  Time to go read some stories and snuggle her to sleep (Unless ofcourse, Mr. Stannix wants the honor tonight).

Life.Is.Great.

Date Night!!

Tonight, Mr. Stannix and I went on a date.  We went to see a movie together. It was great fun.  We got there 45 minutes ahead of time, and I was the first person in the theater.  Needless to say we got killer seats!! We enjoyed holding hands and snuggling, just like when we were first dating.  It was great, and muchly needed.  With Mr. Stannix doing a course this summer, we haven't had a lot of "us" time, and time to just chill together and talk, and hold hands.  It was a nice night out!! Thanks Gramma for babysitting!  Now, I am off to read some Harry Potter with my hubby to my hubby.  He likes it when I read, and it makes me feel special.  I can't wait to read like that to our kids!!
Sweet Dreams!!

Creative Juices!

Hanging out on a rainy day

Today is another rainy day.  Camilla was up at 6:00am.  I've given up on sleeping in past 7:00 anymore and usually am awake now.  It's fun to spend some extra time with her in the A.M.

Last night, Mr. Stannix and I looked at the plans for our dream home over...and over...and over again.  We talked about it, talked about different ideas, options, changes we would make to the house, and what we want for our family. It was so great! Both of us so excited that we were talking non-stop.

As we were going to sleep, I told Mr. Stannix that I really enjoy the blog because right now, its a place for me to release all of my creative juices.  Growing up, I loved rearranging my room and did so at least once a month.  I love painting, putting pictures up, changing pictures etc.  I am so excited for when we have a place of our own and I don't have to worry about how many nail holes I'm putting in the wall.  I can't wait to decorate and let all creative juices flow!! It'll be a while, but I can wait. Really, I can! 

Today, I was feeling extra creative.  I looked at our livingroom (like I have a million times before) and tried to think of how I could rearrange it. No luck, the way it is, really is the best/only way it can  be. So, I took to  the blog!! I learned lots of cool stuff this morning!! I made my own header, and learned how to center it on the blog!  I read a lot of really cool things and tricks and a lot of other stuff.  I've been wanting to change to a 3 column blog for a long time now because:

a)I can have bigger pictures

b)I can make more picture collages and fit more pictures

c)I just like that look better

So, I found a funky background and changed things up a bit! This should keep me from going too nuts on our pictures and furniture for a while. ;)

We are now off to do some baking for the afternoon.  It will warm up the house and make it smell divine! I'm also excited for my siblings to be coming up again this weekend!! Mr. Stannix is writing a final exam tonight.  When he gets home, we are celebrating him being done the course by going out for a donair. I thing we have the best donair place in the city near our house. They load it up with meat, and have the tastiest sauce I've EVER had.  For those who haven't had a donair, the sauce is what MAKES the donair. Delish. My mouth is watering already!

Pig Tails

HeHe, They're a little crooked, but what can ya do!?

This is Camilla's rockin' doo today!! She can ALMOST pull it off!! It's cute.  Most of her hair really is on top of her head, the side stuff is still growing in.  She keeps it in until she sees herself in a mirror.  She is one giggly, silly little girl! What a joy!! She's been dancing a lot lately and stomping her feet all over the house.  Her "chicken dance" is my favorite though.  Today I got the deep belly laugh and screeching.  She's hilarious!

It's been rainy and cloudy all day today.  Camilla and I danced in the rain and hit almost every puddle on our journey from the car to the mall.  She held her hand out and caught rain drops and giggled.  I got soaked.  It was marvelous.  (I just wish I had a sweater)

Mr. Stannix e-mailed me from work today.  He re-found our dream home on the net!! I had it bookmarked before we had to wipe our computer, then I lost it and was so sad.  It's so gorgeous!! If we can find the right piece of land, and save up the money, we would love to build it someday (but probably never will).  One can dream right? 

Fifteen days until we leave for vacation.  Pacific Ocean here I come!! Soo stoked!!

Our Big Girl!!

We have had a very fun filled last couple of days.  Yesterday after dinner, we all went to the park to enjoy some time outside.  I realized today that it's almost half way through August, and there won't be much summer left to enjoy!! We had a lot of fun.  While we were walking to the park Camilla kept pointing and getting excited and doing her "chicken dance", and "corny laugh".  She kept looking up at us with her crinkly-nose grin.  She was so excited she just couldn't contain herself.  It was adorable! As soon as we got to the park, she toddled over to the swings and said "up", so in she went for a while.  She tried to wave at me while she was swinging, it was cute, and she turned around to say hi to everyone she could see.  We then played on the slide, it took a while to get her off of it when it was time to go home. She loves being a big girl and sliding all by herself! She giggles all the way down. It's great!

Today, for the first time in a long time, Camilla and I went to the park with some friends.  It was fun to see the kids play together again and to visit with some other Mom's.  It was a beautiful day, and an awesome park to play at!! Camilla had a lot of fun (as you can tell by the pictures).  She thoroughly enjoyed the water this time and was running in and out and through it and laughing.  She would get wet and then "chicken dance" away from it.  She is such a Ham sometimes. She definitely loves life and goes all out!

Enjoying the swing!!

"Hmm, I wonder what I should do next"

Being a goofy gus

Talking with her mouth full...Gotta work on that one ;) P.S I totally LOVE this pic of her!

After a few good hours of playing, getting wet, and visiting with friends, it was time to go home.  We got her a "Big Girl" car seat the other day (Thanks Brooklyn for telling us about the Sale!), and she loves it.  She loves sitting forward, looking out the window, and feeling the wind in her hair LOL

A Grumpy Gus

Today miss CJ was up bright and early again, maybe a little too early!!  Lately, she has been throwing temper tantrums, like, a lot!!  If this is her at One, I'm sooo not looking forward to the "Terrible Two's".  With her Mommy's temper and her Daddy's determination she can be one mad kid sometimes.  This morning, I'm not sure what she was upset about.  It's hard when she's upset, and you can't help, or calm her.  She just throws a fit for a few minutes, and then she's better.  I'm still not entirely sure how to deal with it, except distracting her with other things, and if that doesn't work, I usually let her work through it herself.  It's no fun though :( What a mean mum I am, taking pictures of my sad little girl. It was cute though, have to have at least one shot of her upset for the book. ;) She would not reason this morning....soo, I got the camera out.

The poor girl though.  She gets to frustrated when she can't get what she wants, or express herself and her desires. We try our best to understand her and keep her happy though. After a short episode this morning, she eventually worked through it and I got my smiley girl back again.  What a day already and it's only 9:00am.  I have already changed 3 diapers (2 of them being very dirty), sent Mr. Stannix off to work with a hug and a kiss, put through a load of laundry, put the dishes away from yesterday, and prepped the kitchen for another round of dishes.  Camilla started rubbing her eyes at around 8:30 this morning, so I put her down for a snooze.  Hopefully she'll wake up in better spirits...or this could be a very long day.  Before Mr. Stannix left today he asked if I would be okay.  I half jokingly replied "no". He chuckled and said "well, at least your honest!!".  I will be okay though.  We will just keep busy and play lots today, and hopefully avoid the fits. HaHa

After rubbing her back and feet for a few minutes, I finally got my happy girl back, just the way I like her.

Cookies n' Cream

Today FLEW right by!! I got up early with Camilla again. There is no more sleeping in for that little girl.  She likes to see Daddy before he leaves for work.  She shared a few bites of Daddy's toast before he left, then we had breakfast.  Around 9:30 she decided she was tired again, so she went for a nap.  I was so worn out and tired (don't ask me why...because I really don't know) and went for a big nap as well.  At 4:00 this afternoon, I thought it should only be 1:00pm.  The day went by THAT fast.  I mostly played with Camilla today, and did a bit of tidying and A LOT of dishes, in fact, there is still some soaking in the sink as I type.  Mr. Stannix will tell you how much I hate doing dishes, just ask him.  He tells me that watching me do dishes is like watching a 7 act play.  I do some, then wipe the table, or go tidy a room, then I do a few more dishes, then I leave and do something else...it takes me all day. That's how much I hate them! Give me a vacuum or something, that's way more fun!! I also cleaned up about 10 water spills today.  Camilla has been wanting to drink out of a big girl cup for a while now.  If she could figure out how to work the water cooler, she could even fill it up herself. She puts her cup on the ledge of it, and plays with the button trying to get water out.  I gave her a plastic cup with an inch of water in it to try for herself.  She gets too excited and tips the cup up too high.  She then splutters a little and water goes down her shirt, pants and onto the floor.  By the time she's done there's a big puddle under her feet.  I went through a lot of dish towels today, it was cute though, and it's good for her to learn and explore things. Anyways.... After dinner, the munchkin and I went up to the park to play for a while.  She can now go down the slide all by herself, and loved it! When I caught her at the bottom she would point and want to go again, and again, and again.  It took a while to get her away from it and toddling back home again.  Then I needed to kill time in between that and bed time, so I decided to hit up the grocery store for some fresh fruit and odds and ends that we needed.  Then I saw that ice cream was on sale, and I couldn't resist! Cookies and cream is like, my all time fav!

Other than that, not much else happened today. I just got to spend lots of time with Camilla.  I tried catching a video of her fun animal sounds, I could only catch 2 before she started squirming and becoming interested in the camera.  Thought I would post it any way though, it's still cute.

I am now off to enjoy a bubble bath! Mike is in class until later on tonight.  He writes his final on Friday and then his evenings are FREE! I am excited.  15 hours alone is no fun!

A Day of Rest...Right?

Here's our Sunday afternoon in a nut shell.

When we got home from church, Camilla did this....

Mr. Stannix couldn't wait to do this....

It's kind of tradition.  If Camilla goes to sleep right after church, we lay down for a quick Sunday Snooze. I wanted to hang with my little sis, so I stayed up and

I did this...

After the sleeping beauties awoke, we spent the afternoon with my sister and just relaxed a bit

Camilla smothered me in kisses and I enjoyed every second!! Her new fav thing is to blow raspberries on my cheek, it's sweet. She kept leaning in for kisses all through church.  The bigger the mouth, the bigger the kiss right?  Gotta love the big wet ones. 

I do love hanging out with my baby girl!!

If you want to check out some pictures of the munchkin taken by a REAL photographer, head on over to her blog.  Our cousin Jacquie rocks with a camera, and was so sweet to take pics of CJ when she came to visit.  Feel free to leave a comment for her, share the love!