Halloween

If a picture was worth $1000 then I'd be a rich lady. Alas, I think it's just 1000 words. 

Spirit Week!

Last week I was walking home through the schoolyard after kindergarten drop-off when it hit me--we are living such a wonderful, ordinary, magnificent life. Mr. Johnson, the children's most beloved P.E. teacher, was blasting The Beatles, kids were running and laughing and playing, balls were bouncing all around and Quinny and Ev were in the middle of it all. It was chaotic in only the best ways and I couldn't shake the gratitude that they are back in school--a school that is on the other side of their own backyard, in fact. The sound of happy children playing is one that I will cherish hearing from my kitchen for the rest of my days it's so beautiful. Would I have appreciated these sounds and these sights this deeply had we not been home from school for 18 months? Perhaps not. But I will never take a moment of their education for granted again.

  

Mismatched and crazy hair day

Twin day at school, and these blondies wanted to twin with their Mama!

Quinny and Ginny were twinners!

And Ms. Popular twinned with...everyone haha!

Evie and Milo were so cute!

Belated birthday brunch

For the next few months Noni will be living with my parents as she fights for her life from the stupidest disease on earth, freaking cancer. I hate cancer for what it's done to friends and acquaintances and even people on podcasts that I've never met, and now I hate it for what it's doing to my family. And also, I hate that it stole Noni's boob, I'm just going to come out and say it. And if you think that's brass and I shouldn't be talking about my grandma's assets well, you're probably right and also as a boobless women I think I should be allowed to admire the well-endowed in the world, even if that person is my grandmother.  As someone who didn't benefit in the slightest from that spectrum of her gene pool I'm just angry as heck that cancer stole something so perfect and perky and flawless. Life is so unfair in so many different ways.

She showed up in Sac-Town a week after her birthday and a week before her first chemo treatment and I stole her one morning for a belated birthday brunch at Bacon and Butter. We ate delicious food and talked and talked for hours and it was such a wonderful morning spent together. She's tough as nails and she's going to give cancer a run for his money, of that I am sure.

One day as the fun mom

I'm usually a "grab whatever you can from the pantry" kind of after-school-snack Mom. But one day right before Halloween, I was a fun Mom, ya'll. And my little ones, who are getting bigger every second--darn it,  LOVED IT!!!

When the heavens opened on Sacramento

There is something about rain after summer's heat and another smokey fire season that feels so refreshing and delicious. We haven't had a storm like this since we moved here 18 months ago, and our neighbors say they haven't seen one of this magnitude for years. Our little lake overflowed into the street and the irrigation ditch became a mighty river. The kids teetered between being terrified of our house flooding and being filled with utter delight at the dime-size drops beating down on the earth, our roof, their faces. I'm a fair-weather fan but even I couldn't get enough of my warm window-room view of the madness just outside--it was magical. And after days of relentless rain, the most brilliant rainbow appeared above our happy home. So much hard in the world, and so much happy. 

Walking thoughts

My street is showing off right now, what with a full lake of crystal water and trees that are in their autumn prime. It's beautiful in a way I've never noticed before, peaceful and cool in a way I've never really desired but definitely appreciate. There is so much heaviness in our families lives right now, so many unknowns and heartache ahead, and the fact that there's little to nothing for me to fix weighs heavy on my heart. But there was this moment on my morning walk, and it was nothing significant and not at all earth shattering, but the beauty of the earth felt so refreshing and bright and tears filled my eyes--sad and happy, heavy and light. There's still nothing I can do, except maybe share this photo--this small second on a long day--and hope that Mother Nature can offer a moment of reprieve to others like she so gracefully offered me. 

Cheerleaders

I'm beyond grateful for family to love on my kids, and the opportunity I have to love on theirs. Sports--they've been our world lately--and it's been such a fun gathering place for our loved ones. 

My world.

T's been so lucky to have so many people come and support him in cross country. He loves his Pepa, and the feeling is mutual!

Quinny Cat and her cheer squad!

Quinn and her coach!

We love that Grammie is retired now and can come support these little ones in all their activities!

Hunter is a BEAST on the field. It was such a joy watching him play soccer last weekend!

Cousin besties in orange (with cute hair, you're welcome!)

Sweet Bea, we'll claim her for life!

Our Dodger dog looks sooooooo happy, no?!

The absolute CUTEST Dodger fan. I love him so much and had to include this picture with our other cheerleaders. 

Two Scott Wiggintons!