Arizona - hanging out

Max turned 8 on January 10th. First order of business: enroll in the Cub Scouts, get his cubby shirt, and join the rest of the brothers as SCOUTS! The Wright family now boasts 5 active (VERY active) Scouts - the two oldest are working on Eagles, and Max is the sparkling new Cub - busy times!

I don't know how long snakes live. I don't care. I don't live with a snake. But the Wright household includes a snake, so when in Rome... This is Arrowmint, who survived the trip from Wisconsin riding on the dashboard in a very fancy shoebox. He is very large. And seems to like his new desert home, because he is MUCH MORE ACTIVE than when living in Wisconsin. Wonder if the warmth has anything to do with it...

With five guys bouncing around the house, you never know what shenanigans are going to provide entertainment. Here Than demonstrates the fine art of peeling a mandarin orange to become an elephant.

Collin tunes up right next to the kitchen, in what would normally be considered in any other home as the "family room". With four musicians and one wanna-be, it's a music room in the Wright house. Everyone gravitates here by the end of the day. And there is music all day long!

Silly Carrie thought she was all done with her horse season of life when she left Wisconsin and her two horses behind. Distributed ALL her horse equipment and apparel to friends and others. See how long it took for her to hook up with a horse again? Now she has NEW boots, helmet, and equipment. She's working with some friends to help them train a couple of "free horses" who are demonstrating why they were "free". Saddlebreds are tall, as you can see.

With a house full of guys, there is a lot of testosterone. Brent has an exercise program, very challenging, that he and the older punks have been working on for a couple of months. Awesome muscles, Than! Brent can keep up with these guys, too - pretty good for 40+, dad!

Besides reading, games, school, seminary, dances, and Scouts, there is always music happening. Than is becoming a very accomplished pianist, taught himself guitar (as did Collin), participates in the church choir (along with dad, Col, and Lee), and is Max's buddy.

In two years he will be leaving on his mission - so I'm getting lots of photos of him while I can!

Arizona family time

More quality family time is what took the Wisconsin farm troop to Arizona in the first place. Happily, Brent has been able to spend three days a week doing what dads love most - time with family.
One of the activities we planned during my week with them, was to get family portraits done (first in five years...), and take in a movie together. The mall where Picture People was located was close to the theater, so that worked just dandy! We had a great time with the photo session (they are born hams), got in some shopping and browsing while waiting for the prints. A real treat for me personally, to shop somewhere besides Freddies!

A whole day out includes packing a picnic lunch - those five big appetites are getting pricey to take even to McD's.
Everyone packs their own lunch - good thing that kitchen is really BIG! Max (red) and Jayden (green) really know how to get the most into each of those little compartments!


Between the photo shoot and movie we had time to go to one of the many community parks scattered all over. Time to relax, hang out...






Those boys are sneaking up to Dad's six-foot height!


Family time means having solo chats - those impromptu bonding moments.

And of course a park means time to PLAY! They never get too big for that...

Live, love, laugh - that's what family is about. I'm so blessed to be part of this one!

The Adventures of Meece

There is a genetic weakness in our family. It involves fabric stores. And mice.

"You're going to have to help out here, VooDoo Bunny...it'll never happen without you."
"I live to serve...just as long as I don't get a headache. I don't think acupuncture will help..."

Some batik, wire, good scissors, and an iron...creating is the name of the game.

"Hey - I can't HEEAAAARING you."
(Anne's creative project for our Christmas gifts - potholders. A "simple" little project that took her well into the wee hours to complete before Santa cleaned up the goody plate. Bet you didn't know potholders moonlight as ironing pads.)

"OK. Now I can hear you. Are you my mama?"

"Are YOU my mama?" (remember that book, Max?)

Directions are helpful. Creating eyes is a critical process. Too close between the eyes, as Grandma Pearl always said, means a scallywag. Too far between the eyes - well, that means a BIG NOSE.

"WHO YOU LOOKIN' AT? Whaddya mean, I got no whiskers?"

"Mama, she says I got no whiskers. From the looks of yours, I should have PLENTY of whiskers..."

"NO, Mama, NO! Not the nose, not the nose! Hey - do I get claws like that? Owie, Mama, that smarts!"

"That's better - an' I 'preciate the nice kiss to make it all better. HEY! That feels like TEETH. Are you sure you my Mama? Mama?"

"The HUMILIATION. Creation is not for the proud. Gotta be humble, to get it all."

"Look, Mama! All done! I got whiskers!"

"Kid, you need to check out a mirror. I am NOT your Mama. Definately NOT."

"I am traveling the world to find my Mama. YOU are not the right color. And I don't think I need those thingys on the head."

"This could be embarrassing...and no comments from you, Rubber Lips. Chickens have no couth."

"Hey - Yo. Up there. Oh. You look like Birdie. But you're the same color as Maddox. I'm getting confused..."

"EEEEKKKKKK!!!!!!"

"Now what language is that?"

"No couth? NO COUTH?? Chickens got couth. We got lotsa couth. It's getting crowded up here, crowded, I say."

"You got a point there, Chicky. Look how squished WE are. Just because we're fluffy and...and..squishable."

"AHEM. Bruce Moose here. YOU are a meece. You must find another meece."

"Oh. I had no idea. Do you know where to find my Mama? A meece Mama?"

"Well this is where Bruce said to start looking, that you would be a big help. I just don't think you are a meece. A mouse, maybe. But NOT a meece. Meece are SPECIAL. And we smell like lavender - not plastic. So - what do YOU do?"

" You better get on my good side, punk. Without me, you'll never get this contraption under control."

"Hmmm. Is this a movie? If it's a movie why aren't you moving?"

"OK, I'm back. I've traveled the world and didn't find one single meece - OR my Mama. So what do I do now, O Lord of the Pins?"

"Um. This wasn't exactly what I had in mind. Are you SURE this is what I'm supposed to do?"

" During my travels, I noticed something. A sorta come-hither something. I think I've found my job."

"Yep. Definately. Now don't snivel, I just take tiny nibbles at a time, won't hurt at all..."

End of Chapter One: The Adventures of Meece.

Stayed tuned for Chapter Two: The Adventures of Meece, Wherein a Sibling is Discovered.

New Year natterings...

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

From a fellow we should all be acquainted with, for his wit and insights: Mark Twain.

I love this quote, it turns me loose mentally, creatively, emotionally, and when the weather cooperates - physically!

A fellow artist tells me she chooses a "word" for each year. It becomes a sort of lode stone for how things happen in a life - or doesn't happen, as the case may be. I think this year I'm choosing "PONDERING".
There's a LOT to ponder, during the course of a day. Little things. Like what happened here?

And big things. Like what to have for lunch...

Mostly, to take time to notice, think about what is noticed, and how to apply it to my life. SLOW DOWN. Yep. I think Pondering may be a good thing for this year.

One of the things I've already been pondering...past memories that bring me pleasure. Here are a few memories from January of 2009. It was a great year...

"You woke me up for THIS??? Can I go back to my nap now? Sheesh."

My little buddy Nigel. His mom let him come hang with me at the cabin when she had to be out of town. I miss him... He was much more cooperative about lap cuddling than the current CAT who condescendingly shares HER home with me.

Another memory. Puzzles. I mention this rather mundane activity only because above mentioned CAT has made puzzles a thing lucky to be done in the wee hours, behind closed doors. I miss doing puzzles...

I treasure memories of the few years spent living at the cabin on Saxonburg Road. January was always my Snowman month. And "Create a Soup" month! They kinda go together - especially in Wisconsin.
Another cabin treasure: Chef J came frequently to cook and bake. Cookies were high on the list. For Briston, too.
Speaking of Wisconsin - the next few photos are for the gang in Arizona. Miss anything, guys?



Ah well, shoveling snow - and ice - had it's own rewards. Like warm cinnamon bread right out of the oven. The shoveling allowed for extra calories, doncha know...
Making memories is an ongoing pursuit. Memories shape our lives.

I'm looking forward to what memories 2012 has in store.

Might even slip in a snowflake somewhere.

Oh - trivia is important, too: the world's largest known snowflake was 15 inches wide and 8 inches thick. It was found in Fort Keogh, Montana, in 1887. And if you know who Fort Keogh is named for, you get bonus points!!

So go forth - make some memories. Catch some wind for your sail. And perhaps ponder what comes your way.