run-on sentences

Anna writes notes and cards and messages. She writes them on post-its, stationary, white boards, and scraps of paper. She uses markers, pens, and crayons. She embellishes with stickers, pictures, punches, and fancy scissors. She places them where you'll see them and other times tucks them in your jacket pocket or inside the book you're reading.

When you write a note or message to her, she keeps it in a special place. The other day, she was reading through a stack of notes that I had written to her. Very politely she said, "Mom, a lot of these notes have run-on sentences in them. Maybe you should work on that."

a little break

Griffin likes to have a little break when he gets home from school before he starts his homework. Usually he has a snack and plays with Jane or runs around outside. Yesterday he just needed a power nap. :)

ZGW=11 yo

Zachary turned 11 last week! Zachary (who prefers being called Zach) is a smart boy who loves to read and is a good writer. He is smart at building things and digs a good airsoft war. Zachary plays the piano and sings in the school choir. He is a loyal friend and a good example. He loves to eat pepperoni pizza, watch movies, stay up late, and sleep in. Zachary is a good brother and loves his dog, Max. He throws pottery, works hard (especially when it includes making money), and is an expert paper airplane folder. He likes to tell the jokes from the Boys Life magazine, is responsible, and can sing the 13 Articles of Faith. Zachary is especially happy going to the cabin, hiking, and riding his rip stick. He is willing to try new things and looks forward to a good adventure. Zachary is a blessing to our family and we love him.

it feels good when people pray for you

Jane's personal prayers are quite heartfelt and sometimes entertaining. A few days back I was listening to her pray before tucking her in bed and this was part of it... "Please bless mommy that her tummy won't look like she still has a baby in it."

St. George

Last weekend we went with our good friends, the Smiths, to St. George. We played games, watched movies, went swimming (thanks to MLK it was free swim day), climbed on rocks, and went hiking in Snow Canyon (Lincoln seemed to really enjoy the hike and was awake for most of it!). It was a fun trip.

integrity

Anna (and her good friend, Allie) were recognized last week in the Character Education Assembly as students who have integrity. Anna is a great girl who makes good choices even when the kids around her aren't. We're proud of Anna and very pleased that she has good friends. :)

Webelos

Zachary has been working hard on his Webelos requirements and received his Webelos patch (and my pin) last week at Pack Meeting. Zach has really enjoyed cub scouts and is excited about moving on to the 11 year old scouting program. Congrats, Zachary, we're impressed with your hard work and determination!

oh, baby!

Sunday after church Anna wanted to watch one of our church movies and thought it would be nice for Lincoln to see it, too. Lincoln fell asleep during the movie and after it was over (and unbeknownst to me), the kids took Linc to the toy room and put him down for a nap in the doll cradle. :)

cousins

I've posted in earlier blogs about all the new cousins this year. It's been great to anticipate them and even greater to meet them!

In the Techmeyer family all three of my sisters had girls this year and in the Wright family there are three boys. Wow!

This is a picture of the Wright boys... Lincoln, Kai, and Carsten, not overjoyed to be awakened and laid on the floor together, but awfully cute. :)

Here's looking forward to the new cousins coming in 2010!

Happy New Year

Welcome 2010!

We went up to the cabin to celebrate New Years. We enjoyed snow shoeing in and loved the sparkling snow. We ate good food, watched Goonies (what a classic!), and played with cousins (who were visiting from Arizona).
This was Lincoln's first trip to the cabin (one of my young women made his fabulous hat!).

Griffin forgot his winter coat (remember that this is the child who wears shorts nearly all year), but he managed with a hoody and levi jacket.

Jeremy and the kids had a great time sledding. It's a winter heaven at the cabin and a fine way to ring in the new year!

December Review

Wow. December was full and fabulous. These are the highlights...

Zachary, Anna, and Griffin are all playing Jr. Jazz basketball this winter. A cool part of being on a team is that they get a ticket (along with a free drink and hot dog) to a Jazz game.

This is truly the best picture that I have of any of the children playing basketball. A camera that takes pictures of a child running in an ill-lit gym is on my list of things to invest in.

A friend of a friend has season tickets to the University of Utah basketball games and we scored tickets for a game. The boys were sitting on row 6. Go Utes!

We enjoyed many fun Christmas parties (thanks to those who planned, hosted, and attended).

The Wright family Christmas party had the best Santa and Jane thought he might even be the real one, not just a helper.

Here are three generations of Wrights. Since Richard will likely outlive us all, there will be more of these in years to come.

Christmas morning was delightful. We leisurely opened presents and the kids played all day. Grandma and Grandpa Wright came over and shared part of the morning with us which very nice.

Here's our sweet Lincoln, unanimously voted as the BEST Christmas present. :)

Thank you to everyone for the kind notes and gifts and phone calls and meals and visits. We are so grateful for our large and fabulous extended family and for our amazing friends. We feel blessed with abundance and are truly grateful for the many, many good things in our lives.

3+8=11

Last Tuesday Jeremy took the kids sledding. Lincoln and I had just settled down for a nice afternoon nap and we got a call from Jeremy saying that Griffin had cut his head.

Griffin tends to be fairly cautious and was starting half way down the hill (rather than from the top). After a handful of times down the hill, he fell off the sled and sliced his head (a few inches above his left ear) on a rock.

The other children stayed with our friends (who they were sledding with) and Jeremy, Lincoln, and I took Griffin to the InstaCare. Fortunately they were not busy and saw Griffin right away. Apparently, they typically staple head lacerations, but since his wound was large and deep they put 3 stitches underneath and 8 on top.

Griffin got to read with Jeremy from one of his new books while he waited (for the numbing solution to numb) and was tough and held very still while the doctor worked on him. Griffin is happy that the stitches will come out on Wednesday because he gets to show his stitches to his teacher and class today.