Lily's First Skate

Today we enjoyed an afternoon skating with friends and roasting hotdogs! Everyone had a great time and Lily was so proud to have learned how to skate all on her own. It didn't take long before she was zipping around the ice and able to propel herself. They all enjoyed each others company and it was such a fun time!

Mike called me from camp after Dinner to let me know Hyrum had caught the pukes and they would be heading home early. Then Ollie came up to notify me that he had also puked and didn't quite make it to the toilet. I had just showered and lotioned my very cracked feet and wasn't excited to wander downstairs to examine the damage. There were two piles of puke on the floor in front of the toilet, one pile was totally salt and vinegar chips and the other pile was digested oatmeal from the nobake cookies Ollie had requested earlier. I joked that the kid really does have two stomachs, one for dinner, and one for dessert. I'm sure it will be a running joke for years to come. 

 

Fresh Air and Sunshine

The house was unusually quiet today with almost half of the kids away at sleepovers and Winter camp. With the warmer temps we ventured outside for some fresh air! The boys built a couple of snow men and Lily enjoyed making snow angels. 

We all thoroughly enjoyed the sunshine after a few days of the pukes! Sonny really loved us being outside with him too and soaked up the attention!

When we got back inside, it was time for afternoon naps. Lily tucked into my bed voluntarily and Cooper fell asleep on my shoulder shortly after. I seized the moment and snapped a few pictures of them together. As the afternoon sun poured through my windows, I admired their rosy cheeks from the Winter air and their long, dark lashes. The boys were still playing nicely, so I snuggled in on the other side of Lily, threw my arm over them both and closed my eyes for a few minutes. 

In the evening we caught the hockey game and cheered as Canada beat the USA with an OT goal by McDavid!

With the boys away at Winter camp, I've been taking advantage of the extra free time and pounding out blog books. I'm determined to catch up and keep the collection going. I've got lots of work ahead of me though as I just finished the first book of 2018 tonight. Wish me luck!

 

These are the Days

This boy slept almost ten hours straight last night! He's so grown up lately and understands so much! His days are spent exploring and playing. He will often grab my hand and pull me around the house showing me things. I'm cherishing these days!

"I always wanted to be a hero -- to sacrifice my life in a big way one time -- and yet, God has required my sacrifice to be thousands of days, over many years, with one more kiss, one more story, one more meal."

~Sally Clarkson

Bucket Holding

 Last night I got to practise the art of bucket holding. Lily  came to my bedside around 4am, "Mom, I'm not feewin berry well...I barfed in the toilet..." Oh dear. I hopped out of bed and grabbed her a bucket and then walked her back to her room to tuck her back in. As I'm pulling up her covers, I lean into the bed and ask, "Did you barf anywhere else? Or just the toile....GASP!" As I leaned forward, my foot stepped in something gooey and warm on the floor beside her bed. I peeled off my sock and hopped on one foot to the sink to wash. I came back to her room with some disinfectant and paper towel and got the small pile cleaned up. She DID make it to the toilet for most of it. 

Shortly after I had crawled back into bed, Cooper woke... I made him a bottle, grabbed him sleepily out of the crib and tucked him into bed with me. He soon went back to sleep, but not long after became restless. And then in the dark I heard... "Bleeeghhhh". My shirt was soaked in puke, though I did manage to lean him over the bed for the rest of it and save the sheets. I stood him on the floor in the dark and peeled off his jammies, then carried him one armed to the bathroom. I looked at my reflection, curdled milk all down my front and around his mouth and in his ear. We hopped in a shower, got fresh clothes, and then went to check Lily. She had already used her bucket and soon after arriving in her room, Cooper started shifting around uncomfortably again. I just knew...and took advantage of Lily's nearby bucket where he proceeded to puke for the second time. By now it was 5:30am and I hadn't slept in an hour and a half. I dumped and rinsed the bucket for Lily and found a second one for Cooper before heading to the couch with him in hopes of catching at least another few winks of sleep.

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!