A Day Ahead

Today I did a huge freezer clean out because we have a beef coming in a few weeks. Choke cherry juice was made into syrup, sour cherries have been made into muffins. I've got apple sauce out for a future cake or muffins, raspberries thawing on the counter for syrup or squares...I've been a day ahead all week. All morning I've been thinking, "tomorrow will be syrup making day..." but no, tomorrow is ski trip day and I'm excited to be a supervisor once again for Fin's class! 

I picked up Hyrum and a friend a little bit early from school to take them to a basketball game that was almost an hour away. I took all of the littles with me and had Joe walk to his hockey practise. Hyrum and his team played really well! Afterwards, I brought him back and dropped him at youth activities and then headed to the high school to watch Camilla's play off game with Cooper and Lily still in tow.

The girls played amazingly well and ended up winning by a significant amount (home team). Friday the kids have no school and the break will be much welcomed. It's been a wild week!

Apple Jelly

Today was a kitchen day. So this little boy played at my feet (and wacked my toes with this hockey stick) for most of his awake moments.

I made up some jelly and did up the mountain of dishes covering my counter.

I cooled my jars of jelly on this cutting board that Camilla made and gifted me at Christmas. It is one of my favorites, but it's too pretty to cut on, so I just use it to cool my jams and jellies!

A Heavy Snow

Today we woke to a heavy, wet snow fall. The kids trudged out to the bus on their way to school. When Dad got home with his bus, he ended up getting stuck in the driveway and I had to two him with the truck. I am excited about the side of beef we have coming soon, and I'm excited for sports to wind down, and I'm excited to relax and soak in the Spring sunshine....soon....

 

 

Sawyers Gramma Quilt

We had a lovely day at church today and then the kids played out in the sunshine on the deck. We had a wonderful gospel discussion after dinner with a few of the older kids. It was totally unplanned and spontaneous, which made it the best. The kids left feeling renewed and excited to engage in the gospel and study again!

After dinner, Gramma brought over Sawyers quilt that she had just finished. It started as a tradition when they were baptized, but all of the grandkids are so excited about their Gramma Quilts that she has been working away at them. He can't wait to put it on his bed!

 

Ice Fishing

Today we spent the day out at Phyllis Lake ice fishing with Grampa! There was some moaning and groaning before we left, but once we got out there, everyone had the best time! The big boys were excited to use the auger and drill the holes and everyone helped set up the big tent and cameras. It was so warm and beautiful outside that we only needed sweaters! Inside the dimly lit tent, it was easy to look down the hole and watch the fish swim by and nibble. The kids would get so excited every time they saw one! Watching Lily jump and frantically reel in her first fish is etched in my memory for the rest of my life. She about fell out of her chair with enthusiasm and we were all busting a gut laughing. Hyrum helped her get the hook out and we snapped a picture before releasing it again. Nothing we caught was overly big, but it was still exciting nonetheless. Grampa brought a couple of the bigger ones home and fried them up for us to try later in the evening. The boys told us on the way home how glad they were to have gone and spent the afternoon at the lake. 

 

Naptime

Naptime is when life really slows down and I'm able to take a few moments to soak it all in. I will never regret snuggling my babies to sleep while the afternoon sun pours through the nursery window.

 

The Promise of Spring

This morning we woke to sunshine and gusting North-Northwest winds. The birds abandoned the swinging feeder and resorted to picking seeds from the ground instead. The puppy begged to be let in as spruce boughs thrashed about. The birch tree bends with each gust, practically touching it's tippy top branches to the ground.

Inside, Cooper has decided he would like to reside on my hip all morning, so we are thawing in the warm sunlight streaming through the kitchen windows while bagels are mixed in the mixer. Lily has ventured over to Gramma's house to hold the new baby chicks. Soon the stove will warm the house as the smell of fresh bagels fills the air. My nose is already tingling with the scent of Spring blowing in through cracked bedroom windows as curtains sway with every gust of wind. 

With Spring on the horizon and the promise of warm sunshine on my face, my mind is awakened with a desire to dream about the many things I want to accomplish in the garden and greenhouse this year. 

I'm grateful for the gift of each new day, and for the hope the sunlight brings!

Sunset Skate

We are so enjoying the extra sunshine and warmth after such a long Winter! Cooper adores being outside, so we usually sneak out for some fresh air before naptime. 

After dinner some of the boys asked if I could bring them into town to go skating at the ODR. I had to run in for a basketball game anyways, so we all loaded up. As I was buckling in Lily I discovered some new artwork on the back of my van seat...

Not sure how I'm going to get that off.

I hung out at the rink for a few minutes to watch the boys skate around a bit. The light was magical!

Then we scooted over to the school to catch Camilla's game!

As we were sitting in the bleachers Lily was telling me how shy she is. After sitting for a second, she then turned to Sawyer and said, "Sawyer, let's go make a new friend!" They walked down the stairs to a little girl and played pass with her on the sidelines.

As it got closer to bedtime, I snuggled Cooper in the baby carrier and bounced him to sleep while cheering for our big girl on the court. The boys walked over and met me at the school when they were all done skating and then we all went home together after the game. These nights are so busy and full, but I wouldn't trade them!

 

Nursery Musings

This morning we woke to the most beautiful sunrise! My favorite is when the kids notice it at breakfast and point it out to me or ask to use my phone and take a picture of it. Our day was busy with a special dentist appointment in Red Deer for Miss Lily. The extra driving and time away from home really didn't help with how tired I've been feeling.

As I rocked the baby to sleep I couldn't help but ponder how it's not the quiet task it once was in my early days of mothering. Tonight as I snuggled Cooper to sleep I heard the TV blaring in the next room, the boys laughing together over their game, the washing machine spinning beneath the nursery and a fight breaking out downstairs...And in that dimly lit nursery, I still felt peace as I felt Coopers little body snuggle in close to mine after he passed me his finished bottle.

His one cheek puffed out as he nestled into my arm, and his hands were resting so sweetly on his chest. He let out a huge sigh to finally be going to bed after such a long day driving and playing. Tears stung my eyes and gratitude filled my heart for little moments just like these. 

Once the littles are in bed, I'm usually in the kitchen tidying up for morning and the big kids will often find me. I enjoy the whisper chats we have while they sit at the island or on a counter top and tell me everything that's on their mind. I'm learning to pause and enjoy when they open up and express themselves. Having big conversations at the most inconvenient times is always the best!

Deep Clean

Today I woke and emptied three puke buckets, rearranged a few bedrooms, mopped bedroom floors and slowly began disinfecting the house. It was another beautiful day...almost ten degrees. I opened bedroom windows and aired out the house. Then I changed and washed all of the bedding, tidied the basement and burnt a batch of croissants. 

In between all of that, Cooper kept me on my toes! He loves to play with the mini sticks downstairs while I tidy. He also likes to throw everything down the stairs...my wallet and keys, all the baby wipes, toys from Lily's room. He also loves playing chase around the kitchen island and laughs and laughs. He has a great sense of humor for a thirteen month old! He also threw every article of clothing left on the bathroom floor into the toilet today and I couldn't help but laugh. Lesson learned for some big kids I guess. He is so curious and busy and I just have to laugh at him. He's always lugging around something or walking with a hat or box over his eyes and running into things and giggling. 

I managed to tuck everyone in around 8:30 and then tidied some more in the basement. When I just couldn't function anymore I let the dogs out pee, locked the doors, and turned out the lights. This week has been exhausting with all of the illness going around. The kids are still tired!