Brotherly Fun!

At a recent birthday party, the boys had a blast in the ball pit together...

Ayden and Babies...

Ayden is obsessed with babies. He cannot wait for "his new baby" to come.

In preparation, Ayden has been super "helpful" and interested in all of our friends' babies. Thankfully all of our friends have been beyond patient with Ayden's assistance and doting.

Here is Ayden with the newest member of the friend-family, "Baby Mason!" (Mason is Vanessa and David's first little one.)

I adore this picture. 

Ayden looks like such a big boy!! He was soooo excited and proud to hold Mason.

Play-Dates

This past week/weekend, Ayden has had a few play-dates with his new friend Eli.

First, the nannies arranged for a rendezvous at the Children's Museum.

Then, on Saturday, I dropped Ayden off at Eli's house for his first 'no-mommy play-date'. It was awesome. Perhaps I should be saying that I had this sadness of a new phase and having to let him go and and be on his own, but I didn't. He has been ready for this phase for so long, but no one to explore it with. I'm not sure my foot was through the door before he ran off with Eli and I didn't see him again for over three hours. He had never been to Eli's house and though we have known Eli's parents since before the boys were born, we just recently got in touch again and discovered not only that the kids go to the same school, but that they play wonderfully together. So, Ayden played, and mommy went to work without the guilty conscious of leaving the boys at home for Jeremy to handle. It was a win-win.

Here are some pictures that Sivan shared with me throughout the afternoon. Looks like the kids had a fabulous time.

And to top it off....despite the excitement, the later than normal time, and a cookie after lunch, Ayden made not the slightest fuss about going home and then took a great nap!! Success!!

Thanksgiving day

Another Thanksgiving has come and gone. I'm not sure where the year has gone. 

Thanksgiving for me has become a little bitter sweet. It used to be one of, if not the, favorite holidays. I can remember many many Thanksgiving celebrations with oodles of family (and usually some friends) gathered around, so much talking and laughter you couldn't hear yourself think, kids (me included) running around, always underfoot, always causing mischief and always laughing. More delicious food than one could imagine, but most of all an overwhelming feeling of love and acceptance.

Whether these feeling were based in reality or not....it doesn't really matter. The fact is I felt that way, in my soul.

Then, life happened. Families split up, people moved and people passed on. My childhood Thanksgiving bubble burst. I felt this impact hardest the past few years. But this year I felt a glimmer of what used to be and that warmed my soul. I want my kids to have the same fond holiday memories I do and feel myself struggling between what I want things to be and what they are, but knowing all the while, that to be wonderful doesn't have to mean to be the same.

This year our day began with some family park time. The boys ran around giggling and full of joy. After a good nap, the family began to arrive and the turkey festivities began. My mom cooked a wonderful meal, Tata brought some delicious additions and Clark brought way too many pies :). We fed ourselves (more than adequately), shared stories and laughs, and mostly tried to hear each other over the constant noise of my two delighted little boys. [A special thanks to everyone for their patience with the noise level. I recognize that for people who do not have little ones around everyday, it can be quite a culture shock!]

Anyway, I'm turning a new leaf. This holiday season sparked my old holiday excitement; it is amazing to experience the holiday spirit through the eyes of my three year old!

Weird for me to think that soon Little Red will be a big brother....

So, what am I thankful for this Thanksgiving?? There just isn't enough time before the kids get up, so I'll leave you with this....

I am thankful, endlessly thankful, for the many blessings and good fortunes that overflow my life.

Thursday night photo shoot

The boys wanted their pictures taken...

Zoo trick or treat

For the first time, we actually made it to the zoo trick or treat. We went with our dear friends Candice, Kevin, Stacey, Jim and their adorable rug-rats.

This picture cracks me up because the boys both look so apprehensive and J looks just so happy to be wearing that ridiculous hat!!

The pirate station!  Aaaarrrrrgggghhhh!

The Candyland station.

Gavin loves Harry Potter's (fake) Hedwig.

Attempts to get all the kids together...

"Hulk Bash"

Believe it or not, we are still in the midst of superhero obsession here in the Riley house. A while ago, when J was playing Hulk, he started doing the "Hulk Bash" with one our large bouncy balls. The boys thought it was hilarious.

Recently, Gavin has started to do his own Hulk Bash....take a look!

Rare Quiet Time in the Riley House

The boys have been thoroughly enjoying their new coloring books from Costco and that means we have been thoroughly enjoying our very (very) rare quiet time.

Notice our little red head is is also our little left hander...I believe our term "recessive gene baby" is proving to be quite true.

** In the time it took me to get this post written and posted the novelty wore off....so much for quiet time!!

Montijo Photos

In case you didn't already know, I happen to have the cutest niece and nephew....ever....

Also....I happen to have a very talented sister-in-law (actually, I have two, but the talent I was speaking of was photography in this case).

With that in mind, I wanted to share some of the pictures Dash took of us and her family the past few months.

If only Ayden was cooperating, we could have had a real family photo!

I just love this. And damn....don't they look good!!

The Montijo family! Oh how I wish we were closer!

Personally, I think this photo should be entered into a contest.....

Not sure it gets much cuter.

Soccer!!

Ayden is on his first soccer team with his friends Shyla and Dash.  We've had three practices, two games and more drama then one could have guessed for a 3 year old soccer team.

But, regardless of the coach drama, the kids are having a great time, and with each game/practice the kids are getting (ever so slightly) better =)


PRACTICE TIME:

GAME TIME...

Gavin was assessing the play....I see a future coach in this picture...