Christmas!

I can't believe it! I had 5 of the 6 kids in my family, plus their spouses, my dad/stepmom, my step brother & one nephew all at my house for Christmas. It was WONDERFUL! I loved having everyone here! We spent Christmas Eve at my house with my mom as well. People energize me so I guess it's a good thing Jared & I both come from such big families (and now have a big family of our own). 

Santa visited the Wright house!

Taylor's favorite gifts: Oil Pastels, Tie Dye Kit, Bike, & Jared's old IPod (updated w/ a pink and black zebra bling case;)

Kendall's favorite gifts: adorable stuffed animals from her aunts & uncles

Halle's favorite gifts: Easy Bake Oven & Hermit crabs

Colby's favorite gift: Raspberry Pi... a credit card size computer with Linux operating system, designed to help kids learn how to program.  Yes, that little motherboard on the floor is his computer. Crazy, huh?!

Avalyn's favorite gifts: jewelry and purses from aunts/uncles, Rapunzel hair, and grocery store/cash register

Before (@ Good Will)

       

After my crafty paint job

Activity of the day: 1000 piece Periodic Elements puzzle. Dad & Andrea finished it while we saw Les Mis Christmas night:)

Gingerbread Houses

Occasionally, something I try with these kids works really well & this gingerbread house making party was one of those times! I made the houses the night before so kids weren't frustrated, trying to keep the houses together. They each invited one friend... & everybody got along so well. Good day!

Kids

We met some friends on Sunday to attempt some pictures for our Christmas card... considering 2 had the flu, we were able to get some cute individual shots of the kids:) I didn't have any family pictures turn out great - somebody had an awkward face in every one! I need to learn how to cut heads out of one picture and put them in another because I could have made a cute picture if I knew how to pull from different photos. On my list of things to learn... one day!

They're Getting So BIG!

Great send off on the first day of school. Love these kids so much!

Colby is in 5TH GRADE, really? He has been such an awesome kid this summer. While others seemed to fall apart a little, he stepped it up - super helpful, mature, thoughtful. I'm really excited to watch where life takes this stud!

Taylor had the same wonderful teacher two years in a row and her BFF in her class three years in a row. We are going to MISS Mrs. Seely and it is hard to have new changes but I was proud of Taylor for being brave this morning despite being scared. She is amazing! Bring it on 3rd grade.

I'm really looking forward to this year for Halle! I haven't quite figured out what makes Halle tick... what motivates her and inspires her. I'm hoping a little more responsibility at school will give me some insight into this sweet little girl. Good luck in 1st grade baby:)



A Picture Year in Review 9

NOVEMBER 2011:
Colby's Spelling Bee, Soccer, soccer, and more soccer...

DECEMBER 2011:
Taylor and Grandpa singing in the joint LDS/Epiphany of our Lord Christmas Concert, Christmas Card Pictures

A Picture Year in Review 8

OCTOBER 2011:

Field Day, One of my Furniture Restoration Experiments, and Bedroom Makeover

A Picture Year in Review 7

SEPTEMBER 2011:
Temple Trip with the Paternos, Grandparents Day @ School, Labor Day fun with the Wrights @ the Nelsons:), and Halle's field trip to the fire station

A Picture Year in Review 6

More JULY/AUGUST 2011:
Hotel Sleepover for Haleigh's Birthday, Singing with choir at the Astros Game, Camping with Yogi, Corpus Christi Trip before dad starts school, Avalyn getting into my makeup, and Blue Bell Factory Tour

A Picture Year in Review 5

JULY 2011:
Wright Family Reunion (Yes, this is just Jared's immediate family); Family Races, Ripley's Wax Museum, Water fun, Exotic Animal Farm, and more...

A Picture Year in Review 4

JUNE 2011:
Last day of school, My Fair Lady with Mom, Camp Rock 2 at Miller Outdoor Theatre & Zoo Train Ride with friends, LOTS of swim team for Colby, Taylor, & Halle (I only have one picture for some reason though), and Halle's 5th Birthday Party

A Picture Year in Review 3

More APRIL/MAY 2011:
Wright dad's backyard campout, Fun and blackberry picking at Jodie's farm, Easter egg hunt with Wright cousins, Colby's birthday party, and paddle boats/train ride with Avalyn & Halle.

A Picture Year in Review 2

MARCH 2011:
Family Festival with Ryan & Lisa's family, Soccer Begins, Kids Celebrating Colby's Winning T-Shirt Design, & Colorado Trip for Uncle Chuck's MemorialAPRIL 2011:
Hiking with Austin Wright Cousins, Hotel Swimming with Nelson Cousins, My Sister Sara's Rehearsal Dinner & Wedding

A Picture Year in Review

As I began to write my Christmas letter, I looked back through my blog to help me remember what happened this year and realized that I didn't post so many pictures of some of the things we did this year. And so for the next few DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS... I am going to use the pictures we took to post each month's highlights (that I haven't already posted) as a picture year in review. Enjoy!

DEC 2010/JANUARY 2011:
Taylor brakes her thumb falling off her bike, Baking cookies with Aunt Sara & Uncle Tim, Christmas morning, and Minute to Win-It with the Paternos:

FEBRUARY 2011:
Ward Campout, Taylor's Happy 7th Birthday, First Pinewood Derby, and a Hair Cut for Mom:

** Disclaimer: I'm sure I have some of these events placed in the wrong months but they're close enough for me:)

Busy Saturdays

Three soccer players = very busy Saturdays!!

Colby - can't get enough soccer. He has a ball at his feet almost as much as he has a book in his hands. I wish I would have videotaped his game from yesterday because it had to be the game of his life. He played like I have never seen before and blew everyone away! It was fun to watch.

Taylor - totally surprised me with soccer because we tried it when she was 4 and she hated it, mostly because she had to wear those long socks! But - She LOVES it and she is FAST and she never seems to get tired. She has gotten more aggressive and more confident with each game.

Halle - doesn't love soccer so much! She tells the coach she needs a break A LOT and runs by me on the sidelines and asks why I didn't sign her up for gymnastics:) I've never bribed my kids in sports but I told Halle I would pay her $1 for every goal she scored just to try to get that girl to stop chatting with the coach during the game and to run a little bit, at least kind of close to the ball:) She has started to make an adorable "game face" and she grunts like she's playing tennis and she has gotten a little more skip in her step since I offerred the bribe. She even scored one goal - in the other team's goal... but I still paid her a dollar!

And our sweet, patient little fan gets her own scrapbook page for this post...

Happy Halloween!!

Playgroup

Avalyn has started a playgroup with three little friends from our ward and the girls were at my house the first week. I still can't believe she is old enough to look forward to playing with friends and for a playgroup to actually be about more than who took who's toy. I had gorgeous weather and a really fun time with these sweet friends!

Daddy Daughter Dance

One good thing about Jared never looking at our blog is that he'll never know I posted this video. Unless you tell him. So don't tell him because he'll make me take it off :)

First Day of School

Colby - 4th grade, great report!
Taylor - 2nd grade, not very happy when she came home but they had to sit out in the heat for 40 minutes because of the ridiculous parent pick up line and I think that contributed.
Halle - Kindergarten, no problems... and she went to bed early tonight!
Avalyn - wanted to wear her backpack too... we tried the YMCA today... she lasted 20 minutes:)

The BIG Kindergartner!

And mom.... has forgotten what to do with only one child at home and no set daily schedule. Avalyn & I didn't know what to do with ourselves today!

Happy Easter!

Avalyn Shaking Her Sillies

Watching Avalyn when this song comes on may be my only motivation for bringing her to the library every week. So dang cute!