Reese is 17!

Reese is 17!  She is genuinely kind to the core, insightful, helpful, resilient, funny, polite, compassionate, and just so fun to be around. She is always helping someone. She loves cheese-its, cookie dough, pajamas, music, and glowing fires. Happy Birthday to the mightiest cheerleader and peacemaker. Reese brings the hygge wherever she goes!

On her birthday, mid-finals-week Finley came over and at Reese’s request, we had a wild night of root beer floats, Seinfeld, and mariokart. Jacob and JoJo both stopped by that night, too.  We gave her tickets to the For King and Country concert at the Walmart Amp in May, pink adidas pants, a box of her favorite snacks snacks, and a Walmart card with gas money on it. For her “party”, Reese just wanted a small gathering with her closest pals: Finley S, Bradley A, Jacob B, Tommy H, Emily H, Jocelyn (JoJo) A, Makenzie S, Maddie Z. 

Some had to work so they popped in and out throughout the evening. I made a zillion calzones, and they played cards and gathered around our island watched a movie in the loft. 

Soren made this cutie card for her with individual cut out letters to look like Harry potter’s birthday cake from Hagrid. A classic! 


Fin got her this amazing Ron Weasley sweatshirt and she wears it alllll the time now. I’m jealous. It’s amazing. 








Annnnnd this is the only photo I took with friends in it 🤦🏻‍♀️.  


Fortunately, Emily captured this gem with at least part of the group 🤣


Happy Birthday, Reese!

Teenage Pro Tips

We’ve discovered a funny and very accurate insta account called teenage pro tips. Here are a few of my own teens’ pro tips: 

Tip 1) eat lots of pizza with indifference between cheap pizza and excellent pizza.

I speak for the parents when I say we’re a little ashamed that you appear to show no preference or prejudice and pizza is just pizza to you. But our wallets also thank you for this. 

Tip 2) pose with older sister’s boyfriend and text it to her. 


Pro tip 3) fill up mom’s phone with screen shots of things you want her to buy. Finish using phone when it is at 1% 


Tip 4) take up sudden interest in concerning music to make sure your parents take sudden concern in your love interest. 

Pro teen tip 5) send mom memes about being a teenager all day long. Unless she texts you, in which case be super busy paying attention in your studies. 

6) snuggle. Ask to be tucked in. 10/10 if you wait to ask until after she’s gone to bed though. 



Pro tip 7) respect the environment. Theres still so much space left in that bag. 

Pro tip 8) invite friends over. 


Pro tip 9) take more photos of things you want parents to buy. Try on jeans that look exactly like your little brothers jeans that you stole from his laundry basket, 


10) do not deny stealing brother’s jeans. Use this to get out of doing laundry on your day. They’re HIS clothes, after all. 

Pro teen tip 11) send mom videos of your science teacher lighting stuff on fire. Send mom screen shots of your teacher asleep on the bhs schlumped insta account.  Do not send mom pics of YOU sleeping on the bhs schlumped account. Let her find that one by surprise. 

Pro teen tip 12) blame younger siblings for messy van cuz you have your own car.  Find your missing stuff in the messy van. 

Tip 13) if whatever you’re missing (prob mom’s phone charger) is not in the van, check under the sofa. No, not right in front, waaaaaay in the back so someone has to use a broom to fish it out from under there. 

Teen tip 14) pro level: after school change out of pajamas into pajamas. 

Pro teen tip 15) make friends with kids who are not related but look too alike for your mom to be able to tell them apart. Bonus if everyone dresses alike. 





Pro teen tip 16) show up on the academic ig account just often for parents not to worry about grades. 

I love being a mom of teens. They must be leveling up because I can feel myself getting less cool/likeable every day. 

Sloane’s Primary Class Party

Sloane received an invitation in the mail to come decorate a gingerbread house with her primary class at her teachers’ home.  She was so excited, she asked every 30 seconds if it was time to go yet, and eventually we set the oven timer to help her count down until party time. 

Sloane’s teachers, Guy and Beth Fife, are the sweetest!  Sloane had a great time at the party! Thank you, Bro and Sis Fife! 

Happy Soren Day!

Soren’s birthday fell on the second week of school and during a covid spike, so we postponed celebrating him. But schedules got tricky and this morning we realized we finally had an opportunity to pull a few of his best buddies together for a party. So at 10 I texted the moms and invited them over, and friends arrived at 11 for pizza and donuts and a trip in the fun bus to the retro arcade with Dad!  Soren loved it!  Shown above L-R are Oliver, Henry M, Corbin, Sawyer F, Jordan G, and Harlow M.  We love you, Soren! Keep being you! 

Meg on the violin

I did a thing and picked up a violin after 20 years.

1) Muscle Memory is real 

2) It doesn’t sound good, but each day sounds better than the dat before

3) I genuinely like playing the violin even though I am frustrated it doesn’t sound good yet

4) I am in a 5/5 streak for practicing daily. 

5) I started back with the Twinkle variations and am currently working on Minuet 2 in Suzuki book 1. I took lessons in high school, but I’d predict I’m basically at the level of someone who has taken lessons for 6 months to a year. 

6) I pulled out the Christmas Kaleidoscope book and played a few duets with Quincy. That was super fun for me. Quincy painstakingly tolerated it. Maybe Corbin will learn the 2nd cello like and we can play some 3 part carols.  

7) my teens used to be super impressed when I would do anything but in the last 2 months they have entered the eye roll “but it’s bringing me a lot of joy.

Corbin and Quincy’s Cello Recital

Corbin and Quincy played so beautifully at their today. They both played Suzuki pieces accompanied by their teacher, Mr Finch.  Corbin played the theme from Judas Maccabaeus by Handel, and Quincy played Allegro by B Marcello. Both were a challenge and helped them develop new skills, and performing for an audience also gave them a good emotional stretch. 

Another fun thing was that the piano accompanist, Traci, has been working with Finch for many years, and she took a video of Quincy and sent it to her daughter, Anna, who was Quincy’s very first cello teacher as a student teacher in the music studio at Casa Castillo. Thanks Anna! 

I love music recitals. Well done Q and C!