2016 Olympics!

It's not secret I'm obsessed with the Olympics.  I often hated being in school/working because I couldn't watch them during the day and dreamed of the day when I could do nothing but watch every.single.event.  I even prayed that I would have a newborn around the Olympics so I could nurse and watch them all night long.  My prayers were answered with Maverick and the 2014 winter Olympics in Sochi.

This year, Joshua and I decided to have an Olympics party that I'm hoping will become a tradition.  We made decorations and hosted mini-events for the kids to compete in. It was hot, but so much fun!! I was surprised at how well the kids did even in the heat. They never complained and kept asking for more events!

I'm so sad to say I didn't get very many pictures. It was really difficult to run the games, talk to guests, and try to take pictures too.

We started out with a torch relay. I had the kids take turns running around our back yard with our homemade torch (a flashlight covered with foil and felt flames). Joshua was last to run(since he was the host) and then he held the torch up to our tiki torches to light and signify the opening of the games!

We then did a march of the athletes.  I played the Olympic theme and we paraded around the backyard cheering for team USA! I forgot flags and realized the march was supposed to be before the lighting of the torch. (making mental notes for improvements in the future)  It also would've been fun to have the kids wear colors to represent different countries and all carry different flags.

Then we started the games! We did a sprint, high jump, hurdles, frisbee throw, 3-legged race, tug of war, and a long run.  The kids ages ranged from nine to five, so in the future I may need to divide older/younger kids. I was impressed with the good sportsmanship I saw and their willingness to try new things.

Finally, it was time for the medal ceremony. We played the national anthem and had them put their hands over their hearts.

After the games were over, the kids had fun with water balloons, a kid pool, water hose and trampoline. They played for hours without fighting or complaining... a parent's dream! We ordered pizza and my sweet friend, Megan, brought cookies and an amazing mocha salted caramel cake.

I think we'll have to start a bi-yearly field day and we can make it an Olympics party whenever they're on.

I'm so thankful for the family and friends the Lord has blessed us with. Our hearts are full.

And... go team USA!!!

warrior wednesday

Life has been crazy busy lately, and unfortunately I've had to take a break from homeschooling. Not because homeschooling is hard, but because Anchor has been a pretty difficult baby. He spits up a ton and cries if he's not being held. I honestly don't know how the third child can be so demanding.

So we're taking a break from our work because I also figure it's going to be a pretty hot summer and we might as well be inside, in the AC, doing school. That way I'm not pressured to finish by the end of May, we can spend more time outdoors since the weather has been phenomenal, and it will also give Anchor more time to grow out of this fussy-can't-stop-spitting-up phase. It's a win-win-win situation!

So here's what we've been up to:

practicing cartwheels (we signed Joshua up for gymnastics in January)

making mud pies

learning how to make our bed 

eating goldfish 

riding bikes/cars

playing in the sprinklers

I'm embracing my newish role as boymom! It means lots of mud, baths, roughhousing, sound effects, bumps, and bruises... but also a whole lot of love, hugs, and kisses! Joshua even brought me flowers!! I love how boys take care of their mommies. I'm blessed beyond measure with my three!

Little Anchor is trying so hard to sit up... it's such hard work!! He either falls forward or turns his leg and goes sideways. He is gaining weight though! At his six month check up he weighed 15lbs! WAHOO!!!!

We've also learned to take "silly face" photos, and now it's hard for mom to get us smiling nicely!

Dad has been working like crazy so we really soak up our time with him on the weekends. 

Christmas

Before too much time goes by, I wanted to post some Christmas pictures. We had a great time decorating, learning about the advent, being with family, and playing outside in our warm Texas weather.

We started the season by opening our Christmas box on December 1st. It had mugs for each boy, hot chocolate, a Christmas book and movie, popcorn, and Christmas pajamas. The boys really enjoyed opening this early.

Then we decorated their door like a snowman!

Every day for advent, we read a story from the Jesus Storybook Bible and did an activity: watch a Christmas movie, have a picnic by the tree, see the Northpark trains, decorate gingerbread men, sing Christmas carols at the piano, dance to Christmas music, etc.

Janette made the boys this felt Christmas tree to decorate. They had fun arranging and rearranging the ornaments over and over again. I need to find a way to make it stick to the wall better, but this will definitely be a new tradition!

Kenny bought a new 10 foot tree this year. She was beautiful! And my heart just melts to see five stockings above the fireplace. God is truly so incredibly faithful! I am humbled to serve such a loving Father.

For Christmas with Kenny's family we decorated gingerbread houses! It was so much fun!

On Christmas Eve, the boys threw out reindeer food!

On Christmas morning, Kenny made his famous eggs (as Joshua calls them), I made a coffee cake, and we had fruit and mimosas! Another tradition for the Wright family.

Later in the day, the Merrimans came over and Kenny smoked a brisket. It was so fun celebrating the birth of Jesus with our friends. I made a birthday cake for Jesus, too!  Unfortunately, I have no pictures of us with our precious friends, but of course we have one of the brisket! (We Wrights don't forget our food pictures.)

And last, our Christmas card:

"Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive

and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14

In all the hustle and bustle of this Christmas season,

may we remember this prophecy has been fulfilled...

Emmanuel: God with us! Let us rejoice!

Blessings to you as we celebrate this Christmas holiday and joyous new year!

love: kenny, sarah jane, joshua, maverick, and anchor