Brotherly Love

Mike, Kevin, and Tim Riley-when they were much younger in Westpoint. Notice how the two older brothers have their hands wrapped around KJ's neck. No wonder he's so easy going these days.

Kindergarten Idol

New family member...

Congrats to Amanda and Tony! They are expecting their first child March 9. They will be great parents. They're so excited. I can't wait to be Aunt Cindy again. Katelyn keeps singing little songs to her new cousin and Aunt Manda's belly. She loves to sing and make up her own songs...but she sings a mean "Hollaback Girl" too.

Not looking for a free meal

I love to cook, but you know...I really love to go out to eat. KJ and I had a wonderful dinner with some friends at Sinclairs last night. It was a lot of fun. As we were finishing our meal and enjoying our drinks, the waitress came over and told us that there was no need to pay because our bill had been paid by another gentleman who had already left. How cool is that? What a treat! Thanks Ted!

Roller-coaster Ride

What a week! It's been a crazy one for us, filled with lots of ups and downs. Kev and I had some friends and family over for a 4th of July BBQ on Saturday. It was a lot of fun, but it always takes so much preparation. We were so tired Sunday that we went to the 11am mass instead of the 8am mass. Then we pretty much slept and watched movies on TV the rest of the day. Monday we went to have dinner and shoot fireworks with some friends of ours. The firework display, thanks to Cowboy, was just as exciting as the ones the city does. We also enjoyed watching the teenagers, about 30-40 slip-and-slide with shaving cream. My little sis confirmed that she is pregnant with her first child Tuesday morning. It was a very long day for her while she awaited the blood test. Needless to say she and Tony are thrilled as are all the grandparents. Also, on Tuesday, Kevin and I received confirmation that after months of testing and treatment we still have more hurdles to jump to have a child of our own. We are going to continue to trust that God is in control of the situation and pray for his guidance as we try to be patient. Kev is much better at being patient than I am. I'm so blessed to have him in my life. In the meantime, we've decided to explore the path to adoption. Pray for us. My Aunt Ann's alzheimers has progressed tremendously since her 65th birthday in January. Tomorrow she will go to a place where she can receive better care than her home. My mom is taking it really hard. Their mother died when Mom was 5. Aunt Ann is 14 years her senior and has always been her mother-figure. I know it will be very difficult for my uncle as well. Still, I think it is for the best.

Tis the season for baseball...

I'm thrilled to say that Christian's all-star baseball team won the district tournament and are still undefeated with a 10-0 record. They're off for a week and a half before advancing to the super-district finals. It's an all day double-disqualification tournament in Beauragard.

Hip Hip Hooray!

Three cheers for the AA American League Prattville All-Stars team! Christian's team became sub-division champs last night. They were undefeated for the 6-game round-robin tournament. They received a certificate for participating and a trophy for winning. They advance to the district championship in Montgomery on Friday. BTW...The Prattville National League AA boys also advance. Go Prattville!

All-Stars

I'm so proud of my little nephew Christian. He made the AA Prattville All-stars team this year. He's playing 3rd base mostly and centerfield a little. What a lil hitter he is! Last night was his first game against Holtville (my old alma mater). We were so excited that they won. The game was actually called in the 4th inning due to a 15 run lead. The final score was 18-3. He plays two games today. He's already looking forward to football again, though.

Kev and I made it to the Braves game Saturday in record time and really enjoyed ourselves. I really think I'm a Lexus Level girl. I like the fact that when you go to concessions on that level they're air-conditioned. The Braves won and it was a really close game against Oakland. One of the guys playing for the Braves was Brian McCann. We saw him playing against the Biscuits earlier this summer for the Jackson Braves. Friday night was his first game in Atlanta. He had an RBI. Saturday, when we were there, he hit an out-of-the-park homer. Wow! How impressive! He plays catcher. I think it's cool that he was only 4 when Smoltz started his career. He has an autographed picture of him with John when he was 12. How cool is that?

Mickey Mouse wants to play!

All of this terrible weather reminds me of the "Rain, Rain, go away! Mickey Mouse wants to play!" song we sang when I was little. It rained last week before we went to Baltimore. Then it rained in Baltimore and Williamsburg while we were up there. When we returned to Sweet Home Alabama, the bottom fell out as we were leaving the airport in B'ham. I had two good swimming days by the pool this week. We're supposed to drive to Atlanta today to see the Braves play this afternoon before flying back to Williamsburg tomorrow, where once again...it will rain. Makes me so mad!

Quote of the Week

I love this story about one of KJ's coworkers...

Dude was getting ready to fly home from a business trip. He changed out of his "business attire" into his "casual wear" for the trip home. He's wearing a shirt with shorts and sandals. This mentally handicapped teenager was sitting in the front seat when the coworker boarded. When the teen saw the coworker he pointed very excitedly and shouted, "Look Mommy! He's wearing girl shoes!"

Cracks me up...Now I know why Kev won't wear sandals.

Free at Last!

Summer is finally here! I was really ready for a break. I can't wait to travel with my hubby. He travels all during the school year, and I've just learned to look at it as "racking up frequent flier miles for Cindy." We're going to New Orleans this week. We won't be flying, though. Kev's got a business meeting and a golf tournament. I'm so proud of him. He was recently in the Arby's Invitational Tournament in B'ham; his team took second place. His trophy is a beautiful crystal bowl from Tiffany and Co. that was designed for the tournament.

My birthday was this month. I turned 31. Wow! It doesn't feel as old as thought it was when my mom turned 31. I had a wonderful birthday. KJ gave me 2 gifts when I got home from school, new golf shoes and ladies golf balls. For the 3rd gift he said he had a hard time narrowing it down, so I got to chose between new swing for the backyard and new golf clubs. I chose the golf clubs since we already have a hammock. We went to dinner at La Jolla (my favorite restaurant) and decided to skip out Taming of the Shrew at the Shakespeare Festival to get my new clubs. When we got home, Kev and I were both surprised to find Mom & Dad on the back porch putting together a swing they had gotten for mine and Kev's birthday. I was thrilled! Guess I made the right choice afterall.

The Countdown Begins

Wow! Only 3 more weeks of school left! I can't wait for summer. Not only because my spring allergies are horrible right now, but also because I'm hoping to do a little traveling with my wonderful husband. I'm already planning to go to New Orleans with him at the end of May. Next weekend is Mother's Day and we're going to Tupelo to see Kev's mother and go to the Gum Tree Festival. She's really excited about that, and I love going to Tupelo.

Birdie went to the "salon" today. She is such a pretty little girl. Her hair is all shiny and she's got a colorful little bandana around her neck. Biscuit seems to like her new look. He's been smelling her all afternoon. Katelyn and Christian came over with BJ tonight. Katelyn loves petting Birdie. Of course Birdie-Mae would just lay there and let anyone pet her all day. She's much calmer than Roscoe (Biscuit). Poor thing, we always have to put Biscuit outside because he's so rambunctious when company is over. If we could just get him to stop jumping on everyone.

Kev and I got a new SUV this week. I love it! It's a Chevy TrailBlazer LT, Dark met grey with silver trim. It's pretty much got everything, Bose speakers, XM sat radio, sunroof, cd changer, Onstar. We traded the Buick in for it.

Kev and I have been busy getting ready for summer. We've been working on the lawn and flowerbeds for the last several weekends. The flowers look beautiful. We've (ahem...Kevin) has been putting down sod in the backyard where the old flower bed was. We're trying to get grass to grow better in a few skimpy areas where the dogs run. It is so wonderful to have someone enjoys doing these things with you. In fact, he's cutting the grass right now.
We've got a really busy day ahead. I've got to finish straightening up the office; that's our next little home improvement project. We're gonna better organize it and hang some photos and certificates. I would like to put a different rug in there and add a ceiling fan...we'll see. Aunt Florence, a dear family friend is celebrating her 90th birthday today. We are going to a party for her at the Egan's house. She is so young at heart. Friends and relatives from all over the country have come in to help her celebrate. Then we're going to the Biscuits game tonight. Darrell and BJ are meeting us. Should be a great time.
I'm so excited, I think we're going to trade the Buick in for a new vehicle. We're looking at a trailblazer and an explorer. I thinking we're leaning more toward the trailblazer. I'm so excited! Can't wait to close the deal and drive it around. I've always wanted an SUV. Gotta go for now. House chores are waiting.

Spring is in the air!!!

Spring break is almost over. School starts again on Monday. Kevin and I have enjoyed a fun week at home. He flew in from VA last Friday, and we went to visit his mother in MS for the weekend. I always enjoy visiting her. This trip was no exception. We went to the symphony Saturday evening after a delicious dinner at Harvey's. This was my first symphony, and I loved it! I wish I had a musical talent. I really admire musicians and vocalist. We went to mass Sunday morning at St. James. Father Henry had lunch with us at the Tupelo Country Club afterward. It was one of the best meals I've had in Tupelo. I especially like Father Henry. He's so down to earth. He really makes me feel like he struggles just like the rest of us do. We got to meet Lacy, the newest pet in the Riley family. She's a cutie. Seeing Chelsea and Lacy interact really reminds me of Biscuit and Birdie, only they're much smaller. Lacy is a lot like Biscuit, always creating chaos and getting in trouble. Chelsea is real prim and proper like Birdie. Kevin's mother gave us our Easter "baskets." Mine was a really cute beach bag with Bath and Bodyworks stuff in it. Kevin's was a rotating tie rack. Then she gave both of us some crystal glasses that have been in her family for over 100 years. Kevin and I are the 4th generation to have them. We left them at her house though until we can get a place to store them. I'm just so afraid they'll break. She understood. Poor thing, she is so terribly ill this week. She has been at home, miserable, in the bed. We've been calling to check in on her and neighbors have been taking care of her.

Kevin and I have been working in the yards this week. He has been working on the grass...edging, cutting, fertilizing, etc...and pressure washing the driveway and patio. He's so proud of his pressure washer. I've been planting some flowers. So far, I have planted petunias in the front beds, red geraniums in planters on the front porch, and hibiscus in planters on the back porch. I've got to finish planting yellow and orange marigolds in the window boxes. Then I've got just a few more things I want to plant. We're gonna redo the flowerbed in the backyard. We're working on a plan for that. Kevin found my weeding tool. It's my favorite toy. I love to pick the weeds out of the yard with it. We really don't have any weeds, but I like to pick them around the borders of the yard.

You know the commercial that goes..."Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there!" I think I married State Farm. In the past 24 hours, literally, Kevin has loaned one neighbor our lawn mower and pressure washer and another neighbor our truck, pressure washer, and blower. We don't really mind it so much. We actually find it quite humorous. The first neighbor actually used the pressure washer while it was hooked up to our water spigot. The second neighbor brought the truck back in immaculate condition with a tank full of gas. We just keep looking at it as our social justice project.

We played nine holes of golf today. I still play horribly. Today I was not a good sport. I'm surprised that Kevin did not leave me on the course alone. I straightened up by about the 6th hole though. He's gonna be the most patient father. I just need to play more. I love it when I'm doing ok. I just put so much pressure on myself. Maybe I'll go play at the country club more often even when Kevin is out of town. That's the problem, I don't practice enough. I know I wasn't any fun for him today. I feel so bad about that. I promised him I'll do better next time.

Check out my Flickr photos!

Welcome to Flickr!
This is just something new I'm trying out. We'll see how I like it.

Sleep at last,

Boy, did I sleep late last weekend! I got up to see KJ off to his "man party" on the golf course, then I napped on the couch until about 11:30. The only reason I got up then was because I'd promised Kevin I would pick up some copies for him at the UPS store before 1:00. I took a shower, but I didn't even fix my hair or make-up. That is SO NOT LIKE ME! I just put the hair up in an extremely short ponytail with a ball cap. I didn't look bad, just not as colorful and lively as possible. Well, I should have known something was wrong when I napped for such a long time to begin with. I watched the Oscars Sunday night (loved Jamie Fox's acceptance speech for Ray) but by Monday morning I had a terrible cold, stuffy nose, terrible pounding headache, cold in my eyes. I was so tired and achy I couldn't sleep. I didn't have any fever, though. I had a field trip on Tuesday; part of it was outside in the cold. When I got home at 3:30 Tuesday, I went straight to bed. I slept the entire afternoon and night. Only waking to answer the phone. Kevin was just as sick in VA all week. I'm just glad he had Kristy up there to take care of him. I'm feeling better now, but he's still pitiful. Poor baby! I'm so glad he's home. Fixed him a good dinner and tucked him in. Biscuit and Birdie are keeping him company.

Tidbits...

Well, it's not June yet, but I plan to sleep late in the morning. Kevin is home this weekend; then he goes back to VA. I have morning duty at the school an hour earlier than usual. So, I'm gonna get my rest tomorrow while Kevin plays golf with the guys. School is out in eleven weeks, not counting spring break. I can't wait. The weather has been warm this week; it feels like spring already. Other changes this week involve my diet. I've decided to start counting calories. I'm eating healthy, balanced meals; but I'm counting my calories. I feel better that's for sure. Amanda, my lil sis got married last weekend. It was romantic to see someone else get married and remember mine and Kevin's special ceremony. Everyone seemed to have a great time. I really liked the tuxedo pants. They weren't traditional black. They were a dark gray color with small pinstripes. You just have to see them to understand. I'll post some pictures as soon as I get some. Of course, I was so late ordering my own pictures; I still don't have any of them.

Maybe in June I'll sleep late...

I just can't believe how busy my life has become. I thought it would slow down after the wedding, but it hasn't.
After the wedding Kev and I went to New Orleans. We had a wonderful time and were able to rest. My favorite part was the naps we took everyday. We went to St. Louis Cathedral twice, mass and a Christmas concert. If you have never been to N'awlins in the winter, especially during the holidays, you're missing out on a real treat. We shopped, wandered around the quarter, and enjoyed some wonderful cuisine. We ate at Mr. B's, Bourbon House, Emeril's (my favorite), Cafe du Monde and some really good pubs. I gained about five pounds from all the good food!
Then we came home for Christmas. We spent our first Christmas at home together...Christmas Eve at my parents' house and Christmas morn with my brother and his children. It was especially nice for my parents to have all of their children home and happy with their significant others.
New Year's Eve we went to the Egans' for a quaint little get together. The Countrymans, Flournoys, and Morrises were also there. That was the last time I drank too much. My family came over to our home for New Year's Day. Instead of cooking a big feast, we all agreed to eat finger foods and snacks while watching football. It was a new tradition that I enjoyed. I hope it continues. How many large meals can one eat this time of year.
January 7-12 Kevin and I went to St. Kitts in the West Indies again. We had a great time. The weather there is always perfect. It did rain the first two days, but it really gave us a good excuse to recover from our long flight going down there. We had an eight hour layover! The charter company, Planet Air, kept postponing our flight by ten or twenty minutes at a time. We went into the casino a couple of times, read by the pool, shopped in the capital city of Basseterre, and drank. It was so much fun. We were glad to get home though.
After returning to Dixieland, I hosted a bridal shower for my sister Amanda; she's getting married February 19. It was very successful I think. That same weekend my dad had a stroke. So, the next two weeks were spent with him going back and forth to the hospital. We're very blessed to still have him with us. Before the two weeks would end, he would have two strokes and two surgeries. When he came home from the hospital Kevin and I helped take care of him. It's all been very exhausting. We're so thankful he's doing better. He is doing physical therapy at home.
We had the Superbowl party last weekend. Kevin and I hosted the preparty dinner for the staff members and golf tournament participants at our house. I was really proud. I handled the snack foods and desserts. Everyone was so complementary. Donna Egan did potatoes, Teri Morris did salad. Joey manned the grill. It was BYOB (Bring your own BEEF). Then the big party with about 250 people was Sunday. You know, that's when Kevin and I met...at last year's Superbowl party. Everyone was excited to see us there together and married this year. It was pretty cool to be the Riley's.
So, this week I'm back to work full time, and Kevin started his travels again. We started a Renew Catholic class at the church Tuesday, and I'm loving it. Yesterday was Ash Wednesday. So the Lent season has arrived. I am giving up all carbonated drinks and spending an extra 15 minutes daily in meditation with God. I had RCIA class tonight. I have my Rite of Election service Saturday night, and Valentine's Day is Monday (complete with 4th grade Valentine's Day parties). Amanda's wedding is next Saturday. We've got a family reunion coming up and I'm hoping to get to Tupelo to see Kevin's mother sometime soon.
Maybe in June I'll sleep late.

Has it already happened?

MSNBC - Ancient sunken islands found off California

All these years I've heard people talking about "part of California falling into the ocean." Has it already happened? I'm so disappointed. I was hoping it would make the front page one day, well not "hoping it would happen," but hoping I wouldn't miss it when it did...turns out it happened not only B.C. (Before Christ), but also B.C.(Before Cindy).