August 2008- October 2008

Well, it's been waaaay too long since our last update.  Lots has happened.  We enjoyed the summer but it was very busy.  So without further ado, let's get to the pictures!

Although it wasn't a typical summer with Jim working so much, we were able to enjoy a few days at the beach together towards the end of the summer.  Here Riley is doing what she loves most at the beach...collecting seashells!

Alex playing at the playground in OCNJ.  One of the biggest playgrounds he's ever seen.

I know it's kind of hard to tell, but this is without a doubt, Alex's favorite ride on the OCNJ boardwalk.

Riley was holding on for dear life!  But she loved every minute of it!!

In August we decided to put our house up for sale.  You know...we were hearing so much about how great the real estate market was so we figured it was the perfect time.  The good news is that at the end of October we accepted an offer on the house!  Our new house is already under construction and we're looking forward to moving in about 3 months or so.  Very exciting for our family!

 

Alex and Riley are no longer the youngest cousins on their daddy's side of the family.  Aunt Lisa and Uncle Sean welcomed beautiful Katherine to the world on August 27.  We're going to see if baby Katherine will donate some of her hair to Pop Pop.

First day of full day pre-school.  They have loved every single minute of it so far this year.

GO OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For obvious reasons, Jim was asked to be baby Katherine's godfather in October.  He was honored, of course!

Alex and Riley's first school field trip to Merrymeade Farms.

Riley and all of her friends.  

Riley & friends with goodie bags!

Riley & friends again (second from right is Riley).  Oh and on the far right...yes...you are seeing it right...that's Alex...the yellow flower.  Dad's so proud!

That's more like it Alex!!!  A farmer holding a pig!!

Nothing like some ice cream on a chilly October afternoon!

Alex in his Halloween costume.

Riley in her costume.

Alex during his school Halloween parade.

Riley standing in line for some candy!

Alex and his buddy Tyler (Spiderman) wondering why that kid behind them is wearing a cardboard box.

A view from Citizens Bank Park during the Phillies championship parade. Look closely...on top of that truck is a little green speck.  That's the Phillie Phanatic!

Alex and Riley getting ready for prime time!

Family photo

After trick-or-treating....all energy is gone....

Hugging in the leaves on a chilly autumn day...

....a couple of late additions from today in the backyard (our last leaf clean up at 1105 Pinegrove...boo hoo)

Spring 2008

It's been a while since our last update. It's been an eventful few months. Alex and Riley graduated from their first year of school. They had an amazing end of year show that made us so proud! Jim recently took a new job within Tyco. He's now the manager of customer services for North and South America. Those 3 years of honors Spanish in high school are really going to pay off finally (and those years spent playing ice hockey for our friends to the north). Hilary has been busy going to union meetings in anticipation of her very first teacher's strike. We're hoping to avoid the Souderton version of the Homestead Strike of 1892...but given Hilary's volatile demeanor...you just never know. Anyway...we're beginning to enjoy the warmer weather and looking forward to the beach, the pool, the parks, and...of course...the golf course. Hope you all have a great summer!!


Yes...that's Riley (in the pink dress) who is the loudest. Alex (in the white striped shirt) and Riley did so well and we really had no idea what to expect during their show. They put huge smiles on our faces. We are so thankful that we have such amazing children!




Alex remembered all the moves to the dances. Tony Manero LOOK OUT!



Given Riley's dancing prowess, I envision a vacation to the Catskills in about 13 years and some guy dressed in black is going to come up to me and tell me that "nobody puts Riley in a corner".



Alex and Riley's first diploma! They were co-valedictorians!


First class photo. Despite what you might be thinking, the older women are not students.

To celebrate the successful start of their singing and dancing careers, Alex got a Spiderman scooter...

...and Riley got a (what else) Princess scooter!

On Mother's Day, Alex, Riley, Jim, and Pop Pop took Hilary and Grammy to the Please Touch Museum in Philly (and then to lunch at the Italian Bistro).

Alex realized he finally had enough friends to help tell his sister what to do!

And then Alex's dream turned into his worst nightmare as all 7 Riley's started telling him what to do...

Riley and Pop Pop on the monorail.

Alex had fun on the slide!

Hilary was asked to leave after her 5th time down the slide.

Another happy family picture...

Riley seeing what driving a Septa bus would be like (you know...in case the career in showbiz doesn't work out).

Alex is considering farming so we can start making ethanol fuel ($4.00 a gallon?!!!?!!)

This is what you get when you visit "Love Park" in Philly and ask some stranger to take the picture for you.

November 2007 - January 2008

Happy 2008 to everyone! It's been a few months since the last update. In that time we've had a lot happen...Thanksgiving, Christmas, announcements of new additions to the family (not us), and one big tree falling on our house. Needless to say, it's been quite an exciting few months.

Anyway, here are a few pictures to catch you all up on the Cochran clan.



Riley and Alex on Thanksgiving



The next Emeril. I don't know...does Emeril bake? Unlike the rest of the country, I'm not a Food Network fan.


In the beginning of November we had our annual Thanksgiving dinner with some of our college friends. Take note of these faces. My guess is at least two of them will be arrested in Vegas this coming weekend...


This is Muffin and her "Mom", Kristin. Kristin is a very special lady. She not only dresses her dog like a reindeer but she was also able to domesticate a Stroker. For those that don't know what a Stroker is...see the next picture.





Strokers (pictured above) occur in most of the warmer regions of the world and tend to live in areas without central air conditioning; they also are inclined to wear overly snug Calgary Flames t-shirts and brown, bell bottomed sweatpants. Many species are migratory as evidenced by the one above…who has moved about 6 times since college.

Strokers tend to use silence, Miller Lite, and sweating to deal with stressful situations such as children jumping on their new furniture.

Strokers’ size, serial migration tendencies, and ability to fade into dark corners of bars make them very challenging to domesticate.

So CONGRATS KRISTIN!!!!!





Sweet!!!!




Oh...by the way...a tree feel on our house. Thanks Ray...

An outtake from the Christmas card. It's hard to get one child to smile, let alone two at the same time!

The dude is just so cool!

Santa visited on Christmas and Alex and Riley woke up to lot's of cool gifts!

Alex got a video game system (Dad was a little disappointed that Santa didn't bring a PS3).

Riley is officially a rocker chick!!!!

Now that's a good-looking family!!!

Nick thought he had a goal until the snowman dove in front of the net at the last second...

Amy, Hilary, and Riley...

Riley's very first train ride. She loved it!

Alex was a little bit more hesitant. Good thing he was safe between Grammy and Pop-Pop

We went into Philly for dinner (and chocolate) one day after Christmas. To the right of us is one of the cleanest rest rooms in the country!!!!

While in the city we met the Unibomber.

Hilary and Riley walking the streets of the city.

Grammy was trying to subdue Alex during a chocolate high. Good luck with that!!!

Grandma Pat, Marcus, and Riley

Alex and Jake playing video games.


Nick, Riley, and Marcus at Aunt Piper's birthday party. It was a surprise. Good job Eric! And the lengths that Pat Iorio went to ensure the surprise stayed that way have now become legendary!

Jack and Alex


Riley and Jack coloring at the party.

Pop-Pop Joe and Alex at Piper's party.

Jake, Alex, Marcus, and Riley posing in front of the tree.


Jake was kind enough to read Alex and Riley a bedtime story (and Marcus was kind enough to smile for the camera).

That's the face of someone having a good time!


And that's the face of someone that's about to smear play-doh in the carpet...and then blame it on her brother!


Alex finally got the hang of the motorized motorcycle that was "left" in our garage about 2 years ago.

Riley had fun too...

Hmmmm....who's the ham here?

I'm pretty sure Alex plays video games in his dreams now.

After this picture, Hilary had a very long talk with Alex about how it's rude to give people the (butter)finger.

Doesn't this make you hungry for a cupcake?!