The Orchard

 Apple picking season has arrived! I look forward to this every year and can't wait until the trees are more mature and we get baskets and baskets heaping full of apples. We often go for walks around the orchard and the kids will pick an apple or two from their favorite tree and munch it while we walk. This year we didn't get any apples from our favorite apple/crab tree, but the Sunnybrook apples were sure enjoyed while we were picking!

This year we got to try out Grampa's new picking aprons. They were sure handy! Oliver wore Gramma's apron and climbed to the top of the ladder to pick. Of course Miss Lou had to join him near the top. She's fearless!

 

I lost track of how many apples she ate! When they were finished, they threw the cores to the chickens (or to Sonny) to enjoy.

These are memories that I love creating! I feel so blessed to work along side my parents and I am grateful that my children will have these memories of working in the orchard with their Grampa who planted and tended to these trees with love and care each year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Day of School

Today was the first day of school for some of the Stannix kids. This year we have grades 1, 3, 5, 6, & 8! Oliver was so excited about his very first day of school ever! He will be at the elementary school with Fin and Joe this year, so he has lots of big guys to look out for him. Finley is excited about having Joe's old teacher this year. Joseph is glad to be at the top of the totem pole in grade 5. Hyrum is starting at the middle school and will be in the big grade 6 class with two teachers. Camilla is finishing up her final year in middle school and is glad to be the oldest grade in the school this year. They are all growing up so so fast! Sawyer and Lily get to spend their days hanging out with me at the acreage while the kids are gone at school. It's going to be weird only having two at home again, and I think Sawyer is going to miss his big brother.

Farewell Summer

 Summer is coming to a close and I am trying to savor every last bit of it before it's gone! We have been busy canning (and eating) peaches galore. My amazing sister-in-law found an awesome deal on freestone peaches and between my parents and I, we may have bought ten cases! Between preserving and hauling in the last of the produce from the greenhouse/garden, the kitchen has been a busy place! The pressure canner is often going late into the evening just to get it all done!

Back to school prep has already begun and we enjoyed a classroom tour and BBQ at the children's Elementary school this afternoon. Oliver is really excited about going into grade one and has the sweetest new teacher this year. We will miss having Mrs. W who taught the last two Stannix boys, but I think Oliver's teacher is perfectly suited to his personality and I am excited to watch him learn and grow this year! 

Most of the littles are back to school tomorrow, while some have to wait an extra day due to staggered start dates. I am looking forward to the routine and having some time with the tiny Stannix children and a few more moments to myself throughout the day. 

 

This afternoon I snuck out to the greenhouse with Lily to pick some tomatoes. Sonny found us there and I was able to snap a few sweet photos of the two of them together. I love that he is getting a little more calm with age. He is such a gentle giant!

It didn't take long for a few more of the children to find us in there! They also wanted some pictures with Sonny boy and they turned out so sweet!

 

 

Now...back to the kitchen I go!! 

Stargazing

Today we were able to head to the lake and enjoy the sun! Everyone loved swimming, knee boarding and tubing. Lily even jumped in the water a few times to swim with Daddy and Camilla.

After baths and dinner, just like almost every night before, when it started getting dark, I wrapped a blanket around Lily and went outside to sway under the stars until she fell asleep. 

Because of renovations, all of the children are in the same room and bedtime can be tricky. Lily has never known a good bedtime routine having either been rocked or snuggled to sleep and not really having her own room.

I've learned to cherish these quiet moments with her, gazing at the stars as the cat weaves around my legs and the dog lays snoring at my feet on the deck. 

Sunday Snapshots

On our way home from church we drove to this beautiful field and stood at the edge for some pictures. I wanted to get a few shots of Camilla in her new favourite dress. She is looking so mature and grown up lately and I am so proud of who she is becoming and the choices that she is making. A few of the littles also wanted their pictures taken and I was happy to oblige. I love capturing their little faces in photograph so that I can look back on these moments. We finished off with a group photo that the big boys reluctantly agreed to be in, and headed home for lunch. Happy Sabbath!

 

Quiet Afternoons

Today I was blessed with a rare moment of quiet. Lily has been opposed to napping lately and it takes me a long time to finally get her to sleep. 

She still needs them though, so the daily battle continues! Those sleepy lashes and pink lips make it all worth it in the end!

While she slept I went outside for some fresh air. I stopped to admire my sunflowers and how huge some of them are getting. They bring me so much joy and add so much beauty to the acreage.

 

Bountiful Acres

 Summer is coming to an end far too quickly! For now we will enjoy the bounties of the garden and the giant sunflowers as we prepare for back to school! I am so grateful for all of the things this acreage gives us. It is such a gift.

Oh these brothers are just the cutest!

Best Buds!

 

In the Summer Sun

Today was spent mostly outside enjoying the Summer sun. We had a lovely afternoon at the beach with cousins. The littles enjoyed wading through the water and digging in the sand and the big boys got right into sandcastle building with Uncle Arland. They ended up creating quite the masterpiece!

The late afternoon was spent checking out the garden and admiring the height of the sunflowers in my little patch. I planted a few different varieties this year. Some grow super tall, some get really big faces, and others are an evening variety of oranges and blacks. All of them make me so happy.

The new house is really starting to come along nicely with the windows finally in! It's been so fun to watch it take shape and change each day. I can't wait to make memories in this space and fill it with laughter and joy!

When the littles were in bed, Camilla and I ended up having a girls night. We topped and tailed over 20lbs worth of beans while watching a movie. I finished the day with Sonny cuddles while lightning flashed in the distance.