Christmas 2008

We have truly enjoyed our Christmas this year. Riley is really getting into the Christmas spirit. It did not take her long to figure out how it all works.


Here is our little elf riding around the house spreading joy.

This was before church on the day that we were going to Josh's family for Christmas. Riley wanted to wear the hat to church, but we managed to talk her out of it.

Riley finally got a football!!! This was one of her favorite presents from Nana and Papa. Katie, Abbie, JP, and Riley took turns opening presents. One would open a gift, and then the next person could open a gift...Riley figured out about her turn for opening presents and had a blast! When she wasn't opening presents, she was watching what JP would open.

Riley was so excited to play tractors with JP!

Riley wearing her "gasses" on the way to Miles on Christmas Eve.

5 minutes later...

Riley gets to play more tractors with Davis!! Thanks, Uncle Logan, for sharing your tractors!

Riley is posing by the Christmas tree at my parents house so I can get a picture of her in the outfit that Debra Moore (my 5th grade teacher) gave her at my baby shower. I waited two years for her to grow into this!!

Paw Paw was the official present opener helper.

Riley and Truett are playing with the pedal tractor that Davis got for Christmas. Glad Davis didn't mind sharing!

Riley insisted on pushing Davis around on the tractor. Neither one of them could pedal it!

Riley was still very scared of Santa, but she slowly warmed up to him when she realized that he was handing out presents! Riley helped hand out presents, and she thought it was so much fun.

On Christmas morning, Nana and Papa came over to watch Riley open her presents from Santa and have breakfast. One thing she got was a doctor set, and she was trying it out on Papa.

Nana helped Riley with her farm puzzle with a tractor track on it.

We went to Granny Prine's house for Christmas dinner and supper. Christmas day was so pretty that Riley got to spend some fun time outside. Papa took her down to the creek at their house. They had lots of fun throwing rocks in the water. When they got back Riley rode her new Dora tricycle on the sidewalk at Granny's house.

The day after Christmas was warm, but really windy. I let Riley play outside for a little while. She had fun riding her new Barbie jeep from Granny.

Riley's new favorite drink is apple juice. She put her Dora step stool on the couch to sit on while she drank her apple juice.

This was perhaps some of the most fun we had over the Christmas holidays. Most parents probably do encourage their children to jump off of the couch, but we just think it is so darn cute when she does it. She later started jumping in my arms. It was hilarious! We were all laughing so hard every time she did it!

Just look at that big o' smile!

This was our last Christmas...the Lacy side at my parent's house. Dalton, KatieLynn, Riley, and Dean were eating at the "kiddie" table.

Christmas caroling hay ride

The church that Nana and Papa go to had a Christmas caroling hay ride on Sunday. Since Papa provided the tractor and trailer, he asked if Riley could come help him drive. She had a blast, as usual. Her cousins Katie, Abbie, and JP were there too, which made it even better!

Riley's new best friend

Aunt Lacy, Uncle Jon, Davis and Truett gave Riley this baby with stroller and bottles for her birthday. Riley absolutely LOVES this baby. She must sleep with it at night and take it wherever she goes. It is so cute...

Riley is 2 years old!!!!!

It's official...Riley has reached the terrible two's!!! Her actual birthday was on Thursday, December 11th, but her party was on Saturday, December 13th. We had a cowgirl themed party. We were blessed to have so many family and friends come out to help us celebrate!

Here are a few facts about Riley at 2:

- talking up to 4 or 5 word sentences

- sleeps in her "big girl room" since about 22 months

- LOVES Dora the Explorer

- loves Christmas trees and lights

- likes to say "no" and "yeah"

- not potty trained yet

- hates getting her hair washed

- loves fruity Cherrios

- loves bananas

- loves to play with her cousins

- likes to play with Play Doh

Riley and Abbie are having a tea party before the birthday party starts. Thank goodness that Riley has a girl cousin to teach her all the girly things to do.

I think Riley was freaked out about all the people watching her and singing "Happy Birthday" to her. She would not blow out her candle, and kept making the weirdest face.

Riley tries to give sweet Jack a high five.

Monty led the horse while Papa stayed close by Riley to make sure she didn't fall off. Riley loved riding the horse!! Thank you, Papa, for bringing horses for the kids to ride!



Judson and Riley both love riding horses. Judson was very sweet to hold on to Riley.




Gray was a little scared to get on the horse by himself, so his daddy was nice enough to ride with him. Too cute!




Miss Abby was such a trooper. This was the beginning of her horse ride. Later on, the horse just fell over for no reason. Thank the Lord that Abby was not hurt! She is a real cowgirl!

Fun times during the Christmas season

We borrowed a dolly from my parents to move some bookcases. I knew better than to ask Riley if she wanted to go for a ride on the dolly because I knew that meant she would be asking to do it all the time. Josh, on the other hand, did not think about this when he asked Riley if she wanted to go for a ride the first time. He soon realized that this would be his new duty every time Riley saw the dolly. Here they are having fun!!

In case I haven't mentioned it before, Riley has become obsessed with Dora. If the TV is on, it better be Dora. She usually only watches it for about 5 minutes and then starts playing elsewhere. But on this night, she was all ready for bed, so daddy tucked her in a blanket on the couch for some wind down time while watching Dora.

Baby McDonald is an oldie but a goodie. Riley pulled her rocker over to the TV for a better view.

And here we are trying to see Santa Clause before the Winters Christmas Parade starts. You can see how excited Riley is to see Santa. I had a feeling that she would be this way since she does not like people in costumes.

I finally got Riley to give Santa a high five. There was no sitting on the lap or hugging!! If Riley only knew who was playing Santa she would have been giving him lots of kisses and hugs! This Santa was extra special to us since he was really Papa!!! I think Riley recognized the voice, but she was so scared of the costume that it didn't matter.

Abbie, JP, and Riley hang out waiting for the parade to start. Riley was so excited to see her cousins again!

Nana was a trooper holding Riley for most of the parade. Riley eventually got brave enough to follow Abbie and JP in the street to pick up candy that parade participants were throwing.

This was my favorite part of the parade. I thought it was pretty cool that these people could saddle up and ride their longhorns through town! You just don't see that everyday!

Riley is really getting into Christmas this year...which makes it so much fun for us! She helped decorate the Christmas tree. She always points to the Christmas tree and says "boke ball" because sh e broke a ball when she was decorating. She can name off whose stalking belongs to whom. She says "daddy talking, Riley talking, mama talking." She also has her own little Christmas tree, and she knows it's hers. We also have a nativity scene that she likes to look at. Of course, she really likes the cow and sheep. :) But she also likes to kiss baby Jesus. The most fun thing about the Christmas season so far is looking at all the Christmas lights!!!! After the Abilene Sales Christmas party, we went with Monty, Kim, Jakeb & Judson to see the lights and displays at the State School. Riley was cracking us up because she kept screaming "MO WIGHTS, MO WIGHTS" every time we saw more lights. This definitely makes riding in the car more fun these days! I can't wait to see her opening all her gifts at Christmas!