Christmastime

I just love Christmas. Jimmy knows when I'm getting into the Christmas spirit because I start listening to Christmas music around Halloween or earlier! It's especially enjoyable this year with the girls being old enough to really be excited about all of the presents and Christmas tree, but also the meaning behind Christmas, as well.

We went to visit Santa on Saturday and Megan warmed up to him immediately (she's such a ham!) Anna couldn't be convinced to come close enough for a pic, though.

We had snow in Midland earlier this week, so I followed my mom's cue and made snow ice cream! The girls loved it, though I realized after they ate almost all of it that I forgot the vanilla - oh well, next time!

Meggy having fun in the snow

Our Santa babies

Anna had quite a fabulous time making snow angels

Anna really likes to layer clothes right now - so I thought I would show you one of her ensembles. Nice blouse, black pants, and pink jean short overalls. She just looks so dang cute, though, that you can't help but help her put it on!

Megan couldn't stay awake long enough to help us put up our tree last weekend, so she was quite excited to see all the decorations when she woke up the next morning.

Anna helping Daddy put on the star

Anna and Megan have their very own tiny Christmas tree all to themselves this year!

Halloween for a whole week!

We have been lucky to get to celebrate Halloween for a whole week this year, starting with this weekend's birthday party for Parker (the girls got to dress up), the neighborhood Halloween festival Saturday evening, and the church Fall Festival on Sunday evening. This Thursday we've got Anna's school Pumpkin Party, and then it's trick-or-treating on Saturday evening. WOW! Luckily, we have really fun costumes this year that Anna at least loves being in - Megan's just not a costume girl. Thought you all might like to see some early pictures of Sulley and Mike Wazowski...

Megan is a serious horse lover - something we didn't know until we got to the Fall Festival at church on Sunday and she about had a baby heart attack if we took her away from the ponies. We rode them at least 15 times...too cute!

She is also a serious artist - and not being biased at all, I'm pretty amazed at how advanced she is in her scribbling ability!

Mike Wazowski

Sulley riding a swing. Anna loves her costume, so we have had a hard time convincing her that everyone doesn't wear their costumes all the time. To her, being Sulley is just part of waking up in the morning!

And here they are, that indomitable duo, in the only picture I have been able to snap of the two of them fully garbed!

I also wanted to share a couple new(ish) videos with you - one of Megan walking, which she has been doing for about 6 weeks now and I've just been lazy in putting it up. It's been so fun to see how excited both Anna and Megan are that she can walk - it makes playing so much more fun! The second video is of Anna "reading" The Napping House, one of her favorite books. She really likes to read to me now, which I think is endlessly entertaining. I know that all of her words aren't easily caught by people who aren't around her all the time, so some main phrases she says from the books are "In the Napping House, where everyone (or at the end, no one) is sleeping." She also talks about the characters - the Granny, the child, the dog, the cat, the mouse, etc.

Megan's 12 month pics

This last weekend, our wonderful photographer Rachel Parkhurst came to Midland to take pictures for Megan's 12 month pics. It's hard to believe that a journey that began back in July of 2007 (when we did our first pics with Rachel - Anna was two months old) is finally over - we have taken family pictures every three months for over two years!!! We are so thrilled with all of our pictures and so thankful to have these beautiful snapshots of the girls growing and changing - they are precious!

As always, Rachel did a great job - as you can see for yourself. Go to parkhurststudios.com, click on Enter Site, then go to the Clients tab. Our password is megan, and then click on the Family 2009 album to see the latest photos.

I don't have our CD of photos yet, so I can't post my favorites onto the blog, but I will soon. As I'm sure you will agree, the photos of the girls in the tub are beyond adorable. I also love them in the dresses that Ma made them, and playing in their playroom on their airplanes. Hope you enjoy!

Megan turns ONE!

I truly cannot believe that our sweet little baby has already turned one! Megan is a joy every single day, and that is so apparent when you are around her. She is very kind and sweet, with a loving heart and winning smile. What an amazing blessing she is and an incredible joy in our lives!

Here are some pictures of her actual birthday, which we spent with Mimi, Pops and Auntie M at the swimming pool, and of her birthday party a few weekends ago (in addition to some random pics from the last month - you'll have to bear with me, since I couldn't get these to go in any kind of order):

Pudding painting

Caught in the fridge

Megan and Avy down in Junction

Enjoying the cool river

Isn't this adorable?

It's Auntie M!

Sidewalk paint time

The fruits of our garden - the biggest zucchini ever and a few green beans

Anna with one of our tomatoes from the garden

Megan loved her cupcake

She loved all her gifts, but this Cookie Monster is the enduring favorite

All of Megan's buddies, ready for gifts to be opened!

My daughter KNOWS how to eat a cupcake

Scratch that...BOTH my daughters know how to eat a cupcake!

The birthday girl with her daddy

Long overdue update

We have been having a wonderful summer around the Wright household, but of course that means we've been extra busy! Here are a few pictures from the last month or so:

Megan with her Aunt Connie, who came to visit us this weekend.
Anna, Zach, Megan and Nate - if you are thinking "Megan is standing very precariously on that couch!", don't worry - Amy was squatting behind the couch and ready to grab her at a moment's notice :)

The Lipps, the Lipp boys and the Wright girls in Ruidoso last weekend

We went with Steven and Lindi to Ruidoso a couple weekends ago and enjoyed the horse races from our prime seats in the jockey club

Megan's little head peering over the table in Junction - she's a little too small to be eating here, but it sure makes for some cute pictures!

Anna in Pops's hat by the river in Junction

Shannon, Sarah and I with the kids at a Memorial Day barbecue at our house

Gerry, Todd and Jimmy with the kids - I particularly love that all of the guys came matching to the BBQ

A new business is born...

So, it may surprise some of you (oh, who am I kidding - it's going to surprise everyone!) that we have a new business in the family - and Jimmy is not running it!!! I've opened an Etsy shop for my photo blocks - you can visit my shop by clicking on the gadget on the right. If you are already a member of Etsy, I would love it if you would make me your "favorite" and I'll make you mine! Take a look and tell me what you think :)

Happy 2nd, Anna!

We had Anna's 2nd birthday party this weekend and had a total blast. There were a ton of friends and family here at the house, and the birthday girl enjoyed eating a BUNCH of cheese (like mother, like daughter), splashing in the pools with the friends, opening presents and eating "cake!"

In the pool with Keegan

After everyone left, Anna decided to head back out to the slip 'n slide. Unfortunately, her non-swimmer diaper held her back :)

Anna and Keegan. I think Anna likes her trike!!!

Showing off her new trike to the boys in the neighborhood. Check out that fancy tutu she has on - thanks, Auntie M! I have a feeling Alex and Mitch have never seen anything quite like this before... :)

Mimi and the girls

MMMMM....cupcakes!

Mommy and Daddy with the birthday girl

And here are some photos from the last week or so:

Megan showing off her new skill - standing up! She is a pro at pulling up on everything

What is it with the Wright girls and sunglasses?

I can't believe I have two little girls who are big enough to stand next to each other!

Anna spent most of one afternoon last week running around yelling "dog hat!" while wearing her dog costume.

Fingerpainting in the bathtub

Megan's 9 month photos / Boston

We got Megan's 9 month photos done a couple weekends ago in Austin, and as always they are darling. Check out this website:

http://parkhurststudios.com/

The password is "megan". I don't yet have the CD of the photos, so I can't post any on the website, but I will try to do that soon.

This last weekend, Jimmy and I took a belated "babymoon" to Boston to visit our friends Will and Mary Beth. A special thanks goes to them for hosting us, and to Donna Audrey, Avelyn, Mimi and Pop for keeping the girls while we were gone. We had such a blast! Here's some photos from the trip:

Jimmy and I always end up doing the "prom pose" for pictures - so we decided to shake things up a bit for this pic in front of Walden Pond
Will (good photo, huh?!?)
Eating canolli and a black and white cookie (yes, Seinfeld fans, that's right - I got it) in front of Mike's Pastry (famous for their Italian treats)
The four of us inside Old North Church (scene of "The British are coming!") This is a terrible photo, but it's the only one I got of all four of us. I guess I don't take pics anymore unless they're of my daughters!

The cherry trees were blossoming in Boston, which was a highlight for me

We went for seafood at a great place called the Barking Crab on Saturday night, and this is what our table neighbors ordered - a 10 pound lobster. We were just shocked by how huge it was.