Time flies

I can't believe how long it's been since I've blogged. I really don't know where the time has gone. It's lost somewhere between homeschooling, exercising, the back yard, the kiddos and church!  And birthdays!  Anyways, here's some photos that show what we've been up to.

Joshua in this absolutely adorable batman outfit from Becca and Ryan. 

Contemplating the craziness that is Riley.

Craziness on display!  I got this trampoline for Riley for lots of reasons; build muscle tone, play and to help her focus.  With kids, burning energy can be an excellent method to help them focus.  

Coloring with Riley.  This was only two weeks ago.  

Joshua, looking adorable in the "Josh" hat.  Our Very good friend Josh, of Josh and Leah, wears hats like this all the time!  So this is Joshua's "Josh" hat. 

Riley, and her preschool class, practicing for their end of the year program.  

Grandma Moon, reading a story. 

Big Hannah, Hannah and Riley, peeking over the fence.

Scenes from Christmas

Christmas morning this year went much like christmas mornings of the past: with David and I pondering how long we're going to let the kids sleep!  I thought this might be the year Hannah woke us up, but it wasn't.  

They eventually wandered out just before 8.    

Grandpa Davis, Grandma Moon and Papa Tom were all here to share christmas morning with girls.  

Santa brought Riley a train set.  

Santa brought Hannah a bath robe and slippers. The bath robe is a huge hit, Hannah has worn it everyday since receiving it.  

Santa also brought Riley that lion, because she loves lions so much.  

David and I got her Pitch Perfect and a Where's Waldo book.  She sat down to do her Where's Waldo last night and found him 4 different times with relative ease!  

Grandpa Davis gave Riley a Sofia the First Doll.  She came with animals and they talk to each other.  

Here's Grandpa putting together Hannah's Fluttershy doll.  It flies, which amuses both girls.  

After opening, the kids just explored all their new toys.  Both girls enjoyed the train.  

Riley received some finger paints, along with finger paint paper.  So she spent some time finger painting while Hannah put together her new lego's.  

It was a lego Christmas for Hannah.  She received a bunch from her Great Grandma Davis, Aunt Marilyn and Aunt Brandy.  

Santa also brought her the police station.  

Joshua received a couple of ball caps from Santa and some Monsters University slippers.  He was so excited he couldn't get his eyes open.  And neither could Grandma Moon.  

Riley, with a travel art thing.  

Hannah also received Scrabble Flash, which is a great game.  All of us adults enjoyed playing a few round while the kids were occupied with other toys.  

We ended our evening with a fantastic meal cooked entirely by David: prime rib, sauteed green beans and oven crisp potatoes.  He cooked everything perfectly and it was a great meal!  

The last month or so

has been loads of fun.  I've been all over the place, which is pretty easy to do when you're "houseless."  I went to Georgia and spent 3 weeks there.  Then I spent a few nights with Amy and Tom.  Then I came back up to Chicago to celebrate our 10 year anniversary, David's 30th birthday and Riley's 1st birthday.  It's been a summer full of BIG events!

We've spent a lot of time at parks, enjoying the warm sun.  

We've been so busy having fun, I forgot all about blogging!

Pottery picked up!

Remember when we went and painted pottery, here.  Well we finally picked it up.  Here's the finished stuff.  

I really like Amy's buddha and Hannah's egg.  

Paint your own

Pottery that is.  I've blogged about Greg's before but yesterday we went back for more.  And had just as much fun as the first time.  Amy and Tom each picked something out to paint.  I was the only one who didn't paint something but I found something

I want to paint the next time we go. 

Grandma picked out a  smiling buddha.  Hannah painted an egg, a sunshine, an angel 

and a mini tea cup and saucer.

Tom picked out a giant coffee mug and David picked out a bowl.

I love how intense everyone is!

Just like before, Hannah could have painted all day.  But we do have to watch the price!  The staff was awesome as well.  David really gets his moneys' worth our of their opinion!  I like the thought of going and painting something for us to keep every time we go.  We're not keeping David's bowl, eve though I love the design he did on it.  We're going to keep Hannah's egg because I really like it!  Everything else is christmas presents.  We're heading downtown on Black Friday for A Dicken's Holiday and we'll stop in to Greg's, possibly to paint one or two things or maybe just to say hello.  Maybe our pottery will be done then.  

Hannah takes hold....of the camera

Riley is not happy!

Hannah's dollhouse

Grandma Moon

Great Grandma Davis

Broadway at the Beach

I love the beach, so anytime someone suggests going to the beach, I jump right in.  While Amy and Tom were visiting, we decided to all drive down.  Riley was 6 days old but I didn't think she would mind much.  There's a place in Myrtle Beach called Broadway at the Beach.  They have lots of restaurants, shopping, the aquarium and a fair like area with lots of rides for little kids.  The plan was for Amy and Tom to just have fun with Hannah on all the rides while Riley stuck close to David and I.  

Hannah is ready, running down the boardwalk!

It was hot!  And I was the only one who would venture in the water 

with her.  What can I say, it felt good.  Of course, my shorts were damp until about 5 p.m. that day.  I think these little splash areas are a great idea.

On the teacups with Grandma

The motorcycles

The caterpillar.  Seeing her on this was hilarious!!

I think she went on this ride 5 times.  

Airplane ride

Riley in the sling for a little while.

It wouldn't be a proper fair experience without face painting.

We match!

Riley's ride, this is what she did the whole day.

Hula hooping at Margaritaville.  

We like Margarittaville for the margarita's and the atmosphere.  The food is only so-so and pricey, so we don't eat there.  But they do have a large outdoor area that includes a sand pit and hula hoops.  They also had a live DJ on this night.  David and Hannah danced the night away together.  They did the cha cha slide, the electric slide and danced together for many other songs.   

During the hottest part of the day, David and I sat down to watch a movie, Bridesmaids.  This got Riley out of the heat for a little while.  I nursed her in the cool, quiet movie theatre and David and I got to enjoy a movie together.  It was really funny, by the way.  We laughed so hard we cried at some parts.  Riley did awesome; she slept.  Hannah had so much fun, and we all had fun just watching her.   We drove home around 11 pm.  It's such a great way to spend a family day together.  I'm not going to say it's the cheapest thing you can do, but it sure is fun.