Here, there and everywhere

Here's some more random:

This picture (which I love) was taken at Leah's house in Maryland last September.  Here is Joshua, mimicking the doggies.  

Riley got wheels!!!  She'd been struggling to ride a bike for 2 years now.  After a lot of research, Davi came across this.  

It's a buddy bike.  And Miss Riley can do it, all by herself.  Which makes her so happy!  

Some family roller skating.  

David and Hannah.  This was the birthday party of one of Hannah's dance team members.  Therefore, she didn't so much skating with dad, much to his dismay.  

Riley and Joshua.  These two: nothing but love or nothing but anger.  

Joshua got a big guy haircut.  And I became a little saddened at my last baby not so much a baby anymore.  

Riley and Joshua at dance.  She's such a goof ball.  

Thanksgiving dinner, provided to the Fayetteville Police Department.  

A blood cell experiment.  

Finally, Riley in her Christmas parade with her preschool class.  

Questions for Kids

     I recently signed up to get text messages that are interesting/unique questions for me to ask Hannah. I'm going to try and blog them, for the sake always having them.

     We've had roughly 3 solid weeks of house guests, it was wonderful but schedule upsetting.  So I was behind on asking the questions.  Therefor, today, I asked Hannah two questions.

1) If you could turn into someone's shadow for the day, whose shadow would you want to be? Hannah's answer: Riley.  I asked why and she said because Joshua gets more spankings than Riley, Riley goes to school with Hannah's favorite teachers, she doesn't have schoolwork all day, like Hannah.  Hannah would not want to my shadow because I have to do things like pay ills, and she would not want to be daddy's shadow because he has to leave his family and go to work.

What is the bravest things that you've ever done?  At first she didn't think she could think of anything brave, so she asked if it could be the most mature thing she's ever done.  I said yes but then she came up with two brave things: hanging upside down on the jungle gym and trying out for the dance team.  

Riley's party

So we were traveling over Riley's birthday.  We did do something small to celebrate, cupcakes and a petting zoo, but it was nothing like the birthday party we had for Hannah.  

And, as any parent of more than one will tell you, it's just easiest to do for one what you are willing to do for all.  Because Riley remembers Hannah's birthday party.  So she would ask when she was going to have her party.  

I decided to wait until Aunt Casey was here.  Since I had to wait for us to get home, I didn't think it would matter much waiting another week or so.  Plus, I knew Casey would enjoy being home for it.  

Riley's cake was perfect, for Riley.  As you can see here, she loved it!  She had a few friends over, Regan from co-op and Olivia from church.  Ethan came over and stayed the night with us. 

I told everyone not to worry about gifts because

Riley just wanted everyone to look at her.

and sing to her.  

Our guests did not listen well.  At least most of them did not.  

EIther way, Riley had a fantastic time.  She played non stop in the back yard with her friends.  

Happy Birthday Hannah

Remember this baby:

I sure do.  She was 6 pounds of awesomeness.  And she changed my life.  And her dads.  

The sweet baby that didn't like the way grass felt, and would not crawl on it.  Unless forced, and then we all laughed at how funny she looked raying not to touch the grass.  

The baby who had her diaper changed on the streets of Venice. 

She was such a sweet baby.  

And now, she's a sweet 8 year old.  

Here's some pictures I snapped of her opening her gifts the morning of her birthday.  

We had her party on the 3rd.  

She got some puzzle type games and some books.  

She received some money.  With that she got a stencil kit and a jewelry making kit. 

And she received this jewelry box, that my dad made for her.  

She liked everything she received.  She didn't get any books that she already had, which is great!  She's already read, or at least started reading, most of the books she got.  

Here's to an unstoppable future sweet Hannah.  

Read Recently: Hannah

Last night I was checking over Hannah's school work.  She just finished two books: People Can Change the World and American Leaders.  It worked out perfectly, as her school units tied into our trip to DC a couple of weeks ago.  And the end of each workbook is a final project.  Her final project in People Can Change the World was to determine how she would like to change the world, and then come up with a plan to support that change.  Hannah's plan is to make sure that everyone has shelter.  She is going to contact leaders around the world, and get them on board with her plan of everyone having shelter.  Then she's going to go to builders and get them on board with her plan.  According to Hannah, this will make the world a better place because everyone will have a nice warm house, and everyone will be happy.  As a leader, she needs to be able to build good communication to help accomplish her goal.  

Heard Today: Hannah

Hannah made a family coat of arms.  She was telling me what each of the symbols mean.  Then she asked if I thought that sounded like our family.  Then she said "I was going to put stubborn but I don't think they have a symbol for that."

Hannah completed 2.  She prefers the lower one.  

Without any further delay, here is our Coat of Arms, as designed by Hannah.

The blue stands for loyalty and truthfulness.

Green stands for hope, joy and loyalty.

Dog stands for loyalty.

The lion stands for courage.

The cross stands for Christian sentiments.

The sun stands for glory.  

I'll take that.  

Trouble

Need I say more?

Nothing in particular

 These are just some random photo's taken over the last month.  

Here is Hannah, putting together a model of the ear.  She did this while reading the story of Helen Keller.  

Joshua playing the xylophone.  This was given to Riley two christmas' ago.  Recently Joshua has become infatuated with it, he plays it all the time.  

For the co-op, Hannah had to do a report on a person from non fiction book that she's read.  Hannah decided to do her Alexander Graham Bell.  She did a great job drawing Bell.  She presented the speech, well half of it, just like this.  

David and Hannah, putting together a puzzle. 

Joshua's little red wagon that he got from Grandpa Bob for his birthday.  

I had a picture of Riley doing this, but I don't know what happened to it!  This was what we did for Riley's school work a few weeks ago.  She made about 10 different animal creations.  on this picture, Riley picked out and attached on her own: the ears, eyes, nose and mouth.  

Hannah, at a recent dr.'s visit.  I took this picture to show off her outfit; it's all her own folks!

Seriously, how cute is this guy!

Here is Riley and David playing kismet.  They were a team.  Riley rolled the dice for David.  She was an excellent dice roller, and thoroughly enjoyed it.