Carly and Chloe are 8!

 This is getting absurd!  I don't want them to be 8!  I don't want them to grow up!  These two are just amazing.  I love their friendship.  I love just hanging out with them.  They have such sweet personalities and they are so fun to be with.  They are growing up to be such great little ladies.  I am very proud of my girls and I love them so much!  

 Gotta love when you match your Great-Grandmother!

Birthday party!!  They had their first big girl sleepover with 5 friends!  They were more than excited about this party!  They ran around the entire night for the most part and jumped in the trampoline.  I loved all their giggles.  Matt and I really didn't have much to do for the party, except bring them in every hour and feed them!  The especially like the ice cream bar at the end of the evening!

 Cup cake time!

 Presents!

 Carly and her friend Emma!  They love Emma so much, even though she is 3 years older than them, they love to be with her.  This is the only friend picture I have since all the others are in motion, they were just blurs!!

 We got them all socks to wear that night with their pjs.  They were so cute!

 It's not a birthday without their infamous birthday hats!

 My Carly is 8!

 My Chloe is 8!

Their Grandparent party was the night after their sleepover, so everyone was pretty docile.  Grandpa didn't mind snuggling with the little ones! 

Oma and Harper had a good laugh at the new movie!

I love celebrating another year with my girls.  They are going to do great things - God has some great plans for them - I just know it!

Strawberry Picking

 We had a very slow warm up this spring, so in true Riffle form, we pick the hottest day of the year to go strawberry picking!!  Oh well, the kids still had fun and Matt Riffle was able to bring home $35 in strawberries - remind me next time to NOT let him be in charge of the amount of strawberries one family needs!!!

 Grandpas favorite thing to do is pick strawberries too.  We are not allowed to go picking without him - per the children!!

 Carly and Harper discussing how things are going on their rows!!!

 Daddy supervisor!  Finley did really good picking,  Channing did too, until she would fall and dump her entire bucket!

 Mmmmm....juicy!

 She loved running up and down the aisles.  And then falling down in them too!  She was covered in dirt!

 Ok...since it was so hot, the kids decided to bring their umbrellas to shade them from the horrendous rays.  It was also windy that day.  As you can see, Finley had some issues with her umbrella!  Yes, I was in tears at this point as the child was screaming from the strawberry patch as the wind inverted her umbrella!  It was hilarious!

 We found some shade to rest!

 Group picture with the super cool purple umbrella - I was still laughing!

Strawberry picking with Grandpa is the best!!

Mother's Day

 Am I not just super blessed?!  I get to be their Mommy!  I love all my sweet babies and I am so thankful that God gave me each one so that we can teach each other!  I have learned so much through them!  I love my kids!

 My Mommy - she is just plain wonderful.

And I had to get a picture in with Grandpa!  ~ Can you spot Chloe :)

Awards Day at Dance

 Finley finished her first year in dance classes.  She absolutely LOVES to dance!!  She is so cute and spends the entire dance class time worrying about everyone else.  She will do a few steps and then hurry to be done so she can talk to someone (hmmmmm....remind you of anyone :)  

 She got her 1 year certificate and pin and she was so proud!

 Her class was filled with super cute girls!!

 Carly got her 6th year trophy.  This is her teacher Miss Abbie.....she has yet to speak to her after 2 years!!

And Chloe too......yup, she still doesn't speak either!  Oh well, they love to dance and it makes them happy.  They do everything that they are told so as long as they are putting in the effort, we will keep on.....despite the muteness!!

Just Fun Moments

 Do you know how much work it takes for this family to be beautiful?!!  Next time you see us, you need to appreciate our beautifully painted toe nails, because it is a lot of work!!  That is 100 toes that I paint and 60 finger nails (Channing can't have hers yet until she quits sucking her fingers and I don't paint my finger nails).  Now I am sure the next time you see us, it will be all chipping off and look awful because I haven't had the time to sit outside for an hour to do this!!

 We read a Bible story at night and this particular night, Harper decided his spot during the story was just too great, so he asked if he could stay there.  Why not?  If that is comfortable and fun for you.....have at it.  His head by the way is on a piece of wood!

 The never ending concerts.  This particular evening Finley was involved in the show.  They are getting quite good at these performances!

 Who let the dogs out.....yes, complete with paws taped onto their feet and dog noses!

Channing and her mothers!  These two love this baby and take such good care of her.  I love the bond they all have!

May 14th

The infamous May 14th has come and gone and this is the last official picture of our family at our house!  Each one of these babies were brought home here and we really enjoyed our house (I guess with all the house drama we have more affection to this home).  I thought it was funny that the closing of this house was on May 14th.  Two years ago, that was the date when we found out the sale of the house fell through and four years ago was Harper's accident.  So I am very glad that May 14th is a very happy date!  Good bye Hawthorne Drive!!

Here We Go!

Well, today I went to the old house to get some things worked on since our house SOLD!  I stood outside just looking at it and reflecting on all the memories there.  We brought all 5 of our babies home here.  We shared so many good times and sad times here.  We went on the roller coaster of a ride called the real estate market and learned so much about faithfulness and provision.  We have owned this house for about 8 1/2 years and we have had it on the market for about half that time :)  This house was used to teach us.  This house was used to grow us.  This house was used to reveal that we are not in charge.  We had to believe in Him.  We had to have faith that HE was in control.  We took little steps here and there and once we made that step into faith, God opened the door wide and showed us that he was there.  It is so hard to step into the unknown.  But on the other side of the threshold, HE WAS THERE!  I mean, how many times have you heard people being victims of deed foreclosure, loose the sale of their house, buy a second house and renters agree to move in the next day, and then, those renters leave and another set of renters fall right in.  Only God can orchestrate this stuff!!!  The mission house was wonderful.  The mission house taught us so much.  The last renters, the Jacksons, were here during a hold time.  They were here as they waited.  As they waited for their time to go serve in Africa.  God closed that door, but maybe he just needed that obedience from them.  Maybe he just needed that YES Lord, we give it all for you.  Maybe he has something bigger and he needed them to learn to say yes now for what He is going to present them.  Obedience is my word for the year.  I want my ears to be open and not filled with me, but open to hear the Holy Spirit and what he whispers in my ears.  I want to be obedient and have unshakable faith!  Thank you Lord for teaching me.  Thank you Lord for providing for us!  Thank you Lord for being almighty!  Two weeks from today, we will no longer have the keys to this house.  We are ever so grateful for the many lessons we have learned!