Spaghetti Lesson 101

Gigi & Papa came down to spend time with Riley & so Chad & I could head to a wedding reception of some great friends of ours, Ariene & Danny Naber.

Dinner went well!

Gingerbread Houses, Cookies & A Tea Party

Since we missed out on seeing everyone for Thanksgiving, Riley & I made a day trip to Springfield as soon as she was feeling better. We started our day off with a trip to a local hardware store! Why you wonder? Well, the Lowe's puts on cute activities which are hands on for the kids & on this particular day they were offering gingerbread houses. We met Gigi, Papa, Jade, Hayden & Dekota there. After that, we ventured to Pleasant Plains to make cookies with the same crew. We ended our day trip at Papa & Ama's house in Rochester for a tea party! Ama & Riley started the party off, which I have no pictures of, & Papa L. was thirsty upon his arrival home from church. He taught Riley a few of the important "Tea Time Techniques!" It was a really great day from beginning to end!

(Side note: not even sure what day it was, but Chad had gone downstairs & was missing for awhile.... he came thundering up the stairs laughing at himself.... which I love! & had put together for his girls his best impression of Santa! You decide, did he pull it off? **Riley wanted nothing to do with him & cried.)

Thanksgiving-At Home....

This year, we celebrated Thanksgiving at home. Not on purpose though! Riley was diagnosed with H1N1 the Wednesday before, after being pretty sick for a few days & we were told to go on lock down so it could finish running it's course. Fortunately, those who did have contact with her all avoided the ailment! That did mean, no James' for the holiday & no cookie bake the day after! Bummer! Riley does like to cook, so she & her Daddy made cookies at home. We also took the time to put up the tree. We had lots of help this year!!!! We also made our Christmas cards at home & I will add a few that did & didn't make it onto the cards!

Halloween 09

Work in progress. Monkey suit not finished yet... but realized I don't have many pictures of Riley in it after complete... I loved the intimacy here. Riley & Monkey were having a "moment."

~Modern Day Sock Monkey "rear view"~

Went to parade in Edwardsville~ which is a big to-do! Sowell's had a Halloween party. Good times!! Here is a little Lion, Baron, love for you as well as Riley showing her incredible dance abilities! Wait for it.... Wait for it.... And the shake!

Gwyn's 1st Birthday

The Birthday Princess~ Gwyneth Ann Wade

Oh Yes~ that is THEE Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head!
(A.K.A. Gwyn's P's)

Gwyn's girlfriend, Abby!

The after party! Jade, Hayden, Dekota, Riley & Gwyn!Riley & Daddy

~Sock Monkey~

Now, if I have this right, you give your one year old three choices, a cross/rosary, money (a coin) & a shot glass. You let the child pick one. Which ever is picked will give you a heads up on what the future has in store; a religious one, a saver or one who enjoys the party!!!
Gwyn, has a full future of parties to enjoy as you can see she headed straight for the shot glass!!!!

Gwyn's family from "Oz!"

Going to kill two birds with one stone! Gwyneth Ann Wade is the big 0-1!!! Her party was great fun, beginning with a road trip to Chicago~ and Riley practicing "Cago" almost the whole way there. She was a super trooper on the ride to and from, which worried me before take-off!
We arrived on Friday night and enjoyed watching Gwyn & Riley play together~which consisted for awhile of Gwyn pushing Riley around the house on her car! Too cute! Then, a fine dinner, which Christine made for us. Big Brother & I then headed out for last minute party supplies. That time was nice too! (You can never get too much of Big Brother!)

Saturday, the rest of the "Wade" troops arrived, Mom, Dad, Jade, Hayden & Dekota, just in time for the festivities!

Chris & Christine rented a gym near their home for the party, which was a fantastic idea! The weather this time of year is so unpredictable, so this gave an opportunity for all of the little people to run & play with no worries! There was also a costume contest! (Riley, a sock monkey, won for her age division!)

Saturday night, spent the evening in, with another fantastic Christine meal & then the Iowa football game.... I couldn't stay awake to enjoy the event, but I will say the game was so thrilling according to Dad & Big Brother, I am pretty sure there was a long embrace by the two of them by the end of the game!

We had a great time, too short of course, but will be making that trip again! Hopefully sooner than later!

Eckert's 2nd, actually 3rd, Annual Trip

Riley has been to Eckert's Farm now 3 times. Once in the womb, twice now, out of it! Today we went to pick apples! She wasn't so sure of the tractor ride... But graciously took it all in! She did have an incredible lunch of apples once in the orchard! They have a "consume as much as you want rule!" Yummy!!! Eckert's was having their "Fall Festival" today & so the rides & petting zoo were in action also! Very nice to get out and enjoy the weather before the "fall" hits us this week!
Riley had already eaten an apple or six by this point and had watched her Daddy prep it first....

Name That Tune!

Riley's newest hobby! She's been rockin the house lately! I know this one is a little bumpy, but unfortunately, the videos we've been taking inside are a little dark... So here is a tidbit of our little musician! We think she can carry a pretty good tune!

Balloon Glow

I was driving to work Friday morning & was in awe of the 15ish hot air balloons which were lining the highways! I quickly learned it was the weekend of the Great American Hot Air Balloon race! The Friday night before the race a "Balloon Glow" takes place. This consisted of the ballons, 35 or so in all, being blown up and then throughout the evening all light up the area simultaneously by pulling the fire blower thing! After the balloons have been fully inflated, the crowd is allowed to walk amongst them. I wasn't quite sure at that point if Riley was really liking the activity. She & I walked through the monstrosities, while Beth, Rob & Baron held down our camp. Riley didn't laugh or smile much while walking around, so I couldn't tell if she was really enjoying the adventure. (And she had a real grip on me!) After heading back to visit with the James' some more, Riley cried because she wanted to go back & be in the middle of all the action! Riley really liked the balloon with the cow on it, so had to post her favorite. Riley & Baron also held hands while parading through all the action, which might have been a first! Very cute! (I think they are starting to realize the other isn't so bad after all! All in all it was a really incredible experience!