Piano Recital

Talmage and Everett have been taking piano lessons for a few years now. Dr. Margot shows up to our house every Monday afternoon and has done a beautiful job encouraging and improving their musical abilities--even when she's met with little tyrants!

Ev is still lukewarm to the whole situation if I'm being honest; he's easily discouraged and learning new piano skills can be quite tricky at times. Dr. Margot keeps a bowl of popcorn on the dining room table and every time he plays a full song or stays positive through practice she rewards his good behavior with a little treat. He really is the cutest puppy, and she a seasoned trainer. He is learning resilience and patience and when he masters a new song, pride. I loved the shy smile that spread across his face last week at the piano recital when he perfectly played "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" and then took a bow.

T is our enthusiastic musician, mostly because he loves calming his jittery fingers on the keys. He practices formally every day, but he also dinks on the keys in between homework assignments, on his way from the dining table to the kitchen and when he's bored, so basically, the piano is constantly being played in our home. I think Dr. Margot would give him 100 treats if it meant he'd listen to her during practice instead of playing new songs or combinations of notes out of turn, but he's so positive and excited about all things piano that both of us are at a loss! He played a few songs at the recital, but the Hymn book version of "I am a child of God" gave him the most grief. He kept telling me that this was a Level 7 song, which is a BIG deal for him, but it sounded beautiful and I was so impressed.

Piano lessons are a gift I am grateful to give my children and their advancements bring me so much joy. Someday I hope to join them in lessons, but for now I'm just so happy they're bringing music into our home.

I get by with a little help from my friends

I have so many things I could say, but instead I'll just add these pictures to my blog with a one word caption: grateful. I don't know what my life would even be without these ladies.

Wiglets in Primary

My last baby has graduated from nursery--Cora is a SUNBEAM! She wasn't so sure about primary after hearing her siblings tell her that there are no snacks and no toys, but she marched right in and sat down with her friends like she owned the place and there have been nothing but positive reports for weeks now! This is the only year where all four of my children will be together in primary, and even though it's silly it brings me so much joy knowing that our Wiglet team can all be found in one place on Sunday. I really, really love this little crew.

My best self at the beach

I'm my best self on the beach. 

I'm the best mom. I'm the best friend. I'm the best me.

 I feel the most beautiful. I feel the most natural. I feel calm and confident and perfect. 

Give me a summer beach day or give me one in the winter and I'll be there. 

And I'll love it. 

I'm just so insanely grateful that this is part of our life.

Today. At the park.

These two boys are almost too big to play at the park, I'm afraid. I could see the parents of babies and young ones watching them today, hoping that their respect matched their boundless energy. It does, thank goodness, and they were good sports about being surrounded by endless toddlers, but after 15 minutes both of them returned to my side saying that they were ready to go home. They are constantly punching and touching and yelling and fighting and yet today at the park I was just so grateful that they have each other.  

Quinny zips from one side of the park to another faster than I can follow. She's always making new friends, usually with boys a few years older than her. They play superhero or chase each other or on days like today, she spins around with those older kids a million times at light speed. "It's like I'm having a brain attack when I spin around," she said. And I understood, I felt the same way just watching her.

On our way to the park Coco looked at me through the rearview mirror and said, "Are you so excited to push me on the swing?" I don't know what kind of psychology books this girl is reading but it worked and I found myself with this view for much longer than I anticipated. She's so content being the baby and loves being pampered, and I know that future me is going to be very angry that I'm not better at nipping this in the bud. When my arms had finally had enough she jumped off the swing, grabbed my hand and said, "What should we do now together?" I'm wrapped, you guys. 

2020

I come into 2020 with no fancy mission statements, no endless list of resolutions, no impressive new year mantra or anything resembling my normal (and possibly OCD) year plan. This year is different in ways that I can't find the words to explain. Believe me, if I had the words I would share them, I'm nothing if not long-winded, but all I know is that new weeks, new months, new years usually breathe wild energy into my soul and yet this year I feel calm and quiet and a little hesitant if I'm being honest, the only words spinning through my head: Be kind to us 2020. Be gentle.

I respect 2020 in a way that I don't remember feeling towards past years, probably because 2020 is a year for us Wigs that's full of endless possibilities and also so very many unknowns. It takes a large amount of strength for a planner like me to realize that I don't know what this year will bring, to feel safe in God's plan for us. It's the start of a new year. It's the start of a new decade. And is it the start of something more?

There was no big party to welcome the year, my normal hosting gig went out the window in favor of just the six of us--the LA little Wigs--spending the end of one decade and the beginning of the next in our happiest place. We ate tacos. We watched the sunset. We took silhouette pictures and then came home to watch a movie in our jammies. Of course I fell asleep long before midnight but all three boys stayed awake and were sure to wake me up for the countdown. Everett was so excited he clung to me like a koala to eucalyptus with a smile so wide it lit the room. "It's New Year's, Mom! I love you, it's New Years!" We woke up just a few hours later and went right back to the beach. James and I ran, the kids biked, and we logged 5.5 miles together. Then we went home, played games, ate a charcuterie board and drank fancy lemonade. It was quiet and calm and perfect. 

So maybe we don't know what 2020 will bring, but it sure did start off on the right foot and for that, I am grateful. Happy New Years, everyone. And if you, like me, are going into 2020 with hope and respect and love but not a darn clue what is going to happen, you're not alone.

2019 Christmas

It was another magical Christmas season in Sacramento--one of our better ones, I think. It was also the end of an era in which we all stay with Mom and Dad to celebrate Christmas morning together, so I savored every last second. Ash and Log have recently moved back to Sacramento (yay! yay! yay!) and while they were disappointed that their house wouldn't be ready to move into by Christmas, I was so relieved that we would be all squished together, just one last time. There were 21 of us under my parent's roof, and I just love the constant party, the cousin games, the back rub trains and the movies by the fire. This kind of chaos is my happy place. Maybe next year will come and everything will feel as normal as it ever has, but part of me fears that Christmas will never be the same and it makes me sad. I hold tight to my family like a nearly 35-year-old probably needn't, but they are my traditions, my holiday, my home. I've been called overly sentimental in the past, you think?! All that to say, this year was straight from a movie for me.

The kids got their big gifts in LA since it was too much to take, and Santa brought a few little things for them to enjoy in Sacramento. We went on lots of adventures, ate a ridiculous amount of delicious food, hosted parties, went on family runs and made so many beautiful memories that I will always treasure. This Christmas was nearly perfect in so many unexpected ways and I'm humbled and grateful for the joy we shared.

And now...photo dump a la Ashleigh since my phone never seemed to be in my hand at the right time (bless that sister of mine!)

Two bikes for T and Quinny, a pitch-back net for Ever and a "jumparine" for Corabelle. They were all so excited and this cozy room felt so magical!

We've never had Christmas morning in Los Angeles so even though this was a few days early it was still lots of fun. 

James and his namesake, little Jamie. Such a cute little guy!

Sister, sister...midnight cereal parties were a nightly thing, and I just love that girl so much.

Running with this crew on the bike trail was more fun than I can even explain. It was beautiful and fresh and yes, it was cold, but I loved it (not the cold part, the running with them part).

Caught cuddling to a movie with my little buddy!

I love this little cousin crew and it makes me giddy when they're all together.

The triplets at Dove Court--Quinn has gotten so tall recently.

Talmage accidentally stepped in a puddle and without a second thought Kai jumped into it as well so that he didn't have to suffer from cold feet alone. I know it was a silly thing to do but the sentiment was so sincere and beautiful. These cousins are really sweet!

Christmas Eve morning at the Sacramento Zoo. Highlight was the lions pacing back and forth for at least 15 minutes.

FROZEN 2 WAS THE BEST MOVIE EVER! I'm not kidding, I loved it. We've been waiting to see it together as a family on Christmas Eve and now I want to see it again and again and again. I loved it. Soundtrack on repeat around our home as well.

Halfway through the nativity Quinn the Wisegirl looked around at her cousins all dressed up and started laughing hysterically and said, "This is hilarious!" It was as if she just realized that everyone was playing dress-up and taking it waaaay too seriously. The crying cow and the grumpy star, the exuberant Line and the angelic Mary, the lightsaber-bearing shepherd and the truly precious angel were icing on an already delicious cake. This year's nativity was the best yet.

It's a fuzzy picture but I think my favorite gift this year was the Dodgers corn hole set that my parents had made for us. We've already played a few games and it's soooo fun, plus I love my Dodgers so this felt extra special!

Quinny loves to help in the kitchen and Aunt Mad was the nicest to give her a job.

Matching jammies and dolls thanks to Grammie!

Visiting Aunt Ann's new California property and feeding her donkeys and horses. 

In lieu of sibling gifts we went on a sibling date and it was SO MUCH FUN! We went to Dave and Busters and then got ice cream and watched a movie. My favorite part was seeing what everyone picked out with their tickets.

We had a Remembering the Decade Party with delicious food, an epic dance party, dance move charades and a timeline with family important events. We are going to keep it as a capsule, and in ten years will pull it out and remember all the amazing things that happened in this decade. It's weird to think that the next time we celebrate a decade past T, Kai and possibly Ev will be on missions or in college. Time is such a silly thing sometimes. 

Mom and Dad don't mess around when it comes to apps, and I'm so grateful!

One last run with the ladies in gray!

There was snow over the grapevine and the kids, especially my younger two, were desperate to get out and play. We lasted about three minutes before remembering why LA is such a good fit for our family! Merry Christmas!