Look Alike?

I got some of my pictures out from  when I was Riley and Bentley's age.  I know it drives Casey crazy and this is not intended to rub in his face, by my oh my it is uncanny how much they look like me.  Especially Riley....Bentley has a lot of similarities as well.  Enjoy!

I am 3 years old here.  This is my cousin Jessica.

3 years old

I am 2 1/2 here

I am 19 months old here

I am 3 1/2 here - looks just like Riley

This is where he gets his Rock Star ability from :)

2 1/2 years

2 years old - look at the hair

Looks just like Bentley

20 months

 

Feb 2010

March 2010

Feb 2010

My Little Model

I got some new pettiskirts in this afternoon and I was trying to capture Miss Bentley modeling them for me, but she was really more interested in snack time and juice than taking pictures.  Some of them turned out so cute, so I thought I would post them.

We booked our vacation to Orange Beach Alabama and I got her this sun hat.

Water Day, More Marker Fun and a New Bathroom

We have had a busy past couple of weeks.  First, I redid the kids bathroom upstairs and it turned out great.  I want something unisex, but not too juvenile, so I went with some bold colored stripes and underwater creature accents.  I painted the bathroom "wave" and it is very colorful, yet serene.  I actually got all of the painting done on a Friday afternoon with 2 kids before Casey got home from work....WHEW!  The kids were very good needless to say.  Here are some pics:

Last Saturday, Bentley decided to eat a banana which she has not ever done except from a jar!  I was so excited.

Riley has really gotten in touch with his artistic side lately and has been coloring a lot.  Of course, this means that Bentley has been coloring too.  She still gets a tad carried away......

More cute pics of Riley and Bentley. 

New dress her Aunt Tricia made her

Last Thursday was Water Day at school and the kiddos had a blast.  First of all, Riley got up and immediately put his bathing suit on and was ready to go.  The usual struggles of begging him to get dressed and brush his teeth were absent that day.  He was raring and ready to go.  Miss High Maintenance, on the other hand, did not like her swim suit because it fits tight (she doesn't like anything tight) and then she did not like her cover up because it had a hood.....sigh.  She finally complied though and was ready to go.  She went out first and I did not get pics of her because if I went outside, she would not want me to leave, but I was able to watch her through the window.  She did participate and had lots of fun.  I did get to go out with Riley's class and he has so much fun!!!!  He and all of his classmate just ran around and got soaking wet.  After the wet fun, they ate popsicles. 

Before school

This is them dancing

Riley playing go fish

Popsicle time!

This Crazy Life

Things have been so crazy this month!  I have been busier at work which is nice.  I have also been super busy at home.  We had a garage sale on April 10th and it was a great success.  Then we were scheduled to go to Pearland for a show, but unfortunately we were not able to go.  It actually worked out well because I was still getting ready for our first festival in Brenham. We went to Brenham this past weekend and it was great.  It was a smaller festival, but we still had tons of lookers and had quite a few sales.  It was a good confidence booster because our stuff was some of the nicest quality yet moderately priced stuff.  All in all, it was great. 
Riley and Bentley have really seemed to be changing to me lately.  Riley is like a little man, I mean really.  He talks so maturely and he CAN be a real sweetheart.  He has been helping Bentley with her adjustment at school (going more) and it is SOOO sweet.  I want them to be close and really all I see at home is him agitating her, but there is obviously so much more to their relationship.  He also knows EVERY word to EVERY song...even songs that I don't know!  It is crazy.  He is signed up for camp with his cousins and is getting excited about his trip to Florida in June.
Bentley has really done good with getting off my hip since she started school two days a week.  Her teachers have been telling me how they really see her personality and she is so happy and almost goofy with them.  I am so glad she is coming out in front of others.  She is so fun, especially when it is just her and I.  I want the world to see that personality.  We have started calling her "DVIA" and she loves that.  She is all girl.  She loves bows and clothes and especially shoes!  She really is my kid!!!! 

The Wedding Party of 2031

Riley and his first love Anna are planning to wed after college when they are 4 years old.  Or at least that is his version of the story.  Anna came over to the house to get her birthday gifts from Memaw and she also opened Riley's gift too.  She just has to dress up in her new duds and that prompted Elvis, I mean Riley to dress up as well.  So here you have it....Princess Anna, Elvis, Bentley (note, that is a PLAY shirt) as the Maid of Honor, and Firetruck (that is what Cole insists his name is) as the best man!!!!

Mr and Mrs Bryant

Riley also told me that he and Anna are going to have 5 children (he started with 8) and their names are going to be Oscar, John, Bailey, Freddie, and Cedric.  Hmmmmm very interesting.

Easter 2010

Our Pastor, Larry preached a great sermon on walls that you encounter in life.  These walls range from losing a job, to fighting an addiction, to getting along with your spouse.  Basically there are many walls that keep us from getting closer to God.  We must overcome these walls and focus on him.  Easter this year to me was a wall.  Easter is tough because it is a constant reminder of my Dad.  We also had several issues that kept arising (weather, news reports) and kept coming in between our making plans.  Easter Sunday, after a very busy morning with Easter baskets with the kiddos and then working in the church nursery and plans still not being hammered down, became a wall persay.  But after a while, I realized that it was just Satan trying to spoil a family event and draw us even further from God.  I changed my attitude and then everything started falling into place.  The weather turned out to me beautiful - we could not have asked for more.  We ended up going to a beautiful shaded park and the kiddos had an absolute blast running around and hunting eggs.  Nana brought cupcakes and bubble guns and WEIRD jellybeans.  It was a great afternoon.  I am so thankful for what Christ did for us.  Sometimes, we just need to stop getting caught up in the worldy things going on around us and focus on him and he will do the rest.

Tricia has strep throat and could not join us and we missed her very much.  That was the only problem with yesterday afternoon.  Click the link below to see the pictures!

Easter 2010

I Miss You Daddy

Two years ago today, I lost something, someone so very important to me. My Dad was one of the most admirable men that ever lived. He was so kind and caring. He really did care about everyone genuinely. He instilled that sense of love and understanding in me. His Christian example was so obvious to everyone, not just me. He treated everyone, his family, his friends, his employees with love and respect. This was how he witnessed to people. He did not judge or shove religion down any one's throat. He just lived life by example. He did not believe in lying or cheating or stealing. His business was run on honest Christian principles. Everyone who took their cars to his shop saw this example, day in and day out. Now that I am grown and out in the real world, I realize, his type is rare. There is a lot of dishonesty out there. Everyone who knew him loved him. Even if they didn't know him personally, they loved him. Some of the people who live in mom's neighborhood had never spoken to him, but every day when they would drive to and from work and pass mom and dad's house, and he would wave to them. That was just him.

It is still very hard for me to remember the good times without getting very sad because I miss him, but it is starting to get easier. I was just remembering his nightly routine last night...just the things he did, the robe he wore, the way he smelled and I cannot walk down that road yet without shedding tears. I know that I would not be the person that I am today without the example that both he and mom set for me. I think when you make that much of an impact on someones life, it just takes lots and lots and lots of time for those wounds to heal. I miss him so much. I miss his smile. I wish my kids could have really known him. But instead of dwelling on that, I just rejoice that I got to know him. I focus on the fact that he made such an impact on me and shaped me and the things I believe in. And I will pass that on to my children in hopes that one day, I can shape and mold their life the way he did mine.

I cannot wait to be reunited with him one day and I am so thankful that I will be with him again beause of the blood that Jesus Christ shed for us.  Easter will always be special to me, not only because of the reminder of what my heavenly Father means to me, but also what my worldly Father means to me too.

This is me and dad in Colorado with Missy and Hans our weiner dogs

I love this picture!

This was on fathers day 2007 at Mary Joe Peckham park in Katy

This was Dad's bday celebration in 2006.  Riley is less than 2 weeks old.

This was Christmas 2006

Pawpaw holding his "Partner" when he came home from the hospital

This was taken Easter 2008 one week before he died

I miss you Daddy and love you so much.

Riley's First Sleep Over

Friday night, Riley had his first sleep over (other than at Memaw's house).  Nathan and Melissa had us and mom over for dinner and we left Riley there.  We had a really good time (and some REALLY good food!) and the kids played and entertained us too.  Riley proposed to Anna and she accepted with the condition that she finishes college first.  It was really a good time.  We left about 8:30 and Riley did great.  Melissa said they had a great time.  Riley wants Anna to come spend the night with him next time so he can show her his big boy sports bed.  Melissa and Nathan took the kids to their community Easter egg hunt the next morning and Riley had so much fun.  Below are some of the pics that Melissa took of them.  Riley was sooooo tired from all of the fun he had at his sleep over with Anna, he fell asleep in the car on the way home from the mall!!!

Anna, Cole and Riley

The happy couple and their Bunny

Riley

So sweet

All the loot they gathered at the egg hunt