Life Wright Now | December 2023

December has felt like two very different months! I traveled to St. Louis for a business trip the first week and then Mr. Fleece had a work trip the second week. Once we got past the flurry of work, we were able to enjoy some down days and truly loved celebrating Christmas day at home just the five of us. The kids were ripe with excitement :) Plus, The Muppet Christmas Carol never disappoints.

Highlights:
- Hosting my mom and dad
- Daily advent calendars
- Foggy mornings, dry days, and phenomenal sunrises and sunsets
- Mr. Fleece applied for and got a significant promotion at work!
- Canlis dinner with our fancy friend...complete with a tour of the restaurant + kitchen
- Joining NLW on his first Field Trip to the Seattle Children's Theater
- Seeing Little Women at Seattle Rep
- Playground outings at dusk 
- Playing Cuckoo Zoo as a family
- Winter solstice party 
- Christmas festivities
- Celebrating New Year's Eve with stovetop popcorn and ice cream
- New Year's Eve block party with neighbors
- Not traveling :) 

Watching | Queen Charlotte  
Late to the game, but absolutely loved this Bridgerton story. Enjoyed it more than the first and second season but think it's necessary to have watched those for context. The love stories, level of devotion, and sense of duty got me teary multiple times over. 

Eating | Union Loafers 
Supporting an executive in the city where one of my best friends lives is such a treat! So glad I got to spend a couple days visiting with KD and her husband. I've scheduled many a lunch for my boss at Union Loafers and was thrilled to get to try the little gem salad for myself :) 

Reading | Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
I'd been meaning to read this all year and I'm so glad I finally did. I LOVED it! The prose, writing, and descriptions are what sold me, but I really enjoyed the characters and how the story unfolded. The setting is 1930's New York and it's as glitzy and fun as you want it to be. It was fantastic on audio and when I finished, I just wanted to start again. It has the feeling of a classic and is a new all-time favorite! Liked it more than A Gentleman in Moscow and made me want to pick up The Lincoln Highway.

Listening | Days Gone By (Auld Lang Syne)
Auld Lang Syne is one of my favorite songs and this rendition warms my heart. Casper Babypants can do no wrong. "Pumpkin in the Pines" is another gem on this album -- NLW, ever the performer, knows all the words.

Pursuing simple pleasures, 
- SJW

Christmas Card 2023

We had another wonderful year as a family! In our house, 2023 has been the year of stuffed animals, balance bikes, and talking twins. Our days are filled with parks, playgrounds, snacks, library books, rounds of tickle monster, and most recently, the Lion King soundtrack on repeat!

We road tripped to Camano Island and Bellingham, spent nine nights at the farm in Missouri, visited family and friends on the East Coast, and had our first camping trip with children in tow! 

Sadly we said good-bye to our beloved dog, Ebony earlier this year and miss her uncanny ability to snuggle into the tiniest of spots.

NLW lost two teeth and started preK. He loves reptiles, writing grocery lists, and is starting to read on his own. NLW turned 5 in October and is agreeable, silly, and an eager learner. 

The twins both had ear tube surgery this year, which has helped their speech take off! They turned 3 in October and love playing store or airplane (also known as putting things in bags). 

EDW adores pajamas, can dress herself, and always wants to be in eyesight of her mother. She is snuggly, observant, and mischievous. 

CCW likes penguins and sloths, enjoys crafts, and often requests the opposite of his sister. He is active, cheeky, and sweet. 

Hakuna Matata & Merry Christmas, 
-SJW

Life Wright Now | October 2023

October was a fistful of fun! Birthdays were special, we hosted family, and the weather was great. 

Highlights:
- rock climbing date with Mr. Fleece
- "spooky scary" walks through the neighborhood
- almost annual trip to Gold Creek Pond 
- bowling for EDW & CCW birthday
- water taxi for NLW birthday
- haircut and Goodwill shopping spree
- eating at Easy Street Records & Cafe for the first time
- pumpkin patch at Swan's Trail
- ferry ride to Bainbridge :)
- Halloween party
- trick-or-treating

Watching | Nate Bargatze Be Funny Tour
Such a fun double date in the city! I love a good comedy show.  

Eating | Homer
Celebrated my birthday with a ladies night out at Homer. The food and company were spectacular! Hot tip -- have Wendy order for the table :) 

Reading | Salem's Lot by Stephen King
I read my first book by the masterful Stephen King and really liked it! His descriptions were engaging, and I loved how he built a cast of characters and let the story unfold. Don't think I'll ever venture into his true horror -- a classic vampire tale in October was spooky enough for me :)  

Listening | True Grit by Charles Portis 
I was so surprised at how much I loved this classic western. I think the audiobook version definitely enhanced my experience since Donna Tartt does a fantastic job capturing Mattie Ross' spunk and independence. I loved the language, characters, and most of all the dialogue. 

"I always go backwards when I am backing up,"
- SJW