Johnston Canyon

 Our little family finally completed The Book of Mormon together after six years! We read almost nightly, which isn't always easy with young toddlers. There was a lot of "shushing" and trying moments, but it has been so rewarding to see the effect it has had on our littles. When we started, Camilla could hardly walk, and now she reads verses to us on her own! These years where the kids are little are so fleeting and quick. The kids have been looking forward to finishing for a week now. We celebrated by taking a trip to the mountains to spend the day together.

 After a rough morning (as in, I cried all my make-up off shortly after putting it on), these mountains were a welcomed sight. I love being surrounded by their strength and majestic beauty. The littles admired them as we drove, pointing out the different shapes, and asking about the snow on top.

 After a nice, relaxing drive, everyone was glad to get there! As we jumped out of the van, it started spitting rain. We threw on sweaters and hats and listened to Finley giggle as he ran on his tip-toes down the paved trail. 

 We knew it was an easy hike, but we weren't prepared for the crowds on the narrow pathway. Hyrum mapped out our course, and then we were off!

 The beginning was nice and easy, and we let the kids wander, reminding them once in a while to walk single file as crowds of people passed us in the opposite direction.

 When the trail became crazy, I threw Finley on my back for a bit.

 We reached the lower falls in pretty good time and everyone was pretty excited to check out the tunnel at the top.

 On the other side of the tunnel we got a close up of the falls. They were noisy! Some enjoyed them more than others. We admired them as we got misted with water.

 After a break and a snack we made our way back down. 

 Finley was pretty determined to walk and ended up with muddy knees and hands. He would have walked the whole way if we let him! People would smile and cheer him on as he toddled confidently down the trail.

 It was pretty late in the afternoon when we walked back, and most people had already gone. I enjoyed the peace and quiet with fewer crowds as we hiked down. 

 And oh, how fascinated this boy was with the trees! It's one of the five words he says pretty good!

 

 We happened upon a quiet little spot and took a long rest. 

 This guy was making some pretty awesome sound effects as he ran around with his endless energy. He finally settled upon this stump for a little rest moments before we took off again.

 After the long walk down, this little guy was happy to go back into the wrap again. As we buckled the kids back in the van, Joseph was still chanting, "Single file, single file, single file...." 

 I went home feeling much more at peace than when I left. After exploding with giggles, a few of the children fell asleep and the van went almost silent. Mr. Stannix and I held hands and drank in the view. It was just what we both needed after a tough morning. We've weathered many storms together, he and I, and even though this phase of life is sometimes hard, it is also so rewarding. We arrived home late, fed the kids, and tucked them each into bed. I am anticipating many more days spent in the mountains in the near future.

More on Johnston Canyon here.

Happy Friday

 

Chasing Rainbows

 I am floating on a boat in a calm, clear blue ocean, watching the fish and turtles pass beneath me. I hear a baby cry. I blink open my eyes and squint to see the clock. It's not quite 6:00am. Finley slept all night in his big bed for the first time (aside from falling out of bed just after I tucked in for the night). Although my body feels refreshed, dark circles still hang from my eyes. I scoop Finley from his bed for a morning cuddle and walk to the kitchen with Joseph tippy-toeing close behind, tickling his brother's toes. The sky is painted a dark shade of pink just over the roof tops as the sun wakes. It's a beautiful sight to wake up to.

Finley sits in his chair with a bottle while I simultaneously make rice krispie squares for Camilla's lunch and porridge for breakfast. The older two trickle into the kitchen one at a time to find their place at the table. Camilla bounces in with her new mamma made turtle in hand and gives me a giant hug. 

She had come home in tears the day before because they ran out of stuffed turtles for her book order and she was "the only one" who didn't get one. My heart broke for her because I knew how long she had been waiting. After they were all asleep I crocheted up a little surprise and left it on her pillow. She was tickled when she woke.

Hyrum walks her to the bus stop after a leisurely morning, and then we all wave when it drives by. The boys ask for special turtles of their own, and since I know how much love these mamma made toys receive, I get to work right away. They pick their colors and help me stuff and sew. All day long they play with their turtles in hand, and I get one hundred hugs for taking time for them.

 

 In the late morning I notice Finley blinking to stay awake. I snuggle him up on my shoulder and tuck him into his bed. He falls asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow and enjoys a quiet morning nap while the clouds blow in from the West. It's time to clean the kitchen and replenish our bread supply. I put some warm water, sugar and yeast into the bowl and let it sit for a few minutes while I cut some apple slices for the boys. They enjoy a quick show and a snack while I finish kneading the dough. As it rises on my counter I tidy bed rooms. Once I'm finished I stretch out on the couch and close my eyes for a few winks of sleep before Finley wakes.

 In the late afternoon dark clouds roll in, and thunder shakes our house. I am glad to be inside enjoying the warmth and the smell of fresh bread and cheese buns. I finish up the last of the dishes while Finley plays at my feet, matching lids to containers in the bottom drawer. There's a sense of peace and calm in our home that I breath in deeply. I love having my little one's close. The children make a blanket fort in one of the bedrooms and giggle together while the rain comes down and the thunder grumbles. I get a text from Daddy, he's going to be late tonight. I hardly have the energy to make dinner, and we're out of baby wipes, so a spontaneous trip to the grocery store is in order. 

On our way there we spot a rainbow stretched across the sky. I pull off on a side road and take a picture. Camilla excitedly exclaims, "There's gold at the end of that rainbow!" So we decide to go on a rainbow chase down some back country roads. We pass baby cows, a goat farm, and all kinds of interesting sights. The children "oooh" and "ahhh" out their window as they watch the scenery go by. I roll down the window and breath in the fresh air left after the storm. In and out. As we drive down the bumpy road, Finley opens his mouth and assumes the monotone bumpy-road-voice. I smile as I listen to his low voice, "AhhhhHHHhhhHH". On the way home the children tell me it's been the best day ever because they got to go chase rainbows AND get a cookie at the grocery store. We enjoy a late dinner and then I tuck everyone in for the night.

As I wipe down the counters a feeling of gratitude overwhelms me. Gratitude for our children, our home, and the many comforts we enjoy. Sometimes a nice drive down a back country road is all I need to center me and remind me of the important things in life. Our home is a refuge from the storms of the world, and I love that our children can feel safe and warm here.

Nice n' Easy

This week we transitioned Finley to his big boy bed! We still have a while before baby comes but we decided to put him in with Joseph now so that we don't have to worry about it later. It was kind of a quick decision. Mike was in the storage room and asked if I wanted him to bring up the bed. Once it was all set up I almost felt sad for a second. This little guy is growing up so quick! Joe was thrilled to share a room with him and they have been doing so great all week! 

Daddy volunteered to do bedtime on his first night in the big bed. Watching him with our littles always makes me feel grateful that I married such a great guy!

Fin was so happy to be in his new bed! I couldn't help but look at his chubby toes and toddler rolls. I can't believe how quickly this past year and a half have gone!

With a kiss and a hug, we pulled the door partly shut and waited. I expected it to be a long evening, but he proved us wrong! He got out one time and was gently lifted back to bed by Daddy. He fell asleep quickly and had a great night! This was by far our easiest toddler to transition over. Be still my mother heart...

Cake & Company

 We were blessed to spend our long weekend visiting with family. The rain hardly let up, alternating between pouring and light showers, but with such good company we cozied up indoors and enjoyed many good conversations. My Grandparents arrived Saturday night and my Aunt joined us on Sunday. 

 Joseph and Gramma became best buds for the weekend and enjoyed many snuggles! Sunday proved to be restful and snoring could be heard from a few as they warmed themselves in front of the fire place. Gramma and Grampa stayed late and graced us with stories about how they met, how Grampa proposed, and their life as newly weds.

 I was so busy soaking in everything that my camera sat idly by. I only managed a couple of photos and they were usually after the fact. Naomi and Arland made up a delicious german chocolate cake to celebrate Grampa and Arland's birthday's which are a week apart. 

I tried to sneak a picture of this guy napping after everyone left, but he woke up! This still pretty much sums up how we all felt after staying up too late to visit as much as we possibly could!

Family Swim

 We have recently discovered how quiet and great our little pool here is! Family swim times make it nice and afforable, and the littles love it! With all of the rain we've been getting this weekend the littles needed to get out of the house. Uncle Arland and Auntie Naomi are down visiting for the weekend and came along too! It was probably the best time I've ever had at the pool considering we had one adult per kid. Camilla and Hyrum swam their little hearts out in the big pool with Daddy and Uncle while Naomi and I enjoyed the kiddie pool and hot tub with the smaller two. It was nice to get out of the house and everyone had a lot of fun!

Blessed Rain

 As my head hit the pillow last night, the sky broke open and it started to pour. I fell asleep as I listened to the rhythmic sound of rain drops on the roof. I tucked the covers up to my chin and closed my eyes. I slept on and off as the wind blew and the rain fell, and woke to happy kids.

 My mother's day flowers are still alive and well on my kitchen table. They are a happy thing to see every morning. 

 Just before lunch the clouds rolled in and rain started to fall again. I stepped out on the deck to breath in the fresh smell. I thought of how happy Camilla would be running outside at lunch with her umbrella, and smiled.

 The earth soaked up the little droplets just as quickly as they fell.

 This guy was a hoot at snack time!

 I didn't get in as much baking as I would have liked today, but I did start some sour dough (wish me luck!) and read a few chapters of my novel. 

 The boys got along so great today! When the rain started they couldn't wait to go out and play.

 They jumped and laughed until they got cold!

 While I prepped dinner, Joseph kept Finley happy. The moment I got down on the floor to play with them Finley ran towards me so fast he about knocked me over. It always amuses me how much little boys like to wrestle. They are a little softer on their mamma, and I love kissing their faces as they jump all over me.

Snuggling my baby bump was a nice end to the day...

Joy in Simplicity

Lately I have found myself praying for joy on a daily bases.  I've been so caught up in the repetitiveness of laundry, cooking, cleaning, diaper changing and nose wiping that I have forgotten the whole purpose behind why I do these things. Instead of doing them out of love, I have found myself doing them grudgingly. I've been so focused on the tough parts of mothering and weighed down with feelings of guilt. I've always had a vision of who I wanted to be as a mother, and each day I find myself falling short. I've been trying to let go, to be more forgiving (of myself), and focus more on the simple things each day. I've been trying to find balance between who I am and being a mom.  It's taken a little while but I'm slowly rediscovering the joy of mothering amidst the mundane, every day tasks.

Is There Something on my Back by Caitlin Connolly

The early mornings are eased by the hugs and kisses on the cheek from my affectionate three year old. He is always found in our bed in the early morning nestled in next to me waiting for me to make breakfast. Some mornings he falls back to sleep as I rub his cold legs and scratch his back lightly.

I struggle for patience as we go through the morning routine, constantly prompting them from one task to the next. We giggle a bit around the breakfast table if everyone is in an agreeable mood. My little girly will give me a hug and call out "Good-bye, Mamma!" as she walks out the door to catch the bus. She has began affectionately calling me "mamma" just recently and it makes me smile.

 I have been trying to approach things with more humor. This isn't always easy, especially when you find the carpet (and a few toys) soaked, and the basement door wide open as the boys have a full on water fight with the hose (that isn't supposed to be turned on at 8:00am). After feeling angry, I took a deep breath and got them to help me clean up the mess. I always find myself smiling as I close the door and watch them play.

Giving Things Up by Caitlin Connolly

 This morning I found joy in watching my littlest's face as he dumped the block bucket and picked it up over and over again. He was giggling with his brother as they threw blocks in the bucket together. It wasn't long before he put the bucket on his head and busted out some good belly laughs as he stumbled around the play room.

He's getting close to the "terrible two's" and becoming more mischievous by the day. Sometimes when trouble erupts I chuckle and remind myself about all of the things we've survived in the past (toys in the toilet, oil all over the kitchen floor, phones in the bath). So when I find him and half of the playroom covered in lotion, I can't help but roll my eyes and laugh at the grin on his face as lotion oozes between his toes. 

I have found great joy in slowing down and taking extra care using a soft, warm washcloth to wipe my toddler's hands and face. There is something about cupping a child's hand in mine that warms my heart and connects us together. I could have rushed to clean him up, but today I waited for the water to get nice and warm, and took care in wiping the watermelon juice off his cheeks. I've found that when I'm able to slow down and relish in the simplicity of things, the joy of mothering begins to swell again in my heart.

This whole week I have made a conscious effort to get down to their level when I speak to them or tell them important things. When they ask me questions I try to look them in the eye and smile before I respond. It gives me a few seconds to collect myself or work through frustrating feelings so that I can respond a little more rationally. I have tried to say "yes" more to the simple questions about what they'd like for snack, or where they'd like to go next. Responding with a smile increases the love in our home and usually helps them listen better, too!

 When I find myself working in the kitchen while my toddler weaves in and around my legs over and over, throwing my balance and testing my patience, I just go with it. Because when he looks up at me with his huge grin and snot bubbles hanging from his nose I can't help but let out a laugh. If I find myself feeling blah during the day, I try to laugh as much as I can.

When I let them, my kids help me to let go of the "serious" nature of being an adult and enjoy a really good laugh. Just the other day the kids started calling each other funny names at the dinner table. Usually I'd remind them about table manners, but today I let it go. "You're a turkey!" one would say. "Your a silly goose!" they would all laugh. And then our goofiest boy piped in, "And I'm a BUTT....A pain in the butt!" Mike and I looked at each other and burst out laughing, it couldn't be helped. If that boy can find any excuse to use a "potty" word, he will!

Mother Protecting by Caitlin Connolly

As the Summer approaches I have removed my watch and let the days go as we please. We still begin our bedtime routines fairly early, but if I don't have a watch to look at I am able to more fully enjoy the children. They like it when I'm more present instead of wondering when I can get to the dishes or have some time to myself.  My not so little girl has been picking out chapter books from the library, levels far above what she reads in class. She struggles through a few words, but for the most part does amazing. She comprehends what she is reading and loves the longer story lines. She's a lot of fun to tuck in lately and I'm loving her goofy side. It's so fun when she gets my jokes!

Recently I've discovered that mothers have many unseen talents such as Reaching under a folded blanket on the bed to find a lost library book, like I knew it was there the whole time. It really is simple things like this that help me feel satisfied as a mother.

Without fail, my oldest will always comes upstairs around 8:00 for a bed time snack, after I've tucked her in for the night. One night she came up with a tummy ache and said, "I prayed about it and Heavenly Father said I need to eat an apple." She was so worried about throwing up on this particular night that she asked her Daddy for a priesthood blessing before tucking back into her bed for the night. I love the way my children teach me about faith each day.

She Stood with her Burdens Placed Beneath her Feet by Caitlin Connolly

 Being a mother is definitely refining. It is a daily struggle to make it through with grace and poise.  But I know that this is the most important work that I will ever do. And if today didn't go quite as planned, I can always try again tomorrow.

"The demands on her were many and her tasks often repetitive and mundane, yet underneath it all was a beautiful serenity, a sense of being about God's work." 

 -D. Todd Christofferson