Monday, June 5, 2023

My "Got It" Girl

 In honor of this little bug's 7th birthday this week, an essay that I wrote for her months ago. 

Cora at six-years-old says “got it” approximately 100 times a day. She poses it as a question when she’s talking to me, “I’d like a strawberry pug for breakfast, got it?” and also as a response to my homework query or Monday chore request or be-nice-to-your-sibling demand, “Got it!” I don’t know where she heard that phrase or why it’s clung to her like a baby koala these past few months, but when I look at her adorable freckled face and wide toothless grin I can’t stop thinking about words and passing time and the things we say and love.

 

Isn’t it funny how people pick up on phrases until they become more than letters strung together on a page and instead a part of their very personality? I am guilty of facetiously saying, “you’re not wrong” so often that my closest cringe with knowing, but sometimes the things people repeatedly say bring with them comfort and kinship and a warm sense of belonging. It’s my dad’s “kick butt and take names” and my mom’s “melk.” It’s Ash’s “I can’t even” and Mad saying she’s “tickled.” It’s Meghan’s giggle as she responds “I knooooow” with a drawn-out vowel, sometimes with a period, other times followed by a question mark. It’s the warm blanket of new phrases we try out being noticed, the old ones recognized.

 

Cora’s favorite color is orange now, instead of the purple it has been for as long as I can remember. She favors pants over dresses, and jeans least of all, though she still wears them because I can’t stand how adorable she looks with a ripped knee and button fly. Where once upon a time she only tolerated school, she is now desperate to read everything, to do all of the math problems plus extra credit, to write endless stories of wonder in her rainbow unicorn journal with such tidy penmanship. Kids change so fast, the passing month, every season, and I know there will come a day, probably sooner rather than later, that “got it” doesn’t escape from her lips, just like she blinked and preferred American Girl dolls over Barbies, orange over purple. And I’ll miss my “got it” girl, her mispronounced r’s and perfume pleas and the way her long lanky body still feels at home being carried in my arms. My baby girl at six is magical. Got it?!

Friday, March 31, 2023

Birthday Trip to Taylor

When we got tickets to, sit down and take a breath, OPENING NIGHT TO TAYLOR SWIFT IN PHOENIX ARIZONA WITH *insert sob* FLOOR SEATS it was pretty clear that we were going to have to celebrate our May and June birthdays in March. For Taylor, anything! And then when we found out that the Dodgers were going to be playing a Spring Training game that same weekend, well all the freaking stars were aligning for us. We did the usual birthday bestie trip stuff--ate yummy food and drank too much soda and stayed up late talking and laughing and crying--but we also saw Taylor, which makes this the birthday trip that I don't think can ever be beat. The weekend was absolutely wonderful, from start to finish. I love these friends of mine and there's not a day that goes by that I'm not grateful for them.   

Got my Swiftie sweater on and I'm heading to AZ. Peace out Sac-town!

When I saw this snack shop right outside of my terminal I thought it was definitely meant to be. They didn't sell Diet Coke, which the real Taylor would never stand for, but they had other yummy snacks!

We were eating tacos in our matching Swiftie sweaters when some street performers came up and started serenading us with Taylor songs before being rushed out of the restaurant by our waiter. It was such a fun and memorable moment. 


Every time we come here I move the furniture around and then ask the person working behind the counter to take a picture of us. Don't worry, I move the tables and chairs back when I'm done!




Taylor Swift virtual 5K for concert day. I'm a little rusty on my road running but it was fun to be back on the streets with these girls. We blasted music the whole time and we won 1st, 2nd and 3rd place! 

THIS FOOD WINS!



Taylor, I'm coming for ya!

Pre-gaming with XL caffiene!

People are so stinking creative. Teardrops on my guitar right here. 

What one wears to Taylor, all wear to Taylor. This Anthro giant sequin shirt in Lover hues was the perfect opening night vibe!


I can't believe we got floor seats to Opening Night. This was a dream!


Matching hands and clothes and bracelets, if you haven't caught on already we kind of like to match each other. (And by kind of, I mean always always ALWAYS like to be in the same clothes!!!)



The show was 10/10, better than expected, perfect in every way except that I didn't hear Death by a Thousand Cuts (there's still hope...more shows to come!) Taylor performed for more than 3 hours and sang everything under the sun. She is magnificent. 

Making fresh squeezed orange juice at Dustin's moms house. They are so generous to always let us stay and their house is perfection. 



These were our seats for the Dodgers game. Like, WHAT?! 




Besties. 

I'm so used to seeing the players from so far away that this felt surreal. Like, Hi Freddy!!! 

Matching (fake) tats that I love so much I almost want to make real.



It's me, Hi! I'm the problem it's me. (And by problem, I mean my face isn't in the pic because I'm taking a video for Ev!!!)

Things are constantly different and changing and easy and hard and yet these girls are as consistent and present as they come. Matching jams for the win on our last night together. 

March

Most of my March was spent wishing we were still on a cruise and not freezing in rainy Sacramento (other than my epic Taylor weekend, separate post for that coming atcha!) I'm a baby when it comes to winter, and an even bigger baby when it comes to gray skies, and March didn't offer me any favors. It was still a great month because we got to celebrate T and he is the funnest kid to celebrate, but I'm ready for summer weather and summer schedules and summer fun!

Ev's first time to the temple with his big bro


Papa turned 70!!! We had a delicious dinner and party for him. 

And the yummiest cake handmade by James. 

James learned how to make chocolate bananas and we pretended like we were still on a cruise ship and not our messy house with endless laundry and schedules and rain!


Always love hosting a houseful of teenagers!

Maggie was MAGNIFICENT in her most recent play. We love watching her on stage. 

Rainbow day at school and we understood the assignment. 

Three generations of weirdos.

I love continuing to add medals to this thing. Running is fun, but swag is the reason!

Free cone day is our jam

Comp soccer is now the name of Quinny's game





Karaoke night to celebrate Rachel turning 40!!! Neither of us sisters can sing, and it was very evident at this even haha. 

All star banner for our boy



McKee's Show Up! This is just a normal day at the field for a game for Ev. So grateful for these people who rally around and support and love my kids. They feel it. 

March Madness at Legette was awesome 

Another day, another house full of teenagers. 





So grateful that T has such a wide and deep group of friends. 

Teachers vs. 6th graders and I just happened to be subbing that day. I think Ev was surprised that I could still jump and shoot and play haha. Teachers won, but the 6th graders played a good game!


Cara was one of the stars of Legally Blonde at our local High School and she was absolutely incredible. My girls are now playing the music nonstop at our house and want to act someday too, so fun!



Love this sweet girl!