He is here!!!

                       JOHN CHRISTOFER RILEY
                            6LBS 8OZ; 19".
                                  Aug 6 2011; 154am
 Proud mama Cheryl did a fantastic job, and had great support from Grandpa, Aunt Missy & Grandma. Grandma Spencer was unable to stay for the birth as the Navy already had her scheduled for drill. Mama & baby both doing well, praise God!

Part 2: The Grandkids Visit Grandma & Grandpa

Much of our time was spent at home, playing and doing 'normal' stuff. Of course, they did have to work for their keep:



Justin was in charge of breakfast. His scrambled eggs are the best in town!  Olivia was in charge of setting the table.




Grandpa built the kids a playhouse. He put 2 big windows on each side for cross ventilation and here he is painting the roof white to reflect the sun.





no one is too young to paint



Justin painted almost a whole wall himself!

 It wasn't all work and no play:


playing in the sand box with Aunt Missy





building with Joshua's Legos

The best $17 I ever spent!

Grandpa reads a story.

resting with Cleo and Chanel, see her peeking out from under Olivia's head?

Beach Fun with the Grandkids

Grandpa drove his motorcycle & I drove the kids in the car down to the 'ugly house' so we could spend some time at the beach. We spent 2 days there. 

We also enjoyed our friends, the Woleslagles, ribbon cutting ceremony. They are Sandals reps so if you need a vacation give them a call: 910 526 9446 also check out their facebook page: Something Special Weddings & Events

Lazy 5 Ranch with the grandkids

We had so much fun with Justin & Olivia. One of the things we did was visit the Lazy 5 Ranch, what fun!

This cow wrapped it's tongue around Olivia's arm.....of course I didn't get to see it but she & Cheryl sure did laugh about it!

Justin especially liked feeding the big, old, papa giraffe.

Part 1: The Grandkids Visit Grandma & Grandpa

For the first time ever, both Justin & Olivia were able to visit us in June! They were with us from June 4 - 23. Joshua's new orders moved him to Massachusetts. Instead of driving the entire family & the dog from CA to MA, the kids stayed with us while the movers came & packed up the house. Then Josh & Stacey and Gabby (the dog) drove east. I flew out to pick them up on Memorial Day & spend a few days. Justin, Olivia & I flew from Ontario CA to Dallas Ft Worth where we had a 3 hour layover. We had some lunch then were going to the USO when we discovered a children's play area. As nice as the USO's are, this was the perfect place for the kids to burn off some energy. Because Justin's reservations were made after Olivia & mine, he didn't sit with us, instead sat in a window seat both flights all by himself. I think he liked being 'big enough' to sit away from us.

Missy Finishes Her Sophomore Year of HS & Goes to the Citadel

Missy finished her sophomore year of high school, where has the time gone? It is hard to believe in 2 years she will be a high school graduate! 

Missy attended Officer Leadership Training at the Citadel June 13-18 and attained the rank of Lieutenant upon completing training. She's pretty excited about that. She said she loved being there, wants to go back but it was, in her words: h-e-double hockey sticks! She also came back wanting to go to Singapore as part of the leadership training school exchange program. I doubt either of her parents are big fans of that plan.

She has spent the summer with her mom & will be home on the 31. I, for one, can't wait, as I've been missing her. She's spent alot of time with her boyfriend, Austin; made some new friends; been to the beach a couple times and did some babysitting for some friends of Austin's mom.  I'm sure she will have lots to share and perhaps I can get her to write something here.

Prom 2011

Missy is off to prom, looking beautiful! She & her mom bought her dress when she bought her military ball dress. She & Austin look very nice & he took her to Lowe's Motor Speedway Club for dinner. 

What was I thinking??

I looked at the weather forcast for western PA and yet I still drove up here. Today, it is grey, chilly (that's being generous) and rainy, just like it was forcast to be!
It was a fun drive up here with Jessica. We spent about 2 hours at the antique store in Beckley WV; went to see the bridge at New River Gorge and had good conversation. We managed to turn our 7.5hr drive into 12! 
I've had an Oram's cream filled donut, 35cent pancakes at the Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe, a freshly made burger with cheddar cheese & chili and chili & cheese fries at the same hot dog shoppe. Those were musts on my list of things to do while back home.  I'm enjoying spending time catching up with friends and visiting with relatives (especially Jessica). I wanted to go to one of my nephews track meet today but the rain cancelled those plans for me.
Shhh, don't tell Mike & Missy but I'm missing them greatly!

Central Cabarrus ROTC Earns Awards

Despite the lack of organization & all the changes during the last week of practices, or perhaps because of these changes, Central Cabarrus ROTC brought home several awards.  Missy was very happy for her friend, senior Marie C who placed first in female individual armed. Missy completed in AS1 unarmed flight, AS1 female unarmed element, placing 2nd in each event.

Here are pics taken from the drill meet held Saturday at Independence HS, Charlotte NC.

 Missy cuts up for the camera!

waiting for the judges before unarmed flight

In other news, Missy will have her wisdom teeth removed on Friday, all 4 of them.  I see lots of icecream and soup on the menu for the weekend!

Cinderella Goes to the Ball

Today is Saturday 05Mar2011, it is also the day of the Cabarrus County ROTC Ball. Missy has been waiting for this ball all year! This is also the evening of Missy's first date!!! Poor Mike, its tough for him to see his 'baby girl' growing up. Her date was her boyfriend, Austin. He is a nice young man even if he is one year older than she. His parents took them to dinner, then to the ball.
Some of you may not know but it is a joke between Missy & I that she calls me the 'wicked stepmonster' & I call her Cinderella. The joke today was if Cinderella didn't get all her chores done, she would have to stay home from the ball.
Here is our beautiful little girl, all dressed up with somewhere to go!

Missy Celebrates her Sweet 16!

Missy is celebrating her 16th birthday today! It is hard for me to believe that the little girl I met 5 years ago is now a young lady. Mike & I gave her a pair of freshwater pearls, ones she can wear with her ROTC uniform. She & Mike have gone on a father/daughter dinner date. Then we'll have cake & icecream when they get home. She requested me to make her cake again this year. Disclaimer, I am not Betty Crocker LOL. It looks like Mike & Missy are thinking, 'can we go already?'  They were!

 

What Have the Riley's Been Up To?

Missy enjoyed an entire week off of school, due to snow & ice. No one has told Cabarrus County about delays, only cancelling! She's had a total of 6 snow days this school year. One Saturday, 3 staff development days, President's Day & Good Friday will make up these days. Now I am from the north, and I don't ever remember going to school on Good Friday, nor did my kids, 'Easter Monday', yes, but never Good Friday. She is finishing up her first semester of 10th grade on a much better note than any of her previous years.

The snow was pretty, and you can see pictures on Sandy's blog, Thoughts & Creations From Here, There & Everywhere.

Sandy started 2 online classes at Rowan Cabarrus Community College. Success in College is a required 1 credit course, truly aimed at the new high school grad; Expository Writing will stretch her writing skills. She applied online for a 'merchandise restoration agent' (glorified name for stock person) and, after a lengthy questionairre, was told she did not meet the requirements! Today, she received a letter from an agency that puts companions in the homes of senior citizens, after applying there, was told they chose 'more qualified' candidates. So, she can neither stock shelves for JC Penney nor can she be nice to old people! She can, however, answer calls and take orders for those things you see being sold on TV. This is through LiveOps, she is considered a contracted employee & is paid per minute phone time. She says she cannot talk someone into buying something they don't want, but she can read a script. LOL She will also be certified to take orders for Pro Flowers within the next week. Sandy says she never needs to leave the house again! She could become a hermit, Missy said she will get her a shell!

Mike continues to work, both at JB Hunt and computer work for ABM. He also has the cat quite spoiled! She now will only eat the food he gives her! Keep in mind, he 'hates' cats!

Update on the grandchildren: Justin is doing very well in 3rd grade & Olivia started preschool a couple weeks ago. She told her mom the first day was 'super wonderful'! Who can believe she will be 4yrs old in less than a week?