Take a Hike!

A week ago Saturday we decided to take a hike. I had remembered hiking to the Wind Caves when I was a small child but I never knew where they were. I asked my mom and she said they were just over at Usery Park, about 15 minutes away from us. Isn't it funny how in my little child mind it was such a far away and exotic place? So off we went. We had been itching to get out and do something and soak in all this most wonderful weather while we've got it. We went late in the afternoon, and it actually turned out to be such a beautiful time to go. On the way down from the top we got to watch the sunset. And it was gorgeous.

Here we are at the beginning of the hike, we didn't really have any idea how difficult it would be. It was 3.2 miles round trip, which doesn't really seem like that long, but for us out of shape hikers it was a bit challenging. We were getting passed by 80 year olds. Seriously. Granted, we did have small children with us. At least that's the excuse I'm going with.

The majestic saguaro cactus. As a child I didn't really understand their beauty, I took it for granted having grown up around them my entire life. In fact, I was never a cactus fan at all. I preferred forests. Until I began working the front desk at a hotel when I was a teenager. People from all over were fascinated by the saguaro, we had a huge one right in front of the hotel and everyone would take pictures by it. Gradually, I realized that they were something special and I have grown to love their strength and majesty.

The views were amazing. We could see the whole valley- from the skyscrapers in Phoenix to the fountain going off in Fountain Hills (which by the way ain't got nothin' on Old Faithful).
Hiking buddies.
One of these boys is doing his own thing... Kris says he is as stubborn as his mother.
Colby was so gung ho thoughout the entire hike. He wanted to do it all on his own. He only rode on shoulders for probably 30 minutes total. The hike took us about 3 hours.
Peek-a-boo Gracie.
At the top!

It was long and challenging but there is nothing better than reaching the top. So many parallels to life in hiking. I love it! It was a beautiful hike and I highly recommend it, we all had so much fun even when it was difficult. Gracie had us cracking up because she pretty much complained the whole way, asking us why we made her do this, saying we should just quit and go home and then when we got home my dad asked her how the hike was and she told him it was "awesome!" And it was! (In spite of all her complaining.)

December Recap

Well, actually I'm starting with the end of November. Gracie had her orchestra concert on the 23rd. She loves playing the violin and she did a great job!

On December 2nd we went to Matthew's choir concert. I sacrificed an hour of sleep once a week before school to get him to choir since it was an extra activity that he wanted to do. Maybe it was because of all those girls...

I've been trying to upload videos from his concerts but am not having any luck :(

On Dec. 8th Gracie got to participate in the school spelling bee. And she won (she's only a 4th grader)! She was SO excited and we were all so proud of her. I could hardly stand the nerves, I don't think I have ever been more nervous in my life. Now it's on to the district bee this week and I'm so nervous it's killing me. I'm just praying she can make it past the first round.

On the 12th we went to Matthew's band concert. They did a great job. We love the music teacher at their school, he's a great band teacher and he also did the choir class.

Dec. 18th had us out in the desert enjoying a cookout with Kris' side of the family. We had yummy hot dogs, smores and some fun 4 wheelin'.

Colby really enjoyed the smores.

On the 23rd we got to take a little boat around Val Vista Lakes and see all the Christmas lights. We had fun with G&G Walz and G&G Archibald. The kids were especially excited since it was followed with dinner at MickeyD's.

We made sugar cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve.
It was kind of a quick, thrown together ordeal since I so did not have it together.

But at least we did it.

We also did Christmas Eve jammies but I can't believe that we didn't take any pictures of the kids after they put them on. Kind of depressing. Oh well. Then we drove around looking at Christmas lights.

Christmas morning.
Gracie had been pining away for this mini American Girls Samantha doll for ages.

Luckily Santa came through.

Colby's huge Elmo.

Matthew's new mountain bike, now he and Dad can really tackle the desert together.

Owen playing his new DS and Rex wishing he had one. Kind of makes me feel bad but he's only four for crying out loud. He was a tricky one this year and I think he is the one kid who kind of got the shaft. He didn't really get anything that he was dying over. There's always next year.

Birthday Boy!

Owen turned seven! He's the middle child and a classic one at that. He gets all the hand-me-downs and I always feel guilty about that but he doesn't seem to mind. He's good natured but can have a fiery temper (wonder where he gets that from?). He is an excellent student, he soaks up learning and loves reading and math. All his teachers (school and church) love him. He makes friends easily and is very helpful. He enjoys riding his bike and playing video games. We love you, Owen! Happy Birthday!

The special birthday boy donut

(Colby was in the background saying "cheese")

The hoped for skateboard, he's pretty good already.
He got this crown at school and wore it proudly. In fact, he told me that he was going to save it and wear it every year on his birthday. Sometimes his innocence just melts my heart. I hate it when they grow too old for this stuff.

Halloween Fun!

Our Halloween week was long but fun. It began on the Wednesday before Halloween with the church trunk-or-treat. I was kind of irritated because I'm not a fan of dragging it out for so long and five days of Halloween is a bit much for me. I didn't take any pictures there but the kids all had tons of fun, this ward does it carnival style with almost everyone doing a game or activity. They also had pony rides and bouncy castles. Kris got stuck hosting our pumpkin bowling, (I know he was mad at me for even signing up) but he was hilarious and our game always had a long line because all the kids thought it was so fun (mostly because of him).

Friday brought school parties and our own first annual "Wright Cousin Halloween Party." I'm thinking we'll make it a regular event. Everyone had a great time and the kids were just happy with me for even doing it. I probably could have done half as much and everyone still would have had just as much fun.

The Cousin Crew
(Sorry Keith this one was the best of all the kids!)

The No Hands Hanging Donut Eating Contest

(The look on Rex' face in this pic just kills me!

Argh, I'm gonna get that donut!)

He's a rule breaker.

Big kid group

Just a side story for this pic: The bag of donuts was sitting on the table and there was one left. Someone was crying about wanting a donut so I turn around to get the bag and it was gone. We started looking around for the donut snatcher and we see Colby running across the basketball court, donut in hand. Then he jumps in the little car like it's his getaway car and give us all his sly little grin. What a stinker!

Then Pops came out and turned his blower on, which the kids think is hilarious. He hangs it on this cart and lets the kids sit on it while he runs around the court so they can blow things out of the way. It's a really powerful blower, they were blowing chairs, water bottles, and those little cars all across the court.

The big kids went on a scavenger hunt, only because I don't think the little ones knew what was going on and didn't really care to.

The next night was Saturday and by this point we had about had enough of Halloween. Besides we weren't really sure if anyone would be trick-or-treating this night since Halloween wasn't until Sunday. But while Owen and I were on a bike ride through the neighborhood we saw people out so we came home and let the kids get dressed up again and took them. Luckily for us there is a highly Mormon populated neighborhood a few streets over and there were tons of people trick-or-treating. I love trick-or-treating and I have a hard time letting Halloween go by without taking the kids.

The crazy crew!

Paging Dr. Grover...

Earlier in the week she was a zombie bride by this night she was just a bride.

Here's the Hippie Zombie. Don't ask me how he came up with this one.

Argh! Pirate Rex!

Super cute Jack-O-Lantern! (Of course the only picture that he smiled in was the one showing all my bras hanging on the door.)

Sorting the loot is always fun. Got some full size candy bars this year, that was a first.

To top it off Kris and I had to speak in church on Sunday and then we had family dinner.

Whew! What a week! We were so glad when it was finally over! (Even though we had lots of fun!)

Birthday Boy!

I can't believe my baby is two!

We told him to say "cheese" for the picture, so he did.

Again.
And again.

That evening we had a double party at Peter Piper's.

Colby and his cousin, Walter, are just one day apart.

The kids had loads of fun.

Colby's scooter. He loves this thing. He calls it his bikel. He didn't know how to make it go at first, he would just stand on it with both feet or push it with both feet on the ground. By the end of the night he had it down, it's pretty darn cute.

Mom and Birthday Boy at the end of the night!

What a fun day!