Happy Thanksgiving!

All of the Worzalas

Joey would NOT get in this picture

Silliness with Gigi

Once Molly was held like this, Melanie just had to be

Wii fun with Charlie

The "girls table" in Lebanon

Waiting for the lights to be turned on Grandma & Papa's tree.  They were told they all had to be holding hands for it to work.

Comparison of their first Thanksgiving to the one six years later.

We had a nice Thanksgiving, starting in Lebanon, and then celebrating with all of the Worzalas and Doans (and Dan!) at Ron & Diane's.

Fun with Friends

Laura's birthday party

Sydney's birthday party

Joey with Hadley at his first Union movie night

Lydia's birthday party; they actually went to see Big Hero 6, but somehow ended up in front of this poster

Beast Feast - first grade.  Mel was a raccoon

Molly silliness after a sleepover

Jaxon's birthday party - Joey's first non-family party!  It was at Interactive Academy

Fun with Luke at the Children's Museum

Just some random photos of the kids enjoying their friends throughout their first grade (Mel) and preschool (Joey) year

IU Dance Marathon

Joey is in front of Austin, and Mel in front of Brooks

Joey had a special banner made by the group supporting him

Playing one of many games

Mel w/ Brooks

The view of the crowd from the stage

With another dance marathoner (and Austin); she made them blankets

He's exhausted; and he didn't even dance 36 hours!

We were invited to be guests at the IU Dance Marathon in November. The IUDM raises millions of dollars for research at Riley Hospital, and since we're a Riley family, we happily attended. The college students dance for 36 hours straight, and they're one committed bunch! This year, they raised $3,206,340!! Amazing. Our kids had a great time with Austin, who they met through a coworker of mine (Austin is her son). He's been to the house several times to visit/play with them, and we were amazed by all of his teammates who knew all about Joey (and Melanie!) and just really laid out the red carpet for our family (and dozens of others!) The crowd/piggyback pictures below are from an activity where all of the college kids joined together to form a "tunnel," that the Riley families ran through, and then stood on stage for a brief introduction. Despite the fact the event was in Bloomington, we all had a great time!

Happy Birthday, Papa!

Happy Birthday, Papa!

Melanie sent me a text on my birthday

Wait, whose birthday is it?

Just a few November birthday pictures; of course, it always turns out to be about the kids instead of the guest of honor :)

Veterans Day Program

Union Singers; Mel is above the brown coat shoulder

Joey came down from BAC to enjoy the program

Mel w/ Aunt Cory

Melanie has been participating in Union Singers every Wednesday morning before school.  I enrolled her in the program to get her in front of people (outside her comfort zone).  She's really enjoyed it, and has decided it will be one of her extracurriculars next semester, too.  The kids performed twice; once for a Veterans Day program and once for a holiday program (pics will be in a different post).  She had quite the fan club at the Veterans Day program - all grandparents, Uncle Randy, and Aunt Cory.