The Winter Party

Tonight was the annual Winter Party for Mike's firm. This year it was held in one of the ballrooms at the Matrix Hotel downtown. We showed up right on time and mingled while everyone waited for dinner. We enjoyed our classic sprite while everyone else enjoyed drinks of the fancier kind. Between visiting we also snagged some appetizers as we walked around the room. 

Dinner was finally served at 8:00PM, beginning with bread and some fancy butter. The tables are always decked out and now that I've done this for a few years the forks and knives don't intimidate me so much. After we finished our warm buns and butter, we were brought out a small salad which was topped on thin slices of roasted pear. For the main course we enjoyed prime rib, mashed potatoes, gravy, and lightly steamed vegetables. Dessert was warm bread pudding with whip cream. They must have known Mr. Stannix isn't a fan of raisins because I think he only found one in his whole piece. The food was great and it was fun to get to know some more of the people that Mike works with every day. Sometimes when I go to these things I feel like I meet the same people once a year, but it's nice to actually start seeing familiar faces and to remember names.

 

Just before we left I snapped a picture of us in the lobby. Mr. Stannix was looking quite handsome in his suit and tie! We had a lot of fun together. Big thanks to Arland and Naomi for babysitting our littles!

Friday Night Pizza

Tonight the littles helped me put together some homemade pizza for dinner. They love to pull their chairs up to the island and help when they can. Pizza is fun because they lick their spoons after spreading the sauce and nibble on cheese and ham while we make it. It's awesome to have the extra help and it makes dinner time more fun. Hyrum liked to put his cheese in a pile, while Camilla was more experienced and sprinkled it. I hope this is a tradition that will carry on!

A Glimps of the Morning

 We lucked out this morning and got to have Daddy around for an extra hour or so. We all took it easy and got to have a nice breakfast together. Daddy could hardly eat and get himself ready with Joseph clinging to his leg and begging to be "up" in his sweet little baby voice. Daddy is his favorite pal!

Shortly after breakfast, Hyrum transformed into his super self and ran circles around the house exclaiming, "SUPER HYMUM! TO THE WESCUE!" 

 He talks so much lately and I always get a kick out of the things he says. The other day he was rubbing his eyes and looking under the weather. I asked him what was wrong and he said, "My head feels like crocodiles, Mommy...". And at the dinner table last night he kept feeling my belly and saying things like, "I think it's a sister" and "Maybe it's TWINS!" and "Does it squeak?" 

Love that little super hero of mine!

Pondering Motherhood

My day today began at 4:30 AM when I heard my two oldest downstairs whispering. I went down to investigate and sent them back to bed. Camilla slept until 8:00 but Hyrum never did go back to sleep in our bed. While I made breakfast, Hyrum ran circles around the kitchen and asked a million questions. "Ya wanna play Uno Mommy?" I stood there wishing I could steal some of his energy for myself. The children spent the morning burning energy in pretend play. After a quick lunch I took the boys up for their nap, and squeezed in a few winks myself. When Joe woke from his nap he was clicking his tongue like he does when he's hungry. I chatted on the phone with my Mum while he ate in his chair. When he was finished I pulled him out only to get a handful of poop and to hear the rest plop on the floor by my toes. To much information, I know, but this is the real deal. I did some damage control in the tub before finally running him a nice warm bath and changing my shirt. Then he gave me the sweetest grins ever and I could hardly resist smooching those shiny little cheeks of his over and over again.

Hyrum then woke before he was ready and proceeded to whine and cry for the next hour. After all that I still had a floor to clean and disinfect! I left Joe under the watchful eye of his big sister while I scrubbed and listened to Mr. H whine on the stairs. Camilla's belly giggles were much welcomed as Joe climbed all over her and played.

Sunday was another tough day. People who read this blog probably wonder why we even attempt church when it mostly ends in a gongshow. Even though there are Sundays where I end up crying in frustration, I know that being there is the right thing for our family, for our kids, and over all we end up leaving feeling more uplifted then when we arrived. This Sunday was no different. When we first pulled into the parking lot Camilla burst into tears because she left her beloved stuffed dog, Cody at home. She cried all the way in and pouted all through the first meeting. Hyrum bolted to the chapel like he does every Sunday. Joseph wasn't content to sit still at all and Mike and I each halved our time spent with him in the hallway where he would wiggle, squirm, scream and fight until we let him run free. My favorite part was when he finally gave in and napped. I sat in a quiet room for ten minuted by myself, pondering Sundays and motherhood and recent trials. When church was finished I found happy kids who were uplifted and enriched by their Sunday lessons. When I asked Camilla to please get her coat on she responded with a "yes, mother!" (thanks to her lesson on choosing the right). Everyone listened well while we braved the cold to the car and we left feeling better than when we came.

I've been thinking a lot lately on this wonderful, ever changing role of motherhood and how I can do a better job. It isn't by any means an easy task and I definitely have my share of bad days and tough moments with the littles. Motherhood is by far one of the hardest things I've ever done. I've found myself wishing I could be more patient, more slow to anger, and more observant. I sometimes wish I could be a gourmet chef and prepare more than PB&J for lunch. I wish I could find a way to make my children magically eat their vegetables and gobble up their dinners without a fight. How did my Mum make this look so easy? How can I be that mother I dream of being instead of the one that's barely treading water somedays? How can I feel more joy throughout my days? I know that the joy of motherhood comes in moments, but with three rambunctious littles, sometimes those moments are hard to spot in the chaos of everyday life.

It's amazing what a simple prayer can do. I find that I need a prayer in my heart all day long to help me be more patient and kind when there's messes made or problems to solve.

And sometimes it's the simple things like finding toy cars in my washing machine, wooden blocks in my dryer, alphabet magnets in my pots and pans and rubber ducks in my toilet that cause me to smile and that lend perspective to the joyous journey of raising children.

Yes, even during family home evening tonight when I was trying to read over the endless energy my children seemed to have while paper airplanes were whizzing passed my head, I couldn't help but smile. This is my life. It is chaotic, crazy, sometimes hard... But it is mine, and it is wonderful!

PB&J

The stage that Joseph is now at is both my favorite and least favorite. It's my favorite because he can pretty much feed himself and I can enjoy my meal times more, and my least favorite because it usually requires more than one bath a day. Take lunch for example.

A simple PB&J sandwich turned into a big, fun mess.

But he sure is happy when he gets to feed himself.

And then he gives me his little shoulder thing and crooked head just to remind me how sweet he is.



Morning Hugs

These boys willingly gave each other big hugs this morning.

Talk about a heart melter!

Canadian Winters

New Years Day brought beautiful Winter Chinook weather. With the clear blue sky and warm sunshine, we couldn't resist spending the late morning outside. Joseph was so happy to get some fresh air he hardly waited to get dressed before toddling out the back door after his older siblings. He enjoyed exploring and playing with the cold snow.

Great-Gramma and Great-Grampa Purdon got to look out the window and watch Joseph toddle around. Since we've all been sick we've kept our distance so they don't catch anything. Gramma stood out on the deck for a few minutes and talked with us. Tears welled up in her eyes at the sight of the Great-Grands.

Joseph and I eventually made it down the hill to join in on the fun. Grampa and Daddy were busy digging out a snow fort for the littles. They had so much fun with it and quickly transformed it into a pirate ship and began playing.

Joseph made a great supervisor!

The tunnels were perhaps the best part!

Then they decided to make a slide down the back...

Hyrum and Camilla took turns helping to form the slide with their tiny bum scooches.

Then Daddy rode the shovel down to help make it more slippery. Man, he's goodlookin'!

While I was busy following the littles around the fort, I was able to snap this cute picture of Joe and his Grampa.

Before we went in I asked my Dad to take Joe and I on one last spin behind the quad. Camilla hopped in the front of the sleigh just before we took off.

After our ride all of the snowflakes were stuck delicately to her sweet little eyelashes. It reminded her of the movie frozen. When I asked to take a picture she said, "Say 'Elsa'!" I love that girl! She helped Gramma make cookies yesterday. Today I caught her and Hyrum sneaking some from the tin. I explained that it wasn't nice to sneak things without asking and she replied, "But I MADE them...!" I couldn't help but smirk.

When naptime rolled around we loaded up the littles and said good-bye. It's always sad to leave and usually before we even get to town I shed a tear or two. I feel so blessed to be able to spend so much time with family. The littles slept most of the way home allowing Mr. Stannix and I to enjoy some quiet and conversation. We took a different route home which caused me to admire the beauty around me even more so. At one point a beautiful fog formed in a valley outlining the trees and sillouettes of horses in the fields.

Though Winter can be cold and harsh, it sure is beautiful. I loved the snow on the rolling hills, the warm sun in the distance, the skidoo trails, the snow covered bails of hay left in the fields, the old barns... All of it was so so pretty. I was just filled with so much gratitude. Oh how I love Canadian Winters.

New Years Eve

Hard to believe it's already time to ring in the new year! Aside from being a little sleepy, we all had a great day! Joseph has taken quite the liking to his Grampa. His little personality is just exploding these days. He is such a clown and loves to laugh, babble, and act silly.

Just after lunch Grampa took the littles for a ride behind the quad. They have gotten braver since last year and like to yell, "Go FASTER!" while Grampa pulls them around the subdivision.

Grampa even managed to plow out the whole subdivision with the littles in tow. He would head out one side and come back on the other. They got a pretty long ride and were ready for some hot chocolate when they came in. Hyrum stuck around for one last ride though.

Mr. Stannix kept busy shoveling the walks. We seem to have more snow this Winter then I ever remember! It just keeps coming and coming. While I waited for the littles to return from their ride, I admired him from afar.

After naps were had we got busy on dinner. My Mum has been wanting to try homemade perogies for a while now, so we went to work. Joe even enjoyed watching from the top of the counter. My Mum used to do that with me when I was little.

I have to say though that my favorite moment of the day was when all three of my littles climbed up on my lap while I sat in the recliner. We rocked, snuggled, and spinned for a good ten minutes. I loved having their warm bodies so close. I loved squeezing them and kissing their heads over and over. Being a Mamma is the best!

Dinner was pretty epic. My Mum worked hard frying up the perogies, while my Dad worked hard at the BBQ.

Perogies

3 cups flour (1/2 cup reserved for counter)

1 tsp salt

1 egg

3/4 c water

2 TBSP oil

Knead until smooth, split in 1/2, rest 20 minutes

roll, cut, fill, fold



Our night was filled with Rook, homemade cheese cake, and some good laughs.

Happy New Year!!

Acreage Adventures

We've been lucky to have a few nice days while we are here visiting. The littles have enjoyed playing outside so much! Grampa has lots of nice mountains for them to climb from shoveling snow and plowing the driveway. They like to go on adventures and make their way around the yard, trudging through the deep snow in their winter gear. Because of the melting and freezing, some of the hills were slippery enough for them to slide down in just their snowpants!

 

 

My Mamma had a chicken who suddenly decided she wanted some chicks to care for. She sat on and successfully hatched three baby chicks. They are pretty stinkin' cute! I wish I was here when they would hide underneath her and peek out.

 

I put cute little curlers in Camilla's hair tonight and can't wait for those curly goldy locks of hers tomorrow morning. She had some fun with her brothers before bed time pulling them around Gramma's kitchen.



Bump Watch

I should probably be in bed. Joseph was awake from 2:00am onward. It was a rough night! Hyrum still has a nasty cough and I'm guessing by his sad little cries in his sleep that his throat might be sore. All of us adults have finally recovered from the flu and are enjoying holidays (which usually means staying up too late and eating lots of junk food). Anyways, it's not often I get fancied up for church, so I thought I'd take a quick shot of the growing bump to keep track.

 17 1/2 weeks and growing big!

Speaking of growing big, little Joseph is getting SO big! He loves toddling around the house, throwing and chasing balls, and has started saying "up" when he would like to be picked up. Sometimes I just wish he'd stop growing! I couldn't resist snapping a picture of him and his Auntie Emma today. They were dancing around the kitchen together and it was super cute!

G'Night!