Bear and Kasey’s Day of Fun

 For the twins birthday, Kasey took each of the twins for a date. This morning, she picked up Bear and took him to the Emergency Preparedness Fair in Centerton. He loves all things public safety. Climbing around on fire trucks and talking to army guys is his love language. They went to alllll the booths at Bear’s pace, and then happily ate lunch while Kasey donated blood (which Bear also had a million questions about.) She dropped him off in time for his soccer game at noon and as soon as he returned from that he ran straight to his junk journal to put all his cool freebie things in it. I printed a photo Kasey sent me and he is just a happy little guy. Thanks Auntie K! 

Happy Birthday: Esme’s junk journal tea party

 

Zara G, London S, Piper G, Flora G, Gigi V, Esme, Sloane, Summer H, Lochlan M gathered for a tea party and Junk Journal making for Esme’s birthday! 

I made tiny cucumber and turkey, ham and cheddar, and pb&j sandwiches, dipped a few dozen rrrrrwhite chocolate strawberries, cut up tiny desserts, heated mini corn dogs and bagel bites, and the girls sipped sparkling strawberry cider and ate off my grandmother’s (Mima Myrtle Tenney) teacups and china because no one loved journaling more than she did. 

A junk journal is a “nothing new” scrapbook. Gone are the days of fancy expensive scrapbook layouts. The pages are covered in whatever is salvageable! The girls can add wristbands and tickets from events or parks they go to, and any pieces of collectible “junk” from their worlds that that find meaningful. I cheated a bit for the sake of it being a party and not home where the girls can do their own rummaging, and offered them stickers and some old scrapbook paper and ribbon I salvaged from my mom’s scrapbook supply. Each girl picked out a journal, added vinyl letters to the front to personalize it and then got to work! I bought an Instax Polaroid printer and used the app to take photos of each girl with Esme and then they personalized the photo in the app with little emojis and digital doodles, then printed on fun mermaid rainbow iridescent Polaroid paper. They added those to their journals and then the junk journal magic happened when they made great use of some old Friend Magazines, and recycled the wrapping paper and ribbons and cards from the bday gifts—that’s what these are all about! Just use what’s around from your life and find new life and beauty in discarded junk. Also a great way to preserve memories and be expressive. They can put the paper program from their band or choir concert, the sticker from their trip to the dentist or pediatrician, glue in the wrapper from their favorite candy wrapper or chip bag…they make the cutest background and show their your favorite snacks. A pressed flower from a special place, gum wrappers, little notes from friends, tags or parts of the packaging from something you saved up for and bought, magazine images that represent core beliefs, hobbies, and goals, etc. It really was sooo fun and so cute! And a little wild with 9 little girls running around. We even had a piece of tissue paper get waved over the candle and immediately go up in flames. Yikes! I grabbed the non flaming part and put it out the rest  with my bare hands. lol. How do I even have finger prints any more? Here are the og pics before they glammed em up in the printer app.  

A few friends were new introductions to nearly everyone. Most of the girls had at least met one another before and some are in the same wards or schools. There are also sisters, Grover cousins, Lawrence cousins, and Tenney 1st cousins once removed in there. Even with the few that don’t really know each other and girls who do not see each other often, they all just got along really well. It was beautiful drama free little girlhood play and loveliness. 

Happy Birthday Esme! I love you! 

Happy Birthday: Bear’s Top Golf 10th bday party

For Bear’s birthday party, he wanted to go to Top Golf with some friends. Aaron booked a bay, loaded up the van with buddies, and they partied it up! Hans G, Max M, Henry P, Cooper and Colton A, and Bear.  They ordered pizza, opened presents, and had so much fun. Bear received I Survived books (his favorite set), a stomp rocket, and candy, They golfed “Happy Gilmore style”, laughed at the funny card from Max of a bear pooping in the woods, spoke in brain rot, and felt like little kings living the lap of luxury. I love you Bear! You are the king of 10th birthday greatness. 

 

Date Night with the Willies: Wilderado

 

We bought tickets for Wilderado at Ozark Music Hall (formerly JJs Live) in Fayetteville, and then found out Saumi’s had tickets too so the “Wilber’s” formed a date night and Joe and Mare had extra tickets so they brought the Frakes. We talked with Joe and Mary about how weird it was to not have ANY of our teen/YA children with us. Aaron and I really can’t remember the last time we only bought two tickets to a concert…years probably! We honestly missed Reese and Quincy terribly, live music is just a thing we love doing together. We had such a great night with Nate and Ali and the Saumi’s though. Wood fired pizza and lots of political conversation about a couple recent presidential addresses that I mostly just listened to. GREAT music. An opening bad that was too hard forgetting our taste, but hilariously entertaining.  These guys, Illiterate light, are kind of head bangs rockers by night. Just two dudes with crazy eyes by night and non profit farmers by day. Joe and Mary met them after the show. I call this photo “farmers who rock meeting farmers who ROCK! 🤘🏻” 

The sweatshirt Mary bought at the swag counter was a one of its kind (this was the first show on the tour) and was hand embroidered by Tyler Wimpee the lead guitarist in the band. We hung around and met him after the show. Very cool! 

I love a tiny concert venue. Nothing beats being right up under the stage hearing some of your favorite songs played live. Total happy place and innately takes me to sitting around the kitchen doing a puzzle with my children and their little voices singing “In Between” and “Tomorrow” or cruising around in summer with a car full of teenagers, windows down blasting “Surefire”.  Just a great little band from Tulsa. Their slogan is, “Wilderado is an OK band”. 

Happy Birthday Ryan

Reese and Quincy posted a series of funny tributes to their day one homie then wrapped up the replacement Goodrs and Snoopy socks I sent and took them over with some crazy sour shots Reese found on Pinterest. We’re so thankful for the friendship, enthusiasm, and sound advice Ryan offers my kids. He even got a birthday reel haha. To the OG Steezy Boy, Tony Stark Sonny Hayes, “crip to suppliah”, twin, small forward, all star media team: HBD Blud! 

I’m a Quincy Fan

 Imagine my surprise when I logged onto Instagram and saw this as a suggested account to follow. What? Apparently, a few of Quincy’s roommates have created an Instagram account devoted to our Quirky Q, and it is stuffed to the muff with unhinged photos of CeeCee just being herself. I followed immediately and after just two candid reels, it was as if someone had given me oxygen support.  I’m happy to see Quincy is having fun and being her authentic silly self.

Fun fact, Q yelled a little too much at a sporting event and is now on vocal rest. Which is a real challenge for her because we are a select breed of yappers. Silence is painful. If she’s not studying or eating, she’s talking or dancing or both. Time to rest that voice, Quincy. Shes supposed to be quiet now (except for during her Korean lesson). This shall be an interesting challenge… 

 Post: Edit

No life or false Quincys were harmed during the making of this post. 

Filling empty spaces

 I have been go go going with all the Childrens activities this week and I thought it would do my heart some good to be extremely busy but it turns out my heart just wants to feel its feels. 

So I’m trying to allow myself to just be in my sad and admittedly very lonely feelings about missing my older crew while also feeling extremely happy for this season for them, being productive in my other purposes, and cheerfully fun and involved for my not-adult children who need and deserve a present mother.

A lovely shower of heavenly gifts rained upon me today. 

First, a nice chill drive with Corbin to work, and then a steady stream of afternoon calls and and then midnight calls from the freshmen. I was blessed with multiple check in from each of my 3 Provo faves to fill me in on salt flats adventures, ward hikes, date nights, temple trips, swing dancing, country line dancing, MTC Korean tutors, visa application progress, and math help center woes, and a post game play by play from my new favorite intramural basketball team (shoutout to the 2000 Dribbling Warriors). These calls were everything today. 

And now, a heavy Arkansas thunderstorm is lighting up the midnight sky and the loud booming and shaking of the storm was enough to send me a daughter downstairs for a security snuggle. She’s listening to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Concerto Violino in one ear to drown out the storm. I’ve got the other AirPod playing in my ear and she’s easing heavier into sleep on my shoulder and those empty spaces in my heart are feeling pretty full of gratitude in this moment. 

A blessed mother with this wonderful heavenly gift. A sleepy snuggle is my most favorite kind of all the favorite things. I’ll sacrifice a thousand nights of sleep for this return. Just glorious. 

Hispanic Heritage Month

The twins asked to hang a Mexican flag on their birthday, which also happens to be Mexican Independence Day. It arrived the day before their birthday and we put it out right away to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15-Oct 15) and thanks to an adorable reel of a cutie little girl singing our favorite mariachi song, Los Laureles, it has been stuck in all of our heads for 3 days. Bear is obsessed with having everyone learn how to grito and we took turns out-grito-ing one another while eating bday ice cream last night. There’s something very cathartic about belting out an uninhibited joyful yelp. It was amazing and we laughed so hard. 

The twins chose Book of Life for family movie (we still have leftover movie popcorn from Soren’s bday that they are slowly working through). Esme wore one of her Mexican dresses to church on Sunday and I braided pink ribbons into her hair. She looked so cute. 

Gosh I love these twins and the beautiful culture they bring to our family. 

Happy Birthday: Twinning and Winning and TEN years old!

 

TBear and Esme began their birthday with a cute little note left for them from Corbin and Soren, who were out the door an hour before they woke up. I checked the twins out for lunch and they chose to go to Canes, where we met Aaron and they FaceTimed Reese on the way. At lunch, Bear mentioned that the ONLY thing he wanted for his birthday was a new chicken of his very own to love, like Ginger. 

Welp that’s it. Thats the secret recipe to Meg’s mama heart. I made a call to the Saumi’s and begged Mar to sell me one of her. She came through with an 8 week old pulley that looks like some variety of F2 cross breed that will hopefully deliver us some olive toned eggs in 12 weeks or so. 

She came from a hatchery and was with hundreds of other chicks so she needs about 1-2 weeks before we can introduce her into our flock for their health and her safety, so I set up a crate on the front porch to surprise Bear and then left to pick up my Barker and Washington kids.  He called me from Corbin’s phone squealing with gratitude and excitement. He named her Ava. At night, Ava gets moved into a kitty crate that is set inside the big chicken coop so they other girls can see her but not hurt her (she’s still pretty little and all alone). In time, we’ll move the big crate out back while the hens free range around her and eventually put her in the coop without the crate. Bear is orchestrating the whole transition. 

It’s hard to believe my babies are TEN! 

Bear plays hard. He is chatty, responsible, patriotic, funny, and snuggly. He loves rules, fairness, and traditions. He enjoys cooking, playing soccer, and being with friends. He loves history, animals, public service workers, and stories of heroism and survival. 

Esme is a little bestie. She loves music, science, clothes, and pretty things. She learns eagerly and rapidly. She is creative, compassionate, and has a huge heart for anyone who is hurting. She has the most contagious giggle, she loves to serve, and has very strong opinions but rarely ever complains about anything. Happy Birthday Twins!!

I interviewed each of the twins at lunch and here are their answers: 

Bear

What is your favorite color? green

What is your favorite book? I survived series 

What is your favorite food? Grilled cheese and ham and cheese sliders 

What is your favorite thing to do? Play army with friends 

What is your favorite song? Anything by miles smith or surefire by Wilderado 

What is your favorite T.V. show? National Geographic 

What is your favorite animal? Bears 

What is your favorite toy? Army guys 

What is your favorite thing to do?

What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to be in the military  

What makes you happy? Chickens 

What makes your sad? When I see someone who doesn’t have a place to live. Or seeing a pretty place in nature but with trash and litter on it. 

Who is your best friend? Max Minkler. Well Esme too of course!

What do you want for your birthday? A new chicken that is just mine like Ginger

What is your favorite place? SDC

What would you buy right now if you had $100? A passport and a ticket to visit Mexico to see some ancient ruins and go to the beach 

Anything else you want to share?

Esme

What is your favorite color? Yellow or pink 

What is your favorite book? Bad kitty series or series of unfortunate events 

What is your favorite food? Spaghetti 

What is your favorite thing to do? Just hang out and play a game with family 

What is your favorite song? Free from KPop Demon Hunters 

What is your favorite T.V. show? K-pop demon hunters 

What is your favorite animal? Puppies 

What is your favorite toy? Stuffies 

What do you want to be when you grow up? A mom and a police officer

What makes you happy? My family 

What makes your sad? When people are arguing or fighting 

Who is your best friend? Sloane! And Bear, my twin!

What do you want for your birthday? A cute new outfit and a party with friends.

What is your favorite place? Utah 

What would you buy right now if you had $100 a puppy! And some gum. More clothes. I love trying on new clothes.

Called to Serve: Quincy receives her mission call!

Quincy submitted her mission papers almost exactly one year after deciding to make big changes in her life to build and strengthen her testimony and prepare to serve the Lord. I am admirably proud of her and so happy she is experiencing the fruits of her efforts and dedication. 

Her call arrived days before her senior trip. She drove over to the temple and sat on a bench outside (the temple is closed on Mondays) to read it herself and revive confirmation. Oh boy did she have confirmation that this call is just for her. She called us crying and asked us to come quickly! So we loaded into the car and our family met her at the temple grounds and she shared her testimony and read her call to us 

Quincy has been called to serve in the Korea Seoul South Mission!  

She would have accepted a call to serve anywhere, but feels fully seen by Heavenly Father asking her to serve in South Korea. This is her “ultimate dream mission call”.

Quincy developed her love for Korean culture when she met one of Reese’s Korean companions, Sister You, over FaceTime, in December. By February, she felt a strong desire to start learning Korean and asked Sister You and Reese to teach her some phrases. When her friend, Ethan (EVS)was called to a Korean speaking mission in Canada, they started a language challenge on DuoLingo, which included Lance (Fancy) as well when he received his mission call. Quincy and Lance have watched a lot of K-dramas and she went to KPot Korean bbq and hot pot with Fake Band a couple times over the summer. All while continuing to casually study Korean. 

She did not mention her desire to teach the Gospel in the Korean language during any of her interviews or mention this on her paperwork because the wanted the Spirit to guide her mission call. She says reading her mission call felt like a wave of love. She felt so individually known and is grateful the Spirit placed a love for Korea on her heart nearly a year before she will even step foot in the country. He must have known it will take her an extra long time to learn this complex language! She is fully confident in her ability and grateful for the opportunity to preach the mighty change that can come through faith, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

She told Ryan in person and emailed her besties Shef, Huz, and Douggie who are all on missions already. Then she gathered friends in our home the following night to share her call with them (as well as on social media with extended family and non-local friends.) 

Lance was called to the same mission! I hope at some point, a 7/8 cello is available for them to play a duet. This dynamic duo has been making excellent music together and cheering each other on for many years. So excited for them to potentially cross paths serving in the same mission. 

Q’s former seminary teacher and non-former friend, Luz came to support. Luz served in Japan and immediately had loads of advice and words of wisdom to share with Quincy. 

 Quincy has such a special bond with her former bishop. He taught her so much. Tommy was freshly home from his mission by only a few days, and no one cheered louder (or at all…cheering usng really at thing at seminary graduation) at Benny’s graduation than Quincy. We live to see all the support. 

Greg and Katia were watching on Instagram but as soon as Quincy said, Korea, Gevin called (he was out of town) and told them to take his Korean flag to her. Gevin has a huge collection of flags from around the world. This was such a meaningful gift to Quincy not only because she loves to give flags to her friends, but because it was a personal belonging that was thoughtfully gifted to her. Greg happened to have a vintage Book of Mormon in Korean to share with her as well. Both items made into her very selective stack of items that she took with her to her semester at BYU. 

Shaws! Super special for her to share an exciting announcement with Lando, being one of Quincy’s longest friendships, and Finley, who was freshly home from her mission! Quincy and Julie were ministering companions for years in Metfield Ward. 

Bishop Blake loves his Sugar Creek ward so well, especially this army of amazing youth. He’s so great and our youth are so blessed to have him.  

There was a lovely crowd of support here for our girl Sister Willardson! 

Joe, Riley, Brody, Hazel, London, and Mary Saumweber, Kate Keller, Ben, Saeng, Lance, Neal, and Benson Ratsachak, Millie Kuhn, Brightyn and Tate Gulbransen, Gracie Davis, Aaron, Julie, Fin and Landan Shaw, Ethan and Richard Austin, Dan, Luey, Gisele, Titus, and Flora Grover, Phillip, Lisa, Noah, Riley, and Maya Hill, Sydney Grover, Lyndia and Tommy Bingham, Gabe, Caleb and Roman Miller, Josh Tice, Zach Van Sweringen, Parker Owen, Hyrum Johnston, Ammon Johnson, Josh Capra, Sarah, Daniel, Luke, and Mary Jane Hess, Carly Frakes, Bethany Stewart, Kate Adams, Ella and Jerushia Dyer, Luke Charlesworth, Scotty Gorden, Brendan, Tommy, Benny, and Finn Hayes, Mattie, Kevin, Lily, Lochlan, and Oliver Hirst, Diane and Kirk Topham, the Grow family, Masza and Richard Roslid, Jimmie and Kasey Meadows, and the Willardson family. 

Quincy begins her mission Monday Dec 29, 2025

Congratulations Quincy!