Apple Saucin'

Today was an apple saucin' kind of day! This year we used a fancy machine instead of the usual hand crank squeezo. It made for a speedy production line! Mom washed, chopped and warmed, Dad and the littles used the machine, and I bagged the cooled sauce and took it to the freezer. I made the leftovers into an apple sauce cake for the children to enjoy after school!

 

A Cheerful Giver

Today was a blustery, overcast, Autumn feeling kind of day. After a busy weekend, it took all of my strength to will myself out from beneath my warm covers at the crack of dawn. The children greeted me before the sun as they yawned and blinked sleep from their eyes.

We gathered for our morning study and prayers and then slowly spent the rest of the morning getting ready for school. We watched the sun rise change from bold oranges and yellows to softer pinks, purples, and blues. I love that the children relish in the wonders of nature with me each day.

 

 

There is more to do during this season than I have time to, so I try to be wise throughout the day as I pick and choose the most important things to accomplish. 

And even when my body aches from a full day of painting the basement, I still find myself in the kitchen after everyone is asleep baking up a batch of our favourite chocolate chip bookies for school lunches. We talked this morning in our scripture study about how "God loveth a cheerful giver" (2 Cor 9:7). Baking and keeping our home is one way I can cheerfully give to my family each day. And once the last pan of cookies comes out, I will blow out my candle and tiptoe into bed with a prayer to wake refreshed and ready to do it all again tomorrow.

 

A Sunday Walk

This afternoon the littles and I snuck up to the garden for a walk. We found a few handfuls of raspberries hiding in the patch. The final tastes of Summer made our mouths tingle with delight. With frost on it's way we are gearing up for the final haul of carrots and potatoes from the garden. What a blessing!

 

Early Morning Sunshine

This early morning sunshine has been such a joy lately!

 

Friday Happenings

This morning I woke before my alarm and quietly tiptoed into the kitchen. The horizon was just starting to show a faint orange. I turned the light on above the stove and made a quick batch of whip cream before scripture study. 

It didn't take long for the littles to make there way up, one by one, rubbing sleep from their eyes. After our study, they took turns toasting up a waffle and smothering it in whipping cream and homemade syrup. Camilla often has just fifteen minutes to eat her breakfast and pack her lunch before she leaves for early morning seminary. I try to offer a quick breakfast, or she happily toasts herself a bagel instead. Joe has also been riding in with her and Daddy twice a week for run club. Our mornings are crazy!

My big job today was to tackle the pickling cucumbers and turn them into bread and butter pickles! I chopped them up yesterday, but finally got around to salting them this morning.  After soaking the cucumbers, onions, and peppers in salt for three hours, I drained them, made the brine. While waiting for them to soak, I did a few loads of laundry and made my bed. I canned them up while the littles had lunch with Grampa at his house.

 

In the early afternoon we went to the orchard to pick the zaychuk apple tree and wander through the garden. The saskatoons and haskaps have tinges of orange and yellow on their leaves. The strawberry leaves have turned red, and in the golden Autumn light, I couldn't help but relish in the beauty of an Autumn garden.

In the afternoon I tidied bedrooms and put away some folded clothes. Each tiny piece I had turned inside out and smoothed and folded with love. I felt grateful to be at home and able to make our space beautiful.

Mr. Stannix found a few chairs for his office and I love the way the color adds a nice pop to his office. He was able to come home a little bit early today and snuggle his girl and chat with me before dinner! We enjoyed some homemade pizza for dinner before Camilla and a friend left to the city for a youth dance. I then took the boys to feed our neighbors dog, and finally put my feet up around 9:30pm!

 

Lily-Lou

These days spent with just two littles at home are cherished and wonderful. While Sawyer mostly prefers to play independently, Lily and I enjoyed hanging out together today. She showed me her cool dudes and asked to help collect eggs this morning!

 

Fresh Eggs

The day I have been waiting for has finally arrived! 

Our new hens are finally laying and I can once again add blues and pinks to my egg basket!

These gorgeous Autumn mornings and new eggs from my coop have been warming my soul.

 

On the Horizon

Today we woke early to a deep orange horizon and a few twinkling stars left in the slowly brightening sky. We have another week of school ahead of us. I try to get up fifteen minutes before the rest of the children. I sit in the dimly lit living room, turning on as few lights as possible, and listen to the hum of the fridge and the silence of the house while I read and ponder. 

 

Soon the silence is broken by the creaky bathroom door downstairs as kids shuffle in and out before coming up for scriptures study.

In the evening, I lit up little pockets of our home to enjoy while we all did various activities. Right now we have littles who go to bed early, middles who go to bed shortly after that, and bigs who are up doing homework or entertaining themselves. The house is always full. 

 

Sunday Snapshots

Our Sunday went relatively smooth today! The bench was quieter than usual, and I spent a good chunk of time with one kid or another lying on my lap quietly listening to the speakers.

Oliver is the one who most frequently does this during church and he struggles to keep his eyes open as I rub his head.

 

The afternoon brought us all to the livingroom for a few episodes of "Little House on the Prairie". Lily sweetly watched like this for most of it!

After a visit to their ministering Families right after church, I had to snap a picture of these two together because they both looked so handsome all dressed in their Sunday best!

 

Ollie Turns Seven

Happy seventh birthday to our sweet Ollie! He's always full of love and hugs for others. He has an infectious belly laugh that I love to hear. He is determined and strong willed. He always tries to do what's right. He's quick to recognize the Spirit in certain moments. He always comments on the feeling in our home, especially when it's good. He loves to have fun and be a part of everything. We sure adore this kid!