Celebrate A Simple Life

Glimpses into the Riley life through Ellen’s eyes

WHAT? You’re a PERSON??? November 3, 2009

Filed under: Annie, JOSIAH!, Joy, Mercy, PersonhoodMS, pictures — Ellie @ 12:50 pm

For serious?

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LEFT TO RIGHT: Tyler (20), Sarah (11), Emily (21), Josiah (1), Ellen (17), Momma (Christy), Trey (19), Mercy (3), Daddy (Les), Annie (7), Jacob (16), Hannah (14), & Ben (12).

 

It wont let me type anything but the title or upload the rest of my pictures. Weird. December 29, 2008

Filed under: Annie, Holiday, Mercy, pictures — Ellie @ 12:01 pm

 


hearseespeak


rah & annie


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Mercy & Annie November 28, 2008

Filed under: Annie, Mercy, life, pictures — Ellie @ 7:26 am

Mercy & Annie

 DO YOU SEE THESE TWO GIRLS!?!?! They are usually very good friends… BUT… girl one is the wild, jump-off-the-sofa kind of girl & girl two is the lets-play-baby-dolls-no don’t-hold-her-like-that-she-still-has-a-soft-spot kind of girl. Girl 2 is somewhat literal & girl 1 has a active imagination. CAN YOU GUESS WHICH ONE IS WHICH???

Maybe this scenario will help you make an educated guess:

While Mercy doesn’t exactly have an imaginary friend, she has a few ‘friends’ who she didn’t come up with but likes to imagine she is playing with. One of them is Pig from her favourite book, If you Give A Pig A Pancake. The other one is Avely. Avely is a little girl at our church who Mercy is usually too shy to actually play with- I think Mercy wants to be friends with Avely because she knows she would be pretty fun, but she is shy when it comes right down to it. I also have a sneeking suspicion that Mercy likes her wardrobe– this comes from little things like Mercy dreamily saying: “Oh Ellen, did you see Avely’s crocs?” or “Oh, Avely’s coat is so cute.” Anyway, the other day Mercy was playing with “Avely”.

MERCY: Ellen, where’d Avely go?

ELLEN: She’s over there, playing with that ball

MERCY: Oh yeah [goes over & starts play with "Avely"]

ANNIE: Uh, Ellen… is Mercy really playing with Avely

ELLEN: Well, no, not really, but she imagines she is.

ANNIE: So… does she see Avely?

ELLEN: Not exactly, but she sees her with her imagination. Get it?

ANNIE: uh… not really. [sits there for a minute then looks at me sort of funny] Ellen… do YOU see Avely over there?

ELLEN: with my imagination I do.

ANNIE: [looks from me to Mercy. Realises that we're insane.]

Well? Which one do you think is girl one???

 

A day in Memphis July 16, 2008

Filed under: Annie, JOSIAH!, Mercy, life, pictures — Ellie @ 12:36 pm

Yestreday Josiah had a dr. appointment in Memphis. Momma, Annie, Mercy & I went with him.

Annie and Mercy had a WONDERFUL FUN time. We went to the Zoo after the doctor and they got to ride the train, stand in the sprinlkler and play in the water at the front (we don’t usually do those things when we visit the zoo). Annie saw a trolley and was EXTREMELY impressed. She asked “Do they have trolleys in Mississippi?” I said that I didn’t know of any, and she had a great idea: “Let’s buy one & bring it to Mississippi!” They ate lots of french-fries, ice-cream and other junk food… Anyway, here are some pictures. 

Mercy and Annie loved the train at the zoo…

but Josiah just thought it was a good place for sleeping!

Hannah and Josiah this morning

 

Camera April 27, 2008

Filed under: Annie, Mercy, pictures — Ellie @ 2:06 pm

YEAH! We got a new camera the other day. So here’s some pictures.

This is the wonderful and beautifullest Mercy Kate *

This is her again *

This is the sweet and wonderful blue eyed Annie

~Ellie

* yeah, o.k., so she still carries that ba-ba around.

 

Annie April 17, 2008

Filed under: Annie, pictures — Ellie @ 6:04 pm

 

Annie

Most of my readers have met this amazing little girl so I won’t say much about her except that she is an AWESOME little sister!!!

 

 

O.K. so I know it’s been awhile… March 22, 2008

Filed under: Annie, adoption, life, pictures, random — Ellie @ 7:28 pm

We have been sick (stomach virus) off and on for most of the time since my last post- I think we are FINALLY over it, though.

Last week Momma and I went to Memphis to get her fingerprints run for the FBI (for the adoption) {read about that here} and then Wednesday the whole family loaded up & we went and had Dad’s done. I think we have a few odds & end things to get together but we are basically almost there- now Momma & Dad are working on filling out some grant applications.

Annie

Annie has been very cute today- using words she just found out about (-: We were boating in the pond earlier & Mercy was waiting for her turn. “Hurry up!” Annie hollered from the deck “MO-Mo is DESPERATE to get in that boat!” We had grandparents down today & ate a big lunch, then grazed all afternoon- so tonight Momma said that we would not really have a supper. When Dad and the big boys go home, Annie saw Dad warming up a leftover  hamburger.  “Momma said we couldn’t eat supper”she informed him matter-of-factually “We have been eating all day.” “O.K, but the boys & I haven’t been eating all day.” Dad protested. “Oh, not y’all.” Annie told him “Y’all can just knock yourselves out.”

Well Ben just came in here with some ice-cream and I think I’ll go get some for myself.

Some of y’all might enjoy this post (The Rest Stop)  & this post (Jake) tomorrow.

 

Favourite Pictures of 2007 January 14, 2008

Filed under: Annie, Mercy, Sarah, adoption, life, pictures, random — Ellie @ 11:43 pm

Picnic

Picnic

Steve-O, Annie, Me, Caitlyn, Hannah, Sarah. (SRING 2007)

For three months this year, we were able to have both the blessing and the hardship of having my three beautiful cousins- Caitlyn, Stephen, and Isabelle- live with us.  This picture was taken wile Isabelle and Mercy were in their naps.

Tug O War

Tug-O-War!

Trey, Sarah, Catherine, Kyler, Lee, Ruth, Samuel, Jacob, Kelan and Chase. (MAY 2007)

We were blessed to have a gathering of our friends & family at our  home in May, 2007. It was one of the ‘highlights’ of this past year- especially the large assortment of home-made Ice Cream!

Lee

Michael Lee McCoy

The first time he went fishing (our pond, early 2007) Lee caught 4 beautiful fish!

We were blessed this year to have Lee enter our lives- our dear friends were the recipients of what has proved to be an immeasurable amount of blessing when they adopted four (now 5) year old Lee. Today is Lee’s gotcha day!

Mercy & Macrae

 Mercy & Macrae

This picture was taken this summer at Emily’s Piano Recital. Macrae was just learning to sit up, and Mercy was giving him a few ‘pointers’. :-)

Annie & Lelly 

This is Summer!

Annie and Hallel eating watermelon in the swimming pool

This picture was taken one afternoon wile Lelly was staying to play with Annie.  It was sooo hot, so Momma let them get in the swimming pool- on the front porch, because the sun was too hot anywhere else- and of course, have a summer snack!

Trey & Jacob

Everything’s a Sword!

Trey & Jake

Trey and Jacob found these Mosquitto Torches at a camp ground we stayed at in Kentucky. They played like they were Inigo & Westley fighting in The Princess Bride.

Bass Pro Shop

Bass Pro

Daddy, Annie, Mercy Kate & Momma

We had the opportunity to visit the Bass Pro Shop during the capiegn this fall (much to Ben’s delight). This picture was taken on one of the upstairs benches by Sarah.

Vote For Daddy

Hot on the Campeign Trail!

Mercy Kate

This picture was taken in late summer of Mercy soliciting votes at the Neshoba County Fair.

Mercy Paint

One Happy Artist!

Mercy Kate, late summer

I got out the washable paints in the landing room and let Mercy be creative. She was literally so happy that she would occasionally sit down on the floor and squeel at the top of her lungs. She also decorated herself, and ate a blue marker :-)  

Macrae

Isn’t he a handsome little fellow?

Macrae, mid-summer

This picture was taken by me in our front lawn, during one of those relaxing drop-in visits when there was nothing to do but visit (and, of course, take pictures!)

Macrae’s Birthday

Did I hear someone say CANDY?

Neo, Ben, Sarah, Ruth, Hannah R, Annie, Hannah B and Lelly

For Macrae’s 1st Birthday, we had a pinita. Here are the kids, dashing to collect the Candy.

Mercy

Happy Fall!

Mercy Kate

Hope you enjoyed the pictures!

 

Our Booth, our Baby, and our Toddlers… January 8, 2008

Filed under: Annie, Mercy, adoption, pictures, random, sewing — Ellie @ 12:29 pm

Booth

We have our booth sort of-semi set up now, although it is not fully stocked yet. This afternoon we intend to go over there a finish up a few things, and Momma wants to put together a binder of monogram samples for the front desk. I still need girl Monkey overalls & I also want to put some Birthday Overalls in there.

Well, now our first homestudy visit is scedueled… I won’t say that I’m not nervous about it, but not nearly as much as I could be (and thought I would be). I mean, I like us alot (what’s not to like?) so why wouldn’t the social worker? For real, I guess if she doesn’t approve us that means that maybe God doesn’t want us to have a Baby (although that thought already nearly saddens me to death).

I sometimes wonder what Mercy will think when we get the Baby. But I guess she will probably just get used to it. I think she will be really sweet, except maybe when she’s tired… after all, she is a teeny bit spoiled :-)   Of course, we talk to her about getting a baby, but she is too little to understand what that means. She likes to point at the Cuppy and sleeper we have sitting on our hutch in the breakfast nook and say “baby”. I sometimes am surprised when Mercy says something: I’m not used to her talking yet. She seems to have turned into a ‘toddler’ all of a sudden…

Annie thinks it is the greatest “perk” of adoption that you can pick the Baby’s skin colour. She said “I want a brown one with brown eyes and brown curly hair.” Well, we’ll take whatever God sends us, but He probably will send us one of those… except the curly hair might be black :-)

Baby Mercy 

Mercy- the day of her birth with Momma

 Mercy 1st Bithday 

Mercy Kate 1st Birthday

Yey-Yey & MerMer

Mercy (now 19 mos.) and YeyYey (Trey)- taken a few nights ago