Snow Day

I think the best part about living here is all of the "snow days" we get in the Winter. The littles were pretty excited to be home from school today! I was able to sneak in a little bit of a study this morning and really enjoyed this article in the Ensign. As I read this quote tears stung my eyes as the Holy Ghost testified of the truth of his words. Even though we have some pretty crazy days around here and we are continually practicing the art of forgiveness, there is no better place to be!

"Though earthly families are far from perfect, they give God's children the best chance to be welcomed to the world with the only love on earth that comes close to what we felt in heaven - parental love. Families are also the best way to preserve and pass on moral virtues and true principles that are most likely to lead us back to God's presence." - Henry B. Eyring

Counting Down

Today we enjoyed a slow morning and big breakfast together as a family. Daddy has one more week left in Calgary, so the count down is on! It will be so nice to have him home for the holidays and working so close again.

After breakfast we put on semi-coordinating outfits and tried to snap a family picture for a Christmas card. It was a tad chilly outside and the kids did pretty good for the most part. It's always hard using a self timer with a family this size, but we did manage one or two okay pictures. With baby being late and so close to December, I haven't gotten around to half of the things I am usually able to do for Christmas...

We spent the afternoon watching movies with the kids and taking turns snuggling Sawyer. He's pretty cute!

Watching Mike hold our babies is probably one of my very favorite things. He's such a great Dad and I feel so lucky to have him! 

Our evening was spent soaking in the glow of the Christmas tree. The ornaments we brought back from Amsterdam make me so happy! I wish I had bought a bunch more. It was fun to reminisce about our time in Europe after the littles were in bed. I'd love to go back there one day!

Three Weeks

'Tis the season for Christmas sweaters! This little guy is three weeks old already. I can't believe how much he's growing and changing!

Sweet Dreams

I love when morning brings me a sleepy baby on my bed!

Sawyer's Photo Shoot

 My sister was in town this weekend and offered to take a few pictures of Sawyer for me. She is super talented with a camera and was able to get some amazing pictures that I will cherish forever! He slept through the chaos and noise in the house while we made use of the natural morning light and a nearby window. I picked up this little red handmade hat at a little shop in London last May and I've been dreaming of putting on a little baby ever since. I adore the way that these turned out, and probably posted way too many! We are kind of in love with this sixth babe of ours though!

Merry Unbirthday

 Today Nana, Uncle Mike and Auntie Chris drove out to visit. They came with a big surprise! Since we weren't able to get together for the kids birthdays this year, they decided to have one big birthday party for everyone. The kids were so excited about their gifts and blowing out all of the candles on their cake. We spent the afternoon playing with their new toys and visiting. Ollie really hammed it up when it was cake time and had us all laughing. We're so glad they came!

Visiting the Midwife

Today we ventured out to the midwife for our two week check-up. Sawyer weighed in at 8lb 3oz and Lisa was happy with his 11oz gain in just a little over a week and a half. He is healthy and well, sleeping and eating like a champ.

West Wind

Tonight brought a cold, raging Northwest wind. The kind that chills you to the bone when you listen to it gust into the side of the house. Windy nights are my very favorite, especially when I'm safe and warm inside. I tucked in the littles and cozied on the couch with hot chocolate and a warm hoodie. 

Finley got out of bed approximately nine times. "You forgot your good-night hug," he'd say, as a smile spread across his lips and his eyes blinked up at me sleepily. He had missed his afternoon nap and ended up crashing on the reclining chair shortly before dinner. This meant that he wasn't going to bed anytime soon. The next time he came out he said, "This hug is going to be the goodest squeeze hug yet!" He wrapped his arms around my neck and his body melted into mine. As he rested his head on my shoulder I decided that we need more Finley hugs around here.

When he finally went to bed I sat in the quiet and reflected on the evening. The boys were actually pleasant and agreeable tonight. Camilla and Hyrum helped the youngest two brush their teeth and get tucked into bed. Joe helped me with Sawyer and then we looked at a Where's Waldo book until it was time to tuck in. They were all tired from an evening out playing in the snow.

When the baby woke I scooped him from his crib and sat near the Christmas tree. He gazed sleepily at the lights on the tree until he needed to nurse again. Soon he nestled his face into my shoulder and drifted back to sleep. I savored the feeling of a baby in my arms again. I couldn't help but smell his sweet little head and kiss him a million times before snuggling him back into his crib. As the wind blew wildly outside, I made sure to place an extra blanket across his sleeping body. It was going to be a chilly night. I warmed my hands on my cup of hot chocolate as I began reading a favorite book. When I started nodding off I decided to call it a night.

Snow Day

After a terrible snow storm this weekend, we were informed last night that the buses would not be running today. We don't live terribly far from town, but I was quite happy to declare it a snow day and let the kids sleep in a little and enjoy the day at home! 

We took advantage of the slow morning and tried out a new recipe for gingerbread waffles. They tasted pretty yummy smothered in homemade fruit syrups. The littles gobbled up every last one of them.

I snapped a few pictures of Sawyer on his blanket. I can't believe how fast the week went! He has already grown and changed so much in such a short time!

As soon as breakfast was done and tummies were full, the kids bundled up in their snow gear and went outside. There was seriously so much snow! They couldn't wait to play and sled down the hill.

And of course a snow day wouldn't be complete without a little crafting. I found an online drawing tutorial for these cute little reindeer. Hyrum and Camilla were totally into it, Joe just wanted to play outside with somebody.

Sawyer enjoyed most of his day hanging out in the sling. He is kind of a snuggle bug and I get a lot more done when he's close and sleepy.

A chilly afternoon called for some Christmas baking (finally). We made a double batch of sugar cookies to ice and some snowball cookies (a favorite around here). It was fun to spend time with my girl in the kitchen!

Homebound

 The snow fell all night long. With pink eye and terrible roads we were home from stake conference in Red Deer. The morning started early and while the children colored and quietly played, I fiddled with the Christmas tree trying to fix the lights. After changing a couple of fuses, the lights flicked on. The children cheered and the Christmas spirit was alive and well again in the Stannix home. We spent the day cozied up inside, drinking hot chocolate with candy canes and watching movies.

Saying good-bye to Mr. Stannix tonight was the hardest yet. You'd think by now that I'd be used to him leaving on Sunday evenings, back to work in the big city. I think it was a combination of hormones and worrying about him traveling on the terrible roads that had me blubbering the entire time he packed up to leave. The plows hadn't been out yet and the snow hadn't stopped falling all day. I helped him load up the car and then stood on the back patio, arms folded across my chest for warmth, and waved him off as tears streamed down my cheeks.

I spent the rest of the night snuggling Sawyer and sitting by the tree that we had worked so hard on all weekend. We moved a few couches out into the big room so that we could enjoy the tree more fully!

It's starting to feel just a little bit more like home and I am so grateful for Mr. Stannix and the effort he put into creating this space for us this weekend.