Weekend Willies

Maybe this is a vain thing, but I really love my house. I love when it is clean, when a fresh candle makes it smell good, when it is quiet and when it is loud and filled with people I love. I hope others feel warm and welcome here, like they could put their feet up and eat something bread-ey. 

I’m trying to encourage the family do something active each day. Work in the yard, ride a bike, lift, go for a walk, etc. Quincy and Bear joined me for a walk

At Coler this morning. We went for 2 miles and did the  stairs. 

Corbin wanted a walkie talkie last night. One on one time is great 

I walked with Robyn this morning at 6am and this little turtle was out to greet us.

Some sunday school boys (Oliver O, Spencer S, Ryker H, Richard A) 


Cousins Nico is 13! We went to Paul and HolleeAnn’s to celebrate him last night.






There was a Top Gun themed youth dance at Louise Thaden field house. The post dance crowd showed up at our house. I had nothing snacky at all to put out for these kids and ended up slicing a bunch of apples and heating half a jar of caramel ice cream topping, and whipping cream cheese, butter, brown sugar, vanilla, chocolate chips, and sprinkles together for cookie dough dip. 

(Sydney G, Lainey P, Logan B, Avery P, Gisele G, Ammon J, Richard A, Caleb and Roman M, Chase and Landon W, Charlie C, Bryn H, and Corbin played card games, I fixed the miller boys haircuts that they’d boldly let a friend give them, and they played piano and puzzled until curfews. 

Sweet David S earned his Eagle and invited us to his Eagle Scout Court of Honor. It was great to be there in support and to see Quincy sitting with a big group of pals. The kids enjoyed talking with Douglas and Stuki families after and they all tried green jello with carrots in it. We aren’t sure if it was a joke or not but after trying this heritage classic they agreed it felt like one 😂😂. Proud of you, David! 

Teens  had mission prep, Josh T was home from summer sales this weekend and joined us for dinner, Corbin practiced driving with Aaron, the boys went backpacking, Quincy hung out with Luke D, Josh T, Gavin F, and Ella D a few different times, Aaron and I slipped away for a bite at Table Mesa and a walk at crystal bridges, Q and I watched the Twilight movie saga and laughed until we cried at how absolutely terrible they are. (At one point we muted the tv and dubbed over the Blue Danube and we were in stitches at the comedic timing). I took my mom to an appointment get her wound repacked, grabbed lunch with Kasey and Laura H, dealt with a broody hen, weeded in the garden, made homemade granola, and smoked chicken for Sunday dinner. It was a full and wonderful weekend and also I really dream of a good long nap and a professional deep clean of my house. 

Sushi

The big boys and Aaron were gone last night so I took Quincy and the triple threat to sushi. This was the first sushi experience for the littles, so we stayed pretty basic with our choices. Sushi House brings out sample plates, miso soup, and pineapple and oranges to try. I knew the kids would be all about the steady flow of new things to try. They all tried everything! 

They were committed to using chopsticks. 

Bear loved everything about could not eat fast enough. Esme pretended to love it and ate everything she took except the egg roll (to my surprise) which she declined after one bite.  but I could tell she was not a big fan and didn’t ask for more of anything. 

Sloane tried one and pretty much only one bite of everything abd was not a fan of it, but really wanted to be. She ate a lot of the soup and picked all the mango off the top of one of the sushi rolls. By the time we left she was excited to SAY that she LOVES sushi 😂

Backpacking at Pigeon Roost

Aaron, Corbin, and Soren joined the Sugar Creek YM for backpacking this weekend. 

They came home sore and tired.  

Lucas A, Tanner F, Titus G, and Soren. 

Soren says he didn’t expect to have such sore shoulders. He was glad he didn’t just do a hammock when Titus and Tanner got cold and joined their tent. He liked skipping rocks and being with friends. 

Corbin says it was really peaceful, except for dad’s snoring. He had fun with Richard. He wasn’t expecting Santi and Tommy to be such fast hikers. He would go again.

Aaron came home and was in an epsom salt bath immediately. He loved it, though and said he’d go again. 

CLAM

The California Los Angeles Mission leaders, President and Sister Newell started a newsletter. 

Here are some highlights with Sister Willardson in them. 

It’s good to be Meg Willardson

We had some severe weather blow through the other night. Tornado season is always an exciting time. I do love sleeping to the sound of thunder. 

Some Willies do not enjoy the sound of thunder and take up residence on the sofa with me. This time, we had Quincy, Brightyn, and Sloane. 


Kids went to a cousin party at Mattie’s. 

I sent a big tray of bagel bites. 

I found the bagel bites under the seat of the van 4 days later. Gross.  

I went to an informational meeting for musicians abroad with Corbin. The concept is much like all region where an an audition curated group of musicians meet for 3 days to fine tune music as an orchestra (with the talented Jeff Grogan as their director and Mr Collett as his assistant) and then go on a 10 day European tour. The trip looks incredible with opportunities to play in Prague, Vienna, Salzburg, Andermatt, and Germany. Playing cello all over Europe while visiting the birthplace of classical musicians? Crazy awesome. Crazy expensive.  So expensive, I think we are going to pass. Part of me really wants this experience for Corbin. He’s such a talented kid. $7k is wild though. He’s working hard saving for a car and his mission. 




Corbin turned 16 last week! I love him so much. 

Corbin has endless friends and wants to be with them all the time. He runs a fast paced life and fills all his minutes with all the things, all the time. I took him,  Ammon, and Quincy to Torchy’s for lunch and then we visited Grammie in the hospital, where he got a lil queasy watching Quincy assist the nurse pack her wound. 

How cute is this throwback? We love you, Grammie! 


Quincy and I toured the whole health institute with Robyn. Robyn had really thoughtful mentoring questions for Quincy. Good conversation and ministering. 




Twinning in the rain 


Annual basement cold storage room clean out. It took nearly all day and the little kids were troopers and helped a lot! 


We treated them to Viva taco after because nothing tastes as good as street tacos after a Saturday of hard work. 


On the way home we stopped for fuel at NHM in pea ridge and the kids were fascinated by the Walmart drones coming and going. 




Soren is finished with middle school! I popped into his awards ceremony. I sure love this almost-teenager! 


Q received a couple thoughtful books as graduation gifts that sparked some great conversations as she prepares to make temple covenants. 


One of my faves went to the temple to receive his endowment last week. I loved being there to support and took some family pics for them out front. Congratulations Shef! 



Quincy and I went over to the Shefchik’s right after and I gave Zacky a much needed trim before his scheduled senior photoshoot, while Q visited with everyone at the dining table. 

And then a week later, he pulled up for the mullet. He has about 10 days to enjoy it before we give him a full missionary haircut live it up, Shef! 


Oh speaking of missionaries, my missionary is back with Sister You for her last transfer, and they are serving in a Korean ward! 

Sister You recorded Reese practicing her talk and sent it to me. I’m so proud of her. She says she has only been learning Korean for one day, but more than half of Reese’s mission has been with companions from South Korea who are learning English. She is well prepared and familiar with the language and pronunciation and I know her efforts were blessed. 

Look what arrived in the mail! 

A trim for Bear

Family Mariokart 


Quincy has started working 12 hour shifts. She came home hangry and not very delightful until after she had a shower, a meal, and a 2 hour nap.  

I took Corbin to open a bank account yesterday and we realized we were in twinning outfits for the occasion. I cracked a Motherboy joke and our bank teller is an Arrested Development fan and totally caught the reference. Corbin also made her laugh with some funny brain rot commentary. 

I am in full nesting mode before my Reese comes home. Last week we cleaned the porch and scrubbed pollen off all the furniture, planted flowers and pressure washed everything. It looks so happy and is giving me life day and night. 

I also made a good dent in the garage. That concrete area was not passable yesterday. 

I picked up Cutler B and left Soren to hang with Tommy B and set out for an adventure with my little guys. We hit the trails and Creek at Coler Mountain and Cutler was very enthusiastic about photo ops. They chased butterflies, pet a lot of doggos, found many things to climb on and collect, and almost lost a flip flop in the creek. I love Arkansas! 

I arrived early to pick up Corbin from work the other night and got a sneak peek at him on the job. He bussed tables, shook hands with some patrons, and cleaned a lot. What a cutie. 



Scenes from the basement and evidence of life at play. 





Sloane graduated from elementary school! She received awards for global connections and efforts in literacy. She cried a lot the last week of school. She loves her friends and her teachers so very much.  Transitions are not easy for her, but she is looking forward to middle school! 

Quincy graduated from 4 years of early morning seminary! She says she connected most with Luz, Sister Gordon and Sister Meadows. Her favorite seminary social memories were Piper throwing water on Jake and going to Benny’s class sophomore year.  She felt the Spirit and developed her personal scripture study skills through seminary as well as her confidence in sharing her testimony. She also grew very close to her bishop during some intense conversations about Metfield Ward and 5:45am seminary start time. 

Four years of doctrinal mastery and early morning gospel deep dives is an accomplishment to celebrate. Well done, seminary graduates!