The rest of December! (Long post!)

Whew. Only 5 days into the new year, and it's already been a busy one! However, this post is on the end of December. :) I did my usual holday baking spree, of which Riley enjoyed the benefits. :) This year, since Riley is old enough to kind of understand what is going on, it was really important for us to start our own Christmas traditions at our own house. Up until now, and ever since we started dating, we have gone down to the Springs for Christmas Eve with my family, and then driven up on Christmas day to do Christmas with Matt's family in the morning and our little family Christmas would be later in the day. This year, we did Christmas early with my fam, and woke up in our own home for Christmas day! It was wonderful! We started the morning with a special birthday "cake" (monkey bread) for Jesus, complete with a candle and singing, both of which Riley is a HUGE fan of since his birthday! Then Matt read the real Christmas story.....Riley was uninterested at this point, but we got it done! After that, it was time for presents! Riley is still at the age where he really only needs one tiny thing and he is happy! After he opened his first little car, he didn't appreciate the interruption from playing to open more presents. :) Max helped open his presents this year. Elmo "soap" (bubble bath) Riley's "big" present from us was his 'Elmo Live!' doll ($16 on clearance!!! Whoot!). It does so many things, and is really pretty impressive! He LOVES it!!! <3 We spent the whole day until after Riley's nap at our house, just enjoying being home and together as our little family. After Roo woke up, we headed to the Shoup house for a delicious Christmas dinner, family time, and more presents! My father and mother-in-law, Paul and Nancy. Eric and Racheal Me and Monica Melissa The hubbs and me Riley climbing all over Grandpa Riley got to try his first chocolate covered cherry, and loved it! Oh, here are a couple more pictures from our Springs Christmas that were on Nana's camera :) Family shot minus Kaylee, whom is in Africa....well, Spain right now. :) We missed you! Good shot of the 'Riley' tat! Kissing my little man We had a great Christmas!! Matt had to take a business trip at the end of December, so I took Riley to the Springs for a couple days while his room got re-painted!!!!! Riley got some good Nana and Duke time in, and I got to see some friends! I got to see my BFF, Julie, again and spend some good time with her, but I don't have any pictures. Oops! I also got to see my oldest friend (not in age, litereally the friend I have known the longest...as in, we were in the nusery at church as babies together), Cory, and meet her adorable 3 month-old son, Gus! Riley didn't pay much attention to Gus when he was with the adults, but when it was time for a diaper change, and Gus was on the floor, Riley was all about being with the baby! :) Group shot! We had a great time with Cory and Gus!!!!! Fun, fun, fun!!! Thanks for coming to see us!

Riley took his first photo! :) Riley also spent some time "on the phone" Huge hug from Duke! When we got home, Riley room was all painted! First, the color before (these are the only photos of his room I have from before the paint....this is from before he was even born!) You can hardly tell, but it was a light lime-ish green. What it looked like when we got home! Riley loves his new room, and kept running in circles saying, "Boo! Stipes!" (Blue stripes) Then the major room makeover started.....but that is for my next blog :)