Things I'm Loving

We are enjoying a nice, quiet week. Our calendar is mostly empty for June, other than Soccer once a week. I love being home and relaxing with the littles. We are anxiously awaiting Summer break to begin. There is something about sunshine and no schedules that excites me. 

This week I am loving the quiet afternoons as this guy naps for close to three hours. He's so sweet when he sleeps I can't help but check on him sometimes.

I've finished up a few projects, and started some more. This big owl will be for Fin's second birthday (which is still a long ways away).

 I am in love with the texture of these dishcloths. This was my first try and I can't wait to make more! There's something about working with my hook and yarn that feeds my soul. When I have time to work on something, everybody is happier!

With three months to go, I've been doing some baby prep. We still don't know if we're having a boy or a girl, but just in case it's a girl I made up this adorable cable stitch beanie. It worked up so quickly and I adore it.

Perfectly Content

There are days where I feel perfectly content as I pull the door closed after tucking the last of the littles into bed. It's not because my house is terribly clean, or everyone got along amazing, or anything out of the ordinary. Usually when I feel this way it's because I've completed a full day working with my hands and playing with the children.

My morning began with a visit to my midwife for a monthly check-up. Baby kicked and squirmed as my tummy was measured and checked. The heart beat was just over 130bpm, and they always let me listen for an extra minute or two. As my tummy grows and baby's kicks become stronger, this pregnancy is becoming more real. I left my appointment feeling satisfied with my midwife team and the way this pregnancy is progressing. I enjoyed a quiet drive home thinking about this little one's arrival and how quickly time is going by.

 Finley's nap was not nearly long enough today and he woke up crying, and wanting to be held. I wrapped him on my back and he quickly snuggled in and tucked his arms under his tummy. We both let out a contented sigh. Our breathing synchronized as I moved and swayed around the kitchen making my first batch of crusty artisan bread. The kitchen smelled amazing and the loaves crackled as they cooled on the counter. The boys and I enjoyed them warm with honey and I happily received their compliments.

The afternoon was spent mostly outside. The boys ran back and forth to the park where they enjoyed making new friends and playing on the swings. They were rosy cheeked, sweaty, and full of smiles. When Camilla came home we filled the pool and cooled off. They were surprised when I joined them, swim suit and all. We splashed, dipped our feet, sunned on the towels, dipped our feet again...

As I've looked back on our day through my camera's lens, I can't help but feel overwhelmed with joy and gratitude. We had hard moments today, but we also made some happy memories. As life rushes by, it's these little moments that I want to hang onto.

Sleep & Sun

 We snuck out to the Acreage this weekend to surprise my parents (since they had both hinted that we should come out). I mentioned my phone call with them to Mr. Stannix and his reply was, "Let's go!" I packed our bags in under ten minutes and only forgot jammies for the younger two! We arrived late Friday night and enjoyed good conversation and comfy beds. 

 The weather was beautiful! The kids were outside shortly after 7:00am on Saturday, except for Hyrum who slept until 9:00am!! By the early afternoon Joseph was begging me to lay down with him in his bed and fell asleep shortly after.

 Before long people started showing up to help finish up the greenhouse my Dad has been working on for the last little while. They needed extra hands to get the cover on and lots of friends showed up. We finished our afternoon with a big BBQ for those who came. It was a hot day, and lots of us ended up with sunny red faces.

I enjoyed listening to the birds and the quiet this weekend. There was no traffic, no commitments, no where to go. We worked hard, but it was also relaxing. The children played outside long after supper and came in for baths as the sun began to set on the horizon.

Diaper Wizard

I've been cloth diapering for over six years now and I love it! It has been a huge money saver for our family with up to two kids in diapers at one time. I only ever buy disposables for overnight, or out and about. A few weeks ago I got tired of Finley waking up soaking wet and took to the internet to do some research. After a great recommendation from a friend, and lots of reading I took the plunge and ordered this Wizard Duo. It finally arrived and I washed it up right away! This morning Finley woke up dry and happy after thirteen hours. I even let him eat his breakfast in it, just to test it to it's max. We did not have one leak! I totally did a happy dance and told Mike how awesome this diaper was at least a dozen times. It came with one shell and two awesome overnight inserts. I love the way the snaps are positioned as well as the trim insert. I am super excited to cut down on our use of disposables even more! 

 

Welcome June

 You have arrived as quiet as a whisper and as warm as a baby's touch. 

We are enjoying your beautiful sun rises and blue sky mornings. 

Your days are long and filled with the perfect combination of warmth and wind. 

The children greet the day early, eager to let the grass tickle their toes and the sun kiss their faces.

Our taste buds are awakened by the juicy strawberries that leave sticky fingers and red, stained faces as they are enjoyed.

The children run all day leaving trails of dress up clothes, balls, and bicycles behind them.

The baby has given up wearing all but his diaper and I squish and snuggle his soft baby skin whenever he climbs on my lap.

The bathwater is darker these days from grubby little toes that have ran about the yard all day.

Everyone goes to bed tired from the afternoons spent in your glory.

As the sun goes down, the clouds blow in, lined with orange and pink hues over the roof tops.

Your cool evenings are much welcomed after your warm days and we fall asleep just as the last rays of sun disappear into night.

My Girl

This morning before Camilla left for school I snapped a quick picture. It was one of those mornings where she just looked older. Time sometimes escapes me and I can't help but find myself wondering how that tiny, sweet girl grew up so fast! 

I am counting down the days until school is out and relishing in every Friday she has off from now until July. While I love my busy boys, I also love the sense of peace and calm this girl brings to our family and I miss her terribly when she's gone.

I love that she wants to be good. She recognizes when others need help and is very sensitive to how other people are feeling.

When I am having a tough mommy day, she rallies the troops to make a secret, hand-made surprise. Within minutes I am presented with beautiful cards filled with hearts, or a stick people family, or a happy home, with "Mom" scribbled on the outside.

She likes to sneak into my room before bed and leave notes on my pillow. The last one said "To Mommy. I knoe you are sleepy. But I wanted to sae good night I love you. I hope you have a good sleep. Ale see you in the morning. I love love love you. Love Camilla."

I admire her forgiving nature and the way she becomes the calm amongst a storm. One night during Family scriptures, Joe would not stop whining. My patience was thin, so I just kept reading. She gently pursuaded him to sit on her lap and hugged him until he calmed down. The sight of someone as big as herself sitting on her lap made a smile crack on my flustered face. I tearfully finished reading, wishing I had her talent of comforting those in need.

She still comes up pretty much every night for a snack after I've read to her and tucked her in. I will walk around the corner after doing dishes and jump ten feet in the air at her sneaky appearance in the kitchen. Her hopeful blue eyes look up at me and I can't help but give in. We sit at the round table, just the two of us and enjoy a little something while we whisper about her day, or school, or problems she's having. I've learned that it's not so much about the snack as it is about the time we share.

At night as I fall asleep I often wonder if I've been too hard on her during the day. Being the oldest, I have high expectations and sometimes push her too hard to be perfect. She is so patient with me and teaches me so much about being a mother. I often think that I learn far more from her sweet little spirit than she does from me in a day. She is such a blessing to our family!

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.