Malibu

"I never came to the beach or stood by the ocean

I never sat by the shore under the sun with my feet in the sand

But you brought me here and I'm happy that you did

'Cause now I'm as free as birds catching the wind

...

Here I am 

Next to you

The sky is more blue

In Malibu"

--Miley Cyrus

Another year, another perfect party put on by a partner at James' law firm at her Malibu home. The kids loved the food, the beach, and the attention they received as some of the few kiddos who attend. Here are just a couple of pictures from that day, and who knows where Talmage was for these?!

Strawberry Picking at Underwood

Tuesday's are for field trips and the first one of the summer was strawberry picking at Underwood Family Farms. We picked four baskets full of berries and then about two seconds later we ate them all because...yuuuummmmm! 

T thought I was walking too slow when I was pulling the girls in their wagon, but when I gave him a turn at the helm he was sweating like mad and agreed that it's harder than it looks.

"This is so embarrassing." --Both of them, practically in unison

I'll bring this chica with me every week because basically I didn't have to watch my Coconut for a second! Goodness, they had so much fun.

Waterslide on the Ballfield

Have I mentioned lately that I love summer. No? 'Ight, well let me tell you again. I LOVE SUMMER! I know I'm totally ridiculous and have said this a million times but I seriously can't help it, this season and I were meant for each other and just a few weeks in and this year has already been such a winner. We kicked it off the first Wednesday after school got out with a giant water slide and bounce house organized by my friend Tiffany. We were at the ball field starting during the lunchtime hour and when nearly everyone else left mid-afternoon the Wigs and a few other friends stayed and stayed and ordered pizza and stayed some more. It was long after dark when we finally returned home for the evening and I through tired babies in bed before collapsing myself. And it. was. heaven.

A Sunday Picture and a Sunday Thought

"I promise you that as you consistently give the Lord a generous portion of your time, 

He will multiply the remainder." 

--President Russell M. Nelson

Sometimes I am overwhelmed with all that needs to be done in my busy little life, but just as President Nelson said, I've learned that when I offer everything to Him my life is better for it. I always want Him to know that my time is His for the asking, and I always hope I live worthy to hear His call. We have a good life. A busy one, but boy is it good. 

Thumbs Up

For nearly a year now every time we'd give Quinny a thumbs up she'd look right back at us and enthusiastically stick up her index finger, totally and inexplicably unaware that she wasn't our mirror image. It was one of the most endearing things about this little lady, especially since she's so big and smart and independent and sometimes her pointer high and proud was the reminder I craved that she's still such a little thing. I would smile and laugh quietly to myself, but was committed to never correcting this sweet innocence of toddlerhood, especially on my Quinny Cat.

But this week, it seems, she graduated to girlhood all on her own and without permission from me. She walked into the kitchen one morning, cereal covering the counters and bed-headed siblings surrounding the homework table and without warning said, "Look, guys, fumbs up!" And did she hold up her index finger for all to see? No. It was her thumb. Her actual thumb. She did it with one hand, then with two. She kept opening her hands wide and then squeezing them into a fist once again, the thumb ever present, ever proud, as if she wanted to prove to herself and us that she was really doing it: Growing up. We all started clapping and hooraying and she was beaming as bright as the Summer sun, but in my heart it was there: Sadness. My baby girl is growing up and there is nothing I can do about it.

I'm never one to feel overly sentimental about my children getting older, frankly because I think they become radder by the year and their maturing ages open up doors for adventures and fun that having babies just doesn't allow. That being said, every once in a while some milestone is met and I think, wait a minute...slow down...time, stop passing...they're almost grown. It happened a few months ago when Coco easily stopped taking milk bottles to bed. It happened a few weeks ago when I noticed Everett was pronouncing some of his r's clearly in words. It happened last night when T researched, ordered and paid for his own alarm clock for his room. And a few days ago, it was Quinn with her dirty little thumb in the air. All of these are good and my heart is bursting with love and excitement for them, but a little bit of me wants to press pause and just love their littleness a little longer.

Being a mother is the hardest job I've ever had. Some days I think I'm doing a pretty decent job and other days I know I'm failing, but all of the time I love them. I'm grateful for them. I want them. And I try so very hard not to ever wish the time away.

Amidst the thumbs-up hoopla the other morning came a new milestone that I can get behind, but also almost made me cry. Little Cora, covered with greek yogurt and eyes full of diamonds, looked at her sister and said, "Fumbs up? Fumbs up!" and did she put her thumb in the air? Not even close. It was her index finger, high and proud, with a giddy dance around the kitchen for her accomplishment. You know me well enough to know that I won't be putting that pointer down, I'll just be sitting here soaking up the remainder of my days having a toddler to call my own.

Dinner under the Bougainvillea

James came home from work on Saturday night just as I was preparing to go pick-up Chick-Fil-A for our hungry babies, because energy I had not and I wasn't expecting to see his face for many hours to come. He suggested a backyard BBQ instead (because he's always looking for an opportunity to grill) and what came next was the most magical summer night spent eating burgers and chips under the blossoming bougainvillea. I recently procured some (Craigslist) Pottery Barn chairs to sit around our new outdoor Costco table and when I was making these purchases and planning the space it was exactly with simple memory-making nights like this one in mind. It couldn't have been better, sometimes I don't believe life could get any better--hardships and trials and exhaustion and uncertainty and all. All it takes is one evening under the bougainvillea with my kids telling silly stories and laughing and James smiling at me from across the table and all seems good in the world. Here's hoping for more Summer nights with my family just like this one.

Coco is TWO

The best things about Cora's birthday this year were as followed: 

1) She actually knew what a birthday was and has been talking about it and has been beyond excited for weeks. 

2) It fell on the first day of summer break and NOT the last day of school, been there done that this was SO MUCH BETTER! and 

3) She was so easy to please and was just genuinely happy about the simplicity of it all. 

I love birthdays and I love Cora, what's not to love about both, right? It was so fun to celebrate my baby turning TWO and I'm just so happy that she's growing and learning and turning into the best little toddler this world has known. She is cherished by many, but I'm way up on that list and I'm glad she felt special on her big day. 

I love fresh birthday tables in the morning. Doesn't this image put butterflies in your stomach? It does to me!

Birthday donuts were cool, but the milk baba reigned supreme! She no longer takes bottles at bedtime or for naps, but I'm still a sucker and let her have them when she wakes up. And do I feel bad about it at all, nope! 

She got so many fun presents and was so excited about them all. It's so fun to see the ways she is similar to and different from her siblings and to see where her interests lie. She's a girly girl which is so new for us and she loves all things princess and make-up and cutesie. I love that she knows what she likes and is confident, even as a two-year-old. 

After we cleaned up the donuts and presents we put on our swim suits and parked ourselves on the beach for the next six hours. This long and lean lady loves the beach, and always comes home with sand in every crevice. 

Raise your hand if you're living your best two-year-old life with endless snacks, tons of friends and the cutest new swimsuit!

Now raise your hand if you want to spend EVERY birthday on the beach, just like this one!!!

Quinn was a little worried that Coco's little blows would never extinguish that flame, but she got lucky after like, five attempts, hahaha!

Quinn was such a great big sister for Coco's whole birthday! These two are so close together and I know it must be torture seeing Cora open up so many presents that could just as easily be given to Quinn but she was happy and kind and good all day. Big sister may be growing up! I love these cheesy two and I'm grateful they'll always have each other. Happy birthday Cora Sue. Mama loves you!