Cooper: ONE Year

Cooper is ONE! I can't believe how quickly the year flew by! I made a chicken dinner and cupcakes and we invited my parents over to celebrate with us! It was low key and perfect, just the way we like it. We have enjoyed a year full of snuggles, milestones, belly laughs & love. This boy is full of determination and curiosity and it has been such a joy to watch him grow! 

 

A Morning with Friends

Yesterday evening we pulled into the Wolseys for the night so that we could be in town for the games today. We got to hang out and enjoy a slow morning with them. The girls had so much fun playing together. They piled the blankets and cushions high so that they could jump off the stairs. Lily was worried about doing it and one of the girls said, "It's fine, just use your brain!" and Lily replied, "Guys! I'm using my brain and it's FUN!" 

We took off shortly before lunch to Meet up with Camilla and catch the last couple of games. It was a long, fun-filled weekend, and it felt so good to be home after!

 

A Basketball Tournament

This weekend brought Camilla, the littles and I up to the city for a basketball tournament! It was a bit of a gong show keeping Lily and Cooper entertained while simultaneously trying to watch the game and cheer on my girl tonight, but we somehow managed to do it! The team played pretty well all things considered! It was a fun time!

 

Mothering is...

Mothering in this season is early mornings gathered in the living room for study & prayer as a family because it is the only time in the entire day that you will all be together.

It's getting six children out the door each morning for school with homework and a decently healthy lunch packed by them.

It's leading, guiding & gently correcting.

It's realizing how much you miss the younger years when everyone was home & together all the time.

It's navigating different age groups and multiple emotions with as much grace as you can muster each day.

It's a well lived in house, messy kitchen & full bellies.

It's "Mom, can you please bring my math binder when you come pick me up?" texts.

It's coordinating schedules and loading and unloading children multiple times a day. 

It's giving them independence while also realizing when they could use some help.

It's spending my days laughing & creating with these two rays of light.

It's up all night multiple nights in a row with a sick babe and then waking up and putting on a smile even though you’re weary to the bone.

It's twelve loaves of fresh-baked bread each week.

It's warm homemade cookies on the counter after school to entice conversation.

It's cheering with the littles at various sporting events to show how much you love & care.

It's reading stories by the fire together.

It's sticky notes by the front door when they come home.

It's driving home from a basketball game with the interior light on while your daughter does her math homework in the passenger seat. 

It's glowing with pride when you see the good they are doing and the way they are juggling everything going on in their lives as they grow.

It's knowing when they need a hug instead of a discourse.

It's late night chats at the kitchen island where you listen more than you speak while you laugh & smile to yourself in disbelief that your children are this old.

 It's even later nights at the kitchen table helping with homework, even though you have no idea what your doing and end up playing more of a moral support role.

It's falling asleep each night hoping you gave it your best, then waking each morning & trying again because these little souls mean so much to you and you couldn't imagine life any other way!

Still Here

The kids are back to school! The house is quiet and I am grateful because I still have a sick babe who just wants to sit and snuggle all day. Naptime today was spent in the Nursery enjoying the afternoon sunshine pouring through the window.

 

Sunday Snapshots

Today was church. I spent most of my time in the mothers room with a cranky babe. As I sat their feeling sorry for myself I turned and looked at the art work on the wall and the beauty of the painting soothed my soul.

It can be hard going through so much effort to get everyone to church each Sunday morning, only to spend the majority of it in the Mother's room, but I know that these efforts will be worth it in the long run as the children learn and feel so much while they're here!

Hyrum was ordained to the office of Teacher today! He can now help prep the Sacrament each Sunday among other new responsibilities. He was super excited!

After a BBQ dinner, the big kids headed in for a youth fireside at the church and I put my sick babe to bed. The house is messy, but we are back to school tomorrow!

 

In the Box

The hockey tournament continues! The boys played two games today. They won their first game and tied their second game. It was fun to watch them! Hyrum even managed to get sent to the box in the first game. 

All of this weekends excitement called for a quiet evening at home. 

I love lighting a candle in a clean kitchen!

 

Hockey Tournament

This weekend the two big boys had a hockey tournament. I went and watched their games with the littles in tow. I couldn't help but laugh at the way Lily had to dance her heart out every time a hockey song came on while we waited on the whistles. She affectionately calls me "Mudder" just like Hyrum used to and it makes me smile. She's a spunky girl and very much a free spirit, but so so fun to be around!

The boys played really well and it was fun to cheer them on! I love watching them play their hearts out! It was also fun to watch Mr. Stannix assistant coach each game. How lucky are they to have that memory with their Dad?!

 

Kicking off the New Year

Today we kicked off the new year making memories with good friends! They have a pretty epic sledding hill at their place and we enjoyed a lovely (slightly chilly) afternoon hanging out by a bonfire listening to the children (and men) laugh their heads off as they flew down the hill!

Camilla was a dear and carried Lily up the hill a few times!

Sweet little Cooper konked out half way through the afternoon and slept soundly by the warm fire for the rest of the day.

It was so nice to spend the afternoon together with friends making memories!

 

Happy New Year

Today begins a New Year! We enjoyed time together with family and I spent the day pondering my goals for this year. 

Our beautiful family keeps us on our toes from sun up to sun down, so I had to carve out a little bit of time after bedtime to sit down for a quick study and journal session. 

There is something about a candle lit home that I absolutely love. It's so still and quiet and was just what I needed tonight!