Handprint Christmas Cards

When Riley was four or five years old, I tried to get him to make handprint Chirstmas cards.  We got through about ten cards before he got bored.  I gave up on the project and went with something else.

Reese is five this Christmas, and since she likes to draw and do crafty things so much, I thought that I would get out the stuff and try again.  She was all gung ho.  On Sunday we did hands in green, red, white, brown, and black.  My original intention was to only do green, brown, and white.  The other colors were for details.  She wanted red hands for stockings and then we had to come up with something for black hands; they will be penguins.

Every night she has pushed me to do these Christmas cards and I usually give in.  The white hands were made into Santas (Family Fun Magazine idea), and they are all complete.  The green hands are Christmas trees, and she has four left to decorate.  Tonight's project is the reindeer (another Family Fun Magazine idea).  There were only five brown hands so she is doing all the reindeer tonight.

Once all the hands are complete, we will probably have to do some more because she has so many friends that she wants to give cards to now.  If she takes mine, I will not have enough, so we will make more for everyone!

Nicknames

One of the other bloggers posted something about wanting her children to be called by their given names, not shortened versions or nicknames, which got me to thinking about my children's names and nicknames.

When Riley was born, my brother in law asked me what we were going to call him since RyRy was already taken.  I looked at him funny and said Riley.  What was the purpose in shortening his name?  As he grew older, some nicknames came naturally.  I called him BoBo because of the way his legs were bowed and he use to make his mouth look like a bow.  His dad liked Bubs better and we go back and forth between the two.  He is also called Ri especially by his YaiYai.  He is also sometimes RP1, and his sister is RP2.  We also lovingly call him Dork of York.

Reese has always had lots of nicknames.  She has been Sis Wis, Sister of Twister, Moo Shu Pork, etc.  The ones that have stuck are Sis, Sister, Moo Moo, for her love of chocolate milk, and Reesie Cup.  Her brother calls her Reesie, and she calls herself Reesie.  I tend not to call her Reesie because the dog next door is named Reesie.

Culture Project Part 5

What other languages besides English are spoken in your home?

Besides English half of my family speaks Thai and half of my family speaks Tagalog.

We turned in the culture project today.  Included in the project were the picture of the lightswitch cover and the pictures of food from Thanksgiving as well as pictures of grandparents on both sides of the family and Riley's immediate family.  I also found a picture of Grandpa Palanca and 6 of his grandchildren whose names start with "R".

Culture Project Part 4

What holidays does your family celebrate?  List some of them.  Do you incorporate any traditions from other cultures as part of your celebrations?

The holidays we celebrate are Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and birthdays.  We have regular American food with some Filipino food for every holiday.  On birthdays we eat noodles for long life.

Sharing with Others

Last week at church both of you picked tags from the giving tree.  I explained to you that these are gift that we are going to but to give to someone else that has less than we do.  I was proud that both of you picked tags of things that you would like to have for yourselves, but also know that you will be giving to someone else.

Today, we went to Target to pick out those gifts.  Reese's tag said Pokemon cards.  I never know there were so many kinds of Pokemon cards, but we found a gift box that was satisfactory to both of us to buy.  Riley's tag said Air Hog.  He picked out a red remote control helicopter to fulfill this wish.

We walked out of Target today with no gifts for ourselves, but gifts for others!  Good day!

In the Name of the Culture Project

Pancit and Egg Rolls

Traditional American Thanksgiving

Sumon


I don't normally take pictures of the food buffet, but this year I did in case we needed the pictures for the culture project.  One of the questions addresses holidays we celebrate and how they are the same or different than the way holidays are traditionally celebrated.

Thanksgiving 2011

I am thankful for both of you in my life.  You have taught me a great deal and have been a blessing in my life.  I have learned so much about you as people and so much about myself as a person and a parent.  I love you with all my heart.

Although I love that you are young and in some ways I wish that you would stay young, I also look forward to seeing the people you will grow up to be.  I know that Riley is a sensitive, caring young man who is very smart and will do well in following his dreams.  I am so thankful that you have found archery as your interest activity and hope that archery continues to be a source of pleasure for you.  Reese, you will go far in life because you are bound and determined!  There is no stopping you when you are set on a course.  I enjoy your drawing abilities on PAPER and am so thankful that you enjoy school and have made many friends.

Happy Thanksgiving 2011!

Our Quest to Visit National Historic Sites

Text Message

Last night while I was at the Rotary Dinner, I got a text message that said, "Please do not open the garage door until further notice!".  I asked if the door was broken, and the response was, "Something inside is laying up against it.".  That is when I realized that the plywood from the backyard must be in the garage now with the target, and Riley must have been practicing his archery in the garage.

When I got home, I asked Riley if he watched the Pirates movie again, and he said he was busy shooting in the garage.  I asked him how many times did he hit the garage door and he said none.

Well, all I can say is that since he is not allowed to shoot unless an adult is out with him, it is a lot warmer and more convenient for me to have him shoot in the garage.  Thank you Daddy!

Culture Project Part 3

We got back to work this afternoon on the Culture Project.  With only two days of school this week time is going to fly!

What is the origin of your last name?

The origin of my last name has several different meanings.  One meaning is a lever in Spanish.  The second meaning means charity, my grandpa told me that.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

We usually have family night every two weeks or so.  Most of the time we rent an in Demand movie from our cable company.  Today was a rainy day, and since Riley could not go out and shoot his bow, and both kids were very good when we went shopping for Daddy's clothes and shoes, we had afternoon movie time.

Riley has asked for all of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies for Christmas.  I am not sure how I feel about him owning all of them.  The one we just saw was a bit disturbing to me.  The mermaids were evil and scary which is different from the mermaid's portrayal in The Little Mermaid which is also made by Disney.  It was scary and violent to me, and I do realize that the one we just saw has a PG-13 rating.  I know that I am placing my likes and dislikes on you, but part of me feels that it is okay to see once or twice, but I do not want them played continuously like they would be if we owned them.

We'll wait and see what Santa brings...

Mommy's Prediction of Culture Project Part 3

We have slacked off somewhat from completing the culture project because it is not due until after Thanksgiving, not before Thanksgiving as Mommy had thought.  Since you are at PaPa and YaiYai's tonight, Mommy is going to start writing about Part 3 of the project and then post again when we actually do Part 3 together.

What is the origin of your last name?

From our internet research we have determined that our last name is Spanish for "lever" and can also be some type of religious experience.  A few years back when we were shopping for new switchplate covers, we came across our last name at Lowe's which relates back to the "lever" definition.

Bow

We just bought Riley a bow about a month ago, and he is already asking for another bow: a Genesis bow.  The bow that we bought him was a less expensive version and a crossbow.  He would like the one he uses in Archery Class.  The first picture is the crossbow.

The picture below is Riley with a Genesis bow:

This is the type of bow that they use in the Archery in the Schools program as well as in Archery Class.  We did not know at the time that this is an example of dry firing, and you should never do it.

The Book Fair

Every year during conference week the school schedules a book fair.  I do like the book fair because it is not a Scholastic Book Fair; it is run by a local company and has quality literature, but with quality literature comes the price you pay.  But, if you look at it from the prespective of you are donating to the school, then it is worth it.

This year is the first year that both of you go to the same school.  You both came home with lists of books that you wanted from your visit to the book fair.  I looked at it and told you that we would go and shop tonight because I had to go in for your conferences anyway.  Last year I had to make a special trip to school on Thursday because I had scheduled Riley's conference earlier in the week.

Since you both wanted a hardbacked book this year, I told you that it would be the keepsake book that I normally get you for Christmas each year.  I try to get you a hardback or pop-up book each year.  Last year I bought Riley's pop-up at the book fair.  So, this year's Christmas books are: for Riley Nurse, Soldier, Spy: The Story of Sarah Edmonds, A Civil War Hero and for Reese Dinosaur vs. The Library.  In addition they each got a paperback book for good grades and behavior in school.  Riley's is a Star Wars The Clone Wars Defenders of the Republic, a graphic novel, and Reese's is Froggy Plays T-Ball.  Riley's books both fit his interests at this time, and I was very happy with Reese's picks because they are not books that have cartoon characters from TV.

Mommy's Version of Your Names

We discussed before we decided to have children that they would have "R" first names in following with the family tradition that children's names start with the first letter of their father's first name.  We added to the tradition and decided that you would have our married initial as your initials so your middle names would start with "P".

When we found out we were having a child, the "R" name ideas started.  Some of the names that we threw around were Rio and Rembrandt.  We didn't find out what gender you were, but knew that if you were a girl, your name would be Raven Pailin.  Daddy and I could not agree on a boy's name until one day Daddy came home from work and said, how about Riley if you were a boy.  I agreed, and you had a first name.  Now, for a "P" middle name, well, you were born a little early and the night that you were born, Mommy called YaiYai and asked her to think about it overnight.  I looked through the baby name books that I brought with me to the hospital and came up with Pierce.  When I talked to YaiYai in the morning, she thought of Pierce also so Pierce became your middle name.

When it came to Reese, we went to the hospital knowing that your middle name would be Pailin and that your first name would start with "R".  We didn't like Raven anymore, but did not have an alternative.  While we were in the delivery room, Daddy said that if you were a girl, he would like for you to be named Reese like the actress Reese Witherspoon.  I agreed and when you were born, you were named Reese Pailin.  Pailin was a better fit for your September birthday anyway because Pailin means sapphire in Thai and your birthstone is the sapphire.

Culture Project Part 2

Is there any family significance to your first and middle name?  Why did they choose your name?

The family significance of my first name is that my parents wanted an "R" name.  The reason why my parents wanted an "R" name is because all of the Palanca children's names start with "R".  The family significance of my middle name is that my mom's name starts with a "P".

Culture Project Part 1

Riley has a culture project to do this week for Social Studies.  We started working on the first part today.  After a phone call to his paternal grandpa, we got started.  I thought I would document this information on the blog so that we would have easy access when it is time for Reese to do this project and also in case one of you does not remember the information from doing this report.

From what countries did your ancestors come to the United States?  How long ago did they arrive?  Why did they come?

My mom's parents came to the United States from Thailand in 1970 (PaPa) and 1972 (YaiYai) to go to college and make some money.  My mom was born in the United States in 1974.  PaPa finished his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) in 1976 at Central Michigan University, but they decided to stay for awhile afterward to be able to afford a house when they went back to Thailand.  That time did not come.  In 1979 they decided to buy a house in the United States.

My grandpa on my dad's side came to the United States in September 1972.  His arrival in the United States was delayed by martial law being declared in the Philippines.  My grandma, my Uncle Rolly, my Auntie Rosanna, and my dad followed my grandpa to the United States in July of 1973.  They came because the United States has better opportunities.  In about July 1974 my Uncle Roel, my Uncle Rodello, and my Uncle Romeo followed the rest of their family to the United States.  My dad's immediate family was now all in the United States.

Roman Missal

The Church is in full preparation now for the conversion to the Roman Missal with the start of Advent in a few weeks.  When we went to Church this morning, there was an additional booklet to let us know what the changes are going to be with regards to responses.  But, for right now, it is a little hodgepodge of old and new.

I mention this because one of the songs that gets stuck in Riley's head sometimes is the Glory to God.

Glory to God in the Highest
Sing Glory to God
Glory to God in the Highest
And peace to his people on Earth

I hear him sing this sometimes and now, he has gotten Reese to sing it also.  But, it is also one of the things that is changing with the Roman Missal.  It is bittersweet to me because it is one of the parts of the mass that my children know well, but I know that they will also learn the new one and may like it better.

Library Time

This school year, we have been going to the library on Thursdays.  It started out when I had to pick up Riley early from school one Thursday, and he missed his library time at the school library.  Then, once the after school activities started, Thursday just became the best night to go.  In addition, for some reason or another a good deal of special activities at school occur on Thursdays and so Riley often misses his school library day.

We go to different library branches depending on the types of books we are looking for, where we are in town, and the time that we have.  Riley is always looking for graphic novels as well as non-fiction books.  We have found that the library near his PaPa and YaiYai's provides most of those books for him.  Sometimes, we go to the library by Mommy's school as an incentive for when Mommy has to go back to work with them.  That library does not have much of interest for Riley, but he usually finds a few things.  Lately, we have been going to the library near our house.  This is kind of a middle of the road; always finds something and sometimes exactly what he wants.  It does not matter to Reese which library we go to; she always finds something because she looks for books that have characters that she sees on TV, and they all have computers.

This week we missed our regular library day, and although we have more than enough books to read at home, it has thrown us out of our routine.  We will be headed to the library today to make up for not going earlier in the week.

Christmas Wishes

The advertisement are starting to come out for Christmas.  Whenever you see one, you point to the things that you want. Every time there is a commercial of a toy that you like, you tell me that you want that toy.  Some toys, I will not buy you; you will never own.  Other toys, I am not sure if you really want them or it is just a whim of the moment.  Case in point: last year I bought you ZhuZhu Pets and the arena to go with them.  You both played with them a few times, and once I put them away, you never wondered where they went.

Reese,  you are the one that is the most difficult.  You have in your mind something that you want, but tell me something general and then are disappointed when you don't get your toy.  Last year, you kept telling me that you wanted Toy Story.  I kept telling anyone that asked what you wanted that you wanted Toy Story.  You got lots of Toy Story things and a bigger Buzz Lightyear, but after Christmas, you kept telling me that you did not get what you wanted.  When I took you to Toys for Us, you finally told me that you wanted the Woody and Jessie dolls.  Thankfully, your grandpa likes to give you money for the holidays, so the dolls became his gift to you.

Riley, you are usually happy with whatever we buy as long as it goes along with whatever you are interest in at the time.  Hopefully, that will prove true again this year with LEGOs, Wii games, and Star Wars at the top of the list.  You have told me many time this season that you would like to have The Pirates of the Carribean DVD Boxed Set, and I know that there are some new Star Wars DVDs also.

Only time will tell if your wishes will come true this holiday season!

How was school today?

Reese: School was not so very good today.  I had to do boring stuff because I had a new teacher today name Mrs. S.

Mommy: So, you had a substitute because Mrs. R was not there?

Reese: Yes, a substitute.  Mrs. R was in the office.  It was a boring day.

Mommy: So sorry to hear.

Gymnastics

Once Riley started taking archery, Reese decided that she wanted to take something also.  She decided that she wanted to take gymnastics and so I signed her up.  She has been to three classes now.  The first class, she followed the class around and about half way through, she warmed up and started to participate.  She invited her PaPa to her second class and Daddy came along also.  She did not really participate and kept looking at the window and shaking her head when we encouraged her to do the activity.  Today, one of her friends from school was making up a class and she liked that her friend was there.  I also think that it helped that the instructor had Reese demonstrate one of the new activities.  With the exception of the warm-up activities on the floor, Reese was attentive and participated, even doing push-ups and sit-ups on the main floor while waiting for her turn on the uneven bars.

Toy Story 3

Every few weeks we do Family Night. The first time that we saw Toy Story 3 was at the movie theater. I cried even though it will be many years before you go off to college. In fact I think Riley cried the first time also because he does not want to have to leave home to go to college. The second time we saw the movie was at The Fort Wilderness Campground during our spring break vacation. The first night we were there we went to the Chip and Dale Sing-A-Long which included a campfire and outdoor movie on the big screen. That was a fun time! Tonight Reese borrowed the movie from the library and we are enjoying it as much this time as we did the last two times we saw it! "To Infinity and Beyond!"

Archery

Over the years I have tried to find activities for Riley to participate.  We have tried gymnastics, soccer, Tiger Scouts, and wrestling.  He took religion classes for two years and when given the option to stop, he did.  He expressed some interest in rock climbing because his school has a climbing wall in the gym.

This past August we went to the Health and Fitness Expo.  He tried the rock wall there and decided that he did not like rock climbing because he is scared of heights, but at school, they have spotters so it did not seem as scary.  The Department of Natural Resources had an archery trailer there and once Riley tried it, he was hooked.  We went back four or five times so that he could continue to shoot.

A few weeks into school Riley came home with a flyer for a Beginning Archery class.  At that point we were researching Archery and just getting our reserve books from the library.  I jumped at the chance for him to take a class, but when I went to sign him up, the registration had closed.  I called the contact person to see if there were any open places for him.  She called me back and said that there were two spaces still open, but that there were two people in front of me.  She then called me back to say that one of the spaces was still available because the student was too young to take the class.  I signed Riley up then and there!

About the time Riley finished Beginning Archery we took a trip to Nebraska and went to Bass Pro Shops.  They had a whole department for archery and an archery range.  Unfortunately, the nearest one to our house is two hours away.  We also have the problem in our area that there are few places where Riley can practice his skills.  So, the weekend after we got back, we took a field trip to Bass Pro Shops to buy Riley a bow, arrows, and a target.

Now, Riley practices in the backyard almost daily.  He has continued on and will finish Intermediate Archery next week.  We had a little bit of a meltdown last week when he was asked to switch to his right hand to shoot so that his hand would match his dominant eye.  He balked, but we told him with practice, he should be better right handed.  After less than a week his practice has paid off.  His grouping are closer together.  We have also found a new use of our carved pumpkins: target practice!

Reese's Timeline

We were assigned as a home assignment to make a timeline so that Reese can understand change over time.  Here is what she is turning in tomorrow...

I helped her come up with the events; she told me the wording.

When I was a baby, I stayed with my PaPa and YaiYai at the flower shop and my mommy, my daddy, and Riley at home.

When I was 2, I went to Maui, Hawaii for Christmas with my mommy, my daddy, and my brother Riley to visit my auntie, my uncle, and cousins.

When I was 4, I went camping at Disney World and saw Woody, Jessie, and Buzz Lightyear.

Now, I am 5 and I go to Ridgewood and met my friends Cole and Sophie in Mrs. Rieman's class.

The last one was the hardest to come up with because she has only been five for a month.

Washington CD

Last June we got the chance to visit Washington DC for a day. For Riley it was only a taste. He got to see the Lincoln Memorial, Ford's Theatre, the White House, the Washington Monument, and Arlington National Cemetery. We didn't get to visit any of the museums and Riley looks forward to the day we can go back and visit again. (He got his parents' love of travel.) Reese could not get the letters right and from the day that we were there to this day, she calls it Washington CD. She just remembers all the walking. Thursday night in the van Riley brings up the places he would like to visit the next time that we go. Reese says, "I don't want to go there again. There is too much walking." Riley says, "Why not? It is beautiful there." Reese stays committed to not wanting to go back, and Riley is practically in tears thinking that he may not get to go back because his sister does not want to go. I tell them that we will go back in a couple of years and find things that interest both of them.

Reese's First Sleepover & First Play Date

The weekend before Halloween we were at the neighbor' house for a retirement party.  Riley asked if he could stay the night.  We said yes.  Their oldest daughter asked if Reese could stay the night, and I said if she wanted to, she could.  Well, she did, so we came home and packed a pillow case and off she went!  She did a great job!  She came home the next day all smiles and in the same clothes!

Yesterday was the first day that she had a friend over from school to play.  Reese came home one of the first days of school and said that Sophie was her new friend.  I finally got it together and called Sophie's mom and invited them over.  Reese really wanted to invite another boy from her class who lives in our neighborhood over also, but I really just wanted her to have one friend over at a time and said that we might invite him the next time.

The two girls had a wonderful time.  They had a limited time to play because we had other commitments already, but they played the whole time, and Reese was very nice to her!  I am hoping that the girls continue to be friends, and I continue to find time to schedule play dates for them.

Can you take me?

Almost everyday I hear the words, "Can you take me ...?"  Riley loves to read and the more that he reads; the more places he wants to go.  Right now, his interest is in the Civil War so most of the places that he wants to go have to do with that.  We visited Appomattox Court House, VA last year on the way to camping on the bay.  He got to go to Washington DC for a day and that was not nearly enough time for him.

The list of places he want to go just keeps growing, but tops on the list are: Springfield, IL, Boston, MA and surrounding areas, Lexington and Concord, Washington DC to see the inside of Ford's Theatre, back to Portland, ME to go to the Children's Museum, Legoland Discovery Center in Chicago, Walt Disney World again, Legoland Amusement Park, and the National Parks.

At Appomattox Court House Riley participated in the National Parks Services (NPS) Junior Ranger Program.  Upon completion of the program, he received a Junior Ranger Badge.  We also worked on and received the badge from James A. Garfield's House in Mentor, OH.  Riley is also a Web Ranger and has completed many of the programs on that website.  He would like to continue to work on Junior Ranger badges for the National Parks and received the trading cards that NPS has published for the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

Boy, was he disappointed when I told him that we probably would not be leaving the state for the rest of the year!

Speaking in Third Person

The other day Daddy mentioned that Reese likes to speak in third person.  I did not really notice it before, but once he said something, I started to listen to you.  I noticed that you do speak in third person and that you call yourself Reesey or Weesy because your "r" pronunciation is not very clear.

"Reesey thirsty."
"Reesey likes Halloween."
"Reesey likes Mommy's hair."

You even reversed yourself yesterday.  At first you said, "I want to go to Chik-fil-a," and then changed it when you repeated yourself to "Reesey wants to go to Chik-fil-a with Mommy."

Halloween

With the two of you as children I really like Halloween.  You both get so excited and love to dress up and go and get candy.  For the second year Riley has gone trick or treating with neighborhood friends (Avi & Aki).  This is the first year that Reese walked around the big block in our neighborhood and then asked for the wagon.  Once in the wagon Reese just wanted to keep going. Reese also wanted PaPa and YaiYai to come and share in her trick or treating by walking around with her.

When going up to houses Reese was too shy to say trick or treat or make conversation about her costume with people, but she would always thank them for her candy.  When she was allowed to pick out her own candy, she would pick two pieces!

Riley walked around with Reese and I for awhile and at the houses that she did not go up to, he was a good big brother and brought back two pieces of candy, one for him and one for Reese.

Daddy got the boring job again this year and had to stay at home and give out candy.

They both ended up with lots of candy for the year!

The night before Halloween Mommy and Daddy carved pumpkins for you both.  Mommy carved Anakin Skywalker for Riley, and Daddy carved a monster for Reese.  Reese helped by separating the seeds from the pulp so that we could bake the pumpkin seeds.  Once Daddy was done carving, Reese added the Buzz Lightyear parts.