Merry Christmas!

Christmas Pictures

It begins in November, the gentle anxious feeling that takes up residence in the depths of my psyche.  That gentle anxious feeling whispers "time to start thinking about the picture for your Christmas cards."  In November, I carelessly brush the idea aside and soldier on through Thanksgiving with the thoughts of all of the pictures I've snapped of the children all year long.  My logic says that surely there exists among the hundreds and hundreds of pictures, at least one picture of the children together smiling happily in the same location at the same time.  Therefore, even if I'm unsuccessful in my plans to dress the kids attractively in red and green and maybe a bit of sparkle, position them to highlight each of their most winsome attributes, provide ideal lighting, and convince them to smile at me naturally thirty or forty times, I should still possess a "back up picture" from a cherished family event that will more than sufficiently represent our gang to friends and family all over the country on our Christmas card.

Last year, I avoided the photo session altogether out of respect for the episode from the year before where chaos reigned supreme and included a screaming three month old, adorable red velvet dresses with Santa fluff, a bloody nose, and I think I recall a teetering Christmas tree as well.

This year, Christmas outfits have been waiting in the wings for weeks, and I had grand plans.  However, Megan was out of town last week and Molly is currently snowed in at my Mom & Dad's under about 16 inches of snow, so no photo shoot this year either.  Honestly, I am a bit relieved because there is no way that any picture I could take would live up to the expectations I have created in my mind.

Enter "the backup picture" plucked with a grin from this year's vast and varied adventures.  Except...I discovered a small glich in my logic...

Easter.

"Hey Molly, look at Mommy....pleaaassseeee...hurry, we're late for Sunday School...again."

Mother's Day.

"Molly, less...less gums?"

Vacation.

"Molly, are you hurt? Secret baby hog calling contest? Fire?"

Family wedding rehearsal dinner in one of the most beautiful settings in our state.

"Molly, how do you really feel about having your picture taken?"

After a daring rescue from a church nursery...

"Aww c'mon Molly, I didn't mean to leave you stranded in that nursery, sit up and smile at Mommy."

"Molly...Mollyyyyyyy...Oh, never mind!"

Field trip to a WWII aircraft carrier.

"Molly.  It wasn't that funny."

The day before Election Day.

"Molly, turn the flag so we can see your face. Molly, we want more than the bow in this shot. Molly! This is to honor your country, shape up young lady!"

One would think that any woman crazed enough to take pictures to commemorate Election Eve, would have in her "war chest" an acceptable picture. Unfortunately it turns out that Molly takes great exception to sharing the frame with her siblings. I've got dozens of super pictures of her solo, but very few of her cooperating with the group photo efforts this year.  As a result, I wonder...how many people will notice if I use a picture from last year when Molly was still young enough to be "contained"?

Here's to living in the past!

Christmas Rest

Merry Christmas from the Wright Place! 

We've completed our first two gigs on the "Wright Christmas Tour 2009" and are enjoying sweet respite for a few hours.  This morning began at about 6:30 when daughter #1 entered our sleeping chamber ready to rip.  This would be the very first time daughter #1 has seen any hour before 8:00 am in many a month!  As she was being strongly threatened  encouraged to return to her bed, her brother joined her, hands in tearing position.  As 7:00 rolled 'round Cole was deputizing his two oldest sisters in to the service of the day.  The task at hand was how to wake Molly without actually being responsible for waking her.

Warnings had been posted, threats had been issued, "DO NOT WAKE THE BABY OR. . ." the rest is not necessary to print.  An unimaginable 8:45 am arrived and Molly, usually up at 7, was still snoozing.  Ire was building amongst the Pop Tart crowd and the adults were beginning to fear a mutinous plot afoot.  Barney Fife and Company angelically suggested that we "get on with" our Christmas Morning devotions while we were waiting on Molly.  It seemed as if the memory of last year's "baby up" time of 10:30 was repeating itself again this Christmas and they wanted the process streamlined as much as possible for when operation "go-gift" was finally announced.

Heart-warmed that the children would suggest Christmas devotions on their own, my Man grabbed the gear, served the hot cocoa, lit the candles...

...and announced the opening Christmas song, "Joy to the World". 

A surprisingly rousing rendition rang forth...

"   Joy to the world, the Lord has come, LET EARTH RECEIVE HER KING!!!  Let every heart prepare Him room AND HEAVEN AND NATURE SING, AND HEAVEN AND NATURE SING, AND HEAVEN AND HEAVEN AND NATURE SING!!!"

The kitchen practically vibrated with those last, er, notes, but the nursery above remained undisturbed even as the less-than-sincere choir turned their faces toward the ceiling as they caroled.  Devotions continued...

We were reminded that God really does want US for Christmas! 

Then we offered breakfast to the troops, who declared that they just couldn't  eat until that pesky chore of opening presents had been completed. 

Finally, finally at about 9:30 Rip Van Molly woke up!  Angels sang, children wept and then stampeded to the Christmas tree, O Christmas Tree.

It amazes me how fast things can go from this...

...to this.

Here are a few scenes to connect the above two...

then...

next...

...and finally...

We wish you a peaceful Christmas evening.

As for us, we're getting ready to think about getting ready to prepare for stop #3 on the Christmas '09 Tour.

But...not just yet!

My Christmas List

• Christmas Cards....addressed--go get stamps
• Teacher gifts...made...delivered...
• Special top secret project...progressing on schedule
• Christmas shopping...finished...all but...O MAN!
• Finish Christmas shopping
• Pack family for the first stop on the 2009 Christmas Tour
• Do laundry so that I can pack family for Christmas Tour
• Packages wrapped...half of packages wrapped
• Wrap rest of packages
• Charge camera battery and video camera battery to capture all that is to come.
• Teach one Wright child how to charge cameras so that next time, I can delegate.
• Take 2 future battery-chargers to get their bangs trimmed.
• Box up cookies for mail man--he delivered a big box of toys to our home on a snowy Sunday morning a few years ago at Christmas time and I am forever in his debt.
• Make Christmas breakfast for when we hit stop #2 on "The Tour"
• Bake last (dare I think it?) batch of Snickerdoodles
• Assign 10 year old and 9 year old above task! (For goodness sakes!)
• Sit with family and sing Christmas carols around fireplace while sipping hot cocoa. 
• Stop dreaming and pack van.
• Place Christmas CDs in van for the sing-along on "The Tour"
• Feed husband and children at least two meals over the next day and 1/2.
• Memorize phone number for Papa John's Pizza.
• Decide that Snickerdoodles have most of the same ingredients as breakfast muffins and serve them for breakfast.
• Make another batch of Snickerdoodles.
• Blog...sadly neglected.
• Blog about children's Christmas play...so cute.  Blog about decorating the tree...special-ness.  Blog about a Snickerdoodle incident that "lived on" for two long days.  Blog about Advent...family traditions...Blog about having absolutely NO TIME to blog--ha!
• Blog...must blog...so many things to share...so many things to wrap, so many wonders of Christmas...so many blessings...so little time!! 
• Sleep...soon!

Christmas in the Air

Hi Friends!

I'm just popping in to say "Happy Christmastime!"  Things are gearing up here at The Wright Place.  The tree is up--except for the star on top, I'm still looking for it! 

Christmas baking is set to begin later today with the making of a few hundred "Wright Kids Snicker Doodles" (I'll post a picture or two if it's safe to expose the camera to all the flour and goo!). 

I'm currently working on one of my favorite projects of the year: "teacher gifts".  We are crafting away and are excited to, in our own small way, thank all of the dedicated teachers and caregivers who have loved us so extravagantly throughout the year.

The Children's Christmas Play is this Sunday and we are sooooo excited!  Saturday is the big dress rehearsal and cast party! 

Christmas cards are yet on the horizon!  I've got a picture I can use, but maybe a fresher one would be better...I don't know...I'm hesitant to take on another "photo session" anytime soon after last Thursday, which we survived, by the way--but just!

So, check in on us every now and then for pictures and stories of our Christmas adventures.  Remember, though, to check in with HIM for the most amazing Christmas adventure that there will ever be!!

More soon!