"Almost" 5 going on 16

Or so she thinks she's 16. Riley is quite a handful. She's ready to take on the world, or so she thinks. She insists she wants to be a singer when she grows up. Her idol is Taylor Swift, and she knows the words to her songs by heart. Her favorite song and video is Love Story. She'll watch this video several times in a day and act out the video. Riley "loves" jewels. I'm pretty sure her Mawda is the reason for this. When Riley was 2-years-old Mawda bought her a bag of jewels from the Disney store. And the rest has been history. When she saw that Edward, from the movie Twilight, glittered like diamonds in the sun, she said, "Isn't Bella so lucky? (sigh, sigh) Her boyfriend sparkles." She wishes she could have a boyfriend who looked full of diamonds in the sunshine. For whatever reason, Riley has been enamored every since with jewels. She loves music and music videos. She can be the most dramatic little girl you've ever seen. "Laid back" are the last words you would use to describe Miss Riley.

As difficult as she can be, Jason and I wouldn't have it any other way. However, let's hope Reagan is a little lower key, as there really is not enough room in a household for two Rileys!

Baby in the pot!

This is what happens when three girls are in a camper all day with nothing to do because of bad weather. Yes, Helen, this is your granddaughter, sitting in your pot, in your camper.

When the desert gives you snow...

Take your water tube, Seattle galoshes, daddy's hat and gloves, three pairs of sweat pants, and find the nearest sand dune! Needless to say, Riley is very happy!

Riley's American Idol

This boy, Tim Urban, is a boy that I vote for every week on American Idol. Riley insists upon it. She loves this boy, and I hate to say it, but she's already determined to vote for him before he sings. Simon was so rough on him his first performance that it has just fueled Riley to vote for him every week. I mean, I'm sure that's the reason and not that she has a 4-year-old crush on this boy, right? I must say, she really lights up when he sings. As for my favorite, definately Andrew Garcia. I am blogging about this because, who knows, maybe Tim Urban will be the next big thing and when Riley is 16 we can look back and say remember when... Riley feels she has a big part in this boy's future. When he was saved last week, which was indeed a huge surprise, she said "It's sure a good thing I voted." You're welcome, Tim Urban. Your fate, atleast to my 4-year-old daughter, lies in her hands! Okay, I've got to go text my votes now.

Mischief

Reagan watches Riley as if she can't wait to start getting in much mischief with her. Riley is the only one who can get Reagan to laugh. As silly as I've tried acting, even imitating what I see Riley do to get her to laugh, Reagan won't laugh when I try to get her to.

You think you're going to get me in my carseat again? Think again...

Reagan at 5 months

Reagan is already 5months. Really... where does the time go? She is a lot different baby than Riley; she has to be, since there is not enough room in the world for two Rileys! I suppose that's the way it usually works. While there may be a few similarities in their personalities at this age, there are many, many differences. Reagan is a very relaxed baby, doesn't cry very often, and just an all-around mellow little baby. She actually sleeps through the night! I can remember night after night with Riley where she just wasn't able to sleep at all. I suppose it could have something to do with the fact that we know with Reagan that she'll actually still be breathing in the morning. I honestly would run to Riley's crib every half hour, sure that this time she wouldn't be breathing. (I mean, I hadn't heard any crying for 30 minutes!) There were times when I would panic and whip Riley right out of her crib to check if she was still breathing. Jeesh, poor Riley. We're just the opposite with Reagan. Jeesh, poor Reagan.

Happy 5 months, Reagan!

Cuddle/movie time

Reagan must be the most patient baby in the WORLD!! For the most part, she seems to really enjoy Riley's sistering ways...

Riley at 4 years old!

Favorite breakfast: All breakfast food! It's her best meal of the day, the one I can actually get her to eat.
Favorite Lunch and dinner: Mac and cheese (Can't wait till that changes!) Tamale pie, Sloppy joes...
Favorite song: Single Ladies by Beyonce; Country Boy by Allen Jackson
Favorite color: Rainbow colors
Favorite game: Hide and Seek
Favorite book: Favorite-go-to book is Rechenka's Eggs. (Thanks, Debbie, for introducing that book and author.)
Favorite movie: Cinderalla, Parts 1, 2 and 3.
Favorite type of clothing: Any "twirly" dress.
Favorite play: Going to the park!
Shoe size: 10
Clothing size: Size 4 in little girls. No more toddler!
Weight: 42 lbs.
Height: Not sure on this one, but she's tall compared to the other girls in her class, so we'll see!

Riley is a very spunky little girl who always knows exactly what she wants and how she wants it. She talks non-stop at this point, even in her sleep. One of the first sentences out of her mouth when she turned 4 was, "Now I'm grown up, and I can do what I want." She had this funny notion that life was going to be changing for her, 3 going on 16, I swear!

She has a heart of gold. For her school evaluation, the teacher wrote how sweet she was to all the other children. She has already a cute, quirky sense of humor and can come up with the most outrageous comments. She loves a good joke, a nice bubble bath, a visit to a park, making shapes out of clouds, snuggling, and the list goes on.

Happy Birthday!

My baby turns four today
How the time has flown...
For four wonderful years
What happiness I've known!

My baby turns four today
Yesterday she was only three
And each year I have my little one
The more she means to me!

My baby turns four today
While it was only moments ago
That they laid her on my tummy
And I whispered "Mommy loves you so!" (By Thena Smith)

Happy St. Paddy's Day!

Riley was all ready for St. Patrick's Day, but imagine her dismay when leprechauns actually turned her eggs and milk green for breakfast. The leprechauns may have pushed it too far, because by the evening, she was wanting daddy to go upstairs and make sure the leprechauns were all gone.

Please, Riley.... Smile!

Oh, sometimes to get Riley to give a nice smile is impossible. She makes a great tough face though, huh? She's such a little comedian.

Happy New Year's!

Well, finally blogging about our New Year's! What a fun time we had. I had recieved a gift certificate for a restaurant in Tacoma, so we were off to a nice dinner. It was a seafood restaurant and was delicious. Then we were off to Zoo Lights in Tacoma. Wow - this was really fun. the lights were amazing, but unfortunately, didn't make for very good pics. Riley had such a good time and was very animated this evening. We went home and finished off our night with some WII and welcomed in the New Year's. What a year it will be!

Opy

So Riley got this dress from GG. I don't know how GG does it, but every year she seems to buy something that Riley really wanted. We had, just a week before this, had a big meltdown in the store as I refused to buy her this dress. I had just bought her her Christmas dress. She made her choice, and that was it. Riley was so thrilled when she opened this. She disappeared for a while, then came down with it on and these beautiful princess shoes. She came over to me and said, "Look, Mom, I look just like that woman you like, Opy."

Jason and I were stumped and had no idea what she was talking about. "You know, Mom, that show you like; I look just like the woman on it, Opy."

Jason finally asked her if she meant Oprah. With great annoyance and exasperation she said, "Yeeeesssss."

I don't know why I couldn't figure that out. Silly mommy...

Christmas 2008

As much as we missed being able to be with any family this Christmas, I must say it was a lot of fun starting some of our own traditions also. We started it off with a Christmas Eve church service. It was so nice. At the end of the service everyone stood around in the dark holding a candle up. Riley proudly pronounced, in the middle of prayer of course, "Look, Mommy, I didn't even light you on fire!" That night I pulled out some special Christmas books I had bought and we read stories. We opened up two special gifts, had a yummy dinner of clam chowder, crackers and cheese. Riley laid out her cookies she baked for Santa and put out some "magic" reindeer food for Santa's reindeer. Really, they do a lot of the hard work, too, so why not? Plus, Riley was most excited about feeding the deer more so than Santa!

Then Jason and I's work was just beginning. We had many toys to put together, batteries to get loaded, stockings to get ready, you name it. Riley really enjoyed her presents this year, so opening them was an all-day event. She wanted to play with each one after opening it. We were begging her at the end of the day to finish. It was a very quiet, relaxing day. We had a great dinner of prime rib, seafood, a baked potato bar for Riley, and way too many other things!

I put a photo album on the side, so go check it out. I loaded a new Picasa and, ever since, have had trouble loading in photo albums on. I finally figured it all out tonight, so hopefully I'm back up and running. Jeesh!

Happy Turkey Day!

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

This Thanksgiving we will be going to my aunt and uncle's house. Jason has to work on Friday, and Riley and I might venture on to my parent's house after that for the weekend. That's a lot of driving, though, for Jason, as he will then come back up on Friday, and so we're not positive yet what we're doing. We'll probably just take it one step at a time! Hope you all have a wonderful day and that you get to spend it with loved ones. Here is a cute poem that a friend of mine sent me that I thought was pretty cute!


May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have never a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Thanks for the Banner!

My mom made this banner for me, and the last banner that I had on my blog. They're always very cute, but a particularly love this one!

Happy Halloween!

We hope you all had a great Halloween. I have to say, I think Halloween is my favorite holiday. I know that sounds horrible, but I just love the changing of seasons, pumpkins, the no pressure of it all. It's like a month of fun events: pumpkins, farms, costumes, parties... I just love it.

We had a very fun evening. We started off with trick or treating in Kent. Everyone loved Riley's costume. I don't think we passed anyone without a comment and people were asking to take her picture all night. Riley kept saying, "See, Mom, I told you it was a good idea." She was saying that because I didn't really like the whole cupcake idea, mostly because I didn't know how we'd do that. Jason said when he took her into a restaurant to trick or treat, several girls were going crazy over her costume saying they would be cupcakes next year! I think Riley has started a food-crazed costume epidemic in Kent for next year!

It was so nice being in a neighborhood where everyone really gets in the spirit. When we opened the door to our house, you could hear all sorts of scary ghost sounds, wherewolves, you name it.

Riley is such a funny girl. All night I kept hearing, "Boy, they really like my costume. Aren't you glad I wanted to be a cupcake, Mom?"

Trip to New York

My mom took this pic of grandpa and it's my favorite. It's such a perfect picture of him.

Riley relaxing before we get on the plane!

Riley giving the guys a hand

What an eventful trip to New York! I was very nervous about Jason not flying with us as he had a business trip to go to. I haven't flown by myself in quite a long time, let alone with Riley! We only had a half hour layover in Cincinatti so I kept explaining this to Riley and how we would have to have a race to get on the plane so we wouldn't miss it. I also told her if we missed the plane we wouldn't get to see grandma and grandpa. Nothing like a few get threats to get them running! And it worked. A couple times she even told me to hurry up! She had so much fun. She was nervous on the plane at times, and even screamed at one point because she thought the "plane was falling out of the sky." Every time the plane would descend it would scare her. Eventually she got used to it and really started to enjoy it.

While in New York we rested a bit and hit a few farm markets. It's such a beautiful area and amazing how open it is. It's such a different feel. The men, of course, found a small chore.

My favorite part? Grandpa's homemade bread! Yum, Yum, Yum! Riley and I were pretty happy campers, I must say. I could live off it... or die trying!