Sunday Mornings

This morning as I was chatting with Mr. Stannix in the bedroom I heard a knock at the door. Before answering I decided to finish up our morning chat and ignored it for a few minutes. Soon I began hearing multiple knocks as the children began beating down my bedroom door. "Yes?" I asked. Five different answers came in quick succession, practically on top of each other. "I need you to tie my tie!!" Exclaimed Hyrum. "I want my normal underwear!!" shouted a frustrated Finley. "I can't find my white shirt!" Joe chimed in. "Can I borrow a scarf?" added Camilla. Underneath it all was the background noise of Ollie knocking and loudly adding his own "Ahhhhahahhhahhhhh!" to the mix. I laughed out loud as I pulled open the door. Sunday mornings are never boring, that's for sure!

In Like a Lion

 This month has come in like a lion, true to the famous saying. I feel like it has been cold for so long! Whenever the warm sun pours through the windows in my house I bathe in it like a cat on a lazy afternoon. I can't wait for the weather to warm up a bit so that we can get outside. The mornings are so cold (-37 today) and the kids had more snow days than I'd like to count last month. They were lucky enough to be off school today for a different reason though and enjoyed relaxing and playing together. I find that they are so wiped by the time Friday rolls around. I spent the day side stepping an obstacle course in my hallway of laundry baskets that needed to be washed or folded and odds and ends that needed to be put away in the bedrooms. There was an overturned stool outside the bathroom door and the vacuum hose slithered the length of the hallway like a snake waiting to attack at any given moment. It takes skill to walk in a house full of children without tripping on toys or slicing your foot on bits of lego strewn all over the living room. The army men defending the couch managed to prick my bare feet (I hate socks) more times than I'd like to admit. The mudroom was carpeted with soggy snow gear and the sink kept piling with dishes. Bellies constantly need feeding and cookies are baked daily. By the time dinner rolls around I'm exhausted!

Crab apple raspberry syrup courtesy of Gramma

The Happiest

Sawyer is perhaps the happiest baby in the world. He is so content and easy going. This afternoon he blew spit bubbles until they covered his chin and then charmed us with those big open mouthed grins of his. We are all pretty smitten with him!

A Ray of Light

Today was a long, slow day, with everyone up and at 'em bright and early. Oliver has been on a sleep strike forever and even though February is the shortest month, the cold has made it feel long. 

Hyrum got a much needed hair cut yesterday, and asked if I'd leave it a bit longer on the top. He likes the long, messy look. 

The little boys played the day away and we all enjoyed the extra sunshine pouring through the windows! 

Camilla brought "Heidi" home from the library today and eagerly pulled it from her backpack to show me. She asked if I would read it to her before bed and it made me so excited! She's been craving extra attention lately and I can't wait to start this book with her tonight! 

The kids busted out their sweaters and runners after school and enjoyed playing on the patio with their nerf guns. The sunshine felt so good on our faces and made us all so excited for Spring. As I made dinner I felt super grateful to have healthy, happy children playing outside my kitchen window. 

While they played I made up a batch of Zucchini muffins from an extra ripe zucchini we still had from last year. I made sure to add some extra chocolate chips!

 

The littles came in tired from running around and ate two whole pans while they watched a show. Thankfully, they were still hungry by the time dinner rolled around.

Sawyer: Three Months

Sawyer is three months old and growing big! He is turning into quite the chunk and his cheeks get more kissable with each passing day. He has grown an extra chin and I keep finding extra rolls when I change his diaper. He is almost rolling already and likes to pretend to do sit ups when he's laying down. His giggles are delightful and he is pretty ticklish! Everytime I change him he giggles as I pull his arms out of their sleeves. This sound brings all of his older siblings running and they crowd around him with wide smiles as he delights us with giggles and coos. He is well loved and never short on snuggles. Six littles is starting to feel easier and I don't find myself counting kids as often anymore. We sure love you Mr. Sawyer!

Planting Peppers

This morning we woke to a beautiful sunrise! The nights have been exhausting lately with children appearing at my bedside all throughout the night. Some with bad dreams, others with tummy aches, and one who peed the bed. Some mornings it's hard to open my eyes and get out of bed.

I am really enjoying the extra light that creeps through our blinds early in the morning. The extra sun is so welcomed on these cold, Winter days. 

After Daddy and Nana left for Edmonton, I went to town to pick up dog food for Reese. Next door to the pet store is Mr. Stannix's office and I had to stop and admire the new banners that were put up last week! When the kids saw their last name on a sign Camilla exclaimed, "We're famous!" It was pretty hilarious. 

My dad invited us over for second breakfast and then we spent the majority of the afternoon visiting and going through seeds for the greenhouse and garden. We sorted all of the pepper seeds into categories according to taste and heat and then planned how many of each we would plant for the greenhouse this year. It was decided that we would plant LOTS because we really enjoy making salsa and pasta sauce. We then researched a bunch of different tomatoes online which we will be starting in a month or so inside. When the kids got home from school we planted a whole bunch of pepper plants! Camilla helped create the labels and the boys had fun getting dirty while we scooped dirt into the little pots. Oliver thought playing in the tub of water was the best part. He's going to have so much fun this Summer! While the boys were writing in their journals before bed Joe asked, "How do you spell 'peppers'?" I made sure to spell it nice and slow, "P...E...P-P..." Before I knew it both boys were giggling, "Mom said pee pee!" It was a rookie mistake and ended up getting them giggly enough that sleep came much later than it should have for them. I managed to be serious and remind them that it wasn't appropriate to speak that way, but as I turned to leave their room, a small smile formed on my lips, I couldn't help it.

A Quiet Sabbath

Today we enjoyed a slow, quiet Sabbath. 

As I sat on the couch next to Joe, I admired his freckled nose and boyish features. He is looking so grown up lately!

We've enjoyed an extended visit from Nana. Today she made her cinnamon biscuits for us to enjoy and I couldn't resist having mine with a cup of tea.

She is going home tomorrow, and the kids are going to miss her! They've had lots of special one on one time with Nana this week coloring, building lego and making colorful ice castles.

Mommy Daughter Date

Camilla and I were able to escape on a Mommy Daughter date this morning. We hit up a local coffee shop for caramel steamers and ended up getting them for free! 

Apparently it was national kindness day and we were the recipients of a random act of kindness. We enjoyed a nice little visit at a tiny round table while warming our hands on our cups. 

This girl is getting so big and I feel so blessed to be her Mom. She is so responsible and witty! She keeps us laughing!

I'm already looking forward to our next one on one outing!

Mr. Oliver was ready for his nap by the time I got home and asked to snuggle Sawyer for a few minutes while I read him his book. It was about the cutest darn thing I've ever seen! I love the way these two love each other already.

First Light

 The sun is coming up earlier each day and feeling it's warmth on a cold Winter's morning makes everything a little bit better. Joe looked so adorable on his way out the door this morning that I had to make him stop for a picture. He was wearing the hat I got in Costa Rica years ago and his smile and freckles were all too much for this mamma's heart! He is so full of energy and life and I just love him. After school the kids were pretty sure it was warm enough for sweaters and were excited to go outside and play! The sun was bright and energies were high! Before too long they were begging me to take pictures of them as they jumped off the front step. We had fun laughing together at the way each of the pictures turned out and the different poses they made. I'm so glad that they love being outside!

Cabin Fever

 It was not the warmest day by far, but it was still much warmer than it has been! I needed to get some fresh air today so I bundled up the two smallest of my littles and we took a short walk around the Acreage. It was a tad on the windy side and shortly after we stepped outside it started gently snowing. We didn't make it too far, but it was enough to clear my mind and wake up my sluggish body. February has been so cold and so hard for me this year and I can't wait for Spring just around the corner.