Feliz Navidad

I was mega-stressed that our Christmas party would not be able to top the Night in Bethlehem party from last year, but guys, IT DID!!! Instead of trying to compete with last year which was a spiritual masterpiece, we did something completely different and made this party all about culture and fun with a Feliz Navidad theme! There was an 8-man live mariachi, there was catered tacos, tamales and churros, there were aquas frescos and the funnest photo booth. There were cultural presentations given, Spanish hymns sung and shoot, we even had a visit from Santa and a piñata full of fruit snacks. I keep trying to be critical and list things that could have been better, but I've yet to come up with any. I'm just so, so happy that we did it, it was a success and that it's over. Feliz Navidad, to one and all!!! 

Tree trimming

If you ask these four, Daddy's work is just about the coolest place in the world. Talmage loves the killer view of Los Angeles that you can see from James' office. Everett is impressed by the hot cocoa machine and the break room full of treats. Quinn thinks the stairs going down from the corporate practice to the litigation practice are just about the coolest thing ever and Cora loves the attention she gets around every turn. It's no wonder that when they learned we were going to Daddy's office for a tree trimming party they were over the moon!

 ^^^You see what I'm saying about Cora's adorers?^^^ And our boys rocked the decorating!!!

It is always a little bit of a circus to bring the kids into the office, but being together mid-day as a family of six is always just a little big magical.

Fancy Shmancy Holiday Party

Because working around the clock has to offer some perks, James' firm put on the fanciest of holiday parties and gave us the excuse to get all gussied up and go out on a proper date. I got a new dress, him a new tie, and we both enjoyed the bottomless lemonade (virgin, obvs) and the shock on people's faces when we mentioned that our FOUR kids were at home. While his colleagues all went to the after-party at a local karaoke bar, James and I kissed our babies in bed and planned Sunday School and Relief Society lessons for the next morning. We're the luckiest in so very many ways.

Multicultural Weeking

For multicultural week at the boys' school they were each asked to color a flag that represented their personal culture--a 5X7 get to know you, if you will. Everett wanted lightsabers fighting in the middle of his page because, "dey aw weawy cool, Mom. And I fink I'm on da darth side. Yep, dis wiw tell dem about me." T chose to draw a big picture of the Los Angeles temple, with Book of Mormons, race cars and running shoes around the edges. "Do you think I also should write that I'm Mormon, Mom? Or do you think they'll get that?" I think they got the picture, T! These boys know who they are, and I love them both for it!

We hopped from class to class for Multicultural Week activities. Both boys had feasts that me and the girls attended and I also was a docent for T at the library museum. It's always so great to be in their classrooms and see their eyes beam with pride and joy. They're always so grateful for everything, including the TJ's crumpets and lemon curd I brought for the feast which turned out to be just, ehhh. It was a crazy week, but a good one.

Flexible Friend

I'll take responsibility for her round face and long legs but her flexibility, that definitely was not a trait she inherited from her Mama. I can't even bend over and touch my knees (let alone my toes) and yet this little sugar lump grabs her little piggy's and brings them right up to her mouth. Who needs a paci when you have a big toe?! Heavens I love this flexible little friend.

Hunto and His Parents

When your brother and his wife call and ask if they can come visit (and more importantly, bring your sweet little nephew with them) you tell them come! come soon! come now! and leave that baby with me! Because being an aunt is just the greatest thing ever and look at that cute little boy, don't you want to just eat him up? I was so afraid that he'd have some stranger danger or be scared of the craziness that embodies the Wiggy abode but ah contraire, little Hunter-boy ate up the energy and seriously and totally adored me and the kids (modesty is not my strong suit when we're talking about my aunt-hood!) I'm so glad they came and I just can't even think of how long we'll go without seeing them again (after Christmas, thank goodness for Christmas!)

It's in the 60's here in LA, so clearly the snowsuits and parkas were justified. We are such chickens, and I am totally OK with it. Also, 60 degrees is my definition of the perfect Winter day! We went to the temple to eat Sprinkles cupcakes and show our guests the beautiful lights and left after T sprained his ankle falling down a flight of stairs. Never a dull moment with us Wigs.

We really wanted to fly kites on the beach but the sun sets now at 4:30 and I had no idea that EVERY SINGLE parking lot near the beach tickets or tows after sunset. It was a ghost town down there and the people we did see warned us about the parking police from Hades so we just enjoyed this gorgeous sunset from the car and then drove back home. Oh well, I'm sure our kites wouldn't have gotten off the ground anyways! ;)

Cute Chasey-boy with the legendary Tito's Tacos. James says they are just a fancy Taco Bell and if that's true, yuummmy! No, they're not the most authentic (or any authentic) but they sure are delicious!

Chase and Meghan went to Disneyland one day sans Hunter so I got a feel for a typical day is like for my twin-mom friends. Dude, hats off to you ladies! The pictures are darling, but maybe not worth the crazy amount of work?! All in all it was a great day and the babies were surprisingly amazing for me. Both of them were in bed by 7 and I ended the day both wanting another baby and being glad that this fifth was only on loan!

Come on, how good do I look with a baby on each hip? I love these little cousin twins and feel so grateful that they have each other!

Quinn woke up after her Sunday afternoon nap, walked directly to the family room and said, "Whew my cousin Hunto is?" I told her that they had already gone home and she broke down in the saddest sobs. We sure loved having "Hunto" and his parents in our home. Sure, Idaho is pretty far away, but we hope they can come back to visit soon!

Our LA Apple Hill

I mean, these four little lambs are mine...could I be any luckier? No. I could not. Per tradition, we went to LA's version of Apple Hill the day after Thanksgiving. One of these days we'll cut down our Christmas tree like I always did growing up, but until then we'll just eat caramel apples, drink apple cider, admire all the crafts, breath the fresh mountain air, and enjoy being away from the city for a few hours. Oh, and stuff our faces with apple cider donuts of course!

It seems fitting that the word butter is directly over this little butterball's face! Is she not the yummiest little chunker that ever existed? My level of obsession with this baby has always been high, but I must admit it's growing even still. Love your mama forever, OK baby girl?

James has been working around the clock for months now, so we felt so grateful that he was able to sneak away for a little bit and play with us. I was sitting on the other side of the table all by my lonesome because obviously where Daddy is, four chickens will surely follow.

Chocolate covered marshmallows were not enough, we got giant apples too! And they were SOOOOO good. I love a good caramel apple, and this one did not disappoint.

We got home late Friday night from our Apple Hill fun, but early Saturday morning I was putting away Thanksgiving decor and pulling out our Christmas goodies. I LOVE Christmas so much--the magic, the lights, the focus on giving and worshipping our Savior. I am thrilled every year to celebrate, and I hope that never changes. Our cottage loves to be dressed up for the holiday season and looks so cozy and warm. Come visit and we can drink cocoa on the couch together, OK?