Friday Beach Day

Whether or not it was the last beach day of the summer is yet to be seen, but a Friday off of school for a long Labor Day weekend meant we were off to Santa Monica to enjoy the waves and the sun. Beach babes for life in the Wiggy abode!  

I couldn't get him out of the water. Six hours later and all the other kids were wrapped in towels and ready to go but Mr. T was still playing in the waves. He's my kid for sure!

Popsicles with BA

BA saved the day when she called and offered the crying babies in my backseat fresh popsicles to cheer them up. It worked! Her grandmotherly love is just what these kids needed after such a long visit at the dentist.  Oh, and did I mention she sent me with dinner for the family so I didn't have to cook? Yep, she's the best. 

I had to include both pictures because I loved them so, so much and couldn't decide!

my last day with both

For the last two weeks (and the last two years) I've had two little women constantly glued to my hip while their brothers were at school; but all that's about to change. Next week Quinny starts preschool and this mother of four is down to just one for a good portion of the day. Jury is out on how I feel and how I'll deal, but one thing's for sure and that is that Quinn is going to adore preschool. She's fearless and adventurous, brilliant and kind and she's going to make all the friends and learn all the things preschool has to offer. I'm so happy for her and I hope it's as amazing as I think it'll be.

But forgive me as tonight I look at pictures from the last couple of weeks--random, unglamorous, run-of-the-mill pictures--and feel so sad that my time with both Quinny and Coco by my side is coming to a close. Now more than ever I'm asking myself, how did this happen? How did Quinny go from that darling baby brunette in NYC to this daring blonde preschooler in LA? And what are Cora and I going to do without her? Before long I'll be posting about how fun it is to just have one little pocket pal but for now, tonight, here are a few of the pictures reminding me how fun it's been to have two.

Her greatest sleeps are when she's not supposed to be asleep, she's sleeping in our bed or I have to wake her up. Where in the heck is the justice?

Quinny in a princess dress = a rare sight to be seen! I love these princess sisters so much (including Annie, who is basically my third baby girl!)

It's a shame that we can't send two-year-olds to preschool during their prime two-ness, haha!

Operation get Coco to not scream at the dentist involved giving her gloves and cleaning wipes. No, she didn't sit in the chair, but look at that smile!

 Halloween preppin'!

Always dressing up, ALWAYS! Cora is always some sort of princess and nine times out of ten Quinny is a construction worker, superhero or a prince!

She was NOT supposed to be asleep! But she still looked darling.

Her favorite day of the year is when I'm in charge of traffic duty. She was dressed and ready with so much time to spare and I had to laugh when she came out dressed in the whole shebang!

I came to get her out of the crib after a sleepless "nap" and she met me with this smile saying, "My backpack on, I ready to go!" I'm not ready for the death of nap time!!!

So. Much. Dirt. She's an inside princess and an outside animal!

Quinn being a shining star patient at the dentist. She's so brave!

Crazy Tired Mamas See Crazy Rich Asians

"You can tell who the strong women are. They are the ones you see building one another up instead of tearing each other down." 

and

"Behind every successful woman is a tribe of other successful women who have her back."

and 

"The best kind of friendships are fierce lady friendships where you aggressively believe in each other, defend each other, and think the other deserves the world."

One of the greatest blessings in my life right now is my friendship with some of the finest females I've ever known. We're all walking similar paths at the moment, give or take a few details, and we are 100% all-in for each other in a way that makes me feel so safe in womaning, in mothering, in life. Sometimes we're working through hard problems or crying over difficult circumstances and almost always we are juggling kids through our conversations in the most unglamorous way, but then there are nights like this one, where we're going to Din Tai Fung for soup dumplings and belly-laughing through Crazy Rich Asians with cokes and candy and popcorn and all manner of junk in hand. I adore them in all the moments, but when we were sans kiddos that night I had the mental energy to remember how ridiculously good I have it. We may be a a bunch of crazy tired mamas (who needed all that sugar to make it through the movie, I'm still the worst!), but living this life together kinda feels like a dream come true.

Back to school blues

Everyone is so tired--physically, emotionally, academically, socially--that when they come into the safe confines of our home after another long day at school fuses run short. It's always a transition from summer to school but this year seems harder somehow, or maybe just sadder. Summer momming is not without it's moments, but there are so many special and beautiful ones that it's hard to even remember the sour. But school-year momming, that's just so much trickier. The teachers get all their goodness, all their sweetness, all the bright thoughts and funny comments and by the time my babies get home to me I feel like all I'm doing is damage control. Tears! Screams! Fights! Schedules! And that's just over homework. Next week will be better, and before long the school grind will feel as natural as beach day, but today, this week, well I'm keeping it real, it's felt exhausting. That's why yesterday when for the briefest of moments the girls were nicely playing princesses on their rocking chair and the boys were happily reading Big Nate on the blue couch my Mommy heart threatened imminent explosion. I had forgotten how kind and quiet and darling they were capable of being! Until we find our groove again it'll be this peaceful moment that I choose to remember, because there's nothing I love more than my babies loving each other. 

Ice Cream Day

The first one of the year, and just as crazy as ever. This wasn't even all of the little people at my house: I think there were over 30 by the end! There are moments when I think this is the best tradition in existence and there are others when I want to cancel it for the rest of time, but regardless this picture makes me smile so big. Happy back to school you cute kids, you earned that ice cream!

Surprise Dodgers game

Was it slightly irresponsible to accept tickets to a Dodgers Game on the 2nd day of school and keep these little ones out until nearly midnight? Yes, yes it was. Do I regret it? Noooope!

One of the partners offered us his baseball tickets and we were thrilled to attend our first game this season, together as a family of six. The game went into extra innings and by 11 pm we realized it was proooooobably time to go, but we listened to the game all the way home and by the time we pulled into the driveway we got the news we were hoping for: Dodgers won!!!

The Wigs did as Wigs do and ate all the treats, because does a baseball game even count if you haven't eaten a hat full of nachos? We had popcorn and peanuts, nachos and ice cream and so much candy. We somehow made it out of there without a Dodgers dog or Diet Coke though, weird. 

I just love a good baseball game, especially when you're in the stadium at night and watching under the big lights. There's something so magical about the whole experience and being surrounded by so many fans. It probably doesn't hurt that the partner's seats aren't in the nosebleeds too, we've gotten so spoiled! By the end of the 10th, my brownies were extra cuddly (the way they get tired) and my blondies were extra crazy (the way they get tired) and James and I felt extra blessed to carry them all to the car and claim them for our own. It was a great, great family night. 

I love these four baseball-lovin' babies. By far the cutest bunch I saw in the stands, and definitely the cutest that made the jumbotron! Yep, these kids are famous and don't they know it, haha.

Quinny desperately wanted peanuts (she's a savory over sweet girl any day) but I told her I didn't have any cash. She took matters into her own hands and went to ask the unsuspecting salesman if he'd take my credit card. Haha! This girl is so brave and confident and independent! The answer, btw, was no. Luckily they were selling peanuts at the snack bar and this girl finally had her dream come true!

We're taking full advantage of the lap seat regulations at Dodgers Stadium until the very. last. day. of Quinny being three! It gets a little smushy with six people in four seats but you know what? I like it!

Crossing that Dodgers game off of our summer bucket list, so glad it finally happened!