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:)



Brother for Sale

Great talent show this morning! Taylor is on the left, Halle in the middle, and our neighbor friend on the right.

Shutterfly Books

I'm sorry I've been MIA... lots of transitions, emotions, and busyness to having a new baby. I'll update soon, I'm sure! But in the meantime, we got a couple of codes for free Shutterfly books so we made these great hard bound books for the girls and they wanted to share on my blog. Enjoy:)

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