bubbles with daddy

We ended Easter sunday with some sweet family time outside. Riley has been obsessed with bubbles lately. In fact, each Sunday when we talk about going to Sunday School she immediately says "bubbles?" (they often blow bubbles in her class and all the sweet toddlers love it!)







Notice Scout in that last picture, now even he has been trained to pop bubbles! :)



So fun!

Easter

What a blessed Easter we had! We enjoyed time with family, time outdoors, and time worshipping our Savior.



Digging into one of her Easter baskets, Sunday morning.

We hunted for eggs after church. I was a little surprised Riley knew exactly what to do and excitedly went after each egg. (Now she had practiced once or twice before but even those times she seemed to know what was going on)




Riley thought Great Grannie needed Scouts bone. We were so glad to have Great Grannie in town from Mississippi!






The funniest squirl decided he needed some candy too.


He really got after the Reese's Peanut Butter cups. I don't blame him, I might eat through plastic to get to one too.



--------------------
One day the grave could conceal Him no longer
One day the stone rolled away from the door
Then He arose, over death He had conquered
Now is ascended, my Lord evermore
Death could not hold Him, the grave could not keep Him
From rising again
------------------------

lil miss marks-a-lot

Riley has discovered that markers and crayons can be used to draw on things other than paper. Oh a joyous discovery this has been. :) My very light couch is now streaked with orange and purple crayon but I am so so grateful that when she discovered blue permanent marker it was just on her own person. :)

obey

Several weeks ago, Clay and I decided it was time to start disciplining our sweet girl. Before this point we were disciplining, but were just using verbal discipline "no, no" and distraction to stop unwanted behaviors. This worked great for early toddlerhood. However, as all toddlers do Riley started to push bounderies and limits a little more each month. So with some great advice from my small group (thank you girls so much!!) and Clay's business partner we decide to step up our disciplining.

I don't remember exactly what Riley had done but basically I asked her to stop doing something. She continued and did so with defiance, so I firmly and calmly told her she had to "obey Mommy and because she didn't, now she would get a spanking". Spanking, crying, hugs and loving words "but Riley needs to obey Mommy" followed. Later, that evening I was giving Riley a bath (Clay was out of town) and when it came time to get out of the tub Riley flops down on her back, flips to her stomach and just splashes around, laughing the whole time. (Oh and of course this was the funniest thing the first oh...10 times she did it but not anymore.) So again, I asked her to stand up 2-3 times. More splashing. Another spanking and quick obey talk followed. I wiped tears and brushed teeth and sang a song and all was good again. UNTIL, as I was carrying Riley into her room to put on her pj's she looks at me, laughs, hits my arm and says "Obey Mommy". hahaha I tried my hardest not to laugh. Later the next day, I was carrying Riley to change her diaper and she said "no Mommy that way" pointed in a different direction, and when I did not go where she wanted, she again hit my arm and said "Obey." Ha!


And more photos just for fun!



And to blackmail Clay...

flying high

Riley's newest game!








Getting more brave?...

To Nana and Papas we go x2

Clay had a few business meetings in DFW, one at the end of March and one mid-April. We took advantage of his travels north and visited my parents.

Riley has gotten so much better during car rides. Thanks in large part to Elmo dvds.












During our second visit, we found a great patch of bluebonnets! It was amazing!





We also found a cool birds nest in one of my dads rose bushes.