Waited for the last leaf to fall……

Yesterday we decided it was time once again to rake the back yard. We have a HUGE oak tree that I swear drops every single leaf at the same time! I’m sure it has nothing to do with the fact that we wait until the last minute to rake….Hmmm! Well since I am on vacation I have put Gene to work. We have tackled some pretty big and much needed projects the last couple of weeks. We organized the garage, cleaned the house top to bottom/side to side, raked leaves and began building Sluggers covered pin in the back. I think Gene secretly hopes I don’t take all my vacation at the end of the year next year! Anyways we had to get the leafs done before the rain got here and we finished right as it started drizzling. Trenton even joined in the fun! I really hope I can use these pictures when he is older and say “See you used to love to help!” Not likely, but a Mama can dream!

Some/Most of the leaves came from the deck (remind me again why I wanted trees so bad)

Part of yard….I am in the process of raking into a big pile so Trenton can play in it I can start putting it into bags!

My honey blowing all the leaves to the yard so I can rake…I am thinking I got the short end of the deal here!

I considered this my work out for the day. I mean I was bending, scooping and bagging for almost 3 hours!

Trenton volunteered, but did an awesome job! Look at his bag! HA HA! Yeah, so I don’t have CPS called on me for child labor laws being violated, the bag was mine!

Bend, scoop and Bag!

All work no play!

Ok maybe a little play! How stinkin cute is this jacket. Our good friends the Scalise’s gave T this jacket for Christmas!

Jumping in the GIANT pile of leaves…1 of 3 I might add!

You can see the front of the jacket! It’s the monkey Paul Frank with a catchers mask!!   

Even Daddy took a break to play with T!

My 2 favorite people!    

Like I said, I must be nuts to have wanted trees, but it really brings us together when we do little projects as a family! We certainly got a lot accomplished yesterday and since it seems to be a nasty rainy day today I am sure we will stay inside!

When I grow up I want to be……

So Trenton just like many other kids I know got several new toys for Christmas. I always picture Trenton all grown up and wonder what he will do…Will he love trains still and become and engineer of some sort, a professional athlete because it’s in his blood or an artist! Whatever he chooses I am sure we will be very proud!

Trenton playing with his new spiral train set from Nana & Paw Paw. I have to admit I was nervous putting this together because it has so many pieces and T has a tendency to tear up the tracks and throw them all over his room. This one seems to be lasting! Its pretty hard to pull up so I don’t (hope) think its going anywhere!

We have had this baseball set up since his birthday. We actually have 2! Gene gave T this helmet and he wears it all the time. He also prefers to play with hard balls versus the cheesy plastic ones! He hit a home run today and went running and screaming “I did it, I did it, I hit a home run!” He has great coordination for his age and with a long line of baseball players in the family that comes as no surprise!

 

Finally the Christmas present that wins! The art easel. I was super excited when my sister told me she was getting him an easel. T likes coloring and painting and I am always trying to find things for him to do! This gift is perfect. Grandma & Grandpa Flores sent the fun smock, paints and even drip free paint brushes! T has the best grandparents ever! Here is my little Picasso painting a picture for us.

 

I thought it would be fun to paint his hand and show him how to stick it on the paper. Little did I know my child has done this a million times before at school so he was telling me how to do it!

How sweet of him to “let” me show him when as you can clearly see he knows what he is doing!

Tah-Dah! Beautiful work of art!

2 years......

Riley Family Christmas

The day after Christmas we headed to North Houston to spend Christmas with my family! We have a very big family and my parents are always so generous, not only to the kids, but to the adults as well! AND every year since Trenton arrived Nana and Paw Paw trump Santa! I guess because we tell them to buy the expensive stuff so Santa doesn’t have to! Gene ended up with a new PS3 game, gift cards and a really cool jalapeño popper for the grill. I got a digital frame, huge frying pan, bath and body works, home decor and gift cards!! Trenton went home with EVERYTHING. I mean all the kids did! T got an Imaginarium Spiral train, art easel, hot wheels, gift cards…….need I say more! We are truly blessed to have such a great family on both sides. We wouldn’t have it any other way!

All dressed and ready to go! Thank you Grandma & Grandpa Flores for my new shirt!

This is funny and gross. These are the cubes the cat plays in and T and Mandi thought they were so much fun.  

Look at this face! So excited to open more presents and yes those are all his with him!

This is the Christmas Overload face!!

DINOSAURS!  

Art Easel (Thank you Mimi) We put it together today and he painted for hours!  

Coby and Trenton

New addition to the family Tony (My brothers fiancé's son)

Sweet Mandilynn! Her and Trenton are BFF!

Mom, this is getting ridiculous!  

My boys!

I am not sure who is more excited about the hotwheels…Daddy or Trenton!

My brother and his new fiancé Sonya! Finally after 2 years! 

Candy and Cheetoes!

I mentioned earlier that Mandi & Trenton are BFF well this is what they did all evening. Waving bye bye on cars!

Trenton was getting his inspection sticker done. Mandi is having a blast.

I love this picture!

Trenton and Mandi have the same blankie. Mandi’s is pink and Trenton’s is yellow/green. Nana is playing tug a war with them!

We had so much fun and I am happy to report I cleaned ALL day today, organized the new toys, got Trenton to sleep by 7 and am now relaxing! I am grateful for family and Christmas, but so pleased it has passed! I am ready for a new year with new outlook on life and hopefully a smaller waistline!