Sunday Walks

This morning I woke up feeling super tired and drained. I got everyone ready for church and we arrived early despite having to turn around to grab something forgotten. Joe lugged Cooper in, someone grabbed the diaper bag and Sawyer was the last one out of the van. As I slid the door shut, a sweet member who had just parked beside me rolled down her window and called out to me. I turned around and walked to her car and she said, "I just wanted to tell you that I think you're a really great mom!"

This sweet sister had no idea that as I knelt by my bedside that morning, tears soaked my comforter as I poured out my heart to Heavenly Father about my failings as a mother, my frustrations with my calling, the limitations imposed on me by others... But Heavenly Father must have whispered to her as she pulled into the parking lot that I needed the encouragement today, and I am so glad she listened!

After church Lily and I wandered up to the garden to snack on some haskaps and enjoy the sunshine! It was fun spending some time with her!

She's beautiful inside and out! Full of so much JOY!

Time keeps rushing by and the children get bigger each day. I've already hit sixteen weeks with this babe and I know it's going to go by in a blink. I am cherishing these tiny, joy filled moments!

Happy Sunday!

 

Ward Picnic

Today was the Crimson Lake picnic! It was a bit of a chilly day, but we still had a decent turnout. The youth all enjoyed playing jackpot in the greenspace together while the littles hung out at the park. We enjoyed good food and good conversation despite the chilly weather! Cooper enjoyed going down the slide a bazillion times and rocketing off the end into the sand. A lot of fun was had by all!

 

Naptime

He's almost getting too big for this, but it's still one of my favorite places to be!

 

Another Night at Soccer

Tonight was another night spent at the soccer field! This time we got to bring cousin Whitney with us to play. She had a lot of fun with Cooper while she waited for Sawyer and Lily to finish up on the field. And thankfully, the weather held up and we didn't get rained out!

 

New Fluff Butts

Today was a very busy day indeed! I ended up having to go to town to pick up Camilla from seminary and drop her to the school. As I was on my way out of town, I got a call from the post office to let me know our new baby chicks and turkeys were ready to be picked up. The timing couldn't have been better! I could hear them cheeping in the background and chuckled as they told me, "sooner the better". The look on Coopers face when I put the box in the car and he heard all of the babies cheeping away was priceless!

We brought them inside for a little while so that we could get the coop ready for them. This is always the littles favorite part because they get to look at them and hold them and watch them up close. We always make sure to get our fill of snuggles before bringing them out to the chicken coop.

This boy was pretty curious this year!

He had to be closely supervised because he kept wanting to hold them all by himself!

Of course, Lily was in heaven with all of these fluff butts hanging around!

The late morning brought us up to the haskap bushes once again! They are going to be loaded this year!

Cooper picked and stuffed his face with a whole bunch!

His picking bucket ended up being used as a hat.

In the evening we had the youth out for a waterfight. I discovered a puddle in front of my counter where someone came in soaking wet and stood to cut a piece of Apple Sauce cake. Lily somehow snuck out to join the fun AFTER she had changed into her jammies. She was right out there in the mess of it all, giggle and soaking the big kids. She's such a firecracker and I hope she never loses her zest for life! I finally had to call her in near the end so she could go to bed (after getting into dry jammies of course). 

Storm clouds rolled in as the night came to an end. The youth stayed warm by a fire until it was time to go home, and then everyone came in to get ready for bed.

The absolute best part of my day though was when Camilla came into the livingroom after her shower. "Were you looking for me?" I asked. "Yes! I wanted to give you a hug!" Which never happens. "Was this a dare?" I ask half joking.... "No, I just wanted to give you a hug!" she replied. It was the absolute best!

 

Paper Airplanes

On Sunday afternoon the boys spent a lot of time learning how to make different paper airplanes. Then they begged Grampa to show them how to make his special paper airplane. They’ve spent hours out front flying them! As Ollie raced out the door this afternoon after school he exclaimed, “This is so much fun! I could spend hours doing this!” As I watched the airplanes draw circles in the sky and glide across the driveway I couldn’t help but smile. 

Tonight my Dad shared with me that these paper airplanes were MY Grampa’s specialty when my Dad was growing up. Now my Dad has passed the tradition along to his grandkids and I think that’s such a neat thing! 

 

Tricky Seasons

The only reason we survived church today was thanks to Daddy! Cooper started getting unreasonable during the second block and Daddy kindly swept him up and walked the halls with him briefly. It didn't take long for him to come back with a sleepy, drooling Cooper snuggled up on his shoulder. I was grateful!

This season is always so tricky for me. A forever juggling act between keeping the house liveable, weeding the garden, picking the berries and snuggling baby chicks. My mind gets hyper focused on everything that needs doing inside and I sometimes have to remind myself that this is the season to be outside, soaking up the sun, getting berry stained fingers and tending to other things with the littles exploring right behind me.

 Life is such a beautiful adventure!

 

World Cup Day

Today was Soccer World Cup Day! It's always a blast and super crazy trying to catch everyone's games (especially with four kids in soccer). We spent most of the day moving our chairs from field to field with the wagon and snacks in tow. There were a few games where we split up between two fields!

Ollie played on the "white" team this year and Hyrum and Joe alternated reffing most of the U9 games. Ollie thought it was pretty cool having them both there to ref and watch. 

Lily is very passionate about her soccer playing, as shown by her serious stance in the net. She's a feisty player and awesome goal keeper!

Shortly after they handed out medals, we got pounded with a downpour! I brought one umbrella, so we all huddled underneath to try and wait it out. When it didn't let up, and the coaches started cleaning up the fields, we helped gather things and headed over to the van to wait out the thunder. Mike grabbed Sawyer from his game while I ran to the van with all of our stuff.

 Lily and Sawyer ended up catching a ride home with the cousins that came to watch and we waited out the storm.

Thankfully it didn't take too long after that for the rain to let up and we were back watching Fin and Ollie finish up.

Once Oliver's team had finished all of their games, they handed out medals and prizes and then we took him home for a late dinner.

The road was still damp and the evening fog had appeared!

They asked for a picture together and I was happy to oblige!

After a brief time at home, we turned back around to head to Fin's playoff games under the lights at the football field! It was a late game and we didn't end up leaving until after midnight. The teams were tired after all day of playing game after game, but they did so so good and it was a tight finish.

They ended up with Silver medals at the end of the night!

We all went home pooped out and ready for bed!

 

Wannabe

He just can't decide if he wants to be a baseball player or a soccer goalie....

 

Bedtime Mowing

Our Mr. Cooper is quite the outdoorsman. Before I even get out of bed in the morning, he's already at my bedside with running shoes in hand begging to go outside. He also often brings me his blue ear protectors so that he can wear them around the house. Mowing is one of his favorite things to do these days and he has even started wanting to push the buttons and control the mower a little bit more. The grin on his face as he grips the handles is priceless! It's easy entertainment.

After dinner we went out to mow the front yard, and it didn't take long before he completely passed out! The sun was on the cusp of golden hour, making his blonde hair stand out even more. I managed to finish most of it with him snuggled on my lap, and then I carried him in to bed where I'm certain he dreamt of mowing on his favorite big green lawn tractor.