19 Months Old

Riley's turned 19 months on Christmas Eve so she participated in some Christmas 1st traditions today. She has had so much fun with her cousins this month and is starting to remember people and their names. She loves to look at pictures of herself and family. Can't believe we will be celebrating her 2nd Christmas!

18 Months Old

Eighteen things I love about you!

1. That smile! It lights up a room and my life.

2. Your daredevil attitude. I have yet to know of you to be scared of anything.

3. Your manners, you are so good at saying please and sometimes thank you.

4. The delight that you get when you dump a box of toys or knock off all your books from the shelf. Have to admit I don't love the mess.

5. How much you love other people, especially kids. If you see any of the kids from the neighborhood outside playing, you have to be out there with them!

6. How you always try to "help" me. I can not sweep without you taking the broom from me so you can "sweep."

7. Your love for all things Elmo. I don't love Elmo (I could think of more annoying characters) but love that you have a passion.

8. That you love books. Sometimes when you are being quiet in your room and I go to check on you, you are sitting on the floor reading.

9. Your personality. Your are wild, sweet, strong-willed, loving and silly all at the same time.

10. Your ever growing vocabulary. You say new words daily and it is exciting to see what you will say next!

11. How much you enjoy music. When daddy breaks out his guitar it is always "dance party" time.

12. Your wet sloppy kisses. You give them out without me having to ask.

13. How sometimes you just need a hug and you ask for it..."Hug" you say.

14. That you always prefer that your mommy and daddy are both with you at all times.

15. Your sense of humor. You laugh often and it is contagious.

16. Those baby blues with the long eyelashes, that dimple, your round belly, short pudgy feet, blonde hair, and petite body. You are the cutest toddler I know!

17. Even though you can be very independent you are still a mommy's girl and secretly I am glad!

18. That you are all mine and I get to spend everyday with you!!

Treak or Treat

We woke up Halloween morning to rain! Our little, quaint town of Holly Springs was having its annual Holly Fest and we were going, rain or shine. Thankfully by the time we got there it was more shine than rain. Riley checked out the petting zoo, saw a puppet show, went down the slide (twice), chased the Chick Fil-a cow and went on her first ride! The ride was like a small version of Dumbo and we weren't sure if she would ride it by herself. She was one of the youngest and many children were crying once there parents but them in the car. She was a champ like always and rode like a big girl. After it was done she asked for more she loved it so much!

After the festival we went home, ate lunch and rested before our Halloween Cul-da-sac Party. Everyone in our cul-da-sac brings out their candy and puts it on one table so the trick or treaters have one stop with lots of candy.

I have been wanting to learn to sew for a long time and decided making Riley's Halloween costume would be a great place to start. I got lesson from a friend and she helped me make a Pebbles costume. She was such a cutie in her costume!

As night time set in we took the kids around the neighborhood to do some trick or treating of their own. With Riley being so young we just walked around the block with her. After a few houses she had the trick or treating down pat and would walk up to every door. She even darted in a few people's house before we could grab her. Even after going just around the block she had a lot of candy, too bad she won't be eating any of it!

Chili Cook-off

This past weekend our church hosted our 3rd annual Chili Cook-off during what started off as a beautiful fall day. Everyone makes their favorite chili recipe with secret ingredients (think pumpkin, chocolate & beer) and brings it in a crockpot for all to taste. We provide all the toppings and dig in! We had a few outdoor games planned but the rain started coming down so we all stayed under the pavilion and did some activities with the kids.

Before the rain they played on the playground

After eating lots and lots of chili we decorated cookies.

Then we painted pumpkins which was Riley's first time handling a paint brush.

After much deliberation by our three judges...

We have a winner....

MARY ANSLEY!!

Secret ingredient: chocolate bar

We ate and played till we were all tuckered out!

And then we played some more.