Sawyer: Four Months

Sawyer is FOUR months old! He is giggly and so aware of everything around him. He is still sleeping like a champ and letting mommy get some rest at night. He can roll from his tummy to his back and kicks himself in a 360 turn when he plays on the floor. He likes to be entertained now and isn't content to just lay around anymore. He enjoys his saucer and adores when his siblings come and play with him. Ollie frequently covers him in kisses and talks to him in a sweet high-pitched voice. He enjoys peek-a-boo and being surprised. He is so easy going and easy to please. I often carry him around in the sling or the wrap when I'm doing house work. He loves to be held and loves a good snuggle session. He has found his toes (one of my favorite milestones) and I love watching him grab his feet while he plays on the floor. Happy four months Sawyer bean!!

Happy Chaos

Today brought an early morning trip to town for groceries. Sometimes taking three boys is a breeze, other days it is not. Yesterday Gramma picked up a new kid sized wheel barrow for the little boys. They had so much fun helping Grampa clean out the chicken coop and wheel the straw up to the big garden to compost. After lunch I noticed a smudge of pizza sauce on Sawyers head as I nursed. I smiled as I remembered Ollie planting a big smooch on his forehead just after lunch. The snow is still melting and there is water everywhere! We go through pants like crazy around here these days. This afternoon I looked out the kitchen window and noticed Ollie sitting in a puddle. He had slipped on the ice and fell and wasn't sure how to get up. Most of our snacks have been enjoyed out on the deck so that we can soak up as much of the sun as possible! 

After dinner the home was buzzing with noise as Camilla practiced her piano, somebody else was obnoxiously playing a kazoo, and dishes were clunking in the sink while the preschooler stood on a chair and rinsed them. Ollie screamed in annoyance at an older sibling and one of the littles was still at the table scarfing down seconds of dinner. Mike and I laughed as we tried to talk over the noise! 

When everything finally calmed down, there was water all over the kitchen which made me wonder if it was worth it to let the preschooler rinse the dishes. Luckily I've done this a few times and had put down a towel in anticipation before he even began. We let the kids play outside a little bit later than usual to enjoy a few minutes of peace before the chaos of bedtime ensued. 

Recorder Concert

Today was sunny and warm! I made a batch of my mamma's oatmeal cookies in the morning to snack on all day. Sawyer took a nice, long morning nap like he has been lately, allowing me to get lots of things done! In the afternoon Mr. Stannix and I went to the school to hear Camilla's recorder concert. At the end they had all of the grade 4's and 5's play a song on the recorder together and while they did great, my ears were not feeling so hot at the end. Ha! It ended shortly before school was done for the day. As the kids filed out of the gym I was able to tell my big three that I would take them home after school. We stopped at DQ for a box of dilly bars and brought some to Daddy's office to share. Fin, Ollie, Gramma and Grampa and I all enjoyed ours out on the warm deck when I got home. The kids played, ate dinner and then we were all back to the school for parent teacher interviews. All three big kids are doing great in school!

Mud Season

 It's officially mud season!

Happy Spring ya'll!

The BIG Melt

It was a sunny, wonderful Spring day! Puddles are forming everywhere at the acreage and splash boots are a must! There is a lake forming near the chicken coop which makes egg collecting extra fun! My laundry pile keeps growing and often I make the kids strip down before they are even allowed in the house. But all of the extra fresh air and sunshine makes for tired, hungry kiddos at days end. We had chicken pot pie for dinner and when I told Ollie, "You're a hungry boy!" He replied, "I not hungry, I Ollie!" At days end my house still looks the same as it did when I woke up despite my efforts to organize and clean. I only got through half of the dishes this afternoon thanks to the baby napping in my arms. After I tuck in the kids I can still hear fain sounds of the boys jumping on beds in the basement. It doesn't take long before he falls asleep and I again have to make the choice to snuggle him or to put him in his bed and get something done. Of course I pick snuggle, and tomorrow when I wake, the house will still look like a tornado ripped through it. 

Being Productive

Today was super productive! 

I made bread and froze a few chicken pot pies for dinners. 

Sawyer enjoyed some morning cuddles and conversation from his big brothers.

The pepper plants are growing well!!

Mr. Stannix is still counting down to my birthday. I found this on the seat in the van when I went to town to meet him for lunch.

Gramma's chickens are gifting us with lots of eggs.

Ollie is becoming a little less afraid of chickens!

The kids spent all afternoon outside after they got home from school making these hilarious snowmen. Hooray for sunshine!

Sunday Walks

Sunday walks have returned!

Saturday Morning Shadows

Oliver made a new friend this morning. They both have the same bedhead and the same love for helium balloons! They could have played together all day!

Fri-yay

It's Friday! 

We are pretty happy about the weekend being here.

Everyone has been pretty tired lately, especially this busy toddler of mine!

Organized Chaos

There is a happy medium that exists between a clean house and utter chaos. Most days I feel like I'm barely keeping it together! Somehow I manage to keep our home running through semi-organized chaos. This means that everything goes full circle each day. I wash the dishes just in time for them to pile up again. I clean up the toys and vacuum and then the toys come out again. The clean laundry waits in baskets to be folded when I have a spare moment. It frequently looks like a tornado ran through our house, but there's not a whole lot I can do about it. Mr. Stannix frequently reminds me that the kids are happy and that's all that matters. The extra sunshine has been such a blessing! Moods are lifting and there is a different energy in the air. 

I found my surprise in the crib this morning when I put Sawyer for his nap. 

The peppers that we planted last week are sprouting and we love watching them grow! I can't wait to get everything in the greenhouse and watch it turn into a jungle of delicious things to eat!

With all of the extra fresh air comes nice, long afternoon naps. When I found Ollie asleep like this in my bed it took a lot of will power not to snuggle right in next to him and nap myself.

Camilla was the only one who wanted to try my St. Patricks day craft this year. The rest of the boys were too busy soaking up the sunshine and playing with sticks outside.

When everyone started getting crazy, we went for a glorious walk to the end of the subdivision and back up the hill. The two little boys wanted to hold my hand the entire way and I loved every minute!