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.