A Year in Pictures - 2011

Another year has gone by and what a fantastic year it was!! While the beginning of the year carried in with an extremely harsh winter, the end of the year is exiting with a rather mild one (of course, no complaints here). So many wonderful things have happened this year and we could not happier that 2011 was as awesome as it was. Here is a quick year in pics (with a few words).

January 2011

A harsh and snowy winter, but we took complete advantage of it and did a lot of playing in the snow making snow angels, throwing snowballs and riding in the sled!

February 2011

Riley went to her very first concert - Justin Roberts of course! She even got to meet him!! It was an awesome experience for all of us.

March 2011

What a month!! Riley officially was potty trained this month. It feels like it was so long ago that we dealt with diapers. We're all very happy to be out of this stage!

April 2011

Easter was so much fun this year...Riley was more into it than ever. Great memories!!

May 2011

Riley's first trip to Sesame Place. She had a blast!! We also saw Justin Roberts in concert there (twice) and he played her favorite song!!

June 2011

Riley spent a lot of time out in the sun and in the pool. She also watched her cousin Keira in her very first dance recital and helped celebrate Keira's 4th birthday at Tumble Bee with all of Keira's friends. Good times!!

July 2011

Riley took a day trip to Buffalo and Niagara Falls. She had so much fun. She also learned how to swim on her own in the pool (with her swimmies of course).

August 2011

Happy 3rd Birthday to Riley!!! We did not have the usual big family party but we did have a small princess party for our little princess! She also moved officially to the Pre-School room at daycare. Big moves this month!!

September 2011

We closed on our new home 9/30/11! It was a HUGE accomplishment for us. Riley was so helpful with the move. She loves her new home, and we do too!

October 2011

We moved into our home on 10/7/11. We adjusted pretty quickly - we were definitely made for this house!! Halloween was a fun occasion - especially having the opportunity to trick-or-treat in our very own neighborhood!!

November 2011

We spent time in November unpacking boxes (yes, still) and getting ready for Thanksgiving. We also spent time outside as it was an unusually warm November. Riley loves that we have a big tree that has tons of leaves on it. She loved jumping into and throwing the leaves!

December 2011

We had a wonderful Christmas - Riley was spoiled by EVERYONE!

We are looking forward to tonight as it is the perfect way to end such a great year. Everyone is coming to our house for a New Year's Eve celebration. It will be awesome to ring in 2012 with the people we love the most. We cannot wait to see what 2012 has to offer us.

We wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year! See you all in 2012!!!

Hold me closer Tiny Dancer

Riley loves watching The X Factor - even more she loves dancing to the songs they sing. She is so my child!!

They say, Goodnight Olivia...

Tonight before bed one of the stories that Riley wanted me to read was Olivia. On the show Olivia, sometimes at the end when her mother or father is putting her to sleep she sings a cute little song about how she can't sleep because "there is still so much to do" (of course she is talking about playing). Tonight Riley sang me her version of how the song goes.

Here are the actual words:

"They say Good night, Olivia, your big day is through".
But how can I sleep, there is still so much to do?
It looks like I'm tucked in tight snug in my bed,
But tomorrow is chasing today through my head.
Will I climb the highest mountaintop,
Or will I paint my masterpiece?

Go ride a bronco in the rodeo
Or wow the crowd on my trapeze?
Princess, doctor, author, astronaut,
From jungles dark to oceans deep.
I'll do anything go anywhere
Just don't ask me to go to sleeeeeeep...
There's still so much to do!

As I was uploading this video, I went into Riley's room to check on her. I found her fast asleep with her Olivia book open on her belly! So cute!!

It's been a busy month!

Wow! It's hard to believe that November is over already. This month was super busy and lots of things were happening at my house.

The month started with an illness (boo), but I got better quickly, which was a good thing so I could enjoy a visit from Juh-Juh and Grandpa! While they were here we booked our vacation for next summer that we're taking with them, Babcha, Pop, Aunt Laurie and Uncle Matt - sounds like a fun time. I can't wait to see what our beach house looks like.

Then one day daddy took off from work and spent the day with me. He took me to the zoo and to get my very own library card. I love visiting the library. I still have to work on using my quiet voice in the library, but it is fun to take out books. I just have to remember to return them.


I also got a much need haircut this month. It is only my second haircut ever and I handled it WAY better this time than the last time. I also braved the mall and sitting on Santa's lap for the first time since I was a baby. Mommy and daddy were pretty impressed.

One of the best things that happened this month was we adopted a new family member! Keegan was adopted on 11/19/11. He is a wild and crazy kitty but I love him!!

We celebrated Thanksgiving at Grandpa and Juh-Juh's house. It was nice hanging out with Aunt Laurie, Aunt Jenny, Keira and of course Gramps and Juh-Juh. The turkey was so yummy. And I learned not to listen to Aunt Laurie when she tells me that the stuffing is poison. I'm on to her now!!!

When we got back from our trip for Thanksgiving, we decorated our home for Christmas. I helped mommy and daddy put the tree up. I'm a really good helper!

I cannot wait for next month...it's Christmas! We'll be heading back to Gramps and Juh-Juh's for it and I can't wait to see what Santa brings me. All I know is I really want a Unicorn Pillow Pet and I think I have been a good enough girl to get it.

Feeling Thankful

I woke up this morning feeling especially thankful. I am not sure why, but I figured that I should capture this moment because often it is easy to get tied up into feeling angry and frustrated and as though the world is unfair.

I am feeling thankful for so many things. I am thankful for my family. I am sure that everyone can say that they have the best family, and I am one of those who believes I do. We're not perfect, but we love and respect each other and love celebrating each other's accomplishments. I am thankful that my side and Jeremy's side of the family love each other so much as well. So much that we all (yes, I said ALL) will be going on a family vacation next summer. How many families can do that????

I am thankful for my hard working and dedicated husband (yes he sounds perfect - though he is not). We have our differences and we're not perfect individually, but I think together we make a great team. It's still crazy to me that him and I have known each other since we were 18...such babies then! Thirteen years of knowing each other - there is so much history (and quite a few stories) there!!

Most of all I am thankful for this year - 2011. I have had so many good years in the past (1999, 2002, 2007, 2008) but this year Jeremy and I finally got something that we lived to dream about. Our first home. Of course this home isn't for us as much as it is for Riley, but there are still days that we look around and think "is this really ours??" I can't wait to share that feeling of all your hard work and dedication paying off to Riley. It would be so so easy to have someone help you all the time or give you things to make your life easier, but the feeling of accomplishment when you get exactly what you wanted because you busted your butt - well it is simply the best feeling in the world!!!

And of course it absolutely goes without saying that I am more than thankful to be Riley Paige's mommy. Some days are challenging, but I appreciate that from my strong willed little lady!! She definitely keeps me on my toes.

So today, I leave for work, even though I don't want to, with the feeling of being thankful for all I have (including the job I don't want to go to right now)!!

I love my little family!

This little girl makes it easy to work hard everyday...even if somedays it is just for her!

Fall fun with Keira and Aunt Jenny!!

Last weekend, Aunt Jenny and Keira made the trip from New Jersey all the way to my new house! I couldn't stop talking about them getting to our home and how Keira and I were going to make a big, giant mess!!!! (Which we totally did). I was so so happy they were here, I couldn't stop smiling.

Since it is almost Halloween, the zoo was putting on their annual Zoo Boo. Mommy and Aunt Jenny thought it would be a good idea for us to go since Keira and I never get to spend Halloween together. Keira was Nala and I was Abby Cadabby.

We had so much fun at Zoo Boo. We sat and listened to Mama Pajama and sang along to the songs we knew.

The next day before Aunt Jenny and Keira had to leave we went to a Rohe's Farm. I had never been there before but it was a pretty awesome farm. They had animals we could hold, pet and feed. We jumped in hay, dressed up as farmers, rode little tractors and got yummy treats from there.

It was a super fabulous weekend and I cannot wait until I get to spend more time with my cousin Keira (and Aunt Jenny too)!

Sunday = Fall Fun Day!

We have had quite a bit of craziness going on this month with moving. I realized a few days ago that it was already mid-October and we had not gone apple or pumpkin picking this season. So it was off to Beak and Skiff for apples and The Hollow for pumpkins today. Riley was excited and so were Jeremy and I!

So, this morning we got up and ate breakfast. Of course Riley chose apple jacks!

The we made our way to Beak and Skiff where Riley showed off her expert apple picking skills.

Riley LOVED munching on the apples while we picked.

After picking some delicious apples, buying some even more delicious apple pie and cider and looking around the Halloween Hut, we headed off to The Hollow to pick pumpkins.

Of course first we had to go through the corn maze where Riley not only insisted on being the line leader, but she also insisted on Jeremy holding her hand because "you're not wearing rain boots daddy and it's muddy." So cute!!

I'm not sure if it is just because it is late in the season or just a bad season for pumpkins, but the pumpkins in the field were slim pickings! So we chose some already picked pumpkins after visiting the petting zoo!!

Then for the first time, Riley requested to get her face painted. She has never had it painted before and usually says no to getting it done. Today she sat for a pretty flower on her face.

Before leaving The Hollow, Riley asked to jump around on the hay bales. She would climb up and then jump off into the hay. She LOVED it!!

Since apple and pumpkin picking is so incredibly exhausting, we need some fuel so it was off to Moe's for some yummy lunch.

Once we got home it was all about painting pumpkins. Riley insisted on painting all 3 of the small pumpkins...which of course was fine by us!

Babcha, Pop and Uncle Matt came over for dinner and dessert. Then it was bath time. One last show of The Berenstein Bears and off to bed!

What a fun day!! It's been awhile since we have had one of these days and I am so glad that we got to do all of the fun things we did today. I love my little family and days like these!

The Little House on Horseshoe Dr.

On Friday, 10/7/11 we moved into our new home. We have all adjusted just fine! The settling and organization of things is taking more time then I thought, but I have to remember that getting things done with a very active and nosy 3-year-old makes things a little more difficult. Here are a few pictures of the progress that we have made so far.

Riley loves sitting on our front porch blowing bubbles.

The dining room

The bathroom

The living room

Riley's room

We still have a few items to get out of our apartment, but for the most part we are moved in. Stay tuned for more pictures as the rooms become completed!

~ Home Sweet Home ~

It's official as of today 09/30/2011 Jeremy and I are official homeowners!!! It is the perfect house for us - not too big, not too small. It is 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, fenced in yard and finished basement. It's in an awesome school district to boot!! Jeremy and I feel happy, lucky and blessed to be the proud owners of this home.

If someone would have told me 13 years ago when Jeremy and I met that we would date, get married, have children and own a home I would have told them they were crazy!! We may not have done everything the most correct way, but eventually our hard work got us to where we wanted to be!

Buying a house - goal accomplished!!! Guess it's time to start working on a new goal.