Riley Family Christmas

There will be more picture to go along with this post later, but for now here are some shots that a good friend of the family took while we were having our Family Christmas at Daddy and Momma's house this year. Papa Ron and Nonna had bought all the children coordinating sweaters and we tried to let things happen as they did instead of pushing too hard. I think we got some really sweet shots particularly of Jason, our big 5 year old. Soon he will begin losing teeth and changing into a schoolboy, so I wanted one final memory of his wonderful "baby face". The joke of the day was our own family picture with Caleb making a face that cannot really be described and is yet so fitting for him. The days are Merry indeed!

"Fear Not, Fear Not...Don't be Scared!"

This year's Christmas production at church included any three year old children thought capable of participating so Colleen joined Jason in Wednesday night practices to prepare for her debut. And it was worth the wait! There was picking going on at both ends and several turns to comment on how pretty another little girl's dress or hair looked that morning. A trip to the front of the stage to announce to her Daddy (and everyone else) that her tights were "stuck in [her] hiney" was certainly a highlight! Never-the-less, she and Jason did a wonderful job and we were so proud to call them ours. Praise the Lord that they not only sing about not living in fear but dwell daily in the safety and peace of Christ in their own lives.

Cousin Riley

Colleen loves her cousins, most especially the girls! Any time we get a chance to be with one of them she grins big and proceeds to tell us all the things she will show them and do with them. Riley is especially dear to her heart as she loves to paint fingernails and toenails and make her hair pretty. In Colleen's mind that is exactly what a girl should be doing all the time! Here they are playing in the leaves with matching hairdo's and smiles.