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.

Riah's "The Office" Dance

The theme to the shoe "The Office" brings happy thoughts in our house, as it causes Riah to run from wherever she may be and whatever she may be doing and dance in front of the TV. Of course she says "Daddy dance too!!!" and I have to jump up and join her, but when it's done, we clap and then I sit down to watch the episode and she goes back to wherever she was. It's like momentary insanity... not uncommon in my family.

Riah's First Fish

Today, Riah went t spend time with her favorite person in the world, her granpa, or "Papa". They went to his house on Lake Lucrene in Cedar Downs, which was recently restocked with fish. Mark (Papa) had just caught a 13" trout and handed Riah the pole to "fish" with. But she soon had a bite on the line. Since she had trouble holding the pole with her tiny hands, he pu t her in his lap and let her reel the fish in herself.

After 30-40 minutes, she did just that. The result was a 26" trout that is only 10" shorter that Riah herself.

When they got the fish in the boat, it flopped around a lot and freaked Riah out a bit.

That's why she wasn't too excited about the big fish once she got back home.

As you can see, the fish is two-thirds of her height.

The joys of living near a lake fo Riah is that she loves the water, and is apparently a pretty good fisher.

Eating with Cousins

These pictures were taken with my phone and are of low quality. They are from last night at my brother's place where Riah spends one day each week with her cousins and aunt and uncle. She loves it and loves her cousins. Pictured here are Riah's two youngest cousins.

They were eating raisins and having fun. AJ, on the left, has a couple funny smiles. These three are peas in a pod and crack me up everytime I see them together.

Officially Two

Riah Jean, had her 2nd birthday party on Sunday.

It was a LOT of fun with a LOT of litle ones running around. Thanks to every
one who attended. Riah really appreciated it... and the toys.

Halloween 2008...in the bag

This year we were really busy, but not too busy to dress Riah up in a costume that will embarrass her in front of future dates. We took her to the City Church's Fun Festival and even though she was tired, we were able to find things that she liked... water and bubbles.

Pre-Birthday Bounce

Since it is supposed to rain on Riah's birthday on Election Tuesday, Sara and I took advantage of one of the last sunny Fall days and pulled out our present to Riah early.

This little girl is spoiled... I know this, and anyone who says otherwise woud only be fooling themselves. I'm sure by the first picture you can see her other playtoy that was in the yard. She has more than she could want, and I don't feel bad. She doesn't deserve half of it, but we want her to have it.

Sara and I had fun outside in the sun on the bouncy with her, and she had a blast with it. It will be fun to break out on sunday for her party. However, since it will be sprinkling, we will have it inside ;-)

As far as the lower pictures are concerned, I do not go around wearing my old college jerseys. It was Jersey Day at the Jr. High and I felt like participating. Can't wait to see those who are coming to the party on Sunday.

Mother Award Mominee

This is an old picture, but she had an intersting day yesterday. I got a call from Sara saying how "my" daughter was in deep [doo doo]. She had gotten into Sara's purse and make-up bag and began an extreme home makeover.

She had drawn all over the office floor in lipstick and other think make-up things that I don't know what they are, and it was caked all over her hands and face and body. Needless to say... it was a horrible mess.

By the time I got home, however, Sara had performed a miracle and got it all cleaned up to the point where I wouldn;t have known that there was a massive oily mess all over the floor if she had not told me. The magic cleaning agent she used were her Neutrogena make-up wipes that she cleans her face with daily. And after three hours of cleaning, the mess was gone.

She get's my vote for Mom of the month on that one. But here is a picture of when these two were not making messes and having to clean them. Aren't they cute!!!

Beginning of the Holidays

The holidays begin, in my book, with Halloween. And Halloween has been different the last two years with Riah in the mix. This year we dressed her up as a little pink piggy. On Sunday the 26th, I took her to Church (Common Ground) when Sara went to work. Riah doesn't normally like to hold my hand, but she held my finger as she is in the picture for 10 minutes. Once she figured out that she had to let go of my hand to get candy, she was fine.






The first place she went into was an Egyptian Pyramid where you were supposed to dig through the sand to uncover candy. She likes digging and playing in dirt so much that she was just digging for a while until I showed her that there was candy in there.














Her favorite candy turned out to be suckers!















We had a lot of fun and she enjoyed her little piggy costume.

Conversion

I've tried it all to keep in touch and share the growing ups of our family but seeing my other friends thrive best in blogger soil...I'm converting. Given my other accounts have been untouched for months at a time I think this will be a better 'modern newsletter' for our family. I'll spend some time this week getting set up and then look forward to sharing our lives with you. Love to you all from our family...so rich in love.