Tim's 13!

For those of you haven't heard, there is a TEENAGER in the Wright house!  Aaarrrhhhh!  But a sweet one at that-most of the time;)Tim's birthday started out with him discovering 13 balloons in his room and streamers hung from his door!  Before school, I took him to McDonald's for breakfast.  He loves that place for breakfast:) 

After school, Tim and I went shopping at Sportsman's Warehouse.  Tim picked out a personal backpacking stove, personal cooking pans, a headlamp and a few other little things.  He can't wait to use them this summer!  Then we got him some cool shoes for the summer as well.  That night, we dined on battered fish, noodles and peaches-Tim's favorite dinner!

The next day, Cory, Tim and I went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple so Tim could perform his first baptisms for the dead.  We had to wait for about an hour before we even started, but it was well worth the wait.  Before Tim entered the water, he took off his leg.  It just so happens that the baptismal font in situated in a room surrounded by glass windows and a waiting area.  Everyone in the waiting area saw Tim take off his leg and just sat there totally amazed:)  I had to laugh!  As a mother, it was a proud moment to see my son doing something for others that they can't do.  I hope he enjoyed it enough to return often:)

Later that afternoon, Cory took Tim and Mak up to the U of U for Supercross.  They spent the entire afternoon walking through the pits, meeting riders, and getting autographs.  Tim got four riders to sign his prosthesis!  The racing started at 7 and ended around 10:30!  The three took up warm coats, gloves, hats and a blanket just in case.  The night got cold, and they needed the warm gear, but weren't able to use them.  The event's staff would not let anyone come back in the gates after 6pm.  No exceptions!  So, they froze , drank a lot of expensive hot chocolate, walked around a lot, and had a blast!

Luc, Bret Metcalfe, Tim

Overall, I would say that both Mak and Tim's birthdays were a success.  Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes, cards and gifts.  We are so blessed to have so many wonderful people in our lives!  Summer, here we come!!

Mak turns 11!

What a fun couple of days for my Mak!  The day of her birthday, she woke up to 11 helium balloons in her room and crate paper hanging from her door!  I let her sleep in for awhile (she was off-track), then woke her up to go shopping.  She wanted to go out with me and get some clothes for her birthday.  We hit a couple of stores before meeting up with Cory for lunch!  She ended up with some really cute clothes and a super cute watch:)  She was in heaven.

Mak in one of her new outfits!

Later that night, we ate some of Cory's delicious ribs for dinner!  Mak choose the ribs and a potato dish for her birthday dinner.

Mak at dinner.  Yummy!

Friday night was Mak's friend party.  She wanted to have a camp out in the backyard.  So, we set up our big tent in the back, borrowed a projector from a friend and got some firewood from a neighbor.  There was 8 girls, including Mak, before the girls got in the tent around 11pm.  However, the 8 little sweetheart did not go to bed until almost 4:30 Saturday morning:(  It was a fun party, even though Mak was a bear all day Saturday and I swear to never do that again!

Eating pizza-Aidyn, Mak, Sophie, Calli, Abby, Taylor, Lia

Dancing until it was dark enough for the movie

Watching "Despicable Me"

Mak sleeping Saturday morning

Chillin' on the playhouse-Mak, Taylor, Sophie, Alyssa, Lia, Calli, Abby

One tired but happy birthday girl!

Video

Here is the video that Make-A-Wish put together for their "Wishes Take Flight" gala this past weekend!

6 month check-up

After a long day at PCMC, Tim is still cancer FREE!  Those are lovely words to hear and speak!  Tim and I were up at the crack up dawn to drive across the valley with it raining cats and dogs and with numerous accidents.  The trip usually takes 45 minutes to an hour when the weather is nice and there is the normal traffic.  Today it took me an hour and a half.  Then we sat around at the hospital for four and a half hours getting Tim's blood drawn, having a bone scan, having a chest CT, having x-rays of his rotation and meeting with his surgeon and oncologist.  Whew, but the news was worth it:)

Tim getting some x-rays

Chest CT

We had some "Cafe Rio" for lunch and checked out downtown's new mall, City Creek!  It is amazing!!  Even Tim thought it was cool:) 

Tim at City Creek

 After wasting about 2 hours, we headed back up the hill to Shriner's.  Tim has what we hope is just an inflamed bursa on the top of his foot.  He is taking some antibiotics just in case.  He also has a pressure sore on the one toe that has not straightened out yet:( 

Until the sore heals and the swelling goes down, Tim has to stay out of his prosthesis as much as he can.  That is going to be difficult with school and a weekend scout camp coming up.  So, Tim's prosthetist, did a quick fix to Tim's prosthesis and he is making a padded liner until a new mold can be taken for a new socket. 

Fund Raiser

This past Saturday night, Cory, Tim, Mak and I had the privilege of attending the Utah Make-A-Wish annual fund raising gala!  (I know, lots of words there)  The theme for this year's gala was "Wishes Take Flight!"  With that being said and the fact that Tim's recent wish included flying, they asked if we wouldn't mind sharing Tim's cancer story and wish trip at the event.  So, about 2 weeks ago,  some Make-A-Wish staff came to the house and interviewed-again-Cory, Tim and myself.  They also collected some video and pictures of Tim to put together for the gala event.  Saturday was amazing!  There was a silent auction where the "rich and famous" wandered around placing bids via cell phones.  The program started with a catered dinner and some remarks from past and present CEOs.  Then Tim's video was presented.  It was great-I teared up and couldn't tell if Cory was or not.  (I think he was!)  Then, the four of us went up front and said a few words to the 500  plus people in attendance.  It was a little scary:(  After that, there was a live auction followed by out right asking for donations:)  Such a fun evening for a great cause!  I am not one to ask for money and/or donations, but if you ever do feel like giving to a charity, this is a great one to give to.  You can go here to learn more about the Utah chapter and how to donate. 

The four of us all dressed up for the night!

Tim-looks good in a flight suit!

The event was held inside a hanger.  We were seated up front at table #1!  There was 50 tables in all:)

Emcee for the night-Sheriff Winder.  Cool guy and awesome wife!  We met her last October in Park City when we stumbled into her fire house.  She totally remembered us and wants to hang out sometime!

BYU's Brian Kehl was there along with Curtis Brown!

Tim and 5 other wish kids.  The other kids were pilots for a day at Hill Air Force Base and received flight suits from that event!

Swim Meet

Mak participated in her first swim meet this past weekend.  She had only been swimming for about a month with our rec center's swim team before this meet!  And she did an awesome job:)  She swam in 3 events: 25m free-style, 25m breast stroke and 50m free-style.  She rocked the 25m free-style finishing 2nd in her heat, 3rd overall!  The other two events were ok :(  Mak had a great time and wants to swim throughout the summer!  We'll see how that goes once the weather gets nice and the days are longer:)  But, I think we found "her sport!"  She just started a season of volleyball, so we'll see how that goes.  Here are a few pictures from the meet:

Pool at Fairmont Aquatic Center

25m Free-style finish time.  It says first, but the girl who actually finished first didn't get her finish button pushed.

Mak getting into the pool

25m Breast stroke finish time :(

Hanging out between events

50m Free-style finish time

Easter 2012

Happy Easter all!  We had a beautiful day-discovering what the "Easter Bunny" brought, getting dressed in new clothes for church, flying kites, attending church, eating a delicious dinner with family and flying kites some more!  Perfect day to  remember all the many blessings we have, what we have experienced the past year, and how we survived a tough year.  We are so grateful to all of those who stood by us, prayed for us, gave service to us and loved us unconditionally.  Most of all, we are grateful to a loving Heavenly Father who knew what our family could handle and picked up what we couldn't.  We are also very grateful for our Savior, Jesus Christ and his Atonement and Resurrection.  We know that one day, Tim will be whole again and all our questions will be answered and we will know why we had the trial that we did.  Until then, we press forward and cherish every day-like we did today:) 

2012-Kelli, Mak, Tim, Katie

Flying kites before church-Katie, Cory, Kelli, Mak, Tim

2011-Katie, Tim, Mak, Kelli-what a difference a year makes!

Antelope Island

Last weekend was a busy one for us.  We had the opportunity to visit Hill Aerospace Museum in Layton.  HopeKids was able to get the museum from 10-12 and each family got a member of the military as an escort!  There was even lunch in a hanger, face painting and goodies for the kids.  It was a great event and we had a great time looking at all the planes, especially Cory and Tim!  After the event, we decided to drive out to Antelope Island since it is only 20 minutes from Hill Air Force Base and the fact that we have never been there!  How pathetic are we?  What a neat place!  We braved the insane winds that northern Utah had that day and explored most of the island.  Who knew there was a ranch on the island and until recently, it was a working ranch?  We saw a lot of buffalo and Tim convinced a friend that we were in Yellowstone by texting his friend pictures of the beasts!  We walked out to the Great Salt Lake where it smelled just like the ocean and Yellowstone-rotten eggs!  Overall, a fun day and the kids were dirty and exhausted when we got home:)

Tim, Kelli, Mak and Katie

Ranch house and cellars through the enormous trees!

Huge barn used to sheer sheep

Looking towards the Wasatch Mountains

Buffalo (in Yellowstone!)

Cory and Tim "watering" the cat-tails!

Walking out to the Great Salt Lake

Tim checking out a dead bird