Another typical "Laura moment"

So I decided to take the opportunity of a semi-not-too-terribly-busy weekend and holiday Monday to go off on a little private getaway for some personal rejuvination. Yes, alone. No kids, no Chad - just me. The last time I had time off from the family was when Adam was a baby and I went to Mexico on a sisters' reunion...but actually, since I took Adam with me, that doesn't really count. So, suffice to say - it has been a very long time. It was kind of last minute, but sometimes those are the best ones. Anyway, I headed north and spent some time on the beach and then checked into a smallish hotel somewhere between Ventura and Santa Barbara. I bought a book, lay on the sand, and proceeded to relax. It was heaven. It lasted about 10 minutes. Then I had to get my phone out and start text-messaging Megan with instructions and questions. I think I spent more time on the phone than I did relaxing. I managed to stay gone overnight, but this morning I woke up with a fever, stuffy nose, very sore throat, and an upset stomach, and I just decided I wanted to go home and be sick in my own bed. So much for my great escape! Story of my life.

Mama Pride

I know pride is not a virtue, but I think it's ok when it's your kids that you are proud of. My kids have been making me kind of happy lately, and I figured I had better write about it before frustration crowds the pride out.

Megan: Last night, Megan got a Coach's Award at her HS JV Soccer team banquet. The coaches chose Megan for this award because of her attitude - they said that she took their criticism well and immediately went back out on the field and fixed her mistakes. I love that she got an award for attitude - a good attitude will take her a long way in life!

Adam: Scored 104% on the last THREE Science tests (and there is no way he could have cheated, as I made sure to keep the book with me, and I don't have the answers for science tests). Adam also is kicking it with guitar - he can play a ton of songs and practices every day. He also joined our community track team, and ran the 100m and the 200m last week. He wasn't the fastest runner, but he did cut 3 seconds off his time and finished 3rd. But my favorite part is how he is getting along with the guys on the team. He has been practicing his social skills and is really improving!

Sam: Has been picking out his own clothes for school every morning for about a month now and has been picking weather-appropriate AND matching clothes! (ok, they may not match perfectly, but at least they don't clash. And he wears his cub scout uniform at least once a week too...) Also, hasn't forgotten to brush his teeth. These may sound like small things, but they help me considerably in the mornings! Sam is just such a positive kid. Talk about a good attitude! He needs an award too.

Sophie: Has been doing better with her nail-biting, with the help of the nasty-tasting nail polish. She was also very brave when she got her Kindergarten shots on Tuesday.

Chad: (he counts!) Has started learning "Stairway to Heaven" on his guitar. He might be able to play me a song soon!

I am so stoned!

But not in the traditional way...haha, sorry! I am just shaking my head because after having a kidney stone when I was 19, micro-calcifications (read: tiny stones) in my glorious ta-ta's, and my gallbladder out in Dec. because it was full of stones, now I am feeling the pain of having stones in my salivary glands, of all places! And nobody knows what causes all of this stonification...but if the pain doesn't go away soon, I just might have to get traditionally stoned!

Being an organized person is exhausting!

So far, in my quest to get organized, I have cleaned out and rearranged my: pantry, kitchen, recipes, daughters' room and closet (THAT was a job!), playroom (including all the DVDs), and laundry room. Which are all great accomplishments and I am so glad I did it...but now it has been long enough that the first rooms I organized are starting to get disorganized again. Feeling a little discouraged at the never-ending messiness. And I think I have raised a bunch of slobs.

Wright Family Valentine's Day

Before family:

After family:

We traditionally eat a "hearty" Valentine's dinner together:
Chicken Cordon Bleu
Artichokes
Stuffed Twice Baked Potatoes
Cornbread Stuffing
followed by a dessert of:
Chocolate truffle cookies
Chocolate surprise pastries.
During our dinner, we go around the table and tell each other why we love each other...it is so nice. One time in the year when the kids don't fight and are inspired by the holiday to be loving...

Happy Birthday, Sophie!

My Baby turned 5!

Her Birthday was on a Monday, so Sophie was super excited because she got two parties: a family one on her actual birthday and one with her friends from Church on the following Saturday.


Sophie had two requests - a tea party and a pinata.



Sadly, it was raining so we had to have the pinata inside, with Chad holding it up high.
I was in fear for Chad's life at first, but we quickly found that little girls don't swing very hard! Chad had to cut the pinata open.













It was a pretty crazy time with Sophie's little friends: Kiki Deir-
mendjian, Taylor Altom, Kitty Pratt, Emilie Weymouth, Jadyn and Kate Pinneo, and Brooklyn Emery. They drank hot chocolate "tea" (and only spilled a little bit), ate strawberry cupcakes and fancy cookies, and played with the puppies.
















They REALLY loved the take-home goodies: feather boas, feather crowns, and lip-gloss in a ring!

One of them said on the way out, "That was a fun party!" We thought so too!

Inspired

So I sat down yesterday to steal a few moments with my scriptures. I am really trying to get some reading in everyday, even though it is hard for me and not the first book I would choose to pick up. Yet.
Anyway, I said a quick prayer beforehand, and basically asked the Lord to lead me to the page that will tell me what He wants me to learn. And I flipped the book randomly open and started to read D&C 88:119: "Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God." Wow, that really spoke to me! I have been a somewhat disorganized person for most of my life, although circumstances sometimes force me to get things in order (for example, my finances, when Renae Rollo started doing our taxes). And since Heavenly Father answered my prayer so quickly, I immediately jumped up and planned out meals for a week, wrote up a shopping list, cleaned out my freezer and fridge yesterday and my pantry today. I am obeying as well as I can. And being better organized feels so good! Maybe I'll be able to sleep better now...
I had to laugh last night, though. I was killing time waiting for Top Chef to start and was flipping through the channels - found a show called, "Help me, I am a Hoarder." They showed this lady whose apartment was nothing but junk, piled on every surface, and she had a psychiatric problem that made her hoard. A professional organizer came in and tried to help her go through her things. It was nuts. I don't know if that was a subtle message for me or what, but I'M DOING IT!!! Next will be my closet.