Why??

Why does Christmas have to be so stressful?? It should be happy and fun and Christmas day usually is but, every day leading up to it just seems to be non stop STRESS!!

Another Confession

I am a car jammer!! I love to crank up the tunes and sing at the top of my lungs while I'm driving. I don't even care what kind of music it is. If I'm in the car it's on and it's LOUD. I've almost blown the speakers in every car that I have ever owned including my current soccar mom special. So if you ever come up on a silver Honda Pilot with the speakers blaring there is a good chance it's me just rockin out by myself!

Tubby Time

This little munchkin LOVES to take a bath. If she wants a bath she will jump in the tub and sit there until we give her a bath. I swear I own the only dog in the world who will ask for a bath. When she gets out she has to have Taylor wrap her up in a towel and hold her. Spoiled little booger.

Our Christmas Tree

Finally some pics of our tree. I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!

All the ornaments ready to go on the tree

Taylor put up this cute little tree in our bedroom so that I could fall asleep with the tree on.

Our little family's stockings

Football

Coach Brandon, Taylor and Mike

Taylor with his quarterback. He holds a special place for his quarterbacks

The team captins

Roman was so concerned when one of the players got injured

I realized that I never got around to posting pictures of Taylor coaching this year. While I do enjoy Taylor coaching I'm very happy to say that the season is over and I couldn't be happier. I love seeing Taiylor coach and be in his element. The kids on the team are adorable and their parents are awesome an so supportive of the coaches and their wives. But, by the end of the season I'm pretty much over the coaching. It's so time consuming and hard for me to invest my time with my husband for something that in the end doesn't mean as much to me as it does Taylor. Still  the season was fun while it was here.

Too Early??

Some may think that it is too early to be getting ready for Christmas but, not in my house. My tree is going up as we speak (pics to come soon). I know that it may be bordering on insanity but hey... it's my house right?

My Addiction

My name is Jessica Riley and I am a Diet Coke-aholic. It is my crack. I drink so much Diet Coke. In my attempts to shed a few pounds and kick my habbit I have quit cold turkey. I haven't had a Diet Coke in a month. That was until tonight. All it took was one bad day and I caved. Oh well.... Maybe the second time around will be better.

Obsessed Super Nerd

Ok I know that I'm an obsessed super nerd but, I got my tickets to go see New Moon last night and I'm SOOO excited!! The midnight show was already sold out so myself, Kelsey, my cousin Laura, and Taylor are going to the showing at 2:40 in the morning!! Have I mentioned that I have the greatest husband in the world. He is getting up in the middle of the night to take me to see this movie. He's such a trooper. I'm seriously counting down the days!

Thomas Turned 21

Last Tuesday my little bro turned 21! I told him that I couldn't believe he was that old. I mean I remember when my mom came home and told my dad she was pregnant with Thomas. How could he be 21 already? I told him that it made me feel old and he asked how old I was. When I told him that I was going to be 27 in January he said " Dang Jess! You're almost 30. You better start having kids before you can't anymore." Gee thanks Tom! As if I wasn't feeling old enough as it was.

Sick!! BLAH!!

At this point in my life I have come to expect some things. For example, with my weak immune system, thanks to mono, I have come to expect that once a year I am going to be laid up for about a weak with a nasty viral infection. Something that makes me wish I was dead but medically they can do nothing for. This years lovely illness came over my anniversary. Yes I was laid up for an entire weak over my anniversary this year. Since that has come and gone I thought I was in the clear. Still due for some fall colds but nothing too serious. WRONG!! I am currently feeling my second round of nasty viral crud this year. Throats killing me, body aches, head hurts, runny nose, freezing one minute and sweating buckets the next. I am seriously so over being sick this year. If anyone has a miracle over the counter or at home remedy let me know. I swear I've tried them all but at this point I'm willing to try anything. I can't miss any more work. I'm planning on spending my new years on a warm Mexican beach and if I keep getting sick I'm never going to get there :(

Baby, Baby, Baby

It seems like lately everyone I know is having a baby.

One of my oldest friends Krystal, had her second baby last month. I was able to go and visit her and her new baby Kameron last Tuesday. He is an adorable baby. He's got all the super cute chunky rolls that babies should have. Krystal is an amazing mother to both Kameron and Brianna. She is so patient and loving and I look up to her in so many ways. She is exactly the kind of mother I want to be. Krys you know when I have my first kid I'm going to be on the phone with you everyday for advise :) Congrats on your new little guy.

My friend Anne and her hubby Mike are expecting their first baby in November. I'm sooo excited for Anne. Anne is one of my best friends and although we haven't known each other as long as I have known some of my other friends, we are so close. She and I just clicked from the beginning. She was in my wedding and I was in hers. I love her to death and I know that she and Mike are going to be great parents. I can't wait to meet little Evie (Evelyn)! November seems too far away.

Two of Taylor's cousins also recently became parents and one of my friends from high school is expecting. With all these babies around its got me thinking..... Is it our turn???? Not quite!! But congrats to everyone and their new babies.

Feeling A Little Redneck

Roman with all the trucks. Look at his cute ear plugs. They barely fit in his ears.

This truck had spinner rims!

Roman riding the cars at the carnival.

Last Saturday Taylor and I spent the evening feeling a little redneck. We took our friend's little boy Roman to see the Monster truck show. His sister Regan got to spend the night at our house a couple weeks earlier and he had been dying for his turn to do something fun with Taylor and myself. We decided we would take him to see the monster truck show and then he would get to come spend the night with us. We actually ended up having a lot of fun. There was even a carnival outside the stadium and we were able to ride some rides before going in to see the show. Roman loved watching the trucks race and trying to decide who was going to be the winner. He is an adorable little boy and always says something to make you laugh. When we got back to the house I asked him if he wanted to watch "Ninja Turtles" and he said "Yeah cause that's how I rolly roll." Where do they come up with these things? Here are just a few pics from our night.

Sleeps Like A Person

Seriously!! Head on the pillow, under the covers, need I say more?? Adorable!!

Coach Riley!!

The time has come!! Taylor and Brandon are coaching again. They have the same team that they had last year at Hillcrest. It's really fun to see all of the kids and parent's coming back this year. They all know that Taylor and Brandon have really turned this team around and are so appreciative that Taylor is coaching. They are such a nice group of kids and parents. We really couldn't ask for a better team and support system. All of the moms are extra supportive of me. They all know that I have no kids on the team and no real reason to put so much of our time into this. They tell me all the time that they are grateful that I not only let Taylor coach this team but that I come out as much as I can to support them. Let's go Huskies!!! It's going to be a fun year.

Down on the Farm

Taylor's little sister Rosey

Farm

This is a PIG!!!

Grandma and Grandpa's House

Taylor and had the opportunity to fly up to Washington and spend a few days on his grandparent's farm. His mom's family was having a family reunion because his uncle Joe, who lives in Australia, had come home for a few weeks. I really enjoy Taylor's mom's side of the family. Most of them live in other states so we don't get to see them very often. It was really cool to have everyone together for the first time since Taylor's uncle Jim past away 8 years ago. Taylor's grandma even turned to me at the family reunion and said "can you believe that two people created all of this?" Taylor's grandparents had 9 kids so you can imagine it's a pretty big family. We were actually able to surprise his mom. She thought that we couldn't get the time off of work and was sooo surprised to see us when we drove up to the farm. She came out crying and gave us a huge hug. She was so excited to see her baby boy. It had been over a year since we had seen his mom and little sister and we were over due for a visit. While I learned that I am no way cut out for farm life it was still a nice little vacation. Here are a few pics from the farm.

4th of July

Ok I know I'm way behind but I have a fairly good excuse. First July was just crazy busy for us and second, the power cord for our lap top is broken and it's not very fun trying to get this thing to charge once it dies.

We spent the 4th of July this year at my aunt Michelle's. We just hung out with friends and family. Our good friends Brandon and Kendra came over with their little munchkins. We had tons of fun lighting all of our fireworks. Here are just a few picks of the kids and Taylor. They loved helping him pick out which fireworks to light off next.

Riley Retreat

Taylor and I went up to his parent's cabin last weekend to help get some things done. Taylor's dad decided to build a cabin about two years ago and it's been a long, and I'm sure very frustrating process to get it where it is today. It's still pretty much a shell so we are still "roughing it" when we go up there but we had a ton of fun. We moved dirt, put in the doors, and got some of the deck done. It's going to be a long time before it's finished but even now we love going up there. The cabin is located between Fairview and Mt. Pleasant and it is just gorgeous. I know we'll will have many memories made at that cabin.

Front view

Sunset


The View

Moxley and Trouble had TONS of fun playing

Building the Deck

Back of the cabin

Front of the cabin

More deck building

Our temporary house within the cabin

Feeling Fortunate on Father's Day

Today is Father's Day and I can't help but feel completely fortunate and grateful to have my father in my life. He stepped up to the plate and took on a role that he didn't have to. Never once has he introduced me as his step daughter. I have always been his oldest daughter, one of four children. My dad is an amazing teacher. Not just professionally, he's a high school teacher, but in general. I have learned so many life lessons from my dad. He always knows just what to say to comfort me and help me through good and bad times. He's crazy and funny always makes me laugh. The above picture totally shows his personality. He is loving and kind and truly an example in my life. I don't know what my life would be like without him. I know that his heart is heavy today. This is his first Father's Day spent without his own father. But, I know that he is grateful to have his own children with him today. Happy Father's Day dad. We love you.

Baby Nicole

Baby Nicole

Taylor's cousin Kevin and his wife Kammi had their 4th child yesterday. They had a little girl and named her Nicole. Taylor and I decided to head over to the hospital tonight since it's just across the street from us, and visit them. She is an adorable baby. Congrats to Kevin and Kammi on their new daughter and to Aurora, Courtney, and Damon on their new little sister.

Clever Wiener

I guess Moxley was cold the other day and the blanket just wasn't cutting it. She some how managed to get herself under a pillow to stay warm. Quite the clever little wiener!

Regan's Recital

Our good friends Brandon and Kendra's daughter Regan had her dance recital last night. She asked Taylor and I if we would come way back in October and she was so excited to see that we really came. Her program was at Kingsbury Hall and they did a Wizard of Oz production with kids of all ages. Regan was one of the scarecrows and she did such a good job. She was very precise and was always checking to make sure the other girls were doing what they should be. It was very cute. We were so proud of Regan and are really so grateful to be a part of these little munchkins lives.

P.S. Totally bad pictures of me but very cute of Regan and Taylor. Long day at work + getting sick + rain = scary!!