Yesterday Afternoon

My Ray of Sunshine

Both the kids are up when the number six is still the first digit on my clock, in other words, way too early! I get up and do something easy for breakfast, toast and "cheese was" (as Camilla calls it).

While everyone eats, I go snuggle up onto the couch in the darkened living room feeling exhausted. Mr. Stannix gives me a hug and kiss before he leaves. He looks me in the eye and says, "you should say a prayer, ya never know, it might change the night to day". I force a little grin and then Camilla jumps into my lap. "Mom, I missed ya! Give Daddy a hug good-bye". When neither of us move she looks at Daddy with her crazy eyes and says, "Give 'er a hug...you Turkey!". I couldn't help but smile. Mr. Stannix and I laughed together. Then he gives me another kiss on the forehead and tells me to have a good day, and I just know that I'm going to miss him like crazy today.

The kids are playing well, so I decide to read a few articles out of the Ensign. Then we go upstairs, get dressed, make beds and say morning prayers.


Daddy calls for a small chat, and tells me he loves me. He always knows when I need him.

After we are all dressed, we make up Chocolate chip banana muffins. The smell of them baking reminds me that I still haven't eaten breakfast. I play this song all morning which results in Camilla singing, "You AMAZIN'....just the way you are!" over and over again, because that's the only line she can remember. It's so great when a two year old tells you that you're amazing!

Then I try putting Hyrum for his nap, Paul Cardall piano music playing in the background. As I close the door, Hyrum starts to cry. I sit outside and whisper a little prayer. Tears start to fall and I feel like I can't handle any more today. Then I give in and snuggle my little man as we go downstairs.

I place him on the floor to boogie around. Camilla tickles her little brother, calling him a "chubby boy". As they giggled together a smile is once again brought to my face and the clouds start to lift.

Then the phone rings and it's my Mum. I shed some tears, she shares some wise words, and I hang up feeling much better.

My baby girl looks up at me and exclaims "Smile!" I bend down to give her a hug and she brings her nose to mine and gives me an Eskimo kiss. A sweet little moment is shared and the world around disappears as we snuggle. What a special ray of sunshine she is. I am grateful for the hilarious things she says and the bubbly girl she is this morning. She certainly knows how to lift the mood around here!

Prayer does change the night to day. I am so grateful for a Heavenly Father who knows us each so perfectly, and is there for us when we need him the most!

This afternoon he will probably be doing some more of this.....

&

I get to call the Samsung people about our TV

(Two year old and spray bottle...long story)

Nine Months

 Hyrum is nine months old today! How did that even happen? I still feel like just yesterday we were bringing him home from the hospital. Time is going way too fast! He has gotten so big and recently started exploring the house. He loves my cupboards and anything that opens and closes. He still doesn't sit up, stand up, or roll much in his crib, but just lays there until someone comes to get him. He's quite easy going, unless it involves his red car.

Camilla is so great with her baby brother for the most part and they now enjoy giggling and playing together more. Bedtime snuggles in her bed have become a regular nightly routine. He copies her every move and out of all of us she can get him laughing the hardest, especially when we're in the car going somewhere. 

 I love how easy he is to put to sleep at night. He'll cuddle in to my shoulder as I place his fuzzy favorite blanket over him. We cuddle and rock together for a few minutes and soon his head sinks into my shoulder. I kiss his head, whisper I love you and cuddle him into his crib where he falls asleep on his own.

Naps are a little bit trickier and he will usually try to fight them. I wrap him in his fuzzy blanket and draw on his face with my fingers. Usually as I rub his ears his eyes get heavy and start to close. His favorite lullabies are either I am a Child of God or Hourglass. I sing until his breathing gets heavy and then he goes up to his crib.

One of my very most favorite things about him is the way he scrunches up his nose, breathing in and out super fast, almost snorting, with the most giant grin on his face. He'll do it to make you smile or get a giggle. It's the cutest little face in the world, and no picture I take of it does it justice.

In these last nine months I have developed a great love for my smiley little boy and his sweet little spirit. He loves cuddles, books, people and music. Some days he is so cute that I just want to eat his chubby cheeks when I kiss his face. He is silly and goofy and everything I imagined a little boy to be. I will be sad when he is too big to fit his little booties, or to fit in my arms for nighttime cuddles. He brings so much joy and laughter to our little family.

Trains and a Trouble Maker

It's floor washing day...And it's a good thing...

It means long trains and a sparkly floor to play and move on. 

Hurray!

Simple Facts

Camilla Jean....

Calls kidney beans "Jelly Beans"

Sometimes won't eat her dinner unless she is spoon fed

Calls a bow a "tie bow"

Loves getting candy from the 25 cent vending machines and saves every penny she finds to use for jelly beans

Loves dried mangoes from Costco

Calls cinnamon hearts "spicies"

Whenever she has a drink of anything she will always ask you for her mickey mouse straw "that goes round and round and round"

Fresh Air

This morning after Hyrum's nap the kids and I walked up to the park for some sledding and swinging. There is a tiny hill at our park that was just right for Camilla. For her first time ever sledding down a hill she did awesome. We went together a couple of times and then she went with her dino (toy of the day). She loved it!

 It was actually a pretty nice afternoon! 

We enjoyed a few runs and then she wanted to go play on the swings.

 As soon as I got them into the swing the flakes started falling. It was magical. The children giggled away on the swings and then we caught snowflakes on our tongue!

It would have been fun to stay and play, but the snow was wet and it started getting chilly. 

Camilla didn't want to leave and insisted on a few more pushes in the swing. 

Hyrum loved swinging and watching his sister fly back and forth.

We baked brownies together this afternoon and Camilla tried to crack the egg by banging it on the table and then squishing it in her hand. I couldn't help but smile at the splatted egg on my table. Now she knows what happens when you squeeze an egg. Her reaction was priceless. 

I had a friend drop in last minute this afternoon. The house was a disaster. Laundry piled up on the couch, a kitchen full of unwashed dishes, and toys everywhere! I also didn't realize until half way through the visit that I had left my braids in from the night before and they were all frizzy and coming out all over. She told me of a magnet that her mom used to have on the fridge growing up...

It was a great reminder! 

Now to get some organizing done while the kiddos are in bed!