Happy 8th Birthday Ella!

I can't believe it has been 8 years since this wonderful girl joined our family.  The time has gone by fast.  I really love her age right now.  She loves to celebrate and celebrate we did!!  We had a Birthday Weekend......the worst part was the little pre-baptism photo shoot that Mom wanted to do at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple in January!  It was a bit windy but we were only there for less than 30 minutes.  Even so, it was cold...but you really only need 1 good picture and we got more than 1....and then why does the weather improve so much when your calendar isn't as open.

We had a movie night with popcorn and watched "Monsters University".  We made Ella's favorite dinner...Stroganoff on Sunday.  She got to meet her activity day leaders and have her interview with our Bishop for her upcoming baptism....February 1, 2014.

January 13, 1014.....Surprise decorations, sourdough pancakes with buttermilk syrup for breakfast....school....lunch brought in by Mom.....school.....handing out treats at school....entertaining visitors...dinner at Texas Roadhouse (with face painting)....and the main thing she wanted to do on her birthday was Clean the Church.  Now before you think too much about what great parents Byron and Lisa must be that their daughter chooses to clean the church on her birthday, let me assure you that it was entirely her idea.  I am pretty sure neither Byron or I would make the same choice on our birthdays.  It is very interesting because Ella doesn't show the same amount of enthusiasm for household cleaning.  Following the main event....present opening (well she did some of that throughout the day)...visit from Grandma and Grandpa Wright...more phone calls....and cake and ice cream.

Favorite 8th Birthday Surprise:  Streamers hanging down from her bedroom door

Favorite 8th Birthday Gift: Can't choose just one--Scriptures and a beautiful handmade Scripture Case

Favorite 8th Birthday Activity:  Cleaning the Church

Happy Birthday Ella!!  We love how excited you are about life.  We love that you ask lots of questions.  We love that you like to "talk to us" about anything.  You have brought us so much joy!

Happy New Year!

We enjoyed a fun day at my parents celebrating 2013 and looking forward to 2014.  We have lots of yummy food and fun games.  It is always a good time.  It is never difficult for Ella to stay up to ring in the New Year!....in fact it isn't really staying up at all.....for Mom...it is much more difficult!

Who gave these children Noise Makers?

Who said it was ok to bang pots and pans?  The one holding his fingers in his ears!! 

Happy New Year!

Christmas in Idaho

We went to Ririe, Idaho to visit Byron's parents.  We have had some very winter drives in the past (including a getting stuck in the snow trip), but this year was sunny and clear.

Ella loves her Penguin hat/mittens/scarf all in one gift.  She also enjoys anything that has to do with art....markers, paint, etc.

Another favorite activity....watching "Claymation Christmas" with Grandma and Grandpa.

We have a tradition of going to "Big Judd's" with Byron's parents while we are in Idaho.  It is so fun to order the 1 pound burger!  There is a wall there that shows all of the folks that have eaten it and 2 or 3 pounders with fries by themselves.  Yuck!!  It is near BYU-Idaho.....Ricks College, so what else do college kids do?  They should save their money and study!

Good thing we all shared.........cuz if Byron ate all this there would be trouble!!  There was plenty for the 4 of us.  It is a tasty burger.  You should try it when you are in the area.

Merry Christmas 2013

Santa is the very best at SURPRISES!

Even Sally and Kit get in on the Christmas action!  Kit got this authentic "Laura Ingalls Wilder" dress.  The Little House on the Prairie books are next on the family read list.  We just finished "Charlotte's Web".

Thank you, Auntie for the cat mask!

Santa knows that Ella has had so much fun with Lego Friends this last year.  Byron has enjoyed them just as much as Ella.  Upon seeing this, Ella told Byron how many pieces it has and then said, "Dad are you up for this?"  His response, "YES!!!"

Thank you Aunt Melissa for introducing us to these fun toys!  Ella also got a Shrinky Dink set.  We have had a lot of fun making things together.

The Gift

My extended family has been doing a Christmas Service activity for 16 years.  Last year, we decided that this service activity would be the gift that we will give to my parents every year.  They have wanted it this way for awhile.  We rotate who is responsible for deciding what we will do.  As part of this, the person in charge gets an ornament for the "service tree" that represents what we have done for that year and we give that to my parents on Christmas.  It is fun to look at the tree and reminsce about the different things we have done together.

Christmas 2013 was the McMurtrey's turn.  We were able to find out about a family through a school teacher that lives in our neighborhood.  This family has 4 children from 3 years to 9 years.  I talked to the mother and got the interests and needs of their children. My extended family had such a wonderful time buying gifts and talking to our kids about the real meaning of Christmas.  We were able to include all of my siblings...even the ones who live out of state.

Each family could decide what and how they wanted to participate. One of the great things about having a large family is that when we each do a little bit, great things come to pass.

Those of us who were able, delivered all of the gifts.  It was the highlight of our Christmas season.  The children that we were able to serve had made Thank You cards for me and my family.  They were so cute! We also had enough cash donations to help out the LDS missionary program as well!!

Christmas Activities

We enjoyed the Christmas season.  I think it is more fun to go on outings and have experiences than it is to actually open gifts on Christmas.  I don't know if my family completely agrees but they don't complain too much.  We attended a "Live Nativity" which is held in Draper.  It is really wonderful and if you have the opportunity you should put in on your list of things to do.  This is the second time we have attended it.  The first time was VERY crowded.  This year there was a large storm and we decided to brave it anyway.  It was not crowded at all.  They have several living animals to view.....my favorite is the camel.  There are warming barrels throughout the line to warm you up.  They depict prophecies of Christ's birth from the bible.  They have a shepherd's field.  The town of Bethlehem is very busy with all different kinds of merchants counting their money and selling items.  You are told several times that there isn't any room for you to stay and to "move on".  You move along like this for a bit and then you round a corner and the feeling instantly changes as you view "The Holy Family"...complete with a living baby.  I enjoy the distinct feeling of holiness and peace that comes from this activity.  I appreciate all of the work that is involved in making this event possible.  Byron (who is NOT a crowd person at all) said he actually enjoyed the contrast better when it was more crowded than he did this year when it was less crowded.  This must mean you appreciate things more when you have to wait a really long time to actually enjoy them.  We will see if he still thinks this way about Disneyland in a few weeks!

Ella made a "graham cracker" house at school.  I helped out with this activity and the kids were so excited.  There were enough items to decorate their houses 3 times over!!  It is hard to see. but her she loved her falling snowman, the car parked outside the garage, the light pole, and the Chistmas tree in the yard.

We have a tradition of adopting a child from the Christmas Box House each year for Christmas.  They are always great to give us a child Ella's age.  So far, we have had a girl each time.  They tell you the interests of the child and some gifts they might like.  You get 3 gifts for the child and drop them off.  We got started doing this several years ago.  I went on a tour of the Christmas Box House and wanted to get involved.  The house is a place where children go when they don't have a safe place to be.  Sometimes children are taken to this house by the police, when they can't remain at home for a variety of reasons.  I am glad that we can do something to help.  Last year when we dropped off our items Ella said she was glad we got to do this because she felt, "like someone is hugging my heart".  I am glad we can do this activity too!

We also have a tradition of going to Winder Dairy and getting scones.  There is a cemetery close by there that does luminaries for every grave one Saturday during December.  It is amazing to see them all lit up.  We talk about the people that have left this life, but still light up our lives and then talk about all of the people that continue to give us light today.  We are so blessed!!  We light luminaries at our house on Christmas Eve.......Santa needs to know he is welcome at our house, but more importantly it is a symbol of the Light of Christ....we believe in Him and want Him to be welcome here too.

We attended a local Gingerbread house display.  You get to vote on your favorite.  The entries have to all be based on a Daybreak design.  These pictures aren't very good, but you get the idea.  You also get to decorate your own cookies as well.  There are so many items to use to decorate your cookies.  It was fun!

Notice the car tracks on the driveway

Notice the BBQ on the deck

Grinch themed

Ella's favorite was the Lolla-Loopsy house.  It was very good!

Our cookies...Ella's, Mom's, Ella's and Dad's

Utah vs BYU

We also went to Hale Cente Theatre to see, "A Christmas Carol".  It was excellent.  Our seats weren't great but we enjoyed it.  

Thankful

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  We had beautiful weather.  We enjoyed dinner at my parents house with some of my siblings.  I am a self-conscious cook, and I get nervous about bringing food items.  This year I did ok.  The 2 items I brought.....a raspberry salad and a cream cheese pie were very well received.  I love watching Ella play with her cousins.  She loves them all and misses the girl cousins A LOT! 

Ella and Avee

Ella and Megan 

I also enjoyed some Black Friday shopping with my brother, sister and 2 of my "other" sisters!  We were doing some Christmas Service shopping which made it even more fun to do.  I'm not a big shopper, but I must say I enjoy spending time with my family and watching some of the real shoppers in action! 

My parents arranged for a local "Polar Express" train ride.  It was fun.  I love how Ella tells Santa that she just wants a surprise.  He told her a couple of years ago that, "I can always bring you a surprise.  I am the BEST at surprises!"  We will see how long that lasts.

Ella and Megan---waiting for the train.

I am particularly thankful this year for my parents and my siblings and their spouses.  I can honestly say that I admire every one of them.  I appreciate them and I enjoy spending time with them and miss the ones I don't see as often as I would like.  They are talented and very supportive and even though some of us are miles apart I enjoy the calls, emails, blog updates, text messages.....all of it.  Thank you to all of you for making such a positive difference in my life.

Fairy Doll Party

It is so much fun to know people who share their talents with Ella and I.  We have a friend, Annette, who has done some really fun Doll Parties.  She has helped me do 2 in the past and we are beginning to work on another one.  I can follow directions pretty well and be a great helper, but I lack the creative vision to make things happen.  I hope to post pictures someday of past doll parties Ella and I have enjoyed.....Trip to Hawaii, Halloween, Valentine's cookie party and a 4th of July float parade party.  We have enjoyed every one, even the ones that I hosted!

Annette hosted a "Fairy" themed doll party recently and we were invited.  It was AMAZING!  Ella got a fairy skirt for her doll and a fairy head piece for herself.  We weaved placemats, did leaf art, made lanterns, fairy houses and had a fairy turkey dinner.  I enjoyed watching all of the childrens faces and seeing them create, play, and basically just enjoy life.

This is a themed display that the children could enjoy.  I think it has been Ella's favorite thing at each doll party.

Ella's doll---Kit.  She wears glasses too!

The doll size food is especially fun as well.  Mini turkeys, mini crescent rolls, mashed potatoes, and of course pumpkin pie.  Thank you so much Annette!

Gypsy Witch

You can't just be an ordinary witch for Halloween.  Don't you know about Gypsy Witches.  We had a fun Halloween.  Byron did the annual hand out "Capri Sun" beverages to go along with the neighbors "Happy Hallo-Weiner" roasted hot dogs.  I was a witch too and went out with Ella.  We have a fun neighborhood for trick or treating.  Ella has her favorite treats, but we can leave candy out and she doesn't eat much of it.  In fact, her Halloween bag got completely emptied just before Christmas so that Santa would know there was room for her favorite treats!

I love the spider socks! 

Munckin Radio did a great Haunted House near us.  

Beautiful Utah Fall!

We had the best Fall that I can remember in a long time.  It was beautiful with perfect temperatures.  I was so happy that it lasted as long as it did.  We were able to enjoy it so much.

I'm sure Ella isn't the only 7 yo in the world that doesn't know how to independently ride a bike.  I have told her my dream was to be able to ride around Daybreak Lake and have a picnic.  My dream didn't motivate her.  So, I went a different route and thought about a trail bike.  I have seen them nearly every time I have been walking around the lake.  We asked our friend who is an avid biker about them and he replied with, "I have one hanging in my garage that no one is using.  Do you want to borrow it?"  "Yes!!!"

It took some getting used to, without Ella on it.  It put my balance off a bit.  Ella did great with it. We did some practice around the neighborhood and then I said it was time to make a mother's dream come true.  We packed a picnic and off we went.  I'm still not great with sharp turns, but we didn't crash.  It was so much fun!!  I loved getting out with her so much.  I am so happy we live so close to enjoy days like this.

We were able to go biking several times this fall and Ella loved it.  I'm hoping this will give her the confidence she needs to be a solo biker, but then again when you have someone who is doing the majority of the pedaling why would you want it to change.  Maybe we will be trailbiking for a very long time.

While Ella was off track we went to Gardner Village for the annual witch festival.  It is always on Ella's to do list for fall.  We found some items for Ella's Gypsy Witch costume and enjoyed the weather again.

We also enjoyed the Garden after Dark at Red Butte Garden.  They have a treasure hunt of sorts throughout the garden with activities.  Ella's favorite was the Storyteller.....and she was excellent.  We would still be there if Ella had her way.

Ella's first "real" lost tooth.  She was so excited.  When she came to show me, I thought she had hurt herself.  There was what appeared to be blood all over her face and down her chin.....but she had the biggest smile.  She had been eating barbecue at the time!  

Ella had an off track assignment to create a character from a book with a 2 liter bottle.  I missed out on the creativity talents and so instead letting anxiety get the best of me.......I just phoned a friend to help me with some ideas!  Ella had some ideas as well and it turned out great.

Geronimo Stilton