Even More Stunning Photos

More fantastic family fotos for you all here at http://www.dad2theboyz.blogspot.com/ - all from our recent holiday.

More Stunning Photos

Stunning Photos of da boyz

Here, from holiday 2010, are just some of those stunning photos from our boys. Need we say any more? :-)

Graduation Day!

I know he seems so young but Elijah and graduated. Together with his friends from his Reception class he graduated at the end of the school term from the Foundation stage (Nursery and Reception) before moving onto Key Stage 1. He wore a mortar board and receieved his certificate from the headmistress. Ezra was able to watch the whole event and is already looking forward to his graduation next year :-)

It's been a long time since we last posted something and a lot has happened since - but for now, you'll have to be content with some of the very latest photos of the boys. One was taken this morning as Elijah was embarking on a school trip to Dulwich Woods; the others are family photos taken on our trip to the Nunhead Cemetery Open Day!!!

World Book Day

Last week was World Book Day and the boys got to go to school dressed up as a book character. Take a look at the pictures and see if you can work out who they were meant to be. Feel free to come back with your answers by commenting on this blog page and we will let you have the answers a bit later. Don't be shy!

Family Day

Today we spent the day as a family, having fun! As part of our Lent this year, rather than give things up, we have decided to use these weeks leading up to Easter to focus on being a Family which is gospel-centred. We (Nina and Simon) will be spending time reflecting on our parenting and praying that we will become the parents God wants us to be. We will also be doing some exciting and interactive bible stuff with Elijah and Ezra over the coming weeks using some excellent resources designed especially for pre-schoolers. We've got some great resources to kick start this journey and we're looking forward to re-focusing our attention and our priorities as we seek to become a more gospel-centred family over these next weeks. Ironically, in becoming more gospel-centred, we reckon we will become more family focussed and stronger together too.

So as part of our being more intentional in our family time (and as we had just been paid!) we decided to take the boys out for a special day. We had lunch at Pizza Hut where Ezzie ate and ate and ate. And then we took them to Hollywood Bowl. The boys were so excited (see their faces in the pictures in this blog). We had two games. I would like to say that they were stress free.....but I can't! The first game was hard because they wanted to do more than they could - Elijah particularly would not use the special ramp made available for small children to deliver the bowling ball. However, by the end of the first game (which Daddy won!!!!!!!!!!!), they were warming up to it. The second game was much more fun and the time just flew. And the winner of the second game by a long shot was...Elijah, closely followed by Ezra. I would say in our defence that when it was the boys turn barriers did go up so that their bowling balls were gently guided towards the pins. Still, they did really, really well. Watch this space for more Lenten family news and reflections.......

Ezzie's 4th Birthday

This week has seen another big celebration in the Wright Household as Ezra reached his 4th birthday. When you consider that he once was dangerously ill and that, just before we left Liverpool, we were told that he would need a kidney transplant (which is now not necessary - miracle or just good luck? Know what we think!), this was a time to celebrate. Ezz opened his presents early morning with such enthusiasm, taking particular interest in the cards he received. Then, he was off to school. We picked him up from school and took him to McDonalds for his birthday meal - where he bumped into one of his best friends, Ted. After this he got to choose his birthday cake (Toy Story) and we each enjoyed a piece at home - before sending a 5 year old and a 4 year old off to bed. Next morning, when Ezra woke up, his first words were "Is it still my birthday today?"!!!

Memories - Since Ezzie Came Into Our Hearts...

Ezra is 4 today - as he announced with such joy this morning at 5.40am when he came rushing down the stairs shouting, "I'm 4! I'm 4!!!!" He had just woken - rememembered it was his birthday and then headed straight down the stairs. More on that birthday later, but for now - here on The Wright family blog (http://dad2theboyz.blogspot.com) are some early photos of Ezzie. Included here is one of him during his first stay in hospital for Broncilitis when he was a few days old. That's when both his parents went down with a VERY nasty bug and we had to leave him at the hospital for 2 days; that was horrible and traumatic and caused a lot of pain. More trauma was to come, but such memories thankfully disappear into the background as we celebrate the coming into our lives and hearts of the little bolt of lightning that is Ezra Mark Arthur Wright........

Goodbye to an old friend

We said goodbye to an old friend today. We've known this friend for 5 years - coming into our lives just after Elijah was born - and this friend has been an integral part of the family. This friend has been with us during thick and thin. This friend took us to the hospital on those (thankfully far off occassions) when the boys were taken into hospital. When Ezra was fighting for his life in St Mary's, Paddington, nearly four years ago, this friend sat outside and waited for us. This friend came with us on holiday and travelled with us when we moved from Liverpool to London. The boys have been very fond of this friend and have been sad at the thought of saying "goodbye". But the day came and we waved off our old friend. Who is this friend, you ask? Bill. Bill - the name given by the boys to our Vaxuhall Meriva car. "Goodbye Bill!" cried Elijah from the kitchen window, "I love you". Needless to say that both boys had already given Bill numerous kisses before he went.

And now Bill has gone. And they have more or less forgotten him for now. Because they are more excited by Bill's replacement - a bright blue (colour chosen by Elijah) Citreon Picasso C3. And its name? Chosen by Ezzie - Korky!!!!

Elijah and Ezra's Superhero Birthday Party

The Return of Chicken Pox

Last night I (Simon) put the boys to bed. They were both VERY excited about their big birthday bash today with their friends. This morning we all awoke and found that overnight Elijah has come out in spots. Two weeks after Ezra had the pox, now Elijah joins in. So, we have been busy texting parents whose mobile numbers we have and I have produced a sign for the front door of the hall where the party will be. At least parents will have the choice and the opportunity to come in and pick up a party bag. It also ensures that one of Ezra's best friends, Zeb, will be there. Zeb came down with the pox on Wednesday and his mum was unsure about bringing him along. Now, he is definitely coming!! I did wonder about hiring someone to stand outside and ring a bell whilst shouting "Unclean" but I think that may just be going slightly overboard. Anyway, do come back and visit us later for news on how the birthday partie de la pox went.

Happy Birthday Bampa!

It's hard to believe that my (Simon) dad is 70 today. 'Cos he doesn't look his age and certainly doesn't act his age (!).

A big milestone - but he is at home today in Bristol together with mum and will have to wait just under another 2 weeks for a family celebration. Our boys love their Bampa and, when they get home later from school the Von Wright family singers will be waxing lyrically as we sing "Happy Birthday" over the phone.

My dad is one of the most kind, generous and servant hearted people I know. And I'm proud to call him Dad and he is a wonderful grandfather.
Happy Birthday Bampa!

Memories (Part 2) - Elijah John arrives & grows a bit

Memories (Part 1) - Elijah John arrives (January 2005)

Happy Birthday Elijah!

This week was an important one in the life of The Wright Family. Elijah hit the big "5"!

He went to bed the night before full of excitement and anticipation. Daddy woke him the following morning with a gentle chorus of "Happy Birthday to you". He smiled, woke and sat up - in that order. "It's my birthday!!!" he said, through a huge smile. The smile stayed there more or less all day.

Later, when asked how it felt to be 5 Elijah replied, "It's Brilliant!!". He loved opening his cards and presents - every moment was savoured and enjoyed. He was so proud to take his mother's home made cup cakes into his class that day - they did go down a storm. He loved that his class sang "Happy Birthday" to him. He was so excited when Daddy met him from school with his new bike - which he then rode around Hayes Grove close (resisting the first few attempts to bring him in - "Come on in Number 1, your time is up!!").

He thoroughly enjoyed going with Mummy to Frantik Kids Club at the Army - and absolutely loved coming back home via MacDonalds with a take away birthday meal to share with daddy and Ezz (who has been at home with chicken pox!).

All in all, a very successful and enjoyable day! More to come - with 2 birthday parties coming up. One, a shared one for his friends with Ezzie (whose 4th birthday is in a couple of weeks). The other is the week after when The Wright Family get together to celebrate Elijah's 5th. Ezra's 4th, Simon's dad's (Bampa) 70th and baby cousin Zechariah's 1st. Let's hope we are all pox free by then!

Elijah's birthday also gave his mum and dad fresh opportunity to reflect and give thanks for this beautiful gift from God. And in a week when the news has been dominated by the horrific news from Haiti, which puts so much of life's annoyances and niggles into perspective, we are grateful and we are blessed. And we give thanks and all the glory to our Heavenly Father.

Proud Boys!

Elijah came home this afternoon from school bursting with pride. He has been awarded a sticker, a badge and a certificate for 100% attendance at school - the only one in his class. A very excited little boy! As we perused the school newsletter we saw his name stand out in the Goose Green Roll of Honour. And then...what's this? A name listed for 100% attendance this term at the school nursery - one Ezra Wright! No badge, certificate or sticker for Ez but when he was told he got very excited ("Woo hoo!"). Well done Elijah and Ezra and well done (mostly) Mummy and (sometimes) Daddy for actually getting them up and out!!! The accompanying photos are self-explanatory. Join the celebration!