An Odd Pair

These two have had an interesting friendship in their short couple of years alive.  As two first-born girls, they have strong opinions and personalities that have , and probably will clash again.  Here’s a look at how they have grow together. 

This was taken on December 31st 2006.  Riah was almost 2 months old, and Addie would have been about 8 months old. 

July 5th, 2007. 

May 5th, 2008

February 12th, 2009. A recent tea  party where little bro’ Caleb was trying to “Ruin everything.”

February 18th, 2009.  We had the McDowells over for dinner that lasted until after bedtime. 

 

Can’t wait to see what these two have in toe for us, and for each other. 

How They Grow

It amazes me when I look back at the days when I had a “little” baby that would cozy on my chest…

She used to be the sweetest most innocent thing and she was a little doll. However, she is has grown into a feisty little toddler, that already acts like she runs the show.

She has become this little ball of personality and highs and lows. She goes from extreme happiness to hearing the words “nite nite” or “nap time” and suddenly her world crumbles around her. We had a brief stint where she tried to throw temper tantrums and she soon found out that they would not be dealt with and found herself alone yelling at no one, and those seem to have gone as as as they came. Though she still says not to nap time, she still walks herself to her bed and lays down.

Now, when she tries to come and share our bed in the lazy weekend mornings, I get kicked out of my spot, and my pillow becomes her pillow. She has her opinion and will let you know it. She is defiant to fault, but she keeps me on my toes, and I don’t ant to take that away from her. We want her to question the norms and not do what everyone else is doing, and we want her to be able to do her own thing and not care about anyone else. As she continues to grow, I can only hope to have a little girl that will try and fail and be honest in failures so she can learn to succeed.

Riah and Justice

I am posting this simply so that those who know can see what a great thing that has happened recently. If, for some reason you do not know the gravity of the situation, than i am sorry, because I am not going to explain it. Just know that this was the first time that this pic could have been taken. You'll have to check my other blog to see if I write more about this. Something must be said for the bond that brothers have.

Snowman

Riah was able to enjoy the snow yet again today with Nana and Papa, who helped her make her first snowmsn this year. We took lots of pictures and even a video of her "sledding" around the yard pulled by Papa the red-nosed Reindeer.

Riah's Tree

As the holiday season marches on, we have been very busy, but Sara was able to take a day from school work to setup the Christmas trees. We have a small one that we put in Riah's playroom and she likes it. She helped Sara decorate it and she helped decorate our main tree. We are ALL looking forward to the holiday season, and now it looks a little more like Christmas.

Nicaragua Fund Raiser 2008

We had a lot of fun Friday night at the Renton Event Center for the Nicaragua Silent Auction Fund Raiser by the Corner of Love Ministries. Our table of 8 had lots of fun drinking and eating and laughing together. No oe really bid on anything, but Sara bid on a delicious cheesecake which we won and ate for dessert.

Riah stayed with her great grandparents, and decided that while they were babysitting her for the first time she would use the toilet for the first time. Great Grandma Shourek assumed that that is what riah does, but we had to let her know that that was the first time she actually went in the toilet. We were very excited.

The "Kung Fu" FIAT PANDA

One of the best parts of Greece was getting around the island of Milos in our Fiat Panda. This rugged vehicle seats 2 adults and 3 children comfortably. Which made it the perfect automobile for the 6 of us. How did 6 adults and a baby fit into this massive 7-seater. Well, Rian drove, and Mark and Carol shared the front seat. Sara and Lauren and myself were squeezed into the back, and Riah was on my lap, or crawling across the three of us.

Good times, and eben though not the safest way to travel (especially with Rian thinking he was playing PGR4 or GRID) it was a lot of fun and thrilling, and forced family to bond... whether we wanted to or not.