A Very Happy Christmas!

It was a very happy Christmas for all at our house! Riley woke-up and asked "Did Santa come? LOOK, presents under the tree! LOOK, the cookies and milk are gone! Santa did come!!" He was so very excited. Then, 25 minutes later ALL the presents were opened and the living room was covered in clothes, toys wrapping paper, cardboard ... it was great! It really goes by fast with a 4 year old. Open, next, open, next, open, next. But so much fun!He was just so amazed that Santa got him toys that he didn't even ask for. Too cute!

Just woke-up and ready to open.

He got lots and lots of Star Wars guys.

Victoria caught on pretty quick on the opening presents.

She loved everything that morning.

Victoria playing with Riley's remote control truck.

Playing pool at Pops and Gigi's house on Christmas night.

Riley is very excited about Daddy's new saw.

Riley and Victoria posing in front of Gigi's tree.

Oh and yes, we did FINALLY find a Wii two days after Christmas. Very exciting night in the Thompson house! Here are the two kids boxing (Riley beats Carey at boxing and bowling EVERY time)!

CAREY GOT A JOB!!

Hallelujah!! Praise God!! Carey got a job!! Carey received a job offer from a firm in Richardson. The firm's intention was to hire a licensed attorney for the entry level position and Carey won't be licensed until he passes the bar (which he takes in February). But the firm liked Carey so much, that they decided to hire him also. Too cool! He has an office and everything! They are very nice people and are looking so forward to having him work there. They specialize in social security law. Anyway, it is a huge answer to prayer and we are just too excited!

So I know your next question ... are y'all moving over there? Well, we are not going to do anything until Carey takes the bar. That is our main focus over these next two months. Once that has come and gone, then we will explore all our options. Until then, THE BAR. Please be in prayer for Carey. Pray that the Lord will bless his study time and that he will remain healthy over these next two months.

A Real Live Law School Graduate

Well, he did it! Carey graduated from law school. The ceremony was tolerable. Riley was running fever and slept through the whole thing. Victoria was sick and very uncomfortable, so Mommy spent most of the time walking up and down the isle trying to get her comfortable. But it was great to have a definite end to the past three years.

Riley's Broadway Debut

So ... this past Sunday evening Riley had the performance of his so far short lifetime at church. His little preschool choir sang Christmas songs in front of the church. We were not prepared for his stellar performance. It was too funny! He has always been a joy to be around and as you can see from the video, he lets his joy come out! (I apologize for the jerky filming, I think Carey was going for the NYPD Blue thing ... also, the squealing in the background is Miss Victoria).

Happy Thanksgiving!

Riley was so excited that he had 3 Thanksgivings ... one at school, one at church and one at Gigi's house. So much fun that the one at Gigi's house had snow!

She is Eight Months Old ... Already

I just can't believe our little Miss Victoria is 8 months old! She has been a busy little lady. Let's see ... likes: Anything with a face, paper, wires, eating, the dog, Riley (of course), and she is really starting to enjoy her crib. When she wakes up from her naps or in the morning, she just plays in her crib for about 20 to 30 minutes or so before she lets us know that she is ready to get up. She is such a good sleeper right now. We put her awake in her crib and within minutes she is asleep .... no fussing, no crying. I am truly amazed because Mr. Riley did not do this until he was about 13 months old. She has also seen the light on the baby food. She turns her nose up at the homemade stuff and has her mouth open-wide for the store jar food. So, we have made the switch. Which is good I guess, I need the freezer space desperately. Now ... dislikes: Riding in her car seat, anytime when Mommy is not within viewing distance, peas, and lately being still. She has been perfecting her moves here lately. She is able to navigate across the floor, whether with the army crawl or the roll over. She is also very vocal. The squeals are almost ear-piercing (especially in the bath and when Riley joins in), ba-ba's, da-da's, fa-fa's and pa-pa's. She has moved on from whispering them to actually speaking them. Too much fun. Still no official first word and no official crawl.

Victoria and her "Star Dolly"

We think that she is saving that biter biscuit on her shirt for later.