Happy New Year

 

Happy New Year from our crew to yours!

We're ringing in the new year at the acreage with Gramma and Grampa.

The kids are loving the warm winter weather and fresh air.



My Missionary Brother

I am almost done with the Christmas re-cap, I promise! On Boxing Day we went over to my Gramma and Grampa Hudkins place for a Turkey lunch and a Skype session with my little missionary brother all the way over in Chile. When I told Camilla we were going to Skype Uncle Arland in Chile she said, "Oh. Does he eat Chili there?" It made me laugh. Since we were going out I decided to dress Joseph in some "real" clothes. He sported his cute little plaid diaper shirt and navy corduroy pants. He was pretty handsome looking.

My Gramma put on a great dinner! It was great to have everyone gathered in their home to visit and share delicious food. I am happy to report that only three glasses of water were spilled at the kids table where my Gramma, Mike, the kids and I sat. 

After lunch it was time for the best part of the day. Once clean up was done Elder Hudkins signed in to call us up on Skype. It was great to be able to talk to him. This time we chatted in groups and only got a few minutes each. It was so great to see him and see that he is doing well! When it was time to say good-bye I was choking back tears. Mr. Stannix noticed and gave me a big hug with those strong arms of his, which made me cry even more. I miss that kid and can't wait to see him in six months.

After we finished up with our dear Elder Hudkins, we all visited for a little while longer. Joseph and Uncle Chris had a nice chat on the couch. It was so great to be able to see everyone.

Grampa was constantly getting loves from his grand-kids.  Joseph slept soundly on his arm while Hyrum and Camilla snuggled and cuddled their Grampa. They sure do love him!

It was sad to leave after such a fun day, but our kiddos were pretty tired...

What Christmas Means to Me

As I mentioned earlier, this was our very first Christmas on our own. We slept in as long as we could. Around 7:00am I heard Hyrum's little feet pitter-patter across the floor and into our room. He was quickly joined by a very tired, but very excited sister. We all grabbed our stockings and gathered on our bed with the lamp on low. The kids were pretty excited (except for Joe who slept through the whole thing)!

After opening stockings we ventured downstairs to check out the tree. There wasn't any presents under it the night before, so it was quite a surprise for the kids to see it full of presents. Santa left a hockey net and a couple sticks for the kids. Christmas could have ended there and Hyrum would have been the happiest kid on the block. He was so excited!

 One tradition that we do each year is to print our blog book. I worked on it a long time ago and printed it when the deals were on. It had been sitting in my closet for the past couple of months and I couldn't wait to get my hands on it Christmas morning for a peek. So happy with the way it turned out! We took our time opening presents and had a few intermissions of playing hockey. Hyrum was in heaven playing with his Daddy.



Camilla's big gift this year was a toy digital camera. She loves pretending to take pictures and showing them to us, so it was perfect. After Auntie Emma's photoshoot a while back she was setting up props and posing her animals for pictures. She enjoyed playing with this all day.

 

After all the presents were opened, Hyrum spent the majority of his day begging people to come and play hockey with him. At one point he was looking kind of sad, so I asked him what was wrong and he said, "Ha-ee... Tum Pay". Basically "Come play hockey". Ah, he was cute.

 

 

My all time favorite part of the entire morning though was when he came up and plopped himself down in my lap for a cuddle. He just sat there while I wrapped my arms around him, rubbed his back, smooched his cheeks and held him close. Because Joe is usually the one who needs this during the day, it had been a while since I got to snuggle my big boy. The love that I felt for him was incredible. I just sat there thinking, this is what Christmas is all about, spending time with those we love and enjoying moments like these.

 

My big surprise this year was the blanket that I have been secretly crochetting for Mr. Stannix. He's been requesting one for a while, but I've always been busy with other projects on the go. I started it just after Joe was born and worked like a mad lady day in and day out, any spare moment I had without him in the house. I was still sewing the last few pieces on a few nights before Christmas when he and the kiddos were playing outside in the snow. I still ended up a row or two short but promised to finish it over the holidays!

Camilla and I had fun taking pictures of each other all morning.
 

Joe slept away the majority of the morning in his swing. I still can't believe he's over a month old! He's such a cutie! I could kiss those cheeks all day long.
 

Daddy and Hyrum played Hockey a lot. It was pretty fun watching them together.

In the late afternoon we were joined by my parents and sister. The kiddos loved their gifts from Gramma and Grampa. It was great to spent time with them and enjoy Christmas dinner together. We didn't do anything too fancy, just a chicken, potatoes and veggies. At this point I wanted to be able to spend as much time with my kids as I could, and this meant spending less time in the kitchen. 

After our long day, it was finally time to put the kiddos to bed. Hyrum insisted on sleeping with his stick and it was so dang cute I just had to sneak in later for a picture. Success in the gift giving department. After the kiddos were in bed, Mr. Stannix and I (and Joe) snuggled up on the couch to a movie and treats. I love spending time with Mr. Stannix and sharing these special holidays with him. I love our little family and the joy that we share together.

The Eve of Christmas

Because we spent Christmas on our own this year, it was very quiet and low key. After we got back from Fort Sask we tidied the house and got it all ready for Christmas morning. Before bed we opened the night before Christmas presents (jammies) and set out cookies and milk for Santa. It was fun watching Mr. Stannix get the kids all excited for Christmas morning. After they were finally asleep, he and I hung out with Mr. Joe for the night and watched the Santa Clause while we wrapped presents. It was fun to just sit, visit, wrap and eat together in the living room. Previous years we've had to be more on our toes because we had to cart wrapped gifts to wherever we were spending Christmas. It was definitely different this year.

I enjoyed the night with my sweetheart, just the two of us sitting near the lit up tree enjoying our Christmas movie.  It was exciting to wrap gifts for the kiddos and picture their excited little faces first thing in the morning.  I hope to spend many more Christmas eve's together like this.
 

A Day in the Fort

This year we got to spend Christmas eve day with cousins and Grandparents out in Fort Sask. It was fun to be surrounded by family for the day and visit together. The little cousins all ran around the house and played together all afternoon. At one point I was nursing on the couch and glanced over at the kitchen table where I noticed my little man had climbed up for a snack beside his Great-Grampa. The sun was peering through the kitchen window and it was such a perfect little moment.

Later in the afternoon all of the boys braved the freezing temperatures and played some road hockey. They all had a blast! Mr. Stannix played goalie and came in nice and sweaty after.

We finished off our evening by getting the great-grands together to perform a condensed version of the Nativity. It was super cute seeing them all together. I actually got a video of the entire thing. It's pretty special because Grampa narrated it and was able to share a bit of his testimony at the end. Baby Joe even got to play the role of Baby Jesus. 

I like the way my Gramma described the whole thing on our family blog. 

Mary sat sedately looking over Baby Jesus who was perfect in his sleeping repose on the soft pillow.  Joseph stood by her side.  The shepherd flitted all over the countryside presumably looking for the lost sheep.  The angel quietly did her own thing.  The wise(ladies) came along nicely after what would have been a spill of frankincense and finding the lid for it.  The donkey sat at the corner of the stable completely in awe of the fact that he had carried the woman who carried the King.

It was very short, but very worthwhile. I giggled when Camilla put her costume on over the princess dress that she wore all day. It was great to be able to remember the real reason for the season and ponder the life of Christ. It's been pretty special to have a Winter baby to cuddle at this time of year. I can't help but be reminded of that sweet baby Jesus laying in a manger and everything that his mother went through.

After a quick bite to eat we got our kiddo's home to enjoy the rest of Christmas Eve together.

Christmas Rolls

Little Joseph has turned into quite the chunkster over the holidays. 

Tonight I had a few quiet moments to spend bathing him while Mr. Stannix put the other two to bed. 

As I washed his little body I noticed all of the 

rolls that seemed to be appearing out of no where. 

I'm pretty sure he has a roll for every week of his life and I adore them. 

The whole time I bathed him I wanted to eat those sweet cheeks of his and tickle his chubby little feet. 

He was actually enjoying the warm water and 

even cracked a few smiles as I talked to him.

Mr. Joseph I love you so much!

Christmas Letter

Dear Friends and Family,

Another year has gone by and we wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! It’s been a busy, but fun filled year for us. The kids seem to be growing right under our noses and we get so much joy out of watching them play together.

Camilla turned three in July and is loving life. She has a wonderful imagination and loves to play pretend. She has named her dolls and almost all of her stuffed animals! She is very independent and loves to help out around the house. We love her and her zest for life!

We celebrated Hyrum’s first birthday at the end of April with family and friends. It was a wonderful backyard BBQ and we enjoyed the time we could spend with everyone. He started walking on his birthday and we haven’t been able to stop him since! He loves to run around the house with his sister. He loves making car noises and turns anything that remotely resembles a hockey stick into a hockey stick.

In March we were excited to find out we were pregnant with baby number three! We welcomed Joseph Allen into our family November 17^th of this year. The kids adore him and he’s never short on hugs and kisses. He is almost one month old, weighs 9 lb 3 oz and is doing well. He has brought so much joy to our little family.

We celebrated Mike’s university graduation in June with two kids and one on the way! Aside from work, Mike has been busy working through his CASB modules after work and just wrote his last module exam in December. In his spare time he enjoys playing Hockey for the Rangers and is really quick on his feet!

Addie has been busy at her dream job of being a stay-at-home mom. She spent the year crocheting hats, baby blankets and slippers in her free time. Her days are mostly spent playing and crafting with the children.

Over the summer we took a trip out East to visit Mike’s Nana and family. We started in Halifax by checking out the tall ships, drove around PEI, and spend most of our time in New Brunswick visiting with family.

We have received so many blessings this year and are grateful for a loving Heavenly Father. As we celebrate the Christmas season it is great to be able to ponder Christ, and all he has done for us! We wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

Love,

 

Merry Christmas to all....

And to all a good night.

Like a Child

On the way home from church this morning Mr. Stannix and I were talking about how we might love winter a little bit more if we didn't have to load three children into the car every Sunday morning in freezing temperatures. Today in particular was a doozy. We scrambled out the door later than usual. Mr. Stannix took the two kids out with him, buckled them in and backed the car out of our tiny garage. After nursing Joe, carefully maneuvering his tiny body into his snow suit and buckling him into his baby seat, I rushed out the door in my winter coat and a pair of flats. Little did I know it had snowed JUST ENOUGH on our freshly shoveled walks that my flats filled with snow every step of the way. By the time I made it to the car I was just plain grumpy and exclaimed, "This snow bank is in the worst spot EVER!" My poor husband, this turned out to be a bit of a dig at him since he shovels, but I really didn't mean it. I squeezed passed the snow bank and lifted Joseph's seat over Camilla and clicked it into the middle. On our way to church I apologized to Mr. Stannix, he just smiled. 

Church was great! I always enjoy Christmas Sunday. The talks were excellent and just what I needed to hear. The kids sat pretty good and I was able to actually get something out of sacrament meeting which was a treat!

When we pulled up we started the dreaded task of unbuckling carseats and hurrying children to the front door. Camilla (purposefully) dragged her feet all the way to the front door covering her church shoes and tights in snow. I hurried to get Joseph inside. Hyrum decided it was much more fun to play in the snow and trudged right passed the front door and slowly down the walks, sliding his shoes as he went, making a path behind him. I booked it out in my flats to catch him. Since my feet were already wet, there was no use getting mad at him. I scooped him up with both arms and kissed his face all over prompting one of his awesome belly laughs. We both shared in the laughter and he exclaimed, "Snow!" It always makes me laugh when he says this because he pronounces his "S" sound like he's exhaling through his nose and then follows it by the "no" part. 

I was glad I chose to make that moment a good memory instead of a bad one. It was then that I decided that I actually love winter more because I have children like Hyrum and Camilla to show me how fun snow can be! Sometimes it's good to try to enjoy life from a child's perspective.It's so important to take our time and enjoy life to the fullest!

The Little Things

I feel like this past month has been a whirl wind (in a good way). Things are finally settling and it's time to re-group. I can't believe Joseph is already a month old. Seriously, where does time go?! I pray each night to have sweet moments with my children and the opportunity to just look into their faces each day and enjoy all of the little things they do. This is definitely a challenge each day with such a busy little household. I feel like I'm always making meals, changing diapers, wiping up spills, sweeping my kitchen floor, and trying to keep up with the dishes, all the while tending to three very important little people who each have their own very important needs. As we left for church last Sunday I took a quick look around the house just before closing the door. Toys were scattered everywhere and I actually giggled at the banana peel on the floor in front of the bathroom door that I had been sidestepping all morning as I curled my hair and readied the children. I silently giggled as I noticed the muffin squashed into my living room floor as my visiting teachers were giving me the lesson a few nights ago.  Each morning I have been greeted by the confiscated drum sticks on the kitchen counter, the water cooler that's constantly being emptied onto the floor, and sometimes even last nights dinner dishes. But, amidst all the craziness of life it is the little things that bring me joy. I listened to this talk recently and have been thinking a lot about no regrets and living each day with a purpose. Over the last couple of days I have tried to "behold my little ones" once more and really enjoy the little things about them. In an effort to enjoy them more fully I wanted to record them here so I could re-read them later.

Lately I have really enjoyed when Mr. Stannix walks around the house singing his newest favorite song. He used to sing to me sometimes when we were dating and I still love hearing his voice. His latest song obsession makes me smile. I love when he sings the chorus. 

Miss Camilla, you are growing up so fast. Sometimes I forget that you are only three. The other night I loved rubbing your back before bed. Your sides were dry like they always are, and it made me smile. Then you asked me to grab you a pair of socks to keep your "footsies" warm. You pretty much sleep with socks every night. It is one of the quirky things I love about you. You are full of good stories and words and it's often hard for me to leave your bed-side at night because I don't want to interrupt you. You can talk a mile a minute and I so enjoy your facial expressions and the excitement in your voice. Camilla you are such a great big sister to your little brothers. You are always trying to help them and do good. I love listening to you and Hyrum giggle and whisper together under the kitchen table. You have an amazing imagination that I hope you will always hold on to. It's fun watching you share it with your brother. I love the way you say "Gotcha" every time you kiss Joseph on the head. You are so gentle and loving towards your baby brother, always wanting to hold him and stealing kisses any chance you get. I don't think you have ever walked passed him without giving him a kiss.

Hyrum, you are a joy. You learn a bazillion new words a day and today you said your sister's name for the first time, "Cama". I also love when you say monster. You and your sister were pretending there was monsters in the kitchen at lunch. When I walked in you screamed, "MUH-UH!" My favorite is when you smooch me right on the lips and say, "Goo Mornin'!" Some days I wish I could follow you around with a video camera all day just to catch all of your words and your sweet little voice. I know one day I will forget how you pronounced things and how your little almost-two-year old voice sounds. You are such a big helper and will often put Joseph's dirty diapers in the garbage without being asked. A few days ago we went to an indoor playground and all you wanted to do was stand at the glass window and watch people skate on the rink. Your love for "Ha-ee" goes unsaid. My heart melted a hundred times over as I watched you peer through the glass with wide eyes. At the end of a long day after you have long been asleep I like to sneak to your bed-side, kiss your forehead and pull up your covers.

Mr. Joe, I think I'm finally learning your tricks. You like to sleep in your crib at night with a soft, warm blanket beneath you. Your favorite place to sleep is still being held. You like to fall asleep in an upright position with your cheek pressed against mine. I love the way your tiny eye-lashes brush my cheek until you finally drift off. You are very patient with your older siblings when they both smother you in kisses and love when the house is noisy, everyone is talking and music is playing. Perhaps this is why you don't sleep so well at night. Your snuggles are the best and you bring such a sweet spirit into our home.