Oh Christmas Tree

Tonight we watched The First Presidency Christmas Devotional in our living room. It was a wonderful way to get into the Christmas spirit. When it was finished, Mr. Stannix brought me down one of my Christmas presents to open early. He said it would add to our night setting up the tree. I opened it up and it was a Mindy Gledhill CD that has one of my newest favorite Christmas songs. As soon as we turned the music on Camilla was jumping and dancing around our living room as we set up the tree.

We were shortly joined by our friends who assisted in setting the tree up and stringing the lights. It was great to visit and share Christmas music together. Camilla was a great little helper and loved putting the decorations on the tree! It was fun to see her so into it this year.

Mr. Stannix grew up with his Christmas trees being covered head to toe in garland, and my tree growing up was always loaded with tinsel. In case you don't remember from last year, this tree is the tree that I grew up with. It's super old, and still loaded with tinsel from my childhood. The garland and the tinsel just add extra sparkle to our short little tree. Mr. Stannix and Camilla finished off the tree by putting our new star on top.

The added bonus to having friends over for the night is that we had someone to snap a family picture for us! Hyrum was tired and rubbing his eyes by this point, so he looks just so impressed to be in the picture.

After the decorating was complete, we shared in some dessert with our friends. It was a delicious black forest cake! We visited until late into the evening. It was wonderful. We feel so blessed to have such great friends. After we parted ways, and got the little miss to bed, Mr. Stannix and I dimmed the lights and snuggled on the couch to the glow of the Christmas tree. 

He turned into a giant chatter box, and I love when he gets that way. We sat and talked about where we are at, the goals that we have and what we look forward to about our future. Then we both decided a hot drink was necessary before bed. I made us up a cup of hot chocolate with mini marshmallows and candy canes to enjoy. While I measured and stirred, Mr. Stannix stood in the doorway of the kitchen looking handsome and continuing to talk with me. We then went back to our cozy spots on the couch and shared in some more laughter together. I love this season. The lights, the smells. This is Christmas for me.

The Ward Christmas Party

Last night was our church Christmas party. It was a fabulous evening filled with beautiful decorations, delicious food, caroling, and a special visitor. So many people work so hard to put this on each year, and it's always enjoyable. Hyrum sat on Santa's knee for the first time ever and Camilla sat on Santa's knee without crying for the first time ever. Maybe next year we'll even get a smile out of her? When he asked her what she wanted for Christmas she said, "A present". She's easy to shop for! Hyrum saw the round, fluffly thing on the end of his hat and was immediately drawn to it. I'm so grateful to Mr. Stannix for watching the children while I played piano. I'm pretty sure he left the gym with one kid under each arm at one point during the caroling. Then I had to stay and practice some songs and he patiently waited on the couch for me. I love that man...

The Festival of Trees

Last night we took in The Festival of Trees with some friends. It was pretty amazing in there! After looking at all of the kiddy activities we decided it probably would have been more fun if our kids were a teensy bit older. It was family night and we did a mini scavenger hunt. We also went and saw Santa, but Camilla looked like she was going to burst into tears at any second, so she didn't sit on his lap. She did hold his bells and shake them though. We'll see how she does with Santa tonight at the Christmas party. 

There was so much to see! Her little legs went nuts all night running/sprinting from one thing to the next. About half way through, Daddy asked if we could trade kids for a while. Camilla was just so excited.

They had a lot of different types of trees and the whole place was lit up! At the front they had a stage with live performances. This one little girl sang and she looked like she was maybe four years old. She sounded amazing! I personally loved the look of this rest area with the floating present Christmas tree.

Just before we left we got our friends to snap a family photo. We exited the display room and joined the crowd in the lobby. You get a prize if you get all the stamps for the scavenger hunt, but we weren't even half way done. Taylor took Camilla and taught her to say, "I tried my best". They then went up to the ladies with the prize bags and she said, "I tried my best" as she handed them her not even half stamped piece of paper and they bought it! She got a treat bag full of goodies, a coloring book and stickers. 

I am now feeling super festive. Two more days until we have a lit up tree of our very own in our living room! I can't wait!!

Birthday Dinner

Last night we went out to Montana's to celebrate Mr. Stannix's birthday. He has been craving their ribs for the longest time ever. It was an enjoyable evening out and the kids were so good for us!

Miss Camilla and I wore our matching colored hats. The girls at the front thought she was super cute when she walked in and looked up at them. We got seated in a nice booth in the corner. I love when we get booths because Camilla is then stuck on the inside and can't go anywhere. We then ordered drinks. A Sprite for me and a Rootbeer for Mr. Stannix (as per usual).

I loved that our drinks came in Mason jars. I love the feel and atmosphere of that restaurant. I also couldn't get over how stinkin' cute Hyrum looked in the highchair. He had fun watching the waitresses go back and forth and smiling at the little girl one booth over. He entertained himself with the drink menu for a long time also. Mr. Stannix ordered his ribs and got the Chipotle Honey sauce. They were pretty much to die for. After looking over the menu, all I wanted was a burger. Plain and simple. Mr. Stannix always makes fun of me for this. No matter the resaurant, I usually order a burger, and usually a cheese burger or something really boring, with fries. This time I lived a little on the edge and got the Chipotle Firecracker Burger. It was delish. When the waitress asked Camilla what she wanted she said, "Noo-noos and cheese please". She is so grown up. 

I was extra proud of her last night because in the middle of dinner she asked if she could go use the potty, and wasn't even afraid of public toilets. I think that is a wonderful sign of being almost potty trained! On the way home she told us she was full. When we finally arrived home we got the kiddos ready for bed and then had cake! I can't get over Hyrum's expression in this picture. It was a great birthday!

In other news, the Stannix's have joined the cell phone world again. Mr. Stannix came home from the store and started telling me all about her. I will still call the cell phone it for the remainder of it's life span. Mr. Stannix has done a lot of research and has been in love with her for a while now. I found myself feeling a little jealous the other day as he sat with her on the couch all day. He's slowly coming back to reality though! In all seriousness, it will be nice to have a cell phone. We've gone so long with out. With winter coming and his job starting in January, it was a needed move. 

Speaking of a job in January, this morning I saw Mr. Stannix off to his last class of University ever. After almost five years, his hard work has paid off! All that's left is a few finals in December and then a long, much needed break over the Christmas holidays. 

I will be spending the rest of my day wrapping presents, getting the Christmas stuff out and thinking about how we are going to rearrange our living room for the Christmas tree.

One Year Older

**Today my dashing Mr. Stannix turns 26!**

Every day is a special day when you're married to Mr. Stannix. Last night he couldn't sleep and when Camilla woke up at 4:30am with a bad dream he was the first to pull back the covers and jump out of bed. He soothed his crying girl, tucked her back in, and even ventured downstairs to refill her sippy with water. When Hyrum awoke this morning cooing in his crib, Mr. Stannix went and got him and gave him a cuddle. After learning he was soaking wet he proceeded to change the wettest stinkiest diaper of the day without even being asked. These are just a few of the many reasons why I love my man. 

Mr. Stannix is super sweet, supportive, and full of laughter (not to mention very handsome).

I couldn't have asked for anyone better to share eternity with!

Happy Birthday Hun!!

Quick Reflexes

Today I was proud of my quick reflexes. I felt like superman or something. It felt good.

First amazing save:

We were all sitting on the floor chatting. I was holding a sweet, tiny baby girl and sitting by Hyrum, who got excited when Camilla was talking to him and fell backwards. With one quick move I managed to get my hand behind him before his head hit the floor.

Second amazing save:

We were grocery shopping. You'd think after a jar of mayonnaise and a thing of sour cream being busted on the floor I would learn not to let Camilla hold things while we shop. I just do it because it keeps her occupied, but today she was holding a Yop and got that mischievous look in her eye. She chucked it out the side of the cart and before she could blink I caught it and was handing it back to her. She was in awe. I walked through the rest of the grocery story with a triumphant grin on my face.

This momma is totally proud of her quick hands today!

Pears for Breakfast

Hyrum seriously cracks me up lately. His little personality is just exploding! His newest thing is mimicking sounds. If he hears a baby scream in church, he'll start fake screaming. Or today, when he heard Camilla crying, he started fake crying. It was the funniest thing ever! Ya know what else is funny? How much this kid loves food.

"Hurry up with those pears Mum! I'm Hungry"

The Best Afternoon Snack

Camilla sat in her bed for an hour and a half reading books and refusing to nap. She came down twice with a poopy diaper and once to pee in the potty in that time. After I sent her back up the third time, I could tell this nap wasn't going to fly. A few moments later I went up to officially tell her she could come back downstairs and play. She came down dressed in her old snow gear from last year, ready to go outside. She went out on the back deck and dug in the snow for a while. Hyrum watched her from inside. I was sure she was frozen, so I bribed her to come in with a plate of hot buns smothered in melted butter and fresh honey from our friends' beehives. Whenever I make bread for the week she always requests bread, butter and honey. Then we sit at the table together and eat it. It's almost a tradition I'd say. Now that the children are both sleeping, Mr. Stannix wants me to watch Star Wars with him. Epic. Any excuse to snuggle up on the couch is fine with me!

That's What Sisters are For

Last night Mr. Stannix was out. It was late, dark, and silent. I hate being home alone at night. I had to go down into the dungeon to change out the laundry, but I was too scared. I left the sliding door unlocked the other day when I ran a quick errand and my imagination thought up crazy reasons for the noises downstairs. 

Maybe there's a homeless guy living in my basement..etc

This fear is legit and almost stops me from coming downstairs in the dark for a drink in the middle of the night.

So what did I do? I called home.

"Hello?"

"Hi. Um. Mike's away and I have to do laundry in the creepy basement so stay on the phone, okay?"

Some Laughter

"Did you seriously just call me for that?"

Then we chatted for a whole 36 minutes. I love my sister.

December 2008

Dinner is Served

...I found myself stepping over the blue plastic cup on the floor for the 198273th time. After I set the cutlery on the table I turn and my leg automatically lifts, strategically missing the cup full of water once more. I pause in the middle of the kitchen and smile, almost letting out a triumphant laugh. A picture of my favorite blonde toddler playing on the floor with her cup of water just hours earlier flashes through my mind. Then Mr. Stannix calls me into the office and shows me a sweet deal on tickets to The Nutcracker put on by the Alberta Ballet. I then start thinking of possible babysitters for that night and mentally going through my wardrobe, envisioning us all spiffed up for the ballet while Mr. Stannix buys us balcony seats.

While I finish getting dinner ready, Camilla occupies herself with sticky tack and the pictures she colored that day. After unsuccessfully trying to stick a wash cloth to the wall with a sticker, she dug through Daddy's desk and found the blue sticky tack. She sat in the entry way to the kitchen sticking up pictures and playing with the "sticky stack". I think to myself, Sure, why can't you play with sticky tack. I was just glad it was keeping her busy. A few moments later, I hear Hyrum coughing. I quickly run out of the kitchen (avoiding the cup of water) to check on him and find Camilla with two fingers shoved in his mouth. I pull her hand out and find a gob of sticky tack between her pointer finger and thumb. I say a silent prayer, thankful that she hadn't let go and he hadn't choked on it.

The time out chair stayed nice and warm until dinner was ready. Camilla screeched and screamed, trying to get attention, in her chair. Soon Hyrum began mimicking her as he sat on the floor in the hallway. I put a hot pad on the table, grab my oven mitts and pull the Lasagne out of the oven. Just as I take a step to place the Lasagne on the table, I kick over the glass of water that I had been strategically side stepping all afternoon.

 I had to laugh about it, and photograph the moment. And with that, dinner was served!