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Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Fresh Air

This morning after Hyrum's nap the kids and I walked up to the park for some sledding and swinging. There is a tiny hill at our park that was just right for Camilla. For her first time ever sledding down a hill she did awesome. We went together a couple of times and then she went with her dino (toy of the day). She loved it!


 It was actually a pretty nice afternoon! 
We enjoyed a few runs and then she wanted to go play on the swings.

 As soon as I got them into the swing the flakes started falling. It was magical. The children giggled away on the swings and then we caught snowflakes on our tongue!

It would have been fun to stay and play, but the snow was wet and it started getting chilly. 

Camilla didn't want to leave and insisted on a few more pushes in the swing. 
Hyrum loved swinging and watching his sister fly back and forth.

We baked brownies together this afternoon and Camilla tried to crack the egg by banging it on the table and then squishing it in her hand. I couldn't help but smile at the splatted egg on my table. Now she knows what happens when you squeeze an egg. Her reaction was priceless. 

I had a friend drop in last minute this afternoon. The house was a disaster. Laundry piled up on the couch, a kitchen full of unwashed dishes, and toys everywhere! I also didn't realize until half way through the visit that I had left my braids in from the night before and they were all frizzy and coming out all over. She told me of a magnet that her mom used to have on the fridge growing up...
It was a great reminder! 
Now to get some organizing done while the kiddos are in bed!

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Gummy Bear Lips

Motherhood was good to me today. The children played well together all morning long. Hyrum has become a little explorer and checked out the kitchen, garbage area, water cooler and bathroom. 

This afternoon Camilla kissed me on the lips and then told me that my "lips are like gummy bears". It made me laugh. She's been singing "Tee dum tee dee" over and over all day long and I've been whistling it ever since.

I watched Hyrum playing in the doorway of my kitchen before dinner and my heart filled with so much love for my no pants, one sock on little boy. He was concentrating on pushing the red car into the side of the oven over and over again and giggling at the loud bang.


Tonight I watched the children giggle together as Camilla threw blankets over their heads and played peek with Hyrum. They also rocked back and forth together in a laundry basket while I folded clothes.

They giggled and splashed together in the bath tub as they slid around. We all snuggled on Camilla's bed and read stories and they were so good together. Hyrum snuggled into his big sister and sucked his bottle while we read and it was so cute just watching them together. I am positive they will be the best of friends.


My heart is just so full of gratitude today. Gratitude for my children who enjoy one another's company. Gratitude for my little girl who says cute things to me all day long. And gratitude for my husband who wakes and readies himself so quietly in the morning and puts in a long day at work. I am a lucky lady!

Monday, January 23, 2012

Love at Home


This morning the children watched Peter Pan together, Camilla using Hyrum as a pillow.
I love that movie. I love the innocence and imagination.
Camilla's new favorite line is, "We can fly! We can fly!"
Time doth softly, sweetly glide when there's love at home.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Early Morning Church

I wake up at 6:00 am and warm a bottle for my little guy. I am so tired that I just bring him into bed with me while he drinks his bottle, when he is finished I sleepily move the bottle from his mouth to the nightstand. He snuggles in close and we both fall back asleep for a little while until it's time to get up for breakfast.

I pour miss Camilla and I a bowl of cheerios while Daddy showers for church. Then I dress Camilla in a purple, long-sleeved dress and tights. Hyrum is now finished his little morning bottle and I go down and feed him some baby cereal. He pretty much licks the bowl clean. I wonder where he puts it all. Mr. Stannix is finished getting ready now and joins us in the kitchen. 

With ten minutes left before we have to leave I race upstairs and get myself ready. While I brush my teeth Mr. Stannix gets the kids bundled up. He takes Camilla outside to the car and warms it up. I snap Hyrum into his car seat, lock the doors, grab an extra set of keys and speed walk to the car, wishing I didn't pick the pair of shoes that are too small for me. As I put Hyrum in, Mr. Stannix closes the garage door, and we're off!

We get to the church and I rush in with Hyrum and quickly unbuckle him and straiten his tie. As I look back out the door I see Camilla sitting in the snow on the sidewalk laughing while Mr. Stannix opens the door for her and patiently waits. She's wearing bright red shoes that are way to big for her, one pointing North and the other South. They look so great with her purple dress.  I look up at Mr. Stannix and he knows exactly what I am thinking. In his defense, he shrugs and replies, "She wanted to wear them". I smile and we head in to the chapel. 

We find a bench to sit down at and I stay until the kids are semi-quiet and well behaved. Soon people are shuffling in from the cold and I make my way to the front to start the prelude music on the organ. I quickly run through my songs for that day and then a few other songs until it's time for the meeting to start. The opening hymn is announced. Here we go I think to myself. I play the introduction and then the conductor leads everyone in for the first verse. 

Teach me to walk in the light of his love;
I hope the kids sit good today. Oh, was that my kid? No. That doesn't sound like him.
Teach me to pray to my Father above;
I'm pretty sure that was Camilla. Don't look though or you'll lose your spot. Argh, I told you not to look. What's she looking for in the diaper bag anyways? They'll be fine. Watch your music.
Teach me to know of the things that are right;
Man, this organ is loud, I hope it doesn't sound as bad out there as it does up here. Oops, wrong note... again. Pay attention. Man, this would be so much easier on the piano!
Teach me, teach me to walk in the light.
D B A D.... So glad this song has an easy bottom hand.

I join my family at the bench, but not for too long because Hyrum has dirtied his diaper and poor Mr. Stannix has been smelling it for the passed five minutes. Out we go to change him. When I come back in I draw pictures with Camilla while trying to take in as much of what the speakers are saying as I can. The choir sings the intermediate hymn which means one less song for me to play. With a few minutes left in the meeting Camilla decides she needs to go pee and Daddy takes her with a little convincing and the promise of his bathroom being way cooler than Mommy's bathroom. Hyrum finishes off his bottle with sleepy eyes. Soon Camilla and Daddy come back and she, louder than a whisper, exclaims, "I peed!!" Everyone within a one bench radius chuckles. I blush. 

Camilla skips off to nursery. I spend most of Sunday school walking the halls, putting Hyrum to sleep. When I join the class I have no idea what the lesson is on, but still manage to learn something by the end. I then get to play the piano in Relief Society (which secretly I love) and enjoy the lesson.

Classes are dismissed and I pick up my girl from nursery. She joins the other children as they burn energy chasing balls in the gym and then it's time to go.

We join friends for a quick peek at their new house! The kids play so well together. We then come home to our traditional tomato soup and grill cheese sandwiches. Then naps are had by all, well, almost all. I find an awesome new quote that will be on my fridge for the week.

"Happiness abounds when their is genuine respect one for another. Wives draw closer to their husbands, and husbands are more appreciative of their wives, and children are happy, as children are meant to be." 
~Thomas S. Monson

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Jack Frost

The other night when I was tucking Camilla in I noticed her window sparkling in the street lights. 
I pulled back the curtains to find that Jack Frost had come and left beautiful pictures on her window.
Has he come to your house too?


Mr. Stannix bundled up to go outside the other day and decided to scare the children while they were bathing. It was pretty hilarious. I love that guy!