Grandparentals

I've felt particularly grateful lately for grandparents and substitute grandparents who freely give my children so much love and attention. Last weekend we went to Sacramento and made the most of our 48 hours in town by visiting both MePa and the Big Wigs. A few days after we returned home James and I got a card in the mail from Papa and Gigi thanking us for helping them with a project. Quinn doesn't know how to read yet but the second she found out the card was from them she scooped it up, put it in her purse, and carried it around the house for the rest of the day, occasionally "reading" it's contents to Coco. Silly as it sounds, seeing Quinny love on that card and knowing that the people who sent it to her love her even more made me so happy. These kids are lucky, and so am I. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture with Quinny and the Big Wigs on this visit, but here are a few other grandparental photos of late.

Apple Hill with Mema. Favorite fall tradition right there, especially when you play hooky from school/work to go and it's warm enough for shorts!

BA is a brilliant substitute grandma to my kids. I didn't think they could adore her more, but then she adopted Casper and all four of them want to move in!

My parents came into town a few weekends ago and the boys all got to go to a UCLA football game thanks to, shocker, fabulous tickets from one of the partners at James' firm. 

While the boys were away, us girls sure played! Dinner, shopping, parks, oh my! It was a blast!

A fuzzy pic of me and my Mama! On this last trip to Sacramento Quinn cried for a full hour after we left because "I missssss Mema!" It may sound harsh, but my response? "Join the club!"

Grandma Winnie and Bruce have been so generous with their time and it's not gone unnoticed. They come down for short visits quite often and we all love having them close! 

Happy November Day Sunset

Early in our marriage James and I decided it was bogus that May 1st was the only start of the month to get a special name so on the first day of each month we always wish each other a happy (whatever month it is) Day. This post was started on November Day and this sunset happened on November Day but today is the day it's finally gettin' some lovin' on the blog. Late as usual, and life goes on.

Our whole house turned pink as this brilliant November Day sunset shone through our windows. I was bathing the little girls, totally unaware of the color factory happening in our living room, when all of the sudden both boys started screaming, "Mom! You have to get out here! You really have to see this!" I ran to the front of our house, hoping something horrifying was not at the other end of their plea, and was met by the pinkest of rooms and one of the prettiest sunsets my eyes have ever seen. I'm a sucker for colors co-existing together so this sky full of oranges and blues, pinks and yellows, purples and peaches all living in harmony and complimenting each other spoke to my soul. I ran back to the bathroom, scooped both babies out of the tub, and barely got their towels around them before bursting out the front door so they could see what I had seen, so they could feel as I had felt. I love a good sunset, and I love that my boys knew me well enough to share the view.

Today was a hard mothering day. Not even my endless round of "Love at Home" could squelch the fighting and attitudes and general circus-like behavior from the four youngest Wigs and I spent my day refereeing and disciplining on repeat. The kids hated dinner, an episode of Daniel Tiger was the best I could do for FHE and the baby is still wailing from her bed but when I go in she screams louder, "Not you! I want Dada." Not my best work, and frankly, not theirs either. I can't stand days like this and I'm hoping that tomorrow's sunrise shines smiles and love and happiness on our little home.

In the meantime though, how grateful I am for that beautiful moment on November Day when my babies and I clung to each other on our lawn until the sky was dark, each commenting endlessly on how lucky we were to see such beauty from the steps of our own home.

So much Halloweening

Here's the deal. What you are about to see is not organized or brief or perfect. What you are about to see is two weeks of Halloween events and utter chaos shoved into one post--published weeks and weeks after Halloween--because frankly I'm just too tired to do it any other way. And maybe busy too, sigh. 

That being said, Halloween this year was just so ridiculously fun in the most low-key sort of way that I'm excited to get these pictures on the blog for memory's sake. Cora was old enough to understand how awesome it is to knock on a door and be rewarded by candy for no other reason except for her cuteness and oh. my. gosh. it was so fun to watch. The boys are pros and kept reminding me about all of the fun traditions they couldn't wait to check off the list--decorations, check. Pumpkins, check. Chili with our BFF's, check. Gorging on candy while watching a Halloween movie, check. And Quinn, I mean, could Quinn be any cuter as a super hero and then a construction worker? Nope, she rocks our world! It was a good year to be a Wig, that's for sure. 

So without further adieu, this is Halloween. 

(At least the rare moments when my camera made an appearance!)

Let's start with a photo-series that will prove I don't always save the best for last:

 These pictures of Maxwell and Cora are almost too good to be true, don't you think?!

  Toddler party at the Sorenson's--always a good time.

 Trunk-or-treating Super Wigs thanks to Tataipu hand-me-downs and a generous dress-up box! This year was a no-buy Halloween, and we did good.

I almost expected them to run off in the Batmobile together. Or at the very least hijack a car from the trunk-or-treat! I love these blonde bombshells.

 Squeezing every last second out of those skeleton dresses.

 Pumpkins of choice this year: Quinny Cat, Garfield for T and a scary lantern for Ev. Coco stickered hers to death!

 Halloween play-school at our pad.

Crazy hair day for this crazy crew.

Cora was totally to blame for the Halloween morning costume change because heaven knows all she wanted to be was a princess all along. When Quinny found out that Coco was being Sofia it took two seconds before she was wearing her hard hat.  

 Palms Preschool Ring Pop Walk was a hit, and Quinny was being so helpful to her baby sister.

 

 2nd grade Halloween party FTW.

 

My four pumpkins with their four pumpkins ready for a night full of few tricks and a whole lotta treats.

In every single set of pictures I take, there are at least a couple with Cora looking adoringly at Quinny. They are lucky to be sisters and just so cute together...until Quinn takes the hammer and starts chasing after the poor baby.  

A hard nights work! This is the equivalent of a brown Trader Joe's bag filled to the very tip-top. Need some candy? You know where to find it!

Although this binge eating and watching tradition usually is a boys-only event, this year the girls somehow conned us into letting them stay up too. No one went to bed until way past 10 but it was a really fun night and the kids were all so good. They're growing up, and I adore them.

My big job

A portrait of me by our resident artist, Ever Knight. You just can't understand how much I adore his artwork. And this depiction of me? I've never felt more beautiful.

The Wig women were walking to school when Quinny spotted an old man gardening a few homes away. For some reason her four-year-old brain found this hilarious and she couldn't contain her giggles. I chalk it up to the fact that our weekly gardening crew all hover in their early twenties, but she kept saying, "Mommy, isn't it funny that that Grandpa has a job? He's a gardener!"

I'm rarely flustered by silly kid comments because they're pretty much the norm at our abode, and this time was no different. In my opinion kids have the best intentions, but they're little and sometimes need more information about the world to process what they are seeing or thinking or feeling. Also, I never want them to feel bad about asking or saying anything to me for fear that next time they won't, and I ALWAYS want them to come to me. With that in mind, I simply smiled and answered, "Everyone has to work Quinny, whether they're old or young."

She thought that over for a minute as we walked hand in hand down Glendon and then she looked up at me, brown eyes brimming with adoration and said, "Mom, you have a big job. And it's important. It's taking care of people."

Thinking she may be talking about friends, or members of our church, or even our community, but also super touched by her big view of my little life I said, "What people do I take care of, Quinny?" 

And without skipping a beat she responded with one word. "Me!"

I don't know why, but I can't get this little moment out of my head. It's been days but her giggles, her eyes, her reflection, her words, they keep replaying without beginning or end. Quinny was so sincere, so confident, so secure in the knowledge that I was hers, and she mine. She saw the big picture that I oft-times forget: I have a big job. And it's important. Bless her for that simple reminder.

More Cor

"Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."

--Winnie the Pooh

That's definitely true of the smallest thing in our family, little Coco Nicole. (She's pretty confused about what her name is, but lately when you ask her she'll either tell you her name is Coco Nut or Coco Nico, both sound darling with her mousy toddler voice!) Here are a few pictures of her from the last week or so. We spend the most time together so it only makes sense that she occupies the majority of my camera roll!

 Her cuteness when I picked her up from her preschool playgroup. Tuesday is definitely her favorite day of the week.

I couldn't help but snap this as she said a little prayer. Oh gosh, she's cute. And those running shoes are her favorite these days, even over the sparkle toes.

 Music Makers has been such a blast this year with just Coco to sing and play with. She LOVES it.

I was so nervous about the transition to a toddler bed but it's been absolutely no issue at all. Like, almost crazy amounts of no issue! She kept climbing out of her crib and I was afraid she'd break her neck so James transitioned it to a toddler bed last weekend. She loves the freedom to get in by herself but she seriously sits there and reads books until she falls asleep. She hasn't gotten out AT ALL!!! It has been amazing and she's loving it, although for the first couple of days she kept saying, "Why Daddy break my bed?!"

 This little Mama put on her own lipstick at Sephora, purple of course. 

One second she was rocking with me on the chair, the next she was fast asleep for a nap in the afternoon sunshine. She's getting so big and so long but I think I'll always see my bitty baby in her. 

Kids say the darndest things, recently

Turns out if I want to do some afternoon reading all I have to do is ask Quinn to make me some magnatile shoes and I'm golden for at least a couple of chapters!

We were having people over from church and Quinn asked if she could make a sign for the door. Figuring it was going to be a welcome sign I agreed and asked her what she wanted it to say. Her answer? "Welcome to church. Jesus is dead but it's going to be OK." We settled on "Welcome friends!"

Me, overwhelmed at witching hour: Ever, can you please come help Quinn with homework. Can you be her tutor?

Ev: What's a tutor?

Me: Like a helper or a teacher.

Ev: Oh, I thought you meant I had to toot on her!

Me: Do you like it more when I call you Cora or Coco?

Cora: I like you call me Minnie Mouse.

Me, reminding the boys for the kazillionth time about the rules for walking to school by themselves: Do you ever get in someone else's car?

T: No...unless we hijack it!!!

Quinn, on seeing a squad car with lights flashing parked near Palms: Look, there's a police by my school. Maybe someone is bad at sharing.

Ev: Someday when I grow up I'm going to build a round house so that you can't send me to the corner. {It's been a rough week, ya'll}

Me: Heaven help me if we're still living together when you're old enough to build your own house!!!

Cora: I hungy, vewy vewy hungy!

Me: You are?

Cora: Yes, I a hungy, hungy princess. {No hippos for this diva!} 

Me, helping Everett with his math homework: Is this a subtraction problem?

Ev: No, you just have to plus it down.

Quinn, sharing a lesson from her picture scriptures during FHE and refusing to all me to help her read the words: This story is about a seed. It's good. The bad guys were cutting down trees. {Alma 32}

Me, to T who was at least 20 yards ahead of us the whole walk home from school: Hey Speedy Gonzalez, why don't you come walk with us?

T: I can't. Batman works alone!

Supergirls

Already Halloween partying around these parts. Can hardly believe we're halfway through October.

 

If you ask Quinn, she's a serious superhero and is going "to fight those bad guys hard." 

If you ask Coco, she's a Princess and wants to wear "da pink one instead of dis."

If you ask me, these girls couldn't be more fierce, more fun or more darling. 

And want to know the best news (while I simultaneously knock on wood)? They love each other SO MUCH lately and play together for hours on end. Opposites in almost every way but absolutely meant to be together, to be sisters, to be forever best friends.  

Am I the luckiest Super Mom around? Yep.