Christmas Morning

At 2:30 a.m. Christmas morning Trevor decided he was done waiting to see what Santa brought him so he woke everyone up. When I tried explaining to him that it was too early to get up. He did not buy it, he kept saying with real passion "THIS NIGHT IS TAKING SOOOO LOOONG!" So I finally asked him if he had heard Santa come yet. He said "no" so then I explained to him that maybe Santa has not come yet so he better go back to sleep just incase. He agreed (but not happily). Meanwhile, I could not get back to sleep so when all the kids were up and ready to go downstairs at 6:30 a.m. I agreed.

Here is our annual "one the stairs ready to come see what Santa brought" picture: Santa brought the following for everyone:

Nintento DS for Mackenzie

Nintendo DS for Trevor

Uggs for Madalyn (dark brown tall to be exact!):

Dora and the walking Pegasus for Meredith. She does not really like Dora, but she loves the Pegasus!

Ryan got a ripstick, but I could not find any pictures of it so here is the next best thing- nose hair trimmer!

I got new running shoes, but there is not one picture of me on Christmas because I was the one taking the pictures!

Christmas Day Continued....

Here is a continuation of the day.

Passing out the presents Christmas morning:Our family gift from the Scott Wright family. Heidi made it and shipped it down. She was so afraid it would break, but it survived. We are thankful it made it in one piece because we

LOVE IT!!!!
A new tetherball for our tetherball court from Grandpa and Janeal:

The kids bought gifts for eachother (Madalyn got a Roxy wallet and Mackenzie got a new necklace both from Tilley's):

Meredith got a baby and Trevor got a bionicle. They were so excited to exchange with eachother!

One of the favorite gifts (who knew a $3.00 gift could be so valuable?!?):

We had my side of the family over for Christmas dinner. It was a nice evening of filled with Prime Rib, tons of sweets and family togetherness! Here is Trevor, Meredith and my cousin's son Noah. Noah is so incredibly cute and fun to be around:

Grandpa and Grandma Wright spoiled us with Disneyland annual passes! We took last year off because of the cruise so we are excited to go back again!

Mackenzie is taking sewing lessons in the spring so Grandma got her a sewing box. I still use the one my Grandma Beeney got me when I was Mackenzie's age.

Christmas tree picture

Hello! I am finally back! I have been so busy that my priority to blog has fallen to the bottom of my priorities. To make up for it I have done about four new post today so scroll down and check them all out! Sorry, I will try to be better....

Anyway, every year I take a picture of the kids in front of the Christmas tree before church. It helps in tracking there size and what they wore for Christmas Sunday. Here they are in there Sunday best! Here is a close up for those of you who just cannot get enough of these good looking kids faces :o)! Do you like Meredith's curls??

Christmas (pre) Eve at Grandpa Jones'

The Saturday before Christmas we drove out to Grandpa Jones' house for dinner, nativity and gift exchanging. This year the grandkids each wrote a letter to Grandpa about a favorite memory or experience with Grandpa or Grandma. Each kid read their letter out loud. It was a great moment to see how their Grandparents have touched there lives.

The grandkids also did a gift exhange with some of Grandma's old Christmas decorations. Here is what everyone ended up with: (next year Rachel will have to make sure and get the singing Christmas tree!) Grandpa Jones and Meredith:

The nativity:

We drove over Ortega Highway to get to Grandpas house. We have taken this drive many times and for the first time ever there was this:

It is amazing to think it has been cold enough here to get snow on the ground! We pulled over for a minute so we could throw a few snowballs :o)!

School Christmas Performances

The third week of December brought many school Christmas performances.

Here is Madalyn with her singing sixlets: Meredith singing Jingle Bells:
Mackenzie's catante choir (which btw- they auditioned and made it into performing at Disneyland in February):

Trevor's 1st grade choir. He was chosen to do a solo in the microphone. I was impressed by his ability to sing out and on tune :o)! All the performances he has sat through for his sisters has paid off!

Singers Company Performance

Meredith had her Singers Company performance the first week of December. She sang a solo to the Chipmunk song "Christmas, Christmas time is here.....". As usual she did a great job and looked so cute singing and dancing.Here she is with Grandma Wright

Ho Ho Ho Our own personal Santa!

Tonight we were lucky enough to have Santa come to our door! He brought with him freshly made candy canes from Mrs. Claus! Thanks for the visit Santa!!!

Such a sweet boy

I got home from a morning shopping trip to this from Trevor: Translation:

Roses are Red

Violets are blue

but the ones that

I love are you!

Happy Thanksgiving

Love,

Trevor

I thought that one of his big sisters helped him make up the poem or use the brads in the flowers, but he did it all by himself! He is such a sweetheart- so sensitive but yet so tough! He loves to snuggle at any given opportunity, he is touched by the spirit often and thinks I am the greatest mom- which is nice to hear!

No more training wheels

Look who took off her training wheels..... About a month ago we took her training wheels off her bicycle. She would push herself around with her feet. One night when we got home from dinner she decided to ride her bike. I told her to pick up her feet and put them on the peddles. She did and took off! Now her new favorite activity is riding her bike.

We are looking forward to be able to take family bike rides now that she can ride fast!

We have lots of holes....

Have two kids so close in age means that the tooth fairy frequents our house quite often! In a three month time span she has visited our house five time (almost 6)! We called Trevor a

Jack O Lantern this year :o)! This is the first tooth that Meredith has lost. She should be losing her other bottom tooth soon! A few weeks ago she knocked out her two top teeth while riding her razor. I pushed them back in and as of right now she still has her two top teeth. I thought for sure they would die, but so far so good!
She was so excited to finally lose a tooth like her older siblings!

Recognition Night

Madalyn's Acheivement Day leaders had a recognition night a few weeks ago. The girls were to do something from one of the focuses in the "Faith in God" booklet. Madalyn chose "Developing Talents". She made some cards for people and a few baby blankets for her leaders who were having babies. Grandma Wright taught her how to make the blankets and she taught herself how to do the cards.

During the evening each parent got the opportunity to talk about their daughter. I was glad to be able to be there to honor Madalyn and talk about the joy she brings to our home! She is funny, faithful, forgiving, forgetful and fabulous (like all the f's?)! And just for her she can be

c-o-m-f-o-r-t-a-b-l-e- sorry- inside joke ;).

Happy Halloween!!!

Halloween did happen at our house this year- I just have not had time to blog about it :o)! Sorry for the delay, but we had a great halloween! We started the Friday before with our ward Trunk or Treat. Mackenzie was not able to join us because she was at a birthday party :(. Here is Madalyn with one of her good friends: Trevor and Meredith loved getting candy!

A family in our ward had carved this cute pumpkin. Ironically there was a No on 8 rally happening on the corner by our Ward building as we were trunk or treating. We are so glad it passed, but unfortunately some people are unwilling to accept what the majority of Californias want.


Here is the line up:
Mackenzie- bee (to match all the beehives)
Madalyn- Ladybug
Trevor- Knight
Meredith- Rainbow butterfly

As you see- Trevor did not want to go along with the theme. He thought it should go:
Mom-Royal Queen
Dad- King
Trevor- Prince
Meredith- Royal Princess
Madalyn- Joker
Mackenzie- Royal Horse

The older two wanted nothing to do with Trevor's theme :o)!

This is the first year that Mackenzie wanted to go to a party with her friends so after my husband told me I needed to cut the strings we worked out a compromise. She went out with the family for 30 minutes then I dropped her off at the party. It seems to all work out perfectly. I guess this is the beginning of a new chapter.....my daughters had more parties to go to this year than me!

A Chapter Ends....

Today was a sad day for me. I was released from my calling as the Primary President. Sad? Not relieved- yes, I loved serving the children in our church! I have learned so much in this capacity and have grown in so many ways! This by far has been my favorite calling. Here is some history:

A few weeks before I was called by our Bishop to be the president I had a feeling (the spirit) confirm to me that something big was coming. Once I was called I knew that the spirit was preparing for me to accept a calling that I did not want. It was an amazing feeling when I was called and the spirit sure had a hand in calling my counselors and secretary. I was fortunate to serve with some amazing women! I was also fortunate to be supported by so many wonderful and reliable teachers! It is almost overwhelming!

During the three years I served our primary went from having about 95 kids and 35 nursery to having about 200 kids and 65 nursery. It was a huge primary, but lots of fun! The kids all come from amazing families and it was so great to see them mature and grow! Last June our ward split and the primary was cut back down to the numbers I started out with (95/35) and things seem to be much easier to handle. However that does not mean I did not miss the other 95 kids who moved into the new ward :o)!

Some things I will not miss:

1. Scouts

2. Throw up :o)- thanks Jack!

3. Paperwork/organization of all the teachers

4. Being the one with the final say ;)

Things I will miss:

1. Being able to share in the spirit with the children

2. the "happy birthay" with our special "woo's"

3. Late night meetings with the presidency (1 hour meeting/ 1-2 hours talking)

4. the (folding our arms) magic trick

5. watching the Valiant 12 kids mature and go into the Youth program

6. The Children

7. I am going to stop here because I could go on forever!!!!

I know it was time for my release (after all I served with 3 different RS Presidents, 3 YW Presidents, 2 YM Presidents, 2 EQ Presidents and 2 HP Group leaders). I am thankful to be trusted with the Primary kids for these past three years! I now pass my hat onto a wonderful new president and her presidency. The anticipation has begun over what my new calling will be....!!

Here is what I have been doing on the street corners

This is how I spent last Tuesday and Saturday. It has been very empowering standing on the corner with groups of people standing up for something I believe in! It has helped build bonds in our ward and community as we try and pull together to preserve marriage between a man and a woman. Please visit www.protectmarriage.org and get educated!!! Vote

YES

on

Proposition 8!!!!

"Bee"hives

Tonight was our youth Stake Halloween Dance. This was Mackenzie's first Halloween dance (she was lucky and got to go to the Roadshow Dance right after she turned 12). The youth had a "pre-party" at the Bishops and ate some dinner. Since we live three doors down I was able to go down and take a few shots!

While there I was shocked to find that the Jonas Brothers came to the party :o):The beehives took their level at church literally! Don't they look as sweet as honey? (gag!)
I thought that their leaders should have been the "hive"- wouldn't that be cute?

Castaway Cay

The last day of the cruise was spent at Disneys private island in the Bahamas- Castaway Cay. It is a beautiful island! I did learn from one of the ships lifeguard that it is not naturally beautiful-it takes a lot of work to make it look that way- you know, the Disney way!

It was a beautiful day- we were able to feed and swim with the stingrays, go on a three mile bike ride, relax in the water and go snorkeling. Our favorite part is taking the cruisers on a bike ride around the island. Meredith had a little bike with training wheel and we were nervous about her making the trek. It is hot and training wheels can really slow a four year old down! Lucky for us there were lots of "watering holes" along the way. When she started getting tired I just had to remind her that there was a watering hole coming up and she would imediately get another burst of energy. I was so proud of her determination and making the entire trek. I am not sure how long it is but I would guess about 4-5 miles.

This is the ship used in the Pirates of the Carribean. Disney is using there island to store it!

Here is the post office: