Canoe Trip

Camilla has taken over the blog today at my request to share a little bit about their canoe trip this week! I thought it would be awesome to get the perspective of someone who actually went on the trip. She is pretty incredible at documenting and is an avid journal keeper. I knew she would have lots of great details that I wouldn't, and I love what she wrote! 

 

This week we went on a canoe trip. There were eight of us, with some friends. We had three canoes and all of them were full of food and supplies. Us kids that were going were just waiting to get in the canoes when we got there, but first we had to bring all the gear down the big hill to the river.

After we loaded up the canoes we had a picture. Then we were off. We started to paddle down stream and I couldn't help think what beautiful world we live in with the trees and the mountains and the stream. After a while we came across some ducks! There was a mamma and five little baby ducks and they were the size of chicks. Well, the mamma was squawking at my dad the baby ducks were scooting across the river. 

Then we saw lots of eagles circling above us so we all thought there must be fish in this part of the river so we cast our rods out and after a couple minutes my Grandpa got a fish! It was a Sauger. Then I got a bite and as I was reeling it in I saw it jump off my hook. Then I got another fish and it did the same thing. Then I got my line snagged on some rocks and I lost all my line! 

After that we pulled over and did some fishing while my grandpa got me more line. Then we stopped at a camping place and we realized that since the river was so high and fast we were one day ahead. After we all talked about whether we should stop at the bridge or by the river we finally went on. Then my dad called out, "this one is good!" so we stopped and set up camp. It was a rocky place but there was some room for the tents so while my dad set up the tents we got dressed into warm clothes and my grandpa made a fire. Then we had taco salad for dinner and we had a lesson about how our lives are like the river. Then we all got tired so we tucked into our sleeping bags. That is day one.

We all woke up pretty late on day two and we were all awoke to the fresh air. It was so nice to be outside and to be able to have the warm sunshine on us. After we got dressed we ate some sugar cereal with milk. Then we started to pack up the canoes and we were all so excited to get in the canoe and start paddling again. 

Shortly after, Finley caught his very first fish! It was a Goldeye. 

When we found a good fishing spot we went on the land and we cast our rods out and I got a fish and then Joe yelled out, "I got one!" so me and Joe took a picture together with our Walleyes! Then Hyrum got a fish and I got another Goldeye. 

Then we went to the bridge and we went swimming. I went under the water and swam down stream. Then we got a snack and hit the river. We finished the day at Dry Island buffalo jump provincial park. Then we set up our tents there and we had dinner and had smores. After that, we went in the tent and talked about our day. I caught seven fish, Hyrum caught eight, Joe caught three, and Finley caught one.

The next morning I woke up to the sound of snoring because my grandpa was snoring. When we got out of the tent we had eggs and bacon. Then I got my swim suit on and I went swimming in the lake. Then I got all dressed and my mom picked us up. When we got home we were all so happy to be home.

Drool Worthy

This morning Sawyer hung out with me while I watered the greenhouse and drooled over all of the delicious things that are growing! After a rough start, I finally have a few pumpkins starting! The cucumbers are getting bigger and the tomatoes are looking tasty! 

Fresh Farm Eggs

The little chicks we brought home last March have started laying tiny brown eggs! Mum found a couple of them in the coop this morning. 

I am so excited about the rich brown color.

Happy Saturday!

Just Beginning

This morning I did five hair cuts before breakfast. Camilla got a trim and requested some long side bangs, and all of the boys (except Sawyer) got nice short Summer hair cuts. After breakfast we went into town to hit up the library and return some books. They were such great listeners that I decided to take them to the park for a bit before heading home.

Swings used to be a part of our every day, but I'm pretty sure this is one of Sawyers first times swinging at the park!

The  boys were thrilled to clamber around the play structure for a little while. 

Part way through our play time somebody came up and asked, "Are these all yours?" I get asked this question often enough that I just smiled, "Yes. Yes they are!"

I just wish they would quite growing up so darn fast!

In the afternoon my Mum and I went for a walk through the raspberry patch and picked a whole handful. It won't be long before we will be spending hours each day picking buckets and buckets of raspberries.

Sawyer enjoyed the fresh berries as much as I did! I can't wait to eat them by the bowl full!

Vine Ripe Tomatoes

 The cherry tomatoes are ripening! Eek!

I definitely picked and ate the first ripe tomato, and it was delish!

Also, how cute is this sleepy boy?!

Discovery Canyon

 This morning we took our sunburns to Discovery Canyon for some more fun in the sun. It was a tough call, but the littles had been looking forward to this for a few days so Mr. Stannix and I pretended not to be exhausted and loaded everyone in the van bright and early to meet up with friends.

There was so many people already at 10am, and I'm pretty sure we got one of the last parking spaces. The littles were all eager to rent tubes and ride the lazy river.

After locating our group of friends, we secured some tubes and let the kids go nutts. For the most part the older three were unsupervised and enjoyed riding down the river over and over again with friends! 

Finley went for the first ride with his Dad...

And then got brave enough to ride on his own (while I walked right beside him just to make sure he didn't drown).

And just when I didn't think it could get any busier, it did! I could not believe how many people were there! We ended up running into some old friends out of the blue and had fun catching up.

We stayed way longer than we originally planned upon showing up because everyone was having so much fun. The littles were so exhausted that they slept pretty much the whole way home! We drove out past a long line of parked cars on the road and bid the crowds farewell.

After dinner I happened upon this sight and my heart about burst. These littles are so lucky to have Mike as their Dad.

Crystal Clear

This morning after I finished nursing Sawyer, I noticed an orange glow through the blinds and had to sneak into the living room to enjoy the view. It was shortly after 5:00am when I finally crawled back into bed, only to be woke by Mr. Rooster shortly after. Knowing that today was going to be gorgeous, we made plans to head to the lake for the entire day. We packed boat snacks and water and put dinner in the crock pot. 

I couldn't believe how clear the lake looked when we arrived! It was breathtaking!

Instead of going to the boat launch, I took half of the kids to the beach area and waited for Mr. Stannix and Grampa to unload the boat. We set up chairs and claimed a picnic table so that my Mum and Sister and some friends would know where to meet us.

As we took the boat around the lake I was in awe at how gorgeous everything was! Boating is so much more enjoyable when the water is smooth and clear.

With smooth water like this, we didn't tube for long! We anchored big red close to shore and then swam around for a bit to get used to the water. We all took turns either knee boarding or water skiing. It was pretty awesome! 

I was super pregnant last Summer and unable to do all of these fun things, so it was nice to enjoy a little bit of time behind the boat this year!

Mr. Stannix and my Dad each took turns on the skis. 

Sawyer was such a good sport to hang out on the boat all day with us!

Near the end, the kids started getting brave and doing crazy things on the tube. They weren't scared of falling off anymore and built human pyramids and hung off the edges and such.

Eventually it was time to head to the beach to meet up with my Sister, Mom and friends for dinner. We all enjoyed beef on a bun, beans and salad in the shade as the wind picked up. The boys took the boat for one last spin before we all headed home for the evening. I think I will always remember the crystal clear water and beauty of today!

Potential

"If I were Satan and wanted to destroy a society, I think I would stage a full blown blitz on its women. I would keep them so distraught and distracted that they would never find the calming strength and serenity for which their sex has always been known. He has effectively done that, catching us in the crunch of trying to be superhuman instead of realistically striving to reach our individual purpose and unique God-given potential within such diversity."

~Patricia Holland

Read the rest of the talk HERE

Saturday Evening

Today was so wonderful! The kids played LEGO for over ten hours and got along so well! They created a whole house with bedrooms and a garage and homemade motor bikes. They also made a ninja school with desks and a fun teacher. They used their imaginations all day! 

Part way through the afternoon my feet kept sticking to the floor and I couldn't quite figure out why. After a little while I discovered Caramel Sundae syrup drops all over the kitchen. Some of the boys like to sneak into the fridge and pour the Caramel sauce into their mouths. No body is fessing up, but there is some telling smirks on two boys in particular. I guess I'll never know!

After all of the kids were in bed I finished up a baby blanket I started a few months ago. I went outside for a few minutes of quiet and snapped some pictures in the golden light. It was such a lovely night, I could have stayed out there all night!

Slinging on a Friday

Just slinging on a rainy Friday!