Ordinary Joys | Gold Creek Pond in Winter

One of my favorite days of the year, is the first time we "drive to winter." It still amazes me that we can access a snowy wonderland in under an hour! Gold Creek Pond is an annual destination for us, but we usually go in the fall. This was our first time seeing it covered in snow. The sleds were key as we had to hike into the trailhead. We opted not to walk around the pond this time, but thankfully it's right at the start, so we didn't miss out on the view. It was the perfect way to kick-off the winter season :) 

Mittens and hats, 
-SJW

Christmas Card | 2024

If we could sum up 2024 in three words, it’d likely be “buzz the beach,” our phrase for making quick visits to the shorelines along Puget Sound. The picture on the back of the card is a classic example – pit stop to check out the waves on a windy day. We also discovered the immense joy of super low tides at Alki Beach. I joke that I’ll start reading out tide charts over breakfast so as not to miss any next year! 

July brought a beach upgrade (i.e. warmer water temps) when we traveled to Hawaii. Oahu made for a good "mid-point" for meeting up with Sarah’s sister who's currently stationed in Okinawa. We loved the scenery and shave ice, but were most excited to meet our new family member, cousin KHR! We also got family time with the Wrights in Connecticut and an Egley family reunion in Minnesota – Forever grateful for the times we get to spend with family! 

Our daily life is filled with playtime fun! Our trio can be found drawing/coloring or building zoos, forts, or obstacle courses in the basement. Stuffed animals, Legos, and magnet tiles reign supreme, and like many families across America, this was a year of Paw Patrol fandom :)

NLW started Kindergarten and has been reading on his own! He maintained an ongoing obsession with marine animals and loves drawing and labeling them. We experienced two “reptile guy” presentations this year and held snakes, a turtle, and a chameleon. NLW is a super sweet friend and can be heard saying endearing things like “you’re not too small. everyone’s big enough to do something”. 

The twins had a year full of milestones and we’ve officially said good-bye to cribs, pacifiers, and diapers! They are at the same in-home preschool with our amazing nanny and are now writing their names, counting backward, and biking with hand brakes. 

EDW has fully adopted the hygge way of life -- cozy is her favorite adjective and snuggle is her favorite verb. She loves indoor pretend play and dressing up. My favorite look consists of pink sparkly princess dress + swim goggles + pirate hat.

CCW loves building structures and is constantly surprising us with his creativity – his art, comments, jokes, food combinations, and even his ability to avoid fulfilling a request i.e. “my hands are having quiet time.” He is somehow both always on the move and very focused on activities.

We hope you get to buzz a beach, lake, or pond nearest you. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Life Wright Now | November 2025

I was a workaholic in November, burning the candle at all ends! Knowing that would be the case, I proactively carved out time for a mini overnight to Fremont for me and Mr. Fleece. We often crave time to lounge, veg, and watch TV, and we made time for exactly that -- I joke that the "hidden gem" we found during our Seattle staycation was Netflix. I'm continuing the personal downtime through December, enjoying an extended hiatus from my executive assistant work. I go back after New Year's and am attempting to tackle relaxation and domestic projects in equal measure. 

More Highlights:
- Family excursions to the zoo and Discovery Park
- Thanksgiving dinner with friends
- Misfit's Thanksgiving with Mr. Fleece's coworkers
- Brunch and Christmas Tree farm with friends
- Hitting a good stride with sibling playtime
- Breaking out the children's snowsuits

Watching | America's Sweethearts
As a Texan and former drill team dancer, this Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders documentary show hit home. I loved learning about the enterprise, seeing the tryout process, and following the personal stories of the featured women. The culture, the dedication, the rigor, the makeup -- it made for great TV, but in my opinion, it's the director, Kelli Finglass who steals the show with her leadership and vision.

Eating & Drinking | Fremont + Wallingford Eateries
During our staycation we got takeout from Musashi's -- sushi rolls that were inexpensive, delicious, and huge! We hung out at Stoneway Cafe for a while and also grabbed lunch at Local Tide, per my friend's recommendation to try their smash burger. Backyard Bagel and Cracklemi are still on my bucket list!

Reading | Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten
This was an absolute treat to listen to! The epitome of feel-good storytelling. 

Listening | The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling
I found this podcast series fascinating, thought provoking, nuanced, and helpful in understanding/revisiting aspects of culture over the past 25+ years. It covers Harry Potter mania, Rowling's personal life, social media, transgender rights, and more. Definitely recommend!

Hibernation mode,

-SJW

Life Wright Now | October 2024

With four birthdays, October was very celebratory for our family! We splurged on a deluxe Airbnb (which I booked back in January!) and invited our parents to join us on Whidbey Island for a long weekend. It was absolutely splendid. We loved having my mom stay for all the kids' birthdays. She handled breakfast every morning—such a treat for me—and she was able to walk NLW to and from school—such a treat for her. We also wrapped up swim lessons and hosted a fun and simple Octonauts birthday party for NLW. 

More Highlights:

- Stunning full-bow rainbows in West Seattle! Two in one week. 
- Seeing seals and bald eagles from our Whidbey deck
- Watching kite surfers in 29 mph winds!!!
- EDW enjoying her first princess dress—I think she looks like Glinda
- Loving the kid chopsticks they received as birthday gifts
- Wearing Halloween jammies
- Running into NLW's classmate at Constellation Beach sunset
- Taking off work on my birthday
- Listening to the Wee Sing for Halloween album, like we do every year :)
- Trick-or-Treating—aka us constantly saying "Take one piece and say thank you" 

Watching | Elemental
I watched this for the first time on my birthday and loved it! It's visually imaginative with a storyline that's grounded in the immigrant experience. The love story of the main characters made Mr. Fleece and me tear up, and we laughed at the funny parts. It's my kind of movie and reminded me of seeing Inside Out or Zootopia for the first time. I also watched Good Chemistry, featuring the writer and director, Peter Sohn. Would recommend both!

Eating & Drinking | 100 Grand
It was a dessert-heavy month! S'mores, pumpkin pie, birthday cake x3, pudding, coffee cake, egg nog, and last but not least, Halloween candy! 100 Grand candy bars are a newly discovered favorite—I currently prefer them over Twix and KitKat. 

Reading | The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhorn
While procrastinating David Copperfield for Book Club, I landed on a book I had seen a lot of buzz about earlier in the year. I picked it up based on a friend's recommendation and went in blind. It was a compelling story told in part through diary entries and I only learned afterward it was based on a real midwife and her journals in the late 1700s! Maybe that unexpected "twist" made me love it even more, but I think the story and life of Martha Ballard hold up regardless. She was an incredibly strong-willed and determined woman and I enjoyed seeing how her profession allowed her to intersect with so many in her community. Would recommend to anyone looking for a great historical fiction option! 

Listening | Fall Extravaganza Podcast Episode 
Listened to this gem of an episode while walking through our neighborhood on a crisp fall day. It's cheery and festive in the best possible way. Thank you, Kelsey and Erica for celebrating "Falliday" and amplifying "small fall" joys.

Nearing Election Day,

-SJW