Ha Bir Day LA LA!

We celebrated Lib's 25th birthday the other day at one of our favorite restaurants, Seabreeze. Riley kept everyone entertained while we enjoyed some fresh seafood. Ha Bir Day LALA!

CHEEEEEZ!!

He got passed around quite a bit... the only way he likes it. Spending some QT with Gi Gi.

Josh, Lib's boyfriend, is so good with Riley... and Riley approves :)

He also approved of the cake and ice cream!

Riley had fun with his Daddy earlier that day... watching football and eating pirate booty

Like Father like son 

The laying around only lasts about 2 minutes in our household... then we were off to the park!

WEEE! So sweet.

New School

Riley started his new school, Primrose, last Monday.  The JCP daycare got a new Director over the summer, and recent changes have resulted in some of our favorite teachers leaving the center.  This prompted us to research other centers, and we absolutely fell in LOVE with Primrose! We were so impressed with the teachers and staff (and their tenure) as well as the curriculum, so we made the tough decision to move Riley. Luckily, one of his favorite friends named Sophia followed suit, so they got to start in the new classroom together.  He did very well on his first week, but he was extra clingy all week.  I have high hopes for week #2! Pray that the rest of the transition goes smoothly, change is never fun for an almost-two-year-old.

Primrose had "hat day" on Tuesday... found this gem on the Primrose Facebook page... still a little unsure, but he loves any excuse to wear his Hokies hat!

It has been a little sad not having Riley at JCP with me, though. We will miss our evenings with his buddy Matthew. We would walk out together each day with a snack, and they would insist on sitting side by side in their matching jackets for a picture.  Riley has already made some new friends, but we'll make sure these two goof balls still play together!

The Vitale's came to Texas!

My cousin Katie, her husband Vince, and daughter Beni visited us from Michigan last weekend. We were thrilled to have Beni and Riley together for the first time since they were only a few months old at Spider Lake.  They are only a month apart and absolutely LOVED being together, which was so fun to watch since Katie and I were so close growing up.  They liked giving each other hugs and holding hands. We had so much fun with them, and can't wait for baby Vitale to arrive in May! :)

They ate so well together!

 

 The first night we went to a local Italian family restaurant. It was a beautiful night, so Riley & Beni ran hand-in-hand outside on the sidewalk while we waited for our food.

 

They were so good at sharing toys and the car!

 

Libby and her boyfriend Josh were nice enough to babysit the kiddos and let the adults go out for a night on the town. We had an amazing dinner at a new Korean Restaurant and it was so fun catching up with Katie & Vince.

We woke up bright and early on Sunday and went to the Dallas Aquarium.  

Riley & Beni - don't look now, but you have a SHARK behind you!

We saw the penguins outside

And the beautiful jaguar

Beni and her Mommy near the flamingos (oh and Baby V!)

Hugs all around, all the time! HA!

After a Texas Barbecue lunch we headed to my parents house for the afternoon. Grandpa had his hands full, literally, pushing two kids on the swings!

Matt, Vince, & Lib relaxed in the hot tub on a chilly afternoon

Grandpa bought Riley a nifty new pair of cowboy boots. They are twinners! I think Toby wants a pair.

Dinnertime - The "kids" table

We ended the evening every night with a bath... hard to believe Katie and I used to do the same thing!

HAHAHA, Beni is HILARIOUS!

After storytime they both slept so well. We can't wait for the next time these two can play together.  Thank goodness for FaceTime in the meantime! 

Sawyer came to play

The Rachavong's came over for dinner, and the boys hit it off immediately. Hayley and I have always noticed similarities between Riley & Sawyer when we talk about them, so it was a riot to see them together. They both had so much fun with each others antics, and there were lots of belly laughs.  It was also nice for the adults to visit while the kids kept each other entertained!

They zipped around in the Lamborghini

 Played dress-up with hats and capes

Farmer Saw

What a mess! 

And then they used the toolbox to fix a few things. Can't wait for the next get-together!

Capping off 2012

We celebrated right through the end of December with lots of fun birthday parties, pizza parties, and then rang in the new year with some much needed R&R.

Riley's friend Peyton turned 4, and her birthday party was at "Pump it Up".  It's such a neat place with tons of blow up slides, climbing walls, and obstacle courses. Riley had the absolute time of his life, and we got a workout climbing and jumping with him.  He sat up at the table with the big kids and ate all of his pizza.

 He also had two mini cupcakes for dessert... which he stuffed in his mouth and was trying to say "more more" while he scarfed it down. We'll be working on our manners in 2013. :)

 That night, our cousin Tyler and his girlfriend Sarah paid us a visit from California. It was so great seeing Tyler, and meeting Sarah!

They are a pretty cute couple, don't you think?

We opened a package from Aunty Mere that night with this cool mustache paci... hilarious!!

 We put Riley to bed on New Years Eve, and then ordered sushi takeout from our favorite sushi restaurant and watched the ball drop on TV.  It was the perfect way to cap off a great year, and ring in 2013 with my hubby.  

Happy New Year, Everyone!!! 

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, 2012!!
We had a very special Christmas this year because we were able to spend it with not only our local family (GiGi, Grandpa, Aunty LaLa, and Uncle Johnny) but Nana and Pop Pop were able to join us from Virginia for 5 days! It was nonstop fun leading up till the big Christmas Day festivities.

One of the fun activities was visiting the Madagascar "ICE" Exhibit at the Gaylord Texan Hotel.  It's a 7 degree exhibit with tons of neat "Disney Madagascar" themed ice sculptures. 

Riley, Nana, and I took a trip to feed the "EIEIO's" while the boys went shopping one day.  We had the BEST time on this beautiful day, and capped it off with a walk to the playground. 

We went to our favorite restaurant, Roy's, for a delicious meal on Christmas Eve with the entire family. Riley's favorite part was the ice cream... I think he takes after his Grandpa and Pop Pop!  Such a stud in his 3 piece suit.

 

Santa came to the Weismann household, and did not disappoint! 

 

Riley was a little weary at first, but that didn't last long

He was very comfy in the drivers seat of his new Lamborghini in no time... every toddler needs a sports car, right??

He was so excited that Santa brought the books that he's been admiring at the Scholastic book fair at school! 

The "BIG BUS" Book!

Pure joy ... both for Riley AND Toby!

Riley also got police car slippers from Nana and Pop Pop... he has barely taken them off ever since.

 ...AND a new slide.... wow!

Pro race car driver in the making, although he doesn't quite have the steering down, so my walls and furniture are the current targets

Santa also brought a new mini table and chairs, so Riley ate his snacks that he found in his stocking at his new table. Yummy!

Another little boy in his glory was my hubby... can you figure out what he got for Christmas based on this picture? I think Toby is nervous.

The favorite toy by far was the mini replica Dyson vacuum. It didn't leave his side all day.

Silly Pop Pop!

 

 My very own handy man

Time to take a mini power nap 

Riley woke up to a White Christmas after his nap!

 Riley had a blast stomping around in the snow with Lala and GiGi.

We had a wonderful Christmas dinner with the Quincey's and Weismann's at our house, and enjoyed being together as one big happy family. I wish I got more pictures of the rest of the family on Christmas Evening.  Merry Christmas, Ya'll!!