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:)

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!

Blue Bell Factory

I started to do a whole "what we've been up to this summer post" but accidently cancelled it. So instead you get a few shots of our trip to the Blue Bell Factory today... yum!

The whole crew...

Enjoying our free sample... 


 Even Kendall got her first taste...


 Silly girls... 


Avalyn missed her friends this summer...
 

 Too cool for pictures...

 
Everyone wanted their turn with the baby...


 Best shot of the day IMO... except that I took it sideways for some reason;)

Christmas Morning

Wow! I failed as a picture taker this morning! But I did have a MAGICAL time with lots of family and happy kids:) We had dad, Andrea, Uncle Rob, Uncle Matt, Uncle Roice & Aunt Sarah all here and I loved every second of it. I only wish it could have lasted all day.... or LONGER!! We opened gifts, ate brunch and too much candy, drank green smoothies, and played alot. I love Christmas!!

Stockings!
Avalyn opening a gift with chocolate in her mouth:
Uncle Rob's gifts were a HUGE hit with the kids...
Aunt Sarah gave the girls her childhood holiday barbies!

They are so beautiful and I joked that Sarah turned Halle into a monster. The barbies gave her just the inspiration she needed for some new hairstyles:
Uncle Roice's gift to Uncle Rob... AWESOME!
Yes, that is a straw.
My favorite picture of the day!
Sarah MADE these... I'm so amazed!

2011 Christmas Letter

(The one that didn't make it in with our Christmas cards this year)

Merry Christmas 2011

Another year down and only 1 ½ more years of dental school to go, but who’s counting? As we get closer to graduation, the question of where we will go after Jared is done comes up a lot and the answer is that we just don’t know yet. I really wish we did! I pray every day that we will be able to “get it right” when the time comes so that we don’t have to move the kids around a lot while Jared establishes his career but only time will tell. All is well with dental school. One thing that has become evident to me is how much Jared cares and is aware of his patients and their circumstances.

Jared still teaches Sunday School to 9 year olds, a big group of rowdy boys including Colby. I recently was asked to teach music to the primary kids in our ward, ages 3-11. We are super excited to announce that we are expecting another baby girl in just over a month! I feel like my year consisted of working hard to get in shape for my sister’s wedding in April and then gaining my usual tons of pregnancy weight;) I created the yearbook at the kids’ school for 2010-2011, learned the ropes to extreme couponing, dabbled a little in furniture restoration and have become increasingly interested in plant based nutrition, particularly “green smoothies”.

Colby (9) participated in a lot this year: soccer, basketball, piano, theatre & voice camps, swim team, cub scouts, the spelling bee, and the 4th grade musical. He tries so hard at everything he does. Colby’s 3rd grade teacher offered the kindest compliment, saying he was the most gifted, well-rounded kid she has ever taught and she was so grateful that she was able to play a part in his educational journey. He has become quite serious about sports. He has a ball at his feet almost as much as he has a book in his hands. And he is just so introspective about all he does. Kind of a funny example… one day, he threw a massive fit in the middle of a parking lot. I just looked at him and said, “Wow, that was kind of embarrassing for you.” His calm response was, “All of the other kids act that way, I just wanted to see what it felt like!” Apparently there is thought and purpose even behind his emotional reactions.

Taylor (7) has too been quite busy this year, participating in soccer, gymnastics, dance, voice lessons, and swim team. It seems Taylor is just becoming more and more who she is designed to be: loyal, family-oriented, self-disciplined, organized, crafty, athletic and strong, and a performer. She gets braver and more confident every year. Last summer, Taylor experienced anxiety at swim meets that kept her from swimming in them. This year, she swam in every event in every meet and qualified for the Meet of Champs in three events. My favorite representation of Taylor’s personality was at Mother’s Day when I found a note that said, “Mother’s Day Surprise… Halle will set up the tea party, Colby will make decorations, Taylor will plan it, Dad will make breakfast, Avalyn will be cute.”

Halle (5) is our little social butterfly. She started Kindergarten this year and school is definitely her thing. She loves the rules, the friends, the projects, and the many opportunities to please and receive rewards. Her teacher says she is a hard worker, motivated, an example to others, and a rule follower... (OK, so I was only a little bit surprised to hear some of those adjectives:). She too experimented in various sports this year: soccer, dance, gymnastics, and swim team. I’m struggling a little bit to help her find her niche as the middle child. Halle wants so badly to be in charge but her placement in the family makes it difficult. Halle is a leader among her friends… she is charismatic, bright, independent, and fearless.

Avalyn (2) is so much fun! She really isn’t my easiest baby but she seems to do no wrong in our eyes. I am treasuring her baby and toddler stage in a way I couldn’t with my older ones. I guess it took me 4 kids to figure out how to do that! The thing that stands out about Avalyn is her level of empathy. She already has a few close friends and it surprises me she is old enough to demonstrate such concern for them and for her siblings. One day, Halle got in trouble and went to her room crying. We heard Avalyn knocking at her door saying, “Baby, are you OK? Baby, baby… I wanna hold you, are you OK?”

It is definitely a busy season of our lives but we are very aware of how blessed we are. We feel especially grateful for our health, our beliefs, and the tremendous support system we have through great family and friends. We hope that this Holiday Season is full of happiness, peace, and perspective for each of you.

We’d love for you to visit our family blog for more pictures and video at http://vidorwrights.blogspot.com

Love,
The Wrights

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:)

Happy Halloween!!

Ultrasound

If anybody has a good idea how to break the news to Colby, I'd love to hear it!

Family Pictures

I'm going to have a tough time choosing a Christmas Card... I love our family pictures this year, particularly the individuals of the kids! I want your opinions on the group picture I should use. Here are several of my favorites...