ThANNksgiving

More than anything, people like to be remembered by those they love.  When you are only four years old, it's easy to be overlooked during the madness of Thanksgiving preparations.  "Go watch your cartoons" or "Play with your toys until time to eat" are common things that little ones may hear during these times. 

But not here.

At the busiest time of Thanksgiving Day, that final hour in the kitchen when everything is timed just right to finish cooking, roasting, baking, simmering, etc, River's Great Grandmother Ann called River into the kitchen to help her with a most important addition to the meal; Pigs in a Blanket.

Never mind that the dish was unconventional and has never been prepared for Thanksgiving here (or perhaps anywhere), it is perfect for the moment.  Yes, more than anything, people like to be remembered by those they love. This is a memory that River will hold on to forever.

Thank you, Ann.

4th Birthday Celebration Part 1

"River, would you like to have lunch at Chuck E. Cheese's for your birthday?"

No, Daddy.  I want crab leg!"

"Umm, O-kay."

At four years old, I think I would have been afraid of this thing.

A little help from Momma is much appreciated.

After lunch, time for a movie; Puss In Boots..

in 3D!!

Afterward, a quick trip to Toys R' Us.. and then pass out on the way home.  Life is good.

To Be Continued..

Festival of Lights 2010



River with her Aunt Cathy


River (and JoAnna and I) recently enjoyed our first visit to The Cincinnati Zoo's Festival of Lights with our friend, Cathy.  We have been enjoying the zoo quite a bit this year thanks to Cathy and Michael who gave us a family membership for Christmas last year.

All photos (with the exception of the first and last) were taken by Cathy.

All bundled up. 

Yes Cathy, I AM smiling. 



The reindeer were resting up for their big night.



River actually wanted to ride the shark but the girl in front of us picked that one. 



"I want to touch it.  I want to touch it."



Awe and wonder; both captured right here. 

That's one gigantic nutcracker!



Thank you, Cathy and Michael.  It was a wonderful gift.



Thanksgiving 2010

River enjoyed another Thanksgiving in Paintsville, Ky.  It has become a tradition to start the holiday season in Eastern Kentucky.  She is becoming more and more aware of the meaning and importance of this time of year and it is heartwarming to see her making the connections and putting the pieces together of what will become a lifetime of memories.

Of course the turkey and all the yummy desserts are a plus too.





"If they don't serve the food soon, I may have to consider eating these ducks."

 

Thanksgiving Dinner is occupying someones usually scheduled nap time.  Can you tell?

"Ahhhh!  That's the stuff!"

River and her Pepaw deep in discussion of the origins of age-old holiday traditions. 

Helping to decorate Mammaw Ann's Christmas tree.

Decorating with the help of cousin Tracee.

Tired and relaxing on cousin Erin's lap. 

Basking in the sunshine with Mommy.

Three is a Magic Number

Family and friends joined Jo, River and me to celebrate River's Third Birthday at Chuck E. Cheese's.  I had expected it to be loud and chaotic and.. well, it was but it was also far better than I expected.  A great time was had by River and all her little pals and that is all that matters. 

Over the past three years River has given me the joy of experiencing so much for the first time.. again.  This may have been a celebration of her first three years but she has given Jo and I what seems like a birthday everyday for the past three years.  

The Scooby Doo Cake made by Iris Klonne of createcoolcakes.com.  It was as delicious as it was fun to see!

Thanks to all our family and friends who stopped by.

River could not stop talking about her Scooby Doo cake!



Making a wish.



I'm sure this is some sort of health code violation.

Lots of goodies were unwrapped.

Lots and lots of goodies!



(Psst, Please don't tell her I ate a chicken wing!  P-p-p-lease!)





"Thank you, Mr. Cheese!"





Big days call for big naps and sweet dreams.



Three is a magic number,

Yes it is, it's a magic number.

Somewhere in the ancient, mystic trinity

You get three as a magic number.

The past and the present and the future.

Faith and Hope and Charity,

The heart and the brain and the body

Give you three as a magic number.

It takes three legs to make a tripod

Or to make a table stand.

It takes three wheels to make a vehicle

Called a tricycle.

Every triangle has three corners,

Every triangle has three sides,

No more, no less.

You don't have to guess.

When it's three you can see

It's a magic number.

A man and a woman had a little baby,

Yes, they did.

They had three in the family,

And that's a magic number...

Wool Fest '10

For the third year in a row River made the journey to the Wool Festival.  Once again we enjoyed cool, crisp Fall weather, yummy food and the sound of Bluegrass Music echoing across the countryside.  River also enjoyed getting a close up look at farm animals.  As always, a fine way to spend an Autumn day.
 




Striking a sassy pose by the wagon.

Wide-eyed in the petting zoo.

Hugging a goat.

"Hello Ms. Porkchop."

"Quack!"

Staring me down with her pop-gun in her lap.



"I'm your Huckleberry."

 

Enjoying a Happy Meal Sleepy Meal.

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See how she has grown!  Click on the links below to see her previous visits to The Wool Festival:

Wool Fest '09
Wool Fest '08

Virginia Beach

We took River on her first vacation last week away from home. It felt like our first vacation as well since it had been eleven years since we have taken one. Simply put; the wait was worth it. We all had a wonderful time.
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Naturally we were concerned how River would take the long ride in her car seat but she traveled the distance like a pro. On the way home we stopped only once in nine hours for River to enjoy a Happy Meal. Perhaps the next time I will ask her to drive.

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Don't let the Surfer Girl image fool you; River didn't really care for the ocean itself but she LOVED the beach. It was all about the sand as far as she was concerned. The boogie board saw more action in the hotel room with me dragging her back and forth on the carpet while she giggled uncontrollably.

. You don't always know at the time when you are making a cherished memory.. but sometimes you do. This is one of those times when we knew for certain.

. River was lucky enough to have her picture taken with a good lookin' lifeguard. Oh, wait a minute.. that's me.

. One of the many seagulls who either wanted you to give them food or just get the h#ll off of their beach.
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We kept hearing an odd thumping sound in the trunk for the first 200 miles but it eventually faded away. We had originally thought that the luggage was uneven but, much to our surprise, Memaw Marti popped out of the trunk at a rest stop in West Virginia. As it turned out, she was a godsend and a blast to vacation with. (She rode in the backseat on the way back home.)

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Jo: The Planner, The Budget Maker, The Navigator. The.. Everything. Thank you Sweetheart.

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She worked really hard to get those toes in the sand.
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River took her sand construction work very seriously.

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Naval vessels were always just offshore and military jets always overhead. Virginia Beach must be one of the safest stretches of American coastline. God Bless America.

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There is nothing more comfortable.

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Hurricane River destroys a beachfront town! News at Eleven!

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Sunrise on Virginia Beach, 09/09/10, 06:44am.

It is easy to forget how blessed we are to live in such a beautiful country. Remind yourself once in a while and just get in the car and drive. Our land is a treasure that I hope River never takes for granted.

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