Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to everyone! We had a great time with both sets of grandparents visiting along with Uncle Peter. Nana, Grampy, and Peter came up Christmas Eve day and Grandma and Grandpa joined us all on Christmas morning. Here are some events from the past few days.

Riley helped Mommy and Daddy clean the house before everyone arrived.










Then we sat down for some silly winter dress up time.

We put luminaries along the driveway to help Santa find his way to the tree. everyone joined us outside even though it was cold!














Riley opened a special gift from Mommy and Daddy on Christmas Eve - bear slippers!

















We read The Night Before Christmas downstairs in front of the fire.









Riley put out cookies, and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer.

On Christmas Riley opened her stocking from Santa and a ton of other presents!




Wearing the Dora backpack Mommy made.







Daddy had a little trouble getting some out of their packaging!







Opening Dulpo Legos from Uncle Peter.







Riley really enjoyed the appetizers and found a new seat on the Lego box!





Watching Daddy and Grampy compete on the Wii while building a Lego tower with Grandma.



Christmas dinner while Riley napped.







Hanging out with Uncle Peter after waking up.





By now everyone has headed off. The grandparents have all gone home and Uncle Peter has gone off to visit with Laura and her family for a few days. The house is quiet, but still a bit messy with all of the new toys that don't have homes to be put away to yet.

We decided that Christmas is more fun now watching Riley than it was being a kid. (Not that it wasn't great being a kid on Christmas, but this is even better!) Can't wait for next year when we'll have two!

Dress Up

Yesterday we visited Nana and Grampy and Uncle Peter and Laura came too. While looking for a winter hat for Mommy, Riley enjoyed trying on lots of hats. Here are some pictures Laura took!

Baking

Yesterday Chris and I went out Christmas shopping and left Riley for the afternoon with Grandma and Grandpa. She had lots of fun playing with the toys there and helped Grandma bake sugar cookies. Yum!

Snow and a Tree

Riley wasn't sure what to make of the few inches of snow we received yesterday and last night. Just about the only part of playing in the snow she enjoyed was watching Daddy sled down the hump in the back yard.

We also put up our tree today. Riley enjoyed handing the ornaments to Daddy.

ABCs

Not bad for 23 months old! She had already started by the time I pressed record, and skips over"J" this time...but still, not bad!

Last Weekend, Turkey Day, and Silly in a New Sweater

Last weekend Uncle Peter and Laura came to visit for the night. Riley had lots of fun playing with them. Laura let Riley pile Little People down her legs and show them her books.



We spent a nice Thanks-giving yesterday down at Great Grandma's house and Nana, Grampy, and Uncle Peter came too. It was great to have everyone together!















Nana made Riley a new sweater and today was a miserable day here - the perfect kind of day to wear a new cozy sweater! Riley also had fun dressing up in a hat, mittens, and scarf and having her picture taken.

Recent Times

It has been awhile since I've been able to post anything. Our computer was out of commission and being fixed so I had no way to post pictures. Recently Riley has been loving Dora the Explorer and really interacts and watches the show whenever she sees it. She loves singing and dancing to the opening. I don't really like Dora too much, but what can I do? Dora is everywhere!

New Favorite Shirt

Last week we got Riley a Patriots shirts that she can wear now and pass down to her baby brother someday. She wants to wear it now every time she sees it.

Happy Halloween!

Here is Riley tonight as a garden fairy but without her wand. Our computer is still in the shop, so I haven't been able to update lately. Hopefully we'll get it back soon!

Apple Picking

Today we took Riley apple picking for the first time...well, if you don't count all of the apples she tries to pick off the trees at home, it was the first time. She loves picking apples at home, but can't eat them (because we don't spray them, so they're deformed). So, we thought we'd take her to a real orchard where there would be plenty of apples to pick. Our friend Justin joined us with his daughter Leah, who was happy just eating the apples. After, we all went to the Pumpkin Festival going on in the town where I work.

Somersault and a Hug

A hug for Cesky!





1st somersault at home!

A Few Pics

Reading the mail. I turned around to find her this way in the chair. She got up there by herself.











Snuggle time in the living room.







Stickers!

Ricola Tube

Visit to Uncle Peter's and the Aquarium

Yesterday we all went down to spend the night at Uncle Peter's new apartment. While Chris and Peter went to the Sam Adams Octoberfest, Laura and I took Riley to the Aquarium. She really enjoyed looking at everything there, but didn't spend much time looking at anything in particular instead running from place to place saying "more." Laura and I enjoyed it as too, well, as much as one can enjoy herself after paying the high ticket price only to be pushed around (literally) by a 1 1/2 year old, who wants to be independent, screams when picked up, or assisted in any way (i.e. steering the stroller so as not to hit people). :)
Laura and Peter bought Riley a balloon. She was psyched!
















At the aquarium.

























Does not want to be held - even if it is being held up to see an exhibit.
























Chilling on Peter's couch.











Exhausted and fell asleep on the was home this morning.