Going to the Zoo

 Today we took the kids to the zoo! We kept it a surprise all the way there and it drove them crazy trying to guess where we were going. Then Camilla saw a sign that said "zoo" and read it. "We're going to the zoo! I knew it! I can read. Sorry, I spoiled everything!" she exclaimed, practically in one breath. Mr. Stannix and I looked at each other and smiled. They were super excited when we got there and wanted to hit up the penguins first. The last time we were here, Joe was Fin's age. It was so fun to see Joseph enjoy the animals. Hyrum got so excited about everything. Mr. Stannix and I got a good chuckle when we stopped to look at the whooping crane and Hyrum exclaimed, "Look! A white flamingo!" After a couple of hours, our feet were sore and everyone was begging to go home. They all fell asleep before we left the city limits. It was definitely a day well spent!

In the Middle of the Night

This is a little glimps of what life looks like around here at 3:00am. I spend most of my night bouncing back and forth between the younger two. Joseph will have a bad dream and an hour later Finley will wake up with teething woes and scream for an hour. One night he got angry, slammed his door, and stomped back to his bed. I stood in the dark outside his door giggling quietly to myself while I listened to him tuck himself back into bed. Another night he stomped off to the corner of the room and sat on the floor. I also might have giggled a little bit as I watched him nod off. His eye lids were heavy and his head kept sliding against the wall as he fought to stay awake. I eventually scooped him up and tucked him back into bed. Finding him sleeping half off his bed is not an unusual thing. This kid keeps me laughing, even in the middle of the night!

Afternoon Art

 When I happened upon this scene today after putting Fin for his nap, I couldn't help but snap a picture. Everyone was whispering and getting along and it made my mother heart swell with joy. I sure love my little artists!

Thoughts on Baby

34 1/2 Weeks

This pregnancy has passed by much quicker than any of the others as I answer the demands of four other little people day and night. I have been blessed to have a healthy, strong body and haven't felt the discomforts of pregnancy until very recently. Suddenly bending to pick up toys, finding room for a bouncy toddler on my lap, and sleeping have become more difficult.

In this last month I find myself turning inward and becoming more withdrawn as the children buzz around me with excitement. While baby kicks and squirms from the inside, my toddler kicks and squirms all over me on the outside. In these moments I breath in deeply and resist the urge to push away.

My focus is slowly turning from the housework, social commitments, and outings to the upcoming birth. Throughout the day I find myself reflecting on both the overwhelming joy in anticipation of birth and the inevitable doubt in my ability to mother five children. FIVE! Some days the idea of five fills me with absolute joy, and other days I am left in tears wondering how I will manage.

As I slowly disconnect myself from the world around me, I have taken up a few crochet projects. The yarn running through my fingers as I dip the hook in and out of each stitch calms me while the happy chaos of our home erupts around me. I need these quiet moments to fill my soul and replenish my energy as the birth approaches.

I will be more mentally prepared this time, more immersed in the birthing process. I am more aware of my body and the way it is changing. The braxton hicks have begun, sometimes more painful than others. They come in waves and my body knows this rhythm well. In a few weeks they will become more real and harder to endure. I know this will all pass. I've done it five times before after all.

I can hardly wait to find out if baby is a boy or a girl! Camilla has taken to calling the baby "she" in hopes that it will make her dreams of having a little sister come true. I have been packing the hospital bag little by little and added the little newborn outfits the other day. The anticipation of cuddling something so tiny again makes me giddy. I can't wait to touch that soft baby skin and count fingers and toes.

Summer Sun

 It's happening already. The days are getting shorter, the sun is setting sooner. The littles are beginning to miss their earlier bed times. They'd tell you otherwise, but a mother can tell when her children are a bit on the tired side. Instead of spending all day outside playing, I have instituted nap time again (perhaps more for me than them). It's been a rough couple of days with a tired, cranky preschooler and a toddler who has suddenly decided to protest his afternoon naps. I finish my days completely exhausted, and wonder how I'm going to wake up with enough energy to do it all again the next day. 

After spending the morning tearing apart our washing machine (again), I decided to take the littles to the spray park for a couple of hours. We stopped for timbits on our way and enjoyed them on our picnic blanket between play. We were all happy to be out of the house! Their energy levels were high and laughter was non-stop. I sat on a blanket in the shade of a tree soaking it all in. Finley ran back and forth from the fence line to me, giggling as the grass tickled his little toes. Hyrum's loud bursts of laughter could be heard across the park, bubbling right up from his belly. Camilla danced through the water with a smile as bright as the sun. Joseph ran and ran alternating between his older siblings and his little brother. We had a nice snuggle on the blanket when he got cold. 

We all went home feeling refreshed. Finley fell asleep right away after I snuggled him into his bed and Joseph napped on the couch mid-afternoon. I cleaned a bathroom and tidied a few things and then took to my book and ignored the rest of the mess. At this point I am trying to find balance between house work, and taking time to put my feet up and feel the baby tumble around inside of me. Resting too much is simply not an option with this many littles depending on me for food, nurturing, and attention, so I take it in small amounts throughout the day. Today, the spray park served as a wonderful rest and so many memories were made!

 

Canning with Mom

This week the littles and I ventured out to the Acreage for a couple of days. It's always sad leaving Daddy behind, but he had a few late nights at work anyways, so it kind of worked out! I packed enough for an over-nighter, but we ended up extending our stay much to the children's delight. The drive out was a little bit chaotic for the first little while until Tucker fell asleep. We stopped twice for potty breaks (shortly after everyone settled in for naps it seemed). I armed myself with some travel candy in the pocket on my door to help me endure! Tucker kept farting in his sleep, causing Joe to sniff the air, scrunch his nose, and say, "Mom....I smell somethin'...." I wasn't about to roll down the window and wake Finley though, so we all covered our noses with our shirts and pressed on. I had to silently laugh as we drove. 

Our first morning there, we woke bright and early to get started on the quickly ripening peaches. My Mom had just canned a bunch with my sister the day before, then she helped me, and had a couple cases of her own to do too. 

I appreciated her taking the time to teach us her canning ways (and I know my littles will appreciate opening these in the middle of Winter)! As we peeled and sliced peaches, the littles buzzed through the kitchen eating bowl fulls. 

With our family being so big, I did mine in bigger jars so it took a little less time. We had a good system down for filling and putting on the lids and then my Mom taught me about the pressure canner.

 The rain held off in the afternoon just long enough for us to get to the berry patch and fill three or four buckets. 

Finley started out picking them one at a time and eating them, and then he thought it was better to eat the raspberries by the fist full from my bucket. I'm sure that's the reason my pails weren't nearly as full as my Mamma's!

I spent a little bit of time checking out the produce in the greenhouse. This is their first year growing in it, and everything looks amazing! The cucumbers are coming, and the tomatoes are big and fat. My Dad's got a pretty sweet watering system going too.

 The kids love having the extra space to run and play at the acreage. I hardly saw the older two the whole time we were there, unless they needed their tummies filled. The boys would come in from outside with sand covered shoes and hands full of worms from the garden. "Those belong outside," I would say, as they placed them on the floor to pull their shoes off. "Awww. Mommmmm,"

 My Mom sent us home with a few cases of canned peaches and a bunch of berries. It all tastes so much better than the stuff you get from a store!

 As I drove home I smiled at my hands stained orange and red from a day well spent!

Quiet Time

When quiet time accidentally turns into nap time....

Getting Out

My little guys have pretty much been up with the sun every day this week. We had a pretty rough morning with such an early start. I fed them breakfast, looked at my crumb filled kitchen through tears and decided that curling my hair might make me feel a little better.  By the time 8:30am rolled around I couldn't stand the arguing any more! Everybody was irritable and deaf to my pleas to stop fighting and do their chores. I decided that getting out of the house was my only other option. I called the children to get their shoes on, loaded Fin in the stroller, packed some raspberry muffins, and put the leash on the dog. 

 My mood was lifted by the wind in my hair, the beautiful flowers along the way, and Finley's giggles.

We walked towards the trail and kept walking until we felt better. We made it all the way to a favorite park and spent the rest of the morning playing. 

They slid down the slide over and over again as the sun kissed their cheeks and the sand warmed their bare toes.

This guy enjoyed a little more independence!

We all went home feeling much more agreeable then when we left. I felt more at ease and able to tackle my daily tasks and the kids got along much better in the afternoon. Sometimes getting out of the house is all it takes!

Rainy Day Play

 We fell asleep last night to the sound of rain and thunder. I layed their in silence, counting the seconds between thunder and lightning, wondering how long it would be before I'd hear one of the children pitter-patter their feet into our room. Surprisingly, they all slept through (the little boys even slept until 7:30)! Miracles happen people! 

The rain was still falling when I woke and I was greeted by happy children. A part of me was glad for the rain. After a busy couple of days I was looking forward to spending a quiet day at home with my littles. I spent the morning throwing laundry through our newly fixed washer while the children quietly played. I took advantage of the extra tidy basement and vacuumed with Finley's help. It always takes twice as long, but his big grins make it worth it! I also chuckled when he snuggled up to Tucker and gave him some loves. He always says, "Dood boooo-ey...." (good boy) when Tucker sits nice. It's the sweetest thing to listen to.

 A rainy day wouldn't be complete without a quick project!

 In the late afternoon, when the rain let up, we all walked up the street to pick up some fresh farm eggs. It rained pretty good on the way back and Finley was tickled. "Nain! It's nainin'!" He would repeat as he grinned at the sky and let the rain fall on his soft little cheeks.

 I snuck a picture of these two washing their dino's in the sink. I love rainy days for the imagination and play that happens.

 While I cooked dinner, Finley hung out on the stairs anxiously awaiting Daddy's arrival. When he heard the garage door open he got so excited!

The older two got the giggles super bad at the dinner table. It took everything in me to let them keep going. As bedtime approached, the sun came out for the first time all day. When their little friends came by and asked if they could play, I let them run to the park for some fresh air and sunshine. They played on the swings and jumped in puddles as the sun dipped behind the rooftops. This is what Summer time is for!

Bed Head

Somebody woke up with some pretty awesome bed head this morning!!