Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Gong Xi Fa Cai

I got it in my head that us Wigs should host a little Chinese New Year celebration and before I knew it that "little celebration" morphed into thirty people in our pad sharing an asian dish of their choice and learning about different people and places and cultures. If we had even an extra square foot of space around here we would have invited more, but we feel so blessed with what we have (the home and the friends!) We had friends in attendance who had lived in China, Korea, Thailand, Japan and Taiwan and it was so fascinating to learn just a little about those different places and eat such delicious food. I was the happy recipient of leftovers as well and gosh, lunches that week were the cream of the crop. Happy Lunar New Year, Gong xi fa cai! Hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!

Finally able to hang my pretty asian ladies I bought in Taiwan so many years ago! And it wasn't long before that table was full to the brim of the yummiest food ever, and boy was I happy about it.

James and I wrapped over 200 dumplings and by the end we were owning them! We used a Taiwanese recipe from Mad's dad that we've made before and it was once again a total success. We fried 120 and they were gone in minutes, the rest went in our freezer to enjoy later. 

The dragon led the way to the party!

Our backyard looked like a Chinese restaurant, and I wasn't sad about it at all!



Ummmmm, right?! It was such a feast! Egg rolls, fried rice, dumplings, egg fried tofu, waterfall pork, Thai chicken soup, chinese chicken salad and so many delicious fruit and veg options.

I loved seeing those chairs fill up one by one.

A picture of most everyone, missing a few friends who had to leave early.


And when they said I should get out from behind the camera and be in the shot I sheepishly said, "Who, me?!" Ever the timid and shy one.


When everyone else left the six of us went out into the backyard to enjoy the lanterns and reminisce about how fun the party had been (Talmage was quick to mention that we should make it a tradition!)



She had already brushed her teeth and we were halfway through our bedtime story when she ran out of the room, only to be found a few minutes later elbow deep in a turnip pancake! I love how both of my girls are such adventurous eaters...maybe someday it'll serve them well on missions or adventures of their own.

Monday, February 26, 2018

Happy Melissa Day!!!

She's the brunette to my blonde. The introvert to my extro. An order of regular coke when I'm a diet kind of girl and the girlie to my tomboy. She's my first call in an emergency, my children's second mama and my favorite person to escape with mid-day for an order of everything, cut in half. People at school always mistake us for each other (despite the hair, but maybe the height? and definitely due to the four crazy kids each) and you know what, I couldn't feel more honored when someone calls me Melissa. She is good and kind and believing and I want to be more like her. 

Happy birthday dates took place almost on the daily for the whole first week of February because Melissa deserves every ounce of happiness and celebrations and love that the world has to offer. I wish I had taken more pictures of the fun we had, but I'm glad I at least have one (and from our first visit to the Tipsy Cow to boot--those tater tots were sooooo divine.)

Happy birthday friend, I honestly don't know how I'd do life without you. I couldn't.

Can't you see how people get us confused?! Wink, wink.

I seriously included this picture just so I could look at those tots FOREVER!!!

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Lovey-bread men and other Valentine-isms

I know this sounds silly since writing has been such an important part of my adult life, but did you know that it wasn't until Valentine's Day that I realized it's my love language? I've always considered writing to be one of my personal great loves and it is so cathartic and meaningful to me, but as I sat at the breakfast table on February 14th and read the sweet letter James wrote me I found myself welling up with tears and feeling so deeply and sincerely loved. It hit me like a ton of bricks--writing is my love language, the gift I love most, the key to my soul! Duh! And wow! And took me long enough to figure that one out, huh?! Forget the flowers or jewelry and I'm definitely not talking about a simple signed card, but a true piece of beautiful writing makes my heart sing. (Notice I did not include chocolate on that "forget" list, it's a close second love language. Especially when it's slapped on a raised donut!)

I think the little love letter from James meant more to me this year than any other gift he could have bought me because I know how valuable his time is, how little sleep he gets and how busy work has kept him lately. Many nights I go to sleep with no husband by my side and wake up in the morning with no husband by my side only to learn that at some point during the night a tired and over-worked husband crawled into bed and was asleep by my side! Crazy, right? And maybe a little bit creepy! To think that James spent so many precious moments preparing something for me, despite how easy it would have been to use his life as an excuse, is really touching, and he kept it a surprise to boot. Our dinner may have been delayed until long after 9 pm (an early night by our standards) and it may not have been worth the time or calories (because I'm the worlds worst cook) and we were both so exhausted by the long day that we fell asleep on the couch in full sweat suits watching the Olympics (#romance, haha!) so suffice it to say our love day didn't really go as planned. But when I think back on Valentine's Day 2018 I hope I'll always remember the comfort I felt when I realized that the one I love loves me back, knows me better than I know myself and gives of himself freely for my gain. That is certainly something to celebrate.

Second and final year of these cute sweaters making their Valentine's Day appearance. Cora's is a little snug this go-around but I can't pass up a matchy moment so I stuffed her in it anyway!

The kids really wanted to decorate gingerbread men around Christmas but things got too busy and we were already overbooked and it just fell off of our to-do list. We decided to remedy the situation by making Lovey-bread men the Sunday before Valentine's Day. The kids were thrilled and since Valentine's candy > Christmas candy so was I!!! 

Give me all the gummies, with a side of those chocolate caramel hearts!



THAT SMILE!!!!!!!

I was so proud of their work and couldn't stop smiling when I looked at their little people, and I maybe even analyzed the method to their madness a little! Top left is Coco (with help from Daddy), top right is Ev. Bottom left is T and bottom right is Quinny. 

I don't have any pictures from Valentine's Day except for this one, because it was NUTS, but this snap of the kids at the breakfast table getting ready to open the cutest cards from Papa and Gigi is enough for the whole day plus some! I especially want to remember how Cora immediately put stickers all over herself and how Quinny folded the card up small and carried it around in her pocket for the rest of the day. They all loved the Love Duck and I loved sneaking a peak at the creative card and personal messages in each one. What a special way to start the morning! 

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

An Unauthorized Valentine's Post


Listen, friends:

I really shouldn’t be doing this.  In my almost ten years of marriage to Heather, one thing I’ve learned is that you never, ever write in her journal.  Or doodle in it.  Or touch a piece of paper that Heather may have, at some point, intended to write on.  The reasons for her pet peeve are completely understandable:  Heather wants the thoughts she records to be her own and not someone else’s.  I say this only to alert you that what I am about to post to Heather’s blog is important and worth the risk.

(But keep in mind that your reactions will decide if I get a kiss on the cheek or a kick in the seat—so keep it positive, people!)

This is our tenth Valentine’s Day as a couple, and I can honestly say that I didn’t know what love was before I met Heather.  My understanding of romance was like a Hallmark card, or even worse, a Hallmark made-for-TV movie: sappy, sentimental and super-low budget.  But Heather has taught me that love is so much more than handsome princes and upwardly mobile females who are trying to ditch their workaholic [fill in the profession] fiances so they can marry handsome princes.

Love is about celebrating life’s big accomplishments together.

Heather and James on his BYU graduation day.

Love is also about rejoicing in the little things.

Heather and teeny-tiny Everett!

And love grows when you share it.

The Wiggintons in Yosemite, 2017

Love is also about sticking together when life isn’t so peachy.  Sometimes, in a ten-year marriage, you feel like there’s more “for poorer” than “for richer” . . .

 When we were in England and living on a shoestring, these Halloween jack-o-lanterns turned into . . . 

. . . November 1st pumpkin soup.

 And our living room lamp doubled as a Christmas tree.

. . . and more “in sickness” than “in health.”



We also grow older and lose our youthful looks.  True romance is remaining attracted to your companion even as they age.

James in 2009.  Note the hair.

James in 2018.  Note the lack of hair.  Still looks just as goofy as he did in 2009, though.

Heather in 2009.  Gorgeous and fun.

Heather in 2018.  Still gorgeous and fun.  I swear she doesn't age.

In short, love is about kindness and goodness and persistence.  A prophet I know said it better than I can:  “And charity . . . seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”

Heather embodies these qualities and more, and if you’re reading this, you know it’s true!

Happy Valentine’s Day to the woman who’s teaching me to love.

Friday, February 9, 2018

The Killers

Last weekend James and I went and saw The Killers at Staples Center and they put on SUCH a great show. You all know by now that Brandon Flowers is our couple crush (we've seen him in concert three times and did I ever tell you about the time I ran into him in the airport?) and dang, that guy sure knows how to own the stage, sing his heart out and dance. It was so much fun to be there and it's always fun to be out on a real date. 


We started at Roscoe's for chicken and waffles and oh my goodness, that place was beyond delicious. True, I hadn't eaten lunch and was starving but still, the chicken was hot and crispy and the waffles buttery and soft. Next time (and there WILL be a next time) I'll skip the biscuits and gravy and just go for the chicken and waffle gold. Dad, come visit so I can eat here again soon--you'll love it!

I was so excited to be there that even though we were a little early I didn't want to get too far from our seats for fear that we'd miss even a second of the show. Our seats were only nine rows behind general admission which was so incredible. We got so lucky! We left smelling like weed and completely exhausted but also positive that this was one of the best concerts we'd ever seen. 



When they started singing "Rut" everyone pulled out their phones and I pulled out my tissue! That song is so beautiful and this moment even more so.


THEY WROTE A SONG FOR LA!!! And it was AWESOME!!!


Because as Ronnie said, sometimes you have to do it with the lights on. HAHAHAHAHA! This was the very last song and they went out with a bang. What. A. Concert.


Thursday, February 8, 2018

Just a few little randoms

Leftovers from a busy January and the start of a beautiful and sunny February. 
I love California so much and feel so grateful to live here, especially during this time of year!

Four cheesy self-dressed friends at the park!

James has been writing letters to the kids and sending them by mail so that they can feel his love even if they don't see very much of him. It's such a great idea and has had such a big impact on our littles. They feel so loved and important, and I'm so grateful that James is making the effort to connect with them. Weeks later Quinn is still walking around with hers and Everett was BEYOND excited when it was his turn to get a letter in the mail last week. 

Ready for basketball in his knee socks, superhero shirt and "we are all Golden State Warriors so don't fight with your team mates" headband!

We've been a little sicky the last couple of weeks but luckily we're on the mend. No fever for T but a definite case of pink eye (and exhaustion...and sadness about having to cancel Friday Ice Cream). Cora and Quinn were infected in both eyes and Coco also had a gnarly ear infection. Fun, fun! (NOT!)

He reeeeeealllly wanted me to wear the headband for the whole game but it just wasn't going to happen. A picture pre-game though was A-OK.

Those afternoon shadows give me all of the heart eyes.

Pajama-clad Quinn-a-lynn was cleaning her kitchen (and rocking it!)

I went into the boys room to say goodnight and saw Evie's outfit all picked out for his field trip the following day! I never can get over his clothing choices!

While eating their popsicles they kept yelling, "Hashtag, bromance!" Hahahaha! Theirs is such a darling little bromance, indeed!

Preschool color practice. I wish you could see her tongue out in concentration...so cute!