Few Things Cuter

 Tonight was a good night. We had a fabulous babysitter care for the children while we went to the adult session of stake conference. The poor girl had to change Hyrum's blowout and took care in making sure she dressed him in a new onsie and sleepers before bed. She did a fabulous job. We came home to a happy girl and a sleeping boy. I ran the babysitter home while Daddy put Camilla to bed. I came home to a girl in bed and a boy on the living room floor. I put him to sleep while Mr. Stannix got ready to make up some popcorn in the stove popper. 

I took my sleepy boy upstairs and rocked him in our bedroom so the commotion in the kitchen wouldn't wake him. I listened as the popper built up steam and finally started popping louder and faster. It was the best sound ever. The smell made it's way upstairs pretty fast and Camilla's tiny nose picked it up. I heard her whisper, "Daddy's poptorn!". It wasn't long until I heard her feet pitter patter out of her bedroom. She had forgotten I was in the room across the hall as she quietly and carefully made her way down the old, dark stairs. I peeked out my bedroom door to watch her as she took each step. Finally she made it to the turn at the bottom, about the third step up, and slowly peeked her head around the corner. Then she hopped off the stairs and ran into the livingroom where she nestled in next to Daddy and enjoyed some popcorn. There are few things cuter. I stood at the top of the stairs and smiled. Watching her face light up on that third step was the highlight of my day.

After she had a few pieces of popcorn, she gave Daddy a hug, and got a glass of water. Just before I got her to the stairs, she ran back in for another hug from Daddy, which was really a diversion. As she hugged him, she reached across his lap for another handful to tide her over. She ran towards me in the hallway doing the popcorn dance. She lifted her legs giddily, almost skipping and whispering, "Poptorn, poptorn" over and over again while putting pieces of popcorn in her mouth. She took her sweet time going up the stairs, carefully enjoying the last few pieces before bed, and licking her fingers. I have never seen a more excited little girl.

He Works Hard for the Money

This morning some parts of our province saw snow! Mr. Stannix figured it was time to bag up the leaf pile for the winter. He went out after breakfast and worked hard in the brisk Fall air. Even Camilla requested to come back inside after only a few minutes. When I peeked out at Mr. Stannix I could see his breath as he exhaled into the cold morning air. I am so grateful that I married such a hard working man.  He is great at providing for us and taking care of us. I love watching him play with the children. I love hearing him laugh while he works. I love when he does my dishes after dinner and makes an extra effort to shine up the taps, sweep the floor and wipe down all surfaces (including the garbage can flip lid). I love hearing him read bed time stories to Camilla, especially The Tickle Monster book. I am one lucky lady!

Famous for a day

If I were famous for a day I would...

 Go on set in my hallway and watch my favorite little stunt man take a ball to the face after it was kicked by an aspiring soccer player. 

 

Spend all afternoon at the salon getting my hair brushed and styled, being complimented on how long my hair is and how well I'm sitting, whilst watching my favorite TV show.

Get smothered with kisses from an adoring fan.

Eat all of my favorite foods, including the Bombay Famous.

Have somebody voluntarily do my dishes every night for a whole week (I love Mr. Stannix).

Yup, that pretty much sums it up.

Just Like You

The other day Camilla and I had a mini blowout. She isn't even a teenager yet and we're pushing each others' buttons. To make a long story short, she screamed all through family prayer out of frustration, resulting in a timeout on the chair in the office and her dolly being chucked out onto the back deck (bad mommy, bad). I left her in the hands of her more-patient Daddy and stomped up the stairs to feed Hyrum and put him to sleep. 

As I sat in the big green chair in the dark room I felt like the most horrible person ever! Mr. Stannix took care of the girl and when she calmed, sent her upstairs. She quietly climbed into her bed and pulled up the covers. After Hyrum was tucked into his crib I went and sat at the bedside of my little girl. She sat up immediately and I asked for a hug. I apologized and she asked me to wipe her tears. A big smile formed on her face as she wrapped her arms tightly around my neck. I held her close and hugged her tight and there we sat.

After the longest hug ever, she pulled away and pointed to my ears. "Mommy has pretty ears, Camilla has pretty ears too," she said. Then she pointed to my eyes, "Mommy has pretty eyes, and Camilla has pretty blue eyes too". Then she ran her tiny fingers through my ponytail, and then twisted them through her own pigtails, "Mommy has a pretty pony, Camilla has pretty ponies too". Tears stung my eyes as I wrapped my arms completely around my sweet, forgiving little girl. I realized how much she compares herself to me, and how much she wants to be like me. I immediately knew that I had to be a better Mommy and example to my baby girl. I love you's were exchanged, kisses given and then I finished tucking in my baby girl. 

Little children are amazing. I love what Jean A. Stevens says about little children being "the first to love and the first to forgive." There is so much we can learn from the little ones in our lives. While Camilla is trying to be just like me, I am trying to be just like her. Patient, ever loving, forgiving, full of optimism, and full of affection.

These Little Piggies

On Sunday night Hyrum was fussy. He finally just cut his first tooth and is working on number two. Camilla tried everything a little girl could do to cheer him up. She started by offering him her dolly. When that didn't work she took it from him and went and got her teddy. When that didn't work she took it away and got her really big teddy for him to squeeze and love. And when THAT didn't work, she took a few steps back and leaned on the couch and stared at him. He calmed a little and then she went back over to try to cheer him up. She grabbed his biggest little toe and said, "This little piggy went to the market". Then onto the next little toe, "This little piggy went for a drive". Then to the next one, "This little piggy went to Wal-mart, and this little piggy went to Wal-mart too". She ended with the smallest of his little piggies, "And THIS little piggy (pause) went wee-wee-wee-wee-wee all the way home". She is such an awesome big sister. She is always so concerned for the well-being of others. She makes me laugh. Then she did it to Daddy and I too. It was super cute.

Trick Or Treat

Happy Halloween! We had a fun-filled day. After getting up, eating breakfast and getting dressed, the kiddos and I headed to a little party with some friends. It was a great morning full of costumes, crafts, creative lunches, and caramel apple dipping. Camilla went as a bag of flour this year. It was Daddy's great idea! We were going for creative and original, and it was that. Hyrum was a tiger for his first ever Halloween. For lunch we had Monsters (apples, PB and marshmallows), Mummy dogs, and ghosts (cheese strings). We then dipped mini caramel apples. Everyone had a lot of fun!

For dinner, Hyrum had carrots. I thought the orange color was appropriate. I can tell he doesn't love them, but because it's food, he eats them anyways. He'll eat anything!

Soon it was getting dark and we started getting costumes back on. Some friends came over to jump in our leaf pile before trick or treating.  Camilla did a great job of showing her friend how to be brave and jump. Then we decided to go out with them since they were already here. We took off for a spooky night on the town. The kiddos did great considering how cold it was. The wind didn't help, but at least we didn't have any snow! Our first stop was this decked out house (it made the paper).

Camilla was super good at yelling, "Trick or treat" this year. She had so much fun! She was patient at the door while other kids got candies and remembered to say "Thank-you". After a few houses, the "trick or treat" changed to "more please" and I had remind her how to properly beg for candy. 

When the girls got cold, the Daddies went and got the cars and we made our way home.

I had to snap a picture of our little man on his first Halloween. I wish I had done it before we went out. The crying and rubbing of the face on the way home wasn't so good for his nose and stripes. It looks more like war paint than face paint, but the kid is still cute!

I couldn't believe the loot that Camilla got. I'll be sure to take care of the three large chocolate bars so she doesn't get a tummy ache! We missed the few trick or treater's that come out in our neck of the woods. Mr. Stannix's night was made when a couple kids knocked on our door near the end of the evening. They each got huge handfulls of candy. I love that man.

A Spook-tacular Bubble Bath

After dinner the other night we had some serious time to kill before bed. Everyone had late naps, so the usual bed time wasn't going to happen. A friend of mine did this a while ago, so I thought I would give it a try. Daddy filled up the tub with nice warm water and bubbles. We added a glow stick and turned out the lights. Camilla was a bit scared at first, but once we got her in, we couldn't get her out! I can't wait to do this again with more glow stick colors. It was the perfect Halloweenish thing to do for a cold October night.

Pumpkin Carving Creations

Last night we went over to the Wolsey's for dinner and pumpkin carving.  Last year Camilla slept through pumpkin carving, so it was fun for her this year. She is such a girl though and would not get her fingers gooey at first. No matter how much fun we told her it was, she hesitated and would just make sound effects as she popped her hand in and out of the pumpkin without touching anything.

Finally, Daddy scooped some pumpkin guts onto her hand. The strings and seeds were cool at first, but soon followed by a request to wash her hands. Maybe next year she'll get into it.

Hyrum was all boy. He sat in the middle of the table ripping newspaper and trying to get his fingers on some pumpkin guts. At one point I'm pretty sure his hands made it to his mouth. Pumpkin is healthy right?

Taylor spoiled Camilla with a treat, and then she went hunting in the pantry for another one. We all chuckled as Taylor guided her to the Halloween treats on the second shelf. Mr. Stannix spent the evening perfecting his pumpkin. It looked pretty cool! Camilla called it cute, I thought it looked perfectly scary!

Jessica roasted up the pumpkin seeds with oil and salt. They were delish. This was my first time ever doing that. 

Jessica and Taylor made an awesome Owl pumpkin. We had a blast with them. We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends.

Then it was time for the moment of truth. The pumpkins were lit and brought out to the front step. They looked SO GOOD all lit up on the step. I love Halloween! Sadly, I'm still trying to come up with costume ideas for the kiddos on Monday. Hopefully something great pops into my mind soon! We're running out of time.

A Lunch Date

On Wednesday Daddy and Camilla went on their very first Daddy-Daughter date. He came home from school and wondered if we should go out for a H-A-P-P-Y M-E-A-L. Yes, he spelled it out, if he had actually said it the requests for fries and "mcdoughnuts" (that's how she says McDonalds) would have never ended.  I had a few things to do, so I sent them together. Such a lucky girl to have such a great Daddy.

If You Were Wondering

Just in case you were wondering what goes on at the Stannix's 

on a typical chilly, cloudy,

Fall afternoon.

On the Couch ~ 5:05 PM

On my Bed~ 5:06 PM

In her Bed~ 5:07 PM

As for me? 

I enjoyed the peace and quiet and the smell of dinner cooking in the oven.