Berry Time

We headed back to the Acreage again this afternoon. We've done this drive so many times already this Summer it seems, but the extra space to run and play is always worth it! We got there just in time to help Gramma finish picking a few rows of raspberries. 

Oliver would stand beside my mom and pick them out of her bucket as fast as she filled it.

It's always so peaceful in the berry patch, even with children running up and down the rows! I think we got three buckets by the time we finished!

Oliver giggled while he ran up and down the potatoes that were almost as tall as he was.

While I was picking raspberries with Mom, the boys helped Grampa pick the nanking cherries. We all wandered over there after and helped. We hardly got all of them, but got a good haul! My Mom will probably make them into delicious syrup!

We also checked out how big the carrots were getting and picked enough for a snack.

Grampa's greenhouse is starting to look like a jungle and it's pretty incredible to see the veggies it's producing! 

I whipped up a batch of my favorite raspberry streusel muffins and all twenty-four of them were gone before the night was up!

We are all looking forward to when Daddy joins us this weekend and we get to take our new boat for a spin! The littles can hardly wait!

Wing Night

We sent a few kids home with Gramma and Grampa after the mini-reunion in Edmonton this weekend. We found ourselves with only two kids and decided to go out for wings tonight. I am pretty sure Joe ate like 14 all to himself. Judging by the look on his face, I'd say he enjoyed them!

The Present

I can't believe we are half way through July already! I'm not sure how it's possible to dream of fall decor and a cinnamon/clove scented home and at the same time still mourn the quick passing of Summer. But that's where I'm at right now. Looking forward to the next season while feeling a tiny bit sad about how fast this Summer is going. As with every Summer, I started out with grand ideas and big plans that have kind of gotten lost along the way. Sometimes I can get pretty uptight and stressed when things don't go according to plan, but having five littles has (mostly) helped change that! 

 

This morning everyone woke up super cranky. There was more fighting and poking than I'd like to admit and I couldn't help but thinking that this is not how Summer is supposed to go! Everyone was tired and touchy and easily set off and after the tenth fight erupted I spontaneously told everyone to get dressed and load up in the van. I had been eyeing the canola fields for a few weeks now and I knew a slow drive on some back country roads would ease the tension and give us something to do. The kids pointed out the yellow fields in the distance as the views from hill tops allowed us and when we hit a cross roads they would call out which direction to turn. 

We finally found a nice little secluded field with no homes in view and no fences surrounding it. We made sure to tread carefully and be respectful as we ventured a step or two only into the field to snap a few pictures. The high morning sun made it difficult to get good pictures and while the children squinted and willed their eyes towards the camera I snapped away like a mad lady. Out of the gazillion photo's I took, we managed a few keepers, and drove home with grateful hearts and a fresh perspective. 

When we arrived home one of the boys threw his arms around me and said, "This is a happy morning, isn't it mom? I'm having a good day." I hugged him back and smiled. While I hadn't quite forgotten the chaos of the morning, he had already let go of those emotions and moved on to a happier place. There's always so much to learn from children, like how they live in the present and soak up all of the good in each day.  

Sometimes as adults we get in too much of a hurry and we forget to slow down and savor the present. We get so wrapped up on the stresses of life that we don't notice the toddler giggling while an orange is being peeled in front of him. Or the water melon juice dripping off a preschoolers chin and elbows as he grins with sheer delight at the taste. I want so badly to always remember the little boy who walks into the kitchen first thing each morning and wraps his arms around me before sitting down to breakfast. The little boy who refuses to smile and look at the camera and instead makes goofy faces. These are the little things that make life worth while and ease the pain during difficult times.

 These littles of mine are soaking up Summer in all it's glory and enjoying each day to the fullest. We haven't done anything spectacular, but every little thing we have done has meant so much to them. They have so enjoyed their friends, jumping on trampolines with soap and water, adventuring in the mountains, hitting up the spray park, and biking around town. It doesn't seem like much, but to them, it's everything.

The other day as we stood in line at Coscto a sweet lady who had been behind us watching the boys poke each other, the toddler squeal to be free, and one child climb in and out of the bottom of the cart for quite some time said, "You seem way too relaxed to have five kids!" I smiled and laughed a little as the kids helped me begin unloading the groceries, "I guess I've been doing this for a while..." We made small talk for the next few minutes until it was time to pay and then we bid farewell. I've thought a lot about that moment though, and just how much I've learned in the last nine years. It's changed the way I've responded to things lately. I've made a conscious effort to be more light hearted, to laugh more, and to be more present.  I loved when Fin looked wide-eyed and confused as I giggled uncontrollably at a new library book I'd read him before bed. "Why you laughin' so much, Mom?" he asked. "Because I'm happy!" Sometimes all we need is a fresh perspective and a tiny reminder about what's really important.

Little Lamb

Having sick kiddos for the last few days has made for lots of snuggles on the couch and extra time to crochet. I decided to purchase a pattern for a project that I've always wanted to do. I had to teach myself the puff stitch and concentrate pretty hard at first to get everything right. It was a little bit challenging, but exciting at the same time! Fin and Ollie stayed up until past 10pm last night thanks to all of the extra sleep they got. I was glad when Ollie's fever broke and he started moving around more.

 I managed to finish up all of the pieces before bed last night and couldn't wait to sew it all together this morning! The little lamb turned out just as cute as I was hoping it would! I'm saving it for new babe in November.

We had a relatively quiet afternoon. The older three went to a friends house and jumped on the trampoline with bubbles all afternoon while I baked up a few dozen chocolate chip banana muffins.

 It's so nice to have everyone on the mend again!

House of Sickies

The Pukes

The day began with a puking child. All of our fun plans of hitting up the library for new books and checking out some parks were put on hold. We stuck around home, cooled off in the backyard sprinklers and hung out in the kiddie pool. It made for a quiet, slow day. By the time the evening had rolled around another victim was claimed. I spent the night snuggling two sick boys and struggling to keep my sanity! What a way to start the week!

Afternoon Bike Rides

 A few days ago we spontaneously got the bikes out and decided to ride all the way to the spray park. We've made it to DQ before, so I knew we'd be able to do it! We had already been to Costco and back and loaded up with some pretty great snacks.

We had a big chat before taking off about bike safety, being good listeners, and sticking together. With Daddy being away at young men's camp I was on my own, so I made Camilla in charge of staying in the back and keeping everyone together. Everyone was on their best behavior the entire way there and I was super grateful! 

The kids were so happy when we got there! It was a super hot day and the water felt great! Oliver was in his glory!

 

 We spent a good couple hours at the spray park keeping cool and eating snacks. When the littles were getting tired we loaded up and made our way home. Everybody was pretty played out and we took lots of breaks on the way back. As we biked the littles began fighting, pretending to crash into each other, and sticking their tongues out at each other. Camilla was in tears and wishing aloud that she didn't have any brothers. Finally I had to stop our little biker gang for a chat. As we got going again an older couple biked by. The lady slowed down and said to Camilla, "I had a brother too, I know what it's like..." Camilla quickly responded, "Yeah, but did you have FOUR of them?!" We were all pretty happy when home came into view...

Bright and Sunny

We woke up to the most beautiful blue skies this morning! I certainly feel more productive at 6:00am when the sunshine is pouring through my front windows. Oliver and I sat at the table for a little while whispering over our cereal bowls and waiting for the other kids to wake. The older three actually slept until 7:45am. Miracles do happen. 

The little guy that I watch showed up bright and early and was happy to play with the boys and see the puppy. Our morning went by relatively slow in comparison to all of the things I was getting accomplished. With Daddy gone to young men's camp we've had a lot of lazy meals, so the kitchen has stayed relatively clean. I threw in a few loads of laundry, tidied the upstairs bedrooms, and wiped down the counter tops while everyone played happily.

The sunshine called us outside in the early morning and we enjoyed some time playing at the park. Despite the early hour, it was already unbearably hot outside and the littles didn't want to stay and play very long. We soon made our way home for homemade popsicles and cold glasses of water!

This bump just keeps on growing and I am so glad to feel constant movement. We are almost at the 23 week mark now and time is flying by! The kids have all felt the baby kick and wiggle and it's so fun to see their faces light up each time!

This is my current view as I type and it makes me so happy! The littles and I got up to some crafting this afternoon while the heat trapped us inside (thank goodness for AC). Camilla and I found the idea on pinterest and it looked relatively easy so we decided to give it a shot. I wasn't sure what to use for the circles, but I ended up cutting potatoes in half to stamp the paint on the paper. Everyone liked it so much that they had to make two. It was a good refresher on shapes and colors for the really little guys and practically mess free!

I currently have two littles in my bed thanks to the crazy wind outside. They have sunk themselves deep down under my duvet and quilt and don't look like they're going anywhere for the rest of the night. While I tucked in the little boys earlier this evening, I could hear the older three sneakily tidying up the basement. They made quite the transformation in the boys shared room and then decided to move onto the toy room. I rubbed Fin's back and listened while a smile formed on my face. Camilla gave each of the boys a job and worked right along side them with speed in order to accomplish the task before I finished tucking in the little guys. I waited a few extra minutes and then snuck past them into the laundry room to switch a load. I was able to get back upstairs unnoticed and tidy up the rest of the kitchen. Before long, Joe came up and grabbed my hand to lead me downstairs. They did such an amazing job and it was such a blessing since I had a headache and really wanted to go to bed early tonight. I love it when my children give service without guidance. It made my heart swell with joy!

Motherhood Right Now

It's been a while since I've sat and wrote a nice, long blog post. I fall asleep at night as thoughts from the day swim through my head, complete with descriptive words and humor, and if I wasn't so tired I would get up and write them all down. So much happens each day and I've been struggling to even capture a glimpse of it on this dear blog, and sometimes it makes me sad because these littles are growing up so fast and do such hilarious things! With Summer in full swing, no school, and less activities, it's been a little bit easier to sit and catch up. So here's a little glimpse of what motherhood looks like right now.

Our days typically start before 6:00am. Some mornings lately I've found myself awake before any of the children, wishing I could get back to sleep as thoughts of this pregnancy, doubts about my capacity, and worries about my mothering creep into my head. Oliver is usually the first to wake and lies on the floor in front of his door kicking it with his heel every few minutes and shouting, "Mom!" until I open it. After I've made him some breakfast, the others saunter sleepily into the kitchen rubbing tired eyes. At least once a week I put a pot on the stove and fill it with sugar and water to boil for syrup. Some mornings I pull it off the burner when it's done, add a splash of vanilla, and then sneak back under my covers for a few extra minutes while the littles happily play downstairs. Pancakes are a favorite around here and a few of the older kids know how to get half of the ingredients ready in a big bowl so that all I have to do is add the milk and eggs. Some mornings I have to put up with a certain boy wishing aloud that he had a different mother. I try to remind myself that it's his stomach talking and all will be well shortly after breakfast.

I always try to get a little baking done in the mornings or early afternoons. With our microwave being busted I've resorted to the old fashioned way of melting my butter in a pot on the stove. One day as I was trying to break up lumps of brown sugar in the cookie dough I realized that the lumps were actually chocolate chips and muttered aloud, "Addie...you're crazy." Then I thought to myself that I must be crazy because I was actually talking to myself out loud. This is a good example of how tired I've been lately I guess.

The little boys keep me on my toes with their shenanigans. Some days it's really hard to be the patient mom I always thought I'd be. A few weeks ago the two little boys decided to bring a whole rubber boot filled with pea gravel home from the park. When I asked them to take it back they went around the corner and dumped it on the driveway. I might have used the word "unacceptable" that earned me a nasty glance from a neighbor a few doors down who was out working in his yard. We got the little broom and dust pan and swept them all back into the boot and then I made them take it back to the park to dump it. Those little rocks are the bane of my existence and I often find handfuls of them in my entry way after a full day of the kids coming in and out from the park. These tiny rocks hide in their shoes, up their pant legs, and in their pockets, and somehow make their way to my house. They also love when Daddy gets home and plays with them! One day while they were in the middle of a light saber war, Joe and Daddy were talking about something and Joe said, "Except, Jedi's don't have whiskers." I wish I could remember the background to the story, but that line made me laugh so much!

My toddler is growing up way too fast and loves to explore and try new things. He seems to think that markers are great lipstick and always sports a color or two to the grocery store. Climbing up to the tall seats at the island is one of his new favorite things, though it makes me nervous. And if he could spend all day outside, he would! One night while I made dinner I heard the two youngest boys laughing super hard in the corner. I went over to find them putting pieces of paper down the vent and laughing hysterically when the AC blew them back up. Those little belly laughs are so contagious and you just help but laugh right along. Despite his crazy side, he is the cutest kid ever and I often can't get enough of his wispy toddler hair and cheesy grins. I joke that he's the reason we're having another one, but there's definitely some truth to it! He melts my heart when he wraps his arms around my neck, runs his fingers through my hair at bed time, or gives me a big wet smooch on the lips.

With the kids getting a little bit older and each of them being in just one activity I find myself feeling like a taxi driver quite often already. One day I had so many errands to run and activities to get to that by the end of the day I had buckled and unbuckled the children at least ten times! It was insanity. As I drove Camilla to gymnastics late afternoon I found myself raising my voice at the boys in the backseat as they pummeled each other. It wasn't until I stopped at a red light and noticed the guy next to me laughing that I realized the sunroof was open. I pulled away red faced, and flashed my angry eyes at the boys in the backseat as they continued to elbow and poke each other relentlessly.

Living in a house full of boys also means that I've sat on my fair share of wet toilet seats. I am constantly reminding them to put up (or down) the toilet seat it seems. As I've spent the last month or so wiping up sprinkles of pee, or puddles around the toilet, or witnessing a sleepy boy pee in and all around the garbage can in the bathroom right next to the toilet (on more than one occasion), I've been exhausted. On the plus side, my bathroom gets cleaned a lot more than a typical bathroom might be.

After dinner they often run to the park for a little while to play. With the warm weather and sunshine I let them stay out a little later than usual to play with their friends. Baths are almost a necessity every night to wash black feet and sticky faces. Then we read scriptures and tuck in for the night. I start with Ollie who requests his "bus book" from London. We read, tickle, hug and kiss and then I close his door. Next, I move on to Finley who picks out practically the same book every night. When we've read it too many times I hide it and introduce a new one that gets read for a few weeks straight until he has it memorized. Then I move onto the boys downstairs who have been super tough to get to bed these days. One night as I tucked in Joe he said, "Mommy! You grew new freckles on your cheeks!" Thanks to Daddy, he believes that you get a new freckle each time that you laugh. I took it as a compliment and kissed his forehead. Hyrum likes to tell me about his day and then as soon as I leave the two of them fool around for hours on end until they finally fall asleep or I move one of them upstairs. While I'm busy doing all of that, Camilla hangs out on her bed writing in her journal or reading a book until I finally make it to her. We chat and giggle as Reese runs crazily in and out of her room with her squeaky toy. When Daddy is home he helps read stories to Fin and wrestle the big boys into bed. They extra love Daddy tickles before bed and often go down much easier when he's here. And while the bedtime routine sometimes stretches over hours of time, it is (usually) one of my favorite times of the day. I love sharing tender moments with the children, hearing about their day, smoothing out their worries, and kissing their faces. It won't be long before they are older and maybe won't want to be tucked in every night. So I'll cherish it while I can.

When the bedtime routine is complete I walk out to the living room and examine the damage from the day. Chip crumbs line my couch, a giant pile of laundry is on the other couch waiting to be folded, toys are scattered all over the place, and I often don't know where to begin.  So I start with one thing and move to the next, or I wipe the crumbs off the couch and pick up my crochet project and leave the mess for another day. There is typically only one area of my house that looks completely clean at one time, and I'm learning to be okay with that.

This mothering gig is tough and some days it's easy to get caught up in comparison or feeling "woe is me". There are for sure nights when I cry myself to sleep after getting out of bed five times before midnight to soothe a child with a cough and split lip, wondering all the while if I have what it takes to do this. We all have hard days, or weeks.  But sometimes there's those moments where things just click into place, and everyone gets along for a little while, chore charts get done, hands are willing to help and it all somehow seems worth it. While I like to remember the tough stuff, the terrible two's, and the chaotic, I also treasure the joy. It's there if you look closely, even though the days are long.

"The joy in motherhood comes in moments. There will be hard times and frustrating times, but amid the challenges there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction." -M. Russell Ballard

Camilla Turns Nine

 It's so crazy to me to think that we have a little girl who is NINE! Time goes by far too quickly. We are so happy to be celebrating our girl today! We went out this afternoon and got slurpees from 7-11 who is also celebrating a birthday by giving slurpees away for free. We took our slurpees to the park and played for an hour or so until everyone was too hot. I loved sitting on the shady bench and pondering all of the things that make this girl who she is.

 Camilla is a special little girl and I feel so privileged to be her mother. She is wise beyond her years and extremely helpful. She is kind and patient with her little brothers. She is witty and full of quick responses and hilarious jokes. Camilla brings sunshine to every day and is always conscious of other people's feelings. 

 She is just the right amount of careful mixed with adventure and makes life so much fun! While she enjoys a little bit of spontaneity, she also leads a very organized life where everything in her room has a place and her bed is always made. She gladly stayed up the other night to organize my pantry and loved finding new homes for everything we lugged out. She loves to create and color and is often found at my kitchen table with a box of markers and paper. She is crazy responsible for a girl her age and very trustworthy. Right now she is one of the only one's who actually finishes her chore chart (bonus's and all). 

She loves to set goals and reach for the stars. I know that her ambitions and dreams are going to take her somewhere pretty great one day! My mamma heart can hardly handle how quickly she is growing up and the fact that we are pretty much halfway to 18 already! We are all so lucky to have her! Happy birthday beautiful girl!