Resolutions

Now is the time for making resolutions and trying new things! For a long time I would set huge goals for myself at the start of each year and find myself frustrated when I couldn't meet them a few months in. Instead of working on big changes I like to focus more on the small things and one word or phrase to live by throughout the year. As I've sat in the quiet and pondered my "word" and focus for 2019 the word CHEER came to mind. One of my favorite hymns talks about what it is "to cheer and to bless" and it really resonated with me. As I've been thinking more and more about what I want to be  this year and what I want to give, I have come across so many quotes and scriptures that have brought me joy. In 2 Corinthians we learn that "God loveth a cheerful giver." I also want to be more like Alma and his brethren in Mosiah and "submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord." I am excited to explore this topic more over the year and learn what it really means to be cheerful and to spread that cheer in my home and community.

"Be cheerful in all that you do. 

Live joyfully. Live happily. 

Live enthusiastically, knowing that God does not 

dwell in gloom and melancholy, 

but in light and love."

 ~Ezra Taft Benson

Welcome January

It's hard to believe that a new year is here! We are so enjoying the slow pace of the holidays and extra time with Daddy. It's a new month filled with new goals and new possibilities.

We started the day with a giant batch of homemade waffles. I picked up this vanilla a few weeks ago and it smells heavenly. We've been adding it to everything just because it smells so good! Our homemade maple syrup, waffles, pancakes, cookies all taste so much better now thanks to this delicious ingredient!

This afternoon I was struck by how fast time is flying by when I watched my big girl snuggle up her baby brother. They shared a nap on the couch and it was about the sweetest thing I've seen in a long time. I can't believe how mature she looks and how grown up she acts. I am super grateful that all of her brothers have her to keep them in order. She does a great job!

Happy New Year

It's been a wild, crazy year! We are super glad to finally have all of our stuff here. I've missed our couch and my own bed. This transition has been crazy and I am so grateful to my parents for their patience and care as we've moved here. My brother came for an impromptu visit to celebrate New Years eve with us. We spent the day visiting and relaxing and then went out to visit with friends and enjoy a potluck dinner and games. When the littles were tired we came home and lit sparklers so that the little ones cold have a bit of fun before bed. The big kids stayed up to ring in the new year with us. We watched the Hobbit, ate junk food, and let them have their own cans of pop. I am looking forward to this year and all of the wonderful things in store!

Sunday Afternoons

Fully Furnished

When you're so excited about finally getting your bed that it's impossible to nap!

Boxing Day

Today the littles begged and begged to go back to Strawberry Hill for some sledding. After a light dusting of snow, we woke to the most beautiful Winter scene. 

The temperature wasn't as friendly as the last time, but the littles didn't seem to mind. We all bundled up and loaded in the van just after lunch, leaving Ollie at home napping under the care of Gramma.

I lost count of how many times Fin went down the hill with Daddy and whoever else would ride with him. 

It was enough times  though that he kept asking to go down, but only if someone would carry him back up. 

The cold nipped at our noses and cheeks making them rosy and frozen.

The littles thought it was fun to link arms and form giant groups as they slid down the hill. There was a few minor accidents, lots of laughs, and memories made.

Mr. Stannix and I had a few more hilarious rides down the hill, turning and laughing hysterically as we went. The couple who sleds together, stays together!

Grampa was able to take in a few more runs with the littles and they lasted way longer than I did at the hill.

After taking baby home to nurse, he snuggled with Gramma for a little while so that I could make hot chocolate for all. Another successful day of fun!

Christmas Day

Christmas Letter 2018

Dear Family & Friends,

We wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We hope this letter finds you well and that you are enjoying time with family and friends. With moving and the very late arrival of baby number six I didn't get around to stamping and sending out Christmas cards this year, so we are doing a virtual card/letter instead.

It has been another busy year for the Stannix family and we are so grateful for all of the opportunities we've had this year to learn, stretch, and grow! We've made a lot of big decisions this year and there has been a lot of changes.  We began the year with the exciting news that baby number six would be joining our family in November. Mike & I enjoyed a wonderful trip to Europe in May for a little bit of work, and a celebration of our 10th anniversary. In the Fall we packed our home and moved to the Acreage to be closer to family and follow a dream Mike has always had to start his own accounting practice.

Camilla (9) has grown up so much this year! She is such a responsible big sister and brings such joy to our family. She loves to teach lessons during family home evening and often comes prepared with it all written out on a piece of paper, along with pictures and games for the boys. She enjoyed trying out gymnastics this year and became quite good at it. She excelled in violin and enjoyed her teacher very much. She recently started piano lessons and has caught on pretty quickly. She loves music, and reading, and playing outside. She has been such a big help with baby Sawyer and enjoys snuggling him and even changing the odd diaper. 

Hyrum (7) grew two whole inches since his birthday in April. He is now taller than his sister (though she doesn't like that too much) and likes to rub it in. He has taken a recent interest in art and loves to sit and draw at the table. He can look at any picture and draw something that looks almost exactly the same. He enjoys being outside and loves to play ninja's with his brother Joe. 

Joseph (6) is enjoying grade one this year! He loves to learn and figure out how things work and his teacher is super! They focus on different themes each week like making apple sauce and homemade ginger bread houses. He loves being hands on and comes home happy and content. His active brain is enjoying being stretched and he is improving his reading so much! He enjoys being outside the most and has really loved the extra space at the acreage to run and be free. 

Finley (4) likes to be the funny one in the family. He makes us laugh every day and has such a charm about him. He enjoys eating breakfast with Grampa and playing bomber man on the TV. He has started some preschool learning at home and loves working in his booklets when his mom isn't too busy to sit and help. With the older three in school he has enjoyed being the big brother at home and is super helpful. He loves playing with his little brother Oliver and helping with the new baby.

Oliver (2) is super fun to be around and brings such joy to our family. He talks and pronounces his words so well and he seems so grown up lately! He has his moments, but for the most part he is very happy and agreeable. He likes to be silly with his big brothers and join into any wrestling match the moment it begins. 

Sawyer (1 month) is such an easy going baby! We feel so blessed to have him in our family. He sleeps like a champ and doesn't mind the noise and chaos one bit. He does four hour stretches at night and often sleeps right through the morning school routine which allows mommy to help the kids and make breakfast. He smiles at us and coos and has a very pleasant way about him. 

Mike took his young men on an amazing hike this Summer (over 52KM) near mount Assiniboine. It was a lot of hard work and planning, but enjoyed by all. The theme was resilience and the young men all came away stronger than they left. It was an amazing experience for all involved. He has recently finished work at KPMG and we are so happy to have him home with us full time again. He has partnered with a friend in Edmonton and will be starting his own practise here in January. We are excited about his shortened commute and the opportunity to have him working closer to home this year! 

I enjoy being able to be home with the children each day, and have really enjoyed living right next to my parents this Fall. It's fun to be able to teach the children and be at the crossroads each day as they leave and come home from school. In my spare time I enjoy creating, baking, crocheting, and most recently gardening and canning. I really enjoyed our trip to Amsterdam and London in May and am already planning and looking forward to another trip in a few years. 

We have been so blessed this year with great friends, loving family members and service. We are grateful for each of you and the support we've received this year through all of the craziness and fun!

Love,

Mike, Addie, Camilla, Hyrum, Joseph, Finley, Oliver & Sawyer

Christmas Eve

Today brought us to Strawberry Hill for an afternoon of sledding and fun! I'm not a big planner, and we have a new baby, so our Christmas break has been pretty quiet. The littles don't seem to mind though as they are easy-going and prefer to just relax at home and play around the Acreage.

Grampa came along too, and they thought it was pretty fun to go down the hill with him. We are pretty lucky to have a Grampa that can still sled and have fun with us!

Daddy was also a favorite to sled with, and he got in a lot of good runs with the littles!

The boys discovered another path a little further over that started slow and then dropped off and sent you flying to the end! It quickly became a favorite. I was amazed at how many times their little legs carried them tirelessly back up the hill.

Mr. Stannix and I squished onto a crazy carpet a few times and I may have screamed the whole way down the hill. He made fun of me for slowing us down with my hands and we crashed at the end. It's been a long time since I've laughed that hard and felt that kind of rush. My butt hurt, but my heart was full!

After finishing a giant pot of hot chocolate, Mr. Stannix got started on a double batch of Grampy's Tacos. Finley Gardiner was Mike's great-grandfather and the recipe has been passed down through the family. It's a Christmas eve tradition to make Grampy's tacos and Mr. Stannix just keeps getting better!

We turned on Christmas songs and the kids "oo-ed" and "ahh-ed" at his mad flipping skills.

My job is to fill them with meat and get them ready to fry.

We ate at the big table next to the Christmas tree with Gramma and Grampa! We almost ate every single taco and didn't have much for left overs. 

The kids had been asking about Christmas jammies all day and were so excited when it was finally time to open our Christmas Eve present. It's always jammies, but knowing this doesn't make it any less exciting for them!

I managed to get a decent group shot with everyone in it. I especially love the way Fins head is resting on Joe's shoulder and Ollie's gentle touch on Sawyers head. I sure love these littles!

Camilla loved snuggling Sawyer for most of the night, until it was time to watch our Christmas movie.

This sweet babe melts our heart every day!! He made a pretty adorable little elf and rocked his first Christmas hat.

Soon the littles set out Cookies and Milk (with a nice little booby trap attached) and hung their stockings with care. Then it was off to bed while the adults wrapped presents until nearly 2am.