She's Crafty

I never do crafty things, but I found an idea online that was good (errrr....easy) enough to steal. So I think it's worth documenting that I actually made Riley's Valentine's Day cards this year.

And here's how she feels about them:

Happy Valentine's Day indeed!

A Thank-You Note

Dear Santa,

I really like the: Tinker Bell coloring book, chap stick, chocolates, and bike.* Thank you.

Love,

Riley

*Please note that the items mentioned before the bike totaled $8. Santa will budget next year accordingly.

Happy Christmas

This kid has been smiling for awhile now...but today was the first time we actually took the time to capture it on camera.

Merry Christmas from one jolly little elf!

Thanks life, for being great

Hi friends. Each Thanksgiving, I notice I'm always deeply grateful for the same general things: family, friends, faith, food...

But beyond that, here are the random/inconsequential things I'm thankful for this particular year:

• Sleep (and a baby who's good at it)
• That Riley didn't catch her classmates' lice
• That Wilco didn't catch his sister's cold
• Trader Joe's Fleur de Sel Caramel Topping
• Modern Family
• Design Within Reach (check out pages 10-11)
• That my jeans get a little easier to button each day
• My kettlebell (best at-home workout ever)
• Rainboots

To All the Dads Out There

I Heart Multitasking

Riley has been dying to celebrate Pink Toy's (aka Love-a-Lot Bear) birthday. We decided Valentine's Day would be the perfect day. Mostly 'cause I was planning to bake anyhow.

We had my family (including 6 adults and 4 kids) over to celebrate (under the guise of Valentine's Day) with chocolate custard cake. It was the most hoppin' party I've ever thrown for a stuffed animal.

Christmas Catch Up

Since it's been more than two weeks since Christmas, I figure I ought to finally post the remaining batch of photos from our Christmas trip.

Zelf's surprise cameo in SkyMall magazine.

Riley enjoying the snow. Momentarily.

Riley's cookies for Santa. (Um...thanks, but no thanks.)

The Christmas tree, procured from the cabin's backyard.

The cousins on Christmas morning. (Can you spot the crying kid?)

Bandaids! (We could've stopped there. Maybe next year?)

Sleep in Heavenly Peace

A few days before our Christmas trip, Riley and her Portland cousins did a little nativity at my parent's house. Riley's confusion about her role as angel turned into one of my favorite Christmas 2009 photos.

Away in a Manger

We attended a lovely Christmas pageant tonight. Riley tried her darndest to get Zelf a starring role. Such a stage mom.

Wish Big

Here's Riley's Christmas wish list:

• chapstick
• band-aids
• a purple reusable bag from Whole Foods

My bank account thinks that's reason enough to be very grateful this Thanksgiving.

Killer Bunny

Hoppy Halloween!

Fun for all ages

Our friends Jim, Ginger, Vivian, and baby Bryant joined us to carve pumpkins. We thought Riley and Vivian would have a ball scooping out pumpkin guts and choosing jack-o-lantern faces. We were wrong. They spent the evening off playing elsewhere.

No worries. We grownups had a ball instead.

ri

For the Record

My child does own a bathing suit.

In fact, it was her festive outfit of choice for our July 4 festivities. (Gorging on cherries, listening to tunes at the farmer's market, and hanging out out at Grandma & Grandpa's. But swimming? Not so much.)

Easter Weekend: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

The Good:
Three Easter egg hunts!


The bad:
The slacker mom forgot to bring a basket to two of the three hunts.


The ugly:

• The candy binge-fest (and subsequent tantrum-fest).
• The slacker mom became mean mom and threw out the remaining candy. (I'm not a total party pooper: I re-filled the eggs with pretzels and raisins...)

Fun for the whole family! (?)

Colored dye and breakable eggs. Hmm. Who decided dyeing Easter eggs was a kid-friendly activity?

We had fun anyhow. At least when we weren't shielding the dye from Riley's reach.

Only 292 days to go...

We're well into March.

And my child:

• Carries a toy elf everywhere
• Regularly requests we sing The Baby Jesus Song (Silent Night)
• Responds enthusiastically, "Santa bringed me this!" in reference to her Christmas toys, chapstick, bandaids, or anything else that was in her stocking
• Requests to watch Elf (the movie) on a daily basis
• Sang herself Jingle Bells to bed tonight

In hindsight, I'd say Christmas 2008 was a raging success.

Party Like It's 1999

To ring in 2009, my sister Sheri, Matt, and I got silly off fondue and sparkling cider, played games, and made fun of Ryan Seacrest. (It was more fun than it probably sounds.)

Sheri's been asking when I was going to post the party pics to my blog.

So here Sheri. Remember, you asked for it!

Christmas 2008: Top 10 Memories

1. Annual Christmas sing-a-long/bake-fest/dance party with Sheri
2. Zoo Lights with Grandma and Grandpa Richards
3. Riley's favorite new phrase, learned while Christmas shopping: "I want mommy buy dat."
4. Riley and Anna running wild around the huge Christmas tree downtown
5. The Arctic Blast
6. Christmas Eve with Grandma and Grandpa Dougall, Geoff & fam, Alison, and Sheri
   
7. Riley's seven-day pajama streak
8. Riley's obsession with Zelf, the elf on our shelf
9. Riley's obsession with baby Jesus
10. Riley's obsession with her favorite stocking stuffer, pictured below (40 band-aids gone in 40 minutes)

Merry Christmas!

Arctic Blast 2008: The Sequel

We got eight inches of snow yesterday, which put last week's snowstorm to shame.

To stave off stir-craziness, we've implemented emergency tactics: lots of hot chocolate, a pile of redbox movies, and frequent–but short–walks.

Our poor car

Our poor balcony

Our poor child

Sneak Peek: The Richards Sweatshop

I am happy/relieved to say that despite the nation's dire economic circumstances, people are still buying mobiles this Christmas.

Hallelujah and happy holidays!