Warming by the Fire

Early this morning while waiting for the big kids to wake, these two decided to snuggle up together in front of the fire place. I caught this view while getting breakfast ready to go. The stillness of the early morning is one of my favorite things, especially when I see relationships quietly growing.

 

The Northern Lights

Last night as we were getting ready to tuck into bed, Camilla peeked out the window and thought she could see the Northern Lights. We turned off the lights, wrapped ourselves in blankets and stepped out into the cold night to investigate. Before long a green and purple symphony of lights was dancing over head, changing shape by the second as it grew and stretched across the sky. We watched mesmerized, until we were shaking with cold. Lily's little voice broke the quiet as she snuggled her big sister, "Look! Dey're Dancin'!" A shooting star fell just over the roof of the house and I found myself wishing for more moments like this, wrapped in blankets in the still of the night, gazing at the sky in wonder and awe.

"And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it."

~Roald Dahl

 

A Sunday Snooze

This afternoon Lily climbed up onto the couch and enjoyed a quiet moment to herself while I was crocheting a blanket in the corner chair nearby. A few minutes later I glanced over to find her eyelashes resting on her cheeks, and her breathing deep. She snoozed through the afternoon chaos and dinner with friends before finally waking just in time for dessert!

 

Hygge Season

November has arrived with it's cozy fires, candle light, couch snuggles, and hot chocolate nights. As darkness falls on us earlier in the evenings, I've been busy filling our home with light and warmth. Family read alouds by lamplight are a favourite during this season and the children have already requested to begin the Little House on the Prairie series again.

 

Crocheting Away

I finally picked up an old project again. This blanket has been in the works for over five years. I had ran out of white and never got around to picking up more yarn. I'm hoping to put a few rows on each day and get it off my working pile.

 

Volleyball Divisionals

The last couple of days, I've spent a fair bit of time at the Middle School watching Joe and Hyrum play in their volleyball divisionals! Joe and his team went undefeated all season, and ended up taking third. They played well and it's been fun to see the improvement with each game!

The grade 7/8 team took 2nd overall and fought hard for it. I ended up being at the school all morning with the way the schedule worked. We weren't prepared for that, and Sawyer and Lily almost didn't make it through the third lunch time game. 

After going home to grab a bite to eat, we came back late afternoon to watch the final two games as they fought for first place. 

Hyrum did an awesome job as setter and his overhand serves have improved so much this year! 

Trick or Treat

It was an unseasonably beautiful day for Halloween today! My two elementary kiddos dressed up in costumes for the day. My middle schoolers decided they were too old and just went to school as themselves. My high schooler also decided to go to school as herself. Everyone was out the door bright and early!

The rock is FINALLY finished on the exterior and they took their scaffolding down and cleaned up. It adds such a nice touch!

I made sure to make dinner a bit earlier than usual (I threw a few pizzas in the oven), so that we would have time to get everyone dressed and ready to go. The older three were all meeting up with friends and the younger four stayed with Mike and I. This year we had a "blanna" (banana), Buzz, Robin Hood, Oilers Player, Oilers Player, Grim Reaper type guy, and Hula girl (who later became an Oilers player). We started by going around our neighborhood. The kids always love the cans of pop and bags of candy they get at the acreages. Then we headed into town to see Uncle Mike and Auntie Chris and drop the big kids off to friends places.

Lily wanted to walk into every house we stopped at. When Sawyer was asked which candy's he would like he would answer "I just can't eat the hard stuff! It will wreck my teeth". At one point in the evening Lily said, "Mom, we have a WOT of candy, huh?" Their little buckets kept filling up with chip bags, and I was glad I thought ahead and brought a bag. The littles were done a lot sooner than the bigs, so we waited around town a bit. We got home close to 9pm, did the candy check and sort, and sent everyone to bed!

 

Halloween Cookies

This morning I made up a batch of sugar cookies for the kids to decorate after school. I started this tradition a few years ago and love to keep it going! Sawyer had his little friend over for the day and loved being over to decorate with her too. When the kids got home after school, I refreshed the icing and a few more of them decorated. Hyrum had a volleyball game and Joe had a practice after school, so they got to decorate their cookies after dinner and have them for dessert. Sometimes I miss when everyone was small and we weren't running in ten different directions each day. I cherish the days when we are together as a big group and no body is missing. 

 

Pumpkin Carving 2023

This afternoon was the only big chunk of time we could find together as an entire family to carve our pumpkins! After lunch we set everything out on the table and let the children pick their pumpkins and think of what they wanted to do. Usually it feels pretty chaotic as there are sharp knives and lots of help needed, but this year was much easier. Camilla, Hyrum, and Joe pretty much gutted and carved their own pumpkins and then Joe offered to help Lily carve hers too! Daddy helped Sawyer and I helped Ollie and Fin (who ended up doing most of his own too). I forgot, however, to get a picture of them all lined up at the end!

 

Halloween Party Time

This tough hockey player went off to a Halloween Party tonight!