The weather, the weather

I remember living in New York a few years back and talking endlessly about the weather on this blog as if we were on a blind date and had nothing in common. Oh, it's so cold. Oh, it's snowing again. Oh, my out-of-the-shower wet hair froze solid on my walk down the street. To be fair, we have plenty in common and I think our relationship is blossoming quite nicely...it's just...THE WEATHER! I don't know what it is about me but I really, truly do love to talk about the weather and at that point in my life and location, this sun-loving gal had a lot to complain about.

A few years later and on a different coast, you'll still find me talking about the weather but now it's all Oh, isn't it amazing to have multiple beach days during Thanksgiving break? and Oh, isn't it wonderful to wear t-shirts year round? and basically We are ruining ourselves and any potential long-term home for good because the weather. here. is. PERFECT! I really love Los Angeles; I love it more than I ever imagined I would and I love it for so very, many reasons but nearing the top of that list is, you guessed it, the weather.

  Last week the kids had the whole week off of school for Thanksgiving and since it hovered in the 80's the whole time we made the most of it with a trip to the zoo and a day at the beach with our buds. It was a whole lot of fun and left me feeling so grateful for this beautiful place we call home.

Animals--in and out of the cage!

Sweet friends.

I would relive this day over and over if I could. This was the BEST beach day of the year.

Grateful to be the third wheel

You don't cancel a babysitter--or a date night for that matter--when your plus one gets stuck working for like 18 hours straight on a Saturday (so normal these days that I didn't even blink when he called to cancel--womp womp!) I was so sad that James couldn't join, but if I had to third wheel with anyone these two lovebirds would be my first choice. They picked me up, they paid for dinner and they had me home before midnight so I think they may even get a second date--wink, wink. Thanks A&M for the greatest night. You two are the best!

Binky Baby

Her binkies used to be stored in a little mason jar on the left side of that wicker basket. Used to is the key word, because after she realized that with a little tip-toe action on her vanity chair she could have a handful of pacifiers I had to move that little jar to a super secret location. And by super secret, I mean they're on top of the dresser in the closet, but don't tell that binky-obsessed baby because I hate to imagine how creative she could get for a fix!

Veterans Day Away from LA

We had a three-day weekend to celebrate Veterans Day and my parents invited us to Sacramento to adventure with them. They got home from Hawaii the day before we showed up and you'd think they'd want some time to unwind from their trip but no, they're seriously super-parents and somehow even better grandparents and were so excited that we accepted their offer. 

Unfortunately James had to stay back in LA to work, but Meghan and Hunter hopped in the car with us after school on Thursday and we made it back to Sac in record time and with no stops. We rolled in at 8 pm which was plenty of time to eat my parents delicious dinner leftovers, snag some freshly-baked cookies and make a mess of their perfectly clean retired home! I just love being home, love, love, LOVE being home, and this time was no different.

I showed up at my parents door only to see that my Dad and I were matchy-matchy from head to toe (black tee and jeans). We are already selfie pros so why not pull out the camera within seconds of being home?! I love him and how he is so deliberate about making time for and giving attention to the ones he loves.

One of the funniest stories of the trip came the first morning we were there when Pepa poured himself a giant bowl of Reese's cereal for breakfast. Talmage asked if he could have some, and Pepa pulled out a little bowl that fit maybe twenty pieces of cereal. T was cracking up and pretending to be mad when Everett walked in and also asked for a bowl of cereal. You should have seen the shocked and disgusted and frankly hilarious look on Everett's face when Pepa pulled out the teeniest little bowl and put maybe 3 pieces of cereal inside it! Evie was like, "WHAT? Dats all da ceweal I get? Dats cwazy! It's wike thwee pieces!" and we all laughed soooo hard. The next day T was randomly in the kitchen laughing and when Mema asked him why he told her that he was still thinking about Pepa and the cereal!

My parents and I were trying to figure out what to do with our Friday and ended up at the bowling alley for my kids first venture into bowling. It was so much fun and for a half second I thought I wanted to follow my Noni's footsteps and join a bowling league!

My Dad couldn't bowl because he has a bum shoulder so he sat on the sidelines and cheered us on. I have a feeling that he would have whooped us had he been in the game, so it probably worked to our advantage.

My level of obsession with my Mama is off the charts. I LOVE being with her, having her attention and feeling of her love. She is the greatest and I try and try to be more like her.

It was so fun to watch my littlest turkey and her siblings play in my parents expansive yard. Honestly their backyard is what dreams are made of.

All babies flock to Mema at all times, but especially when it's bedtime and she comes to the couch bearing books. She added a new one to the mix this year--Llama Llama Gram and Grampa and it was so cute.

I won't say we came to Sacramento for the donuts, but we kind of came to Sacramento for the donuts! Apple cider donuts, that is, in Apple Hill. We usually stick to caramel apples at High Hill Ranch but this year we hopped from farm to farm and tried a treat or played a game at every place along the way. Our first stop was Rainbow Orchard for donuts that were every bit as good as how my parents explained. Crispy on the outside and smooth as butter on the inside with a generous sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar on the outside. Oooh, I could go for another one of those right now!

The next farm found our kids mining for gems and fossils. You CANNOT believe how excited they were over this! Last time we did this Quinn was so not interested but this time she was ALL over panning with her brothers. It was darling.

Cora was being super shy with Meghan's sister Caitlyn and it was so cute. She wanted her attention at all times but if Caitlyn got too close or gave her too much attention, she'd give this coy smile.

Pepa is the greatest grandpa I could imagine for my boys. He plays with them, teases them and teaches them (somewhat) naughty things that make them laugh, but he also shows them how family loves each other and gives them an example of how to be a well-rounded, happy and successful man.

They may raise the prices every single year but that doesn't keep us (eh-hem, Mema) from buying pony rides for the kids. It's tradition! Quinn loved her pony ride so much it makes me want to buy the chica one of her own. She was smiling and waving and even though the ride-time was more than generous she begged us to let her go on another time (next year, baby girl!) I can't believe that it was just a few years ago that Talmage was riding this horse. My feelings were so tender at that time and I was so confused about why T was so sure his sister wanted to come when obstacles kept being stacked in our way. Well, perspective is a beautiful thing and now to see his little sister on this horse was so special. (T's story here)

Who wants a normal caramel apple when you can have a worms and dirt one?! And do you see Pepa hiding in the background?!

Date night with my Dad-man for Jimboy's tacos (the most delicious greasy tacos in existence) and the adult session of stake conference--woot woot! My Mom was a saint and stayed home to feed my babies and put them all to bed and it was so fun to get out.

At the last minute Chase flew up to Sacramento on Saturday morning and then drove home with Meg, the kids and I on Sunday. I'm pretty sure he made the trip because he was afraid I was going to give his wife blood clots for not stopping on our road trip (wink wink) but we loved having him whatever the reason!

The ride home took a good 90 minutes longer than the way there thanks to multiple potty and gas breaks and by the end we were all ready to be out of the car, but I'd say for having 8 of us in my van for almost 8 hours we totally rocked it. This was just such a great weekend. I was afraid it would feel way too short and that it would feel like all we did was drive there to drive back, but it felt like such a full, fulfilling and fun weekend spent with my family. Who knows, maybe we just started a new tradition?!

Lately Leftovers

A little bit of leftovers from the past few weeks. 

Dinner prep looks a lot like this these days. And if you think she's playing or laughing, you're wrong. Loud and long screams mixed with clawing and pinching my knees. Good times, good times.

My Thanksgiving table decor is going nowhere fast and that's probably because any and all creative juices die when I see my darn cornucopia as pumpkin hats thanks to Miss Quinn! T minus one week until Thanksgiving, I better get on it or this is what my guests will see!

Quinn is OBSESSED with Bob the Builder and wears her construction hat basically everywhere these days. She has that cute, cute princess box but she refers to it as her toolbox because I am basically raising my tomboy twin. She walked into the kitchen yesterday wearing her hard hat and a stethoscope and I said, "Awesome Quinn, do you want to be a doctor or a construction worker someday?" And she looked at me defiantly and said, "No, I'm going to be Hulk." She's getting her practice in, let me tell you!

Everett ran into the kitchen like there was an emergency on Sunday night because he wanted me to see this vibrant sunset out our front window before it disappeared. In our two-plus years in Los Angeles this is the prettiest sunset I have ever seen, so I understood his excitement. I'm so glad he recognizes beauty and invites me to view it by his side. 

Every morning I call the boys in to the bathroom to get their hair combed and 9 times out of 10 Everett comes in, puts on a baseball hat, and laughs hysterically about out-smarting his brush-yielding Mama. First graders think they're so funny sometimes!

James said, "Who wants to say the prayer?" and cute Coco who was sitting at the table for the first time raised her hand high and proud.

When one of my kids specifically asks for their picture to be taken I make it a practice to never say no, even if it is with a silly Boba cup on the street in Westwood Village.

Party in the closet--clothing optional, massive amounts of stuffed animals required.

Her hair is too fine and silky to hold the curlers, even with some ratting and hairspray, but she sat super still and actually loved this girly little moment so I'm calling it a win. Can't wait to do it again!

We hosted the children from three families after church a few Sunday's ago and my partner-in-crime was on lunch duty. I laughed as I walked in to a whole loaf of bread on a hundred different plates being made into so many different sandwich concoctions. So grateful that when he's home, he's present.