Wild Wiggy Women

In honor of my Quinny-girl turning FIVE in just a few days the wild Wiggy women wore our Cheetah-best for church. She was so excited that she didn't even fight me about wearing a dress, which if you know Quinn you know is almost miracle status. I love that Cheetah-wearing tomboy and her girly-girl baby sister and dressing like them feels like watching my dreams come true.  

September Extras

September was wonderful and busy and went by in the blink of an eye. Here are a few extra pictures and stories for the month:

Quinny and Carson, doing their Pokemon thing!

I made and served dinner and after one bite Quinn returned to my side and said, "Mom, I drew a picture of what I think about your dinner." I would have been offended if I could have stopped laughing, haha! She's my best eater and is always willing to try anything so dinner must have really been gross!

She's a threenager lately and is full of fits, but she loves to help and if I remember to give her jobs--especially in the kitchen--she usually can fake a happy face. 

Ev can sometimes let his fear control his actions so it always makes me proud and ecstatic when he pushes through the pain and succeeds. This boy is a real biker now and can even go down hills! He is thrilled with his new skill and I can't believe the change I've seen in him this last week.

Another weekend, another sunrise beach run. I live for my mornings with these girls. 

All these years later and she's still a cheetah girl!

Rach and I showed up to a baptism in identical outfits and I had to grab a picture. It was even funnier when we showed up to church the next day in identical outfits as well--I couldn't get a picture that time. Honestly, we hang together so often we must be becoming the same person!

Everett and I went on a double date with a couple of friends to see a professional soccer game after James couldn't get off work at the last minute (on a Saturday...after billing 14 hours...such a bummer). I honestly squealed with joy when I found out it was Hello Kitty night and they gave us these cute stuffed animals. I really wanted to go to Hello Kitty night at Dodgers Stadium and couldn't make it work, so this was such a treat! 

She's really tired and sensitive in the afternoon because of her long day at school and her seeming inability to sleep-in. We do a lot of cuddling and reading and floor time. She's getting bigger, but I often have to remind myself that she's still so young.

I'm a horrible swing mom. She begs for me to push her and I beg for her to go run around on the jungle gym! But oh my goodness, the smiles she was giving me last Friday made me grateful that she won this week. What a darling.

 Watching her play soccer is one of my week's highlights and often looks like this: Quinny in a solo break-away to the goal while being chased wildly by the other team. She plays so aggressively and scores so many goals and she's just so fierce. I love her!

Complete Biker Gang

We've got a complete biker gang now thanks to Everett's hard work this last week or two, pushing through frustration and setback until he was riding a two-wheeler like a boss. I'm so proud of him! Bike rides are becoming a nightly thing around here and no one is more happy about it than me, the scooter mom turned circus ringmaster pulling up the rear. 

Book Fair Picks, Explained

We've had the same Book Fair tradition since T was in Kinder: each kid gets to pick one book of their choice. Some years I do more guidance than others and sometimes I tell them, "That looks like a great book to add to our library list instead of our permanent library," but I really do try to let them choose what speaks to their reader-souls, whether I like it or not. It was weird Book Fair-ing without the Burnett's, they are so much a part of this tradition my kids wondered if we were even going since they had moved, but we made it through another first without them and the kids ended up with books they loved and smiles I love, win/win. 

Talmage: Was choosing between the Pokemon super-deluxe-ultra-rare-bladda-bladda book and the 2020 Guinness book of world records. He carried both around the store for a full hour, and just as we were lining up to make our purchase he put the world record book away and handed me the Pokemon guide. This was his top choice all along and we all knew it--that kid is still obsessed with Pokemon--but I think he delayed his final decision fearing my this-is-seriously-your-pick? eye roll. He got it, the eye roll I mean. But he also got the book, so I guess he came out on top. (Although today he said he regrets not getting the Guinness book, is he just trying to get on my good side?! Or giving me a Christmas hint?)

Everett: Was the last to make a decision and spent the majority of our Book Fair visit with a miserable look on his face. He'd walk through the aisles, shaking his head, scrunching his nose and repeating things like, "This is all too expensive." or "It's OK, I won't get anything." or "That's way too much, it's not worth it." He's always had a serious case of spending guilt, and while I appreciate the sentiment he can sometimes turn a little let-me-treat-you situation into a YOU-MUST-HAVE-FUN! battle. I usually win, I'm pretty fun you know, and he ended up with a graphic novel that featured "Knight" in the title and a smile on his face but phew, that kid knows how to give me dem grey hairs.

Quinn: Was genuinely unimpressed with all the picture books she saw. You've never seen a meh face until you've seen Quinn look at the pink, glittery, princess-obsessed picture book section. Even the more gender neutral books did nothing for her. "Sure, that's fine," she said when I showed her a book about a child-turned-tiger named Jim who ate his Mom, the dog walker, and all sorts of other silly things. That book almost came home with us because it was the best darn option we had, but in the eleventh hour she saw the book of her dreams: Spider-Man, Spider-Man! and there was not a question in the world that it was coming home with us. Spider-Man, Spider Man! is the actual title, there's no plot, and the pictures are just so-so, but as I was reading it to her last night she laughed and giggled and her eyes sparkled and she held that book tightly to her chest when we were done. She loves it, so there's that.

Cora: Was in love with 100% of the books that Quinn despised. Give this girl all the cutesy, girly, frilly, ridiculously pink and purple books and she will be your best friend. Try limiting her to just one, be ready for a tantrum that only a tired threenager can produce. "But I want this one too!" she said when she saw Anna and Elsa. "And Daniel Tiger, and I want Pink-a-wishus!" Before long she had an armful of books and the process of choosing just one was long and painful and full of a thousand back and forths. She ended up with Fancy Nancy because it had real glitter on the cover and Cora's a sucker for shiny things. That, and Nancy is basically my baby's spirit animal.  

Weekending

Fall weekends are always fuller than full and I find myself holding my breath from about Friday afternoon until the kids are off to school on Monday and begging for everything to fit into place. It usually works out, life is beautiful in that way, so I try, try, try to just enjoy the craziness of this season and push the stress to the side. It's actually easier to do than you would expect because I am nothing but grateful for this incredible life I get to lead and the little buddies by my side. But still, between soccer, work schedules, STEM camp, birthday parties and normal to-do's it's busy over here!

Because Quinny has soccer at 8 for the foreseeable future my running crew is getting to the beach before the sun does to start our runs. We crazy, but this view couldn't be more gorgeous and I love that I can start my day by the waves. 

  Hello runners, and hello moon!

The ironic thing is that there were about 80 other girls ridiculously disappointed that they weren't on the pink team and Quinn, lover of blue, green and anything-but-pink, is now a Pink Cheetah. She's going to put up with it for the season, but for the record, she doesn't think pink makes a very good soccer color!

  I spoke at Stake Conference! Hardest part was sitting on the stand and paying attention for the one hour and 50 minutes when I wasn't speaking, haha!

Uma and black sesame ice cream in a custard-filled fish cone with coconut, oreos and cocoa crispies on top. Oh. My. Yummy. Goodness. 

Always grateful for a good GNO. 

Trying to talk Everett into becoming a biking family with us. He's a hard sale, I tell ya. He was just out of the picture, crying about how we are the worst family ever for making him ride his bike. He's going to love it eventually, right?! (Also: QUINN'S smile!!!)

Always accessorize, even for an evening ride around the block. Necklace: check. Purse: check. Bracelet: check. Love this girly-girl. 

Hand-me-down bike. Hand-me-down helmet. Hand-me-down pajamas. But the sense of excitement and joy and adventure? The lack of fear? Her self-confidence? That's alllllll Quinny-girls!

A cotton candy sky is always the way I want to end my weekend.

LA Kings 10K

 

Ran another 10K with (most) of my running girls and PR'd by 2.5 minutes from my last 10K in April.  This was HUGE for me because sometimes it's hard to know if I'm really improving, so this was my proof. I felt so good on the course and had a really great time. I really love races and am so glad I've been able to do so many this year. 

Painting Date with Corabelle

Cora has been begging to paint for weeks but how do you find time to paint when you're in school all morning and Mom is helping the older kids with homework all afternoon? When all three siblings had a playdate after school Cora and I took the opportunity to have a paint date at LACMA (more paint + less mess = winning). We spent two hours in the Children's Gallery, painting flowers and butterflies and mermaids and rainbows. Coco had so much fun, plus I brought her to the candy shop afterwards so it was exactly what she would want from a Mom date. Oh, I love my little Cora Sue. 

 She's painting a mermaid.

 

I love her face so much it hurts. Cora is the cutest little baby (but don't let her hear you calling her a baby, you'll be in trouble!)

 No, she doesn't look excited about her candy at all does she.

Poor girl was out within minutes of being in the car on the way home. This transition to preschool is not for the weak of heart. 

Always.

"Mommy? Mommy?" a raspy little voice squeaked from the booster in the back seat of my minivan. "When we ah all at school, will you miss yo childwen?"

I looked in the rear view mirror and locked eyes with a baby girl who wasn't jamming to Lizzo on the radio, who wasn't eating her second-breakfast Cheerios I had packed in a baggy, who really had not a care in the world in that moment except to know that her Mama cared for her.

It was the question of the morning--that "will you miss me" one--because not even an hour before as I was walking Talmage to school he leaned into my goodbye hug and whispered, "Mom, when we're all at school are you going to be happy, or sad?"

It was Cora's first solo day of preschool. It was the first full week of elementary school for T, Ev and Quinny. It was the first day of morning childlessness for me. That Monday morning, we all felt the change in the air and were searching for answers just out of reach.

I found their questions so touching, so genuine. They long to be longed for, find peace and security in knowing that even when we are apart, there is a hole just their size in my very soul. And maybe the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. I'm thirty-four and when I see the adventures of my empty-nester parents I still find myself wondering, "When they are on a trip, do they miss their children? When they are away, do they miss me?"

Never one to let time get away from me, I have had every childless morning planned out for the whole week. Monday: pedicure. Tuesday: dance class. Wednesday: beach walk. Thursday: temple. And then of course there were errands and chores and incidentals that filled in the cracks. I've gotten so much accomplished and I've really enjoyed some quiet mental space to create, and think, practice self-love and be productive. I'm still finding my footing with free time, but I'm grateful for it nonetheless. Time is a precious gift, and I try hard not to waste it.

But did I miss them like they hoped I would? The answer to that tender question from my oldest and my youngest remained the same at the end of the week as it did on that busy Monday morning when I wrapped them in my arms and told them that I'd miss them terribly when we were apart. And I meant it. There's no place I'd rather be than with the four of them (on a beach, in the summer, let's be honest). I will always miss them when they're not around. Always. They'll do their things and I'll do mine and I hope we all feel ridiculously happy and overwhelmingly fulfilled in our many adventures, but I also hope they know that wherever I am, I will never stop thinking, longing and loving them.

Lucy Lu and Ollie-Boy

When my brother and sister-in-law asked if I would watch their kids for a few days while they attended a work conference in Anaheim it took me about two and a half milliseconds to say HECK YES I WILL, I'M SO EXCITED! YES! YES! YES!!! They live in Utah so I just never get enough time with them and I was really looking forward to having them all to myself. It turned out to be the most wonderful week for all of us and I'm so glad we could make it work. 

They dropped the kiddos off on Wednesday and were back on Saturday afternoon and if I could have kept them longer I absolutely would have. The cousins had so much fun together and that little Ollie-boy was the sweetest little shadow and my best buddy. He would literally just follow me around from room to room, wanting to be where I was at all times and doing what I was doing. At first I thought he was calling me Mommy, but then I realized that he was saying, "Ha-my", his pronunciation of Heather. Oh gosh that melted my heart. I had almost forgotten how fun it is to have an 18-month-old. They're so stinkin' cute, well, at least this one was!

We popsicled and bicycled, ice creamed and sleepovered. We matched and matched and matched some more, got a million mosquito bites from a late evening doing an obstacle course in our yard, and ended their stay in L.A. where all successful trips should end: the beach (at sunset no less, geez it was good!) I'll be honest, I was pretty proud of the fact that I kept six kids safe, fed and happy for the week and would do it again in a heartbeat. 

Thanks Jord and Mad for trusting me with your babies, now leave again so that we can have more fun!

They had no idea they were licking all over spinach popsicles, haha! I love when my vegetable trickiness is successful. 

Who likes cousin time? MMMEEEEEEEEE!!!

You cannot even believe how excited they were when they realized they had matching jammies. You would have thought they had won the dang lottery! And they were hardcore trying to convince me to let them sleep together in the same bed, and I finally agreed. They were so cute snuggled all together and they slept so well (with two on the trundle and Quinny ultimately riding solo up top!)

My older boys are such good helpers. They were brushing teeth and reading bedtime stories. I am so grateful for them. 

Never were there ever cuter little park buddies. Lucy probably asked 5,000 times this morning when it was time to pick up the girls from school so maybe I wasn't their first choice of playmates, but they were definitely mine!

More matchy-matchiers!

Oh, those early morning baby snuggles are hard to beat. I love Ollie so much and he was such a sweetheart to me the whole time!

I love sharing my happy place with friends and family and everyone! James always says that I love the beach more than anyone he knows, and it's true, my love runs deeeeeeeep. But look at these smiles?! You can't beat them! I love this place and the happiness it brings.

Operation: Take allllll the silhouette shots! This was so much fun!

My new favorite family picture. Period. The end. I want it blown up and put on my wall pronto.

You look one way and see the hot orange and red, you look the other and see soft pinks and purples. I stand there and can't stop spinning and enjoying the rainbow of sunset. 

Goodbye sun and goodbye McKee's. We miss you all so much and love you with all our hearts! Thanks for coming and making our week so fun.