Riley's No Longer A Preschooler...

Riley has "graduated" from preschool!  Can you believe it?  They had an End of the Year program at his school this week for the 4 year old classes.  It was a packed house.  Not sure why they don't hold it in the sanctuary of the church so we could see the kiddos better, but oh well.  It was great to see how far he's come since he first started school in August.  He use to be the one in music class who would just sit there and never open his mouth.  Now he's singing along with the rest of the gang...

Riley was blessed to have a wonderful teacher this year.  She use to teach kindergarten in the public schools down here so she knew exactly what the kids needed to be able to achieve before preschool was over.  Riley can write so much better now and he's been reading books every week!  I'm so proud of him.  He's made some wonderful friends at school and loves to go...although he said the best day was Wacky Water Day because he didn't have to do ANY work!  I was hoping it was because Mommy came to school that day and played games with the kids for an hour...Oh well.  I guess that was part of why he didn't have to do any work that day!  

Riley hanging out with Sissy after his program.

Riley and Mrs. Michelle.  She gave each student a sand bucket and shovel filled with goodies as well as a before and after picture of the school year.  

Riley and his buddy Aiden...Yes, Aiden is a year older than Riley.  Didn't want to mislead you that Riley isn't growing, although most of his class turned 5 in the fall.  I think there are 4 kids including Riley who were 4 until now...For being one of the younger kids in his class, he held his own with the older ones!

Riley and his friend Mia.

Riley and Mrs. Michelle...Isn't he so handsome!  My adorable Little Man!

Watch Out...Here I come!

Kendall is entering the "cruising" phase.  She can walk if she's holding onto your fingers, but she's not ready to walk behind something yet...She gets going too fast and falls face first.  She's able to transfer her weight and can stand while only holding on with one hand.  She's also getting ready to move from holding on to one object to another (like moving from the sofa to grabbing my hand).  Here's a short clip of her in action:

Some Things I've Created Lately...

These are a pair of booties I made for Kendall...I had grand plans of making pairs for my two preggo friends, but I never got around to it.  Wonder why?  Maybe I'll get some made before their babies arrive...

Riley's Blue Angel Fighter Jet birthday cake

Practice cake for Leigh's shower above

Actual cake for her shower below...we added a third layer to the cake since we were having more people than initially planned.  It even had a delicious strawberry filling inside.  I had never worked with fondant before and have never had any instruction...Maybe I'll take a class or two sometime...Maybe once the kids are grown!  ;)

I Love My Honda!

Yesterday was such a beautiful day that we decided to get Riley's dirt bike out for him to ride.  He had so much fun and rode for about an hour!  He's slowly building his confidence.  I think we had him a little worried at first because we hounded him on how to stop and about crossing the streets.  Now he rides like a pro...well, a five year old pro!

Come on Dad, I want to ride!

Hmm...I wonder where this goes?

Hurry up Dad!  Eat my dust!

Wacky Water Day at School!

Miss Michelle and Riley...There was a HUGE mud puddle at the door to the bounce house slide.  She got a good work out lifting all the kids on and off the slide!

Miss Michelle telling the kids to have fun!

They had a bounce house slide that sprayed water everywhere.  Riley often jumped down it instead of sliding down...I'd see him free falling to the bottom.  He had so much fun.  He skipped popcicles so he could play more.

Happy Mother's Day!

This is the best type of Mother's Day present you can get!  I also didn't have to change a single diaper that day!  Whoo Hoo!

Birthday Bash!

I still can't get over the fact that my baby is 5!!!  Here are a few pictures to show you how far he's come:

Riley was born April 29, 2004...We weren't expecting to meet him for two more months!

He weighed in at a whopping 2 lbs. 10 oz. and spent 4 weeks in the NICU.  Now I understand why God gave him the personality that he has...He had to be a fighter to make it!  He's been ornery since the day he was born, but we wouldn't want him to be any other way!

Five years later...

Riley was wondering when all of his friends were going to arrive for his Blue Angels Fighter Jet party.

Zachary and Mia are friends of Riley's from preschool.

Aiden and Riley were practicing for the g-forces for fighter pilot training!

Kendall wondering what the fuss is all about.

Tay Tay eating some yummy pizza from Al's!

Ford taking a break from all the excitement.

Garrett, Riley and Zachary

Nicky Noodle and Maddie Moo - Madison is one of Riley's dear friends from the 'hood.  They play so nicely together and we are thrilled that they will both be going to school at Providence together next year.

Happy Birthday Big Boy!

Everyone telling me which part of the cake they want to eat...I was brave and made the cake for Riley's party...Thank goodness it turned out alright!

I still can't believe little man is 5!!!!

Checking out a present with the help of Aiden and Mia.

Look at that smile!  Happiest boy in the world!

Ford, Riley, Aiden and Mia checking out the Batmobile.

I don't know who was more excited, Riley or Garrett!

Slip Sliding Away...

Spring has sprung in Jacksonville!  The other day I got the slip and slide out and invited Riley's friend Madison over to play.  They had the best time together.

They thought it was funny to crash into each other!

Spring in Jax...

Ahh, springtime in Jacksonville.  It doesn't get much better than this...As we get closer to summer, the temperature starts to rise and the beach is the place to be!  Kendall is enjoying the beach (thank goodness since we go often).  Her favorite part is eating sand and trying to chew on the multitude of broken shells along the beach.  

We let her crawl around in the water and she seemed to enjoy it.

Riley loves playing in the tidal pools that form during low tide.

Sissy thinks she can just take any toys she wants from Bubby.  Thank goodness he's patient with her.

I would love to know what she's thinking.

I use this tunnel for my Toddler Gym program that I run at our church and figured it was time to let Kendall try it out at home.  She thought it was the coolest invention.  

Look At What I Can Do!

Here's the most recent video of Kendall trying out her new trick!  Enjoy!  You may want to turn down your volume because she's not very happy!  ;)

Spring Break 09

Riley requested that we head to the "mountain house" for spring break this year.  That is what he says when he wants to go to my parents home in North Carolina.  Unfortunately for him, they were going to be at their place in Kiawah, SC during that week so we spent the week there instead.  Better for me because it takes half the time to drive to Kiawah than to western NC.  Mom and Dad just redid their entire condo and it's so beautiful.  They did a fantastic job picking out new flooring, cabinets, counters, furniture, etc.  This was our first time seeing the place since it's been finished.  

Here are some pictures of our week with mom and dad (aka Nanny and Pappy).  Enjoy!

Every visit to Kiawah requires a trip (or 10) over the "alligator bridge" and then to the alligator hole by the golf course.  This time we got to see two gators by the golf course at the same time. 

Kendall enjoying her Nanny

For whatever reason, these two have created a special bond already.  She adores her Pappy and he's just as smitten with her.  Here she is kissing him - and he's LOVING it!

My dad has played this game with both of my kids and they love it.  It's called "Bump A Headie."

My parents bought Riley a new Dumpy because he busted the wheels off of his old one.  He pushes this truck all over the island.  This was taken on the golf course that my parents' place overlooks.  I was able to convince him to put his knees in Dumpy and ride him down the hill.  I have some great video of him wiping out at the bottom of the hill!

We took a trip to the playground to burn off some energy.

The tube slide is always a big hit.

Even Dumpy got in on the action!

Baby girl thinks she's a Big Girl

I made a strawberry smoothie for Riley - strawberry yogurt, strawberries, milk and a banana.  Kendall got to try it and she LOVED it.  She kept going back for more!

The Easter Bunny made a special trip to Kiawah for Easter.  Kendall found her first egg.

Then she found her basket.

Then she destroyed her basket!

Is it empty?

Almost every time we visit Kiawah, Riley gets to play with his friend Connor.  Connor is the grandson of my dad's best friend who moved to Johns Island.  They live about a half hour away from Kiawah.  Connor's grandpa (Ed) and my dad both worked for Cat in York, Pa.  Ed ran the Sumter, SC plant and my dad ran the Morganton, NC plant when they closed the York plant.  For those of you who were at our wedding, the old convertible my dad escorted us in from the church was Ed's.  

Riley and Kendall hanging out on the chair.

She's started clapping.  It almost seems intentional, but I'm not sure she's old enough for that yet.

Wanting a closer look at the camera.  Can you see her lopsided grin?  She has two top teeth on her left side, but none on her right side yet.

Getting ready to crawl.  It won't be long now.  She's been sitting up all by herself in her crib and I've even found her standing on her knees with her hands on the railing.  I guess I best be getting busy baby proofing the house.  She was checking out the electrical socket in Riley's room the other day too!

Click here to watch Kendall inhale her first smoothie

Click here to watch out takes of Riley and Dumpy...You will laugh out loud!