Woo-Hoo - Bloom's Day 2008

I "love" Bloom's Day! It is definately one of the highlights I look forward to.
First of all, I really miss Spokane. It's a "bit city feel" without all of the freakin' traffic! I had a great race, beating any of my previous times by quite a bit. (although, that's not saying much!) You have to really admire all the great entertainment along this race! It truly keeps you going and motiviated. I particularly love running past the group of nuns that are chearing for everyone!

















Riley and Lauren taking a little break from all the excitement!








Riley and Lauren being goofy - as usual!





Look at that poor soul trying to finish this race!

Happy Mother's Day to me!

Flowers and a strawberry cheesecase! Wow - they really know how to get to mama's heart!

Alki Beach

We finally made it to Alki Beach. How could we have lived here for two years and not gone there yet? Wow - it was so much fun. We had no idea what we were in store for. It's a beautiful beach and so hard to believe that it's so close to Seattle! It was great fun! Miss Riley refused to keep her clothes on; slowly, she kept peeling her clothing as Jason was saying, no no no! It's a beautiful beach and a beautiful day!

Birthday Party

Riley's good friend, Lauren, turned 4 this weekend. All the kids had a great time at the party which was held at the Children's Museum.

Cinderella

Riley loves Cinderella. This is her friend, Lauren, and her getting ready to go to the Cinderella play. They had a great time. The play was wonderful and we can't wait to go to Pinocchio one next month. Riley sat at the edge of her chair and was mesmerized the entire play. Riley loved dressing up but wouldn't dream of letting me touch her hair. No way!

Easter '08

Check out the Easter album in the right column I just posted!

We had a great time at my parents over Easter. Riley's focus was finding Easter eggs. She had a great time. We then went to a beautiful Easter brunch. Riley just asked me yesterday how the Easter bunny knew she like rain boots so much.

Riley's three Easter pics!

Age 1
Age 2
Age 3

My cute girl with her Easter dress on!

Looking for the Easter basket

Riley running out of her room ready to search for her Easter basket and eggs.

What!!?? The Easter Bunny hid her basket up on a beam!

Easter Dinner

Mom made a great low-fast Easter dinner! Doesn't look so lowfat, does it? Yum.

And finally taking a little break!

Eric's Birthday

I'm posting in blue as that was Eric's favorite color. I know my mom always wonders what Eric would be in his life right now, as do I. I believe he would have been a lost and waundering soul for some time. Eric was very sensitive and creative. Who could forget his crazy stories he would write, his intense anger when the TV Guide would be incorrect about its late-night TV lineup? He would yell that he was going to write a letter to TV Guide. Can you imagine a little boy yelling that he was going to write a letter to the TV networks? I believe Eric would have taken our family from "conventional" to "unconventional." Instead of doing what society tells people they have to do, he would have broken the mold and felt free to do what he wanted to do, however crazy and "unconventional" it might seem to some. I miss Eric every day, and like I always say, knowing Riley and Eric the way I do, the two would have been an incredible duo. Happy Birthday, Eric. I miss you so much, the late-night Christmas stories, secret eye rolls between the two of us, French toast, and the love for music I will never forget.

Happy Birthday, Riley!

Wow!! What a birthday Miss Riley had! She really enjoyed getting to spend time with her grandparents. Jason and I can't believe Riley is three years old. I remember when Riley was a baby people would come up to me in stores and say enjoy it because it goes by so fast. I would just laugh and go on my merry way. Well, now I find myself wanting to tell that to other woman that, yes indeed, enjoy it because it "does" go by so fast! Every day Riley keeps us laughing with her never-ending funny comments, creative imagination, and dramatic meltdowns. We love it all. Maybe we don't enjoy the meltdowns at the time, but they're sure a chuckle for Jason and I when we have endured!! I big high-5, for sure!!

Okay. Riley has entered a magical age, in her own world. For the first two weeks, she thought she had grown 3 feet. It was hilarious. Every time she would reach for something, she would say, with shock on her face, "Look, I can reach this! Boy, have I grown! Can you believe it?" She was amazed with herself for quite a while. I truly believe she thought 3 was a magical age and the world was going to open up. Afterall, this was the age she was able to start gymnastics without mom and dad, the age where she was able to play at McDonalds legally, use the play area at Ikea, and getting to use the "big kids'" room at daycare.

We love you so much, Riley! Happy birthday. Here's a poem that Dad and I agreed reminded us a lot of you:

“What Is A Little Girl!”
She's a bundle of sweetness, brightness & fun
The beauty of springtime, the warmth of the sun
She's Innocence covered with mud, sand, & soot
She's Motherhood dragging a doll by the foot...
She's a composite picture of giggles & tears
Of tantrums, excitement, amusement & fears
A bundle of mischief and often a tease
A creature of moods not easy to please...

Who'll capture your heart with her pixie-like grin
Or chatter and beg till your patience wears thin
But obedient, naughty, mischievous or coy
She's Mom's little Darling & Dad's Pride & Joy.

Riley's 3rd birthday

Riley made grandma a nice lunch.

Grandma and Riley preparing a masterpiece.

Riley loved her new sunglasses form Uncle Jon, Aunt Sue, Brayden and Cheyenne. She even had to wear them while opening the rest of her gifts!

Finally... she's able to pay her own way....

We're happy to report that our daughter has finally got herself a job! Okay, this was her "second" third birthday party with her grandpma and grandpa Hoyt, and did she have a good time. These pics were taken at the children's museum in Seattle. This party's theme was Cinderella. What a contrast to the Spiderman party with her Mawda and Papa, huh?

Funny Faces

I just love these pictures of Riley. They crack me up. She will never have this much fun at a photo shoot again. Either that, or I'll never get just a normal nice smiling picture again. She loved acting out each face: mad, happy, sad, scared, ambarrassed, sneaky. This was right up her alley!

Spiderman Birthday Party

Riley had a great birthday party. We went to the children's museum and then had a birthday party at home after her nap. This year, instead of getting stuck on one gift, she was ready to move on to the next present as soon as she opened it. "Okay, what's next?" No happy medium here. So next weekend it will be a Cinderella birthday part, then Easter....

Riley's First Dentist Appointment

Riley was, at first, excited about her dentist appointment. She became a little nervous when they called her in the office to see the dentist. She was such a great little girl. They actually had Dora movies playing for each chair. Hmm, I don't remember kid's movies playing when I was young and went to the dentist. Riley got a teeth cleaning. They taught her how to floss. Unfortuantely, the dentist said there was a concern with Riley and that is she has an underbite. You know, now that the dentist has said that, Jason and I have realized that, indeed, she does. After having jaw surgery myself and so many problems with my jaw, I can't believe I didn't notice that! The dentist said that there is nothing that can be done about this until she is approximately 6 years old, as that's the youngest that an orthodontist will see a child. Poor girl. Anyway, at the end of the appointment she got to go pick a toy out from "The Tower of Toys." Boy, was that exciting for her. I think she will very much be looking forward to going back to the dentist. What toy did she pick out? A ball, of course. I guess the ten she has at home just aren't enough!!