Memorial Day: Picnics

The Metfield Ward held a breakfast at Lake Ann on Memorial Day. Everything about it was wonderful. Our unit boundaries recently realigned and we are now in the Metfield Ward.  Everyone has been very warm and genuinely happy and welcoming to all of us newcomers pulled over from Sugar Creek. I’ve learned never to get too comfortable. The Church in NWA is growing and new units are forming. While on the one hand my family is feeling completely maxed out on change these days, and I am also pretty sad about losing a regular meetup opportunity with friends, Sunday Worship isn’t really about socialization anyway, so when I start feeling lonely, I say to myself, “All good things, all good things.” Because Ward splits are just that. A good thing that will fuel more good things. 

And it’s difficult to feel lonely for long. There is s LOT of love in this new unit and the children have transitioned from the tender caring leaders of sugar creek right into the watchful eyes of Metfield. They’ll be fine. 

The breakfast was so fun. I’m not a relaxed person when it comes to lots of young children around water (shocker!), but I was mostly ok. Not relaxed, like all the dads, laying out in the sun having a grand time, but I managed to stay at least as calm as the other mothers gathered at the edge of the lake, counting heads and reapplying sun screen. Haha! 

Really though, Lake Ann is great because it is so shallow. A slip n slide was set up and the kids loved it. We did not know people would be getting in the water, so my kids wore only street clothes, but eventually Corbin and the triplets stripped some of their layers, got soaked, and were loving life.  A few kids kayaked and my big girls hunted for crawfish and turtles with other YW on the little island.  

Our buddy Dan, brought his metal detector, and the idea of a treasure hunt excited Corbin very much. Within minutes, Dan had Corbin set up and searching with him.  It was adorable. I did what any parent would do and carefully tossed a handful of coins into a large patch of longer grass nearby and then watched Corbin’s delight every time they found something.  


Lake Ann is such a beautiful place. I spend less and less time in Bella Vista these past 2 years, that it’s beauty comes as a surprise...like an all new discovery every time we take advantage of the gorgeous amenities here. Or maybe I just need to go to the lake more. Or at least just be outside more. Or try to relax more. (That last ones a joke. Because relaxation is a joke right now...but someday! Sorry for the cynicism today, I think my brain is still recovering from May. And I had a caseworker come over today, so I’m feeling extra NOT relaxed haha!) but again, the lake party was so good. My kids just ran from place to place. There were so many friends for everyone. I loved watching the super extroverted sides of Aaron and Reese come out as theyfliated around  talking and talking and talking. So maybe I was a bit anxious about the water, but the rest of my family gave an exhibition show of felt safety. So like I said before. All good things, all good things, 

After the lake, swimming at the neighborhood pool, and an impromptu dinner and visiting at Valerie’s. I’m going to miss seeing those faces each week so much. 

We probably caused the home to break some kind of fire code with our party of 9.  Aaron and Reese retreated back to their introverted states and I caught up with girlfriends in between stuffing my face with really delicious food and tracking my feral tiny humans and emotional big humans. 

Memorial Day, what are you without the lake and a last minute massive casual gathering or two? It was a beautiful day to be together. 

Corbin Advances from Elementary School

My name is Corbin

I’m cool and I’m nice

I always get the A’s and I don’t like rice. 

I play chess

I am the best

Even when it comes to the test. 

I like to play sports with my feet

I’m pretty good and piano and I feel that beat!

We’re not here to cause no trouble, we’re just here to do the Cooper Shuffle. I love you Corbin and your big brain and giant heart! 

Corbin came home with a forest worth of certificates. He received special recognition for Global Connections, Music (can we all just take a minute to sob our eyes out over the fact that Mr L is retiring?! Best music teacher of all time. We’ve been so fortunate to have him teach the Willy kids for the past 9 years), Reading, and a bunch of certificates for excellent MAPS test scores or showing 1.5 years worth of academic growth in 1 school year.  

Corbin was fortunate to get the coveted Mr Stinespring, this year. I still remember my own  “super fun and cool guy teacher” from 4th grade. In fact, we are fb friends and to this day, I still keep in touch with 90% of that 4th grade class. No joke.  It was epic. I’m really happy Corbin had his own super cool  “Mr H” to teach him, and be a great male role model in his education. Corbin’s favorite things this year were using the outdoor classroom, hiking with his class through the blowing springs trails, the class bike ride, and the Cooper Shuffle Rap. 

With his life long and oldest pal, Cole. These two will be in different middle schools next year and I’m really sad about it.  Cole is a great friend. He is inclusive, fun, funny, and compassionate. And he likes sports, pizza, candy, and video games, so he’s basically the ideal BFF for any 10 year old. 


And here’s the Primrose Lane Gang, ready to rule the world...or at least Middle School. 

The last pic here is from the final walk through, where the 4th graders walk the halls at Cooper abd are celebrated by the other grades. I love the satisfied look on Corbin’s face. To quote the former Cooper principal, Mr Young, 

“We. Are. Outta. Here!” 

Quincy Advances from Middle School

A few years ago, Aaron took the girls to the Walmart Shareholder Meeting, and Quincy heard a Walmart associate contest winner named Confidence perform. Q became obsessed with the name and decided she would name her daughter Confidence, some day.  

I wonder if I should have given this name to Quincy.  She bleeds confidence. Even when she’s panicking about things beyond her control, she maintains confidence in her own capabilities. 

Quincy loves to learn.  This month alone, she tore through more books than I’ve read in the past 5 years.   It’s like she has extra hours in her day. Or maybe it’s because she devotes zero time of energy to bedroom maintenance or space organization ;).  But Quincy really does multi task remarkably and balances time between school work, leisurely learning, and her many creative outlets very well. 

Quincy enrolled in a couple pre-AP courses, and managed her own schedule workload. She maintained AB Honor Roll the 3rd quarter and finished the year with all A’s. 

We rarely have to encourage Quincy to practice her cello. She love love loved her first year playing Cello and learning from Mrs Castillo, who happens to also be a family friend in our ward.  She was always prepared for her classes and her lessons and earned all of her “belt stripes” in her orchestra class for mastering and testing well in assigned pieces.  Quincy  also developed a good bond with Mrs Snow, the school counselor, this year.  We are are SO grateful for that relationship and guidance through some tough challenges like the house fire, unwelcome anxiety, and  dealing with with some awful little jerks who  relentlessly picked on Quincy throughout the year.  Quincy has found peace in practicing yoga, journaling, and meditation and through listening to her favorite radio station, a Christian Rock station called AirOne. She also found a nice escape in books through focusing on schoolwork and art. She’s worked hard and it shows.  I know she’s going to be just fine in Junior High. And I think she knows it, too. 

She’s a scrapper, that Quincy Confidence Brooklyn. 

Way to go, Q! I love you!! 

Reese Advances from Jr High

To say this girlie worked her tail off this year is an understatement. She went to school 45 minutes-an hour early twice a week for most of the year to do all of her math assignments in the math lab.  She stayed after school many times to retake Spanish and social studies tests. She used her priority hour to study study study. Reese maintained a 100% in her English class the entire year.  This is a really big deal for a girl facing the uphill battle of navigating public education with a dyslexic brain.  Reese set high goals for herself, this year. She created a plan, stuck to the plan, and achieved all of them. 

And because we all love a good “see how much I’ve grown” comparison, how about this side by side of Reese in 2017 vs 2019?  She has definitely acquired a teeny tiny attitude to go with her glasses and phone. 

In her defense, she was calling my parents to thank them for keeping Sloane so she did not have to come to her award’s ceremony. But I thought the “look, I’m on the phone” gesture was too funny to not capture. 


Congratulations Reese! In spite of you begging me to homeschool you nearly every day for the past two years, you survived Junior High. 

A few memories, (good and bad):

-finishing the Harry Potter Series

-having a fire drill at school the day after your house burned down

-favorite teachers, Mr Fisher, Mrs (Always) Wright, and Ms Atkinson, who championed Reese and helped her not only tap into her strengths, but recognize her brilliance. 

-being super brave and auditioning for all region orchestra 

-National Junior Honors Society

-hanging out with the swag squad 

-speaking out and then rising above a grotesque act of sexual harassment. 

-Keeping it kind and classy and when said perp was later awarded for his “excellent citizenship” (Barf) 

-Orchestra with Ms Smardo

-seeing how much your teachers love and respect you when they gifted you a bunch of your favorite books for Christmas. 
-morning drop offs with the “triplets” each needing go tell you to “have a great day”. 

-not having to buy a school lunch even once in 2 years. 

-getting an A in your reading class! 

-your “escape room” desk
-walking to the bus stop with Ms Nita once a week. 
-not having to take PE (point: reading class!)

-naturals game with smithed band and orchestra together 

You’re a good egg, Reese. Keep on keeping on. And when the going gets tough, we’ll be right here to help you learn how to handle it. It’s not the grades that make us proud, it’s your “get after it” spirit that didn’t quit.  We all wanted to quit this year. At all the things. 

Congrats on staying in the game, even when it didn’t feel like you could possibly win. 

Oh you won, alright.  

You slayed Jr High. 

Meg is 37

A few friends asked what I wanted to do to celebrate my birthday, this year. I was so stressed about a pending hearing for the twins a couple days before, I couldn’t wrap my brain around planning anything, let alone something fun, for myself.  I think all really wanted was time for a trip to the temple and some time to visit with girlfriends or time to create something. Usually I’m knee deep in a thriving garden by now. This year, I’m in a (albeit very lovely) rental home and no garden. I miss getting my hands in soil. My backyard is covered in 3 ft weeds and littered with broken glass, house debris, and siding. My garden boxes have been busted up by workers and machinery tracking through. I feel sad when I go out there, so I don’t, very often.   We took a family temple trip and did baptisms. I’m still thinking about a girls night and will plan one as soon as I find something I really want to make or build. 

In the meantime, on my actual birthday, I was content to let it be a pretty ordinary day. I sent the older children off to school 20 minutes late in pouring rain to boot. End of school year madness has really become a cruel thing the past few Aprils.  This year was just as crazy.  We are so done with school and still have weeks to go and it’s discouraging to think the late night homework and project meltdowns will not come to end any time soon.  So grumpy tired kids, and over scheduled everyone are sort of par for the course this time of year and I choose to give us all grace. We only think April is crazy, and then May swoops in abd shows us what a really bully looos like! Haha! 

On my birthday, my mom knew I would be feeling like this abd arranged to have my dad meet us and play with Sloane while she treated me to a pedicure. A month later, my toes are still a pretty poppin summer strawberry red.  Later in the day, the rain turned into severe weather, and since I knew everyone was safe, it really was to my delight to have all the soccer games, youth activities, and cub scouts canceled.  

We hunkered down and waited out a few tornado warnings.  Late that night, Aaron went and picked up a couple slices of (my favorite!) key lime tres leches from Table Mesa.  

We took a day trip over to OKC a couple days later for the temple open house, and went on a date to the Killers concert on the weekend.  My favorite parts of my birthday were the love filled texts with bday wishes from friends and family members. 

And this card from my mom who totally gets my loathing for cats. 🤣🤣

Now that a month has passed since court and school is ending, I’m getting back into my own brain and can think forward beyond day to day things. I’m so grateful for another year on this side to live, a family to love, new things to learn, and work to do. It’s good to be Meg Willardson. 

Soren Graduates from Kindergarten

Few things are as adorable as the Cooper Elementary music programs. Kindergarten Graduation really takes the cake. The 6 kindergarten classes each wear a color of the rainbow and they look bright and colorful up on the risers. Soren’s class wears purple, and with his W last name, Soren was the last one to graduate. 

It was a super great school year for this super great boy! 

Reese’s Orchestra Concert

Orchestra concerts are my favorite kind of  “school thing” to attend. The kids work hard and play beautifully. Reese made her debut on a full size violin (she has tapes because she’s adjusting to the new size, but a goal to take them off in a couple weeks). 

One funny moment from the concert was when they performed Seven Nation Army by the White Stripes. 

On the drive home I played the original song for her (music appreciation thursday!). She didn’t like it at all (I never cared for the White Stripes, either) but she was impressed with her group’s ability to perform an orchestra arrangement of the song and sound legit. 

Way to go, Reese!