Welcome November

One can always tell when Soren sat up front last. The air vents are closed, or the passenger side temp is 90* and the seat warmer is on. Soren’s body temperature control is a little iffy at best. He gets in your car and immediately begins pushing buttons and touching and moving all the things. He is usually very schwetty. I feel like an nyc cabbie as I’m booting him to the back. “Aye stop touchin everything. Don’t mess with my air. Stop. STOP. For real stop ok you betta simma down now. Stop it with the air.” 

We fed the missionaries last night. I made a homemade lasagne at the humble request of one of the sisters who is feeling pretty homesick. A member in Korea once gave Quincy tortilla chips and 8oz of cheese and she starting a crying. I hope this darling sister felt all the love I put between delicious lasagne layers. Here’s a pic before I popped it in the oven to puff up and get all golden and melty and perfect. I served it with homemade French bread and a salad. Gorgeous.

 A couple days a week between middle school pickup and when Soren gets out, you’ll find us at the fitness center. I reserve a badminton court and we go play doubles for 30 minutes or so. It’s super fun. Sloane wants to find a youth league to join. 

My parents are back in Arkansas and the van is out of the shop. This means I am back to driving the van after a glorious week in a Honda pilot. I made a terrible mistake and looked in the way back seat of the van today today. It’s a science experiment. The boat cover, 3 fishing poles, a wakeboard, markers, a race medal, playing cards, a journal, backpack, scriptures, blanket, a coat hanger, a library book,  a red wig, candy wrappers, an air freshener, protein drinks, socks (ALWAYS SOCKS) etc. 

I just wanna board it up and walk away. 

For Dia de Los muertos, we made rolling tacos and played Lotería (Mexican bingo) as a family. It was extra funny because Reese and Logan and Quincy were on FaceTime and Ryan and Soren were comically competitive. 

Then we watched Coco.

 I love this movie. I went to the temple this morning and felt a wave of closeness and gratitude for the posterity and ancestors rooting for us on the other side. Also, Abuelita might be my favorite cartoon character ever the way she loves on her children and grandchildren but also has eyes everywhere and will chase you down with her chancla. Mad respect for abuelita and her wild grudge holding ability. I pity any fool who wrongs her daughters. 

Last night I spent an hour catching rebounds for Soren and just listened while he unpacked his take on the effectiveness of two days of disciplinary ISS for an impulsive action.

 I love him so much. I love being a boy mom. I’m not a skilled basketball player, nor do I find much joy at all in playing the game. But I do love to watch. And anytime a mother gets to post herself under the hoop catching rebounds with buckets of words from a mouthy son is a sacred position to hold. 

Corbin’s BYU application is IN! 

We made it, everyone.  The weeks on wend of anxiety and late laaaaate nights sitting up with him at the end of the sofa while he edited essays. The 1-2am crash outs weighing pros and cons and beating dead horses while he wrestled with the the decision to apply for summer or fall…which resulted in 4pm battles, encouraging the now over-tired and cranky Corbin not to nap because his sleep schedule was just so wacked. It’s been a season! 

I got Corbin a daylight simulator alarm clock and have been appointed as afternoon bad guy to keep him awake. Anyone with a teen whose sleep schedule is off knows this is SO much worse than a toddler who missed a nap or midnight feeding a newborn. Quincy went through something similar. It sucked then, too. 

But we made it. Corbin is mostly on the better end of it.  

I will soon be prioritizing my own sleep. 

Today? We celebrate that the biggest monkey is off Corbin’s back. I didn’t realize how tense it was until he hit submit at 2am and we all (me, him, Quincy on pday FaceTime) breathed sighs of relief for him. And for us. 

I am proud of Corbin. He put his heart into his essays and worked hard on his application. He signed himself up for an ACT retake and raised his score 4 points. He shared a thoughtful testimony on Sunday with his experience of including Heavenly Father in his plans, and following promptings even when it wasn’t the easiest route.

Are you bready for it? 

I received some criticism from a drop by visitor last week that my younger children are “not getting a magical childhood” because I invest so much energy on my kids that are adults. this happened during dinner time rush and I was also helping a little with homework and cooking. Two kids were practicing instruments. One was having a bit of a meltdown on the stairs. I was discouraged by the judgement—especially since it came at me during a chaotic hour that I felt like I handled pretty smoothly. I wish I’d just dismissed the commentary and moved on. 

But I didn’t. 

Unfortunately, I welcomed the negativity right under my skin and let it itch away at my heart. Probably because I didn’t say anything in defense of what I do. I disagree with both the statement that I’m not doing enough for my little kids, and with the idea that teen and adult children do not need attentive mothering. Those discouraging ideas sound so much like the adversary thoughts that I already argue with too often.

 I don’t often get to actually hear them voiced to me in concerned observation of my parenting style, though, and it shook me. 

The same day I ruminated over this hurt to myself in my head, Kasey spontaneously dropped off a loaf of cranberry sour dough and a fresh balsam candle (saying “I know you are burning the candle at both ends right now. Hold on!”) the bread is incredible. She is incredible. I am thankful she followed a prompting to breathe validating truth back into my brain.

Be a Kasey. Be the friend that cheerleads instead of judges or criticizes. Be the voice that reminds someone to believe in themself when they are worked and weary.

We are all doing our best to create lives that we love. 

Rolling tacos and This Corn is Like an Angel Elote 

I love the rolling tacos at a local taco truck. Ryan tried them for the first time last week and we decided to try and recreate them for Sunday dinner. The girls and I picked up all the ingredients Friday night and we made some killer tacos on Sunday. I made cilantro lime rice and a pan of elote to go with. The first time I made this, Quincy quoted one our very favorite movies, Dan in Real Life, “this corn is like an angel!” And the name stuck. 

Mix 2 cans of sweet corn kernels(drained) and 1 lb of frozen corn, 1/2 c crema, 1/2 c cotija cheese, juice from 1 lime. Top with tajin. Serve at room temp. 

For the Rolling Taco dupes: 

Layer 2 corn tortillas like a venn diagram on the black stone. Top with melting cheese (jack), chopped carne asada (cooked on the black stone), and a fat slice of avocado. Sprinkle with cilantro and fold the tortilla sides over and flip. Serve with limes and green sauce.

I bought Reese a Christmas tree today and I’m about ready to deck the halls around here. I wish my big girls were here to be festive and decorate with me! 

Jumped and Buzzed

 New tapes going up on the Willy Vert board. 

Corbin and Ryan’s friend, Noah, has been planning to get a buzz cut for months. He had to wait until senior pics were done and decided on a Halloween buzz watch party. 

They all came over together as soon as the BYU game ended. 

He wanted to do something ridiculous with the hair first, so I gave him a classic bowl cut… which he somehow managed to absolutely mog as well. Forgive me, Lisa. 😂 At least I didn’t leave him like this. 

Corbin, James S, Kyle, Neal R, Brody S, Ariana D, and Landon W circled up. 1 successful buzz cut became two when James sat down then Neal made three…and then Brody for buzz number four. 

Special shout out to Corbin here. He is the most welcoming and inclusive guy. He puts prayerful effort into this skill and daily I can see more and more what a good friend he has grown to become. If I moved somewhere, and my kids needed a friend, I would choose Corbin 100%. 

Neal’s hair was too long for missionary standards. I think he starts his mission in 6 weeks, so it should be a perfect length by then. 

I won’t lie. I don’t love the buzz cut or understand why every boy around 17-19 feels the need to get one. Perhaps it’s a rite of passage? It seems to make them look either way older or way younger. Maybe that’s the goal. I don’t know but there were so many laughs and smiles and funny shocked squeals during the buzz-a-palooza process that I think it was worth it. Hair grows. Memories last. 

They all left for a party at Sydney’s feeling happy and extremely confident, so I hope their mothers forgive me when they see their hairless sons this morning. 

Willyween 2026

 Our sunshine streak ended as the sky opened and poured rain for hours on Halloween. Logan Grow sent me this pic of the kids living their best days playing in the rain. 

The annual Primrose progressive block party was postponed, but the kids still wanted to trick or treat. They threw on costumes and dashed out the door. Long gone are the family photo and walking the lane together. Aaron and I didn’t even leave the house!

Bruno Mars 24K Magic 

He was grateful for the sunglasses…his eye looks worse than ever. He went trick or treating around Bella vista neighborhoods and then to Bentonville with buddy Max M

Esme wanted to be a piñata this year. She looked so cute! Soren and Sloane were Little Debbie  and a tree cake snack. Soren went trick or treating with the Frakes boys and Aaron took Esme and Sloane to a nearby neighborhood and I stayed at the house with Corbin’s crew. 

Corbin on strings: Fall Orchestra Concert

 

The fall Chamber orchestra concert was full of fun surprises. Mr Collett ran out on stage to the Karate kid soundtrack. 

Camerata played a piece timed to a poem called the Evil Eye and Hideous Heart, a composition inspired by telltale heart by Poe. The school drama teacher performed the poem set to the orchestra music, building up to the climactic moment where he pulled a giant glowing heart out from behind the podium, and walked out into the audience with it, beating in his hands. Sensational performance. Spooky music, too. Just excellent all around. 

(Cole, Corbin, Richard, Noah, James) Several boys in the cello section went as ninja turtles. Jane’s bought the face paint and they got together at Noah’s to get ready. Lisa sent me this pic. Corbin said all their faces were green the next day at school except his because I gave him makeup wipes. 

(Dawson L, Dan H, Corbin) 

Another surprise, Chamber played This is Halloween from the Nightmare Before Christmas. Jack Skellington (drama teacher again) crept in on stilts and wandered around the audience scaring the children. We love to see it. Great autumn concert. He was celebrated between performances along with the other kids who tried out for all region.  Corbin is so happy performing with Chamber. 

It’s good to be Meg Willardson

Fall colors are here!! Every drive is a canopy of oranges yellow, and red. It’s so beautiful here. 

Ryan and I grabbed bagels to go and kayaked at jimmie and Kasey’s after school drop off on Thursday morning. The water was still and the fish were jumping. We paddled the full length to the dam, watched otters on the shore, two herons fish for their breakfast. I’m going to miss my adventure buddy when he leaves in January. He’s a kindred spirit and these outings are now just worked into the schedule on his days off and it’s my fave. 

Lake Rayburn was glass and the colorful trees and blue sky clouds reflecting was a scene to behold. And to be rafted up in the middle of the lake in late October getting drenched in warm sun rays was amazing. I felt lucky to take it all in.

I’ve been playing Chinese mahjong with the ladies for months and Jenny decided this week we are finally ready to learn to keep score. 

So basically I do not know how to play mahjong. I’m not kidding, I feel like I learned a whole new game this week. What am I doing? No idea, but it’s fun to visit with these wonderful ladies. (Missing Lily and Lisa H this week) Cristina and Lily speak Spanish with me (well..they start everything with Spanish, and repeat in English when I don’t respond fast enough or stare blankly at them because no comprendo lol) and it’s so helpful. And they introduced me to a friend Malu in our Lift class, and told her to only speak Spanish with me so it’s good practice for sure! Na teaches us Vietnamese words and Helen and Jenny are Chinese and help us read the characters on the mahjong tiles. It’s a fun hour of my week and it works my brain.

SBO needs to raise massive funds for the spring NYC trip. As an experiment, we decided to sell flowers at the fall concerts. I started with just 25 bouquets and they all sold with no advertising in advance, I am still fighting illness and felt like garbage the day I made these. Ryan prepped stems and I arranged flowers and we knocked it out, but it was still time consuming. Esme helped me wrap and transport them, carefully asking how to do each task. She is such a sponge and a very intentional learner. This gift of hers reminds me to be a better example for my shadow.

I bought the flowers from Sam’s Club and we sold the bouquets for $15 making a $7.50 profit for SBO on each one. A few of the girls from chamber and camerata sent me Instagram messages and texts that they loved them, so that was a fun thing, too. 

I think we have a border in the cupboard under the stairs again. The electric blanket is the key indicator for which one of my Littles moved in. 

I tried to take a sick day on Monday. Well I did on Monday morning. The afternoon was a total hullabaloo.  

What I said: “you guys I’m really unwell. I’m going back to bed. Make grilled cheese for dinner and entertain yourselves for an hour.” 

What they heard: “you should hook up the hose.” 

I lay in bed and I kept hearing water running. When I finally pulled myself from the crypt, I found a shaving cream and blood situation upstairs. 

The little girls decided today was the day they were going to start shaving their legs. 

The water was still running though. 

Never have I ever bathed a chicken, but avoiding college essay edits will drive a 17 year old to do wild stuff. Corbin pressure washed the hen house. And the hens. 

I grabbed my blanket and a pair of sweatpants and drove myself up the street. My parents are in Arizona, so I kindly checked myself into primrose hotel for the evening. Aaron dropped off chick fil a soup and a slice of Kasey’s bread said, “just so you know, I fully support this.” 

Heck Yeah you do! The day before, Aaron disappeared for 3.5 hours after church to hotel primrose for a nap and to watch a football game and NO ONE BATTED AN EYE. 

Seriously. No questions. No requests.

He handed me medicine and looked at the tv with a raised eyebrow. 

I don’t know how to work it, so I’m just staring at the network program guide. 

“Do you want to watch the World Series?” 

No I do not. 

He set up a movie on my phone, kissed my forehead and said, “they don’t deserve you.”  And left me to my peace. 

I watched Life of Pi, then went home to where my wild things are. The wild rumpus mess had been tidied up and everyone was asleep. There were more meds placed on the counter with my water bottle, a note from one child asking me to make them a costume for red ribbon week, another with a request to launder a Jersey, and a thank you note from Corbin. “We need you mom. We didn’t last one hour without you.” Bless. 

I took the girls with me to a carnicería in Rogers for some carne asada. Every female in the store came out of the corners to talk to Esme. The photo looks like Sloane was in a mood but she was totally happy and both girls asked how to say things in Spanish. These abuelitas absolutely gushed over Esme though. The girls picked out a game of Lotería to play and we got all the ingredients for a fun Sunday dinner. 

I helped Reese cut Logan’s hair over face time. It was an experiment! Logan is a good sport. 

Speaking of haircuts, Corbin brought his buddy Cole from orchestra over for a haircut and Cole showed up with these pretty flowers for me! I spent hours in hospitality at all region with Cole’s mom and she sent these pretty mums. So nice, I love them! Coke sat down at the piano and started playing LALALand during Corbin’s trim. Corbin turned to me and we both quoted Ammon at the same time. That was the song he played every time he came over. It was fun to hear it on our keys again and I sent a little video to Tiffany. 

 

Goblin Run

 Soren signed up for the Goblin Run in Bentonville with a bunch of XC buddies this morning, and finished a 5k in 20:54! A 5k PR for him and wearing a Top Gun suit to boot! Go Soren Go!