Day Three (12/27/08)

Day Three (Saturday) Riley woke up in a good mood, and was full of smiles and giggles. Vic, Myra & Gavin came up. Before they got there, Paul and I decided to take Riley for a bike ride down the "hike and bike" trail. It was interesting. There were some sharp turns, narrow bridges, dead ends and stairs?!?!?! We made it as far as we could go. There was a tree down in the middle of the trail, so we had to turn around and go back. Riley actually liked the bumpy ride. On our way back to camp, we stopped at the playground and let Riley play a while on the swing and see-saw. We saw Vic and Myra pull in so we headed back to camp. They set up their camper while Riley took a nap. Later in the day, we went down by the water and took pictures while the sun was setting. That night we had a huge fire because the cold front had come through. It was supposed to get down to 36 degrees, but I don't think it came close to that. Riley got to eat roasted marshmellows for the first time. She was so tired, but wouldn't give it up. She went to bed about 9:30 and slept good all night. She actually slept really good all three nights. We had a good time camping for Christmas. Hopefully we can do it again next year. We packed up everything on Sunday morning; that's when the rain decided to come through. We got home around noon, and I've been doing laundry since then, Yeah!!!!

Day Two (12/26/08)

Day two at the lake was our "Christmas Day" We celebrated with a Ham my dad brought, and I made homemade oyster dressing and marshmellow yams. Angie brought homemade green bean cassarole and a german chocolate cake. My stepmom made roasted asparagus with melted butter. We ate at noon, then opened presents. Riley got a Dora bathtub toy, the Tinkerbell movie, a drum set, a piano, Diago movie, coloring books, colors, markers, playdoh, a jogging suit, 2 new sleepers, and an art easle that turns into a desk with a stool. It ended up being a nice, warm day to celebrate Christmas outdoors.

Day One (Christmas Day 2008)

We left for the lake right after Santa came to our house, and Riley got her Barbie Dream House. We got to the lake about 10:30 or 11:00 and started setting everythin up while Riley played in her new tent that she got for Christmas from Pappy and Mimi (Paul's mom and dad). She did help me decorate the Christmas tree, put up the Christmas lights, and set up the snowman. My dad and stepmom (aka Papa and Memaw) were already there and were camping right across from us. Riley loved the hamock too; she taught it was great fun for about three minutes, then she was fast asleep! She slept in there for about 45 minutes.

Merry Christmas from the lake!

Santa Came!

Riley got a Barbie Dream House from Santa for Christmas.

Outside Decorations!

Christmas Party 12/13/08

Good Catch Bird!

Paul went fishing today at Somerville Lake. He caught a few bass and ended up keeping four of the biggest fish. This suprises me because he is usually a strict "catch & release" kinda guy. Anyway, we'll have fish for diner tomorrow. Yum!

Merry Christmas

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Riley's First Snow!

Unbelievable!

Recovered property bags

Riley's DVD player, a flashlight, and Paul's business cards

And Paul got his gun back

Just another Sunday night, sitting at home watching tv and playing on the internet. Riley was snuggled, tucked away in her bed, snoring I'm sure. Paul was watching a football game, and I was sitting in my recliner checking my email when we heard car doors slamming. It went on a few times so we thought maybe Randy (our neighbor) had visitors or something. Finally, Paul decide to go see what the heck Randy was doing. Next thing I know, Paul is running through the house to get his gun out of the safe, the whole time saying "there's someone out there". I thought, no big deal, probably a skunk or a dog, right? Then I hear gunshots. I got up and ran out into the garage in my nightgown, and all I could see was the light from the end of the gun with each shot and Paul yelling "STOP, STOP" I yelled, "do I need to call 911?" and he said "Randy's on it!" Randy, by the way, is also the sheriff of Waller County (lucky us, uh?). I ran back inside, put on my housecoat, backwards and inside out, and ran back out to the garage when I saw Randy taking off down the road. About three minutes later, Randy is back and said he couldn't find him, but he called it in to the sheriffs department. So we're standing out in the driveway, going over all of this and trying to figure out what all he got away with. He got Riley's DVD player. Paul said he took off running after the second time he came out (when he had the gun). His car was parked on the road, and when he was running to the car, he turned around a threw something at Paul. That's when Paul started shooting(not to hit him, relax). The guy got in his car and took off (with a few extra bullet holes in it). By the way, he threw Paul's binoculars at him. Anyway, we're standing there listening to Randy's police radio (it was on in his truck) when they said a car matching the description was entering Hempstead at a high rate of speed, and that they were attempting a stop. Next thing you hear, "HE'S RUNNING, HE'S RUNNING." The guy took off. High speed chase, speeds in excess of 100 MPH. A minute or so later, HE CRASHED. Then, he takes off on foot. Last seen at 6th and Baker. Paul had giving them a good description of the guy and the car, and it was definitely a match. The guy got away, BUT they ran his plates and he is a known offender. Randy knows him well,(it's a small town). So Randy tells me the guys name, and I'm like, uh, that sounds familiar. Anyway, they came out and took a report and took Pauls gun (just in case he did hit the guy) and said if they find our DVD player in the car, we would get it back, oh and a flashlight. Even though they didn't get him tonight, I'm sure they will tomorrow. Unbelievable!!!

UPDATE: THEY CAUGHT THE GUY!!! He's in jail. Randy said they caught him later that night at his house. He didn't have any bullet holes in him, but his car did. He was arrested for burglary, felony evasion, felony fleeing and he is on parole, so he's going away for a long time.

Riley & Tricia with the Reindeer

Picnic

Today we decided to get Riley out of the house and let her run around so we went to Fayette Lake for the day. We had a picnic with grilled hot dogs and chips, then we walked around the park and down the nature trails. It was a nice, warm day considering it's the day after thanksgiving. It was pretty windy on the lake.

Picnic Area

I'm as tall as the trees

Riley and Mommy with the wind in our hair

Looking at the ducks

Here's the ducks

Riley and Daddy on the nature trail

Bald Eagle

Happy Turkey Day!!!

Happy Thanksgiving everybody. Hope you all had a great day. We went to Ma and Pa's house for a great turkey day feast.
Pa

Laura, Josh, & Brody

Daddy

Riley & O'Neal


Riley Anne


Riley & Brody




Playing on the swing



O'Neal, Brody & Riley

Pam, Riley, Papa & Paul

Only in the Country...

Paul just happen to be sitting up at Uncle Peanut's house (probably drinking a beer) when a herd of donkeys invaded our back yard. Uncle Peanut thought it was cows at first. Paul came back down to the house and found eight donkeys in the back by the barn. Randy (our neighbor) ended up getting a bucket of food and lured them back down the road to their home while Paul drove behind him with his flashers on. They belonged to our other neighbors that live about 3/4 of a mile down the road. What a kwirky day. I've had other animals in my yard before (cows and horses) but never a whole herd of donkeys. I guess they travel in a group.

Glamour Girl