How I spent my holiday weekend...

This is the end result of a long weekend spent spackling, painting and sawing. Riley's room was in desperate need of painting so we re-did her whole room. It's much more grown up than the pastel colors and fairy border that she used to have. I think this room fits Riley much better though. It's so bright and vibrant, just like her personality.

She picked the green with the pink chair rail to coordinate with her new bedding, which she also picked out. I had to go back today and buy the lamp next to her bed. We saw it at Lowes and although you can't see it in the picture the shade it light pink with bright pink dots on it. It's just too perfect and I debated whether or not to get it, but once the room was done I HAD to go back and get the lamp for her.

Now if she can only keep her room somewhat clean then I will be a very happy mom, but I am not going to hold my breath on that one.

Our first play off game

Riley's soccer team, The Mean Machines, went undefeated this season and are now advancing to the playoffs. This is our first post-season play experience since this is the first season of official score keeping. So today was her first play off game and it was an exciting one. Riley is our goalie and she did an awesome job. I'm proud to say that it was a shut out. The Mean Machines won 4-0 and are advancing to the next round. We get three weeks off since we only had to win one game to qualify for the next round, but in December it will be back to the soccer fields.

Just a spoonful of sugar...

I have the Mary Poppins song stuck in my head. Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, the medicine go down.... (you know the rest). Why you might ask do I have this song stuck in my head. Well, I'll tell ya! I caught Riley in the sugar bowl tonight. She was in the kitchen and I heard a sound and wondered who was in the kitchen in the dark. Since Riley was the only missing person I called out to ask what she was doing. When she did not answer immediately my radar went up. I went in the kitchen and she was putting a spoon in the dishwasher. When I asked her again what she was doing she stated, with a very sheepish look on her face, that she was "eating sugar from the sugar bowl". YUCK! This does not even sound appealing, it just grosses me out. Riley, however, seems to think it's delicious. "Tastes just like peeps", she says. Come to find out that she has done this on numerous occasions and did not get caught. I figured Scott was putting an awful lot of sugar in his coffee because I kept needing to refill the sugar bowl. Only Riley!!!!

10 Things!

I made this list about Riley for my mom's board and decided to blog it so I can save it for posterity. In fairness I have made a list for Zachary too.

RILEY

1. She is totally enthusiastic.

2. She loves to learn and loves school! She reads constantly, magazines, books anything she can get her hands on.

3. She has a kind heart. She is always worried about things in the news or animal stories she hears about. More than once she has sent off all of her allowance money to a charity that she read/heard about.

4. She is the joy in our family. She makes me laugh on a daily basis and really brings us so much happiness (disclaimer: this is not to say that her brother is not also a joy. He just goes about it much more quietly than Riley)

5. She is outgoing and loves to be involved in activities.

6. She has beautiful hazel eyes that change colors depending on what she is wearing.

7. She still calls me mama and tells me she loves me ALL THE TIME!

8. She is still very much the child at heart. She is completely oblivious to catty girl fights that go on at school. She could care less about the little clicks and things. She is very much a free spirit and does her own thing.

9. She will not allow herself or any friend to be taken advantage of. She will be the first to voice her outrage over any injustice.

10. She is always good to her “baby” cousins who are younger than her. She can’t get enough of them.

ZACHARY

1. He is the most loving child ever. Even now, just months away from 13, he will tell me he loves me and hug and kiss me.

2. He is a good big brother (most of the time). He really looks out for Riley, especially when we are out in crowded places. He is always making sure she does not wander off.

3. He is extremely smart. He is our encyclopedia. He can remember and quote most things he has read and he reads a lot.

4. He is a fairly easy child to parent. He really does try to please and rarely gets into trouble.

5. Has gorgeous blue eyes that are going to have the girls lining up someday.

6. He is very loyal to his friends.

7. He is an excellent student.

8. Very responsible and independent these days.

9. He has a GREAT sense of humor.

10. I'm proud of the young man he is becoming.

A Princess Tea

Riley was invited to her friend Caroline's Princess Tea birthday party. Caroline is my friend Shari's daughter. Shari and I have been friends for about 20 years now so even though she lives about an hour drive away it's always worth it to drive out and visit. Shari and her mom are the Martha Stewarts of southern California so it was no surprise that the tea was adorable right down to every little detail.

The girls had a good time drinking tea, rasberry lemonade and chocolate milk while they snacked on little sandwiches, fruits and veggies. Of course there were plenty of cupcakes and cookies which pleased my little sugar fiend, Riley.

All the girls posed for a picture with their dolls and tiaras. What a cute bunch of princesses. Happy Birthday Caroline!