Daddy Surprises the Girls at School!

Brett came home on leave and surprised the girls at school. They were so surprised and happy to see him. He will be home for 15 days and then back for 5 more months. We are down to the countdown!!!!!

Christmas 2008

Christmas 2008 sure was different for the Rileys. The girls and I just stayed home. We had some friends over from our Church and the Pastor and his Wife joined us for dinner. It was Sweet. We missed daddy's presence very much. Aunt Karen and the Cousins joined us for Dinner Christmas Eve.

Mommy's Wreck

On December 18 I fell asleep at the wheel and ran off the road. The girls and I made it out fine, but the Van is totalled. My guardian angels were working overtime that night. I was really bummed the insurance totalled my Van, but I'm grateful the girls and I are alive. I'm driving Brett's Truck now and we will look for a new car when he comes home. The silver lining is we are down to one car payment, lol! I really felt God's presence that night. The CHP officer said he was amazed I didn't roll the Van or hit anything in my path. Truly Amazing.

Our Trip To Seattle

The girls and I flew to Seattle WA. to visit Daddy before he flew out to Iraq. He had four days off. We were there to spend his Birthday with him. We had a lot of fun. We too took the girls to the Children's Museum and the Aquarium. We visited the First Starbucks! That was mostly for MOMMY! It was nice to see daddy and get way for the week. While we were there we visited some old friends too. What a great trip it was

September 14, 2008

On September 13 we had a going away party for Brett. It was a great turn out. Family and Close friends came to pray over our family before he left. It was nice to finally have him home for a week. We stayed very busy getting odds and ends done around the house. The next morning the girls and I drove Brett to the Airport. It was so hard and emotional. Please keep him in your prayers for safety.

The Girls Started School !

WOW! I have a Kindergartener and a Second grader. How did that happen? The girls started school July 28. I know you are probably thinking, why so early. Our schools are on a modified Traditional schedule. They both love it. Chloe loves Kindergarten, but asked me why she had to go everyday. She will get use to it. Her teacher said she is a model Kindergartener. She already knows the ropes because she went with me to help out in Mady's class, lol! She has the same teacher Mady had. Mady is enjoying Second Grade. She is glad to be back at her old school with all her old friends.

SANTA CRUZ WAS FUN! It was so nice to get away. No computers, no cell phones, just the beach and a lot of SAND, lol. The girls had a blast. They enjoyed the sand castle that Daddy made and he even let them bury him! Now we are back home and Daddy is in Utah till Sunday. Plans have changed somewhat with the deployment, but he is still going. I'm learning to just roll with it. That's really all I can do at this point. I'm trying to keep positive and have a good attitude. God gives me the strength each and everyday to keep going. Not much more to update on. Once Brett is home from Utah I will have more details.