Mud Pies

We have really enjoyed our week at the Acreage. Today Grampa took the kids to the sandbox and showed them how to build a town with rivers, roads, and bridges. They really enjoyed getting messy!

Fang

This guy has been doing some major teething. Considering he cut his eye teeth without me knowing, I'd say he's doing pretty good! He is such a happy guy!

Through my Sisters Lense

 Today we woke up to clouds. Joseph actually slept past six and scarfed down a bowl of cereal before everyone got out of bed. He is an early riser and I'm pretty confident it's his hungry belly that wakes him each morning. My sister documented the day well with her camera, so I will let her pictures tell the story!

Camilla and Gramma mixed up some pancakes and Cami girl flipped them all. Pancakes are a real treat at Gramma's house!

 Finley enjoys interacting with everyone at the breakfast table while he sits in my old highchair.

 Gramma spent a few hours in the berry patch before the rain came. Since we got seven buckets yesterday we only got one today. She's made four batches of jam in the last two days and we are lucky enough to enjoy the fruits of her labour. 

 In the late afternoon we took the kids to the lake for a walk. Hyrum has been under the weather and stayed with Gramma so he could sleep off his fever. Camilla had to bring her own camera and be just like her Aunt.

 Despite the chilly weather the kids still removed their shoes and splashed their toes in the lake.

 Finley really enjoys being outside!

 It was spitting rain the whole time and he thought that was pretty funny.

 Joseph is a boy of endless energy and he ran and ran the entire time we were there.

Once we wore him out we headed home for chinese food!

Gramma's House

 With Daddy being away on young men's camp this week we decided to take a trip to the acreage. I love to get out of the city and enjoy the wide open spaces, fields and rolling hills. There is a particular spot in the drive where the mountains pop into view and I get giddy with excitement. It always feels so good to be home. Since getting here we have picked and enjoyed countless pails of raspberries and fresh garden produce. 

 This is an all too familiar sight to me. Gramma even gave Joseph the pot to lick out afterwards. He was pretty much in heaven!

Homemade popsicles on the back deck are always a treat too!

Sunday Snapshots

 When we have a few extra minutes on Sunday morning I like to gather the kids together for pictures. I love watching them interact and seeing the love between them. 

 Hyrum looks taller in this one because he had shoes on and Camilla was barefoot. They get asked if they are twins a lot.

Joseph's expression makes me laugh in this one because it really brings out his personality. He is such a funny kid! Happy Sunday!!

Fleeting

There has been a lot of musical beds going on at our house. Between Finley cutting two more teeth, a frequent bed wetter, a two year old who almost never sleeps in his own bed and a few nightmares here and there, I sometimes feel like I just go from one kid to the next all night long.  One night as I was making my way up the stairs to my bed in the dark I heard little feet run across the hall. By the time I made it to my bed my spot had already been taken and Mike and I had a good laugh.

Mornings always start early and being cheerful at 5:00am doesn't exactly come naturally to me. Some days are long and hard and I constantly find myself praying to see the world through my children's eyes. Trying to keep this perspective helps me when my little guy dumps a forty count box of sidewalk chalk in the middle of the sitting room so that he can turn the box over and use it to reach something I took away earlier. It's easy to become frustrated over the mess and miss the chance to commend him for his problem solving skills.

After much debate we ended up getting rid of our land line last week. And just when I was starting to feel sad about it, Joseph sealed the deal by throwing our home phone into the bath tub. As I picked it up water poured out of every nook and cranny. The display screen resembled a fish tank with water gently sloshing as I turned the phone from one angle to the next. I may or may not have cried, even though the phone has been disconnected for a week. Last week the DVD remote was thrown into the tub and I really should have known better. After night prayers Mr. Stannix looked at me with a twinkle in his tired eyes and said, "Well, at least I got the mawn lowed". And that pretty much sums up how tired we are these days.

But this afternoon while Mr. Stannix and I sat on a park bench listening to our children squeal with delight as they ran around the spray park we couldn't help but think that we are in a wonderful season of life.  A sleepless, messy, joy filled, fleeting season.  We won't always have sticky fingerprints, or art on our walls. That little girl won't always want to be cuddled after a bad dream. Joseph will not be sleeping in our bed forever. Hyrum won't always play and giggle like he hasn't a care in the world. And Finley won't be nursing for much longer. These moments are so precious, even though they are tough. And I hear it's usually the hardest things that are the most worthwhile in the end.

Auntie Cathy Visits

 Mike's Auntie Cathy was out visiting for the week and we had the privilege of getting together with some of the Stannix clan for dinner. The last time she came to visit we were heading off to Hawaii and the kids were out at the Acreage. The last time she saw Camilla was when she was just a few months old.

 Finley warmed right up to her and spent a good chunk of the night bouncing on her lap and talking to her. 

 Finley also got to visit with Uncle Mike, Auntie Chris and Nana. It was great to get together with everyone for a visit.

Mike lived with his Auntie Cathy for a short time when he was little, so they kind of have a special relationship. We got an awesome group picture that I will have to add later since it wasn't taken with my camera. It's always nice to get to know Mike's side of the family a little better! Thanks for the fun!

Over the River

This week brought on a spontaneous visit to the acreage with my cousins for some berry picking. The kids were thrilled to be with their little second cousins for the day. We got eight kids and three adults loaded up and ready to go early in the morning and drove out together. The kids liked mixing up the seating arrangements and swapping between vehicles. 

Since it's a bit of a drive from the city we took a snack break half way and somehow most of the kids ended up piled in the trunk of the van while they munched.

When we pulled up we found my Dad in the garden and my Mamma up in the berry patch. We ate a quick lunch and then went to work on the last few rows of raspberries. 

The little cousins enjoyed running around and munching on berries.

Finley had his afternoon nap on my back while I picked away. My Mom always ends up with three times more than me (probably because I eat so many).

The garden is so full and green. Everything is just about ready to harvest. They have rows and rows of potatoes, raspberries, saskatoons, carrots and so much more. I can't wait to go out and do some canning with my Mom.

The wagon was a bit hit with the kids! It's so fun to get together with the cousins! After six or so buckets of raspberries we decided to call it a day and said good-bye to the cousins.

The rest of the afternoon was filled with all kinds of exploring and hours in the sandbox. After dinner we raided the raspberry patch for dessert and headed in for baths and bedtime.

The next morning Camilla and Gramma made breakfast. Camilla mixed and flipped all of the pancakes and they were delish!

Then we spent the morning pulling rhubarb and picking berries while dark clouds rolled in and threatened rain.

Joseph is always talking about Grampa's quad and couldn't wait to get on it for a ride. When I told him it wasn't time yet he would say, "Me just checkin' it Mom". 

The kids chased grasshoppers all morning while Mom and I picked and my Dad weeded. Camilla named her grasshopper stinky and that funny thing sat on her finger for at least an hour.

Joseph alternated between helping Grampa push the wheelbarrow and diving into the patch to pick with Gramma. He really enjoyed eating the berries out of my bucket. When I told him he had to pick his own, he got his own bucket and still asked me to help him fill it. He did a lot more eating than picking. 

 

The kiddos each got an awesome pair of kid-sized work gloves from Great-Gramma Hudkins and enjoyed putting them to use at the Acreage. We enjoyed fresh picked baby potatoes, green beans and a garden salad for dinner. There is nothing better than mashed baby potatoes smothered in butter, salt, and pepper. It's like eating candy. Camilla had three plate fulls! Once our bellies were full we said our good-byes and headed home. As we left I rolled down the windows and everyone shouted good-bye while we drove out. My Gramma always stands out on the deck and waves us off with tears in her eyes. The drive home was nice and quiet. I admired the mountain views, enjoyed the twisty roads, and relished in the beauty of the canola fields.

My Brother's Wedding

 Today was my oldest brother's wedding. It was held at a quaint little venue in Sherwood park and kept to family and close friends. It was a nice intimate setting. We have known Kristin for a long time and our kids already call her Auntie. We are so glad that she is now officially part of our family!

 In between time we snapped some photos. Mr. Stannix was looking pretty handsome! We also snuck home to check on our kiddos and relieve our babysitter.

The reception was very simple and elegant.

My Mom and I

My Mom and her girls

My Sis and I

All of my siblings and significant others together!

Lazy Afternoons

This is how Finley and I spend the majority of our afternoons these days. 

Watching the kids bike back and forth on the front walk.