Monday, December 10, 2012

Our special visit to Santa



Ya know, it's funny how kids just don't get it sometimes. Most of the time, their innocence is so cute, and endearing, but sometimes, you just need to school 'em. Get this. I take Riley to see Santa Claus. Well, with some serious pre-planning, Santa had a very big gift that he wanted to give her before Christmas, so he delivered it to her in person, while she sat on his lap. This way, she would know that the gift was from him, and nobody else.

As soon as Santa saw her enter the room, he yelled, "Riley's here! Come over here, Riley." She told him how good she's been, and showed him her cut-and-paste list, and her hand-written list. He told her that she's been SO good this year, that he has a very special present for her. She was stunned. So stunned, in fact, that she couldn't even open the envelope in front of him.



But I was so excited to see what was inside the magic envelope (!!!), that I had her open it while we were still near Santa. I told her that I've never, ever seen Santa hand a gift to a kid, in person. Well, here is how that went.


"Is there something else in here? Like, money?" REALLY?! Does Santa ever give you money, you crazy kid? Unbelievable. Well, I guess the scope of a gift like that won't really register until she's standing in front of Radio City, in person, with me and Debbie, shaking in our shoes at the sights we are about to see. Hopefully in the snow. I can't wait. December twenty-tooth. Hah! What a cutie pie. Even if she is a little swiper pick-pocket.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

We're back. I hope.

Hi. I'm back. Kinda.

Gonna try this thing again. We have gone through amazing amounts of change since my last blog. All for the good, mostly. We've moved on, we've grown, we've surely had our struggles, we've reached out, we've settled in, and we've become an incredibly happy little miniature family.

Riley has been doing so many amazing things over the last year or so, since I've quit (er, postponed) (er, got lazy about) blogging, that I just can't resist starting it back up. I don't know where to start, really, and I don't have time for a lot of words right now, so I'll just show you what she's been up to in gymnastics. There are 3 clips merged together here, starting from Nov 2011 and ending on Tuesday (5/1/12).

We have an Olympian in the making here.

Oh, wait. Sorry. Before I post that, I found this. Just to help you to remember something about who she used to be. Well, still is, just older. And taller. And more well-spoken. What a wonderful little person she is becoming. My very best friend in the whole wide world.


And now, what we really came here for today. Part 1: It's her, in the red, doing an assisted back walk-over. I never even nailed that myself, in all my years of dancing, cheerleading and gymnastics. Part 2: It's her, being asked to do a 'demo' for the actual Team. Part 3: Well, she learned the dismount. This particular day. Look at those toes! Goodness, I'm a proud mama. 


Rock on, Riley-Belle!