Halloween Party at UD

The kids got to have a trial run with their costumes on Thursday evening when our good friends ( and E's godparents) the Brownsbergers called to invite us to a faculty and alumni Halloween party at the University of Dallas...Chad's alma mater! We were very excited to see our friends and to have some fun!

It was a race to get the kids' costumes together. B was a target and, A was a crazy little clown. What fun all that paint was! It was messy and "itchy"...but oh so cute! E was a princess again. We're still working on J!

The kids had a blast. The college students run the event with trick-or-treating in the dorms, pumpkin decorating, cookie decorating, and even a haunted house (again in one of the dorm hallways). And that was only half of it...we left early to get the young 'uns to bed. The students did such a good job with this event. It was funny trying to imagine Chad as one of those students many years ago in those very buildings. Even more fun...imagining B as one of them in the future! Little J loved getting all that candy and was seen a time or two with an open piece in each hand! He kept opening his bag and showing me...saying, "CANDY!"

Of course, the kids can't wait to do it all again on Saturday!!!! We're going to Little D to celebrate with Chad's family. We'll be getting together for the traditional party at Great Grandma's house...pizza and trick-or-treating. Then it sounds like we are moving right along to November with our parents' church turkey dinner on Sunday! Boo! Gobble, gobble!;)

Let the fun begin! Or continue!!!!!!

Our Little Lady Liberty

E's pre-k class performed a couple of songs today at the morning prayer service. The kids did such a good job...they have a wondeful teacher. They were so cute...especially our darling daughter, of course! Notice the microphone is right in front of E!!! Not sure she needed it ~ since she is a human megaphone!

E and another little girl led the class in a song about Lady Liberty. Yes, E got to be even closer to the microphone. I felt (just a tiny bit) sorry for the other girl...cuz E was VERY loud! She did a great job! She enjoys singing. We've noticed her singing more at church too...the responses and hymns. Sweet, but loud! Of course, the performance wouldn't have beem the same without the cool headgear!

I knew it was just a matter of time....

The Swine flu has struck at the Riley house! :( Well, my sweet baby J woke up this morning, and something wasn't right. He was fine when he went to bed last night and woke up this morning with a fever and feeling miserable! So we had a crazy, unplanned day going to a new doctor, trying 2 different pharmacies before finding Tamiflu, and dealing with the health insurance company over an error (their error)...all with a toddler who felt terrible and only wanted to be held by Mommy. Did I mention that I also got puked on before Chad got home!?!? Oh, the joys of Mommyhood! Of course, with J's history of wheezing (and news stories about H1N1), I'm more than a little concerned. He has also hit the stage where he doesn't want to take medicine....so he has already spit out part of a dose of Tamiflu and Motrin. Not sure how that is gonna help him get better...yep, that's got me stressed too! I'm hoping and praying that he gets over this quickly and easily...and that no one else gets it!

Holy Rosary Feast Day Parties

Celebrating our school's feast day means PARTY DAY!!! Mommy and Little J had to make the rounds to three different class parties...J didn't mind - he got treats at all three!

On Stage!

The first grade class has had a busy couple of weeks. Some of the kids got to read and lead the prayers at Monday morning prayer service. Big A did a great job on her part.

They also got to perform a song and dance on stage before the talent show last week. Wow...my little angel

was loving being on stage...not shy at all!

Out Back

Chad and the kids spent a couple of Saturdays (while I was tutoring) trying to get the backyard under control! It definitely needs a lot of TLC. They got off to a good start, but we still have a long way to go. Chad also put up the swingset and moved a bunch of paving stones. Underneath the stones was a ton of sand...which the kids loved, of course. B-Ri had fun burying himslef in the sand! We also got the basketball goal set up, and some of the overgrown bushes and vines ripped out! It's taking shape...slowly! I'm just glad we have trees...such a difference from our previous house.