1st day of school Again

The kids had their 1st day of school today and all went well, except for a little emotional girl drama after getting home, but all in all, things went well at their new school...
Here is the cutest 1st grader ever...


Here is the cutest 2nd grader ever...

We are Back Home in Arizona

The kids and I had so much fun with my family and friends while we were back with my childhood home in Pennsylvania. We were able to spend time with my Dad and my Mom and all my brothers...and Jill was able to come out as well. We went to the beach (Lake Erie Peninsula), got to hang with my sister-in-law, Jaimee and the kids. We were able to celebrate Elise's birthday, and she got a build-a-bear...which was actually a build-a-kitty. The kids were able to run around the big back yard at my parents, they played in the creek, rode the tractor, roasted marshmallows over the fire, they swam in the pond, they played with my friends kids, went to the kids museum, went to the park, went to the Cherry Festival( AKA: poor white trash bash), we got together with old friends, friends with boats...SO all in all it was quite an adventure and the kiddos didn't want to come home ( they did however want their Daddy to come and stay at G-ma's and G-pa's), but we did come home and they were really excited to see their home and their dog and cat.
So here we are all glad to be back and get back into the swing of things...
Here are some of the pictures I got from the trip...


This is my brother Jared and his beautiful family.


Elise's birthday party...




My youngest brother Brent, who serves us and our country in the Army and who will soon be going to Iraq in November...


Popsicles with Grandpa...


This is my good friend Laura, who I hadn't seen in maybe 18 years. I had dated her brother when I was a senior in High School, and after we broke up I had continued to visit his family because I wasn't ready to give them up as well. So , after I moved away, I got busy with life, and time passed, I got married and now after so many yearrs I had always wondered how the Lafaro family was doing, so I stopped by and was able to visit with them, and get reaquainted with my Laura...who was 7 years old when I met her, and now she is a beautiful woman, with a beautiful baby girl, and she is not 7 anymore. I love her.


This is one of my absolute favorite pictures that I got right as we were saying good-bye to my Mom and Dad...it was so hard because I don't know if we will ever see my Dad again in this life, But I am so grateful for the opportunity to spend time with him, with my children and for the fun memories we made.

This is right before we left to goto the airport.

Pennsylvania...

Happy Independence Day from Wattsburg, Pennsylvania... Where the land of the free and the home of the brave is green and beautiful...my parents backyard...which I have been running up and down for exercise...
The kids and I have been having fun riding the lawn mower/tractor with my brother Jared.
This is Callie, my star-studded cutie-pie neice...

The cute girls, a little overexposed=)

I have had a great time with my family so far. It has been really great seeing my parents and my Aunt Nancy...and my Brother Jared and his family that lives here. It is, however, very difficult to see my Dad not as strong as he has normally been and it is frustrating dealing with the bureaucracy of doctors and insurance issues...we still know not what treatment he needs to receive and obviously when he will receive it.
Also, my parents live way out in the country and I can't figure out how to send my emails to people, and the satellite internet connection is slower, although I can get the emails and connect to the internet...which is cool.

Wright Family pics

Well...since my husband's family hadn't had a family picture taken since Nick and Coartney got married ...Mindi...our little instigator, called to ask if I could get a few shots for her of the whole family that has gotten so big...so on a Saturday evening...when the day was at its warmest...actually down right HOT...( we do live in AZ) I set up my little tri-pod and camera on automatic and ran back and forth between shots...luckily I know some tricks on the back editing , to make it possible for at least all the adults to have eyes open and lookin ' good...too many kids and not enough shots for all them to be looking at the little red blinking light... but look how cute everyone is...that is so fun. Thanks Mindi for getting everyone there and for dinner after.=)

My Daddy...

This picture of my Dad and Emily was taken February of 2007...this was the last time I have been back to my parents house in PA...
This is a note from my Mom to her family explaining what is going on...
"Hi, all. Well, we have an update on Bert's condition....results of the biopsy and blood test reports: he has liver cancer. Apparently it is a kind that-of people who get this... 75% are people who have a history of alcohol or hepetitis. The other 25%, which Bert is in, the etiology (where it comes from) is pretty much unknown. He will be going to a hospital in Pittsburgh where they have people who specialize in the treatment of this type of condition. His digestive disease doctor said that the Hospital in Pitt. would be superior to the Regional Cancer Center in Erie. Now we just wait for an appointment and go from there. Bert is in good spirits and has a good attitude at this time. My love to all. I will keep you informed. Carol"

To find out that your Daddy has liver cancer...is a shock...but I know that the Lord has a plan for each of us and this is one of many things that my Dad has taught me, so I know why he is "in good spirits" as my Mom said, because he is willing to do the will of our Father in Heaven. I know that our family...my brothers and sisters, and my parents, will be sustained with a God-given ability to cope with all that comes our way as we strive to live according to the Will of The Father. I know that Families can live together for Eternity, my Daddy and my Father has taught me this.

Now this is one I haven't seen before...tagged by Melisa

I finally saw the post, I have been photoing...is that a word, anyway here are my ...


ABC's

A- Attached or single? Attached to Mr. Wright

B- Best friend? Yep...I have many best friends, thankfully, where would I be without them?

C- Cake or pie? to choose, probably pie...

D- Day of choice? all day everyday

E- Essential item? deodorant

F- Favorite color? many colors...depends on where it goes

G- Gummy Bears or Worms? neither

H- Hometown? Wattsburg, Pennsylvania

I- Favorite indulgence? Chocolate Chip Cookie dough

J- January or July? July happy birthday to me and Elise

K- Kids? KadElisEmily

L- Life isn't complete without? trial and tribulation, joy and pain

M- Marriage date? January 8, 1999

N- Number of brothers and sisters?1 sis,3 bros...me oldest

O- Oranges or apples? Apples

P- Phobia and fears? Phobia of blanket over my head...fear of not becoming the woman I can become

Q- Quote- Nothing tastes as good as thin feels

R- Reason to smile? I am happy

S- Season of choice? summer...that is why I live in AZ

T- Tag 10 people. all of you who want something to blog about

U- Unknown fact about me? I slid down the Provo rec Center slide without a swimsuit at a staff party...you can go so fast
V- Vegetable?asparagus

W- Worst habit? diet Coke

X-xylophone:) because what else goes with X? not recently

Y- Your favorite food? I am a food-aholic

Z- Zodiac sign? cancer

HAIR

Some of you may know who does my hair, and some of you may go to her as well, but I have to say that she is the best hair girl ever...I know she is my sister-in-law, and my friend, and I really like her in spite of the whole hair thing...but she is FANOMINAL...she is the best colorist, the best stylist, the best conversationalist,(which has to be a must with some one who does your hair), and she is funny and beautiful and I just can't say enough good things about her, so I thought I would show you how great of a job she does...because a picture says a thousand words...( I did take this myself, but I am not in focus which is fine because I was focusing on my hair and they turned out good, just take a look at that color and cut...)
Thank You so much Coartney...love you!