Family Day

For Family Day we hitched up a sled to the side by side and jumped across to the open field to pull the kids around! Those who weren't on the sled crammed into the cab and back. They had a lot of fun whipping around the field!

 

Sleepy Sundays

It was a very quiet Sunday. I woke with the sun and admired it's orange hue and the beautiful roses on my table top. Sacrament meeting was quiet and Lily spent a lot of it lying across my lap. I'm worried she's going to be next for this awful bug going around. And then Cooper zonked out at dinner again. Everyone seems to be extra tired lately!

 

Double Date

The kiddos are finally on the mend! We watched the Canada vs USA hockey game tonight and one of the boys asked "Is this a REAL hockey game?" To which I replied, "Yes! This is Canda vs the USA." He drew his eyebrows together, "Connor McDavid is REAL?!" He's been playing NHL on the playstation and was today years old when he learned he's a real player. It gave us all a good chuckle.

Because we never got to go out and celebrate for valentines day, we went on a double date with my parents tonight to Cucinas. Dad treated us to dinner and it was so fun to sit and visit sans kids!

I spent a relaxing evening on the couch knitting and chatting with teens who were eager to talk while I listened. I am feeling grateful for many things tonight. A warm home, beautiful snowfall, a free country, happy healthy children, and a husband who serves valiantly. 

 

Valentine's Day

Today was a slow valentine's day. I spent the morning making heart cookies with Lily. It's always a requested tradition and the kids love coming home from school to decorate them. 

Daddy got home from work and brought in beautiful bouquets of flowers for all of his favorite girls. The pink roses were gorgeous!

I made a couple of heart pizzas for dinner and while they were cooking, the littles decorated!

We saved a few cookies for Camilla and her friend to decorate after practice. 

They turned out so great! It's fun to see the progression in decorating from when they were little vs now.

Fin came home from school feeling the chills and ended up puking shortly before bed. Not long after being tucked in, Sawyer also puked all over his bed. They are now asleep across from each other on the love seats in the living room with their own personal pails. 

I'm waiting up to pick up Camilla and her friend once they arrive back in town from the youth dance. She was able to get a ride thankfully, but I still have to bring her home late tonight. This will be my third late night this week (midnight on Tuesday, 1:00am Wednesday, and 12:30 tonight). My eyes are heavy and my body is weary. Hopefully we can kick this flu bug and catch up on some rest over the break!

 

Afternoon Chess

Daddy worked from home this afternoon and Lily played and played in his office while he cranked his instrumental music and stood working at his standing desk. She hummed along, played make believe with the chess set and sat in a chair talking to a stuffed puppy. When I'd walk by, I'd also catch her spinning in his computer chair as well. I think she liked it because it was extra warm with the space heater and she wanted to be with Daddy today.

 

The Snow Moon

The full moon lit up the bedrooms last night! I had wondered if one was on it's way with how crazy the littles have been. We had Chiro in Red Deer this morning and then made a stop at Costco for all the things. My feet literally ache when they hit the floor each morning. I spend so much time running around and cleaning and doing dishes and laundry. 

After we got home I made dinner for later and got the kitchen clean and then headed in to Hyrum's basketball game. They won and I loved watching his moves!

We came home and ate quick and then the big kids were off to youth activities at the church for the evening. I stayed home and tidied the house and hung out with the littles. Joe went on a field trip and didn't get back to town until midnight. As I was waiting in my vehicle, I saw a nice guy sweeping off all of the snow from the vehicles that were parked in the parking lot (teachers and parent chaperones likely). It made me smile and reminded me that there is still good in the world!

Snowy Mornings

One of Coopers very favorite things to do is play with his older brother's hats. He spent a good chunk of time early today wandering around the living room putting on and taking off this ball cap. 

This morning I put aside the house work and sat at the table to craft with my girl. She gave me countless hugs, shrieked with excitement at our creations and was genuinely grateful and happy to spend time together. It filled my heart with joy on this snowy Winter morning. We did tissue paper stain glass hearts to celebrate Valentine's Day.

And in the evening after everyone was in bed, I got up to some creating of my own and began another knit dish cloth. I now have no more dishcloths left from my Gramma, and it's time to replenish my stash. I will never not think of her when I pull one of these out of the drawer. 

 

Itching for Spring

Today was a sunny, blue sky day and I cherished every ray that poured through the windows. I've got baby chicks and seeds on my mind and I'm itching for Spring! We have a few littles feeling kind of punky and there's definitely something going around! The older two were up very late catching up on school projects and homework, so I was also up late to assist and hang out. Juggling bigs and littles can be tricky sometimes, especially when you're tired. 

 

A Moment of Calm

A moment of calm on a busy Sunday. Miss Lily curled up on the couch with her heat bag shortly after we walked in the door from church. I had a 1:30 zoom meeting, then another meeting back at the church at 3:00pm, and then Daddy had a meeting in Red Deer in the evening. Since he leaves early every Sunday morning for Bishopric, I didn't see him until we arrived at church, but I didn't even get to talk to him until he arrived home after 2pm, just as I was headed out the door. I waved to him on my way home from my church meeting while he was on his way to his church meeting in Red Deer. Not every Sunday is this crazy, but today felt extra. So when I had finished making lunch and happened upon miss Joy sleeping peacefully on the couch, I paused for a few minutes to soak in the moment.

In Relief Society today I was asked to read a beautiful quote by Julie B. Beck and it spoke to my heart and brought tears to my eyes. In a world that demands so much of our time and energy, I'm grateful for personal revelation and assurances to help me know where my time would be valued the most. My heart always yearns to do so much, but for now I'm grateful to be doing the most important work I'll ever do, nurturing little souls and pointing them towards a loving Saviour.

"A good woman knows that she does not have enough time, energy, or opportunity to take care of all of the people or do all of the worthy things her heart yearns to do. Life is not calm for most women, and each day seems to require the accomplishment of a million things, most of which are important. A good woman must constantly resist alluring and deceptive messages from many sources telling her that she is entitled to more time away from her responsibilities and that she deserves a life of greater ease and independence. But with personal revelation, she can prioritize correctly and navigate this life confidently."

~Julie B. Beck

Rest of the talk here.

 

Live Basketball

Tonight Camilla had an away game a few hours from here. Luckily both the girls and boys teams were able to take the bus there and back. 

I was grateful for the live feed so that I could enjoy the game from the comfort of my living room!

When Daddy got home from work, he joined us to watch the game. He watches basketball a lot like he watches hockey...standing up! The kids and I chuckled as he paced the floor keeping an eye on our girl and cheering them on! It was a tough team to beat, but they played well!