A Mommy-and-Me Afternoon

It has been a beautiful, hot day here today - reaching 90 degrees - and Riley and I have had the afternoon all to ourselves.

Whoa!  Water!

Having fun!

Trying to catch it.

Trying to drink it.

Brrr... cold water on a 90-degree day can still make me shiver!

Mommy brought out two baby popsicles - I thought that meant they were both for ME!

Daddy's golfing ... and Mommy's a sucker!

These Are the Moments ...

... that melt my heart.  The moments where I walk into a room, no one knows I am there, and I catch a glimpse of such a precious moment between Daddy and Daughter.

But it's HEALTHY! At least my mom says so ...

Last night was 31-cent scoop night at Baskin Robbins.  If you haven't drawn the conclusion yet, Riley is becoming quite the ice cream monster.  I was hesitant to attempt to get her the cheap-o treat, remembering driving by Baskin Robbins last year on this same night and seeing the sea of people in the parking lot and busting out of the doors and windows, all to get their 31-cent cone.  But I tried.  And I succeeded!  In fact, when I pulled into the empty parking lot, I wondered if I was there on the wrong day.  I walked in, saw about 10 eager ice cream scoopers staring back at me, and just one woman at the register.

"One scoop of Wild and Reckless Sherbet, please" ... for my wild and reckless 16-month old.

As my mom pointed out, "Sherbet?  Well that's healthy for her, Meg!".  Maybe healthy wasn't the right word ... but the point was true that it was healthier than the ice cream I was eyeing up.  So hey - it's healthy.  At least my mom says so.

And moments after walking through the front door, a wild and reckless Riley charged at me, full speed, with arms stretched out in front of her as far as they would go.  And the rest is history.  Healthy, sloppy, messy, sherbet history.

Poor Wendell

Poor Wendell.  Riley loves him soooo much.  While this should make for a 'lucky Wendell', I say poor instead because he gets his tail, ears, and mustache pulled several times a day, as well as his eyeballs poked at.  He handles it all very well and has never once done more than yelp a plea for my help.  I captured a few pictures of their interaction the other day.

Sharing a piece of rawhide

"Tickie tickie tickie"

"I get you, Wendell!"

"Agggghhh!"

Mommy:  "You two ... settle down!"

I Scream, You Scream ...

... All we eat is ice cream! 

At least that is how it seems around here lately!  Kevin and I took Riley to the park this afternoon and had the best time with Riley on the slides and the swings.  We decided afterwards that we should go for ice cream as a family.  It just so happened that our favorite, local ice cream joint opened for the season today! 

We each placed our orders and ordered Riley a kiddie cup of vanilla and raspberry twist soft serve.  I was sure she'd love it ... until she caught sight of my chocolate soft serve cone!  I was more than happy to give it to her, though, as in that moment it made her the happiest little girl in the world.

Let it be known, she put that entire cone away - ice cream and cone!

One Ice Cream, Two Spoons Please!

Riley and I had such a great day together.  It started off this morning with Kevin, Riley and I heading to a very early morning (8am!) meeting at the model home for a few last things on the house.  After that, Kevin took his girls to Bob Evans for breakfast.  Riley was a superstar with her french toast! 

Later in the afternoon, I took Riley on an errand run with me and we made an unplanned stop at Cold Stone.  We (I) ordered a "Strawberry Banana Rendevous" ... I had a big spoon, she had a baby spoon ... and we shared bits of the gooey goodness and laughed the whole time.  Just two girls who are best friends ... and happen to be Mommy and Daughter ... hanging out sharing one of life's pleasures.  What a perfect day.

Easter 2010

What a blessing this Easter was, being home with my parents, aunt, uncle, grandma, brother, and his family.  I do believe my mom's heart melted when her own family took up an entire long pew at church Sunday morning.  God is so good.  No ... candy and ice cream are good.  God is great.

"Easter eggs ... where ARE you?!"

Easter egg victory dance with Mommy and Grandma Nichols

All tuckered out from her Easter weekend fun.  It took her all of two minutes to fall sound asleep for the drive home.

She's a Natural, Ladies and Gentlemen!

I am dying to get pictures up on here ... will probably get to do that tomorrow night.  We're at my parent's house for the Easter weekend.  This morning their church was hosting a children't Easter egg hunt.  We decided it would be fun to take Riley up, and said that if she found one egg we'd declare a victory. 

We were shocked. 

This girl is a natural!  She found SO many eggs!  Plus she found one that allowed her to win a stuffed bunny - a green stuffed bunny.  Her favorite color!  She was absolutely hilarious.  Every time she would find an egg, she'd take it to Grandma, put it in the basket, then raise her hands in the air declaring a victory, shouting to all of us in excitement.  It was HILARIOUS!  I can't wait until she has her Easter egg hunt with her cousins tomorrow morning ... they better be prepared!

Oh My Goodness ... We Have Piggies!